immer

The chapter recounts the narrator's early life in Embassytown, their departure and return as an adult with new skills and experiences, and their gradual understanding of immersion and the immer. It details a traumatic event involving the arrival of a miab that releases a dangerous immer entity called a stichling, highlighting the dangers of the immer and the community's response. The narrator reflects on memory, identity, and the complex relationship between Embassytown inhabitants and the immer, setting the stage for their role as an immerser.

The chapter details the protagonist's journey through rigorous assessments to become an immerser, a specialist capable of navigating the complex and dangerous realm called the immer. It explores the unique skills and somatic control required for immersion, the political and physical challenges of travel to the remote world of Arieka, and the mysterious dangers marked by ancient lighthouses within the immer. The narrative also contrasts the protagonist's experiences with those of others less fortunate, emphasizing the contingency and exclusivity of becoming an immerser.