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Message no. 1
From: "J.D. Falk" <jdfalk@****.CAIS.COM>
Subject: Paranormal Animals of Europe
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 1995 19:19:22 -0500
I've been flipping through _Paranormal Animals of Europe_ a little
more, and found assorted interesting comments about how some of these
other animals interact with Dragons. Now, since this book is meant to be
about /any/ paranormal entity but Dragons are the topic du jour, I thought
I'd share these with you and perhaps spark a little creativity on one of
y'all's parts.
This is not a NERPS submission, because I'm quoting way too much
from the book.
Remember that all these are just what I've eye-grepped from the
book. There may be more, I may be misunderstanding things, and much was
probably just put there because Carl Sargent was fooling around.

From the Shadowbabble on page 29, it sounds like a Dragon lives in
the island of Limnos in the Meditteranian(sp), guarded by at least one
cerebus hound. It also appears that there's a dracoform in the northern
mountains around Lake Prespa on the Balkan border, and two cerebus hounds
have been sighted in the same area. Why do Dragons need guards?

The European Gargoyle isn't six-limbed; it's actually extremely
humanoid (except, of course, for the wings.)

One of the few pseudo-dracoform creatures listed in this book is
the Hydra Wyrm, an aquatic lizard with nine necks and heads. The
shadowbabble says that they're becoming more saline-tolerant and spreading
along the coast, "and if they manage to mutate f rom the toxic sludge
rather than dying from it, something very nasty could pop up out of the
Mediterranean."

Page 73 mentions the existance of a Wyrm shaman. What do the
Dragons think of them?

We could have a lot of fun with the Quicksilver Mongoose, on pages
84 and 85. Here's some selected shadowtalk from the book:
---------------
>>>>>[The really funny thing is, if you mention a quicksilver mongoose to
a wizworm, you know, those dragons get kind of jittery. Heh, heh.]<<<<<
--Stormer (00:25:47/4-MAY-53)

>>>>>[What? You're kidding. You got to be.]<<<<<
--Dodo (00:32:55/4-MAY-53)

>>>>>[They get jittery and then they rip your head
off.]<<<<<
--Callistra (01:27:03/4-MAY-53)
---------------
So, what does all /this/ mean? Is it just bull, the awakened
equivalent of the old tale about elephants being scared of mice, or is it
something real?

There is a magical potential in the stone toad which, as of 2053,
had not yet awakened! Think maybe these critters eat bugs? Big, scary,
magical bugs? Hmmmm....

We could have a lot of fun with the Knocker on pages 118 and 119.
Basically digging subterranian creatures, the shadowtalk says:
---------------
>>>>>[Nevertheless, I beleive these critters are up to something. I also
find it intriguing that there are no reports of knocker activity in areas
where powerful subterranian dragons are said to lair. They seem to drive
the little guys off. Wonder what they're afraid of the knockers
finding?]<<<<<
--Stormer (08:41:32/8-JUL-53)
---------------

Then, of course, there's that whole big section on Powers of the
Awakened starting on page 124. It includes all the powers from SRII and
PANA, as well as some new ones.
Just after that is the critter table, which lists all the Awakend
creatures printed as of 1993. Dragons are not there. Perhaps they did
not wish to be, and Carl couldn't stand up to them. *grin*

-------------========== J.D. Falk <jdfalk@****.com> =========-------------
| "This one smells like cheese. Definately a cheese tree." |
| -- Runt, Animaniacs "Rita Meets the Runt" |
--------========== http://www.cais.com/jdfalk/home.html ==========--------
Message no. 2
From: Mark Steedman <RSMS@******.EEE.RGU.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: Paranormal Animals of Europe
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 1995 09:02:16 GMT
This has been heavily trimmed as i only want to answer afew bits, but
J.D. Falk Wrote.
> I've been flipping through _Paranormal Animals of Europe_ a little
> more, and found assorted interesting comments about how some of these
> other animals interact with Dragons.
> Page 73 mentions the existance of a Wyrm shaman. What do the
> Dragons think of them?
>
haven't got the book to hand but this could be the druid totem?

> We could have a lot of fun with the Quicksilver Mongoose, on pages
> 84 and 85.
quite possibly.
>
> There is a magical potential in the stone toad which, as of 2053,
> had not yet awakened! Think maybe these critters eat bugs? Big, scary,
> magical bugs? Hmmmm....
Would be appropriate but are they big enough, those bugs can come in
rather LARGE sizes.

