Thanks for all the helpful input! I've been thinking about this a little more this weekend and have come to realize that worked well in my NaNo may not translate well into the larger tapestry of the ditto story. And it wasn't my intention to impose this plotline upon the story, unless it was an idea my fellow writers could live with. And I don't want to minimize the story arc that starkat is writing (the effects of the altered past upon the present).

Still, I think it could be fun. I was considering a gradual transformation, like JP noted...it wouldn't be fair to have everyone in town wake up one morning to find out they'd all been changed, along with the town itself. Erik's transformation (which as written takes some time and comes in gradual steps - which is probably terrible science and engineering but was fun to write) could serve as one of the warnings to the town that something is up.

So perhaps writers who aren't comfortable with this could still arrange for their characters to not be affected, perhaps by being away from town or something when it happens (Varna's book errands to other worlds comes to mind as an example). Or perhaps only a few inhabitants are affected - maybe as some sort of test of the tech - while other effects are noted on the structures or plants in town.

Another consideration if we decide to go with this is to examine the motivations of the Nine for doing this in the first place...we wouldn't have to have this in place before we start, but having some idea about it might help guide us through all this.

I think that other than scare Varna, it wouldn't affect her much in the short run. She hasn't got any special powers that she would lose - it would just mean that she could fall ill, which she doesn't do as an Elf, and that she would start ageing, which she wouldn't notice much over the span of one Ditto Story (but she would worry a lot about it).

I guess the only way she would find out about the change at all, would be that her ears had suddenly stopped being pointed

I suppose I could include some philosophical musings about it, but I'm not sure it would add anything significant to the story (other than some angst ). Should we just give her immunity and let her get on with her bookshop (when I get on with it, that is), or do you have any suggestions about how we could get something interesting out of her sudden mortality?

Edit:
I hadn't read your post when I wrote this, stargazer ...

I guess the only way she would find out about the change at all, would be that her ears had suddenly stopped being pointed

If I remember correctly back in the last chapter (or the one before that) didn't the tireless engineer go through the same thing?

Wow - all this sounds interesting. I am in favor of gradual changes., if we do it at all. Interesting... I have no comments. My characters (that are currently in the story) are all humans, anyway...

I tried to post this before and failed...

Aria was subjected to an Org-created retrovirus that attempted to re-write the elvish half of her genome to make her fully human and immortal. Her body fought back, and these days she vascillates between both species on a regular periodic interval.

The enzyme, on the other hand, would have made the transition seamless. Aria could use it, and render herself either one or the other or revert to her original genes if she so chose.

Oops, Jill, sorry I didn't notice what you were talking about in your previous post. I am not sure what I would do with this plot twist, but it might have some interesting possibilities.

A question about Dittopia - are there other cities/towns? I only know of ORG places, and elven communities really. There was that mansion where Ethan died, but what else? I would like to have a character in another town or city, but do they exist? I don't even have a clear idea what Dittopia looks like. Is it on a planet - and are there other continents? I think there have been referenced to the ocean, but that may have been in the fountain - I don't remember.

Thanks, guys!

Interesting questions, Sonny! In answering them I'll gladly defer to the other writers who may be more knowledgeable on the topic, but here are my thoughts:

I envision Ditto Town as being on a world that's physically much like the earth, with continents, oceans, etc, though the stories haven't developed the topography of the planet very much. I don't think we've firmly determined precisely where the town might be, relative to any oceans, mountain ranges, or other prominent physical features of the planet, but there have been some general descriptions of forests around the town, or low hills within a short journey (where the gargoyles' gate is), and so on.

I think a character from another town or even continent on the Ditto Town planet would be fine (especially considering we have creatures from a variety of other worlds).

Got a virus on our family desktop. Not sure when it'll be back up and running. I was intending to get back to a pm I have sitting in my inbox this week (sorry about the delay stargazer), I will try if I have the time at work.

No worries, kat! Hope you're able to get everything recovered soon.

I quite enjoyed your 2 latest segments, JP. It's a testimony to the strength of your writing that you can create pieces with such differing atmosphere (Lucid's first day at work and a very detailed encyclopedia entry) that both have the 'feel' of the same author, if that makes sense (all my segments feel the same to me ).

I like Adrian's conclusion:

“Hm…” Adrian mused. “I do need a drummer….”

Thanks, Gazer, though I wouldn't be surprised if that's partially because I got kind of technical in both of them.

Sorry I've been so absent! I'm trying to get back into the story, because I have a lot of it planned out but not written.

My apologies for dropping off the face of the map. It's a long story. Wonderful segments JP. I will try to figure out what I need to do next when it comes to what I may need to write.

As far as disappearance apologies... I won't neglect mine. I am half glad that not much has been written in my absence, but not glad because that means the story is going nowhere! I enjoyed your posts, Jill. Keep writing, fellow Dinklings, and I will be back with some substance in the next... uh... 6 months? Hopefully after school is over I'll be able to post again.

Thanks guys! And...I have another one for you.