Convergence
Convergence is defined as two people combining their powers to do something neither could do on their own. It may be that the ability itself changes, or it may be that its capabilities are simply enhanced.
Since the Great War, we have known that anyone with manipulatable power can perform a convergence (power levels between 50.00 and 499.99). Thus anyone who manifests abilities can, in theory, converge (though it is unknown if two Amalgams can converge with one another; see below). There have been no records of naered doing so, however, and since human form and physical touch are (as far as we know) required, it is likely impossible for them.
Convergence is between exactly two people. Human form and physical touch are, as previously noted, required. The two participants become "one" in mind and power. They must agree or the convergence will be unsuccessful.
Combination of Abilities
The primary effect of convergence is, as noted above, combining the abilities of two Paragons. The specific effect will depend greatly on the abilities of the two people involved. Furthermore, this effect can be hard to predict. Take the convergence between Dissipators Duncan Colbreak Whitewave and Kyle Stelworth Blackburn as an example. Duncan's personal ability is mist: he manipulates water within the context of air. Kyle can create fire. When the two of them combine their powers in convergence, the mist gains a fiery aspect. In practice, this means that their boiling hot mist can scald human flesh and kill naered (whose bodies, of course, are made of mist) from the inside out.Convergence Between Amalgams and Paragons
The Great War was the first recorded instance of Amalgam/Paragon convergence in the modern era, though this was implied by older primary sources (which didn't distinguish between Amalgams and Paragons in the same way that we do). Fire-manipulating Paragon Kyle Blackburn and Amalgam Vincent Bowman were able to create much larger, more destructive fires. With the prominence and popularity of their convergence, many people think that this implies that Amalgam/Paragon convergence strengthens and enhances the ability of the Paragon. However, Bowman himself reports that his convergences always take on a fiery quality, even when paired with Duncan Colbreak, Alistair Colbreak, or other Dissipators who are now dead. Some scientists speculate that Vincent's convergences imitate Kyle's because Kyle was the first person Vincent converged with. I personally subscribe to the rather controversial theory, supported by the case of Lyndon Stelcraft and my own grandfather's ability, that Amalgams and Dregs have affinities of their own, hidden by their low power carrier concentrations. This would mean that Vincent happens to have a fire affinity like Kyle does. However, I'm obviously not a scientist and this isn't something I can prove one way or the other.Other Potential Convergences
Convergence between two Amalgams has not been recorded in modern times. Furthermore, the distinction between Amalgams and Paragons in writing is quite modern, dating as recently as Fletcher's Rebellion, so older primary sources are difficult to discern in this regard. There are mixed records of Dreg convergence. Primary sources from the Crathlian Revolution suggest that the powerless "full humans" were capable of convergence with the powerful part-dragon rebels, but this property has not been reproduced in modern times. The question also remains as to whether one needs aignaoi blood to perform a convergence. There is no scientific evidence to call this into question, but I personally have my suspicions. My grandmother Asha Thottathil Evenbrook has reported convergence-like telepathy with my mother Ophelia Evenbrook Colbreak, though this could be due to their shared gifted blood. Shapeshifting has never been achieved through convergence, though it was attempted during the Crathlian Revolution on the side of the aignaoithe. (Then again, the side of the shapeshifters had very little luck with convergence in general.) The changing of form from human to dragon is theorized to be impossible through convergence because human form is required for its use.Written by Cordelia Colbreak Evenbrook
Paragons
Shapeshifters
Human form
Physical touch (hands preferred)
Emotional connection
Agreement in usage
Aignaoi blood (debated) or manipulatable power (debated)
Temporary telepathic connection
High Lord Seanán and his son Cathair (debated)
Comments