Kanese S, on 05 October 2012 - 05:12 AM, said:
Caladen, on 05 October 2012 - 12:24 AM, said:
I thought Rake had to escape because he was too tired from all the fighting he had done?
Mentally/emotionally tired, in my opinion. Remember, he could have just veered into his dragon form and/or blasted them all away with sorcery if it had been necessary.
Aptorius, on 05 October 2012 - 05:26 AM, said:
I believe Lady Envy's quote was something in the lines of "To slow down the beating of his Immortal heart." Which doesn't necessarily imply exhaustion but does imply extreme exertion. They were pushing him to the limits of his reserve. One fight after another with some of the best the Seguleh had to offer.
worrywort, on 05 October 2012 - 06:03 AM, said:
As far as I'm concerned, what that means is they drove him to near Icarium-levels of mindless destructive rage. He's not Icarium, but he does have chaos in his blood. Rake was never in personal danger, but he was in danger of losing his temper...which would have been bad for the entire Seguleh civilization.
Vaddon Ra, on 11 March 2013 - 09:55 PM, said:
i like that, never thought rake might enrage XD he's not a mass murderer and it makes sense for him to not want to kill them all just as he was out for a stroll
I took it as physical exhaustion from the fighting. I don't think rage was ever a factor.
The point that if he were in serious jeapordy Rake would go draconic and blast things is totally accurate, but he was facing a series of one-on-one duels, not mass attacks or pitched battles.
Also, tho i
love hate to play this card, when i met SE his description lined up with the 'out for a stroll, non-stop duels, bailed' scenario.
TekZila, on 05 October 2012 - 06:03 AM, said:
Dassem is on his way to ascending right? Him attaining the position of first an returning the Segluh to the island more inclines me to think he'll be around for events in latter books then not.
Dassem already ascended. Arguably twice, possibly thrice.
As Seguleh First he might do it again. Or that role may help him avoid it.
Ascension is a term for moving beyond what the person was, gaining power.
Dassem ascended, to the same degree anyone else in the Family did, when he spent quality time in the Deadhouse while Kel was building the Empire.
Then he became Knight of Death by making a deal with Hood, with the related power-up.
He ascended again when he became Dessembrae due to worshippers casting him in the aspect of tragedy.
In RCG and TtH we see him move in and out of the Dessembrae aspect. He's more powerful in it, but still reluctant.
When he accepts the First mask in OST, he's acting in an entirely mortal capacity (tho 'mortal' for Dassem is still ascended from a baseline human master swordman who spent time in the Deadhouse and served as Hood's Knight).
In DG and TCG we saw 'mere' humans (Coltaine, Stormy, Gessler) resisting ascension by hanging on to their humanity.
I think that by grounding himself first in the martial arts cult and then with the Seguleh, Dassem is actually trying to avoid further ascension.
We also saw in TCG that at times 'echoes' of Dessembrae may be acting separate from Dassem, which just adds a layer of complication to the whole 'man/ascendent/god' variations.
Vaddon Ra, on 11 March 2013 - 09:55 PM, said:
I like the idea of Dassem as an old commander coming with the newest generation of seguleh to help the dying malazan empires new first sword to stave off karsa's army.... you know, just a thought maybe karsa book 3
It's totally possible, but given their relationship in TtH, i could see Das lining the Seguleh up in Karsa's army's path and offering to fight him mano-y-teblor, after a night of serious drinking of course.