What are D'ivers?

D'ivers: A higher order of shape-shifting.

- DG Glossary

There are minor spoilers for the whole series in the following discussion.

D'ivers are rarely seen in the series, far scarcer than Soletaken. Like the Soletaken, they are individuals capable of transforming into some kind of animal. Unlike the Soletaken, they veer into multiple copies of that animal, forming swarms or packs. The name may derive from the archaic English form of "diverse," which was simply "divers."

This group of animals remains under the control of a single intelligence. Each "copy" seems to be equally important - there is no "lead" animal. D'ivers can add to the numbers of its veered form (thoughts of Dejim Nebrahl, ref needed) and survive the loss of any number of those copies, only dying when none remain. However, losing copies does mean a loss of power or strength, just as an increase in number represents a gain.

This suggests that D'ivers are more powerful than Soletaken, agreeing with their description as a "higher order" than the Soletaken. There is evidence that D'ivers can change their veered form (Ryllandaras). It is not known if Soletaken can become D'ivers.

"The fangs and claws of D'ivers and Soletaken bred a singularly virulent sickness, often culminating in hallucinations, bestial madness, then death. For many who survived, the madness remained, reappearing on a regular basis for one or two nights nine or ten times a year. It was a madness often characterised by murder."

(DG, UK mmpb p.146)

Most (if not all) of the D'ivers encountered so far originated in the Human First Empire, which was mysteriously destroyed in a runaway ritual that turned much of the population into insane Soletaken and D'ivers (ref needed). A few have survived from those times, among them:

Soletaken:

- Treach, a First Hero. Tiger of Summer and Battle (MoI Glossary). Soletaken Tiger.

- Messremb, Soletaken Bear.

- The Jheck, a Lether tribe who seem to have survived the fall of the First Empire. They are all Soletaken Wolves.

D'ivers:

- Ryllandaras, the "White Jackal." Originally a D'ivers Jackals, now Desert Wolves. Numbering six in DG, around twelve in HoC. The most advanced D'ivers, also a Soletaken.

- Gryllen, the "Tide of Madness." A D'ivers Rats, of untold numbers. Extremely powerful.

- The Pack, God to the Jheck. A D'ivers "lizard cats," X in number. (ref needed)

- Dejim Nebrahl, a D'ivers T'rolbarahl, seven in number. An unusual specimen. The description of a T'rolbarahl seems similar to "lizard cats," so the Pack may also have been a D'ivers T'rolbarahl.

Dessimbelackis, the Emperor of the First Human Empire, may have been a D'ivers Deragoth. It's not clear if he still lives - information on him is scarce. At the least, he does not seem to have died when the Empire fell.

Large numbers of D'ivers were seen during DG, when all Soletaken and D'ivers were engaged in a desperate search for The Path of Hands on Seven Cities. Unfortunately the characters had little chance to talk to those D'ivers, so not much is known about them. Additional types of D'ivers seen on the Path of Hands: Dhenrabi, Bloodflies. For a more complete list, see D'ivers - known forms.

Mogora was also introduced in DG, as another D'ivers on the Path of Hands. She is Dal Honese, and doesn't seem to date from Human First Empire times, so it may be possible for new D'ivers to be created. She is a D'ivers Spiders.

Due to their First Human Empire origins, we can guess that above listed D'ivers were originally human (with the exception of the Pack, whose unveered form is unknown). So it's not clear if species other than human can become D'ivers.

Dejim Nebrahl seems to be a unique case. More analysis needed.

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