[Gothos]

Kalam wills himself to lower his body temperature to stop bleeding. how ridiculous was that? very.

I wouldn't say passing out twice during a prolonged fistfight is a farce. in that category you'd have to qualify Quick Ben's mauling of the Sisters as a complete farce - he didn't even lose breath! you're forgetting stubbornly that Karsa Orlong isn't just a big human. though, how about Kalam vs nine Kalams ("hardly") at the end of TBH, that was much of a farce if you see it like that.

tactics as well, he's an assasin, not a warrior ;-)

Karsa is definately likable and most certainly NOT a douchebag :-)

and what's that? you know of course that that line was a reply to Samar Dev's own inquiry if he's going to use her. clarification, right? don't overinterpret.

yes ofc Kalam is different, he's black! he's bald! he's got a mage friend! and he's also out of play.

[Mcflury]

well, Kalam lowerling his body temperature to stop the bleeding (and being less noticed by the heat-seaking spells the claw guys used) wasn't that stupid, since it was clearly stated that it is an essential part of the Claw training... sure, it's magic, but that doesn't make it more stupid, does it?
Besides, even anatomically (so not including magic) spoken, making hos body temperature lower should make him bleed slower. His blood vessels would idd get thinner and the veins would sink lower into his body (so the blood would have to push harder to actually get out of his body). Also, colder blood is thicker than warm blood, and thus it'll flow less easily. So it's not ridiculous... it's anatomy

About the passing out during the fights of Karsa: Sure, I'd pass out too. But what I actually never understood was: why didn't the KCCM ever kill Karsa while he was knocked out? I mean, the KCCM must have known somehow his opponent was just knocked out and not dead, isn't it?

And Kalam is out of play...for now (but probably so is Karsa for another book )

[Gothos]

I think it was actually stated that Kalam does not employ any magic in his craft, and following that it was a thing of bodily discipline. can people do that, actually?

[Varen]

yup it can be done by relaxation, but the degree of "slowing" depends on the mental and physical discipline of the person in question. For example a highly cardiovascular method of training will decrease the the resting heart rate, and meditation/breathing techniques can lower this further when employed, decent fitness coaches will use these techniques to drop the heart rate during or at the end of fitness sessions.

And i think it was Rallick Nom that didnt use sorcery, Kalam isnt averse to using help from mages if its needed

[Lady Atheilen]

@Gothos: Kicking ass=not constantly whining.

How are you, anyway?

[Jayblah]

Lady Atheilen;238107 said:

@Gothos: Kicking ass=not constantly whining.

Do you perhaps mean "winning" here? :confused:

[Lady Atheilen]

Heh.

No.

What I was trying to say is that a person who constantly whines, like Karsa, is by my definition not kick-ass, no matter how much mad skillz they happen to have.

[Gothos]

thanks I'm quite good ;-) and you?

and of all things, I've never seen Karsa whine

[Mcflury]

I know Rallick Now doesn't use magic (is that guy still alive by the way? or did he bleed to death? I liked him alot too...). When I said Kalam doesn't use magic I meant he doesn't use magic of his own making. So, sure, if QB can make sure Kalam will fall down from a rooftop as a feather, Kalam's gonna use it. But it's not as if Kalam makes himself fall that slow.

And wow Varen, you really said what I meant there Grats on the nice practical examples (I didn't know it was actually done in the real life, I only knew it would be possible theoretically )

and about the whining... when does Karsa whine? Because you say he whines all the time, but honoustly I've never heard him whine alot... (only maybe against Samar Dev, because he wanted to have sex with her )

[Aptorian]

Whine is what Crokus does, threaten to kill, maim and destroy is what Karsa does.

Clear difference

[Jayblah]

Mcflury;238135 said:

I know Rallick Now doesn't use magic (is that guy still alive by the way? or did he bleed to death? I liked him alot too...).

Rallick (and Vorcan) are, er, "sleeping" in the Azath that rose in Darujhistan.

And yes, Rallick specifically eschews magic. I don't believe Kalam cares either way.

[Mentalist]

Aptorian;238137 said:

Whine is what Crokus does, threaten to kill, maim and destroy is what Karsa does.

