Durrans True Nature!

[RelinaIonna]

Is Durran just a human looking immortal or a complex long living shape shifter?
What is he exactly? we know hes extremely long lived if not immortal and a servant of a greator power.

[blkmage]

You just answered your own question.

And how would we know for sure? We don't. Tada. Wait for SC2.

[Shinigami]

To be honest, we have no idea who Duran truely is. He is obviously of a non-human race, though, as he was able to fool both the UED and Kerrigan into believing he was their ally (and that requires more than a convincing lie. We're talking about physiological changes to make him appear as if he were merely human to the UED and as if he were infested to Kerrigan).

[Scauthra]

Hmm, maybe a Xel'Naga spy in the form of a human male? Intriging.

[Kamikaze_Chicken]

yes because xelnaga attack zerg and protoss

[Shinigami]

yes because xelnaga attack zerg and protoss
Since when have the Xel'Naga attacked the Protoss or the Zerg? I don't see them spending the time and resources to create an array of military weaponry and given what little we know about them the only plausible way for them to attack would be with a slave race; their "perfect" race. To engineer and steer a race to this peak of perfection would take tens of thousands of years so I don't see it as a plausible idea in the time frame we are given with StarCraft. I don't see the Xel'Naga attacking anyone in the present and we already know they have yet to attack the Protoss and Zerg so far.

[Kamikaze_Chicken]

Since when have the Xel'Naga attacked the Protoss or the Zerg?

that was my point i was being sarcastic...

[LoneWolf]

Heh, this should get an interesting reaction. I'll say it right now, Duran is the original Overmind thought to be destroyed by Tassadar. "How" will need some work. I propose that Duran (under a different name) was a Ghost present at that battle, who was one of a group who snuck ahead to locate the Overmind and other vital targets right before the final battle. Or perhaps after much of the base was destroyed Duran was near the front. Anyway, the Overmind, knowing he was doomed or that his ultimate dream of uniting the Zerg and Protoss, becoming perfect, was out of reach under present conditions, made a psychic link with Duran, either forcing control on him or promising him power. After that his body pretty much became an empty shell. Before he transfered his essence he gave enough orders for the coming battle. If one doesn't like that, he may have made a psychic and his thoughts completely crossed with Duran, and Duran so the power that could be his if he united them. I like it better with Duran being the Overmind, though, obsessed with creating the perfect race.


Okay, my beliefs right there. Take it or leave it. Or argue it, I don't care!

[Valjean]

Is Durran just a human looking immortal or a complex long living shape shifter?
option number 2. =P

[RelinaIonna]

All very interesting points (well most of them,) but we also know that there is record Durran served with the Alpha Squadron and the Confederacy. And I remember something about how he or his master resemble the hybrid. A "perfect" race with perfection of form and essence if you will. Thats about every piece of information I know. Also I'm reluctant to mention an experiment of the Xel' Naga in the novel "Shadow of the Xel'Naga." The creature absorbs the genetic coding of Zerg and Protoss to complete its evolution. So although it awakened after the birth of the Terran Dominion it has been in a cocoon stage for who knows how long. If for many millennia then it shows the Xel’Naga may have had some foresight of the Zerg and Protoss.

[deadstalker]

Since when have the Xel'Naga attacked the Protoss or the Zerg? I don't see them spending the time and resources to create an array of military weaponry and given what little we know about them the only plausible way for them to attack would be with a slave race; their "perfect" race. To engineer and steer a race to this peak of perfection would take tens of thousands of years so I don't see it as a plausible idea in the time frame we are given with StarCraft. I don't see the Xel'Naga attacking anyone in the present and we already know they have yet to attack the Protoss and Zerg so far.I dont know that they would or wouldent attack the protoss, but if I were the Xel'naga i would blow the hell out of the zerg. I mean if you read the history of the overmind then you see that after the overmind was created, It started gathering more and more creatures to fight for it. After the overmind got a swarm of units It saw Xel'naga as an enemy and started attacking them. The Xel'naga left after many of them had died. To me that is a perfect reason to attack the zerg.

