[Michigan]

so I just finished Reapers Gale last night and like everybody who has ever read one of Eriksons books, i'm a little muddy on some of the details. And don't go spoiling Toll the Hounds for me just to answer the question.

So, what happened to Icarium at the end?

Good book, as usual for Erikson. Not up to Deadhouse Gates or Memories of Ice but still a step up from Bonehunters.

[killhus]

Icarium built a machine that would fix him in Letharis thousands of years ago. The purpose of the machine was to fix his amnesic mind. When he activated the machine it was sopposed to absorb his memories and lay them out for him, In losing his amnesia he would become self aware and no longer forget everything everyday. He activated the machine but the pieces were mixed up over the long period of time so it malfunctioned. I think it short circuited and instead of just absorbing Icariums mind it absorbed the mind of everyone nearby.

I think Icarium is still alive but know he has the memories of all the people who were absorbed as well as him. I think hes not amnesic anymore.

[Tomau]

Hmm, I thought that he ascended to godhood...and restored his memory in the act of it. I didn't get this of absorbing other people minds.
But where did he disappear from Letheras, then?

[Salsa Dip]

Just bear in mind that most of the above is speculation, and not necessarily what happened.

[kcf]

it isn't known what happendend to Icarium.

My personal favorite speculation is that he was transformed into the Chained God.

[killhus]

Hmm, I thought that he ascended to godhood...and restored his memory in the act of it. I didn't get this of absorbing other people minds.
But where did he disappear from Letheras, then?

yes most of what I said is speculation. However it is a fact that the machine absorbed peoples memories before it killed them. It wasnt supposed to, it malfunctioned it was only supposed to absob and fix Icarium.

RG page 798

"Pinned, as white fire licked out towards him, Rautos could feel his blood drainig from his crushed legs, turning the compounds dust into mud.
Yes, he thought as it began with mud, so now it ends-
The white fire enveloped him.
And sucked out from his mind every memory he posessed.
The thing that died there a short time later was not Rautos Hivanar"

"Yet in all that time, all who were devoured by the white fire emptied their lives into it. Every memory, from the pain of birth to the last moment of death.
The machine , alas was indeed broken."

It is a fact that Icarium built the machine. As for its purose im not sure I think it was supposed to fix Icariums memory. The huge white explosion, and the biuldings falling down is were i got the short circuit theory from, I dont think it was supposed to work like that.

Page 797

" To measure time, one must begin. To grow futureward, one must root. Deep ino the ground with blood.
I built this machine. This place that will forge my beginning. No longer outside the world. No longer outside time itself. Give me this wounded or not, give me this. If K'rul can why not me.

Based on those facts I put together my theory of what happened. Maybe he did ascend, I dont know, there was no indication that he ascended. The fixing of his memory was from the machine being activated. I dont know if it worked though because the machine malfunctioned. I could be wrong the whole thing is kind of hazy, I like to hear anyone elses theory on it.

As far as were did he disappear to I dont know. He went through a portal hole of some kind.