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bestanimal · 4 months ago

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Round 3 - Mammalia - Primates

(Sources - 1, 2, 3, 4)

Our next and last group of Euarchonta is the order Primates. This diverse order includes the families Cheirogaleidae (“mouse lemurs”), Daubentoniidae (“Aye-aye”), Indriidae (“indriid lemurs”), Lemuridae (“lemurid lemurs”), Lepilemuridae (“sportive lemurs”), Galagidae (“galagos” or “bush babies”), Lorisidae (“lorises”, “pottos”, and “angwantibos”), Cercopithecidae (“old world monkeys”), Hylobatidae (“gibbons”), Hominidae (“great apes”), Callitrichidae (“marmosets” and “tamarins”), Cebidae (“capuchins” and “squirrel monkeys”), Aotidae (“night/owl monkeys”), Pitheciidae (“titis”, “saki monkeys”, and “uakaris”), Atelidae (“spider monkeys”, “howler monkeys”, and “woolly monkeys”) and Tarsiidae (“tarsiers”).

Many primate characteristics represent adaptations to an arboreal environment, including large brain sizes, binocular vision, color vision, vocalizations, shoulder girdles allowing a large degree of movement in the upper limbs, and opposable thumbs (in most but not all) that enable better grasping and dexterity. Their large brains (relative to body size) compared to other mammals, as well as an increased reliance on visual acuity, has been an evolutionary trade-off at the expense of their sense of smell (the dominant sensory system of most mammals). Most primates are arboreal, but some primates, including gorillas, humans, and baboons, are primarily ground-dwelling, though all species retain adaptations for climbing trees. Arboreal locomotion techniques include leaping from tree to tree or swinging between branches of trees (brachiation); terrestrial locomotion techniques include walking on two hindlimbs (bipedalism) or modified walking on four limbs (quadrupedalism) via knuckle-walking. They are the most cognitively advanced animals, capable of using tools. Primates may communicate using facial and hand gestures, smells, and vocalizations, with humans (genus Homo) creating complex languages and sophisticated civilizations.

Primates are among the most social of all animals, forming pairs or family groups, uni-male harems, and multi-male/multi-female groups. Primates have slower rates of development than other similarly sized mammals, reach maturity later, and have longer lifespans. Females give birth to 1-2 young at a time. In some species, male primates take part in raising young, an oddity for mammals.

Primates arose in the Early Paleocene, about 65.9 million years ago. The earliest possible primate/proto-primate may be Purgatorius, which dates back to the Early Paleocene of North America. The oldest known true primates from the fossil record date to the Late Paleocene of Africa, around 57 mya (Altiatlasius) or the Paleocene-Eocene transition in the northern continents, around 55 mya (Cantius, Donrussellia, Altanius, Plesiadapisand, Teilhardina). The suborder Strepsirrhini, which includes the lemurs, lorisids, and galagos, is generally thought to have split off from the primitive primate line about 63 mya, and evolved independently from monkeys.

Propaganda under the cut:

The smallest primate in the world is the critically endangered Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur (Microcebus berthae), with an average body length of 9.2 cm (3.6 in) and seasonal weight around 30 g (1.1 oz).

One of the largest primates in the world is the critically endangered Eastern Gorilla (Gorilla beringei) (image 4). Males are much larger than females. A full-grown male Eastern Gorilla typically weighs 140–205.5 kg (309–453 lb) and stands 1.7 m (5.6 ft) upright and a female typically weighs 90–100 kg (200–220 lb) and stands 1.5 m (4.9 ft) tall. Some Humans (Homo sapiens) have surpassed this size, but it is not the average for Humans, for which the average adult male stands about 171 cm (5.7 ft) tall and weighs 77 kg (170 lb), while the average height for adult Human females is about 159 cm (5.3 ft) and average weight is 59 kg (130 lb).

All lemurs (superfamily Lemuroidea) are native only to the African island of Madagascar, and evolved independently from other primates on the island. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers lemurs to be the world's most endangered group of mammals, noting that as of 2013 up to 90% of all lemur species face the threat of extinction in the wild within the next 20 to 25 years.

As many lemurs eat nectar as a part of their diet, and catch pollen in their fur in the process, they are considered to be some of the largest pollinators in the world. The endangered Hairy-eared Dwarf Lemur (Allocebus trichotis) has an extraordinarily long tongue. This is thought to be an adaptation for drinking nectar and tree sap. The vulnerable Red-bellied Lemur (Eulemur rubriventer) has a feathered tongue, also a likely adaptation for feeding on nectar.

The Golden Bamboo Lemur (Hapalemur aureus) eats Giant Bamboo (Cathariostachys madagascariensis), which contains high levels of cyanide. The Golden Bamboo Lemur can consume twelve times the typically lethal dose of cyanide for most mammals on a daily basis. The physiological mechanisms that protect it from cyanide poisoning are unknown.

The Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) has evolved some insect and seed-eating traits that are unique among primates, making it stand out among the lemurs. Such traits include continuously growing rodent-like front teeth for gnawing through wood and hard seeds, a highly mobile filiform middle finger for extracting food from tiny holes, large bat-like ears for detecting hollow spaces within trees, and use of self-generated acoustical cues to forage.

Many lemur species, including the Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta), Milne-Edwards' Sifaka (Propithecus edwardsi), and the Verreaux's Sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi), live in groups led by a dominant female. Lemurs are one of the very few mammal groups where females are usually dominant over males.

Some lemurs, such as the Verreaux's Sifaka, live in the spiny forests of Southern Madagascar. Sifakas travel via leaping rapidly from tree trunk to tree trunk, an ability referred to as "ricochetal leaping". It is unknown how the Verreaux's Sifaka manages to do this characteristic leaping without impaling themselves on the long thorns of the spiny forests’ trees.

The extinct Giant Sloth Lemur, Archaeoindris fontoynontii, was comparable to a gorilla in size. It was rare, but still living when humans first arrived on Madagascar. Its large size and terrestrial habits would have made it vulnerable to hunting and habitat loss.

It was previously thought that all lorisids moved slowly, but this is not the case. Lorisids freeze in place as a defense tactic, or move slowly if they see or hear a potential predator. This only works in their leafy environment, and is a form of camouflage. Many lorisids are actually quite agile when not afraid.

Slow Lorises (genus Nycticebus) (image 3) from southeast Asia produce a secretion from their brachial gland, that is licked and mixed with their saliva to form a toxin which can be used for defense. This toxic bite is a rare trait among mammals, and unique among primates. The Slender Lorises (genus Loris) from Sri Lanka and South India also possess these brachial glands, but it is uncertain whether they also synthesize the toxin.

The Gelada (Theropithecus gelada) has a diverse repertoire of vocalizations thought to be almost as complex as that of humans.

The Allen's Swamp Monkey (Allenopithecus nigroviridis) has adaptations for a partially aquatic environment, including slight webbing of its fingers and toes.

The Common Patas Monkey (Erythrocebus patas) is the fastest runner among the primates, reaching speeds of 55 km/h (34 mph). For reference the fastest human, Usain Bolt, reached 37.58 km/h (23.35 mph) during his world record sprint.

The terrestrial guenons (genus Allochrocebus) live in fairly small groups dominated by females, with only a single adult male. The females are usually related, while the male stays only a couple of weeks or at most a couple of years, working as a watchdog and breeder.

Around dawn and dusk, dominant male Campbell's Mona Monkeys (Cercopithecus campbelli) will climb up to a perch and issue a series of booming calls. The sound carries for at least a kilometre, and other males join in. Campbell's Mona Monkeys often associate with monkeys of other species and engage in inter-species territorial calling which obey certain ritual rules. This is one of the more advanced forms of animal communication, with a rudimentary syntax.

Male Crested Mona Monkeys (Cercopithecus pogonias) will sometimes join groups of unrelated monkey, such as the Black Colobus (Colobus satanas). These otherwise solitary males can form strong group bonds with the non conspecific monkeys, possibly resulting in a permanent loss of mating opportunities.

The Northern Plains Gray Langur (Semnopithecus entellus) has a symbiotic relationship with the Chital (Axis axis), and the two species are rarely found apart. Both the langur and the deer know each other’s warning calls, and benefit from both groups watching for predators in the trees and on the ground.

Nearly all (73–100%) captive Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta) are carriers of the herpes B virus. This virus is harmless to macaques, but infections of humans, while rare, are potentially fatal

The endangered Crab-eating Macaque (Macaca fascicularis) is the only old world monkey known to use stone tools in their daily foraging, and they engage in robbing and bartering behavior in some tourist locations.

Dusky Leaf Monkeys (Trachypithecus obscurus), Crab-eating Macaques, and White-thighed Surilis (Presbytis siamensis), form tolerant foraging parties, with juveniles playing together.

The critically endangered Celebes Crested Macaque (Macaca nigra) unknowingly found itself at the center of controversy between 2011 and 2018, when British wildlife photographer David J. Slater set up equipment that would allow the macaques to take “selfies.” People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) argued that Slater could not hold a copyright claim over the “monkey selfie” that resulted, as it had been taken by a macaque and not him. This resulted in the United States Copyright Office stating that works created by a non-human, such as a photograph taken by a monkey, are not copyrightable. Slater lost income and took a blow to his reputation as a wildlife photographer as a result of the dispute. In a separate dispute, PETA tried to use the monkey selfies to establish a legal precedent that animals should be declared copyright holders, requesting that the copyright be assigned to the macaque, who they decided was named “Naruto”, and that PETA be appointed to administer proceeds from the photos for the endangered species' benefit. In dismissing PETA's case, a federal district court ruled that a monkey cannot own copyright under US law. PETA appealed. In September 2017, PETA and Slater agreed to a settlement in which Slater would donate a portion of future revenues on the photographs to wildlife organizations, but the court did not accept the settlement. In April 2018, the appeals court ruled against PETA, stating in its judgement that animals cannot legally hold copyrights and expressing concern that PETA's motivations had been to promote their own interests rather than to protect the legal rights of the monkeys. The ordeal left Slater with very little funding, and he lost his motivation and passion for photography. However, he was still glad for the impact the photos had on people, stating "It has taken six years for my original intention to come true which was to highlight the plight of the monkeys and bring it to the world. No one had heard of these monkeys six years ago, they were down to the last thousands. ... The locals used to roast them, but now they love them, they call it the 'selfie monkey'. Tourists are now visiting and people see there is a longer-term benefit to the community than just shooting a monkey."

In Ancient Egyptian mythology, Babi was the deification of the Hamadryas Baboon (Papio hamadryas) and was therefore a sacred animal. They were known as attendants of Thoth, and are thus also called the Sacred Baboon.

Critically endangered Red-shanked Doucs (Pygathrix nemaeus) eat peacefully with each other, and have been known to share their food with others. They may even break pieces of foliage off and hand them to each other, a type of active generosity that is rare among Old World monkeys.

Humans, Baboons, Bonobos (Pan paniscus), and Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are omnivorous hunters, and will set off on hunting parties, sometimes bringing down smaller monkey species.

Both Chimpanzees and Humans are known to wage wars over territories and resources.

Orangutans build nests for both day and night use. Nests may be elaborate and involve a foundation and mattress made by intertwining leaves and branches and adding broken leafy branches. Additional features such as shade, a waterproof roof, "pillow", and "blanket", all of which are made from branches, twigs and leaves, may also be added.

