Physiology

[Admin]

Discuss Terrapyre Physiology here. Or start your own concise topic in the Terrapyres section.

[Admin]

If a child of two Terrapyres survives to Awakening, he or she will become immortal.

Does this also mean that the illness that plagued the child's childhood also disappears?

Currently the illnesses listed that can plague a child of 2 Terrapyres are:

Auto-immune disorders (autism, chronic fatigue, diabetes, etc)
Psychological illnesses (schizophrenia, paranoia, OCD, etc)
Congenital defects

Input, please...

Cris

[Admin]

Fri Jan 16, 2009 12:14 pm

AreaneCreator wrote:

I don't think so. Terrapyres are immortal from birth, they just don't really know it until awakening. Also, I don't think awakening affects the mind.

[Admin]

Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:10 pm

JenDiMarco wrote:

I think the question here is less complicated than it seems. Pretty much I think it would be safe to say that two Terraoyres are *not* supposed to have children. It is very difficult and very, very often the child does not survive even if carried to term. EJ has stated that if the afflicted child reaches Awakening, then they will survive as other Terrapyres survive (Immortal unless killed).

This seems to imply (and EJ will certainly correct me if I'm wrong, but I've asked her to tackle the Celestial stuff first) that whatever afflicted the child will be "healed" upon Awakening. I don't think they would keep having to battle a disease if they are now Immortal as other Terrapyres. I would assume the child is, basically, good to go, no problems, just like other Terrapyres... *if* they can reach Awakening.

Just how I read EJ's original comment

Jennifer

[Admin]

Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:03 am

Cris wrote:

Okay, then. I'll run it that the illness disappears. If we need to correct, we can do so later.

Cris

[Admin]

Tue Jan 20, 2009 9:10 am

JenDiMarco wrote:

Terrapyres can pass memories and experiences to other Terrapyres any where in the world. How quickly is this information spread? Does it reach everyone? How clearly? What could stop information from being shared?

Jennifer

(If you are one of the team members working on "373 BC" please be careful what you say here. Do not reveal the plot or events of that story to discuss this question. Thank you!)

[Admin]

Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:46 am

EJ wrote:

In regard to illnesses and Awakening in unusual Terrapyres (Terrapyres born of a combination other than Terrapyre/Human parents): Yes, chronic and fatal diseases disappear. Traits that are odd (like Harper being a little bit crazy) do not go away

Delving into nonlinear memory:

*deep breath*

"Terrapyres can pass memories and experiences to other Terrapyres any where in the world. How quickly is this information spread?" Does it reach everyone? How clearly?"

Mostly, memories and experiences are slowly absorbed into the Terrapyre species consciousness. It may take days... it may take years. It depends upon the receiver. The memories are added to a kind of collective slipstream that all Terrapyres have access to at varying strengths and with various levels of control. The slipstream contains now, then and forever memories that wash together, disjointed, bumping and jostling and making their own comparisons and connections.

Only a very powerful Terrapyre -- say, Maria or Tyger -- with a very deadly or vital memory, could force knowledge through the slipstream to reach all Terrapyres at once or at all. And even then, the fact would only be given to Terrapyres who had already Awakened. It would simply enter the slipstream for everyone who Awakened afterward.

The memory might still be dreamlike, however, even if the Terrapyre sending it is powerful.

"What could stop information from being shared?"

A Terrapyre could consciously choose not to share information. They would need to focus intently and determinedly in order to stop the impulse but it could be done. One would not need to be an especially powerful Terrapyre to stop something from entering the slipstream.

An extreme trauma that causes the Terrapyre shame or severe sorrow may naturally cause a memory not to be shared (though that could be the very reason a memory is shared vividly as well).

From a private conversation with a MG3K writer:

Through the slipstream of Terrapyre's species, nonlinear memory, Terrapyres tend to be good at anything that celebrates the prowess and beauty of the body. This includes: dancing, making love, fighting skills, etc.

Hope this is helpful!

