User:Scumbag/alchemy
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[edit] Sliver Test Article
Slivers are a fictional metamorphic species featured in the collectable card game Magic: The Gathering. They are a popular species in the game, primarilly because of their unique ability-copying ability found on all Sliver cards.
[edit] Origins
Slivers were originally concepualized as the shattered remains of a set's main character, named the Controller. Preventing a disaster, the Controller's body would have splintered into many small slivers, each somehow able to transmit its properties to other slivers nearby. [1]. This was eventually dropped.
[edit] Physiology
Slivers are unique in that they share adaptations. This adaption-sharing ability is accomplished through a unique organ found only in the species. This organ has three functions:
- Telepathically transmit its genetic information to nearby Slivers
- Telepathically recieve genetic information from nearby Slivers
- Reproduce any unique traits in the host creature.
(Note: This information is partially hidden on this page, one must click on the 'More' links under the section starting with 'This species belongs to a family of creatures...')
In story and game terms, this means that every Sliver is assured to have every ability that every other Sliver nearby has. For example, if a Sliver with wings were to be placed next to a Sliver with the ability to spit an acidic mixture, both Slivers would immediately be able to fly and spit acid.
[edit] Plot history
Template:Spoilers
[edit] Origin and First Extinction
Slivers first appeared in the artificial plane of Rath, appearing as a hive colony below Volrath's Stronghold. Whether these creatures were a creation of Volrath or were a natural species brought to Rath like so many others is unknown.
During the Rathi overlay of Dominaria, the Sliver Colony was planeshifted into the heart of a volcano, destroying the Sliver Queen and any slivers within the hive. For a long time (both in-game and out-of-game), Slivers were dead.
[edit] Otaria and the Ressurection
Around 100 years after the Phyrexian Invasion had ended, the small continent of Otaria, a magical/scientific program called the Riptide Project was founded. This cooperative was tasked with generalized research, and its researchers travelled across Dominaria, learning all about themselves and each other. [2]. Among the ruins of Volrath's Stronghold, a Riptide wizard discovered the remains of a Sliver.
The Riptide Project, assuming that Slivers were simply one of many creatures forced into extinction after the Invasion, used their magical prowess to recreate the species.
Unfortunately for the Project, however, the Sliver's ability to copy abilties was also recreated. After sneaking out of Riptide, Slivers quickly became a dominating force on Otaria, at the expense of any and all beings living on the island.
[edit] Karona and The Second Extinction
Interestingly, it was only another distaster that almost completely wiped out the Slivers again. The magical energies of the Mirari, a powerful artifact, attracted the Slivers (who instictively believed the energies were from their long-dead Sliver Queen. When the 'False God' Karona was created, the explosion of its birth wiped out the majority of the Sliver population on Otaria. [3].
[edit] Slivers of Temporal Chaos
After major disaster after major disaster on Dominaria, the plane itself was in danger of being utterly destroyed. This danger was made manifest through massive distortion in the fabric of time. While most inhabitants of Dominaria struggled to survive, Slivers survived and thrived.
Owing to the influence of Dominaria's past, alternate presents, and possible futures, Slivers began manifesting abilties which harkened back to eras long gone - or eras that had not yet existed. For example, some Slivers began to represent vampiric traits [4], or mana-producing abilties [5], or the willingness to sacrifice itself to produce magical energies [6].
[edit] Current Status
Slivers currently are controllerless; a race desperately seeking a dominant sliver for which to operate for. The planeswalker Freyalise occasionally used them to defend her domain, Skyshroud. It is also implied that Venser had a small amount of control of the swarm, by the use of artifically constructed Slivers.
Recently, a strange artifact was discovered. This Hivestone, in its prime, allowed the various rulers of Rath's past to control the Slivers. As time has passed, however, the Hivestone now does the opposite of its original intent: instead of forcing one's will on the Sliver Swarm, the Hivestone forces the Swarm's will on theirs.