Critically endangered Bornean Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) have been observed using tools such as using leaves as toilet paper, a pad of leaves as a plate for holding spiny durian fruit, a leafy branch for a bee swatter, a bunch of leafy branches held together as an "umbrella" while traveling in the rain, a single stick as a backscratcher, a branch or tree trunk as a missile, and have even been sighted using spears to attempt (unsuccessfully) to catch fish.

The critically endangered Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii) has been observed using a different arsenal of tools. One may break off a tree branch that is about a foot long, snap off the twigs and fray one end with its teeth. The orangutan will then use the stick to dig in tree holes for termites. They will also use the stick to poke a bee's nest wall, move it around and catch the honey. In addition, orangutans use tools to eat fruit. When the fruit of the Neesia tree ripens, its hard, ridged husk softens until it falls open. Inside are seeds that the orangutans enjoy eating, but they are surrounded by fiberglass-like hairs that are painful if eaten. A Neesia-eating orangutan will select a five-inch stick, strip off its bark, and then carefully collect the hairs with it. Once the fruit is safe, the ape will eat the seeds using the stick or its fingers. Tools are created differently for different uses. Sticks are often made longer or shorter depending on whether they will be used for insects or fruits. If a particular tool proves useful, the orangutan will often save it. Over time, they can collect entire "toolboxes".

Endangered Bonobos (Pan paniscus) are capable of altruism, compassion, empathy, kindness, patience, and sensitivity. They are known for living in matriarchal societies, having more fluid sexuality, and settling disputes with sex rather than violence.

In a study published in February 2025, scientists determined that Bonobos could tell when a Human didn't know something, and point them in the right direction.

The endangered Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) has a large gular sac (throat pouch) that can be inflated to the size of the gibbon’s head, allowing it to make resonating calls. Mated pairs produce loud, well-patterned calling bouts, which are referred to as duetting. These calls advertise the presence and status of a mated pair. Newly formed pairs spend more time singing than an established pair.

The critically endangered Hainan Black-crested Gibbon (Nomascus hainanus) is one of the most endangered animals in the world. The most recent count found 22 Hainan Gibbons split between two families, one family of 11 and one of 7 members, with 4 loners, all residing in Bawangling National Nature Reserve on Hainan Island. Over 25% of the Hainan Gibbon’s habitat has been reduced due to illegal pulp paper plantation growers. As there are no Hainan Gibbons in captivity, the entire population could be one major storm or epidemic away from extinction.

Tarsiers are the only entirely carnivorous living primates.

Philippine Tarsiers (Carlito syrichta) are capable of hearing frequencies as high as 91 kHz. They are also capable of vocalizations with a dominant frequency of 70 kHz.

Unlike other male primates, male Callitrichids generally provide as much parental care as females. Parental duties may include carrying, protecting, feeding, comforting, and even engaging in play behavior with the babies in a group. In some cases, such as in the Cotton-top Tamarin (Saguinus oedipus), males, particularly fathers, even show a greater involvement in caregiving than females.

White-fronted Capuchins (genus Cebus) have been observed using leaves as a cup to drink water.

Female Squirrel Monkeys (genus Saimiri) have pseudo-penises, which they use to display dominance over smaller monkeys.

White-faced Sakis (Pithecia pithecia) often mate for life, and are very devoted to their partners, strengthening their bond by grooming each other.

Atelid monkeys are most famous for their long, extremely prehensile tails. Their tails have sensitive, almost hairless, tactile pads on their undersides, and can function as a “fifth limb” while moving through the trees.

About 60% of primate species are threatened with extinction. Common threats include deforestation, forest fragmentation, monkey drives, and hunting for use in medicines, as pets, and for food. Large-scale tropical forest clearing for agriculture most threatens primates, as well as farming for palm oil.

#I know it’s tempting to downvote because humans are in here and most of us are probably of the ‘I like animals more than people’ persuasion #(though I’m here to remind you that humans are animals)#but please remember that you’re voting for your favorite animal within the group not the group as a whole #I don’t know how many times I’ll have to reword these polls to make that clear but Please #Animal Polls #Round 3 #Mammalia

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grison-in-space · 8 months ago

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Stupidest of stupid questions: So humans are trichromatic, right? We basically have RGB eyes. How inefficient would it be to have CMYK eyes? Is it even possible?

You could absolutely do CMY eyes, but the K (being black) is a little more difficult because black isn't a wavelength of light so much as the absence of light. I suppose you could call the K your rods, which are best used in low light and convey things like "shadows" and "movement" particularly effectively. As a human, the most sensitive part of your retina, the part you're using when you directly look at things, is called the fovea. It is PACKED with cones, which are good for color and also tight spatial resolution; rods are found outside along the periphery of both the retinal and visual field. So we're just going to set the K aside now and think about those cones.

Honestly, tetrachromat eyes are technically pretty easy to achieve: all you need is four versions of cone-rhodopsin genes getting translated into different kinds of cone-rhodopsin cells in your retina. Old World primates evolved our trichromat eyes from dichromat mammalian ancestors exactly this way: with a gene duplication in one core cone-rhodopsin gene that allowed one of the copies to accumulate mutations until a sufficiently divergent copy fixed in the population.

So to have CMY eyes, you'd need three cone-rhodopsins with different wavelength sensitivities: one that is most sensitive to cerulean, one most sensitive to maroon, and one most sensitive to yellow. You might or might not have better color resolution than a regular old RGB human, though: color resolution is partly a function of the sensory information hitting your retinas, but it's also partly a function of how much brain space you dedicate to processing that information.

I mentioned my blind cat Arthur the other day--here's a photo:

Arthur is what we call cortically blind. As a kitten, he had an intact pupillary reflex and could probably see light vs dark, but he also had severe nystagmus, so his pupils jittered uncontrollably all the time and he probably didn't get a whole lot of useful visual input. Without the visual experience of seeing things and learning how to organize and process visual information, his brain as he developed went "you know what? fuck this" and stopped dedicating any processing power to whatever visual input he was getting.

Basically, he lost visual acuity because the information he was able to pipe to his brain was fragmented and poor-quality enough that his brain stopped bothering to process it. If I pulled his current eyeballs out and magically hooked up new totally functional ones, he wouldn't be able to do anything with them: his brain has given up sorting out the information.

So the question of whether theoretical CMY humans could distinguish colors better than RGB humans is driven by two things: one, whether having two highly-overlapping cones helps you distinguish between slightly variant light types better than very different cones, and two, whether we're extending the total visual range by moving the cones at the external ends of the range (B and R) farther apart. Overlapping but unique sensory information can be really helpful for localizing and distinguishing similar-but-not-identical inputs--that's one of the reasons owls are good at localizing quiet noises, actually, their ears are wildly asymmetrical and they can computer where a noise is made based on how loudly it can be heard with each ear, especially if the owl is on the move as it listens. Like the Doppler effect, but faster with a lot more processing power on it.

I have no idea which would be more effective, but it's a fun thing to think about!

#bout me #day job

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literaryvein-reblogs · 8 months ago

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hi, i was just wondering if you could make a post on apperceptive visual agnosia? love your posts so so much btw

Writing Notes: Apperceptive Visual Agnosia

Agnosia - A rare disease in which a person can’t recognize objects, shapes, or people. Often due to a brain or neurological condition.

Visual Agnosias - Disorders of visual object recognition following brain damage.

Apperceptive Agnosias - According to Lissauer, are those in which recognition fails because of an impairment in visual perception, which is nonetheless above the level of an elementary sensory deficit such as a visual field defect. Patients do not see objects normally, and hence cannot recognize them.

EXAMPLES. Among patients who have been labeled “apperceptive” are those:

who cannot discriminate a circle from a square,

who can recognize any one object but cannot see other objects presented at the same time, and

whose difficulty with object recognition is manifest only with objects presented at unusual orientations.

Apperceptive Visual Agnosias - also known as visual space agnosias, are characterized by the inability to perceive the structure or shape of an object. Persons with apperceptive agnosias have difficulty matching objects of similar form.

This type of agnosia is also classified as an "Object Agnosia". Specifically, the apperceptive type, i.e., the percept is not fully constructed and, therefore, patients are unable to copy drawings.

DIAGNOSIS

Agnosia is diagnosed through:

physical examination,

neuropsychological testing, and

brain imaging.

Examples of neuropsychological tests include:

visual distinction between real and unreal objects,

facial recognition,

verbal and nonverbal sound recognition,

odor recognition, and

tactile form recognition.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanning may be used to identify brain lesions to aid diagnosis.

The above image shows the shape-matching ability of an apperceptive agnosic patient. On the left is a set of rectangles matched for overall area, which were presented pairwise to "Mr. S" to be judged same or different in shape. He was unable to discriminate all but the most distinctive, and made errors even with these. On the right are a set of rows containing a target shape (right) and a set of 4 choices to be matched with the target shape. Mr. S’s answers are marked.

CAUSES

It is thought to arise from a breakdown at relatively early stages of visual processing, where the elementary features of the stimulus are processed. Object recognition through verbal description by the examiner is preserved, instead.

These patients have relatively good visual fields, visual acuity, brightness discrimination, color vision, depth, and motion perception. Despite this, shape perception is abnormal in such a way that patients cannot recognize or copy pictures, letters, and even simple geometric shapes.

In most cases of apperceptive agnosia, the brain damage is diffuse, often caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.

In the rare cases with circumscribed brain lesions, the damage primarily affected the ventral occipitotemporal cortex bilaterally.

According to a widely accepted interpretation, apperceptive agnosia can be considered a deficit of shape perception resulting from defective perceptual grouping of object local features into a global percept.

TREATMENT

There is no direct treatment for visual agnosias. However, patients can benefit from rehabilitation to teach them alternative strategies that target specific difficulties.

Few agnosic patients regain sensory function, and most gains in recovery occur within the first few months or year of diagnosis.

Speech therapy and occupational therapy can help agnosic individuals cope with their conditions.

Sources: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Thanks so much for your kind words, hope this helps!

#agnosia #writing reference #writeblr #spilled ink #creative writing #literature #writing notes #writing prompt #writing #writers on tumblr #dark academia #poets on tumblr #light academia #writing resources

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libellule-ao3 · 1 year ago

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HC: Ominis Gaunt & his experience as a blind wizard

Picture Credits: @deathlysallows [link]

Hello,

I was talking to someone recently about Ominis' eyes, and it gave me the idea of publishing these HCs. 🙂

Please note that the ideas and interpretations presented in this post are my 'headcanon', some of which are mentioned/explored in my fanfictions. I respect and appreciate the different opinions and interpretations that others may have.

My intention is to share my thoughts, not impose them... I'd love to see yours btw. 😊💚

☆ Ominis’ eyes do not have pupils to let light enter his eye and reach the photoreceptors. As a result, he has no light perception and is totally blind. This lack of pupils, a phenomenon unique even among wizards, is the result of the marriage between his family's consanguinity and Dark Arts, which they practise shamelessly. (Quote: Ominis was born blind and no spell could reverse it)

☆ Besides this absence of pupils, his eyes are distinguished by their density of pale blue radial streaks, which start from the centre of the iris and radiate outwards, against a dark blue background. This pattern gives his eyes a fascinating, dynamic look. Ominis’ eyes are not opaque, milky or cloudy. These descriptors are so often associated with cataracts or glaucoma (i.e. Eye diseases Ominis does not have in my HC) that I avoid using them.

