Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 9 Nov 2001 to 10 Nov 2001 (#2001-309) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 11/11/2001, 19:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 12 messages totalling 813 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Green orcish blood? (5) 2. Vibrational Creeper (updated) 3. Sentient Races of Mystara - 'M' to 'O' (4) 4. The Minotaur dilemma (was: Sentient Races of Mystara - 'M' to 'O') 5. The Minotaur dilemma (was: Sentient Races of Mystara - 'M' to 'O') ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.dnd.starflung.com/ To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 10:14:23 +0100 From: la Volpe Subject: Re: Green orcish blood? > [Note: I'm not saying the novel is, since I haven't actually read - just > that green orcish blood might be a reason for saying so] > Why would they have green blood? Is there any physician or biologist that could explain scientifically a reason behind green blood? What animals have green blood? Iulius Sergius Scaevola Captain of the XXth Cohort Port Lucinius, Thyatis ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 13:04:56 +0100 From: la Volpe Subject: Vibrational Creeper (updated) NOTE: This monster had a bug, that Jason O'Brien (Mortus) immediately pointed out. Well, I didn't do anything with it until today. 8-) Shawn, you can change the old version with this - more than a year later. Vibrational Creeper Armour Class: -6 Hit Dice: 1 hp Movement: 90 m/ round Attacks: buzz Damage: special No Appearing: 1 Save As: Common Man (F 0) Morale: 12 (20) Treasure Type: None Intelligence: 0 Alignment: Neutral XP Value: 50 The Vibrational Creeper is a creature from the Nightmare Dimension, who gains its sustenance from the damage inflicted to creatures through its vibrations. It has the appearance of a brown cigar-like insect, and is able to fly without wings. The Vibrational Creeper is known by this name because it is able to fly with a terrific speed, creating a buzzing sound who produces a sort of vibrations in the brain of all creatures - it doesn't matter wheter they are able to hear them or not. The Vibrational Creeper is nothing more than a big mosquito to Nightmare creatures, but is incredibly dangerous to Prime brains: every dive by one of these Creepers, and the subsequent buzz, need a saving throw against death, or results in the loss of 2 points of intelligence for 1d4 turns; the second time a save at -2 is needed to avoid a permanent loss; the third requires a save at -4, a failing of which means immediate death. The Creeper's speed and tiny dimension make it really difficult to hit: this is the reasons for his incredibly low armour class value. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 14:28:24 +0100 From: Agathokles Subject: Sentient Races of Mystara - 'M' to 'O' Here is section 'M'-'O' of the Sentient Races of Mystara list. There is also the repost of section 'L', with a large number of additions/corrections, thanks to several MMLers. -- Lamara (Lamia Noble) While this monster is a canon Monster, I can't think of any appropriate setting for Lamia in general. Perhaps the Milenian lands could go (the Lamia is a monster of Greek folklore, IIRC). According to the Paparazzi Glantri, a Lamara has set her lair in the Principality of Caurenze. References: Creature Catalogue, Paparazzi Glantri (http://www.geocities.com/paparazzi_glantri) Leprechaun This Wee Folk race dwell in the Fairy Court, an extradimensional space with strong links to certain areas of Mystara. Therefore, they are likely to appear in small numbers in those areas accessible through the Court. Beyond being part of the society of all immortal fairies, they do have their own kingdom, called Faylinn, based on mercantile guilds. Its location is not known, but it can be supposed to be hidden somewhere near the Celtic-like lands of Mystara, as in the Isle of Dawn. References: PC1 Tall Tales of the Wee Folk. Lich Liches are not especially social, and it can be hoped that their number is not great enough to allow them to form societies. Notable liches of Mystara include Doomrider and Death Flame, the Inheritor Liches of the Savage Coast; two forms of lich-like Aranea undead, the Arasheem and the Yeshom; the Radiance Liches, like the Glantrian Prince Brannart McGregor; and a number of Nithian and Thothian Liches (though it is always difficult to tell whether these are actually Liches, or very powerful specimens of the Ancient Dead). Several Thyatian liches appear in various non-canon sources, like the History of Thyatis by James Ruhland