Disrupter and its implications

[Jconant]

That may just be that Blizzard hasn't really clarified what the void is other than a place/thing in which one can draw psionic energy from. Protoss have the khala, which is merely a collective of protoss' own energy and the void is alien, but how exactly its "opposite" to khala seems rather vague.

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That may just be that Blizzard hasn't really clarified what the void is other than a place/thing in which one can draw psionic energy from. Protoss have the khala, which is merely a collective of protoss' own energy and the void is alien, but how exactly its "opposite" to khala seems rather vague.

[Nissa]

It's not opposite so much as "opposite" -- you have the Protoss of the light, and the Protoss of the dark. It's more thematic than functional.

[DemolitionSquid]

I think its pretty obvious that "Void Energy" is dark matter.

[Jconant]

And nobody knows what the hell dark matter actually is Demo;only what it is doing. some...."thing" in the universe other than blackholes, suns and all other visible mass is causing everything to accelerate to higher velocities. So....the void, some vague source of energy being compared to a current mystery isn't helpful in clarifying what it is.

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And nobody knows what the hell dark matter actually is Demo;only what it is doing. some...."thing" in the universe other than blackholes, suns and all other visible mass is causing everything to accelerate to higher velocities. So....the void, some vague source of energy being compared to a current mystery isn't helpful in clarifying what it is.

[Turalyon]

I would like to point out that this concept only exists because of the Dark Templar Trilogy. The Khala was never defined for canon Starcraft -- that is, SC/BW.

The Khala is defined in the manual:

Khas developed a radical system of psychic progression that he hoped would discipline the new generation and keep them from repeating the same tragic mistakes of their ancestors. His theory, known as the Khala, or 'Path of Ascension', called all Protoss to forsake their own whims and strive to reunify their once mighty, communal race.

The Khala, primarily meant to define a rigid system of behavior...

It's foundation was based on reactivation of that psychic primal link the Protoss shared (unless they cut off their nerve cords), so Demo's description of the Khala "involving sharing some minor sense of emotion" is correct, it's just that it being straightforward telepathy is incorrect. The Khala is not the primal psychic link specifically but a system and reason to use and maintain it.

I never thought the Khala was an energy source for psionic powers specifically since, according to the manual, those proto-Nerazim Adun sought to help still had their nerve cords (they only cut them after they were exiled as a symbolic gesture) but did not embrace the Khala could still exhibit psionic powers. If those that cut-their nerve cords off have to draw from elsewhere, this hints that the nerve cords themselves are the source of innate Protoss psionic power not the Khala (which is just a philosophy/doctrine that came after the Protoss having psionic powers). Course, the books then had to go and change everything, I suppose?

That, and I don't see how sentient robots have anything to do with sentient 'bots. Sentient bots are just one more fiction trope Blizzard's throwing in the plot. On the other hand, it does seem like something the Protoss would do. If a body is too broken to go on, then really there's not a huge amount of difference between putting a person in a fluid tank and simply putting them into a robot shell.

Eh, given that the Khala is not some physical attribute but some esoteric phenomena that only beings of sentience (we only have the Protoss specifically but who knows...) can access and feel, the remedy for losing it may require something more than just a plain synthetic replacement. So, why not the conceit of a sentient synthetic replacement? Sure, it's troperific but it would make sense in context.

[Shadow Archon]

Course, the books then had to go and change everything, I suppose?

Not really.

The manual and the Dark Templar Saga's description of the events go together fine. You would have to specifically interpret it in odd ways to make any contradiction.

There is the added significance of Khas (re)discovering Khaydarin Crystals which helped him come up with the idea when his telepathy was boosted by it, but that's about it.

Also, the Khala is a bit more complicated than Demo states. It isn't just telepathy, as it also involves a quasi-hive-mind. The Dark Templar send their thoughts and feelings every time they "speak."