☆ Even when taking on the appearance of a sighted person thanks to the Polyjuice Potion or using Legilimency, Ominis remains unable to see, as his brain does not know how to interpret visual stimuli.

☆ If the Polyjuice Potion had worked, Ominis' parents wouldn't have hesitated to kidnap a child of the same age, sequestering him so that Ominis could take on his appearance, proceeding in the same way as Barty Crouch Jr did with Alastor Moody.

☆ Using a Pensieve does not negate his blindness either. He therefore perceives the memories consulted by this means in the same way as he perceives his everyday environment.

☆ Ominis has a well-developed sense of touch and smell, and his hearing is very acute. However, the acuity of these senses is not superhuman. He has only learnt to maximumly use his sensory compensatory means to make up for the visual deficit.

☆ During his childhood, his parents and siblings, who struggled for a long time to cure his blindness did not value his existence. As a result, Ominis tends to see himself as less valuable than a sighted person, despite what his Aunt Noctua says.

☆ Ominis has never let his blindness stop him from doing what he really wanted to do. On the other hand, as a good sneaky snake, he doesn’t mind using his blindness as an excuse not to do what he refuses to do or... to justify getting physically close to his heart’s desire. "I can’t work with my wand today, can you guide me to the Great Hall?" How can you say no to him when you know his wand [HC link] is so fickle?)

☆ When not using his echolocation spell, Ominis relies on his other senses to understand the world around him. As a result, surprise contacts can be disturbing for him as they abruptly disrupt his sensory perception. This generates anxiety, as he cannot anticipate the contact. But when this is done by people with whom he has no emotional bond, Ominis experiences it as an additional violation of his personal space, which can make him angry.

☆ Before she disappeared, his Aunt Noctua used to embroider hangings for him, which she would then hang in his bedroom. Ominis loved to run his fingertips over the raised patterns and different textures. Even without seeing them, Ominis could appreciate their creativity and aesthetics through touch. He still has a strong taste for embroidered fabrics from this period.

☆ Without concrete sensory experience of colours, his perception of colours remains a mental concept for him. At Hogwarts, he used to ask Sebastian if his clothes matched properly until he was familiar enough with fabrics to recognise them by touch.

☆ Before Ominis got his wand, he had to learn to organise his living space so that he could be as independent as possible. As a result, Ominis is very tidy and always puts his things away carefully so that he can find them more easily and navigate safely. Even in the most intimate moments, he folds and tidies his clothes before attending to his lover... firstly out of habit, and secondly because he finds it very exciting to play with their patience.

☆ For the Gaunt, the family’s image and reputation were of crucial importance. Having a blind child was a source of shame, as it could be interpreted as a weakness in their lineage or a sign of failure. When they gave up hope of curing him, they convinced themselves that a Gaunt could not be born deprived of sight without obtaining a compensatory magical ability, such as the gift of clairvoyance... Reality soon caught up with them.

☆ This umpteenth disappointment, combined with Ominis’s repeated refusal to adhere to supremacist ideals, or to practise dark arts, reinforced the hostility of Ominis’s parents towards him. As a result, the abuse escalated until the terrible episode recounted in the game (negative emotions + intolerance + misunderstanding + social pressure formed a detonating cocktail)

☆ His echolocation spell allows him to navigate independently, but it will never replace sight.

☆Capable of taking initiative, his wand has a will of its own that sometimes comes into conflict with Ominis. When this happens, it is very difficult for him to work with his wand and he may sometimes ask someone to guide him to where he wants to go. If he turns to you in this case, it’s a sign that he has a great deal of trust in you, something he doesn’t grant easily.

☆ The fact that people avoid certain words (see, or look for example) in his presence, or are embarrassed when he uses them himself, metaphorically or simply as a linguistic convention, amuses him and he doesn’t hesitate to play them up.

☆ If he’s not serving himself, he discreetly feels his plate to find out where the food is.

☆ Ominis is very concerned about his appearance because he wants to blend in with society to avoid attracting unwanted attention. Also, he feels more confident with having an impeccable appearance. His obsession: getting a stain on his clothes that he can’t detect. He used to ask Anne to check his outfit several times during the day.

☆ Although many classmates have asked him to touch their faces so that Ominis can “see” them, he has always flatly refused, as he finds it too intrusive. Sebastian and Anne are the only ones with whom he has allowed himself this familiarity... until his fiancée.

☆ Aloof and reserved by nature, Sebastian, Anne and his lover are the only people he accepts hugs from. These have enabled him to obtain information about their appearance, height, weight, hairstyle, morphology and much more...

☆ Wizards of their background were often evaluated on their elegance and their ability to fit into the society at the time. In addition to the classic upbringing of a member of the illustrious Gaunt family, Ominis’ parents insisted he acquire good social skills and impeccable manners, which was not always easy for Ominis.

☆ For he had “automatic, stereotyped and repetitive” gestures (blindism). Swaying his body or turning his head, or repeatedly rubbing his eyes were very severely punished, as were the various postural disturbances inherent in his blindness (head in profile because that’s the ideal listening position, shuffling gait to keep his 2 feet anchored to the ground maintain his balance more easily etc...). As a result, Ominis has become very aware of himself and his body language.

☆ Always with the aim of meeting their standards, his parents imposed a strict education on him, ensuring that he was fully educated in the history of Magic, that of his ancestors, that of the great pureblood families, the evolution of the bonds governing them and the dark arts for which the Gaunt are so renowned.

☆ In Victorian times, professional prospects were rather limited for blind people, even in the wizarding world, and even with the best education. What’s more, the family safe at Gringotts was just a leaky basket, so Ominis’s parents forced him to play the piano hoping he would become skilled and renowned enough to bail them out. As a result, he plays the piano very well, but he is not a prodigy. This skill is the result of long efforts and painful constraints. All washed down with tears.

☆ At Hogwarts, potions classes are the hardest for Ominis to grasp. Too much simultaneous olfactory stimulation, a method of learning ill-suited to the blind as the recipe steps rely on the precise colouring of the brew.

☆ When he's not using his echolocation spell, Ominis hates it when people leave him after a conversation without telling him they're leaving.

☆ Braille appeared in England in 1861, and Ominis learned about this Muggle system of reading and writing from his Aunt Noctua, who was much more open to the Muggle world than the rest of the Gaunt family, who refused to hear about it. He learned it on his own, with the help of his aunt and the house-elf who provided him with reference books.

☆ When he has to use a knife for cooking or in potions class, Ominis demands a perfectly sharp blade that offers a more precise cut with less effort, reducing the risk of slippage and injury, unlike a dull knife, which is potentially more dangerous as it requires more force to cut, making control more difficult.

☆ He doesn’t cut his fingernails, he files them to make sure he doesn’t cut himself.

(These last 2 HC are from anecdotes heard about my paternal grandmother, whom I never knew and who became blind because of cataracts that were inoperable at the time because of certain medical history)

Masterlist

#hogwarts legacy #ominis gaunt headcanon #ominis gaunt #ominis imagine #polyjuice #blindcharacter #headcanon #fanfic ideas

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justkidneying · 6 months ago

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Why Changing Your Eye Color is Stupid as Shit

I'm back to ocular posting, but that's because I just read an article about a lady who went blind because she wanted blue eyes.

Eye Color

This is all due to the stroma of the iris. Everyone has a back portion of the iris called the iris pigment epithelium that's brown and helps block light. The front layer is the stroma, which can have a range of melanin in it, giving us a color between blue and brown.

Why it's bad to fuck with it

Your eyes are special sensory organs, and probably our favorite ones at that. We use a lot of our brain to process visual stimuli, so there's scientific evidence that humans like to see. They're also delicate. You can clog up the drains in them (glaucoma) and go blind, you can detach the retina and go blind, etc. There's a lot of ways to go blind when we're just talking about the ball itself.

How these procedures do it

There's two main surgeries to change eye color: laser and implant. Laser procedures use a laser to destroy the stroma. I hope you can appreciate how bad that is. It can damage the eye itself, or the particles of pigment it dissolves can clog up your drains.

Implant surgeries look like garabge for one, but the main issue is that you're in a country with less regulation to get some silicone implanted into your eye so it can look weird. This can cause infection and blindness. And it just gives me the heebie jeebs to thing about.

I personally just don't think this looks great...

(note that this surgery could be helpful for those who have lost part of their iris, but we're only talking about cosmetics here)

A disease that can change eye color

This one is just for fun. I enjoy studying Fuch's heterochromic iridocyclitis, so I'm going to tell you about it. This disease causes glaucoma, cataracts, loss of visual acuity, and most noticeably, loss of eye pigmentation. Usually, it affects one eye, causing heterochromia. It usually makes the eye look almost flakey, and can have several patterns of effect. Look up some pictures if you're interested. I've attatched one below, showing the normal eye on the left and the affected eye on the right. The person will end up with a blue/gray eye color as their pigmentation is lost.

A Final Note

It's so weird that all these people want like blue or green eyes. Why? Most humans (and mammals) have brown eyes because they are the best at blocking light. People with lighter eyes are usually more sensitive to bright lights. And besides, it doesn't even matter. I honestly can't even tell you what color eyes my friends have. No one is going to think you are super extra special and cool because you have aquamarine eyes. I promise you, no one cares enough about your eyes for you to go blind trying to change them.

#medicine #med studyblr #ocular posting #ocular diseases #eye color #stupid shit i find online

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retroactivebakeries · 5 months ago

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Corinsael Ashina

“I am the gold, I am the grain, ne’er has an imperfection marred me: a pilgrim of the Wyrd.”

Corinsael Ashina is a Strategist dying of damnatio memoriae. He is always being written out of history — official histories, at first, spreading over to any attempt to describe him in the past, and eventually erasing his presence from the past itself. It is therefore his nature to live in the moment, to indulge in fleeting pleasures and give little thought to consequences. It’s really all he can do to keep going.

Some number of millennia ago — the precise count has been rendered unclear — the man who would become Corinsael found a hole in the world, a hole in his people’s history, and now, a hole in him. He told his people of it. He desecrated shrines to the gods of false histories. He was exiled, his name stricken from history, and as he fell into that hole he finally understood what it was: the world was wrong.

He spent the new few…decades? centuries? Doing…Magnum Bellum stuff? And on Earth, some history stuff? He can tell you about it, but it probably won’t stick. That’s why he’s out of the game, these days. Corinsael’s a vain one, and not getting the credit for any of his triumphs just finally got to him, one day. He still thinks the world is wrong and deserves to be destroyed, but the Host isn’t getting any help from him until they’ve apologized properly.

Over the centuries, Corinsael amassed the kind of wealth, political influence, and high-placed connections that an immortal can. Not all of it has been lost to his sickness: a ruined manor, a much put-upon valet, a half-dozen or so prominent figures in his contacts, of which some will still talk to him. Pride demands that he conceal his status as a perpetually embarrassed millionaire, putting on a lavish front despite being a teacher at a community college. (A temporary situation, of course).

Traits

Eide 3, Flore 3, Lore 1, Wyrd 4, Ability 0

Bane: Damnatio Memoriae.

Techniques: Shady Backrooms Dealings. Corinsael excels in matters of intrigue, politics, corrupt dealings, cover-ups, and general manipulation.

Treasures:

His ruined manor, which can vanish and reappear somewhere else, as if it had always been there.

His valet, who’s possessed of inhuman strength, speed, resilience, and sensory acuity when acting to protect Corinsael or to perform domestic tasks or uphold social obligations on his behalf.