and Giulio Caroletti, or the DM's Guide to Cynidicea. The only steady source of Liches on Mystara would be the Secret Craft of Necromancy, but its Master is not likely to use this power, nor to step down any soon. References: Savage Coast Campaign Setting, Savage Coast MCA, The Principalities of Glantri Gazetteer; other Liches appear in various Gazetteers; History of Thyatis by James Ruhland and Giulio Caroletti (http://www.geocities.com/talerio), DM's Guide to Cynidicea. Lizard-Kin Lizard-Kin are a group of ancient reptilian races, still quite common on Mystara. Cayma Cayma are diminutive lizard-kin that live in the Kingdom of Cay, near Herath in the Savage Coast. They are technologically more advanced than their Gurrash and Shazak neighbours, but their culture isn't yet a match for the old Malpheggi civilization. Cayma have been created by the Herathian wizards, so they are unlikely to be found anywhere but in the vicinity of their nation (it is to be noted that a community of small lizard-kin appear also in Karameikos, though these should be more correctly called Cay-men, and not Cayma). Chameleon Man Chameleon men, or Wallara, are as much related with Dragons as they are with other Lizard-Kin. They are an old race, but their current level of technology does not goe beyond stone age. They have a tribal, deeply involved in religious ceremonies and strongly supported by a set of rituals and beliefs linked to the Wallara draconic ancestry and their affinity for the Dreamworld. Gator-man/Gurrash Gator-men were a race of barbarian fighters in the age of Blackmoor. Apparently [that is, IMO], they became extinct during the Great Rain of Fire, just like the Malpheggi. However, in the last centuries a race of Lizard-Kin very similar to the Gator-men appeared in the Bayou of the Orc's Head Peninsula. These new Gator-men are called Gurrash, and have a crude society, based on the might-makes-right principle. The Gurrash of the Bayou worship Demogorgon as did the Gator-men, so it is hypothesized [by me] that the evil reptilian Immortal interfered with the Herathian magic processes that created the Gurrash in order to restore the Gator-man race. Krolli These winged breed of Lizard-Kin is found mostly in the Arm of the Immortal. Many members of this race are mercenaries in foreign, more advanced nations, but this apparently hasn't helped the race to grow beyond its current technology level. Krolli are not as common as other Lizard-Kin, and they tend to be spread in many countries beyond their own, so they don't have been able or willing to create a kingdom like the other Lizard-Kin of the Savage Coast. Lizard-Man/Shazak Lizard-men were once a widespread race with an advanced civilization, centered around what no is the Malpheggi Swamp in Darokin, and spreading east to Ylaruam and south to Ierendi. When the Great Rain of Fire changed the weather pattern, the Malpheggi Lizard-men became near-extinct, and the Nithian colonists finished the job a few centuries later. Nowadays, the Malpheggi culture survives only in the Hollow World, while only primitive tribes of Lizard-men live on the planet's surface (mostly in the Known World and in the Savage Coast). Their organization is almost exclusively tribal, and the tribe is lead by a king, or more often a queen, advised by shamans and wokani. The Shazak are just a breed of Lizard-men who have been enslaved to the Herathian wizard-kings for a time. They have now a primitive kingdom, and are quickly assimilating the technology and culture of the more advanced Savage Coast nations. Sis'thik These are desert-dwelling Lizard-Kin. I think they are quite primitive and have tribal, matriarchal society, and live in Aryptian desert. References: Orc's Head, Savage Coast Campaign Setting, Savage Coast MCA, Mystara MCA, AC2 DM's Screen. Lupin Lupins are one of the major civilized races on Brun, though they don't seem to have spread beyond the sea, except in the nation of Ochalea. Lupins coexist fairly well with humans and demihumans, less so with Rakasta and Goblinoids, and they hate lycanthropes with a passion. This canine race has developed its own society, a feudal monarchy, in the Kingdom of Renardy, which in any case shows strong Glantrian and Baronial influences. More primitive Lupins along the Savage Coast still adopt a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestile. Lupins are also very common in Ochalea, where they have adopted fully the local customs (of Rakastan origin!), as they have done in the Traladaran City-States of the Gulf of Hule. In Glantri, Lupins are likely the third