A Protoss that follows the Khala "immerses" themselves within the Khala link at certain times of the day, in an act that's kind of like prayer. While they are connected to it 24/7, they don't receive any input unless they actively accept it, and "immerse" themselves in it.

The only Protoss that have a constant tap on the input are Preservers.

Anyways, The deeper you go into the Khala, the less you are just yourself and the more you experience from all those connected to the Khala around you, with you feeling their sensations and memories as your own. This is the big thing that the Dark Templar are afraid of. While Nerve Chords are necessary to be a part of the Khala, there were Dark Templar before cutting the Nerve Chords became a big deal. It's how the Templars by order of the Judicators could actually find them at the beginning of the Dark Templar persecution since they could go after the Protoss who stopped immersing themselves in the link.

The more you learn about the Khala, the more horrifying the Protoss Civil War becomes given how you had groups of Protoss devoted to the Khala killing each other. Anyone immersing themselves would feel tons of horrible memories if they were anywhere near the combat zone.

Say what you will about Golden's writing, but she did a great job with the Protoss in the DTS.

There is the added bit that the Khala, unlike the Zerg Hive mind, has a limited range. The stronger at psionics you are, the more range you can naturally have with it. A Zealot on his own can't contact his battle fleet's CO in the same solar system if they are a few thousand KMs away from the moon he is on, but a single High Templar can communicate beyond the range of a solar system, and three High Templar together with a specific technological device can communicate a distance of many many light years. If you're out of range, you can't "immerse" yourself since there's nothing to tap into. On the other hand, the Zerg's hive mind doesn't have any issues with range, along as there's a Zerg that can pick up on it.

Then again, a Psi Disrutpor can work on the Zerg's Hive Mind, but not the Protoss' Khala, so there's that. There are Psi-Inhibitors in-canon that do work against it, but its something that has to be physically implanted in the Protoss skull.

As for power, the Protoss can use the Khala as a well of psionic energy, pulling from the greater whole of Protoss for assistance. So, not only can they transmit telepathy, they can also transmit psi energy for all their sci-fi magic.

[Turalyon]

Also, the Khala is a bit more complicated than Demo states. It isn't just telepathy, as it also involves a quasi-hive-mind. The Dark Templar send their thoughts and feelings every time they "speak."

A Protoss that follows the Khala "immerses" themselves within the Khala link at certain times of the day, in an act that's kind of like prayer. While they are connected to it 24/7, they don't receive any input unless they actively accept it, and "immerse" themselves in it.

Although the Khala is only relevant with the Protoss' primal psychic link, it is not the Protoss primal psychic link (as I mentioned in my previous post). I think that's where the books started confusing those two things as being synonymous when they are just related.

Anyways, The deeper you go into the Khala, the less you are just yourself and the more you experience from all those connected to the Khala around you, with you feeling their sensations and memories as your own. This is the big thing that the Dark Templar are afraid of. While Nerve Chords are necessary to be a part of the Khala, there were Dark Templar before cutting the Nerve Chords became a big deal. It's how the Templars by order of the Judicators could actually find them at the beginning of the Dark Templar persecution since they could go after the Protoss who stopped immersing themselves in the link.

This is case-in-point of what I just said above. What you mean when you say "Khala" is actually the "Protoss primal psychic link". As the manual suggests, they are both related to each other but they are not synonymous/the same thing.

The more you learn about the Khala, the more horrifying the Protoss Civil War becomes given how you had groups of Protoss devoted to the Khala killing each other. Anyone immersing themselves would feel tons of horrible memories if they were anywhere near the combat zone.

The Khala did not exist during the Aeon of Strife, it only came at (by Khas) and precipitated it's end. The Protoss primal psyhic link existed, but the reason why the Xel'Naga left them and the Aeon of Strife started is because the Protoss could choose to disconnect from this primal psychic link and become corrupted by ego and all the bad stuff associated with being individualistic. Because of this deviation, the Protoss eventually forgot how to access this primal psychic link and it became the only reason why they were able to commit such atrocities against each other during the Aeon of Strife..

