Ahamkara: Difference between revisions

<!--Based on their remains, the Ahamkara were believed to be avian or draconic in appearance, possessing scales, feathers and sharp beaks.<ref name="Activision"/> Various armor pieces adorned with supposed Ahamkara bones suggest that they had skulls with fanged jaws, with the lower jawbone being split down the middle, not unlike a pair of arthropod mandibles. Notable differences in bone structure can be observed between the skulls of young and Dire Ahamkara, suggesting significant developmental changes throughout their lifecycle. [[Lord Shaxx]] has a gigantic skull hanging above his station in the Tower following the Red War, which has the split jaw and reptilian characteristics associated with other Ahamkara skulls, but otherwise looks quite different again.-->

Ahamkara are shape-shifters, seemingly capable of taking on any form they desire<ref>[[One Thousand Voices]]</ref>. Most often, they seem to prefer dragon-like or serpentine forms, hence the name "wish-dragons". Other Ahamkara are recorded as having adopted the forms of other species, such as humans or Vex, in the course of fulfilling various Guardians' wishes. They are known to alter their forms in response to the expectations of their viewers; when [[Riven]] encountered the [[Guardian]] [[Savin]], for example, she responded to his preconceptions by shifting into a more monstrous form<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]], [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Ghost Stories#Savin|Savin]]''</ref>. At various points, Riven was also known to adopt the shapes of a winged and crested beast, a "needle-nosed basilisk," or an "antlered creature with tiger's paws". After her [[Taken|Taking]] and corruption of the Dreaming City, Riven manifested to the Young Wolf as an enormous serpentine, clawed and tentacled creature, with a fanged head covered in numerous eyes and protected by folding bone plates. Sires are the Ahamkara that serve the role of a mother while dams serve the role of a father. Baby Ahamkara are named "whims.'

Ahamkara vary greatly in size, an effect caused both by growth and their shapeshifting nature. When Riven was young, she was small enough to fit in one of Uldren's hands;<ref name = "Telic I"/> as time passed, she grew so large her head alone was sometimes the size of a [[Pike]].<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]], [[Riven]]''</ref> The Ahamkara [[Azirim]] grew in size after influencing and leading a large number of Awoken to their deaths, perhaps a result of having fed upon their desires. Ahamkara are able to die whem they grant thir own wishes, as was the case with [[Taranis]] when he scattered his mate Riven's clutch.

Perhaps as a result of their shapeshifting abilities, Ahamkara skeletal remains display great diversity in size and form. Ahamkara skulls, for example, may feature two, four or no eye sockets, may or may not have horns, and exhibit a range of different tooth shapes. A consistent feature appears to be a split lower jaw, not unlike a pair of arthropod mandibles.

Ahamkara were studied on [[Venus]] by the [[Ishtar Academy]] because of their unique genome, which contained unknown new proteins.<ref name = "Cayde Book" /> They were apparently parasitic in some sense, one of several pieces of evidence which may indicate some relationship to the [[Worms]]. <ref name = "Cayde Book" />