most common race beyond humans and elves, though the native races tend to keep apart from Glantrian society. References: Campaign Classics: Lupins of Mystara, by B. Heard; Savage Coast Campaign Setting, X2 Castle Amber. Lycanthropes Lycanthropes of several species live on Mystara. The known (and canon) phenotypes are the wolf, boar, bear, tiger, rat, shark, fox, swine, and bat. Other lycanthropic strains became extinct through the efforts of werehunters of various humanoid races, as was the case of the werehawks, weredogs and were-sabre-tooth tigers. Yet other species may appear here and there as results of specific lycanthropic curses, but are usually too few to survive and develop into true were-species (non canon examples appear in Glantri, as the wereraven Edgar Beamarys-Moorcroft by Kit Navarro and the werehawk Marcantonio Odilone by Giovanni Porpora). One more successful species seems to be the werespider of Thotia, but this may be the result of Immortal interference, and the magical support provided by the aranea. Most lycanthropes are just parasites with no society of their own, but there are at least a couple of notable exceptions, including the Principality of Morlay-Malinbois in Glantri and one of the Orc tribes of the Orc's Head, where the tribal leaders are chosen among an elite of devil swines. Another relevant lycanthropic society is the wererat "city" within the sewers of Thyatis City. This is likely to be also the center of diffusion of rat lycanthropy, since wererats are common in the neighbouring nations, as in Karameikos and Minrothad. References: PC4 Night Howlers, Glantri: Kingdom of Magic, The Principalities of Glantri Gazetteer, The Orc's Head, The Glantrian Interactive Map (http://www.glantri.fr.st), The Glantrian Personnel Division (http://www.geocities.com/principalities_of_glantri), Treatise on Lycanthropy by John Calvin. Magen This intelligent constructs are the creation of the d'Ambreville wizards. They are common only in Chateau Sylaire in the Principality of Nouvelle Averoigne, but since the d'Ambreville returned after their 30 years long disappearance, the Gens Magica has probably found its way in other Principalities. The Magen make good servants, since they are reliable as any construct, but much more intelligent and good-looking than living statues and gargoyle. References: X2 Castle Amber. Manscorpion The main manscorpion civilization on Mystara is located on the Orc's Head Peninsula in Western Brun. The Nimmurian Manscorpions have conquered their land from the Enduks (q.v.) and have adopted their language, architecture, and many other cultural traits. However, their theocracy is devoted to Menlil (Atzanteotl) instead of Idu (Ixion). Other (non-Nimmurian) Manscorpions live, or have lived in the past in other hot, dry regions of Western Brun (e.g., the Great Waste north-west of Sind), or in the subterranean areas below those lands. References: Savage Coast Campaign Book, Orc's Head, X4 Master of the Desert Nomads. Manticore Manticores are held to be solitary, aggressive monsters, and they are not overly intelligent. I think they are present in various borderlands or savage regions of Mystara, but there is no Manticore society. Meazel AFAIK, these are not Mystaran monsters. They seem to fit the same niche as the Boneless (see Rockhome Gaz). Medusa Medusae are often lonely monsters. I think they are most common in the Milenian lands of both the Outer and Hollow World. Merman The standard AD&D Mermen (half-men, half-fish beings) do not exist on Mystara. Mystaran Mermen are more correctly called Merrow (see below). References: PC3 The Sea People. Merrow The name "Merrow" is used on Mystara to address a race of two-legged, half-men half-fish beings, not Aquatic Ogres (who don't exist here, at least in the Sea of Dread). The Merrow are nomadic hunter-gatherers and herders. They have occupied the shallow regions of the Sea of Dread since the sinking of Taymora. References: PC3 The Sea People, Kingdom of Ierendi Gaz. Minotaur Mystaran Minotaurs are the descendants of cursed Enduks who, lead by Minoides, betrayed the Shedu-King Gildesh to get his treasure, and were banished to eastern regions. From their original homeland of Nimmur, they may have spread over large regions of Brun and Davania, though I suppose they are quite few and their cursed nature prevents them from creating nations or even large tribes. Minotaurs have been sighted even in Karameikos, but it is not known whether these are descendents of Minoides and his Enduks or cursed humans. References: Savage Coast Campaign Book, Orc's