There is the added bit that the Khala, unlike the Zerg Hive mind, has a limited range. The stronger at psionics you are, the more range you can naturally have with it.

Once again, you must mean the psychic link has limited range. The Khala is just a discipline in order to use that psychic link more efficiently and effectively.

As for power, the Protoss can use the Khala as a well of psionic energy, pulling from the greater whole of Protoss for assistance. So, not only can they transmit telepathy, they can also transmit psi energy for all their sci-fi magic.

Given that the Khala, as originally envisaged, is just a metaphysical system of thought and therefore unquantifiable, I can't see how it can also be a reservoir/well of energy (which would then make it quantifiable...). As I said in my previous post, the energy for psionic powers is most likely created by their nerve cords since Dark Templar, who have no cords, have to draw their energy from elsewhere. In the manual, the Protoss that Adun tried to teach (and would eventually become the Dark Templar) did not have the Khala but still had their nerve cords and yet "their powers equaled those of the mighty Templar".

[Shadow Archon]

Although the Khala is only relevant with the Protoss' primal psychic link, it is not the Protoss primal psychic link (as I mentioned in my previous post). I think that's where the books started confusing those two things as being synonymous when they are just related.

Except, that every single Protoss never uses the words Communal Link. They refer to the psychic link as the Khala. If we were talking about an inconsistency, the manual doesn't get to "trump" anything here.

But it never once says the Khala "is not" the link, so there is no problem, so there is nothing to trump.

The books alone don't do that. There's also the manga, the short stories, and the games themselves which treat the Khala as the psychic link.

If multiple sources state one thing, they're right.

The manual itself mentions the Khala is a religion and a philosophy. That doesn't mean it can't also refer to the psychic link itself, which many Protoss do talk about by calling it the Khala.

This is case-in-point of what I just said above. What you mean when you say "Khala" is actually the "Protoss primal psychic link". As the manual suggests, they are both related to each other but they are not synonymous/the same thing.

No, I mean the Khala. They are synonymous.

Khas developed a radical system of
psychic progression that he hoped would
discipline the new generation and keep them
from repeating the tragic mistakes of their
ancestors. His theory, known as the Khala, or
‘Path of Ascension’, called all Protoss to forsake
their own whims and strive to reunify their
once mighty, communal race.

It doesn't outright say the link is the Khala, but it doesn't have to since tons of other sources do and nothing contradicts that. This is neither a retcon or an inconsistency. While the Khala is not simply the psychic link, the psychic link in the modern day is called the Khala.

The beauty about words is that they can have multiple definitions.

Also, according to the manual, the Khala is not just a religion or philosophy, but a psychic progression. So, it's not merely metaphorical and has practical application.

The Shelak Tribe was the Tribe closest to the ancient Xel’Naga race. Therefore, they were
appointed by the Judicator to study and protect the powerful Khaydarin Crystals that empower
the awesome technologies of the Protoss. The Shelak, intrigued by the legacy of the Xel’Naga
continuously study their ancient texts. Although the Judicator have banned all Xel’Naga
teachings, the Shelak are still allowed access to the archives. The Judicator hope that the
Shelak can unravel the mysteries of the Xel’Naga and thus expand their knowledge through
the Khala.

And honestly, this statement makes much more sense if you assume Khala = psychic link.

The Khala did not exist during the Aeon of Strife, it only came at (by Khas) and precipitated it's end. The Protoss primal psyhic link existed, but the reason why the Xel'Naga left them and the Aeon of Strife started is because the Protoss could choose to disconnect from this primal psychic link and become corrupted by ego and all the bad stuff associated with being individualistic. Because of this deviation, the Protoss eventually forgot how to access this primal psychic link and it became the only reason why they were able to commit such atrocities against each other during the Aeon of Strife..

Who said anything about the Aeon of Strife?

I'm talking about the Starcraft 3rd campaign where the Templar following Tassadar and the Templar following the Conclave fought.

