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[FernRain]

I had a random thought...If the blight wasn't naturally occurring...what if Ghilan'nain or one of the Forgotten Ones genetically engineered it to use against the Titans. What if Ghilly created darkspawn and/or broodmothers to use against their enemies?

I ran across a disturbing description of the last damaged pages of "Grim Anatomy" in WOT2 pp. 275-276, I think...could these be her designs? I can write up an excerpt in the morning if anyone wants to check it out...

 

Yes please! I have half a mind to ask for WoT for Christmas.

[drosophila]

Good point! Now I have no idea how contact with the fade would affect the binding site specificity, other than i was just making assumptions that it would change their pre-existing substrates & specificity equally & not interfere with their intercellular interactions. (I don't even know how plausible that is, seeing as I have never actually read much about altering specificity on a large scale)

 

 As for their bodies looking completely different- ... have you seen those thighs? I'd call that pretty different. (I'm joking)  Anyways, I was using ionic examples in my head when I was thinking about it (when altering their intercellular interactions didn't really occur to me) & changing the specificity of a binding site via changing its ionic charge(s)/structure of the binding site but not necessarily changing the role/function/structure of the cell itself.  Like triangle binding sites turn into square binding sites & triangle substrates turn into square substrates.  But I haven't put much thought into the specifics apart from it peaking my creativity 

 

You wanna know my theory of how elves have a better connection to the Fade? 

 

They have Fade organelles! Fade-plasts.  They make them in their cells when they from physical bodies and quit being just spirits. They are microscopic Fade rifts inside cells made of physical matter and they connect them to their spiritual part. 

 

Not sure exactly how the Veil messes with that yet 

[Cee]

Found on solas-an tumblr...

 

\

 

 

...

 

 

...What the actual hell is going on here???

 

(was Solas a circus performer at one point? Or is he just showing off!?)

 

Look, the Evanuris had a lot of time on their hands. They got bored and picked up obscure tricks.
 

[FernRain]

What makes me curious then is what the original vallaslin were done with....because it was probably literal "blood writing" then, since blood magic hinder a connection to the Fade.

 

So, who's blood?

 

Good question. Lyrium? That has the power to shut people off from the fade doesn't it (lyrium brand for tranquil)? Could be why the evanuris were farming it off the titans.

[drosophila]

Look, the Evanuris had a lot of time on their hands. They got bored and picked up obscure tricks.
 

 

He's trying to impress Lavellan

[Missy_MI]

Wanna vote on my poll to help convince bioware to keep quizzy as the protagonist? haha

 

I just did! Looks like most folks want a new protagonist though. Darn!

[midnight tea]

Look, the Evanuris had a lot of time on their hands. They got bored and picked up obscure tricks.

 

Not only he's a Fadewalker, he's a Horse Whisperer as well???

 

....How many hidden talents a man can have!? (even an immortal one)

[midnight tea]

I just did! Looks like most folks want a new protagonist though. Darn!

 

Nah, it's actually relatively even And if you take the poll as a whole, currently 72% actually want to see Quizzy in the next title (in one way or another), with around half wanting it to be a more involved role.

[OxidantsHappen]

You wanna know my theory of how elves have a better connection to the Fade? 

 

They have Fade organelles! Fade-plasts.  They make them in their cells when they from physical bodies and quit being just spirits. They are microscopic Fade rifts inside cells made of physical matter and they connect them to their spiritual part. 

 

Not sure exactly how the Veil messes with that yet 

 

So that's why the fade is green!

 

But really, I like that idea.  So if they're like chloroplasts, they have their own set of fade-DNA? 

[drosophila]

Not only he's a Fadewalker, he's a Horse Whisperer as well???

 

....How many hidden talents a man can have!? (even an immortal one)

 

Damn you, apocalypse boyfriend, why you have to be so perfect but so touched in the head???

[drosophila]

So that's why the fade is green!

 

But really, I like that idea.  So if they're like chloroplasts, they have their own set of fade-DNA? 

 

OMG, yes I didn't think of that     

 

The spirit genome! Sooo, will they inherit from mom, dad, or 50-50?