Head, B10 Night's Dark Terror. Mite Another small variant of the Gremlin, like the Jermlaine (q.v). Mongrelman These "humanoids" are the result of hideous magical experiments, so the forests of Alphatia and Herath could hide a number of Mongrelman tribes. However, I don't think this is a canon race. Mongrelmen, or the Ravenloftish counterpart, the Broken Ones, can be used as creations of the Dark Pyrondians on Damocles (my subsetting based on the flatworld Damocles, a.k.a Asterius in the Mystaran cosmology). References: Damocles Q&A by Agathokles. Mujina These powerful shapechanging warriors are often travelling mercenaries and/or assassins. If they have a large scale civilization, it is well hidden from the sight of the non-shapechangers. I think central Brun might be their center of diffusion (as for other shapechangers), due to the events that occurred in Sind some centuries ago. Note that Mujina are said to hunt down Psionicists--which could account in part for the rarity or non-existance of this character class on Mystara. Naga These serpentine beings are not canon Mystaran monsters, AFAIK. However, they would fit well into MIndian lands, though more Shahjapur or Selimpore than Sind itself. Nagpa Nagpa hail from Varellya, and are the result of a centuries-lasting curse laid on the original Varellyans, who keep reincarnating into this half-man, half-vulture form. Most Nagpa are plain evil, and all are definitely chaotic. A group of Nagpa live in the Flying City of Serraine, the Sky Gnomish city that travels over the Known World. Other Nagpa have found their way through Davania to other arid regions, like the Sind Desert. Nagpa don't gather in large numbers, and their society takes the form of a secret network of scholars. The Grey Front leadership is the only known example of Nagpa society. References: PC2 Top Ballista, X4 Master of the Desert Nomads, The Voyage of the Princess Ark series. Nereid Nereids hail from the Elemental Plane of Water. Since Mystara has got an unusually high number of Elemental Vortices, it is likely that some exiled Nereid has found its way to the planet's oceans. Outside their home plane, Nereid are solitary, and there's no Nereid society on Mystara. Nightshade These are powerful beings from the Negative Energy Plane. They appear on Mystara only when summoned by powerful magics. They tend to attack everything else, except other Nightshades or a summoner, so it is highly unlikely that they have any society (at least on Mystara). Nixie Nixies are female water sprites (contrary to other worlds, in Mystara there are no male Nixies). They live in shallow waters, in small tribes. They often keep charmed male servants, humans or other land dwellers. There is no larger Nixie society. References: PC3 The Sea People. Norker Once more, I don't know what this critter is or where it appears. Nymph There's no reason why there shouldn't be Nymphs on Mystara. However, they are a solitary race, so there is no Nymph society to speak of. They are nature spirits, much like the Hamadryads. Oard This is a race of cyborgs, dwelling in a dimension called Aelos, where technology is prevalent on magic. They are essentially the Mystara version of the Borgs from Star Trek. References: CM? Where Chaos Reigns. Ogre Ogres are one of the less intelligent and social goblinoid race. The only known Ogrish "nation" is Ogremoor in the Broken Lands. Large numbers of Ogres are known to dwell in the Mengul Mountains to the north of Wendar. There are smaller Ogre tribes in North-Western Karameikos as well, and Ogres must have reached a wide diffusion in the past, as testified by the existance of half-ogre races like the N'djatwa (see below). Ogre Mage This intelligent, magic-using subrace of the Ogre is common only in Ochalea (and possibly in other oriental lands). The Ogre Magi are carnivorous, and eat preferably human, demi-human, or lupin flesh. They are also slavers. Vodyanoi This should be an aquatic Umber Hulk. I don't know why it is listed here. Ogrillon An half-ogre, half-orc breed, the Ogrillon is likely to exist in the Broken Lands and in Oenkmar, where the goblinoid races mix frequently. However, it is not a canon Mystaran monster, just like the other Ogre-Orc halfbreed, the Orog. N'djatwa A race of half-ogres, half-elves of Southern Davania, the N'djatwa are cannibalistic, and follow the lead of tribal Druids. Their numbers are quite low. References: The Orcs of Thar Gaz, The Voyage of the Pricess Ark series, X11 Saga of the Shadowlord. Orc Perhaps the most common and important goblinoid race, the Orcs are common almost