A sniper rifle, forged from the metal of an ancient sword. It is precise enough to shoot and kill only part of a person: their memories, their cruelty, their hopes and dreams.

The stone head of one of the idols he desecrated, which has devoted itself to seeking atonement for the falsehood it once stood for. Its stony gaze pierces through illusions, strikes a fear into the hearts of liars that prevents them from speaking untruly, and reveals when weird time stuff is having an effect on things.

Sphere: The deep, subtle forces of λ-time and the unkindled impossibilities of alternate λ-histories. Corinsael tames the spirits and creatures that partake of such forces, winning them over to his service. Their appearance tends toward the insectile, the crystalline, and the clockwork. His most frequently used Arcana-pets include:

Intercalary bees build their hives in the gaps where moments of time have been erased. Their honey is a potent hallucinogen that occasionally comes with prophetic foresight.

His stasis spider’s webs that slow down time.

Time flies feed on people’s free time.

His retroactive scorpion’s poison takes effect before its sting.

His parallax moth flickers from place to place without crossing the space in between by skipping through the flow of time, and is large enough to ride.

Destruction: Erase an action done in the recent past, undoing anything directly caused by it.

Eternal: You’re free from aging, hunger, thirst, needing to breathe, fatigue, and most other requirements of human life. You get significant Edge in most endurance contests. Very little requires actual perseverance or Greater Steel — running a marathon is no harder than running down the block.

Sanctum: A monumental memorial to Corinsael, dominated by a colossal statue that bears his visage, around which the statutes of faceless kings kneel in supplication. Megalithic steles record those parts of his history that have been erased, and he can draw them into himself to begin mending his tattered history. The gate that leads to it lies in the catacomb-like basement of his ruined manor.

Infection

Infection 0: Corinsael’s sickness resists being his being recorded in history, but has yet to become efficacious in doing so. Undergrads tend to skim through the pages in their textbooks that mention things he was involved in, even that time he taught a whole seminar on the assassination of JFK. Written accounts have more typos than usual in the parts about him. People discussing him occasionally blank on his name for a second. This doesn’t cover the very recent past — thing that happened within the last few months are safe.

Infection 1: It’s sometimes hard to describe Corinsael’s past. Word documents crash or get corrupted. Things written on paper seem to almost throw themselves into puddles or into the way of falling coffee cups. Undergrads display no motivation in discussing historical records about him.

Infection 2: Corinsael’s bane erases him from written and oral histories. His actions and their consequences are either ascribed to someone else, left as unexplained historical mysteries, or omitted altogether. This also includes transcripts of anything he says.

Infection 3: Corinsael’s bane erases him from any written description or recounting of him in the past. When people talk about it, they tend to stumble on him — can’t remember his name, mix him up with someone else, lose their train of thought. (This includes people who are currently having those conversations with Corinsael, which complicates dating). This now creeps up further in time, leaving only the last week or two safe.

Infection 4: It’s starting to become unclear whether Corinsael is just being erased from historical records, or being erased from history itself. This is more ambiguous than his erasure from the record — there’s never anything conclusive, but enough to call his entire past into question.

Infection 5: There are moments in Corinsael’s past in which he no longer exists. He vanishes from them in a wracking fits and spasms, as if suffering from consumption and spitting up droplets of his history. It’s hard to predict how exactly this will impact the present — each change to the past plays by its own rules, like episodes of Doctor Who. The only consistency is that they make Corinsael’s life hell.

Infection 6: Corinsael’s erasure from history is no longer spasmodic; he’s constantly bleeding away the moments of his life, slowly but steadily. The erasure also creeps up into his more recent history, hitting things that happened just yesterday. If he does not return to the void, there’ll eventually be nothing left of his past, and his present will crumble into nothing.

Infection 7: Corinsael’s bane now erases him from things that happened an hour ago, a few minutes. The moment he put on his seatbelt. The moment he looked both ways before crossing traffic. The moment his heart last beat. There’s practically nothing that he can do at all without his bane erasing a crucial moment, including surviving the day.

#glitchblogging #glitchrpg

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3liza · 1 year ago

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i do think there are meaningful differences in subjective cognition and cogitation, but i also think the way these differences are pathologized and treated like astrology or pop taxonomy ("well i have aphantsia i cant imagine visual stuff at all" "well i cant think about smells" "well i cant conceptualize music" etc) is completely misguided and the differences that do exist are attributable almost entirely to interoception, individual experience, and especially training, and especially especially early childhood or even infantile training you probably were not even aware you were receiving. if anything, the most recent neurological research has shown the brain is more plastic than anyone could have imagined and you can teach anyone to do or think about anything you want if you invest in it sufficiently.

my big "what do you mean my experiences arent universal" thing as an adult has been finding out most people's parents largely did not teach them how to notice and experience sensory information, think about stuff, or how to remember things (i dont mean in an executive function/recall sense, i mean in a "remembering a life event or experience in a narrative way that provides fodder for contemplation, i guess, at the risk of sounding like a complete prat), and especially not how to think about media, and by this i mean metacognition skills. thinking about thinking about. synthesizing information. and that stuff is where most of the abstract thought skills come from. its also where you get your ability to be aware you are even (for example) thinking about a smell in the first place. of course you can think about smells. if you can walk past a cinnabon and have some sort of reaction, even if its just "thats familiar to me", the pattern of the cinnabon smell exists in your brain in a way you can access. maybe you cant access it on purpose very well, but it exists and you were able to form the memory, which is what "imagining" things is. its a type of memory, not an eidetic type usually but a synthesized type from many different discrete experiences.

there are people who cant do that. they usually have brain damage to specific areas. if you really couldnt imagine what a crosswalk looks like, as many people who believe they are aphantasic believe about themselves, they would hit people with their cars constantly and wouldnt be able to identify their friends and family in photographs. people with that type of brain damage do have that latter problem, although the "face blindness" issue is complicated by, for example, the tendency of a lot of people not to look at faces in the first place, which is the current strongest theory about why autistics are seemingly "faceblind" despite having uncanny pattern recognition and visual acuity in all other areas--it's theorized by some researches that its the acuity thats making autistic kids avoid looking at faces in the first place, because its too much information literally, and it "hurts".

i cant recognize visual influences in art and think about them while im on the toilet because i was synthesized in a vat in the lourve, i can do it because a series of adults painstakingly and boringly taught me how to do it over the course of decades. and more importantly they taught me that i was already doing it and wasnt aware of it. now im too aware of it and all it got me is being annoyed that other people arent aware of doing it. so it goes. the other half of it is the difficulty in using spoken language to describe sensory experiences, im pretty sure most of you can imagine food just fine but are significantly less skilled at explaining what that food is like or what the process of imagining the food or smell or image is like, even to yourself, so you assume you arent doing it at all.

#blog

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shepchasingtail · 1 month ago

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🔒 PANDORA – GLUTTONY DIVISION DOSSIER

SUBJECT: SKELTON, ISRAEL JANNICK Call Sign: Shepherd Clearance Level: ██/███ (Tier-9 Gluttony Access Only) Dossier ID: PND-GLUTTONY/Δ-HXN19-553

BIOLOGICAL OVERVIEW

Field Entry:

Full Name: Israel Jannick Skelton Date of Birth: 14 February 1993

Height:

6’2”

Weight:

172 lbs Place of Birth: Copenhagen, Denmark Nationality Dual – Danish / Classified (Naturalized ██████)

Species: Human/Shifter (Canine Variant: Belgian Malinois) Shifter Onset ██/██/20██ (Classified Biogenic Incident – Operation REBIRTH) Affiliation: Pandora Initiative – Gluttony Division Former Affiliation NATO Tactical Recon / K9 Division (BLACKLIST OPS: DEN-56) Status:

Active / Monitored

INTERNAL EVALUATION REPORT

SECTION I: SHEPHERD ABILITY OVERVIEW

Classification: Tier-III Controlled Morphotype (Caniform Subtype) Baseline Genome: Homo sapiens (genetically modified) Overlay Morphotype: Canis lupus familiaris (Shepherd-class phenotype)

A. Morphological Capabilities

Voluntary Shifting: Subject is capable of initiating full or partial transformation at will.

Partial Shifts: Include selective enhancement of olfactory organs, musculoskeletal extensions (e.g., digitigrade posture), and dermal layer modulation.

Full Shift: Yields complete quadrupedal canine form with high locomotion efficiency, camouflage benefit, and enhanced field mobility.

B. Structural Integrity & Recovery

Accelerated Tissue Regeneration: Healing factor calibrated to 4.7× human baseline; bone fractures re-knit in <24 hrs under monitored stasis.

Immune Compensation: Near-total resistance to conventional pathogens and most field-grade toxins.

Blood Reoxygenation Efficiency: Elevated hemoglobin turnover rate for extended physical exertion without hypoxia.

SECTION II: SENSORIAL AND PHYSICAL ENHANCEMENTS

A. Sensory Expansion

Olfactory Resolution: 40× human range. Capable of isolating individual scent trails from mixed source environments (urban, battlefield, subterranean).

Auditory Range: Detects ultrasonic emissions up to ~62 kHz. Has been used to triangulate active listening devices and microdrones.

Night Vision Equivalent: Tapetum lucidum layer in canine form provides low-light visual acuity rivaling next-gen thermal optics.

B. Physical Conditioning

Enhanced Strength: Estimated peak output at 3.2× human maximum. Documented ability to breach reinforced doors, carry 200+ kg under duress.

Agility & Speed: Max quadrupedal velocity recorded at 58 km/h (full sprint).

Climatic Adaptation: Fur density modulation in canine form provides heat insulation in low-temp environments.

SECTION III: COGNITIVE PROFILE & BEHAVIORAL PERFORMANCE

A. Tactical Intelligence

Maintains operational cognition during transformation. No evidence of regression to feral behavior unless provoked by trauma triggers (see Incident #091).

Proficient in abstract planning, real-time threat analysis, and independent vector rerouting under compromised comms.

B. Emotional Regulation

Suppressed affect during operations. Exhibits high detachment, particularly in canine state.

Displays intuitive reading of emotional cues from both human and animal subjects. Empathic mimicry appears tactical rather than authentic.

C. Canine Subject Interaction

Capable of issuing non-verbal commands to domestic dogs and ferals. Effective in disrupting or redirecting threats posed by trained K9 units.

Behavioral reinforcement strategies suggest intuitive understanding of canine dominance hierarchies.

SECTION IV: TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT INTERFACE

Device: VOX-HALO UNIT 7 (Speech Relay Collar)

Purpose: Enables Shepherd to communicate in canine form via neural impulse-to-speech synthesis.

Construction: Titanium-carbide housing; layered biometric mesh; embedded Q-band encryption node.

Functionality: Interprets subvocal electrical signals and brainwave patterns to articulate human-equivalent language output.

Limitations:

Latency (~250–300 ms) under stress conditions Signal disruption in EM-dense zonesRequires re-sync post-shift for phoneme calibration

SECTION V: OPERATIONAL SPECIALIZATIONS

Bio-Tracking & Residue Analysis (real-time genetic target ID through scent/vocal trace matching)

Counter-Persona Interrogation Resistance (fragmented memory encoding prevents strategic leaks if captured)

Behavioral Manipulation (direct influence over canine populations; contextual manipulation of human behavioral cues)

Tactical Foresight & Pattern Anticipation (predictive modeling in unpredictable terrain)

Environmental Navigation & Substructure Mapping (notably high spatial memory in complex architecture)

Long-Term Surveillance in Hostile Terrain (maintains passive reconnaissance in feral state undetected)

Pack-based Engagement Strategies (demonstrates ability to coordinate with autonomous or semi-autonomous canine assets)

SECTION VI: LIMITATIONS AND RISK FACTORS

Shift Instability Under Neurological Stress: Intense psychological or physical duress can cause involuntary shifting or memory fragmentation.

