Growth Spurts, Genetics, and Grendels

Cotinga might have been the youngest Norn in Albia, but she was growing up quickly. In no time, she was nearly able to stick her nose in the tall flowers that blanketed the garden! Since she was still a child, I decided to test out her interesting mutation. She was unable to be punished until adulthood according to her instincts. Indeed, a slap did nothing to her pain levels, and she didn’t even flinch. However, she did cry out in pain. I felt rather guilty, yet it appeared that the cry of pain was a built in feature, not a reaction to pain. Cotinga went on smelling the flowers, while I went on an important mission!

Meet Drongo! This adorable little male would carry on the line of his parents, Dallben and Angharad. He was a half brother of Blackcap’s, but they had quite unique appearances. Drongo put up a bit of a fight with my usual lift kidnapping routine. He was one independent baby, but a little persuasion with a honeypot got him crawling in the right direction! Not surprisingly, his genetic makeup included a number of interesting mutations. Many were inherited, and it was not until I took a closer look that I found a few possible learning issues. By that time, however, Drongo was already a bustling baby who was having a wonderful time!

Lobes

Brain lobes include important information about how the different parts of the brain work, from how concepts are learned to how a Norn goes through the decision process. These genes can greatly affect the learning process.

Default: 122 Emb B Mut Lobe#=8, Min strength=1, Max strength=10, flags=2
Mutation: 122 Emb B Mut Lobe#=8, Min strength=1, Max strength=10, flags=0

How we all love a discussion about the brain lobes in Creatures! Since these talks can be a bit complex, the basic information about this gene is that it controls the concept lobe. This is where a Norn stores its learned concepts about what behaviors are good or bad. In turn, this information is fed into the decision lobe so the Norn can make a decision about the situation. Drongo’s mutation affects the dendrite migration in the concept lobe… Have I lost you yet? I went into a rather lengthy explanation about dendrite migration already, and with an identical mutation. This was inherited from Drongo’s grandfather, Erikstad, and his mother, Angharad. Neither had any issues, fortunately!

Receptors

Chemical receptors define parameters for a certain chemical. When these parameters are met, an element in the Creature is affected. These genes can increase drives, define life stages, control fertility, and more.

Default: 44 Emb B MutDupCut Creature, Drive Levels Pain, chem=Pain, thresh=0, nom=0, gain=255, features=Analogue
Mutation: 44 Emb B MutDupCut Creature, Drive Levels Crowdedness, chem=Pain, thresh=0, nom=0, gain=255, features=Analogue

In a standard Norn, this gene simply states that the pain drive increases based on the pain chemical. In Drongo’s case, he will actually feel his crowdedness drive increase when he experiences pain. This could lead him to retreat from a group of rather violent Norns or Grendels, but it also means he is unable to experience pain correctly. Although this is something that should impact learning, I typically find that positive reinforcement has a greater impact than constant punishment. Drongo might be a little more apt to continue bad behavior, yet he should still get on well.

Default: 89 Emb B MutDupCut Brain, Decision i/ps, Chemical 1, chem=Punishment, thresh=0, nom=0, gain=255, features=Analogue
Mutation: 89 Emb B MutDupCut Brain, Decision i/ps, Chemical 1, chem=Reinforcement, thresh=0, nom=0, gain=255, features=Analogue

Drongo was on a roll with his interesting, yet harmless, mutations! This one is deeply tied in with the learning process. Normally, the punishment chemical is linked with chemical 1 in the decision lobe. This allows a Norn to use punishment to quickly make a decision… Like stopping whatever behavior resulted in the punishment. For Drongo, the punishment chemical is replaced with the reinforcement chemical. In essence, reinforcement is a lingering chemical pattern left over from either reward or punishment. Likely, this will play in with his other mutations to make him more likely to continue bad behaviors. During his first few minutes, though, he seemed like the perfect angel. Or was he just waiting to unleash his evil side? Ha ha!

Whatever difficulties Drongo’s mutations might have caused, he was far from showing any signs of problems. He set off on his own to investigate the aromas coming from the kitchen. A slight burn to his hand ensued after he got a little too curious about the kitchen stove, but again, a honeypot brought him right back around! Drongo also enjoyed a rather extended spell with the spinning top. My older Norns and Grendels usually lose interest in toys after a time, which makes these silly baby moments all the more worthwhile. After losing his honeypot for a time, Drongo decided that it was best to practically glue it to himself! That thing was not going anywhere anytime soon. Or maybe ever.

Elsewhere in Albia, Astrapia discovered the other long lost resident: Arianllyn. The two were a little cautious of one another, and acted more like Creatures who simply wanted a little company than true friends. There was no easy way to capture a picture, but I giggled when Arianllyn repeatedly stole the honeypot out of Astrapia’s hands just as she was about to eat! Someone had a very healthy appetite. In the end, they both had their fill of food and settled down to rest together. I wondered if the Grendel missed her partner, Adaon, who had been gone for ages… Whatever could he be up to?

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