inventrix: (Default)
inventrix ([personal profile] inventrix) wrote2012-02-28 05:23 pm
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Some thoughts on expressions of Ellehemaei bloodlines in halfbreeds

UPDATE: Please see my more recent further thoughts after reading, as it contains more information and some corrections.

Daeva
A pureblood Daeva has ram-like horns, a long sinuous tail, and shapeshifting and emotion/soul-eating/manipulating abilities.

One way partial Daeva genes seem to express is through horns - or, really, "horns". Horns, antlers, horn-like protrusions, etc. I firmly stand by all such halfbreeds having at least some Daeva background.

Another aspect which appears to be partial Daevas is small - emphasis on small - wings. Not flight-worthy. Speculation on why ties into the next point.

I also suspect partial Daevas tend to give a reptilian (or sometimes, relatedly, avian) bias. Lizards and snakes, mostly. This, as well as the sort of latent wing gene, I believe to be related to the co-identification of Daeva and Dragons. Dragons, as we know, are commonly viewed as reptilian, usually with wings. Additionally, it also relates to the shapeshifting/bigender nature of pureblood Daeva. A number of lizards have unusual sex and reproductive characteristics, including parthenogenesis and switching biological sex during adulthood.

Tails, as well, I suspect to be linked to Daeva bloodlines.

In terms of "elemental" changes, Daeva genetics I think express in the more intangible ones: light, darkness, emotionally-related, et al.


Mara
A pureblood Mara has, to my knowledge, demonic or angel wings, with preternatural strength and fortitude.

Partial Mara genes seem to express largely in a mammalian way, with a few avian-related exceptions which I believe to be wing-focused. i.e. a decidedly avian halfbreed is, I suspect, more likely to have gotten the genetics for its avian characteristics from a Daeva bloodline than a Mara one, but the presence of significant and/or flight-worthy wings would be a strong indicator of Mara background as well.

I have a feeling that partial Mara genes also can manifest as a tail, although less strongly than Daeva genes. A primarily Daeva/Mara cross should, if I am correct, almost always have a tail.

For more magical/elemental types of Changes, I think Mara genes tend towards those like earth and fire.


Grigori
A pureblood Grigori is essentially "super-human" - human, but more intelligent, more beautiful, generally superior.

I have a tentative hypothesis that fish-based Changes draw strongly from Grigori partial expression, but lack much data on the matter aside from Regine's general genepool. I also suspect that plant-related characteristics stem (ha!) primarily from Grigori genetics; maybe when combined with particularly earthy Mara genes?

However, I think Grigori genes are more frequently skill-based. You're more likely to have Grigori bloodlines express as higher intelligence, magical aptitude, et al. than as physical characteristics. A strongly Grigori halfbreed, in fact, I suspect would have physical characteristics sort of "toned down".

Elementally, I feel they probably express more along water, air, maybe electricity although that one is a toss-up between Grigori and Mara in my mind. Electricity may, in fact, be an inherently halfbreed characteristic?

Please see my more recent further thoughts after reading, as it contains more information and some corrections.
aldersprig: drawing of a dark-skinned young man with goat horns and a nervous expression (Jamian)

[personal profile] aldersprig 2012-02-29 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
Fascinating! I think you could be right on the fishie things by line of sirens.

Which means that Aelfgar is likely a Daeva mutt, and his children with him.

(He has viking horns, never mind that they didn't have them)
aldersprig: drawing of a dark-skinned young man with goat horns and a nervous expression (Jamian)

[personal profile] aldersprig 2012-02-29 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
(note to self: get Aelfgar icon. Will be useful)

*laugh* point point.