[OxidantsHappen]

OMG, yes I didn't think of that     

 

The spirit genome! Sooo, will they inherit from mom, dad, or 50-50?

 

Allele frequency determined by genetic rift

 

 

[Cee]

Out of likes but       Babies!

 

Enjoy that wedding, I remember you posting about your friend being a total sweetheart and his fiance helping you troll him

 

But most importantly... Give us moar of your delicious writing!

 

Well, I'm old enough so that marriages and babies are happening around me.  

 

Blame my friend who just gave birth for inspiring the story. Well, giving me an idea to ground a new story, though not sure if it will be fluff or feels yet.   But in the last one, Nirwen's mom was pregnant with her brother. I'd like to bring things forward a bit.

 

My friend's fiancee both trolls me and helps me troll him. She's really perfect for him. Maybe I'll get inspired by feels again.

[midnight tea]

So that's why the fade is green!

 

But really, I like that idea.  So if they're like chloroplasts, they have their own set of fade-DNA? 

 

 

OMG, yes I didn't think of that     

 

The spirit genome! Sooo, will they inherit from mom, dad, or 50-50?

 

 

Allele frequency determined by genetic rift

 

 

 

Gotta love all this excited sciency talk         

[Cee]

Not only he's a Fadewalker, he's a Horse Whisperer as well???

 

....How many hidden talents a man can have!? (even an immortal one)

 

If I had an infinite lifespan I would learn pretty much everything I could. Languages, sciences, how to ride horses like a circus performer...

[Cee]

While my nails are drying, I am enjoying all of you just completely nerding out.

 

Fade DNA.

[drosophila]

Allele frequency determined by genetic rift

 

 

 

I   you! 

 

Soooo, more about the spirit genome:

 

We know spirits are formed from ideas. We have Compassion, Wisdom, Desire, blah...

 

Basically a spirit is formed when collective ideas condense the essence of the fade into a spritual entity. The spirit genome can be some sort of macromolecule composed of Fade particles that "encodes" the spirit essence.

 

When elves form physical bodies from spirits, they obtain a physical genome, defining their bodies, AND they retain their spirit genome, defining their spiritual essence. So, Solas is an elf, but he can also carry the essence of Wisdom (or Pride) within him. 

 

Modern elves still have these, but they are dormant. They're passed down randomly from one parent of either gender. (Let's assume behavior similar to mitochondrial DNA, cause otherwise this headcanon becomes too complicated). 

 

Since they are dorman post-veil, spiritual characteristics are not selected for and are susceptible to drift. Which is why the modern elves look like Tranquil to Solas, they have been losing their spirit functional spirit genes.

 

But our Lavellan - she retains hers by chance. She's a spirit of hope!

 

I've had too much wine tonight. 

[midnight tea]

If I had an infinite lifespan I would learn pretty much everything I could. Languages, sciences, how to ride horses like a circus performer...

 

Yeah, well, the circus horserising is likely not as easy to train in the Fade - he must've began practice only after he woke up after traumatic Veil creation event...

 

Gotta hand it to Solas - he's definitely living on the edge Not afraid for his brittle bones or anything! Didn't really pin him as the YOLO type of guy.

 

 

... Which makes me wonder - wasn't he afraid all this time that he himself may die? I mean, aside from all the theoretical discussion about possibility of falling ill... we take him on our journeys as a companion and we can see him getting injured, bloodied, fall unconscious on the battlefield even and do all the risky stuff, like hanging around red lyrium or falling with Inky into the Abyssal Rift.

 

I mean, judging from the future in Redcliffe and all the game over cards suggesting that the world will fall after Inquisitor's death, the Inquisition must have really been the one and only hope to save the world from the threat of the Breach and Corypheus, but he indeed take enormous risks just by approaching Inquisition and seems to either volunteer to accompany Inquisitor or never seems to make excuses when he's ordered/asked to join the adventuring party. I suppose the logical explanation of it could be that he kept an eye on Inquisitor, but still - gotta admire the bravery.

[drosophila]

Yeah, well, the circus horserising is likely not as easy to train in the Fade - he must've began practice only after he woke up after traumatic Veil creation event...