Once again, you must mean the psychic link has limited range. The Khala is just a discipline in order to use that psychic link more efficiently and effectively.

No, I mean the Khala.

The Khala and the modern link are one in the same.

Death cries echoed through Teredal's mind as the psychic fabric stormed and snapped with the grim arias of his comrade zealots. The Khala connected the protoss in thought and passions, and Teredal felt the deaths of his aexilium in cold, stabbing sorrow.
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Teredal knew that he could not stand against another barrage, that the empty ripples in the Khala meant he stood alone against the remaining zerg.
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Only he had no way to tell them. Teredal furrowed his brow, considered screaming his thoughts in the Khala as far as he could. But he knew it was no use. The fleet was deliberately distant. Deliberately beyond his range.
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His master's voice echoed in his head, not merely as memory but as the vibrant remnant of a soul woven through the Khala. It was a knowing that permeated the threads of the universe. Teredal was too far from his brethren to communicate with them in any deliberate manner, but he could sense their essences—living and dead—even across light-years.

If Protoss can use the word Khala to mean "Psychic Link," so can I.

Given that the Khala, as originally envisaged, is just a metaphysical system of thought and therefore unquantifiable, I can't see how it can also be a reservoir/well of energy (which would then make it quantifiable...). As I said in my previous post, the energy for psionic powers is most likely created by their nerve cords since Dark Templar, who have no cords, have to draw their energy from elsewhere. In the manual, the Protoss that Adun tried to teach (and would eventually become the Dark Templar) did not have the Khala but still had their nerve cords and yet "their powers equaled those of the mighty Templar".

Except, even the manual mentions that the Khala is a place where energy can be drawn from.

Khaydarin Amulet. By equipping themselves with amulets carved
from Khaydarin crystal, the High Templar are able to channel the
energies of the Khala with greater efficiency.

And this is what the writers have to say:

Yeah, I mean, basically, any protoss that is a part of the Khala is going to have an enormous psionic energy to draw on and can create, you know, obviously, weapons and blades with it. The dark templar, you know, in all of the lore, they, because they chose to go their own way and they don’t have the power of the Khala behind them, but they have the power of enormously strong individual will

[Nissa]

Okay, I think I misspoke a bit. The Khala is somewhat defined, but it's not well defined. It was purposely left vague and poetic in definition so that people could imagine its power, and imagine why the DTs would reject it. Also note that DT belief is similarly vague and undefined, probably so that the developers could at any time extend or add to DT power without the players being able to accuse them of being inconsistent. Blizzard could, at any time, add to either the Khala or Nerazim beliefs/power, whenever they felt the lead of inspiration.

But then, in the transition from the SC/BW period to now, employee turnover happened, and the Dark Templar trilogy came out. This is the series of books that tried to describe the Khala as a gigantic psionic link. It gave no religious or political implications to the Khala, only that if the 'Toss touched a special stone, their brains would grow (or somesuch magical bullcrap). If it weren't for the fact Blizzard declared the books canon, I wouldn't pay any attention at all to it. After all, this the series that claimed DTs couldn't experience the Khala, but then suddenly expected us to believe that a human with a 'Toss in his mind could suddenly create a mini-Khala with other humans, with not a single nerve cord in the bunch. A story that careless with Starcraft lore isn't worthy of discussion.

Let's be frank here. The idea that the Khala is nothing more than a psychic link is SC2 era oversimplification. It's rather like the mysterious Duran becoming a typical shapeshifter, or Stukov becoming a generic meat puppet with half a face. Something that was once mysterious and open to the imagination has become a typical, boring trope.

Shadow Archon, how long have you been a fan of the series? If you had been an original fan, you would know that the manual was never meant to bluntly state that the Khala is a psychic link. In fact, that part of the manual you quote has nothing at all to do with calling the Khala a link.

The Judicator hope that the Shelak can unravel the mysteries of the Xel’Naga and thus expand their knowledge through the Khala.