Clear difference

Lol... and then there's Hellian who whines whlie threatening to maim herself

And yes, the only instance of Karsa actually whining I remember is to himself in RG when he's not getting any from Samar Dev.

[gunnykiln]

Gothos;237938 said:

Karsa didn't use a weapon when fighting the Short Tail ;-)

Yes, the mighty Karsa tossed his sword aside. No need to bring out the big blade for such a trivial thing as a Short Tail. Well if there were 3 or 4 of them then he might have needed his sword to finish them all.

[Mcflury]

might have? now that must be the understatement of the year (and it's only begun yet )

[Zanth13]

The whole beatdown that Karsa gave the short tail was the author showing Karsa's determination again IMO, get a feel for his personality, look what he is willing to do/go through to prove himself even if its just to himself...

Dont forget that TTT are not normal mortal humans, the dude is a giant.

and he was fighting a creature who has been trapped how long? who was even trying to get away it seemed. So it was a creature that was probably allot weaker than one in its prime.


Karsa was kinda of showing respect by making the fight equal/plus prove something to himself.
like beowulf :cool: only not going nude (i dont think anyway)


-like him or hate him, remember Karsa is a giant, from a society of Brutal Giants, and given the amount of screen time given to him from HOC to present expect him to play a big role in the storly line.

[Mcflury]

well, Karsa kinda walks around half-naked, doesn't he? I think at the point where he knocked down the short tail he was wearing a pants and a completely shred-to-pieces shirt and cloak. So almost naked anyways

[MecnunK]

"Brys Beddict? Decent fella but if you must know, I thought his ressurection in Reaper's Gale was lame."

totally agree, he should have remained underwater or whereever he was. I really liked him tbh in his first outing and his death was dissapointing to say the least but he shouldnt have been brought back.

On Karsa, tbh he has become a just a little more likeable in RG as he helps that forest tribal ppl but even that help is tinged with contempt. Then his vengance on the tiste edur was pretty cool although I got the impression it was not wholly noble given his own motives and likeness for beating ppl.

As for Karsa losing fights well againt the FA I think she just hit him once or something..and not many do win a fight against a FA unless they have a couple of pet demons around to help out. Against Urko it just sounded so out of character for Karsa to just quiet down after a punch that I felt SE simply doesnt want Karsa to make mincemeat out of Urko most probably because he has some role left in the story. I mean compare with the fight against deragoth & short-tail, can anyone honestly say Urko would have beaten those foes..I doubt it.

Anyhow enough.. I hope he gets his upcummunce soon...

[Jayblah]

Zanth13;238337 said:

Dont forget that TTT are not normal mortal humans, the dude is a giant.

The term "giant" gets thrown around alot when it comes to Karsa, who is a Teblor and not a true TTT (a race of true giants). The term can also be misleading. When I think of "giant" I think of a 20-foot tall angerstomping fee-fi-fo-fum'ing mofo', I certainly don't think of Shaquile O'Neal. Karsa's height is around 7-8 feet and no more. Of course, he's also built like Ahnuld, has four lungs, and isn't human. Alas...

MecnunK said:

totally agree, he should have remained underwater or whereever he was. I really liked him tbh in his first outing and his death was dissapointing to say the least but he shouldnt have been brought back.

The major disappointment regarding Brys Beddict's revival is that it invalidates the idea that Ganoes Paran's would be the only true resurrection in the series. Prior to Brys, other characters were brought back, but all experienced changes/difficulties, unlike Ganoes.

[amphibian]

Mcflury;238339 said:

well, Karsa kinda walks around half-naked, doesn't he? I think at the point where he knocked down the short tail he was wearing a pants and a completely shred-to-pieces shirt and cloak. So almost naked anyways

Erikson makes it a point to mention Karsa's clam-shell armor. He did so in Deadhouse Gates, where Karsa was first introduced as Shaik's bodyguard, and in Reaper's Gale, showing Karsa making repairs to the armor with coins.

[Kalahinen]

I had a dream last night where Karsa yelled 'WITNESS!' and jumped from a cliff down into the swirling mists of some river canyon. The fall was maybe a hundred paces...a shame that I didn't dream if he survived or not...