[cpt.beefhart]

duran is the overmind

[blkmage]

The Overmind and the Zerg wiped out the greater whole of the Xel'Naga fleet over Zerus. That was before the Overmind had left the planet and assimilated the creatures that became the units in SC.

I seriously doubt the Xel'Naga have the ability to even defend themselves very well, much less attack, especially after being driven from Aiur and getting defeated by the Zerg.

[cpt.beefhart]

The Overmind and the Zerg wiped out the greater whole of the Xel'Naga fleet over Zerus. That was before the Overmind had left the planet and assimilated the creatures that became the units in SC.

I seriously doubt the Xel'Naga have the ability to even defend themselves very well, much less attack, especially after being driven from Aiur and getting defeated by the Zerg.

SO.....

there the best scientists not warriors, the warriors thing is why they created the protoss. :cool:

[RelinaIonna]

duran is the overmindIt's interesting and i'd love to belive, I mean the overmind and duran are both realy old and realy smart, but I just cant agree.
1: Its recorded that Durran used to work for the alpha squadron. That places him and the overmind existing at the same time.
2: I realy don't see the Overmind serving anyone but himself, let alone an ancient and powerfull possibly godlike master.

[LoneWolf]

It's interesting and i'd love to belive, I mean the overmind and duran are both realy old and realy smart, but I just cant agree.
1: Its recorded that Durran used to work for the alpha squadron. That places him and the overmind existing at the same time.
2: I realy don't see the Overmind serving anyone but himself, let alone an ancient and powerfull possibly godlike master.
Where do we receive evidence that Duran is really old as a separate being from the Overmind? I haven't played the campaigns in a while. Duran may very well have been an ordinary Terran ghost in the operative squadron and was then taken by the Overmind. I'd like to hear more of what you know about Duran though...

[RelinaIonna]

Where do we receive evidence that Duran is really old as a separate being from the Overmind? I haven't played the campaigns in a while. Duran may very well have been an ordinary Terran ghost in the operative squadron and was then taken by the Overmind. I'd like to hear more of what you know about Duran though...In his rant of the secret mission he says he's been around for a while, and the Overmind was destroyed after the fall of the confederacy placing Durran and the Overmind coexisting. And Durran is so not human. Durran became infested, but was not really under the control of Kerrigan. Kerrigan was able to control Razsagul.

[Shinigami]

I lean towards MasterBoo's (http://www.blizzforums.com/showthread.php?t=36992) theory.

[RelinaIonna]

Intriguing...

[Visions_of_Khas]

I seriously doubt the possibility that Duran possess a portion of the essence of the original Overmind. Would he have helped the UED as much as he did? I don't think Kerrigan really "infested" him before he worked with the UED. I think she just performed a similar technique with him as she did with the Matriarch, tried to control his mind. It was win he joined forces with her overtly that his body was infested.

The Xel'Naga were defeated by the Zerg many thousands of years ago. Would they not have replinished themselves by this point?

[Coolness53]

What if he isnt invested at all. He maybe something else. You never know. They never really explain what he is or if he was infested. Because if he was infested at least he would be serving the Zerg. But he is making a protoss/zerg hybrid. So I dont think he was ever infested. I think he was just deceiving Kerrigan. I think he is using everyone to his advantage he never stayed on Humans or Zerg for very long. No one knows how long he has been trying to make this Hybird race if he is really old maybe he has been doing this for a while and maybe he is building new units and building to build up attack. :)

[kongurous]

Duran did say he had planted Hybrid seeds on numerous planets and was of an ancient race that had sealed itself off for many mellenia. Perhaps the Xel'Naga are humans that were never recorded or something like that?

[Shinigami]

Perhaps the Xel'Naga are humans that were never recorded or something like that?
The Xel'Naga have been more advanced that we'll be even hundreds of years after Brood War and for thousands of years prior to the beginning of StarCraft. They cannot be humans. It isn't logically unless you want to get into time travel and that in itself is debatable.

[Fenix-MSG]

The Xel'Naga have been more advanced that we'll be even hundreds of years after Brood War and for thousands of years prior to the beginning of StarCraft. They cannot be humans. It isn't logically unless you want to get into time travel and that in itself is debatable.

