Princes of the Universe
the immortals
Duncan MacLeod is Immortal... so what does this mean? Something specific in and unique to the Highlander universe, we know for sure.
Immortals are a mysterious race of long-lived individuals, not truly Immortal since they can be
killed - but only by decapitation. They are vying for the Prize, to be won through the Game, at
the time of the Gathering. Basically they are drawn together to try to kill one another with
swords, so the winner can gain their collective power. When is this Gathering? Duncan thinks it's definitely happening in the first season, but then seems to relegate it to the future.
The Quickening is the transfer of power between to the victor from the deceased, represented as a lighting show, hazardous to any fragile objects or structures that happen to be in the area. Immortals can also sense one another through the "Immortal Buzz" which alerts them to possible danger.
Immortals of different ages and experience levels appear throughout the series. The oldest living Immortal is 5000 years old, and newly-minted Immortals sometimes appear. A person's Immortality - presumably inborn - is triggered by death. One remains the same physical "age" after this first death: we see Immortals who look 10 years old, and those who look elderly.
Each Immortal has their own disposition and attitude toward the Game. Some are fixated on winning and don't form attachments to others of their kind. Others, like Duncan, nurture friendships with the like-minded. In a widely-practised tradition (even among "bad" Immortals), an older, more experienced Immortal - a teacher or mentor - will take on a student or apprentice.
Students learns basic sword techniques and the rules of the Game. Richie Ryan is Duncan's student, just as Duncan was Connor MacLeod's student.
The Rules, seldom violated by any Immortal, are thus:
- Battles must not occur on holy ground.
- Battles must be one-on-one; another Immortal must not interfere.
- In the end, there can be only one.
All Immortals are careful not to let their true identities become public. They move around the world to avoid scrutiny, especially after "dying."
Where do Immortals come from? What will happen when one wins the Prize? In the, ahem, immortal words of Sean Connery as Ramirez, " Who knows?" All we can say for certain is that the concept of Immortals, secret world-weary princes, remains compelling.