Feral Lock States: Extended time in canine form can lead to suppressed human identity markers; subject may become unresponsive to recall protocols.

Verbal Delay in Shifted Form: Despite the VOX-HALO collar, speech output remains delayed and prone to error in rapid-communication scenarios.

Hostile Conditioning Thresholds: Displays lower resistance to certain ultrasonic frequencies used in anti-animal deterrents.

Emotional Dysregulation Triggers: Strong emotional stimuli related to past trauma (see Incident #030) can disrupt task focus and cause aggression or withdrawal.

Operational Limitation Post-Morphogenic Exposure Risk Evaluation Summary: Shepherd undergoes full cellular deconstruction and reformation during morphogenic transitions between human and caniform states. Upon reversion to human form, all integrated clothing, tactical equipment, and external gear are nullified by the biological transmutation process. The subject re-emerges nude, without protective coverage or field-ready attire.

Operational Risks Identified:

Environmental Exposure: Susceptibility to hypothermia, chemical agents, or abrasions in uncontrolled terrain.

Tactical Vulnerability: Immediate post-shift incapacity to engage, defend, or retreat due to lack of armor or armament.

Unit Disruption: Potential for distraction, morale disruption, or psychological discomfort among human personnel.

Public Exposure Risk: In civilian-adjacent operations, post-shift emergence could compromise mission secrecy and provoke incident escalation.

Discretion Protocol: Visual engagement of Shepherd during reversion is to be limited. Non-essential visual contact is to be restricted.

Additional Notes: The issue remains physiological and currently unresolvable via augmentation without compromising morphogenic fluidity. A prosthetic gear-retention solution is under review but deemed non-viable in rapid-shift scenarios as of the latest R&D cycle.

SECTION VII: INCIDENT LOG EXCERPTS

Incident #030 – Exposure to Stimulus ("Whistle Echo Variant") Date: 14 Jan 2023 Outcome: Temporary feral lock lasting 5h17m. Operative displayed territorial aggression. No operatives injured. Induced via unknown high-frequency pattern in proximity mine.

Incident #091 – Tactical Disengagement (Morocco Urban Cleft) Date: 26 Sep 2024 Outcome: Subject entered canine form mid-assault and failed to re-establish identity for 3.4 hours. Autonomous escape and later regrouping suggest partial operational memory retention. Collar data lost in transit.

Incident #117 – Forced Capture Test Date: 09 Feb 2025 Outcome: Subject resisted physical interrogation for 72 hours. Under simulated neural interrogation, subject's memory nodes shifted erratically, preventing clean data extraction.

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE [CONFIDENTIAL – REDACTED]

Diagnosed with Controlled Identity Dissociation due to dual consciousness bleed Behavioral Overlay: Canine Imprinting ResidualsCompulsion: Cataloging animal trauma in encrypted field logs Displays signs of interspecies empathy inversion: higher emotional response to canines than humans Regular debriefings required post-shift to confirm cognitive cohesion Trust rating: Satisfactory (fluctuating) Loyalty tier: ██ (Observed Deviations) Note: Obedience - Absolute.

Watchlist Tag: "If he breaks, do not attempt containment. End him."

Behavioral Note (per Division Psych Lead): “If Shepherd is lost to his canine identity mid-field, he becomes invisible—but also irretrievable. We don’t track him when he's in that state. We observe. From afar.”

CLASSIFIED — AUTHORIZED MEDICAL PERSONNEL ONLY

Subject: Medical and Enhancement History Report Operative Call Sign: Shepherd Date: May 20, 2025 Prepared by: Division Medical and Biotechnical Services

Incident Date: 2022-04-15 Injury: Shrapnel wounds to left forelimb and minor lung puncture Outcome: Immediate field stabilization, followed by surgical removal of shrapnel fragments and lung repair at forward operating base hospital. Six weeks recovery with physical therapy. Enhancements/Surgery: Introduction of subdermal armor plating in left forelimb to prevent similar injuries; enhanced respiratory efficiency implant to improve oxygen intake post-injury.

Incident Date: 2023-01-10 Injury: Compound fracture of right hind leg due to blast exposure Outcome: Emergency orthopedic surgery including insertion of titanium rod and joint reconstruction. Extended rehabilitation including advanced kinetic therapy. Enhancements/Surgery: Cybernetic tendon reinforcement installed post-healing to improve joint strength and durability; pain receptor modulation implant for increased pain tolerance.

Incident Date: 2023-07-22 Injury: Severe lacerations and nerve damage from close combat engagement Outcome: Microsurgical nerve repair and skin grafts conducted; partial sensory loss initially observed with gradual return over three months. Enhancements/Surgery: Neural interface upgrade for enhanced reflexes and motor control; dermal regeneration accelerator installed to speed up healing in future injuries.

Incident Date: 2024-03-05 Injury: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by explosion shockwave Outcome: Intensive neurorehabilitation, including cognitive and motor skill therapies; implanted neural stabilizer to reduce inflammation and enhance brain plasticity. Enhancements/Surgery: Neural enhancement implant to improve situational awareness and reaction times; protective cranial plating surgically added to prevent future injuries.

Incident Date: 2024-11-17 Injury: Severe torso bruising and multiple rib fractures from vehicle rollover. Outcome: Surgical realignment of ribs, internal stabilization with biocompatible materials, and extended recovery with respiratory therapy. Enhancements/Surgery: Enhanced muscular reinforcement in torso area to absorb shock better; advanced pain modulation system installed to maintain operational capacity under duress.

SPECIALIZATIONS

Shifter Reconnaissance – Stealth Tier III (Caniform)

Bio-Tracking and Genetic Residue Analysis

Behavioral Manipulation (Canine and Human Subjects)

Canine-Based Infiltration Techniques (Enhanced Scent Masking, Terrain-Adaptive Stealth)

Counter-Persona Interrogation Resistance

Advanced Tactical Evasion and Pursuit

Environmental Adaptation and Survival (Urban and Wilderness)

Canine-Enhanced Sensory Surveillance (Olfactory and Auditory Amplification)

K9-Assisted Target Acquisition and Identification

Rapid Response and Extraction Operations

Tactical Communication and Nonverbal Signaling

Close Quarters Threat Neutralization

Combat-Integrated Tracking and Flanking Maneuvers

Low-Visibility Movement and Silent Navigation

Enhanced Pain Tolerance and Injury Recovery

Psychosensory Signal Disruption (Canine Howl Emulation for Area Confusion)

Counter-Surveillance and Detection Evasion

Multi-Terrain Mobility and Climbing Proficiency

Operational Camouflage Adaptation (Fur Pattern Shifting and Texture Modulation)

LIMITATIONS

Canine Phenotypic Shift Cognitive Decline: Upon full transformation into canine morphology, higher-order executive functions and complex tactical reasoning are significantly impaired, resulting in reliance on instinctual behaviors that may hinder mission-specific objectives.

Verbal Communication Restriction: In canine form, expressive communication is limited to nonverbal signaling and basic command comprehension, thereby reducing effective real-time coordination with human operatives. To mitigate this, a custom-engineered neural-linked collar—designated Vox-Halo Unit 7—has been implemented.

Sensory Modality Vulnerability: Exposure to extreme environmental factors such as hyperthermia or toxic chemical agents attenuates olfactory and other heightened sensory functions, diminishing tracking and detection capacity.

Physical Trauma Susceptibility: Despite augmented regenerative and endurance capabilities, Shepherd remains vulnerable to high-impact ballistic trauma and sustained blunt force injuries, which transiently impair operational effectiveness.

Engagement Range Limitation: Combat proficiency is primarily restricted to close-quarters; proficiency with ranged weaponry is suboptimal, necessitating support elements for medium to long-range threat neutralization.

Cognitive-Identity Disassociation: Prolonged duration in canine form or repeated canine-hominid identity shifts may precipitate episodes of cognitive disorientation or temporary loss of self-awareness, compromising operational reliability.

Cybernetic Maintenance Dependency: Enhanced physical and sensory augmentations require scheduled recalibration and maintenance; operational degradation occurs in the absence of routine servicing or if systems are compromised.

Infiltration Countermeasure Sensitivity: Although adept in unconventional infiltration, Shepherd’s biological and sensory enhancements are susceptible to detection by advanced biometric and bio-signature surveillance technologies.

Manual Dexterity Deficiency: The canine anatomical form imposes significant limitations on fine motor skills, restricting capability for complex tool manipulation, technical sabotage, or field repairs.

Psychological Stress Response: Exposure to high-stress combat environments or trauma-associated stimuli can induce atypical behavioral responses, including heightened aggression or withdrawal, necessitating ongoing psychological evaluation and support.

SKILLS

Proficient

Close Combat Mastery

Acrobatics & Evasion

Perception

Battlefield Endurance

Stealth & Infiltration

Expertise:

Pain Tolerance

Substandard:

Seduction

Cryptograms & Codebreaking

KNOWN ANOMALIES

Subject retains partial "residual scent memory" across forms.

Exhibits involuntary memory recall of K9 partner deceased during Operation ███████.

Regular unauthorized logging of animal casualties.

🗂️ MISSION LOGS – CLASSIFIED SLTH OPS

MISSION: MOTHER TONGUE Location: Novosibirsk Oblast, Russian Federation Date: ██/██/20██ Objective: Infiltrate abandoned research site formerly operated under Soviet Directive Красный Глотка ("Red Throat"). Extract cognitive imprint data from canine-based neural wetware prototypes. Operative Assigned: Agent SHEPHERD (solo, Sloth insertion) Status: ✅ OBJECTIVE RECOVERED – SITE COMPROMISED Casualties: 3 (hostiles), 12 (canine test subjects) Post-Op Psychological Score: Borderline-Flagged (Tier 2 Dissociation Signs Present)

Extracted Log [REDACTED]:

“Site was frozen beneath six meters of ice and silence. It didn’t feel abandoned. The dogs were still there—wired, suspended. No sedation. Some were still blinking. They kept looking toward the corner of the room�� as if something was there. I didn't see it. But I heard it. A sound like breathing through water.”

“Data was stored in bone. Implanted microchips behind the orbital ridge—wetware designed to carry imprint memories. They weren’t studying obedience. They were recording language. The dogs were speaking… but not with mouths. With static.”

“I euthanized the subjects. Quick. Clean. I kept one piece. Just one skull. It still hums when I touch it.”

RED FLAG: Agent extracted unauthorized relic (biological remains) against directive. Post-Mission Directive: Agent under Tier-1 Cognitive Watch for residual imprint bleed. Subject claims no memory of return flight or initial post-op debrief.

Internal Note [Director ███████]:

“We told him to extract code. He brought back ghosts.”

MISSION: GLASS PRAYER

Location: Haifa, Israel Date: ██/██/20██ Objective: Embedded as stray for 6 days inside biotech security compound. Recover prototype genetic stabilizer. Status: ✅ RECOVERED Anomalies: Subject remained in canine form for 142 consecutive hours. No reversion recorded.