Hey i dont think you can completely rule that out i mean after all starwars happened a long time ago. :) I dont want to rule him out of being human decent, look at how intelligent Kerrigan is, the infestation couldnt have made her much more that she already was. Could it?

[Geckat]

How do we know Duran's old? He was born after Dugalle, as Dugalle said so himself. He's probably just a human trying to bend the Terran and Zerg armies to his own selfish will. He wants even more than Kerrigan to rule the universe. And if the other three races don't see through him and take care of him, he may be the leader of an entire race of hybrids!

[Visions_of_Khas]

You must remember Geckat that, although his physical's form's physiological age is younger than that of DuGalle, he himself is older by far, for he has lived for many, many thousands of years. I doubt he wants the power of merely the Zerg alone...

[Ghost_Assasain]

I have one awnser that is true for this thread.
Duran is Duran nothing more Nothing less

[Visions_of_Khas]

Oh, he is something more all right, we just don't know exactly what...

[Wiciarus]

Duran is probably the one thing that makes me NEED Blizzard to hurry up and work on Star2.

My friend and I spent many a day hypothosizing, some serious, some not, and here are some of our ideas. Feel free to critisize.

1. Xel'Naga:
Everyone's thought it. They were powerful bastards that enjoyed control of genetics. Think of it this way: Protoss were the perfection of form, Zerg of essence. The terrans are somewhere inbetween. Mayhaps Duran is infested with Xel'naga, or the Xel'naga can manipulate their own genetic coding to the point where race becomes a joke. Think about it, a Xel'naga turning from a dark templar to a hydralisk in a moment.
Yeah, not too advantageous, but I'm sure you can come up with better ideas...

2. Some other uber race:
Take that last rant, and exchange Xel'naga with other race.

3. Different kind of infestation:
Look at Kerrigan. For a second. Then look at infested kerrigan. She looks TOTALLY different.. Well... kinda. Still, he is obviously a different kind of infested terran. mayhaps he was infested with a cerebrate. They have a hive-mind (though more free thought than most would imagine with the phrase hive-mind... i mean kerrigan had an attitude BEFORE the overmind died...) that makes them all aware of A LOT. Mayhaps a cerebrate close to the overmind, daggoth maybe? split a part of his essense into Duran before the overminds death. Would not Duran think of himself as the cerebrate, remember as the cerebrate did, and refer to himself as ancient because he is a part of an ancient whole?

4. The duran overmind idea:
Okay. I lied. This one i culled from this place. but its good, no?

Thats all i can think of right now...

and oh! With no Overmind, and simply rogue cerebrates, Infested Kerrigan no longer thinks the way she used to. I was about to say "Duran being a human that took advantage of a situation... stupid... ugh... how could a human keep his freewill after being infested?! Watch TNG!!!" but then i realised this. The rules we all read about the zerg are erased.

Hydralisks might be able to grow midns of their own now.

I'm thinking too deep, so i'm going to run and hide.

Adun save me.

[RelinaIonna]

Well in the spirit of things and knowing blizzards knack for wierd twists lets say Durran is a forgotten human, well I just saw this episode of "unexplained mysteries" and heres a thought, Durran and his master are survivors from Atlantis.

[Visions_of_Khas]

*lol*

It has been said by someone at BlizzForums that since most Terrans do not possess the psionics gene, they are "mass-infested", producing mindless slaves that are infested terrans. Kerrigan was different. Apparently, she was the first Terran that possessed psionic potential infested by the Zerg. It is because she carries an active psionics gene that the Zerg took time to literally make her Zerg. I don't think she is just infested. (Zerg evolutionary virus implanted that forcefully warps the mind and body, along with other bio-toxins produced by a Queen, results in a typical infested terran; her body may have been completely restructured!)

[Shinigami]

I dont want to rule him out of being human decent, look at how intelligent Kerrigan is, the infestation couldnt have made her much more that she already was.
Given that Kerrigan's powers were in check when she was a Terran Ghost for both the Confederacy and Dominion, we honestly have no idea what the infestation did to her. Since she needed the inhibitor taken out of her before she could use her more psionically powerful spells, we at least know that even as a human she has an extroirdinary amount of psionic potential.

