[Madness]

Previous ARC discussion by clicking the quote tag.

So I feel like there were at least two prominent, meaningful suicides in this book, but I'm not sure that I fully understand either, and I hope to get y'all's thoughts.

The two I'm thinking of are Oinaral Lastborn's in Ishterebinth, aka The Weeping Mountain, and down past the Ingressus in the Holy Deep.

The other is A. Koringhus.

Also, very interesting thoughts as a continuation of the The Cleric Suicides...

[Cosi]

Oinaral I think was less "suicide" and more "accepting death". I think if he knew some way to survive rousing his father, he would have done so, but he was willing to die if that was what it took.

[Madness]

A most honourable death, Oinaral.

I do think the crux of Immiricas being the Nonman in the Amiolas is important too: Oinuras asks Sorweel why he's killed his son afterwards and it's likely that Sorweel's answer and Immiricas ethereal face triggers Oinuras to lucidity.

The Tall: their disorder less profound but their humours (which, archaically, I take to be used as moods) more violent.

EDIT: Sorry, Trisk - off topic central here .

[Cosi]

It's definitely an interesting thread. Consider also the Boatman, who is too senile to become Erratic. It's almost as if the Nonmen only have room for one sort of madness.

[Madness]

I just reread the original ARC thread and back through this post and thought I'd bump.

I do find it really interesting that both Nil'giccas/Cleric and Oinaral died basically by suicidal acceptance.

[The Sharmat]

They're apparently pretty hard wired to not take action to directly kill themselves so this is the closest approximation. Like the mansions that opened their gates to the Five Tribes of Men.

[Madness]

Very interesting.

[JRControl]

Suicide in general is an interesting topic. It is basically the purest expression of our will against our genes, at least the way I see it. The fact that Nonmen are basically unable intimates something curious, but I lack structure and articulation to frame it in.

[The Sharmat]

Suicide could arguably serve a role in a social species if you've reached the point where you're incapable of caring for yourself and as a result substantially reduce the likelihood of your kin to survive and breed.

Cunuroi cognition seems pretty different though. And I think they had an even larger generation time than normal humans, right? So the cost of a tendency towards suicidal thoughts could be greater.

[Madness]

Hmm... I will have to muse on these thoughts, you two.

Again, very interesting.