[Maltay]

I use "Old Guard" to refer to the people recruited by Kellanved and Dancer who helped take Mock's Hold from Mock in Malaz City on Malaz Island; later giving rise to, and serving instrumental roles within, the Malazan Empire. Most of them have disappeared by this point, to greater and lesser degrees of success.

That said, the Malazan Empire is over a hundred years old. Assuming Kellanved, Dancer, and their "Old Guard" were even young at the time of its founding, they are all incredibly ancient. Some are explainable as they Ascended. However, how do the rest of them persist without being yet older? For example, Laseen must be in excess of a hundred years old, but she does not appear nearly as ancient as Dujek Onearm or Whiskeyjack, one of whom may have been born before her. Is this explained via "magic", or is it a mechanism similar to Kallor; where his knowledge and use of alchemical herbs, potions, etc. has prolonged his life over thousands of years and rendered him capable of taking otherwise mortal injuries;

Spoiler

like a sword through the chest from Dassem Ultor.

My bad on the spoiler, forgot which forum I was posting in. Thank you for the catch admins.

This post has been edited by Maltay: 19 February 2009 - 03:56 PM

[Aptorian]

It was the stay in the Dead House that gave the family encreased longevity.

[Karnadas]

That and the disappearances are explained by Nok to Tavore during House of Chains (about a third of the way through, soon after the Karsa section).

[Cowl's Disciple]

What did everyone make of the reference to life extending Denul rituals in RotCG?

Spoiler

I think it's suggested Temper may have possibly undergone some such rituals by a character (Nait)?

[Hinter]

Thyr, on Feb 19 2009, 11:35 AM, said:

What did everyone make of the reference to life extending Denul rituals in RotCG? I think it's suggested Temper may have possibly undergone some such rituals by a character (Nait)?

Spoiler

I believe it was Master Sergeant Braven Tooth that had spent a lot of money on Denul rituals.

[Lisheo]

Remember what forum you're in, guys. Try to keep spoilers to a minimum.

[Hinter]

Lisheo, on Feb 19 2009, 01:57 PM, said:

Remember what forum you're in, guys. Try to keep spoilers to a minimum.

Damn, sorry Lish.

[D'rek]

First of all it's important to distinguish between the Family and the Old Guard. The Family is the original few K&D worked with on Malaz Isle beating Mock and founding the empire, while the Old Guard (which includes all the Family) is just a term for anyone of particular pre-eminence in the Empire's history, especially before Surly took the throne.

For all the members of the Family, the Deadhouse gave them longevity (and certain other benefits). Many of the Old Guard probably didn't have longevity and died in due course. Some like Duiker were given alchemical stuffs by the emperor that prolonged their lives. Raraku had its own effect on the original BBs. Plenty were mages, like Tattersail, Nightchill, Bellurdan, A'karonys, Stumpy, Hairlock, etc, and mages are often long-lived. I guess any combination of all of those can account for any of the extreme ages any Old Guard has...

[Cowl's Disciple]

Apologies for not adding the spoiler to my earlier post!

D'rek makes a very good point about the difference between the Family & Old Guard. It certainly seems there's more than one way to extend someone's life in the Malaz world. Personally I'd prefer if there weren't alchemical or Denul based paths, simply because I'm of the opinion that if you make too many character long-lived then it takes away something of the uniqueness of the Avowed and Imass who have sworn these massive vows.

[HoosierDaddy]

Well, there is also a huge difference between immortal and long-lived. Those two groups are unique, so far, in Wu history.