 

Gotta hand it to Solas - he's definitely living on the edge Not afraid for his brittle bones or anything! Didn't really pin him as the YOLO type of guy.

 

 

... Which makes me wonder - wasn't he afraid all this time that he himself may die? I mean, aside from all the theoretical discussion about possibility of falling ill... we take him on our journeys as a companion and we can see him getting injured, bloodied, fall unconscious on the battlefield even and do all the risky stuff, like hanging around red lyrium or falling with Inky into the Abyssal Rift.

 

I mean, judging from the future in Redcliffe and all the game over cards suggesting that the world will fall after Inquisitor's death, the Inquisition must have really been the one and only hope to save the world from the threat of the Breach and Corypheus, but he indeed take enormous risks just by approaching Inquisition and seems to either volunteer to accompany Inquisitor or never seems to find excuses when he's ordered/asked to join the adventuring party. I suppose the logical explanation of it could be that he kept an eye on Inquisitor, but still - gotta admire the bravery.

 

Well, dude did lauch a rebellion against immortal mage kings and managed to bug them to the point where they had to spread propaganda against him. He's clearly not the fearful sort. 

 

Also, I think this points to just how desperate he must've been.

 

Really, kudos, Solas for appearing so calm the whole time during main game, and even finding the time to continue working on the spy network.

[Cee]

He says he was weak, but it's highly relative. A "weak" Solas is still going to be quite strong in comparison to average mages. Knowing what he planned to do, and the potential for darkness and death (even with whatever plan he may have had) inherent, I think he may have had the notion to help the Inquisition as much as possible to save the world and stop Corypheus and let the spirits rest, and yet still began to resign himself to what future he had in mind.

 

Note that Mythal being murdered also showed that their immortality was just a natural lifespan thing but they could still be killed by some means. We've also seen elves in uthenera killed before (like the poor person in TME).

[midnight tea]

He says he was weak, but it's highly relative. A "weak" Solas is still going to be quite strong in comparison to average mages. Knowing what he planned to do, and the potential for darkness and death (even with whatever plan he may have had) inherent, I think he may have had the notion to help the Inquisition as much as possible to save the world and stop Corypheus and let the spirits rest, and yet still began to resign himself to what future he had in mind.

 

Note that Mythal being murdered also showed that their immortality was just a natural lifespan thing but they could still be killed by some means. We've also seen elves in uthenera killed before (like the poor person in TME).

 

All of the companions and Inquisitor himself/herself appear to be really strong compared to most of their contemporaries - there's even an achievement called "The Brightest of Their Age" that gets unlocked after we recruit all possible companions. All of them are exceptional in their own field of expertise or against many horrors they have to fight. 

 

That still doesn't make them infallible - they all bleed, all get injured and fall unconscious (or die) if we muck things up. Hence, considering that Solas is likely the only person who can even do something about situation of the elves (which is likely why Mythal gave up her power to him, even if she did set things up in the background, including stuff we're yet to find out about), it still shows that while many things can be said about him, but he's definitely not a coward.

[Caddius]

Mmm....don't know if this has been pointed out before but...

 

 

....the elves with Vallaslin are inside a bubble with the blue wavy stuff on the outside. The elves who already have it removed are in a bubble with the blue on the inside of the bubble.

 

My thought is that the vallaslin must have bound a spirit into the physical world and cut them off from the Fade. Not in a way that makes you Tranquil, you just can't return if you want. Bound in the way that Cole feared would be done to him.

 

What makes me curious then is what the original vallaslin were done with....because it was probably literal "blood writing" then, since blood magic hinder a connection to the Fade.

 

So, who's blood?

 

Mmm....don't know if this has been pointed out before but...

 

 

....the elves with Vallaslin are inside a bubble with the blue wavy stuff on the outside. The elves who already have it removed are in a bubble with the blue on the inside of the bubble.

 

My thought is that the vallaslin must have bound a spirit into the physical world and cut them off from the Fade. Not in a way that makes you Tranquil, you just can't return if you want. Bound in the way that Cole feared would be done to him.

