Almean Longevity
Almean Longevity
What's the average lifespan for each of the Almean sapients, including humans?
I don't think I've set specific numbers, but here's what I recall.
humans, flaids - about like ours
ilii - over a thousand years
elcari, murtani - 300 years (average)
ktuvoks - somewhat shorter than humans
It's hard picturing the murtani actually making it to the end of their theoretical lifespan. Living among murtani is a bad lifestyle choice.
humans, flaids - about like ours
ilii - over a thousand years
elcari, murtani - 300 years (average)
ktuvoks - somewhat shorter than humans
It's hard picturing the murtani actually making it to the end of their theoretical lifespan. Living among murtani is a bad lifestyle choice.
What evolutionary forces were at work to make the lifespan's of the ilii, elcari, and murtani so long?zompist wrote:I don't think I've set specific numbers, but here's what I recall.
humans, flaids - about like ours
ilii - over a thousand years
elcari, murtani - 300 years (average)
ktuvoks - somewhat shorter than humans
It's hard picturing the murtani actually making it to the end of their theoretical lifespan. Living among murtani is a bad lifestyle choice.
and the Ktuvok's as short as it is?Ngo wrote:What evolutionary forces were at work to make the lifespan's of the ilii, elcari, and murtani so long?zompist wrote:I don't think I've set specific numbers, but here's what I recall.
humans, flaids - about like ours
ilii - over a thousand years
elcari, murtani - 300 years (average)
ktuvoks - somewhat shorter than humans
It's hard picturing the murtani actually making it to the end of their theoretical lifespan. Living among murtani is a bad lifestyle choice.
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Enjolras for President!
The elcari have been discussed here.Cypress wrote:and the Ktuvok's as short as it is?Ngo wrote:What evolutionary forces were at work to make the lifespan's of the ilii, elcari, and murtani so long?
For the others, we're probably not looking at evolutionary reasons at all. Both ilii and ktuvoks have been civilized for so long that we're dealing more with science fiction than fantasy-- meaning that they've effectively chosen to be as they are. And what both species have optimized themselves for, at least in part, is war with each other-- but with different strategies. The ilii have chosen wisdom, the ktuvoks strength. That is, the ilii prefer to wage war cleverly, and for this long life is useful; it means that they have a thousand years of tricks in living memory. The ktuvoks rely more on power and endurance, and thus most of their population is (relative to the ilii) young.
Wouldn't that sort of information also be useful to ktuvoki, who rely on trickery and manipulation to create the empires that they deploy against the ilii? Or did the ktuvoki rely more on their own strength and sorcerous abilities against the ilii -- these things didn't seem to avail them much against well-organized human foes?zompist wrote:The ilii have chosen wisdom, the ktuvoks strength. That is, the ilii prefer to wage war cleverly, and for this long life is useful; it means that they have a thousand years of tricks in living memory.
Oh THAT'S why I was on hiatus. Right. Hiatus Mode re-engaged.
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It may help to think of the ktuvoks as neocons. Not that they were modelled on them, of course, but the basic idea is similar: no matter how clever your opponents think they are, enough brute strength and you'll roll right over them.ils wrote:Wouldn't that sort of information also be useful to ktuvoki, who rely on trickery and manipulation to create the empires that they deploy against the ilii? Or did the ktuvoki rely more on their own strength and sorcerous abilities against the ilii -- these things didn't seem to avail them much against well-organized human foes?zompist wrote:The ilii have chosen wisdom, the ktuvoks strength. That is, the ilii prefer to wage war cleverly, and for this long life is useful; it means that they have a thousand years of tricks in living memory.
Funny, you don't see neocons changing laws and traditions through the courts instead of the legislatures like libbys . . . so who's using brute force to roll over whom?zompist wrote:It may help to think of the ktuvoks as neocons. Not that they were modelled on them, of course, but the basic idea is similar: no matter how clever your opponents think they are, enough brute strength and you'll roll right over them.
When you know you can't get your way, find a judge who will change the law for you . . . the libby way. Sounds like the ktuvoks are liberals to me.
