Quote Originally Posted by MrThinker View Post
That leaves what I'd consider a huge gaping plot hole, and the alternative explanation leaves a smaller one, which is why my interpretation leans that way. They always could have acted on their own volition to get their plans underway, Nabriales just couldn't because the thing he needed for his plan was locked away in a place he couldn't freely enter until the Blessing was gone.

Another example of an Ascian acting on their own for their own ends: Emmerololth, who wanted to get the primal Eureka out of cold storage from the Ilse of Val. That also happened before we lost the Blessing. Granted Emmerololth's actual fate in that endeavour is sort of up in the air still.
No, it actually doesn't. If Lahabrea or Elidibus could have taken Tupsimati at any time before the WoL, then why didn't they? It's best not to try and divest the plot of every little thing, because it will fall apart. Villains that start out leagues beyond the hero could have killed us at any turn, but chose not to, for completely unspecified and no real good reason.

Also, if shard Ascians could touch down on The Source unassisted, free to sow chaos to their heart's content and bring on the next ardor, then why didn't all 13 members of the Convocation do just that once we'd cast out Lahabrea and ruined their plans the first time? To me a restriction on their coming and going makes the most sense.