Quote Originally Posted by Lyth View Post
Are the Ancients truly immortal, though?
If they wanted to be, yes! <--- The keywords in what you quoted.

You listed two examples in the your post. It's considered unnatural and bad to their society, though. But look how relatively easy it is for them. Venat becomes Hydaelyn, and goes on living for 12,000 years + however many she lived prior to that in Ancient Etheirys.

Emet-selch somehow remains Unsundered, and then through dickbag means continues to live for 12,000 years + however long he lived before in Ancient Etheirys.

As far as Hesperos goes, it's more or less him saying that he found one of the ways an Ancient could become immortal. His method is even more vague than either of the ones we've seen firsthand.

As far as them talking about death in, "Euphemisms" embrace the Bacon Necktie, Lyth. It's not a euphemism. They literally don't die when their bodies do. Their souls go on living and come back in new flesh. Hell, Hades and Hythlodaeus "die" in the modern age, and are given a true chance at revival in Ultima Thule, but opt out of continuing to live.

As far as the ole Hermes denial? That's just a riverfall in Elpis, babe. He doesn't want to admit that choosing to return to the star is a good thing for society at large. New minds get to move into new positions, and have the pressure of bearing society's woes and weal. It lets them grow as people. If everyone in their society chose to continue living for however the hell long they can keep themselves going, then it'd always be the same minds taking care of everyone. The youth would grow up bridled by indolence, and the society would stagnate. I mean, look at how bad it is in our world where politicians don't live forever, but either have no term limits or life sentence terms OR prolong their agendas by raising their children into them.

Not too mention the fact that couples can go out together. You ever watched someone lose the love of their life, and then live on in shambles afterwards? It ain't pretty.