Think about it, a Xel'naga turning from a dark templar to a hydralisk in a moment.
I've always imagined the Xel'Naga as using very complex machines to gradually alter the genetics of races. As such, they'd never be able to exactly be "a dark templar to a hydralisk in a moment", though I do admit that your idea of the Xel'Naga genetically altering themselves would more than explain Duran's ability to trick both the UED and Kerrigan, assuming he is an agent of the Xel'Naga...

Look at Kerrigan. For a second. Then look at infested kerrigan. She looks TOTALLY different.. Well... kinda. Still, he is obviously a different kind of infested terran. mayhaps he was infested with a cerebrate.
I believe it's more that Kerrigan was a Ghost that made her infestation different. The other Terrans that were captured were ones whose psionic powers had not been awakened yet, so they were useless save for being suicide bombers. But Kerrigan was a Terran whose psionic abilities were plentiful. She was a very, very talented Ghost, her psionic abilities being awake and more plentiful than most Ghosts, I'd imagine. So, she was infested in a way that made her similar to a Cerebrate. She could give out orders and such, but the different between her and a Cerebrate was that because she was Terran she had her own unique personality and, given that she was a Ghost, very independant attitude (hence why she did as she wished, regaurdless of the Overmind's will).

With no Overmind, and simply rogue cerebrates, Infested Kerrigan no longer thinks the way she used to.
Hardly. As I mentioned above, Ghosts are very independant, having little to no social interaction save for mission breifings. They work alone. As such, when she was infested she was hardly one to take orders from the Overmind seemlessly. Whether it could have taken aay fer independant attitude or not is up for debate. Maybe he saw her ability to think by herself an asset? After all, she was a member of a very intelligent race in which it was actually in a war against. It could use her semi-Terran mind to assist it.

Hydralisks might be able to grow midns of their own now.
That brings up a good point: does Kerrigan know what to do when it comes to assimilation? The Overmind has been steering the evolution of the Zerg since before the Xel'Naga were nearly vanquished. Kerrigan is but a simple Terran who is now in control of arguably the most vicious and powerful race in the galaxy. I doubt she was around long enough to learn how to bring other species into the folds of the Swarm by the Overmind. With a few Cerebrates left, though, she might have an idea, but that's just it, she might have no more than idea and therefore fail countless times. It'll be interesting to see how she can handle the evolution of the swarm, but one thing's for sure: if she ever gets a grip on what to do, her Terran mind will definately bring some very different aspects to the Swarm.

[Ghost_Assasain]

What if Duran is an Alein of no Race an older Race than the Xel'naga and he has a Vendetta against them for they wiped out all but him of his race.
Duran keeps his own physical form its just that he has powerful Psionics that let him appear to athers in that form. Like to the Terrans he seemed to look like a normal terran. But to the Zerg and after he looks like a Human with a hardend skin when really it's just his psionic protecting him. And his Weapons are just Stolen ones.

[Visions_of_Khas]

I think his body was that of a true Terran, and later that of a truly infested one. However, he was able to retain his own mental capacities during the infestation. Considering the fact that the Hybrids are a reflection of a greater power -aswell as the fact that the Xel'Naga are the most important race in the game, siring both the Zerg and Protoss and all- he is likely of 'Naga origin. Of course, we simply don't completely know.

[cpt.beefhart]

Well in the spirit of things and knowing blizzards knack for wierd twists lets say Durran is a forgotten human, well I just saw this episode of "unexplained mysteries" and heres a thought, Durran and his master are survivors from Atlantis.
:D \0/

[Visions_of_Khas]

Likewise in the spirit of things, Atlantis was a lost city of The Ancients, not humans. :D

[cpt.beefhart]

Likewise in the spirit of things, Atlantis was a lost city of The Ancients, not humans. :D

ye :) man SG really is getting silly, no?

[RelinaIonna]

Hey it just seemed thats where the discution was heading, as many crazy and silly yet still possible theories as possible.

