The study of dextrines is not merely a scientific pursuit; it is a navigation through the temporal echoes of saccharine structures. For millennia, before the formalized understanding of carbohydrate chemistry, the alchemists and proto-chemists observed the fascinating transformations of starches—the very foundations of these complex molecules. These initial observations, recorded in fragmented scrolls and resonating with subtle energy signatures, formed the genesis of what we now recognize as the Dextrine Phenomenon.
Chronological Marker: 784 AE (After Emergence)
The central hypothesis, proposed by the Chronal Analyst Theron Volantis in 1322 AE, posits that dextrines aren’t simply degraded starches, but rather, remain as residual ‘echoes’ – vibrational imprints of the original starch molecule. These imprints, detectable only through specialized instrumentation – the Resonance Harmonizers – persist due to a phenomenon known as ‘Polymeric Remembrance’. The energy released during starch hydrolysis doesn’t dissipate entirely; instead, it’s captured, re-organized, and maintained within the molecular framework. It’s as if the starch remembers its own dissolution, a faint hum of its former state.
Chronological Marker: 1322 AE
Volantis's Harmonizers, initially crude devices constructed from quartz and meticulously calibrated magnetic fields, were capable of detecting these echoes. The readings displayed not as simple chemical signatures, but as complex harmonic patterns, akin to a ghostly musical score. He theorized that different starches – corn, potato, tapioca – possessed unique ‘melodies’ of remembrance, reflected in the specific frequencies of their dextrine signatures.
Formula 7.3: Dextrine Resonance Index (DRI)
The DRI is a quantitative measure of the strength of a dextrine’s resonance. It’s calculated using the following formula:
DRI = (f1 * A1) + (f2 * A2) + (f3 * A3) + ...
Where ‘f’ represents the resonant frequency of a specific dextrine component, and ‘A’ represents its amplitude.
Note: The precise values for ‘f’ and ‘A’ are highly dependent on environmental factors, particularly the state of temporal flux within the immediate vicinity.
Formula 8.1: Stabilization Protocol Alpha
This protocol, developed by Dr. Lyra Meridian in 1450 AE, aims to mitigate the destabilizing effects of temporal flux on dextrine samples:
Procedure: Subject dextrine sample to a controlled cycle of phased chronal compression and expansion, mimicking the natural fluctuations of the temporal stream. Duration: 72 micro-cycles.
Beyond the predictable resonances of common starches, the archives contain records of ‘Anomalous Dextrines’ – substances exhibiting entirely unpredictable and often violently fluctuating resonance patterns. These are believed to be the result of temporal distortions or the influence of extra-dimensional energies. One particularly unsettling case involved a sample of tapioca dextrine that, upon analysis, exhibited a resonance signature that seemed to *anticipate* future events – a terrifying indication of precognitive influence.
Chronological Marker: 1688 AE
The research into these anomalous materials remains largely undocumented, shrouded in speculation and cautionary tales. Many researchers have reported experiencing disorientation, vivid hallucinations, and psychological distress when working with these substances.