Kerrigan Pt. 1: Abilities

[Roland]

The old sci-fi movie "Forbidden Planet" gave me an idea of how the Khala leads to applied psi-powers in Protoss. The movie is about a scientist who creates a machine which makes a working projection of his subconscious, whether he wills it to or not. He can't control it but it carries out his will, even if he doesn't know what his will is, or even would want it done long-term if he did, for instance he doesn't approve of his daughter's love interest, so the "Monster from the id" as it's called (id being the psychological term for subconscious) starts trying to kill his daughter's love interest.

The Protoss certainly have better control, but the idea remains the same, the Khala is something like a giant collective-unconscious, the nerve cords of the Khalai allow them to tap into it and apply the power from the id. The more effectively a Khalai can tap into the collective id the more powerful they can be. The ease with which they interface with it may be determined by how high their PI is. Meaning that A Dark Templar with the same PI as a High Templar counterpart would be just as dangerous in combat, as he would be able to tap into the Void in the same way the High Templar can tap into the Khala, relative to their raw psychic potential.

I think Terran could theoretically tap in to the Void as it doesn't seem to require anything beyond knowledge of how to do so, however, as of yet, they don't have that knowledge. I think it's worth noting that in every culture but the Zerg, psychic power source seems to be based on the culture of the race/faction using it. The Dark Templar use Void, which epitomizes isolation, and their culture is largely based on independence, The High Templar use a collective unconscious, and there's is based on unity. The Terran's defining characteristic is adaptability, and they're psychics don't seems to need a distinct power-source.

[Rake]

I had a think about why Kerrigan seems to be able to control the swarm as well as the overmind and its cerebrates, which were giant brains specifcally adapted to the task. I have a theory which ties into single player changes:

Processing for detection.

Perhaps the overlords fed their sensory information directly to the cerebrates which then prcessed them as a whole to reveal invisible units. This would have taken up massive processing capabilities. Now the cerebrates no longer do this overlords have lost detection and Kerrigan has had to develop overseers to individually do the job for her. But as an advantage, she doesn't have to be a giant, vulnerable brain.



What do you think?

PS. Does Kerrigan control the Zerg on Aiur? I always assumed that she did but I would like it confirmed.

[Kimera757]

Shadow Hunters was quite unclear about her control over zerg on Aiur. Certainly Ethan Stewart wasn't given control over those zerg.

[Norfindel]

It makes me wonder: what sort of psionics did the protoss use before and during the Aeon of Strife? It wasn't the Khala. Maybe it was the Void? Zeratul refers to the Khala as being an attenuated form of their true power.

And could terrans be similarly categorized in Void and Khala? Well, obviously not Khala...

But if the Khala is an attenuated form, then does it mean it's derived from the Void? Questions, questions... :P

Well, the SC1 manual says that "the Dark Templar ceremoniously cut off their nerve-appendages, effectively severing themselves from the basic communal link that all Protoss share. It was widely rumoured that since the Shadow Hunters were cut off from the primal chord of their race, they were forced to draw their psionic energies from the dark, cold void of space."

So, the Protoss always used the psionic link to draw energy from, probably even during the Aeon of Strife, as "Khas became aware that the Protoss had not lost their primal link, but had simply forgotten how to attune themselves to it."

I think that the Protoss can probably use other kind of energies, and turn them into psi energy, like using some kind of energy generator to power buildings, and units.

I don't know about the Terrans. A human being doesn't use that much energy (they use energy roughly at the same rate than a 100 watt bulb), so either they aren't self-powered, or their powers aren't impressive at all, or they need to continually take calories like crazy.

[Roland]

Shadow Hunters was quite unclear about her control over zerg on Aiur. Certainly Ethan Stewart wasn't given control over those zerg.

I was under the impression that Kerrigan only sent in a "task-force" lead by Ethan to go after Ulrezaj, and the vast majority on Aiur are feral zerg, which have yet to be claimed. I remember it being mentioned at one point that they were abandoning all self-preservation, I think if Kerrigan controlled them she would at least keep them alive, there's nothing like a couple million strong garrison keep Aiur safe from being reclaimed.

Slightly off topic though, there's something I've been wondering about Kerrigan and don't have an answer for. Is she susceptible to Khaydarin Crystals? Peotoss and Zerg were shaped by the use of Khaydarin Crystals, and therefore respond to them differently than the terran do, Kerrigan being a hybrid, would she react as a Zerg or a Terran to them, or would she be divided? Maybe so far as to put her in a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde situation?

[Visions of Khas]

I don't think she'd be immune to the influences of Khaydarin, and vice versa. Though she is a hybrid, all zerg were also hybrids at one point or another, unified by the overriding zerg genetics and essence. She isn't just the product of zerg experimentation -- she is zerg.

What this might entail, with relation to Khaydarin, I don't know. There lingers that statement made by the Overmind, of unimaginable power invested in the crystals, unknown even to the Protoss...

[SoFool]

I had a think about why Kerrigan seems to be able to control the swarm as well as the overmind and its cerebrates, which were giant brains specifcally adapted to the task. I have a theory which ties into single player changes:

Processing for detection.

Perhaps the overlords fed their sensory information directly to the cerebrates which then prcessed them as a whole to reveal invisible units. This would have taken up massive processing capabilities. Now the cerebrates no longer do this overlords have lost detection and Kerrigan has had to develop overseers to individually do the job for her. But as an advantage, she doesn't have to be a giant, vulnerable brain.



What do you think?

Blizz should have done that in the blizzcon sc2 lore section last year lol... well nice theory though.

[Kimera757]

I was under the impression that Kerrigan only sent in a "task-force" lead by Ethan to go after Ulrezaj, and the vast majority on Aiur are feral zerg, which have yet to be claimed. I remember it being mentioned at one point that they were abandoning all self-preservation, I think if Kerrigan controlled them she would at least keep them alive, there's nothing like a couple million strong garrison keep Aiur safe from being reclaimed.

True, but the Shel'na Kryhas also said that lately, the zerg on Aiur had acted more directed.

Of course, it's possible that Ulrezaj was controlling some of them. (That had been hinted a few times but never confirmed.)

[Shadow Archon]

I had a think about why Kerrigan seems to be able to control the swarm as well as the overmind and its cerebrates, which were giant brains specifcally adapted to the task. I have a theory which ties into single player changes:

Processing for detection.

Perhaps the overlords fed their sensory information directly to the cerebrates which then prcessed them as a whole to reveal invisible units. This would have taken up massive processing capabilities. Now the cerebrates no longer do this overlords have lost detection and Kerrigan has had to develop overseers to individually do the job for her. But as an advantage, she doesn't have to be a giant, vulnerable brain.



What do you think?

PS. Does Kerrigan control the Zerg on Aiur? I always assumed that she did but I would like it confirmed.

Or, cloaking technology has simply evolved. I mean, Orbital Commands are vastly larger than Comsat stations. Are Missile Turrets even detectors anymore? Don't you need a sensor tower by them to give them detection.

[Kimera757]

Are Missile Turrets even detectors anymore? Don't you need a sensor tower by them to give them detection.

Missile turrets are detectors on their own now.