EJ

[Admin]

Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:41 am

JenDiMarco wrote:

Brianne and I found ourselves sitting at a Starbucks discussing Terrapyre phsiology tonight. A very long time ago, on the first incarnation of the forum, a thread explored the idea that in order for Terrapyres to make a child, both the man and the woman needed to have the clear intent to do so (to create life). Just a Terrapyre and a Human making love cannot produce a child. This is not unlike Celestials, of course, and it balances the universe quite nicely. I don't think this ever made it into a sourcebook however so I thought I'd bring it up again now

Jennifer

[Cris]

Only a very powerful Terrapyre -- say, Maria or Tyger -- with a very deadly or vital memory, could force knowledge through the slipstream to reach all Terrapyres at once or at all. And even then, the fact would only be given to Terrapyres who had already Awakened. It would simply enter the slipstream for everyone who Awakened afterward.

EJ,

Is Maria now the *only* Terrapyre who can force information into the slipstream? Can you confirm that Tyger can no longer do this?

Cris

[EJ]

Tyger cannot do it. However, Tyger is a great gatherer of information. She has perhaps the only written copy of the Living Word, for instance, and she includes every history and vision she hears in it. That's kind of her thing. Like a futuristic bard. That's why I liked her playing a harp and stuff.

[Cris]

Thu Nov 27, 2008 8:29 pm Launa wrote:

So, I know that, at one time, EJ posted a link to a kid who could do crazy leaps. I haven't thought about it until recently. I've really been intrigued by a new game called "Mirror's Edge". The game is ultra realistic, and got rave reviews, but it is extremely, realistically first person, and the action is so intense, that some gamers are literally getting sick from the ultra-realism of the camera movements. The main character is a girl named Faith, a runner (future earth, information is extremely controled, and so runners are sent out to evade the authorities to deliver information by foot). Faith practices Parkour, a practice started in France, and is now quite popular in Europe and is hitting America. I youtube it and, low and behold, there is the jumping kid... and more. The point of Parkour is simple: get where you're going as fast and efficiently as possible, and training to make every obsticle a breeze. It's freerunning. These guys look like super heros, and they're all human (that I know of) A live-action trailer of the game was released (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8IlHHK7oZ8&feature=related) to give you an idea of what I'm talking about. And this is very realistic. And not just stunt people. There are tons of teens on Youtube doing this exact stuff. Check out the extreme games of tag going on in Scotland (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qhgIdP3l3I&feature=related).

More links to free running and parkour:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Db461dcQSU&feature=related
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmMPCbRuW2Y&feature=related
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x98jCBnWO8w (Parkour founder, David Belle... amazing)

Now, this made me think of the world in Prime Time (the information situation), the power of Companions (as these are all humans), and exactly how strong/what kind of jobs Terrapyres might be doing in Prime Time. If humans can do this... are Terrapyres totally capable or matrix-level moves? What do you guys think? I don't have an exact question... but I found it awfully inspiring.

Note: I watched all of these with no sound, so I don't know what music may be in the backgounds.

Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:08 pm Luz wrote:

I am so curious to being able to see Parkour come to the attention of my American friends. This idea of pushing the body past expected limits is one common in extreme sports of many kinds. My sister Estella is away with military interning right now in Europe and she is the one who could speak details. Estella has been a freerunner (Parkour artist) for three years to apply her skills to rock climbing and bare-hand and blade-only hunting of large game and threatening game. I often think of her as my own Terrapyre.

Launa has posted here a good statement. Because Estella is not a Terrapyre but a human. So what amazing feats could Terrapyres do? Dodge bullets at very close range? Scale smooth walls that are more smooth than bricks? Their human companions would be able to do anything a freerunner could do now plus adding in ten or more years of the sport maturing.

We sometimes talk here at the forum about how new technology makes us write again our stories to make facts correct. !Now we have to be true to what our bodies can do!

Luz

Tue Dec 23, 2008 7:53 pm Launa wrote:

Oh, how wonderful when facts like this interconnect with my personal reality. I had no idea Estella practiced parkour or freerunning. I love it when these things happen. I usually find it means that a fact or something will be important later.

It keeps bringing me back to that scene from our RPG "In the City", when all the Celestials and Harper are scaling Tommy's building. I can just imagine that scene anew. It would be like a scene from a super hero movie or out of an artsy action film. I love it.

Tue Dec 23, 2008 11:19 pm JenDiMarco wrote:

Not to be blunt or come across as the big bad publisher, but it seems like anyone (everyone!) writing Terrapyres should check out the Parkour YouTubes to get a solid grasp of what they can manage (if Humans are able to pull off these stunts *now*). Even the amazing books on the SF list that EJ and Brianne have posted and re-posted don't cover these kinds of physical feats (because all were written before the sport/art-form of Parkour took off).