>
> Then, of course, there's that whole big section on Powers of the
> Awakened starting on page 124. It includes all the powers from SRII and
> PANA, as well as some new ones.

Note for instance the new dragon breath weapon listed, Dragons now
have there own stats for this power that makes them somewhat more
dangerous, the old (essence)L could not hurt veihcles, not true any
more. HA thought that car would save you - BURN.

---
The other critter in this book to attract a lot of attention is the
wraith. This thing is very nasty, also note the last too lots of
shadowtalk, including a direct warning about things to come from
Harlequin, not his usual style but.

If you are looking for things that eat bugs
The mantis, see conversation in Burning Bright in which one bug
seems to claim to be on our side, seems believable but no details
given.
'The Enemy' will also eat bugs, hitch though in that they would eat
everything else as well, don't know how much you all know about this
plot line.

Mark
Message no. 3
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Paranormal Animals of Europe
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 1995 12:12:52 +0200
> The European Gargoyle isn't six-limbed; it's actually extremely
>humanoid (except, of course, for the wings.)

??? Read the text: it says it has arms, legs, and wings -- as can be seen on
the picture as well...

> One of the few pseudo-dracoform creatures listed in this book is
>the Hydra Wyrm, an aquatic lizard with nine necks and heads. The
>shadowbabble says that they're becoming more saline-tolerant and spreading
>along the coast, "and if they manage to mutate f rom the toxic sludge
>rather than dying from it, something very nasty could pop up out of the
>Mediterranean."

Don't forget the aitvaras: a snake-like dragon with three eyes. They've
classed it as a relative of the feathered serpent.


Gurth@******.nl - Gurth@***.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
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Message no. 4
From: "J.D. Falk" <jdfalk@****.CAIS.COM>
Subject: Re: Paranormal Animals of Europe
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 1995 08:35:43 -0500
On Tue, 28 Mar 1995, Mark Steedman wrote (quoting me in parts):

> > Page 73 mentions the existance of a Wyrm shaman. What do the
> > Dragons think of them?
> >
> haven't got the book to hand but this could be the druid totem?

I beleive it is, but I'm not sure where our Grimthingie II is
at the moment. *grin*

> > There is a magical potential in the stone toad which, as of 2053,
> > had not yet awakened! Think maybe these critters eat bugs? Big, scary,
> > magical bugs? Hmmmm....
> Would be appropriate but are they big enough, those bugs can come in
> rather LARGE sizes.

Well, the toads are large by /toad/ standards...average body
length of 30 cm, average weight 3 Kg. So, maybe they don't eat bugs
'till they get bigger. *gribbit^H^H^H^Hn*

> The other critter in this book to attract a lot of attention is the
> wraith. This thing is very nasty, also note the last too lots of
> shadowtalk, including a direct warning about things to come from
> Harlequin, not his usual style but.

"They are the future, if we do not stem the tide now." I missed
that the first time through, but yes, that /is/ scary. Is it a plotline
that FASA dumped in favor of the bugs, or (even scarier) could it be that
insect spirits are somehow connected to the creation of wraiths?
Food for thought...maggoty, sure, but still food....

> If you are looking for things that eat bugs
> The mantis, see conversation in Burning Bright in which one bug
> seems to claim to be on our side, seems believable but no details
> given.

The large & fearsone Wyrd Mantis in PAEurope is mentioned as being
"exactly what Insect Shamans work toward." But yes, it never says
specifically that they're anti-humanoid, simply that they can be nasty.

> 'The Enemy' will also eat bugs, hitch though in that they would eat
> everything else as well, don't know how much you all know about this
> plot line.

Haven't heard of that, but then I haven't read Bug City yet.