everywhere in Brun. There are several Orc subraces, with vast cultural and even physical differences. The major Orcish nations are in the Broken Lands (Orcus Rex, Red Orkia, Yellow Orkia, plus the Tangut nomads in neighboring Ethengar); in the Yazak Steppes and in Hule; and in the Orclands of the Savage Coast (various tribes of Swamp Orcs). Other tribes and subraces live in the northern regions (Orcus Hyborianus) and in Nentsun (Skotharian Orcs, of the Ondonti subrace). In the Hollow World, the is the Krugel Horde, a nation of Orcish raiding and mercenary horsemen. Orcish nations are usually nothing more than glorified hordes and tribes. The command chain is mostly based on fighting prowess, but intelligent Orcs like Thar and Krugel have been introducing new concepts to the orcish society, so that it is likely the most successful among all goblinoid societies--as shown by the fact that Orcs tend to be in command in multi-racial hordes, as in the Broken Lands. References: The Orcs of Thar Gaz, Savage Coast Campaign Book, Orc's Head, Hollow World Boxed Set, Chronicles of Nentsun by Giulio N. Caroletti, The Golden Khan of Ethengar Gaz. -- Giampaolo Agosta agathokles@libero.it agosta@elet.polimi.it http://digilander.iol.it/agathokles ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 09:49:03 -0600 From: Eric Anondson Subject: Re: Sentient Races of Mystara - 'M' to 'O' > Norker > Once more, I don't know what this critter is or where it appears. Norkers were initially creatures unique to Greyhawk. I say initially because I don't know if they have appeared in adventures set in other worlds, but they have appeared in some of the earliest writings on Greyhawk that Gygax wrote. They are closely related to Hobgoblins and are most often found in their company. They delight in vicious torturing. Eric Anondson ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 16:47:04 -0500 From: Dan Eustace Subject: Re: Sentient Races of Mystara - 'M' to 'O' > Merman > The standard AD&D Mermen (half-men, half-fish beings) do not exist on > Mystara. Mystaran Mermen are more correctly called Merrow (see below). > References: PC3 The Sea People. > > Merrow > The name "Merrow" is used on Mystara to address a race of two-legged, > half-men half-fish beings, not Aquatic Ogres (who don't exist here, at > least in the Sea of Dread). > The Merrow are nomadic hunter-gatherers and herders. They have occupied > the shallow regions of the Sea of Dread since the sinking of Taymora. > References: PC3 The Sea People, Kingdom of Ierendi Gaz. Merman is found in the Rules Cyclopedia and the Expert set, but I think it is the same thing as merrow. In the RC they're described as "half-man, half-fish". In PC3, it says: "Merrow are the classical mermen and mermaids of legend. They have two fishy tails which resemble human legs covered in scales and ending in fins. Some merrow have a single tail." Maybe they are two different sub-races? Personally, I prefer the traditional merfolk as merrow, and save the 2 leg/fin thing for the tritons, to further distinguish between the two, but according to PC3, the differences between merrow and tritons are mostly cultural. > Nightshade > These are powerful beings from the Negative Energy Plane. They appear > on Mystara only when summoned by powerful magics. They tend to attack > everything else, except other Nightshades or a summoner, so it is highly > unlikely that they have any society (at least on Mystara). I doubt they have a society, but note that Nightshades have Int and Wis of 19, so they are super-intelligent. Thus, they usually are on the prime for a specific purpose, and probably would not just attack everything indiscriminately (unless that was their purpose!). They would also likely be sent to Mystara by Entropic Immortals to further their evil plots, so they could be encountered w/o a summoner. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 18:33:27 -0500 From: David Knott Subject: Re: Green orcish blood? From: "la Volpe" > > [Note: I'm not saying the novel is, since I haven't actually read - just > > that green orcish blood might be a reason for saying so] > > > > Why would they have green blood? Is there any physician or biologist that could > > explain scientifically a reason behind green blood? What animals have green > blood? Blood is red because of the iron based hemoglobin in it. There are some invertebrates whose blood chemistry is different enough that their blood is green or some other color. In fictional representations, I recall that Tolkien's trolls had black blood (probably for literary rather than scientific reasons) and the Vulcans of Star Trek had green blood (because of a copper based blood chemistry). Since orcs appear to be mammals in the primate family, I can't think of any reason for them to have blood that isn't red -- especially if orc-human hybrids exist. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 18:41:04 -0500 From: David Knott Subject: Re: Sentient Races of Mystara - 'M' to 'O' From: "Dan Eustace" > > Merman is found in the Rules Cyclopedia and the Expert set, but I think it > is the same thing as merrow. In the RC they're described as "half-man, > half-fish". In PC3, it says: "Merrow are the classical mermen and mermaids > of legend. They have two fishy tails which resemble human legs covered in > scales and ending in fins. Some merrow have a single tail." Maybe they are > two different sub-races? Personally, I prefer the traditional merfolk as > merrow, and save the 2 leg/fin thing for the tritons, to further > distinguish between the two, but according to PC3, the differences between > merrow and tritons are mostly cultural. In PC 3, it is possible for some mermen or tritons to have a single tail rather than the usual two tails/legs. (1d20 roll of 12 on "Unfortunate Legacies" table. I figured that on Mystara the single tailed mermen were meant to be mutants, probably sterile for obvious reasons. Queen Zynnia's mother was thus most likely of the two legged variety. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 17:55:28 -0800 From: The Stalker Subject: The Minotaur dilemma (was: Sentient Races of Mystara - 'M' to 'O') On Sat, 10 Nov 2001 14:28:24 +0100, Agathokles wrote: (snip) > > Minotaur > Mystaran Minotaurs are the descendants of cursed Enduks who, lead by > Minoides, betrayed the Shedu-King Gildesh to get his treasure, and were > banished to eastern regions. > From their original homeland of Nimmur, they may have spread over large > regions of Brun and Davania, though I suppose they are quite few and > their cursed nature prevents them from creating nations or even large > tribes. > Minotaurs have been sighted even in Karameikos, but it is not known > whether these are descendents of Minoides and his Enduks or cursed > humans. > References: Savage Coast Campaign Book, Orc's Head, B10 Night's Dark > Terror. > This touches on an old problem I have with Mystara, which is that minotaurs have a different origin than they do in the more "classic" versions (i.e., Greek mythology). I could use the classic version, but then I lose out on the uniquely Mystaran version, while having that alone puts me in the strange situation of where minotaurs come from. After all, if they are merely cursed Enduks, how do they reproduce and spread across Mystara? That would make minotaurs a much more rare creature. I've reached a compromise that I'm considering using IMC, though. On Mystara, minotaurs are indeed cursed Enduks... originally. So for a long time, the only minotaurs that existed were the cursed enduks, and those established the minotaur as a creature. At some later point, however, some foolish human wished to be as strong as a bull. His wish was granted by turning him into a cursed human/minotaur hybrid because minotaurs were already known to be powerful and strong humanoid creatures with the strength of a bull. Not sure where this human would come from, but given the Greek mythology, Milenia might be appropriate. Thoughts? - The Stalker ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 19:15:43 -0800 From: The Stalker Subject: Re: Green orcish blood? On Sat, 10 Nov 2001 18:33:27 -0500, David Knott wrote: > From: "la Volpe" > >> > [Note: I'm not saying the novel is, since I haven't actually read - just >> > that green orcish blood might be a reason for saying so] >> > >> >> Why would they have green blood? Is there any physician or biologist that > could >> >> explain scientifically a reason behind green blood? What animals have > green >> blood? > The Age of Wonders has not passed - I agree with Captain Scaevola!! ;) [La Volpe??] > Blood is red because of the iron based hemoglobin in it. There are > some invertebrates whose blood chemistry is different enough that > their blood is green or some other color. In fictional representations, > I recall that Tolkien's trolls had black blood (probably for literary > rather than scientific reasons) and the Vulcans of Star Trek had > green blood (because of a copper based blood chemistry). > > Since orcs appear to be mammals in the primate family, I can't > think of any reason for them to have blood that isn't red -- > especially if orc-human hybrids exist. > Okay. Well, I agree with that too. So... Orcs do have red blood? Would you all just ignore the references to green blood in the novels? On the other hand, although the Vulcans in Star Trek have green blood, human/vulcan offspring are possible (Spock is one!)