Extracted Log [REDACTED]:

“…man in the courtyard fed me each morning. Called me 'Kelev.' Didn’t know I understood. He talked about his daughter. Told me secrets. Where the vault was. What he’d buried. Day six, I took the drive from his pocket. He cried when I ran. I didn’t look back. The leash tightens when they trust you.”

MISSION: REBIRTH

Location: [REDACTED] Date: ██/██/20██ Objective: ████████ Status: ██ Notes: Operation during which subject’s shifter state first manifested. Incident classified under Pandora Directive X/13. Only surviving operative. No visual data recovered. All environmental surveillance “glitched.”

Post-Op Incident Report:

“…I was watching Juno die and I wasn’t in my body. I felt the hair before I saw it. I heard something scream inside my head—my voice, but not. I shifted for the first time. And I didn’t come back for three days.”

Outcome: Full biogenic transition. Induction into Pandora Gluttony Division.

🔒 ADDITIONAL FILES (ACCESS RESTRICTED TO OMEGA-LEVEL):

[ ] DOG 19 Incident File – Content Locked[ ] JUNO Termination Record – Redacted by Order 5C[ ] Directive A-Null: “Fail-safes for Subject Shepherd”

🔻 END OF FILE

“He is what happens when loyalty breaks and reforms with teeth.” – Pandora Internal Memo

#pandora.intro #// will fix this ugly format and graphic when i am more awake

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compneuropapers · 1 month ago

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Interesting Papers for Week 22, 2025

Reaching Distance Influences Perceptual Decisions. Assarioti, E. E., van Beers, R. J., Smeets, J. B. J., & van Wijk, B. C. M. (2025). European Journal of Neuroscience, 61(3).

Detection of latent brain states from spontaneous neural activity in the amygdala. Aucoin, A., Lin, K. K., & Gothard, K. M. (2025). PLOS Computational Biology, 21(2), e1012247.

Repeated stress gradually impairs auditory processing and perception. Bisharat, G., Kaganovski, E., Sapir, H., Temnogorod, A., Levy, T., & Resnik, J. (2025). PLOS Biology, 23(2), e3003012.

A neuronal code for object representation and memory in the human amygdala and hippocampus. Cao, R., Brunner, P., Chakravarthula, P. N., Wahlstrom, K. L., Inman, C., Smith, E. H., Li, X., Mamelak, A. N., Brandmeir, N. J., Rutishauser, U., Willie, J. T., & Wang, S. (2025). Nature Communications, 16, 1510.

Contextual neural dynamics during time perception in the primate ventral premotor cortex. Díaz, H., Bayones, L., Alvarez, M., Andrade-Ortega, B., Valero, S., Zainos, A., Romo, R., & Rossi-Pool, R. (2025). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(6), e2420356122.

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Hippocampal damage disrupts the latent decision-making processes underlying approach-avoidance conflict processing in humans. Le Duc, W., Butler, C. R., Argyropoulos, G. P. D., Chu, S., Hutcherson, C., Ruocco, A. C., Ito, R., & Lee, A. C. H. (2025). PLOS Biology, 23(2), e3003033.

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Fixational eye movements as active sensation for high visual acuity. Nghiem, T.-A. E., Witten, J. L., Dufour, O., Harmening, W. M., & Azeredo da Silveira, R. (2025). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(6), e2416266122.

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Modular Maximization Theory: A functional account of economic behavior in laboratory animal models with applications to drug-seeking behavior. Sanabria, F., Gildea, M., Gutiérrez, B., Santos, C., & Hibshman, A. (2025). Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 169, 106010.

Hexagons all the way down: grid cells as a conformal isometric map of space. Schøyen, V. S., Beshkov, K., Pettersen, M. B., Hermansen, E., Holzhausen, K., Malthe-Sørenssen, A., Fyhn, M., & Lepperød, M. E. (2025). PLOS Computational Biology, 21(2), e1012804.

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#neuroscience #science #research #brain science #scientific publications #cognitive science #neurobiology #cognition #psychophysics #neurons #neural computation #neural networks #computational neuroscience

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garbage-empress · 1 year ago

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My favorite sea urchin fact is that until the last 15ish years, they were presumed to have simple vision with stationary eye spots on the top that could probably differentiate light and shadow but not much else. Turns out that was super wrong. When the genome sequence of the purple sea urchin was published, there were a weirdly large number of genes dedicated to visual development for an animal with simple eyespots. So then where are these implied complex eyes? Looking at a sea urchin, there's no obvious location for eyes.

Well, urchins are covered in little tentacles called tube feet. People don't usually see how tentacley urchins are because the feet are retracted in most photos, but this is what urchins look like with extended tube feet.

Tube feet are used for locomotion and sometimes feeding/waste disposal. Turns out that at least in some species of urchin (maybe most, I don't think we know yet) each tube foot contains light sensing cells at both the base and the tip of each tube foot. Each tube foot is its own simple eye. Meaning urchins are essentially one big compound eye, and their visual system is much more complicated than we thought. They likely don't have our visual acuity, but on the other hand, we also don't get visual input from almost 360° around our entire body both vertically and horizontally.

Their nervous system is also probably more sophisticated than previously realized as a consequence. It already amazes me watching urchins move around, they're radially symmetrical and have a lot of tube feet and individual spines to keep track of — oh yeah, forgot to mention they can precisely point each spine around at many directions within a hemispherical arc — but they can figure out how to move in a purposeful direction in spite of having sensory input from every side. Now I know they are taking into account visual stimuli on top of that, which is nuts.

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secretofpandora · 3 months ago

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🐺 FILE #GLTN-046: “FENRIR”

📝 BASIC INFORMATION

Subject Name: [REDACTED] Known Alias: Fenrir Callsign: Fenrir Status: ACTIVE Affiliation: Pandora Division: Gluttony Faceclaim: Clayton Cardenas Date of Birth: [REDACTED] Age: 46 Place of Origin: [REDACTED] Sex / Gender: Male (He/Him) Mutation Type: Werewolf Physiology Recruitment Date: 4 years ago Sexual Orientation: [REDACTED] Alignment Profile: [NEUTRAL EVIL – CLASSIFIED]

💪 PHYSICAL INFORMATION

Height: 6'4" (193 cm) Build: Towering and broad-shouldered, with a thick, muscular frame developed through both tactical conditioning and mutation. Once lean, his current form reflects the immense physicality needed to house the beast within. Power is concentrated in his chest, arms, and legs, giving him the look of a predator built to dominate close combat. Complexion: Tan Hair: Short, shaved on the sides) Facial Hair: Goatee Body Hair: Heavy — dense chest and abdominal hair, thicker along arms and legs. Groomed enough to remain contained within uniform, but consistent with elevated testosterone levels and mutation. Distinguishing Features: Deep-set, sharp eyes with a piercing, predatory stare, prominent cheekbones and a square jawline Tattoos: The following markings are confirmed but typically concealed beneath combat armor. They reflect significant events and psychological markers from the subject’s former life and mutation experience.

Right Arm (Full Sleeve): A snarling wolf at the shoulder, its eyes shadowed and expression feral. Below, chains wrap the arm, interwoven with barbed wire and shattered chess pieces, with a cracked king piece remaining upright near the elbow. A clock with no hands is hidden among the pattern—symbolizing a life ruled by violence, not time. On the back of his fore arm is a trio of dice, landed on one, that drip blood down the design.

Left Forearm: The phrase “Familia ante todo” in Spanish script, partially scorched and cracked. Below it, a skull wearing a crown of bullets, its teeth bared in a grin. Near the wrist, a small line of Roman numerals marks the date of a personal turning point—suspected to be his rise to leadership or a significant loss.

Back (Upper Half): A massive wolf mid-howl, rendered in brutal, shadowed detail. Its chest is splitting open, revealing sinew, bone, and something monstrous beneath the fur. Around the beast, thorn-covered vines form a loose ring, stylized to resemble a cage.

🧠 PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE

Psych Eval Tags: Dauntless, Adroit Reprimands: [REDACTED] — see file: Behavioral Warning G-221 (“Abrasive & Hedonistic”)

Subject presumed deceased by all civilian records. Recovered and recruited following Operation Black Dagger. Now functions under the codename “Fenrir.” Considered a high-value asset with unpredictable behavioral tendencies.Recommendation: Observe but do not provoke.

🔬 ABILITY OVERVIEW

Primary Mutation: Werewolf Physiology Enhanced physicality with the ability to fully or partially transform into a monstrous wolf-like form. Gains amplified strength, speed, healing, senses, and durability—especially under high-stress or combat situations.

Secondary Traits: — High sensory acuity (especially scent) — Skilled in urban combat and firearms — Strategic adaptability stemming from previous leadership in organized crime

Limitations: — Transformations are painful and exhausting over time — Heightened emotional states can trigger unintended shifts — Prone to loss of control under severe trauma or rage

🧠 TACTICAL PROFILE

Division Expertise:

Investigation

Stealth & Infiltration

Selected Expertise:

Close Combat Mastery

Proficiencies:

Brute Force

Pain Tolerance

Tactical Foresight

Marksmanship

Intimidation

Deficiencies:

Cryptograms & Codebreaking

Hacking & Cyber Warfare

⚙️ EQUIPMENT & SUIT DESIGN

Standard Loadout: Tactical adaptive suit engineered to stretch with partial transformation. Includes reinforced plating over vital areas, armoring to obscure identifying features (e.g., tattoos), and no extraneous accessories (no cape or insignia). Suit can survive temporary transformation before requiring replacement.

📂 FIELD NOTES — BACKGROUND PROFILE

Subject was born and raised in [REDACTED], where early exposure to criminal activity and institutional neglect led to rapid immersion in organized crime. By his mid-twenties, he had consolidated power within one of the region’s most violent arms-dealing networks—known for its tactical efficiency and ruthless internal order.

Subject was captured during a covert federal operation and flagged for recruitment under Project Pandora. Rather than face indefinite incarceration, he accepted induction into the program. He underwent two years of advanced physical, psychological, and tactical training before being cleared to receive the mutation serum.

Transformation into “Fenrir” was noted as one of the more violent adaptation events within his batch. Subject initially struggled with regulation of instinctual aggression but demonstrated high responsiveness to environmental control protocols and eventually achieved full operational stability. He was assigned to Gluttony Division due to his enhanced tracking abilities, investigative insight, and observational acumen.

Despite the violent nature of his mutation, Fenrir was not placed in Wrath Division. While some assumed this was an oversight, it was a calculated decision—Gluttony required his mind, not just his muscle. Fenrir understands this, and though he identifies with Wrath’s methods, he respects the agency’s recognition of his full skillset.

He is not a man seeking redemption. He is a predator who chooses his prey.

🔒 [CLASSIFIED: LEVEL 7 CLEARANCE REQUIRED]

Unofficial Agent Notes — Subject: Fenrir The following details are not part of the official Pandora record and are restricted to internal psychological and biometric files.

Subject maintains peak physical performance, with noted stamina exceeding most baseline agents. Physiological resilience is considered extreme, consistent with mutation-enhanced endurance and regenerative factors.

Subject possesses what medical logs describe as “notably above-average endowment that leans to the left” — estimated 8.5 inches, uncut. Presentation aligns with proportional expectations relative to subject’s build.

