Passing of Enhanced Abilities - Relium & ‘Turning’ in Offspring
From an unpublished manuscript written by Paul Layil, Ph.D.
The Covenant prohibits the Eleven and their descendants from having children together, but of course there have been violations, the most obvious being the birth of the Twins. However, in general, children born from mixed lineages are genetic hybrids, containing two allelic forms of the metalloproteins. Typically this is a lethal cross early in fetal development. Surviving children are often deformed or debilitated. When these children Turn, their powers are often erratic, unexpected and dangerous.
The production of relium-based metalloproteins in the blood occurs during a specific developmental period. Genes are turned on in early childhood with protein synthesis increasing steadily. As soon as a threshold level of metalloproteins is reached, the child begins to Turn and supernatural abilities begin to manifest. Production continues until the mid-twenties, at which point the level of metalloproteins in the blood stabilizes. Once entrenched in all fundamental physiological functions of the body, life is not possible without them. These proteins have an extraordinarily long half life.
The level of circulating metalloprotein in the blood determines the strength of supernatural abilities. Each genetic locus produces protein in a similar pattern (low levels produced at earlier ages, steep increase during the Turning, then end of production). Therefore, metalloprotein levels are determined by the number of genetic loci in the genome, which decreases by 50% each generation except in the case of forbidden cross-lineage (or within-lineage) breeding.
Early experiments conducted by myself and my wife, Veronique Layil, Ph.D., focused on blood transfers to determine whether or not the enhanced abilities of the Eleven and their descendants were, in fact, carried by the blood. The results also included the discovery of a mechanism for Binding the Scribes. Below is an overview of the study and results:
One of the Eleven donor to Angel recipient: No experiment conducted.
One of the Eleven to First Born: Recipient exhibits abilities of the donor.
One of the Eleven to Offspring: Recipient exhibits abilities of the donor.
One of the Eleven to Human: Death.
First Born to Angel: No experiment conducted; unlikely to have any effect.
First Born to First Born: Effect depends on bloodlines.
First Born to Offspring: Effect depends on bloodlines.
First Born to Human: Bound; shares some Offspring characteristics; can be reversed.
Offspring to One of the Eleven: No experiment conducted; unlikely to have any effect.
Offspring to First Born: Effect depends on bloodlines; usually minor.
Offspring to Offspring: Effect depends on bloodlines; usually minor.
Offspring to Human: Bound; shares some Offspring characteristics; can be reversed.
Human to One of the Eleven: No effect.
Human to First Born: No effect.
Human to Offspring: No effect.
Human to Human: Standard blood-type response.
An additional important discovery from the studies relates to the First Born and Offspring and their relationship with Scribes. The Binding of the Scribes occurs when First Born or Offspring blood is transfused into a human recipient. Rarely, death results. Typically the metalloproteins in the transfused serum result in enhanced abilities for the recipient. However, the donor (if trained) can “recall” the transfused proteins resulting in the death of the recipient.
Similarly, the most skilled supernaturals can elicit response from relium relics. This is the mechanism behind the use of relium neck piercings in the Amyclaean Guard as a control device. Tamel, as the Blade Guardian, is the most skilled at controlling interactions with relium.
