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What exactly entail as "power" that one immortal receive from another?

posted 9 years ago by Tmood
4 replies | jump to latest

As the saying goes, "he cannot die, unless you take his head and with it, his's power" -- and so after watching quite a few Quickening up to this point -- I have to wonder, what exactly is this "power" that they gain? Knowledge? Because so far, we do not see him applying the "power" or the "knowledge" he gained. Is it perhaps the sword-fighting skills? The investigative skills? The martial combat skills? Again, the show implied that Duncan acquired his sword-fighting skills through various masters, not through Quickening. Investigative skills seems to be a culmination of 400 years of experiences. Martial combat skills, also from "the people that invented it"...

So what is this "power"?? Thoughts?

[–] ryto_69 9 years ago

Well I can't really give you a satisfying answer to this question, but one thing is for certain, there is going to be an ego and confidence boost after taking each head, and maybe the quickening really reinforces this.

[–] kelzan 8 years ago

It was described in an early episode, I can't remember which one that you receive the "Knowledge and strength" of the opponent.
There is no episode where this is directly applied as far as I know, but it is mentioned in Legacy were Luther takes Rebecca's head when she lays down here sword, and Amanda wants to go after Luther. Duncan say, "If Luther took her head than he's good."
Since Luther did not get her head by outfighting her why did Duncan say this unless he knew you inherit skills like sword fighting from the quickening?
Also the main storyline of the episode Methos was Kalas trying to find Methos and take his head. Methos tells him if he does he will have the power to take Mac's head, he even offers him his head so he'll have the power to take Kalas with certainty.

[–] camimac 8 years ago

It was described in an early episode, I can't remember which one that you receive the "Knowledge and strength" of the opponent.
There is no episode where this is directly applied as far as I know

I think that we see it to some degree in the fourth season episode, Something Wicked. It's clear that Jim Coltec gains not only the knowledge of those he beheads. He takes on their characteristics too.



[–] kelzan 8 years ago

That's a Dark Quickening, he had been building up to one for at least decades, until the evil finally overwhelmed him.
The reverse is the Light Quickening, where an evil Immortal kills a very good ancient or powerful Immortal and becomes good. In Band of Brothers, Mac said that it was rumored that's what happened to Darius. They never say for sure if it is true or not.
That would have made a great episode, where a very old good Immortal friend is killed by a very bad Immortal enemy and becomes good.