[ares232]

All good ideas i must agree but, Duran's true nature has always be diffilcult to understand. Some people believe one of his name's is Duran Routhe, a wealthy Terran scientist and the man who secretly experiminted to send Terrans into space. He suceeded with two sucessful spacecrafts landing on "Korhal", and on "Tarsonis". If you read the SC summary on the SC CD, it explains the entire story of SC, the Guild Wars, the Guass Rfle, Duran Routhe, The overmind and the Xel-Naga's exsistence. Yes the Xel-Naga did fight their creations but only after realizing the Overmind had a lust for consuming all in it's path! The Zerg managed to defeat their creater and possibly assimilated them into the Swarm. Duran's loyalties were probably always to the Xel-Naga and his mission was to sabotage the Korpulu Sector and implant as many hybrids on a desolate planet as nesscary. Duran also hired a Mercenary Group to work for him, probably even banished Protoss and Alan Schezar's personal Mercenaries! Duran may say he worked for Alpha squadron, but they were the first to join the Sons of Korhal! How could Duran possibly be on Boralis under the Sons of Korhal? I think he was indeed in the Confederacy but working for Alpha Squadron and Nova Squadron as well. The Nova squadron could set up base wherever they wanted and conduct experiments in secret! That was one of the only Terran Confederate groups you never see in the regular camps! Only in the mission:"Operation Silent Scream". Duran might have been even in charge, only Blizzard's Chris Metzen and Alan Adham really know.

Plz post your thoughts to my theory

If you have the Dark Origin map: More clue's were taken out of the main sound file. Ex. Zeratul says this: "Strange. No Terran could possibly understand the complexity of a Protoss pylon!"

[Snot]

... then it shows the Xel’Naga may have had some foresight of the Zerg and Protoss.

Yes; but if this is true. Would not the creators have been more careful with their creations? I mean, who goes and creates a race of savage beasts; well knowing that they may end up being their downfall?

Back to topic: I have seen it posted, including by myself on other sites; that Durran is a shape shifter agent working for the Xel'Naga. It is believed that he was sent ahead of the Xel'Naga; to scout out the Koprulur sector and to see what advancements have been made by both the Zerg and Protoss. But on arrival to the sector, he encountered the Terran race. Seeing it as a chance to kill two birds with one stone, shall I say; he used his position in the Confed. to reach information only they would have regarding the Zerg and Protoss, he also studied the Terrans them selves during his time in their company.

But since the information from the Confed. was incomplete, he had to find a new way of getting information. Thus he teamed up with Kerrigan as her "slave", if you will. From there he continued to do his research of the three races. Thus when the UED arrived, he used the chance and chaos of the war; to begin his operations on combining the Zerg and Protoss, well knowing the Terran government would not disagree with his motives of finding a way to defeat the two alien races.

But these are only speculation. No one can be too sure that any of this is correct. Missing fragments of time during the times he was under these ruling governments has made people untrusting of this information.

[Vorgan]

Ares, I like your theory, and I'd like to expand on it...

Following your idea that Samir Duran is also Duran Routhe, and adding a theory that he is perhaps an agent/spy of a far superior race capable of shape-shifting (not necessarily Xel'Naga), we could conclude that perhaps it was his mission to purposely "sabotage" the ATLAS systems on the lead ship Nagglfar. This way, the Zerg Overmind was lured to the Terran sector to consume them while the Protoss, like their Xel'Naga creators watched. Perhaps the Terran's crash into the Koprulu sector was simply a catalyst used to bring the Zerg and Protoss into the same area, and force conflict, which would allow this "Duran" to begin his experiments more easily. Duran, knowing that the Zerg would attempt to assimilate the Terran, and the Protoss would be likely to defend them, it would seem the perfect plan. I like the idea that Duran is an insurgent from another totally different race, and not necessarily the Xel'Naga. This race, totally unlike the more peaceful Xel'Naga, would want to create this pure being of essence and form in order to rule? destroy? Who knows what their motives are. But apparently they wish to "change your universe forever" as he told Zeratul. I do not believe that Duran was capable of being dominated by Kerrigan. I believe that he is a far superior being to any that we've seen in the SC universe so far, and defeinately a huge part of what's to come. Given that he took the form of a Ghost (probably to further intice Kerrigan into "infesting" him), he may be a totally independant creature, a unique being, thus why he chose the image of a Ghost to represent himself.

