SC:L Reviews The Dark Templar Saga: Twilight [Spoilers]

[Gradius]

- Where did Zamara learn of the xel'naga's Cycle.

Might have been forbidden knowledge that the Shelak learned in studying the artifacts, and as usual, the Conclave restricted access to this knowledge.

- Will surviving Preservers try to find Shakuras after learning the memories of the dead protoss (Amur) whom knew the Cycle.

You'd have to assume that they would already have went to Shakuras if they could. I think the preservers are all gone.

- Did she reveal all the xel'naga secrets.

Nay. Zeratul also asks "this is your secret then?" and she replies "partially."

- What happen to Ulrezaj's xel'naga spacecraft. Are there more of them hidden on Aiur than we know.

Probably.

- Are the uncovering temples (Eggs) and the 'new' awakening xel'naga (Seeded Hybrids) are the hybrids that Duran discussed with Zeratul in Dark Origin.

The hybrids Duran/Zeratul discussed are a gene splice of Protoss & Zerg (they're not energy creatures).

- Did the protoss learn anything thing of the Cycle from the crystal Zamara and Ulrezaj inhabit. A reason why Artanis sending protoss in recovering xel'naga artifacts/temples.

What do you mean? Are you asking if they used the knowledge afterwards? If so, then we don't know yet.

- Are the resent uncovered xel'naga artifacts protoss discover guarding them fanatically causing protoss becoming more tribal/fanatical. Extreme version of the ancient Shelak tribe in Firstborn.

Actual Protoss fanatics are guarding Xel'Naga artifacts on planets such as Monolyth. I don't think the Protoss on Shakuras should be affected.

[Drake Clawfang]

- Are the uncovering temples (Eggs) and the 'new' awakening xel'naga (Seeded Hybrids) are the hybrids that Duran discussed with Zeratul in Dark Origin.

With all due respect I think you need to read the book, one of the main secrets Zamara reveals is that the Hybrid is exactly *not* what the Xel'Naga experiments would have produced.

[Zero]

I haven't finished yet, so if I'm wrong in this assumption, let me know. But going along with that last thought, I still hold that Duran and his Hybrid project are the product of 1) a fanatical sect of Xel'Naga, 2) fanatical small remainder of Xel'Naga, or 3) another ancient race who are enemies of the Xel'Naga, finishing their work of a perfect race in their own way for their own devious purposes.

[Visions of Khas]

I was browsing Barnes&Noble last night when I came across this. I started reading it and was fifty pages in by the time I looked up from the pages a few minutes later. Now, being a starving art student, I rarely buy anything. I made this one exception.

Besides, I'm taking it back tonight to get my money back.

At any rate, I enjoyed it. I didn't pay much attention to the series until now, only gleaning what I could from StarCraft wiki. But I jumped all over this one.

When it comes to Duran, I have a hypothesis. Perhaps he is what remains from the Xel'Naga's previous reincarnation. That is to say, he is a survivor of a species that evolved into the 'Naga, and now wants revenge for the "destruction" of his people. He/his faction sabotaged the cloaking technology of the Zerus expedition, leading to their assimilation by the Overmind. He now wishes to destroy the legacy of the 'Naga by corrupting their magnum opus -- by creating a Hybrid borne not of Protoss Form and Zerg Essence; but of Protoss Essence and Zerg Form! Hey, who knows?

It was nice to get a glimpse at the Hierarchy and the interplay of tribal leaders. I was disappointed no more tribes were represented, however. Is that because these are simply the most dominant -- or are they the last of the tribes? Sargas, we'll miss you.

[Pandonetho]

Alright I haven't read the book yet but I couldn't bring myself to resist this thread any longer.

Duran doesn't work for the Xel'Naga? That's so awesome.

Got a question after reading a bit of the article. If the Xel'Naga were doing this cycle for SO long, wouldn't they have host bodies that would immeasurably own the Zerg in battle?

[Drake Clawfang]

Alright I haven't read the book yet but I couldn't bring myself to resist this thread any longer.

Duran doesn't work for the Xel'Naga? That's so awesome.

Got a question after reading a bit of the article. If the Xel'Naga were doing this cycle for SO long, wouldn't they have host bodies that would immeasurably own the Zerg in battle?

Presumably, but the cultivation of the species seemed to begin as their current bodies grew older. Thus, they were likely too old at that point. And, as established in the lore the Overmind had hidden itself and basically blindsided them.

[Pandonetho]

Another thing which has me confused.

If they've been doing this cycle of rebirth for eons, why call the Protoss, the Protoss?

Clearly, they aren't really the first born that have the purity of form, since there have been many before them.

Also, why keep repeating the process over and over again? Can't you just create one perfect species and continue to transfer yourself into the same species by taking in new host bodies?

Although, to be honest there's definitely less pressure on the appearance of the Xel'Naga due to this rebirth cycle. Meaning that they have had many many different forms over the millenniums, so there will be less disappointment if the Xel'naga don't look totally like what everyone was expecting.

[flabortast]

Perhaps Xel'Naga's previous incarnations were not as well made as their latest creations? Maybe the Protoss and the Zerg are the pinnacle of their genetic experiments? Perhaps the previous Xel'Naga incarnations did not have purity of form and essence?

[Pandonetho]

aybe the Protoss and the Zerg are the pinnacle of their genetic experiments?

Apparently they weren't because they were considered failure.

erhaps the previous Xel'Naga incarnations did not have purity of form and essence?

They were doing it for eons, already. There have been plenty before them already that have had the purity of form and essence merge.

[Zero]

Apparently they weren't because they were considered failure.



They were doing it for eons, already. There have been plenty before them already that have had the purity of form and essence merge.

Technically, the Zerg were never considered a failure. The Xel'Naga never had a chance to claim that. One moment the Zerg disappear from all of their sensors, and the next the Zerg are swarming their worldships.


And according to the storyline, the Xel'Naga engineered many worlds and created many creatures. Watching over them, to see which evolved and grew, is how they were looking for what could be/become the perfect race they desired. The Protoss were the first, thus why their name means Firstborn. There weren't any "perfect" races found before them.