I love it that Quentin followed the rule laid down by Tolkien of what the Hero has to give up to notch the Final Victory. With Katan the Beheader playing the part of Gollum (or Doc Patah, depending on how you look at it).

Intentional nod to the Master, or just the biomechanics of what's bound to happen when you palm a Quyth Warrior facemask while a Ki is rocketing into you?