[T.empla.R]

Could Durran be a Zerg of higher sorts like the real Overmind that he was born into a Terran body to plant the seeds of destruction?

[Ecthelion]

I'm going with Xel' Naga agent. Maybe, how everyone thought the Protoss were their grand failure and the Zerg were their grand success, isn't true. Perhaps, they merely let the species evolve into extremely powerful races in order to combine the two. Their master plan might have been to merge the two species, and Duran (they're agent) is carrying it out. Maybe Duran is one of the Xel' Naga and they're a race of shape-shifters.

[Holocaust]

That has been a theory of mine, Duran being a Xel'Naga. Maybe Duran can also teleport in my opinion, because in Terran BW 7 Patriot's Blood, after you confront Stukov, Duran disappears and a moment later, the reactor becomes sabotaged. I don't think Duran can cloak then run that fast toward the reactor.

[Basan]

That has been a theory of mine, Duran being a Xel'Naga. Maybe Duran can also teleport in my opinion, because in Terran BW 7 Patriot's Blood, after you confront Stukov, Duran disappears and a moment later, the reactor becomes sabotaged. I don't think Duran can cloak then run that fast toward the reactor.

Imo, Duran's at best a Xel'Naga agent. And I though that in that mission he might've been recalled and/or cloacked. :confused:
And we're reviving this (thread) again? *Looks at Ares' recent past* :P How about if instead we (as in some of you) make a new one for this? ;)

[Holocaust]

Imo, Duran's at best a Xel'Naga agent. And I though that in that mission he might've been recalled and/or cloacked. :confused:
And we're reviving this (thread) again? *Looks at Ares' recent past* :P How about if instead we (as in some of you) make a new one for this? ;)

hmm, invisible recall?

[SuiCidAl-KiSmEt]

I think Duran is like Kerrigan, an Infested Terran. Its kinda cumfusing that he's trieng to raise zerg hybrides, but he's mostly human just trieng to take over the galaxy. What human doesn't want to take over the world with little monster minions? (Something I would do.)
Duran disappears and a moment later, the reactor becomes sabotaged. I don't think Duran can cloak then run that fast toward the reactor.[/
Maybe he sabotaged the reactor with a device or did it ahead of time. He is a Ghost remember, specialiest, he musta had something.(??)

[ares232]

It diddn't nesscarily have to be Duran that activated the power core, not saying he diddn't. Remember how smart the Zerg are? They are smarter than marines, and they can also activate computers. Duran also reffers to Kerrigan as speeding up his hybrid experiment after she was infested. Even though Stukov was shot, his body was still dropped into the void of space, only to be found again and infested.

[william_clinch]

my Duran theories
-Duran was origionally a normal terran, and became posesed/infected by something that has no origional identity of its own (which is why even when it's known he's not compleatly human, he still uses his human name)
now here's where it gets weird

Theory 1-During the fall of the Xel'Naga, we know that those who didn't die, were assimilated by the Zerg, so some of them may have been incorporated in to the overminds conciousness.
When the Overmind was destroyed, some of these conciousness may have 'been freed' but as they had been part of the overmind for so long, they probably picked up some Zergic charecteristics. Because this new consiousness is part Xel'Naga, part Overmind, it has gone nuts

Theory 2-The overmind knew that there was a chance he might be destroyed on Aiur, so before that, he had his Zerg capture as many ghosts as they could (kerrigan was the first experiment) and infested them (but knowing how the infestation of kerigan turned out, he changed his methods so they apeared the same. Before his attack on Aiur, he 'copied' key parts of his conciousness and memorys in to the different ghost. When the overmind was destroyed, they awoke, and set about there plans.
The main plan being, to create a all powerfull Hybrid, not as an army, but as a new body for the Overmind. When compleated, the Ghosts will gather, and transfer as much of the Overmind in to the new creature.

Theory 3-As kerigan isn't as 'clever' as the overmind, she cant infest other ghosts properly, and duran retained much of his humanity, but went nuts