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Heh, I guess that would explain why the ktuvoks are the less successful lifeform overall...zompist wrote:It may help to think of the ktuvoks as neocons. Not that they were modelled on them, of course, but the basic idea is similar: no matter how clever your opponents think they are, enough brute strength and you'll roll right over them.
Oh THAT'S why I was on hiatus. Right. Hiatus Mode re-engaged.
Let's just blame the Canadians.samisto wrote:Funny, you don't see neocons changing laws and traditions through the courts instead of the legislatures like libbys . . . so who's using brute force to roll over whom?zompist wrote:It may help to think of the ktuvoks as neocons. Not that they were modelled on them, of course, but the basic idea is similar: no matter how clever your opponents think they are, enough brute strength and you'll roll right over them.
When you know you can't get your way, find a judge who will change the law for you . . . the libby way. Sounds like the ktuvoks are liberals to me.
Ktuvoki = Canadians.
Well, the neo-cons favor invading any country that suits them which is a far cry from America's tradition of non-interventionism.samisto wrote:Funny, you don't see neocons changing laws and traditions through the courts instead of the legislatures like libbys . . . so who's using brute force to roll over whom?zompist wrote:It may help to think of the ktuvoks as neocons. Not that they were modelled on them, of course, but the basic idea is similar: no matter how clever your opponents think they are, enough brute strength and you'll roll right over them.
I just found it offensive, so in the great liberal tradition of sensitivity, please respect that. Thank you.Ngo wrote:Well, the neo-cons favor invading any country that suits them which is a far cry from America's tradition of non-interventionism.samisto wrote:Funny, you don't see neocons changing laws and traditions through the courts instead of the legislatures like libbys . . . so who's using brute force to roll over whom?zompist wrote:It may help to think of the ktuvoks as neocons. Not that they were modelled on them, of course, but the basic idea is similar: no matter how clever your opponents think they are, enough brute strength and you'll roll right over them.
[i]Bal Dusoata[/i]
I'm curious as to how the ilii's lifespan got so long. At first glance, 1000+ years doesn't seem likely, if at all plausible, but I'm sure there's some way it could happen. It makes them even more comparable to Elves, in my opinion (and I'm not saying that in a bad way )zompist wrote:I don't think I've set specific numbers, but here's what I recall.
humans, flaids - about like ours
ilii - over a thousand years
elcari, murtani - 300 years (average)
ktuvoks - somewhat shorter than humans
The same goes for the Elkari and the Murtani...~300 years is almost exactly what the lifespan of your average Tolkeinesque Dwarf, isn't it?. Interesting.
How closely are the humans/Flaids and the Elkari/Murtani related, and what causes such long lifespans in the Ilii and Elkari?
In human societies, lifespan is a good gauge of overall quality of life. It varies surprisingly widely; in bad times you're lucky to reach 50; today Americans can expect to reach 90.
As a species advances, it gets more control over nature, and over itself-- it can concentrate on extending lifespan, if it wants. (We're doing this already, to a large extent... possibly a questionable extent, since we seem to value it higher than other quality-of-life issues.) If people are enjoying life, they're likely to want to do so as long as they can.
As a species advances, it gets more control over nature, and over itself-- it can concentrate on extending lifespan, if it wants. (We're doing this already, to a large extent... possibly a questionable extent, since we seem to value it higher than other quality-of-life issues.) If people are enjoying life, they're likely to want to do so as long as they can.
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That's the funniest thing I've ever read. The US is an empire in all but name.Well, the neo-cons favor invading any country that suits them which is a far cry from America's tradition of non-interventionism.
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DarkFantasy's right, guys.Ngo wrote:It is now, but it was not always so; or at least it was not as bad.Eddy the Great wrote:That's the funniest thing I've ever read. The US is an empire in all but name.Well, the neo-cons favor invading any country that suits them which is a far cry from America's tradition of non-interventionism.
Oh THAT'S why I was on hiatus. Right. Hiatus Mode re-engaged.