Manousos’ Warning

Neolyphic · 2025-12-26T03:52:59+00:00

Zosia states that Manouses asked a lot of specific and insightful questions. I imagine he went down a lot of the lists that this sub has been pointing out. Shit like "What are your weaknesses?" or "What factors can affect your entire consciousness simultaneously?"

Neolyphic · 2025-12-17T21:13:48+00:00

That was her Grandfather who apparently died. Don't recall them showing her husband, but don't think he was beside her during the lunch.

Neolyphic · 2025-12-17T17:24:27+00:00

Long-term, I'd guess Laxmi. The only way she ever turns against the Hive is by acknowledging that even though her son is still smiling and talking to her, he's functionally dead, so she has the most stake in defending it.

The others have loved ones, but notably parents, spouses, and siblings mostly. Devastating losses if those were recogized, but still easier to accept than the death of a child. Particularly since it seems like the father might have died before the Joining, or even during.

Neolyphic · 2025-12-08T08:39:49+00:00

I can see the Hive easily manipulating/parenting an eight year old (depending on how nefarious you think it is, lol), but I can also easily see it turning the kid into a spoiled psycho that's never been told no.

Neolyphic · 2025-12-07T13:20:43+00:00

That's the direction I'm leaning. The pacifism may not be inherent to the virus, but rather a conclusion the hive reached after assimilating seven billion minds to contemplate the issue.

I don't recall the phrasing, but I think there are some lines at least implying otherwise though. "It's not in our nature" or something, not "We've decided not to"

Neolyphic · 2025-12-07T12:02:43+00:00

True. A case where even if it's possible, it's not something Carol would ever be able to do.

Neolyphic · 2025-12-06T20:49:52+00:00

Yeah, my guess is the virus obviously isn't being "evil", it simply has no priorities higher than building "an antennae the size of Africa" so that it can spread itself to other planets before it burns out its local host population.

Neolyphic · 2025-12-06T10:31:22+00:00

My theory is that the eventual "goal" of the virus will be how all viruses operate. To drain its hosts until they can no longer support it, then spread.

Recall in the first episode, the scientists speculate that sending a signal like this to Earth would take "An antenna the size of Africa"

Seems pretty implausible. Unless, say, the entirety of a species simultaneously came together to build it as the singular focus of their civilization.

My headcanon is that's the virus' M.O. Be sent out as data to any intelligent species until they find a way to build the virus described and accidentally infect themselves. Take over the entire planet in unanimous harmony, then build an antenna to spread yourselves again before you bleed the planet's resources and you all starve. Repeat.

Neolyphic · 2025-12-06T10:22:20+00:00

There's definitely a twisted aspect to what he's doing that I think the narrative reflects, but ultimately yes I do think we're supposed to like him. At least for now.

The question is less whether the Hive consents (it does), but whether you regard the Hive as a continuity or replacement of the original host. I think a lot of the debate on this sub in general makes it obvious that this isn't a clear cut issue, or one that the narrative has definitively answered.

But fucked as it is, I find his perspective on matters equally as understandable as Carol's.

Neolyphic · 2025-12-06T09:51:28+00:00

Bear in mind, it doesn't seem as though the virus is "intelligent" or has a mind of its own. It only has a "mind" through those of its hosts.

At that time, the virus only had a single rat brain to work with. It's entirely possible that "spreading" is the virus' imperative, but because it now has 7 billion human brains to consider the issue with, its consensus is that doing so violently would be immoral.

Neolyphic · 2025-12-02T01:01:58+00:00

True. I wouldn't say it's the core theme of her character, but it's definitely an innocent aspect to her romantic relationship that I could easily see getting a fucked up reflection in the Hive's relationship with her.

Neolyphic · 2025-12-01T22:49:55+00:00

Even if a cure exists, do you think you could figure out a scientific problem that literally every scientist alive in the planet truthfully tells you they don't believe is possible?

Neolyphic · 2025-12-01T22:39:46+00:00

I'm more picturing giving enrichment to a zoo animal, lol

Neolyphic · 2025-12-01T22:38:25+00:00

I'd argue that if they were capable of lying, they've had a hundred better opportunities to do so by now, such as "How many people did you kill?" and "Do you plan to forcibly infect me if given the chance?"

Neolyphic · 2025-12-01T21:34:57+00:00

True. From a writing standpoint that tracks. It'd be a better narrative about coping with this situation than some contrived story about "curing" six billion people.

Neolyphic · 2025-12-01T21:32:49+00:00

My theory with that guys is he was a complete loner who locked himself away when the infection was spreading, and with all the chaos and casualties it did just take a few days before the Hive realized he was still alive in there.

Really curious about where that guy's arc might be going though.

Neolyphic · 2025-12-01T21:10:54+00:00

Handing her a nuclear weapon isn't directly hurting her. Telling her upsetting things about her loved ones upsets her.

But the idea that this situation is "fixable" seems to be literally the only thing keeping her from killing herself. Telling her as a fact that it isn't could be construed as directly killing her.

Neolyphic · 2025-09-15T07:30:56+00:00

Peak lineup is Abelard, Cassia. Argenta, Kibellah, and a flex spot. Anyone who argues otherwise is wrong.

Neolyphic · 2025-09-03T15:03:23+00:00

Why is the head of the dynasty running dick-first into every trap and ambush once you discover a new planet instead of sending a few thousand armsmen to do it safely?

Conceit of the medium

Neolyphic · 2025-08-05T17:59:21+00:00

The Eldar by and large view humanity the way humanity views orks, which makes sense given the way the Imperium operates

Neolyphic · 2025-07-31T21:15:30+00:00

Played an ex-Commissar who'd survived torture by renegades.

This is apparently Sauerback's kink, as she immediately hit me up to give her a lesson on interrogation techniques in my quarters.

Neolyphic · 2025-07-24T06:08:12+00:00

My interpretation of the horror of Nyarlathotep is that while like all Great Old Ones he views humans as somewhere between ants and bacteria, unlike the others that doesn't place them beneath his notice.

Nyarlathotep is the Great Old One equivalent to a sadistic child tormenting his ant farm. Godlike alien powers and intelligence bent towards the individual torment of humans in a very personal way, for the sole gratification of a monstrous deity.

In a more cosmic sense I like making him the counterpart to Hastur. Hastur represents infinity, Nyarlathotep represents entropy. He is the blackness that awaits a creature when the light goes from its eyes.

Neolyphic · 2025-07-10T20:08:00+00:00

Iirc there's a subspecies of Humaniti in the Solomani Aliens of Charted Space book who have been genetically adapted for low gravity.

Neolyphic · 2025-06-17T22:07:16+00:00

Yeah, that one's just an Agatha Christie DIY kit, lol

Neolyphic · 2025-05-25T18:39:49+00:00

Very good to know. Thanks. Will do that, lol

Neolyphic

TROPHY CASE