Just want to make sure our immortals are as real as possible.

Jennifer

Thu Dec 25, 2008 4:02 am Launa wrote:

Yes, Jenn, exactly. That scene I mentioned from "In the City"? Realistically, Harper could basically leap up to Tommy's window, or Elijah could just walk up the Tiger Cola tower, hanging from rungs by one arm, etc. It's just a fascinating way to look at things.

Thu Dec 25, 2008 9:55 am EJ wrote:

Luckily, we're still safely in a position where we can tweak existing stories to fit the evolution of this form. Of course, eventually, we do need to stop the updating and just allow print runs to take off LOL! But for now, let's have fun.

In terms of specific fiction (the Eris comic, specifically the parts inspired by "In the City") I'd like to see the fight poses and scaling/climbing poses changed into more extreme poses. I think we could seriously have some fun with Harper and Elijah.

EJ

Fri Dec 26, 2008 4:33 am Cris wrote:

Here's definition of Parkour from Wikipedia:

Parkour is a physical activity that is difficult to categorize. ... It is an art or discipline that resembles self-defense in the ancient martial arts. According to David Belle, "the physical aspect of parkour is getting over all the obstacles in your path as you would in an emergency. You want to move in such a way, with any movement, as to help you gain the most ground on someone or something, whether escaping from it or chasing toward it." Thus, when faced with a hostile confrontation with a person, one will be able to speak, fight, or flee. As martial arts are a form of training for the fight, parkour is a form of training for the flight. Because of its unique nature, it is often said that parkour is in its own category.

A characteristic of parkour is efficiency. Practitioners move not only as fast as they can, but also in the most direct and efficient way possible; a characteristic that distinguishes it from the similar practice of freerunning, which places more emphasis on freedom of movement, such as acrobatics. Efficiency also involves avoiding injuries, short and long-term, part of why parkour's unofficial motto is être et durer (to be and to last). Those who are skilled at this activity normally have an extremely keen spatial awareness.

Traceurs say that parkour also influences one's thought process by enhancing self-confidence and critical-thinking skills that allow one to overcome everyday physical and mental obstacles. A study by Neuropsychiatrie de l'Enfance et de l'Adolescence in France reflects that traceurs seek for more sensation and leadership than gymnastic practitioners.

The idea of Parkour was first introduced by Georges Hébert who advocated learning how best to overcome obstacles fluidly in a natural environment and wrote a book called Méthode Naturelle. Raymond Belle followed Herbert's ideas and training and his son, David Belle, is credited with giving this method the name Parkour. The word "traceurs" is used to refer to anyone who practices Parkour.

A really good example of David Belle's abilities and an overview of Parkour can be found here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x98jCBnWO8w&feature=related

It's called the Best of David Belle

Fri Dec 26, 2008 4:53 am Cris wrote:

Freerunning is similar to Parkour, but is not exactly the same. One of David Belle's close friends Sebastian Foucan, is credited with being the founder of Freerunning. His website www.foucan.com/ provide quite a bit of information about him.

According to his website, he felt limited by Parkour and began to name some of the specific practices. Eventually, he broke away from Parkour to found Freerunning. He choreographed and performed in Madonna's Confession Tour and showcased his art in the James Bond film, Casino Royale.

Sebastian traces the art of Parkour back through Georges Herbert to Herbert's observations in Africa, watching the way the traditional hunters moved through their environment. He talks about Freerunning as reclaiming what we've lost.

There's a detailed "training schedule" at his website as well as videos of a number of specific moves. Definitely worth checking out.

Tue Jan 20, 2009 9:39 am EJ wrote:

Thank you, Cris. This only makes me more sure that the fight poses and scaling in "Eris: Black & Gold" should be more extreme than original planned.

EJ

Mon Mar 16, 2009 11:28 pm Brianne wrote:



This is the music video for It's Not My Time, by 3 Doors Down (which does happen to be a song used in EJ's blog).

It has a great example of free-running, and is also pretty Terrapyre... Check it out, yeah?

Brianne

Sat Mar 28, 2009 2:02 am JenDiMarco wrote:

I really like this video because of the use of the free-runner in the plot. And this is all pretty basic (no offense intended to the athlete) free-running, not the really extreme stuff. *Humans* could do everything you see here... just *imagine* what a Terrapyre can do!