... That would tend to speak in favor of the possibility of green blood. Still, I sort of prefer Tolkien's black blood. Still, maybe it should all be ignored due to the other consequences different blood colours could have. I don't much like the idea of unicorns with white or pink blood, for example ;) - The Stalker ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2001 12:23:32 +0800 From: Rebecca Laffar-Smith Subject: Re: Green orcish blood? > >Blood is red because of the iron based hemoglobin in it. There are > >some invertebrates whose blood chemistry is different enough that > >their blood is green or some other color. [snip] > >Since orcs appear to be mammals in the primate family, I can't > >think of any reason for them to have blood that isn't red -- > >especially if orc-human hybrids exist. [snip] [snip] > Still, I sort of prefer Tolkien's black > blood. Still, maybe it should all be ignored due to the other consequences > different blood colours could have. I don't much like the idea of unicorns > with white or pink blood, for example ;) > - The Stalker Wouldn't it be viable to assume that all blood could be any color? Even a human could be born with or even develop an abnormality in the bloodstream, (such as immunity to certain substances or overabundance of certain chemicals) that would change the structure of ones blood work. If color is directly affected by haemoglobin the it could be assumed that any race could have blood color affected by where they live, what they eat, the air they breath? Not to mention that Unicorns in the OOG sense are mythical creatures it's entirely possible that their blood work may be non existent, magic based etc. (Comments probably due flaming since I don't know much about Mystara. But I just thought that the consideration might be there. If I'm not seeing something that the Mystara world incorporates let me know.) Have fun and keep gaming Yours Truly Rebecca Outlanda Games! A medieval fantasy role playing (RPG) site. - http://laffarsmith.brinkster.net ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 23:57:22 -0500 From: David Knott Subject: Re: The Minotaur dilemma (was: Sentient Races of Mystara - 'M' to 'O') From: "The Stalker" > > I could use the classic version, but then I lose out on the uniquely > Mystaran version, while having that alone puts me in the strange situation > of where minotaurs come from. After all, if they are merely cursed Enduks, > how do they reproduce and spread across Mystara? That would make minotaurs > a much more rare creature. One effect of the curse could be a major increase in fertility and a reduction in both longevity and time required to reach maturity -- a formula guaranteed to make them spread all over the world until violently opposed. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2001 00:03:37 -0500 From: David Knott Subject: Re: Green orcish blood? From: "The Stalker" > > Okay. Well, I agree with that too. So... Orcs do have red blood? Not necessarily -- I am merely saying that by standard scientific logic they should. Whether standard scientific logic should apply to orcs in a world with so many features not explainable by standard scientific logic is obviously questionable. > Would you all just ignore the references to green blood in the novels? How many are there? > On the other > hand, although the Vulcans in Star Trek have green blood, human/vulcan > offspring are possible (Spock is one!)... That would tend to speak in favor > of the possibility of green blood. Human/Vulcan offspring are possible, but not necessarily easy to produce. However, all you need to produce a half-orc is for a male orc to rape a human female and then let her live -- I would imagine that half-orcs would be quite rare if an archmage had to cast might spells to make them cross-fertile. > Still, I sort of prefer Tolkien's black > blood. Still, maybe it should all be ignored due to the other consequences > different blood colours could have. I don't much like the idea of unicorns > with white or pink blood, for example ;) On a scientific basis, I would give any humanoid creature red blood. But Mystara is definitely not a scientific setting! ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 9 Nov 2001 to 10 Nov 2001 (#2001-309) ***************************************************************