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Message no. 1
From: Willard Cottrell <UGCOTTRE@******.BITNET>
Subject: Extinct Animals
Date: Mon, 2 May 1994 15:50:30 EDT
Why is it that with all of the Awakenings of paranormal animals, none
of the extinct species of animals have returned?
If they have, GM's discretion, Why can't a shaman take this animal as
a totem?
I would limit the number of elligable(sp) species to the age of
mammals- dinosaurs are a little much.
Just a thought,
Will

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| Willard Martin Cottrell | /| ///// |
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I pledge allegiance to my Tribe, to the democratic priciples of the Republic
and to the individual freedoms borrowed from the Iroquois and Choctaw
Confederacies, as incorporated in the United States Constitution,
so that my forefathers shall not have died in vain.
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Message no. 2
From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@*******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Extinct Animals
Date: Mon, 2 May 1994 15:30:08 -0500
On Mon, 2 May 1994, Willard Cottrell wrote:

> I would limit the number of elligable(sp) species to the age of
> mammals- dinosaurs are a little much.

I'm fairly confident that dinosaurs could not survive today. Not only is
the planet much cooler, but tests on air bubbles trapped in amber show
that the oxygen content back then was MUCH higher (about 25% higher). It
would reason that the current day reduced oxyegen content would be deadly
to the large creatures.

One theory is that a large number of fires resulting from an asteroid
impact reduced the oxygen content of the planet sufficently to explain
the sudden death of the dinos. Coupled with a cooling of the planet from
atmospheric dusts that killed the plants.

[....monster sig deleted....]

Shrink your sig.

____ Robert A. Hayden <=> hayden@*******.mankato.msus.edu
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\/ / Finger for Geek Code Info <=> Political Correctness is
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Message no. 3
From: Jeff Norrell <norrell@*******.ME.UTEXAS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Extinct Animals
Date: Mon, 2 May 1994 15:18:36 CDT
I believe the entire theory of animals awakening is based on the idea that
within all creatures, a little prehistoric DNA resides dominant. So I suppose
it is possible that genetic information from extinct animals could be present
in current species. However, I would tend to make such awakened species very
rare in a campaign.
Just my thoughts.
-Blade
Message no. 4
From: Neal A Porter <nap@*****.PHYSICS.SWIN.OZ.AU>
Subject: Re: Extinct Animals
Date: Tue, 3 May 1994 15:07:27 +1000
>
> Why is it that with all of the Awakenings of paranormal animals, none
>of the extinct species of animals have returned?
> If they have, GM's discretion, Why can't a shaman take this animal as
>a totem?
> I would limit the number of elligable(sp) species to the age of
>mammals- dinosaurs are a little much.
>Just a thought,
>Will


Awaken creatures are generally specimens from existing species that
simple mutated when the magic level got high enough. If there are no
existing 'parent' species then there is nothing for them to mutate from.
It's treu that some species are said to have been 'asleep' (ie Dragons )
but none of these were around before the awakening anyway so couldn't
strictly be called an extinct species. Sorry but I don't think the Dodo shaman
would work.

A'Deus.
Message no. 5
From: "Jason Carter, Nightstalker" <CARTER@***.EDU>
Subject: Re: Extinct Animals
Date: Mon, 2 May 1994 22:32:03 -0700
Why have none of the extinct species returned since the Awakening?

Because they are dead! That's what extinct means.

The majority of Awakened species manifested from "non-paranormal" species.
Since extinct species were not paranormal, there is no way from them to come
back.

*******************************************************************************
* See Ya in Shadows * * "Keep your friends close, but keep *
* Jason J Carter * Carter@***.EDU * your enemies closer." *
* The Nightstalker * * Deep Throat -- The X-Files *
*******************************************************************************
Message no. 6
From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@*******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Extinct Animals
Date: Tue, 3 May 1994 00:55:21 -0500
On Mon, 2 May 1994, Jason Carter, Nightstalker wrote:

> The majority of Awakened species manifested from "non-paranormal" species.
> Since extinct species were not paranormal, there is no way from them to come
> back.

Of course, with all the genetic fenagling that corps do, maybe we will
see the rebirth of extinct critters. Jurassic Park's concept of genetic
rebirth was fairly sound, although far beyond out current abilities.

____ Robert A. Hayden <=> hayden@*******.mankato.msus.edu
\ /__ -=-=-=-=- <=> -=-=-=-=-
\/ / Finger for Geek Code Info <=> Political Correctness is
\/ Finger for PGP 2.3a Public Key <=> P.C. for "Thought Police"
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Message no. 7
From: Gurth <jweste%smtp@******.HZEELAND.NL>
Subject: Extinct Animals - Reply
Date: Tue, 3 May 1994 14:51:53 +0200
> Why is it that with all of the Awakenings of paranormal animals, none
>of the extinct species of animals have returned?

I think because the awakening happened only to creatures that were
already around. If you, say, want an awakened dodo, you first need a
living one which has to undergo the awakening. But then, where do dragons
come from?

> If they have, GM's discretion, Why can't a shaman take this animal as
>a totem?

Who says he can't? If you can think up a description of the totem, and
your GM approves, you should be able to get that totem.

> I would limit the number of elligable(sp) species to the age of
>mammals- dinosaurs are a little much.

There were mammals in the "age of dinosaurs." But I am actually wondering
why FASA (or somebody else) doesn't give us totems for awakened crea-
tures...Dragon, Hydra, Cerberus Hound, Kraken, Mermaid, and so on.



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+ Gurth + I'm buried up to my neck in +
+ (jweste%smtp@******.hzeeland.nl) + contradictionary flies +
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Message no. 8
From: sabrina <sabrina@******.MED.NYU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Extinct Animals
Date: Tue, 3 May 1994 12:33:22 -0400
On Mon, 2 May 1994, Willard Cottrell wrote:

> Why is it that with all of the Awakenings of paranormal animals, none
> of the extinct species of animals have returned?

I guess if you can somehow construe that certain extinct creatures relied
upon magic to exist and that is why they became extinct, go for it. The
Awakening is pretty well defined as only 'returning' creatured that
ceased to exist because of the declining magic.

> If they have, GM's discretion, Why can't a shaman take this animal as
> a totem?

For the same reason you don't see a Dragon Shaman or a Behemoth Shaman.
It seems that the totems of man are the spirits of the animals that exist
on this planet naturally...without magical nor technological intervention.

Sabrina (Ms. Frost)

PS: One day I will learn how to use my handle... :P

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about Extinct Animals, you may also be interested in:

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Thwap!