Board Thread:The Last Sovereign Discussion/@comment-27713488-20181103233945/@comment-1435995-20190724202544

DukeLeto7 wrote: I think Ockham's Razor (to the extent that it applies in a spec thread about a fantasy fictional universe) argues against bringing in the assumption that Ulrissa has had an multi-century lifespan. It's literally an ad hoc assumption tossed in to rescue the hypothesis of Tanurak being old enough to have been around centuries prior. There's some evidence against it, in that none of the specific events she described in her own past (the 2nd Arclent War and the Fall of Givini) happened much more than 40 years prior to her first appearance. There's no evidence for it. Also, we know that Riala's longevity is drawn from her divine shard, there's no evidence that Ulrissa has access to one.

Without more evidence to show that she is a whole lot older, the simpler theory that she's a normal human with a normal lifespan has the upper hand. A normal human wouldn't survive in that place for (at least) 40 years. She also has Tower Nodes as her guardians. Also something that normal humans lack. You also forget that shards are not the only way one can acquire power. Understanding the Tower can also make someone powerful (possibly to the degree of becoming immortal). Esthera explored the Tower for a little while and found a way to dominate her shard. So, why can't someone become immortal if he delved the Tower for Ivala knows how long?

As for Ockham's Razor, while it is indeed a useful tool it is not full proof. As long as there is some degree of possibility, even the weirdest stuff can happen.