Mated pairs and tsaheylu in battle.

[kewnya txamew'itan]

We know that a large part of na'vi culture is based around becoming a successful warrior and hunter with two of the relatively few rites of passage we know about being based around it and this leads me to the question, would a mated pair ever use tsaheylu to gain advantage in a battle (near instantaneous communication between you and the person watching your back has to help)?

I'm not sure, it seems that the na'vi would do lots of things to aid them in battle including some tactics that wouldn't necessarily be considered 'fair' such as ambushes (like the one they spring on the sawtute when they're about to bomb the tree of souls) and guerilla tactics etc. so I wouldn't put it past them on that level.

That said, might making tsaheylu in public like this be seen as taboo given its association with copulation?

Also, even if it isn't taboo, I seem to remember Cameron describing the experience of tsaheylu with another na'viyä hapxì to be extraordinarily pleasurable in which case, might this counteract the benefits of thinking as one by distracting them from the task at hand?

As I say, I'm in two minds about the issue (no pun intended, honest  ) so I thought I'd ask for your thoughts.

[Zalorticus]

I don't think making tsaheylu in battle would work. The Na'vi always move quickly and strongly, going far distances. How can that happen when they are joined together? Being joined by the hair would give both Na'vi less mobility, increasing the chance of them being injured.

[kewnya txamew'itan]

If you've made tsaheylu though you wouldn't be two people as regards movement, but rather a single one which I don't see as being any less manoeuvrable than a palulukan or nantang.

They may be physically joined but the two bodies would be in perfect harmony and so you wouldn't end up with one falling behind the other or a lessening of mobility.

[Muzer]

It's not like it's difficult to unlink or anything either...

[Ash]

This, I think, would again depend on what exactly is being shared by Tsaheylu between two Na'vi. If it is largely on the emotions part, I guess it would be more distracting, like for example one of them being startled by an attacker while the other is trying to focus on another.
Also I do think that two connected queues, which would not swing/rebound as freely as a single one, would be more at risk to take damage by a claw, knife a.s.o. - which bears a lot of weight, given the importance of the queue.
And if during a fight the queues suddenly would be separated, I guess the sudden absence of impulses from the other Na'vi would again be distracting.

So all in all, I do see more Cons then Pros here... 

[kewnya txamew'itan]

Ma ash, I agree on what you say about the nature of tsaheylu but given the way the na'vi seem to be able to control the pa'li and possibly ikran (although this seems to be more like negotiating a compromise from Jake's first flight), it seems to me that there must be a lot more information other than emotions transmitted.

The two connected queues would probably offer an easier target but at the same time, having two 'in-tune' na'vi defending it could possibly compensate.

If the queues were seperated suddenly that could be problematic, yes although actually neytiri doesn't seem to be too badly affected (besides the grief) by the sudden loss of connection when seze is killed and I'd argue that the grief has nothing to do with the fact they were bonded at the time, just that she had built a very close relationship with seze (through tsaheylu).

Swings and roundabouts really I guess.

[Tsa'räni]

Even if it worked like you claimed with two fully sentient beings like Na'vi, which I doubt, you would still have severe limitations in battle.  You need space when you're fighting and being tied together (unless you're fighting in a choreographed movie), no matter how good the communication might be, would be an extreme hindrance.  No to mention that you'd still be more effective if you could attack the same enemy from two sides, which being bonded like that would preclude.

It would just end up causing more problems than solving.

[kewnya txamew'itan]

I guess so.

I still think there would be reasonable advantages but I seem to be on my own (and have a history of being wrong) so I'll bow to prevailing opinion. 

[Ekirä]

I agree that there could certainly be advantages to have two minds fighting together at once.

However, if you recall, in the main battle scene in the movie there really aren't any Na'vi fighting on foot (I might be wrong on this, correct me if I am), and I don't think you can ride your ikran or pa'li when you have made tsahaylu with your mate.

Does that make sense? It just seems unlikely that they would choose to connect with one another instead of an ikran/pa'li which would give them a bigger advantage.

Now, if they had two queues.....then they could do that. 

[Eawnyu te Tisorina'Srusiyu'ite]

well it is a good question, but when u think about it, i think it would really depend on what they are doing, they type of battle and the circumstance. ill have think more on it

[Tìrey Tsmukan]

When it comes right down to it, it's a point of how connected the Tsaheylu is. Meaning how melded are you with the other persons mind. Also, I agree with what Kaltxì Palulukan said, the Na'vi don't have two queues, it makes things hard if you have to connect also with a creature.
but for a moment lets just say the connection is absolutely perfect, and that you are fighting on foot with your mate, against several other Na'vi. as in like a tribe battle. (which admittedly I don't know if had ever happened, but just suppose) in which case I would say the advantages of using Tsaheylu with your mate would greatly out weigh the disadvantages. As you would function as a perfectly tuned individual, taking the strengths of both persons. it would allow you to hold your own against several other Na'vi without the connection if they were surrounding you, as you would be fighting back to back. this increases sight, decreases points of attack for the aggressors, and increase ways for the defenders to keep themselves safe. This technique has been used for centuries on earth, and we don't have Tsaheylu. so in that scenario, I would think that making Tsaheylu is a good idea.
However, here's another scenario, you want to flank someone, the shortness of the queue makes that very difficult. So already you have problems.

it also comes down to what kind of weapons you are using, lets go back to the defending scenario. if you are only equipped with daggers, you need to be able to move completely freely, so a connection might not be such a good idea there. But if you are using spears and can keep your enemies at a distance, without having to move a huge amount, now you've got a point of defense. so perhaps the Tsaheylu is a good idea.

Lastly, what are you fighting? now let's put the Na'vi as the aggressor, and with bows this time. perhaps you want to take down a Yerìk silently, and you have you and your mate. if you were connected, you could instantly chose where and how to hit the Yerìk without verbal communication. cutting down response time, and increasing efficiency. And if you had to take down several targets at once, again you would be able to shoot without having to worry if your partner is going to shoot the same thing. So, this increases efficiency but sacrifices mobility. So again, depending on what you want to do, it's a question to be asked.

So, from what I see, it all comes down to these four things. first and foremost: How good is Tsaheylu? second:What type of situation are you in? third: what kind of weapons are you using? and fourth, what are you fighting?

I think if you had a pair that had been together for a while, and knew how to function well together. Tsaheylu would be a very nice option on occasion.

So, there's my opinion. As a proud hunter and stout improvisational warrior of renaissances fairs, I would love to be able to test all of these things. *sigh*

Well, Eywa ngahu! and watch your back, you don't have a Na'vi there with you.