Continuance of another conversation.
Here is the link to that post.
http://community.livejournal.com/tinman_meta/21846.html?thread=615254#t615254
There were some very interesting theories flying about.
So I put in my two cents.
icarus_chained suggested scince no when else seemed to be watching that thread any more that I should make my own post and add my own theory here.
So I shall start with
icarus_chained's original question.
Regarding Glitch: Here's where I'm hoping someone here has a bit more biology than I do. The whole removing-of-the-brain thing seems incredibly implausible to me anyway, but allowing for alchemical/magical intervention, and running with the idea ... exactly how much of Glitch's brain was actually taken? Because the brain-in-the-jar looked fairly whole, while Glitch is obviously still up and running and more than capable of thinking for himself, and says that he still has half a brain ... I'm confused.
But running with the idea that they only took part ... is it possible to remove only the part of the brain housing long-term memory? As in, leave the processing plant intact, and only remove the main storage facility? Because that'd be interesting. It'd also be reasonably logical, as far as reasons for removing any of it at all go, because they wanted the bit with the info on the machine, which would be in long-term memory (although why they didn't just take the whole hog and just let the body die, I've no idea). But what would be left then would be all the main thought-processing power, the short-term memory, and everything (I think) one needs to continue functioning. Also, if they took it messily, and left enough of the long-term for Glitch to remember most of what's happened as a headcase, and random bits of other info, but all jumbled and badly connected. So that he has to retrace every individual thought process to access the memories attached, and occasionally hits broken links, or looped wires ...
As I said, thinking too much, and based on very little actual information. And probably very, very wrong. So if anyone would like to clear up the more stunning examples of my misconceptions, I'd be grateful.
and here was my contribution.
catyuy:
Well, I know how everyone here has been saying that the Sorceress or the Alchemist might have used magic to keep Glitch's body alive.
But is it possible that because Ambrose was an Advisor to the Queen he might of had some magic of his own?
icarus_chained reply
Why'd you have to ask that question? Now you got me thinking about it! Because in some ways, that'd make a lot of sense. It might make sense as to why there is bugger all mention of headcasing aside from Glitch, if headcasing can't happen unless you're ... eligible for it, by having something along the lines of ... say, magic longevity, or the like, if we're to go that it's his magic that sustains his body. And that's a fascinating thought in that I could see it as being the *origins* of the process. It's done by alchemists, after all, and alchemy was originally the mixing of magic and an early version of chemistry. But one of the main aims was the search for the Elixir of Life. I could see the alchemists accidentally developing headcasing as a biproduct of attempting to study long-lived magical creatures, in order to isolate the magical element that grants them long life, and refine it into the Elixir. I can also see this becoming a State 'punishment' in corrupt times, simply to get 'specimens', ie label such creatures evil and then, for the good of the State, send them in for headcasing. Just an old process of a once-corrupt regime, resurrected because it suited the witch down to the ground ...
and now off to the audience.