Subject is confirmed sexually active, with multiple unverified accounts of fraternization during pre-mission decompression phases. Displays a notably high libido, generally kept under control, though analysis suggests sexual activity may function as a coping mechanism for transformation-induced physiological stress.

Classified behavioral observations confirm a dominant, aggressive role in sexual dynamics, with predatory confidence contributing to both intimidation and appeal. Subject demonstrates an uncompromising preference for control, exhibiting no recorded submissive behavior and consistently rejecting reversal of power dynamics. Engagement style is forceful, possessive, and deliberately overwhelming, with emphasis on physical claiming, sustained overstimulation of partners, and an instinctual drive for marking. Verbal restraint is minimal; subject favors growled commands, physical dominance, and relentless pacing.

No current attachments or romantic affiliations noted. Interactions are characterized by transactional detachment post-encounter, though partner fixation has been observed in select cases, aligning with subject’s possessive behavioral profile.

FILE STATUS: OPEN LAST UPDATED: [REDACTED]

#pandora.intro

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w0efulboopsoul · 3 months ago

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Hawthorn Wyverns

Hawthorn Wyverns are tiny, ferocious draconic creatures inhabiting the dense, bristly Hawthorn bushes scattered across the frostbitten wilds of Howa’ah and the varied landscapes of Eryndara. Roughly standing 1 foot tall at the shoulder, 2 feet long (including their barbed tail), with a 3-foot wingspan and weighing 7-10 ounces (200-280 grams)—these wyverns are a paradoxical blend of delicate stature and nightmarish aggression. Named for their symbiotic bond with Hawthorn bushes, they thrive in hoards of 50-100, producing a potent honey from nectar and venom that’s both a delicacy and a survival tool. Their dull golden scales, fiery amber eyes, and venomous stingers make them a force to be reckoned with despite their size, feared and revered by the peoples of both regions.

Physical Characteristics

Size and Build:

Standard wyverns measure 1 foot tall at the shoulder, 2 feet long (including tail), with a 3-foot wingspan, weighing 7-10 ounces. Their lightweight, wiry frames prioritize agility over bulk, ideal for darting through Hawthorn thickets. Bat-like wings with leathery membranes enable rapid, erratic flight—akin to hummingbirds but with a predatory edge. Two hind legs sport sharp, curved talons, while a barbed, venomous tail delivers their signature sting.

Scales and Coloration:

Dull golden scales shimmer faintly like tarnished gold in sunlight, offering a relic-like aesthetic that belies their ferocity. Composed of a keratin-mineral composite, these scales provide decent armor against blows while remaining light for flight. Variations exist—Howa’ah’s wyverns lean toward frost-tinged silver-gold, while Eryndara’s may show warmer amber hues from sunnier climes.

Head and Senses:

A narrow snout bears a small, hooked beak and disproportionately sharp fangs, perfect for sipping nectar or shredding prey. Fiery amber eyes glow with menace, suggesting heightened visual acuity—likely adapted for spotting threats or prey amid dense bushes. Their hearing is acute, attuned to the rustle of leaves or shrieks of kin.

Queen Hawthorn Wyvern:

The Golden Matriarch stands larger—1.5 feet tall, 2.5 feet long, with a 3.5-foot wingspan, weighing 12-14 ounces. Her brighter golden scales gleam like polished metal, and a white forehead crest (possibly bioluminescent) marks her status. Her stinger is more robust, delivering stronger venom, and her crest pulses during pheromone releases.

Biological Adaptations

Venom:

The barbed tail’s stinger injects a neurotoxic venom causing intense pain and temporary paralysis (3-5 minutes per sting). Multiple stings amplify this—5-10 can paralyze a human-sized foe for hours, with a mild anticoagulant effect prolonging bleeding. The venom targets the nervous system, overwhelming sensory pathways, making even one sting a deterrent.

Flight:

Agile wings allow hovering, diving, and mid-air pivots, weaving through Hawthorn thorns with precision. Top speed reaches 20-30 mph in short bursts, though endurance is limited—perfect for swarm attacks or escapes.

Armor:

Scales offer modest protection, deflecting glancing blows or thorn scratches but yielding to crushing force. Their flexibility aids flight, though a well-aimed strike from a larger predator (e.g., Plains Strider hoof) could kill one outright.

Habitat

Hawthorn Bushes:

Found in thick, bristly Hawthorn thickets across Howa’ah’s frozen forests and Eryndara’s diverse terrains—valleys, highlands, and scrublands—these bushes are their domain. Thorny and tangled, they provide cover from predators and a nectar-rich food source. Hives nestle in hollows, crevices, or dense branches, built from chewed fibers, wax, and shed scales into small domes (1-2 feet wide).

Regional Variations:

In Howa’ah, hives cluster near PrimPines or the Glacial Abyss, leveraging icy winds for defense. In Eryndara, they favor sunnier slopes or rocky outcrops, adapting to milder seasons while retaining cold-hardened traits.

Behavior and Social Dynamics

Temperament:

Their nightmarish temper drives fearless aggression—attacking Plains Striders, dragons like Ignarius, or anything encroaching on their turf. High-pitched, ear-piercing shrieks disorient foes, a psychological weapon amplifying their swarm assaults.

Hive Mentality:

Hoards of 50-100 operate with hive-like coordination, swarming enemies in a frenzy of bites, scratches, and stings. Distraction tactics—some shrieking to confuse, others stinging vulnerable spots—make them lethal en masse. Venom’s cumulative effect can incapacitate large predators, like Black Backed Wolf Drakes, despite their magic.

Queen’s Role:

The Golden Matriarch rules as sole reproducer and coordinator, her brighter scales and white crest a beacon. Her pheromones—released via glands near her crest—calm or rally the hoard, pulsing with faint light. She directs from the hive’s core, fighting only if direly threatened, her venom paralyzing foes longer (5-7 minutes).

Hawthorn Wyvern Honey

Production:

Workers sip Hawthorn nectar, mixing it with venom enzymes in a secondary stomach, then regurgitate it into wax cells. Fanning wings dehydrate it into a super-sweet honey—amber in Howa’ah’s frostbitten valleys, liquid gold in Eryndara’s highlands. A hive produces ~1-2 gallons seasonally, stored in hoards fiercely guarded.

Properties:

Healing: Venom transforms into compounds accelerating wound closure (~20% faster), soothing pain, and countering mild poisons (e.g., Viper Cat venom).

Calming: Soothes aggression in beasts like Thrym or Marigawa, inducing calm for 1-2 hours. In humanoids, it reduces stress or enhances focus.

Elemental: Varies by region—frost-infused (Howa’ah) boosts cold resistance; fire-infused (Eryndara) warms and invigorates.

Sour Honey: "Sour Honey" refers to a batch of Hawthorn Wyvern Honey produced by a hive when the Queen Hawthorn Wyvern is stressed, ill, or injured. Unlike standard honey—known for its super-sweet taste and balanced healing and calming properties—Sour Honey has a sharper, more bitter flavor profile due to an elevated concentration of venom-derived compounds. This alteration reflects the Queen’s physical or emotional turmoil, which disrupts the usual enzymatic process that transforms venom into beneficial substances, resulting in a less refined and more potent product.

Origins and Causes

Queen’s Influence:

The Queen is the heart of honey production, her health and state directly affecting the hive’s output. Normally, her enzymes and pheromones ensure the venom in the nectar is processed into a sweet, medicinal honey. When she’s unwell—whether from injury (e.g., a Plains Strider’s kick), illness (e.g., a frost-related infection), or stress (e.g., a raided hive)—her body produces less of the calming enzymes and more raw venom toxins, skewing the honey’s composition.

Production Shift:

Workers continue gathering nectar from Hawthorn bushes, but the Queen’s compromised state means the venom isn’t fully neutralized during regurgitation. The hive may also reduce honey output as the hoard shifts focus to protecting and healing her, concentrating what little is made into a denser, more acrid form.

Characteristics of Sour Honey

Flavor and Appearance:

Taste: Sharp and bitter, with a lingering sourness that overshadows the usual sweetness. It might taste like overripe citrus mixed with a metallic tang, a stark contrast to the rich, floral sweetness of healthy honey.

Color: Slightly darker and murkier than standard honey—amber in Howa’ah might turn a cloudy brown, while Eryndara’s liquid gold takes on a dull, brassy hue. The texture could be thicker or grainier, reflecting incomplete processing.

Abilities and Combat

Venomous Sting:

Delivers neurotoxic venom causing pain and paralysis (3-5 minutes single sting; hours with multiple). Targets eyes, joints, or soft tissue for maximum effect.

Swarm Coordination:

Hive-mind tactics overwhelm foes—dozens sting in waves, exploiting weaknesses. A hoard can down a frost elk or deter a Wolf Drake, though dragons like Ignarius might incinerate them.

Agile Flight:

Erratic maneuvers dodge attacks, weaving through bushes to flank or retreat. Weakness lies in their fragility—a single wyvern is easily crushed if isolated.

Ecological Role

Pollinators:

Nectar-gathering sustains Hawthorn bushes, vital for local flora. Their spread supports other pollinators and herbivores.

Predators:

Control small prey—rodents, insects, juvenile Viper Cats—dragging kills to the hive. Rarely scavenge, preferring fresh meat.

Predators:

Black Backed Wolf Drakes raid hives for honey, using Static Shields against stings. Dragons like Ignarius or Plains Striders may crush them, though swarms often repel such threats.

Cultural Significance and Taming

Names:

“Golden Furies” (Howa’ah) or “Sting Drakes” (Eryndara) reflect their ferocity. Honey is “Matriarch’s Tears,” a cultural staple.

Taming Ritual:

Presenting the Queen her favorite flower—Frostbloom (Howa’ah) or Sunpetal (Eryndara)—initiates taming. If accepted, her calming pheromones (sweet, floral) pacify the hoard, allowing honey harvest or aid. Rejection triggers a crimson crest flare and swarm attack. A rare feat, it marks elite tamers.

Symbiotic Relationship with Dragons

Partners:

Dragons (e.g., Bronze Tempests, Frostfang Leviathans like Valraxies) form bonds. Dragons lay eggs near hives, guarding against large threats; wyverns envelop nests in their hives, defending eggs with venom.

Mechanics:

The Queen’s “Alliance Pheromone” (metallic-floral) signals cooperation, spurring hive expansion around eggs. Dragons deter predators; wyverns sting smaller threats. Honey may gain elemental traits—fire from Tempests, frost from Leviathans.

Impact:

Enhances egg survival and hive security, altering local predator behavior and boosting honey output.

Queen Hawthorn Wyvern

Traits:

Larger (1.5 ft tall, 2.5 ft long, 3.5 ft wingspan), with brighter gold scales and a glowing white crest. Her venom is stronger, paralyzing for 5-7 minutes.

Role:

Lays 20-50 eggs per clutch (2-3 month incubation), directs hoard via pheromones, and fights as a last resort. New Queens emerge via combat and metamorphosis post-death.

Taming:

Accepts Frostbloom/Sunpetal offerings, bonding tamers to the hive if pleased.

#w0e's at it again #w0e's musings #headcanons #creative writing #writing #Hawthorn Wyverns #Little Ladies of Eryndara #Liquid Gold of Howa'ah

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moussofshroom · 1 year ago

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GERMA 66 AND CYBORG 009

(this rant is so messy i started talking about humanity and sanji 😭)

okay so one person on tumblr (sangerie) briefly talked about germa 66 and the inspiration from cyborg 009, an older work that oda probabaly read growing up. today i dive into the depths of insanity and read all of cyborg 009’s ORIGINAL RUN (i do not recommend this) in order to find some possible inspiration that oda used for germa 66.

