[orangiey]

Hi,

I have searched the forums and not found an answer to this.

As I understand it the Imass went through the ritual of Tellann to make themselves undead immortals so they could hunt down and kill all the Jaghut.

The ritual happened about 300,00 years before the events of MOI.

After the ritual the Imass became the T'lann Imass.

Kilvana (Tool's sister) was alive at the time of the Ritaul but did not take part and so did not suffer the consequences of it.

Now my question is how long did the Imass live for?

Kilvana appears in MOI and so she is over 300,000 years old - the seems as good as immortal to me!

If the Omass were immortal, why did the perform the Ritual?

Any ideas would be appreciated

Thanks

[Sinisdar Toste]

kilava is a bonecaster and probably an ascendant. normal imass probably don't live past 50. kilava was powerful enough 300,000 years ago to refuse the ritual and murder her entire clan. she's is a very special case. she is the last true bonecaster and the most powerful.

[amphibian]

She's also spent quite some time traversing warrens, in which time flows differently (not differently enough to offset 300,000 years, but a little of it, yes).

[Siergiej]

She's a bonecaster and soletaken as well. Both of these groups seem to have extremly long lifespan, so hers is like, You know, double extremly long

This post has been edited by Siergiej: 21 July 2010 - 02:23 PM

[Varen]

Kilava is special case for another reason as well, not just because she was a powerful bonecaster, but i think the exact reason why she is so long lived is in another book but i'm not too sure, it might say in MOI if you look hard enough.

I'm pretty sure the Imass werent immortal though.

This post has been edited by Varen: 21 July 2010 - 02:39 PM

[orangiey]

Hi,

Thanks for the answers - it all makes sense now.

I guess I missed the bit about ascension.

[Edrigan]

orangiey, on 21 July 2010 - 01:56 PM, said:

If the Omass were immortal, why did the perform the Ritual?

This is answered, yet I don't remember exactly where it was and in which words.
Basically both Imass and the Aye were facing dire concequences due to overhunting-overpoaching their lands. Finding prey and food was getting tougher so to speak... and the Ritual got them rid of such a huge mundane task ...

They were able to mobilize their entire clans and keep this war add infinitum , since now they lack basic fundamental forms that are tied up with their flesh counterparts. They don't need to eat, they don't need to sleep or breathe.Also, now they are incapable of dying due to blood loss or severe injuries , as long as the head remains, the Imass can still exist, think and communicate.

So in other words, the Ritual made their crusade much easier than it would be if they were still being druged down by a body of flesh and blood.I don't think it was a matter of becoming immortal, but rather to be able to keep up with their pursuit of Jaghut, and been given means as well to travel faster and respond better against other dangers on their way, as they purged other targets too.


As to how Kilava has been able to live for 300k+ years? Probably the combination of being a Bonecater Soletaken and belong to one of the Four founding races... Even if Imass resemble humans or were the ancestors of humans, if we simply leave it at that, they suddenly become boring to follow and watch, so I guess Erikson has to give them something up their sleeves to become special too.

This post has been edited by Edrigan: 22 July 2010 - 07:41 AM

[Siergiej]

Quote

I don't think it was a matter of becoming immortal, but rather to be able to keep up with their pursuit of Jaghut,

In my opinion it actually was a matter of becoming immortal, so that they would be able to keep with their pursuit of Jaghut I think it summarizes Imass way of thinking quite well.

[HedgeWalker]

I think it's a RAFO - I'm fairly sure more information is revealed in HoC...

[Findarato]

I have a theory in my head about something that is revealed in RG...., about Kilava's (and another character's) longevity. but I can't post that here in this part of the forum.

[Hetan]

The reason for Kilava's longevity is revealed in HoC.

As has been said, the Imass undertook the ritual to continue their pursuit of the Jaghut who created the huge ice fields as defence.
The Imass needed to traverse the ice fields without need for food, water, etc and this is the way they did it.