-------------========== J.D. Falk <jdfalk@****.com> =========-------------
| "Is it a fear, fear of madness, or some strange alchemy? |
| Is it a fear of fear itself? I think I'll get deranged." |
| -Billy Idol |
--------========== http://www.cais.com/jdfalk/home.html ==========--------
Message no. 5
From: Mark Steedman <RSMS@******.EEE.RGU.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: paranormal animals of europe
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 1995 16:34:14 GMT
Answering J.D Falk again, and trying to keep the trimming heavy
> On Tue, 28 Mar 1995, Mark Steedman wrote (quoting me in parts):
> > > Page 73 mentions the existance of a Wyrm shaman. What do the
> > > Dragons think of them?
> > haven't got the book to hand but this could be the druid totem?
> I beleive it is, but I'm not sure where our Grimthingie II is
> at the moment. *grin*
memory says it is see G2 or London book but i don't remeber the PAE
quote to be sure they mean the same folks but assume they do.
>
> > > There is a magical potential in the stone toad which, as of 2053,
> > > had not yet awakened! Think maybe these critters eat bugs? Big, scary,
> > > magical bugs? Hmmmm....
> > Would be appropriate but are they big enough, those bugs can come in
> > rather LARGE sizes.
>
> Well, the toads are large by /toad/ standards...average body
> length of 30 cm, average weight 3 Kg. So, maybe they don't eat bugs
> 'till they get bigger. *gribbit~H~H~H~Hn*
that is possible i met a 9 foot long black insect while playing
Earthdawn. I am assured by the GM who has met plent of SR bugs that
it was not an equivalent to the SR bugs though ED has got one, so yes
those toads sure could get bigger.
>
> > The other critter in this book to attract a lot of attention is the
> > wraith. This thing is very nasty, also note the last too lots of
> > shadowtalk, including a direct warning about things to come from
> > Harlequin, not his usual style but.
>
> "They are the future, if we do not stem the tide now." I missed
> that the first time through, but yes, that /is/ scary. Is it a plotline
> that FASA dumped in favor of the bugs, or (even scarier) could it be that
> insect spirits are somehow connected to the creation of wraiths?
> Food for thought...maggoty, sure, but still food....
>
You need to read the introduction to Earthdawn to understand all of
this as well as all the SR stuff that has tie in's. Don't know how
far folks want me to go on my best guesses to date so if you don't
want any givaways take care if i start putting 'spoiler' in message
subjects.
Anyway on open access in ED in says the fun from the astral planes
(e.t.c.) comes in three stages.
1) wraith like spirts that drive people to violence against one
another
- na couldn't possibly match the SR wraith description could it.
2) Bug like creatures
- as in the Insect spirts we all have to get so busy either running
from or trying to kill.
3) the horrors. These are the big nasty critters of ED, they get very
nasty some of em.
-- i am told that a creature in Nosfaratu matches the description
of a horror in ED but have not read the novel and as i am playing not
GM'ing Ed will not be reading the creature/horror stats in the near
future.

> > If you are looking for things that eat bugs
> > The mantis, see conversation in Burning Bright in which one bug
> > seems to claim to be on our side, seems believable but no details
> > given.
>
> The large & fearsone Wyrd Mantis in PAEurope is mentioned as being
> "exactly what Insect Shamans work toward." But yes, it never says
> specifically that they're anti-humanoid, simply that they can be nasty.
>
> > 'The Enemy' will also eat bugs, hitch though in that they would eat
> > everything else as well, don't know how much you all know about this
> > plot line.
>
> Haven't heard of that, but then I haven't read Bug City yet.
>
They are nothing to do with Bug city, they are far worse than that.
'The Enemy' is Harlequins name for the Horrors as per Earthdawn.

I Have quite a few more guesses on this lot, you can guess a lot from
the 'Voices from the past story' HB flyer. I have read HB which helps
but read enough and you could come to the conclusions i'm up to
without doing so.

I could put my ideas up here Subj would include spoiler as unless you
are a well read GM or want to know everything i could give a lot
away. Though my guesses may be wrong, but i know at least one other
GM came to the same conclusions as i did independantly

Mark
Message no. 6
From: NIGHTFOX <DJWA@******.UCC.NAU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Paranormal Animals of Europe
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 1995 13:19:23 -0700
> From the Shadowbabble on page 29, it sounds like a Dragon lives in
>the island of Limnos in the Meditteranian(sp), guarded by at least one
>cerebus hound. It also appears that there's a dracoform in the northern
>mountains around Lake Prespa on the Balkan border, and two cerebus hounds
>have been sighted in the same area. Why do Dragons need guards?

1 - to give them warning when some one is coming.
2 - to take care of the people before they get to the dragon so he doesn't
have to bother - he might be in the middle of something delicate
3 - If the people get past the Guard - then the dragon has reason to be more
wary of them - instead of not knowing who he will face
4 - Dragons like humans think of dogs as "dragons best friend " they're pets!
:)

Nightfox

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