A Tale of Mischief and Mutants part 2

Reading

—-Loki—-

Sam and I both eventually fell asleep. When I wake I see the book still sitting on the coffee table. I know Sam told me I should stop reading for today but I want some of the answers it holds no matter what emotions they drag out of me. I manage not to wake Sam as I pick up the book I open it and continue reading where I left off.

-'Note: Each individual in this study is seen to have variations in body structure such as abnormally shaped limbs and bone or muscle protrusions.'-

'Study'? So Odin approved testing on prisoners of war. Sadly I'm unsurprised.

-'Blue Pigmentation:
The blue pigmentation in the skin of Jotuns is caused by the compound pterobilin and plays a similar role to the melanin present in Aesir, Vanir, Ljósálfar, and Homosaphien skin. Pterobilin also has other evolutionary advantages such as playing a role in heat transfer throughout the body, playing a role in how their bodies determine when to go into diapause or torpor and camouflage.

Note:
As silly as blue being used for camouflage may seem to us who are used to realms with mostly green and brown colors filling their biomes the environment in Jotunheim is filled with blue making this an excellent adaptation for their habitat.'-

But stick out like a sore thumb anywhere else.

-'Diapause/Torpor:
When Jotunheim simply becomes too cold to support life (which can happen quite rapidly and randomly in such a harsh environment) almost every creature on Jotunheim goes into Diapause. (a period of inactivity due to the cold somewhat like how Bilgesnipes hibernate in the winter). Different creatures on the planet do this through different mechanisms.'-

I had no idea about that. This may explain some seemingly clockwork fatigue I have. If any of the temperature shifts on Jotunheim are seasonal my body may have been automatically preparing for diapause.

-'The Frost Giants' bodies do this by storing up glucose in the liver. The glucose is converted into glycerol (a kind of sugar alcohol) then released into the bloodstream and core organs during extreme cold. When temperatures become cold enough to freeze their blood the glycerol changes the freezing point of these vital tissues.'-

I've always had a sweet tooth I just chalked it up to flavor preference before but it seems sugar is vital to a Jotun diet as without glucose in their system they'd freeze and die.

-'This adaptation is so effective that the blood is able to keep circulating through veins, arteries, and essential organs even in temperatures nearing -73 degrees Celsius (-100 degrees Fahrenheit). During the process the Jotun is effectively comatose until temperatures rise and they're slowly thawed out. Some of the tissue may freeze up but will thaw back out when temperatures rise with minimal cellular damage.

Body heat:
The body temperature of Jotuns run lower than the body temperature of every other intelligent life form in the nine. The body temperature of the average Jotun is widely variable it is most commonly at 18 degrees Celsius (65 degrees Fahrenheit) but a healthy body temperature can range anywhere between 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) and 15.5 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit).

A body temperature over 23 degrees Celsius (73 degrees Fahrenheit) is a serious fever and a cause for concern. This lower body temperature means Frost Giants have a far lower metabolism than Aesir and can go long periods of time without food.'-

This is something I also noticed Asgardians are constantly eating and have a higher metabolism than mortals or even the Vanir I could never keep up with how much they were eating. One good meal a day or three very small ones and I was more than satisfied. I always thought this was why I lacked the strength the others seemed to have Odin even alluded to that being the case during meals.