 

What makes me curious then is what the original vallaslin were done with....because it was probably literal "blood writing" then, since blood magic hinder a connection to the Fade.

 

So, who's blood?

...That.

Okay.

That works. 

Very good show. 

Maybe it was the blood of the mages who bound them, rather than their own blood? Or part of enslavement involved dragging a spirit down into the physical realm, (giving them blood and bone and all that good stuf) then using their own blood to bind them outside of the summoning circle?

It seems like the most likely answer for all the Fade shenanigans.

[OxidantsHappen]

I   you! 

 

Soooo, more about the spirit genome:

 

We know spirits are formed from ideas. We have Compassion, Wisdom, Desire, blah...

 

Basically a spirit is formed when collective ideas condense the essence of the fade into a spritual entity. The spirit genome can be some sort of macromolecule composed of Fade particles that "encodes" the spirit essence.

 

When elves form physical bodies from spirits, they obtain a physical genome, defining their bodies, AND they retain their spirit genome, defining their spiritual essence. So, Solas is an elf, but he can also carry the essence of Wisdom (or Pride) within him. 

 

Modern elves still have these, but they are dormant. They're passed down randomly from one parent of either gender. (Let's assume behavior similar to mitochondrial DNA, cause otherwise this headcanon becomes too complicated). 

 

Since they are dorman post-veil, spiritual characteristics are not selected for and are susceptible to drift. Which is why the modern elves look like Tranquil to Solas, they have been losing their spirit functional spirit genes.

 

But our Lavellan - she retains hers by chance. She's a spirit of hope!

 

I've had too much wine tonight. 

 

 

So i had like this whole thing typed out & then my finger hit something & the page changed & it all went to the void.  This is what I get for typing on a phone.  Anyways, drastically shorter version of what I typed out:

 

So like the spirits are like the exons of the fade & the elves are the peptides, while the fade is like a big green ribosome.  

 

I like the mitochondria/chloroplast idea though for the fade DNA (fDNA!), kind of like how if there's a problem with the mitochondrial DNA it can affect the protein expression of the basic DNA, resulting in the differences between ancient & current elves.  

Plus the endosymbiosis theory could be like an analogy for how the fade is part of the elves & how it made them special eukaryotes (different from the other races)

[Caddius]

...The mitochondria is the power-house of the cell, right? 

Excuse me while I grab my local Chem major to explain the hilarity going on.   I kind of sorta understand like ten percent of it, but I approve of that ten percent. 

[drosophila]

So i had like this whole thing typed out & then my finger hit something & the page changed & it all went to the void.  This is what I get for typing on a phone.  Anyways, drastically shorter version of what I typed out:

 

So like the spirits are like the exons of the fade & the elves are the peptides, while the fade is like a big green ribosome.  

 

I like the mitochondria/chloroplast idea though for the fade DNA (fDNA!), kind of like how if there's a problem with the mitochondrial DNA it can affect the protein expression of the basic DNA, resulting in the differences between ancient & current elves.  

Plus the endosymbiosis theory could be like an analogy for how the fade is part of the elves & how it made them special eukaryotes (different from the other races)

 

The one difference we know is mortal vs immortal, and we can use fDNA (  ) and fadeplasts to explain this - it will have to relate to the function of the fadeplasts within the cell. 

 

Which can actually be really similar to the mitochondria.

 

I kiinda happen to be working on something related to aging and lifespan, and mitochondria are incredibly important for this. They prooduce energy, but they also seem to be related to immunity, apoptosis, and, very importantly, they generate a lot of reactive oxygen species, which damage the cell and accelerate aging.

 

So if you can use the fadeplasts to draw the essence of the fade and convert that to ATP, you bypass the requirement for mitochondria. There can be a regualtory pathway that senses this and significantly downgrades mitochondrial function in response. Very low mitohondrial function --> very low ROS --> very low damage to the cell. If they have repair and regeration pathways to compensate for the remaining minimal damage, they would be in pretty good shape.

 

This is very crude, it doesn't really cover telomeres, stem cells, the possibility for cancer, but it's a good start?