However i’ll probably only read 10 chapters at a time and then analyze some things.

Okay, so Cyborg 009 starts out with the organization black ghost kidnapping 9 people from all over and turning them into cyborgs. I’d like to mention the main villain/leader of this organization has a skull motif-

(and a cool cape)

and this COULD possibly be inspiration for the base design of the raid suits-

i may be reaching but the skull motif present in the belt of the suits and the cape might possibly tie back to the Black ghost organization’s leader???

moving on though, we get to the part of the story where people start getting abducted by the black ghost organization to become cyborgs. the first is 001, but i’d like to bring up 002. 002 goes on to have super speed, but id also like to bring up the hairstyle.

I MIGHT BE REACHING BUT-

The hairstyle MIGHT have inspired niji’s. also his personality is sort of similar to niji’s from what i’ve seen of the 2001 anime. ( which was the first 4 episodes 💀)

After several other kidnappings, we meet who is going to be cyborg 003, who’s kidnapped right in front of her brother who travels to try and find her. i’d also like to bring up the hairstyle for this one as well.

this one’s a BIT more obvious, but this hairstyle might have inspired reiju’s- we’ll probably never know if these were intended design choices, but let’s move on again.

In this next chapter, We get introduced to the powers of the first 8 cyborgs-

001 has an electronic brain

002 can fly to speeds up to mach 5

003 has heightened sensory acuity

004 has his whole body turned into a weapon

005 had armor grafted onto his skin which enhanced his strength

006 can shoot flames from his mouth and burrow through rock

007 can transform into anything

008 does well underwater and has makeshift gills.

now 005 is probably the one with the most in common to the standard germa powers judging from the durability (but that’s a common cyborg trope so idk)

But 004 is interesting as well.

if you look at the photo above, it resembles Yonji’s power (but without the “connectors”)

y’know that thing he can do with disconnecting his arms with the things ( i’m sorry i CANNOT explain this well) Although 004 does not have the things that connect yonji’s limbs still, they are very similar.

Next chapter- Cyborg 009 finally gets made and he is tested-

one thing about his outfit as well as all the other cyborg’s outfits ( which was brought up in sangerie’s post) is that is looks like sora’s outfit.

(the warrior of the sea not sora vinsmoke)

which i find interesting, is it possible that sora was made by germa??? idk. BUT IT COULD HAVE INSPIRED SORA VINSMOKE BEING PART OF GERMA AND ALL THE IRONY IN THAT-

(rant here but i hate 009 like he gets the coolest powers and i get it because he’s the most recent one, but at the same time he’s half japanese so its probably favoritism…)

After 009’s test, he meets the other 8 cyborgs, who immediately detain the scientists who experimented on them and in the beginning of next chapter, they start attacking the scientists 003 (the only girl cyborg) then says that they should not partake in the violence they were made for once the other cyborgs start attacking.

this may just be how all female characters are written but idk man this is giving me reiju vibes 🤷 they then take a scientist as hostage and take 009 with them. i know y’all are probably tired of me talking about hairstyles by now but 009’s kinda looks like yonji’s from the side- (if you’re delusional)

(now that I’m really lookin at it… it kinda looks like stealth b;ack hair but less complicated)

It turns out the scientist that was a hostage is actually allied with the cyborgs and his name is dr gilmore. He realized the work he was doing was inhumane and came up with a whole rebellion plan for the cyborgs.

Gilmore then helps the cyborgs hide out in a cave with him. the cyborgs make dinner and 009 learns their powers. during dinner, 009 talks to gilmore where gilmore states that- “..YOU ARE THE PINNACLE OF CYBER-HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT. MANIFEST IN YOU IS THE SUM OF OUR SUCCESS, VOID OF IMPERFECTIONS, A MASTERPIECE OF WAR TECHNOLOGY.” 009 then responds that he can’t do what [cyborgs] do, prompting this-

yes, gilmore is a good guy in this story but he STILL holds the core belief of the scientists that experimented on them. This whole talk is common in the cyborg scene yes, but it reminds me a lot of sanji who unlike his siblings, voices his awareness more often and doesn’t joke about such things as humanity, such as the scene where the siblings are laughing over their potential deaths (minus reiju but reiju also doesn’t fit into sanji’s place so she’s hard to place on the spectrum)

Humanity is talked about a lot in this chapter, specifically how much humanity can be taken away from you until you are truly a cyborg? or what lengths would people go to prove that they are the strongest nation?

The cyborgs soon get attacked by the black ghost organization trying to get them back. They send non human cyborgs out to defeat them and capture them, but of course our main group of the 9 cyborgs win.

Chapter 8 and 9 don’t have much, so it’s not too important BUT it’s mentioned that the leader of Black ghost MIGHT be a cyborg since he had accelerated (which is just moving really fast so it seems that time has stopped around you and only 009 has been revealed to be able to do this so far). Also in this chapter the cyborgs escape to japan.

In chapter 10, black ghost finds their cyborgs in japan and they’re doing good at fighting back But then Black ghost unleashes their new “weapon” on them-

Cyborg 0010. That’s a stupid name though so we’re just gonna stick with Cyborg 010. 010 has been sent to kill them all, however unlike the other 9 he does not view the other cyborgs as family, as he is stronger than them, and eve THEIR attacks don’t work on him. 010 also has acceleration like 009 because he’s better than them whatever whatever. turns out 010 is actually two cyborgs- plus and minus (y’know how electricity works with a negative and positive charge) they’re then defeated by 009 when he runs them into eachother, as positive and negative charges neutralize power and cyborgs need power.

What’s interesting is the after battle scene.

the two cyborgs who were 010 were brothers, and their last scene is them finally holding hands.

009 acknowledges this, and brings up its kinda fucked that the brothers couldn’t even touch or else they would die. now I AM REACHING BUT LISTEN!!! In the 2001 anime, (and in most adaptations) the 010 brothers have a red and blue color scheme, representing the negative and positive charges.

… NIJI has a blue color scheme possibly representing a NEGATIVE charge of electricity.

(idk what relevance this has but it’s a kinda cool fact I mean I could go into the ichiji and Niji dynamic and how I interpret it but hey I think this is long enough)

IMMEDIATELY AFTER We then get this new cyborg that’s non human looking called 0011 (i’m calling him 011)

it’s revealed he’s given the condition to defeat the cyborgs

so he can be returned to his true body -

of course cyborg 009 tries to use the power of friendship but he gets this response, different from 010’s response of violence towards the pleas-

he considers stopping, but realizes he has to look out for himself. NOW LISTEN I MIGHT BE REACHING AGAIN BUT CONSIDER- in germa the code is basically the weakest get left behind, so basically it’s just “look out for yourself” which is actually a common trope for cyborg characters, but i also find it interesting how after WCI in the germa cover story they defy this “look after for yourself” trope as it’s ichiji and reiju who go out for the other two against judge’s wishes, and it makes you wonder, yes the scientists had created monsters but who is truly the monster in this situation? going back to cyborg 011 he’s defeated pretty quickly and he says this-

Cyborg 009 is a series that truly encapsulates the tropes present in stories about cyborgs, and this one here is common, where it’s painful to live as someone experimented on, risking your own life as you believe it’s lost your value. But there’s more. 011 delivered this speech afterwards-

if you ignore the last two things that 011 says that alludes to the poison rain that’s currently raining down his speech reflects a possibility in the future of one piece. what am i referring to?

hey do you guys remember the death pact 😁

HEAR ME OUT HERE

it would be wonderful if we got to see a speech like this from a character who had been experimented on and could no longer feel (sanji possibly) anyways stopping my rant there before i start going off track, let me wrap up chapter 10 of cyborg 009. So the rain is poison like mentioned earlier and then they get better after a while and yeah that’s it really 🤷

anyways i hope you enjoyed this rant that says 5 things about germa and has me going insane about the rest of it lmk if I should keep readin cyborg 009🧍‍♂️

#one piece #sanji #sanji vinsmoke #germa 66 #ichiji vinsmoke #niji vinsmoke #reiju vinsmoke #yonji vinsmoke

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saspas-folder-of-art-relateds · 1 year ago

Text

In all the galaxy, there's only a few species to be feared.

Dipthorians, who can reach sizes of 6 meters tall and easily throw a smaller alien into a wall. Minorly aggressive, they won't attack unless provoked or insulted.

Galgoros, with low visual acuity, and relies on sensory tentacles across the ground. They've successfully thwarted many ancient invasions of their home planets through drowning their attackers. It's hard to even float in liquid water.

And Humans. They're small in stature, only reading an average of 2 meters, and have no visibly threatening features. From far away, anyway.

But you zoom into a human, and you see how they interact with their environment, and you begin to realize they fit into a class suit only ever hypothesized: Class S Predator.

You see, most alien species have evolved similarly. Eyes in the sides of their heads, perhaps a biological defensive structure, and an acute sense of smell. Obviously, colors and sizes and shapes differ, but when you get down to it, the 4-6 legs variation doesn't matter so much with the rest of the features.

Now, some species do come from more aggressive planets. They've had to evolve more specially- the abilities to regulate body temperature, sense different light patterns, and create instruments to measure things like the weather.

Humans, though. Humans scare other species. Humans have front-facing eyes that dart around. The ability has been described as "uncanny".

Humans have four limbs, but are bipedal. Bipedal! Only one other sentient species has ever been documented as bipedal, and the Thraminians are well on their way to extinction.

Humans have the most staggering brain-to-body ratio that other species have ever seen. And their ability to recover from lethal injuries? Unheard of. It was a miracle to hear that humans couldn't regenerate lost limbs, but they make prosthetics anyway. Of course. Because of their massive brains, they can do largely impossible things with very little issue.

Humans are territorial. Horrifyingly territorial. There are wars recorded in human history that are purely territory-based. In the rest of the galaxy, you don't take land or resources, it's an unspoken agreement between species.

There are a lot of unspoken agreements, in fact. So when humans finally venture out into their unknown, dozens of species watch with stifling unease and vague fear. None have ever met a human, and perhaps that's for a good cause.

The Xanthau are the first species to achieve interstellar travel. They are the ones who bring many other species together and free them from their gravitational chains. They went to Earth to attempt the same exactly once.

It went swimmingly, if by swimmingly you mean not one Xanthaurum returned.

Each Xanthaurum traveled to different parts of Earth. According to the visual recording instruments each had, they were all met with loud vocalizations and aggression. Even when they attempted to signal peace and cooperation, the instruments caught the Humans brandishing weapons, running away, however awkwardly it seemed, on their two legs.

Strangely colored and shaped humans took a few of the Xanthau to a similar place each, with a recurring symbol on the walls. The instruments were then deactivated.

The rest experienced what the Xanthau can only hope to be a painless passing. They didn't dare attempt to recover their comrades. The videos of the humans were meticulously studied, but there were significant holes in the research.

The most disturbing thing was part of their features. Before one of the Xanthaurum revealed themself, the humans appeared to be baring their teeth at one another, though they appeared to be peaceful. However, when they saw the Xanthaurum, their faces changed minutely, and showed aggressive behavior.

Humanity achieving interstellar travel might be a death sentence for galaxykind.

#humans are space orcs #humans are scary

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