Angel Comb

The Angel Comb is a very large, anchored lifeform that parasites the Titan Rockbore. It contains a large amount of gene sequences within its core, which can be harnessed to gain Adaptations.

The Angel Comb releases large amounts of standard Proteavirus into the water around it, infecting all living organisms. However, Angel Combs are often targeted by the Bloom strain of Proteavirus, subverting them and preventing the production of normal Proteavirus in favor of the Bloom strain. An infected Angel Comb becomes a Bloom Core, which can only be accessed by curing its connected Bloom Nodes.

Angel Combs seem to "call out" to nearby lifeforms, enticing them to approach and share its genes. Infected Angel Combs will call out in the same way, begging for the Bloom to be cured and giving advice on clearing it. Both of these voices are hallucinations of Masefield Syndrome, caused by the Proteavirus emitted by the comb.

For a list of Angel Combs and their locations, see Bloom Locations.

Appearance

The Angel Comb is a tall organism that is not analogous to any known earth creatures but whose body plan roughly resembles that of the amphorae it is named after. It can be divided into three general parts:

1. Roots: At the bottom are blue and red striped root-like structures that connect the Angel Comb to the Titan Rockbore from which it draws its energy.
2. Base and Arms: On top of the roots sits a base to which are connected four rigid arms. These arms are made up of a light green, skeleton-like inner part and an exterior shell with a line of tendrils rising along it.
3. Core: Atop this base sits the core of the Angel Comb, which is protected by a set of interior arms. These interior arms fully enclose the core without leaving gaps, unlike the exterior arms. Both sets of arms can open up in order to let the player receive adaptations.

The roughly egg-shaped core is divided into two parts:

• Outer Core: Slightly pink, transparent, and has a gelatinous texture. It houses the interior core.
• Interior Core: Exhibits a more intricate structure. At the center is a circle of eight pink, tall organelles connected by a light blue structure. This structure connects each organelle to the base and to a central shaft, which rises above this ring until it branches out, connecting a ring of smaller four pink organelles.

The exterior of the Angel Comb is a dull blue color with red sprinkles throughout, except on its roots, where the dots are replaced by red stripes.

Behavior

A healthy Angel Comb has four extended leaves with its accumulated genetic data stored in its bright purple core. When a closed Angel Comb is cured of its Bloom infection, its four leaves extend outward.

Locations

Angel Combs can be found in the following biomes:

• Karakorum Power Plant
• Necrolei Hills
• Shallows

For a more complete list of locations, see Bloom Locations.

Databank Entry

Source: Scan an Angel Comb

This animal (Cecidia gamikos) has no Earthly analog and no clear ecological niche. The ancestral form may be a ctenophore (comb jelly). Of all animals on Earth, comb jellies are the least related to humans.

1. Active central bulb The central bulb is similar to an enormous cell nucleus. It contains gene sequences from organisms in the surrounding environment.

2. Viral loop The combs release a large RNA virus into the seawater. This virus (designated Proteavirus) infects all other organisms in the ecosystem. Infected organisms produce new copies of the virus, which return to the angel comb carrying stolen genes from infected hosts. The angel comb conducts genetic piracy on a massive scale.

3. External food source The angel comb draws food from the titan rockbore below. Angel combs may be obligate parasites of titan rockbores.

Assessment: Touch central bulb for genetic adaptation. Further investigation urgently required.

Note: Users may be curious about the symbiosis between Earthly parasitic wasps and polydnaviruses. The wasp's own genome contains the viral genome, allowing the wasp to create the virus for use in its reproductive cycle.

Gallery

In Game

An uninfected Angel Comb in the Shallows.

The base of the Angel Comb.

An open Angel comb revealing the Bloom Core.

Adult Angel Comb's Bioluminescence.

An infected Angel Comb.

A cured juvenile Angel Comb.

A Player interacting with the Angel Comb's Bloom Core.

Development

Concept art featuring an Angel Comb.

Trivia

• The epithet "gamikos" is directly taken from the name of type of ancient Greek pottery called a lèbes gamikòs, in reference to the Angel Comb's distinctive shape.