Kevin's Watch

Foamfollower tells Covenant (during their journey to Revelstone) that "I was born on shipboard during the short voyage which saved us from the Desecration". Which, of course, was at least 1000 years prior to his saying this.

and he lived for 45 years after that. Or 46?

so around 1045 ish.

--A

...it does seem old though.

The lifespan of Giants is in the thousands of years. I don't have the books handy, but didn't either Pitchwife or the First say something to the effect that back home there were still those alive who remember the departure of The Unhomed, who are known to them as The Lost? That would be a good 4,000 to 5,000 years.

they said that?

i thought they said something about no one remembering it...

damn, im lost again

No, I'm pretty sure it was that they do. This was, I think, when they were noting that humans were among the shortest-lived beings, and therefore had trouble believing that Covenant had personally seen and experienced the things he claimed from 4000 years before. Or it could have been just before they went to see the Elohim, when they were talking about how a crew of Giants (not the Lost/Unhomed themselves) had disappeared in a very short time after choosing to stay among the Elohim.

hmmm, someone has to look it up...

Rincewind wrote:hmmm, someone has to look it up...

Anyone remember when this conversation took place? I read through the last few chapters of TWL and it's not there. Covenant tells the giants of the Unhomed and how they died, but I can't find the part mentioned above.

Maybe it is during TOT while they are relating stories on board ship...

I think there may be a reference to The Lost and the lifespan of giants in TOT. A couple of chapters prior to the Dromond arriving at The Land of the Elohim, like IrrationalSanity said.

Ok, there's this from "Father's Child" in TOT. Pitchwife is talking to Linden:

But we are also a long-lived people. Our children are children yet when they have attained such age as yours. Therefore our families may hope for lives together in spans more easily measured by decades than years.

Still looking for more...

Decades, rather than years...

So if you multiply the average human life by 10 years...I guess Giants lived to be in their 800's-900's.

Foamfollower, however, lived in the land, and he served Earthpower (as seen by how well he could propell his boat)--so his life was expanded, just like Mhoram, and Elena et al. so being 1000 years old, is jnot that far fetched.
Possibly for a Giant from Home, 1000 years may be quite elderly, but one who lived in the Land, might not be that far off.

(as seen by how well he could propell his boat

I always wondered why Foamfollower exhausted himself doing this, why not take a break?

I don't think the boat bit is any indication of superior Earthpower knowledge in FoamFollower. I got the impression that any of the Giants could use a boat with Gildenlode keels and rudders, otherwise why would the Lords be working on them in quantity for the Giant's hopeful return voyage home.

Giants in general seem to be quite lorewise and powerful. Consider not only their lifespans and the Elohim gift of Tounges, but their Stonecraft, the occasional appearance of the EarthSight, the fact that a Giant cannot (normally) be possessed by a Raver, etc...

I always had the impression that the Gildenlode rudder called up the Earthpower, but it took the strength of a giant to actually steer the rudder when it was Earthpowered. And even a giant can get tired over so many days of hard work

As to why he exhausted himself doing it, I always figured that he got the message Atiaran gave to him and understood the importance of getting TC to Revelstone as quickly as possible.

I thought that the giants knew the lore to coax the Gildenlode to life and have the earthpower flow through it. The giants were the only ones with the incredible strength and patience it took to operate the rudders for any great length of time. Weren't they going against the current for part of the way?

Yea, but an hour isnt gonna make a difference, i mean TC sat about Revelstone for ages before the Quest.
I Always thought Foamy should have just put the boat on the bank and rested.

He wanted his own message to get to Revelstone.
Plus seeing Covenants ring, and Half-hand, he probebly wanted to get him to the Lorsd..and off his boat, ASAP.

I think it would have been uncharacteristically disrespectful of Foamfollower to assume Covenant's mission could wait while he had a nap.

CovenantJr wrote:I think it would have been uncharacteristically disrespectful of Foamfollower to assume Covenant's mission could wait while he had a nap.

Hmmm, perhaps. Mabye what i was trying to say was I would have.