This sentence directly implies that the Khala is NOT a psychic link, but rather some sort of discipline or study ability, like a powerful mental endeavor that helps the Protoss understand Xel'Naga work.

Khaydarin Amulet. By equipping themselves with amulets carved from Khaydarin crystal, the High Templar are able to channel the energies of the Khala with greater efficiency.

The key word here is channel. The amulets themselves appear to be a source of power. While the Khala itself has energies, there is no evidence of where these energies come from. It's entirely possible that the power of the Khala is a Protoss' own power, or the collected power generated by everyone in the Khala. Which would explain why the DT unleashed powerful storms before their exile -- their energy was still unchannelled and uncontrolled. Without the Khala, they'd have to come up with some way to control their power. Hence, Nerazim ways.

[Shadow Archon]

This is the series of books that tried to describe the Khala as a gigantic psionic link. It gave no religious or political implications to the Khala,

What?

It totally still has religious and political implications. It goes over the events with the Judicators and the original Dark Templar, along with the political and religious issues that contains.

only that if the 'Toss touched a special stone, their brains would grow (or somesuch magical bullcrap). If it weren't for the fact Blizzard declared the books canon, I wouldn't pay any attention at all to it.

Uh, that was in the manual too.

Khas, having studied the archaic,
forbidden teachings of the Xel’Naga,
unearthed ancient, monolithic artifacts known
as the Khaydarin Crystals. The Crystals, left
behind by the Xel’Naga, were fundamental in
facilitating their proto-genetic experiments.
Khas was able to channel the primal energies
of the Crystals through himself, allowing him
to access the primordial, psychic bond of his
race. For the first time in thousands of years,
the primal chord of the Protoss was tapped.

You can't blame the books about that.

After all, this the series that claimed DTs couldn't experience the Khala,

Because they cut their nerve chords. That's been a staple since the original Starcraft.

but then suddenly expected us to believe that a human with a 'Toss in his mind could suddenly create a mini-Khala with other humans, with not a single nerve cord in the bunch. A story that careless with Starcraft lore isn't worthy of discussion.

What?

Terrans don't have nerve chords neither do they use the Void, and they still have psionic individuals that can do crap.

Their biology's requirements for psionics is completely different, so there is no reason to assume they need nerve chords at all.

Jake was doing all the work there anyways. The mini-Khala was him broadcasting everyone's memories and feelings to those around him.

And remember, doing that is part of what contributed to him getting a brain tumor. So it definitely had consequences.

That instance is completely believable.

Shadow Archon, how long have you been a fan of the series?

Since the beginning. I remember when Brood War itself was sold in the giant square boxes bigger than the modern day battle-chests.

And unlike a lot of the people on this site, I enjoy SC2's story and all but one of the books.

If you had been an original fan, you would know that the manual was never meant to bluntly state that the Khala is a psychic link. In fact, that part of the manual you quote has nothing at all to do with calling the Khala a link.

Eh?

It doesn't bluntly state it.

But it doesn't bluntly state the opposite either.

This sentence directly implies that the Khala is NOT a psychic link, but rather some sort of discipline or study ability, like a powerful mental endeavor that helps the Protoss understand Xel'Naga work.

To me, it directly implies that it is a psychic link in which the Shelak can expand the Judicator's knowledge on the Xel'naga by sharing what they learned. I don't get anything about it being a discipline from this statement.

The key word here is channel. The amulets themselves appear to be a source of power. While the Khala itself has energies, there is no evidence of where these energies come from. It's entirely possible that the power of the Khala is a Protoss' own power, or the collected power generated by everyone in the Khala.

If it's the second one, then the manual supports the Khala being a psychic link.

If it's the first one, it still is the manual supporting that the Khala is not just a discipline or philosophy, but an actual tangible physical thing which can be directly quantified.

By the DTS and WoG, both of these separate conclusions are confirmed to be true.