Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Hugin Oct 22, 2005 21:34:12	As an extention of the discussion on the creature conversion thread, I was thinking about Ruaidhri's extermination of the werehawks. It was suggested that perhaps he only killed those living in the Known World and that others existed elsewhere. But, OTOH, it would be far more significant for purposes of attaining Immortality for him to have actually killed every last one. And I have to agree with this, especially if you veiw the species as one that was a relatively young type of lycanthropy. However, it may be possible that if werehawks gave birth to hatchlings (i.e. layed eggs), certain practitioners of the arcane arts (Flaems of Braejr, Alphatians, or others?) may have been able to aquire eggs and keep them in stasis until needed for experimentation and study. So, it may be that some werehawks survived in this way and may be unleashed in the world once again if it hasn't occured already.
#2 Cthulhudrew Oct 23, 2005 3:08:07	However, it may be possible that if werehawks gave birth to hatchlings (i.e. layed eggs), certain practitioners of the arcane arts (Flaems of Braejr, Alphatians, or others?) may have been able to aquire eggs and keep them in stasis until needed for experimentation and study. So, it may be that some werehawks survived in this way and may be unleashed in the world once again if it hasn't occured already. Could a werehawk lay an egg, though? I mean, I know this is fantasy and all, but I assume that in their non-hawk form they are mammals (humans). If a werehawk was pregnant, how would that work? In non-hawk form the embryo would be carried in the womb, right? Raises some interesting speculation on the nature of how werehawkdom works. Either they would have to remain in hawk form throughout the pregnancy in order to lay their eggs, or else they would have to either remain in human form throughout the pregnancy (which might be difficult). Maybe they're simply sterile? Are they really hawks, after all? Or simply some sort of hybrid mammal/avian? Or are they not avian at all, but something more like bats? (While we're at it, the same problem would/should hold through for any non-mammalian lycanthropic form- werecrocodiles, weresharks, etc.)
#3 agathokles Oct 23, 2005 9:20:03	However, it may be possible that if werehawks gave birth to hatchlings (i.e. layed eggs), certain practitioners of the arcane arts (Flaems of Braejr, Alphatians, or others?) may have been able to aquire eggs and keep them in stasis until needed for experimentation and study. So, it may be that some werehawks survived in this way and may be unleashed in the world once again if it hasn't occured already. Ruaidhri's extermination of the Werehawk doesn't make it impossible to see more Werehawks. There may be several ways to explain the existance of more Werehawks: 1) Like so many other cultures, Werehawks may survive in the HW. Specifically, there may be Werehawks in Shahjapur (sp?); an adventurous werehawk could then return to the OW via the polar openings, the Aegopolis tunnel, or other such means. 2) Lycanthropy is a curse as well as a disease. Some OW individual might be cursed to become a Werehawk. 3) One of the Immortals interested in the creation of new species or the preservation of biodiversity may recreate the race (maybe starting with an Immortal candidate who is given this task, and made a Werehawk in one of his polymath incarnations) -- there was something on this line in the Glantri Interactive Map project.
#4 Hugin Oct 24, 2005 10:24:32	Raises some interesting speculation on the nature of how werehawkdom works. Either they would have to remain in hawk form throughout the pregnancy in order to lay their eggs, or else they would have to either remain in human form throughout the pregnancy (which might be difficult). Maybe they're simply sterile? When I posted the thought of laying eggs I completely forgot that they'd also be in human form at times! So have I opened a Pandora's Box, or just another can of worms? ;) If we stayed consistant with the PC4 rules and ideologies for how lycanthropy works, I'd say werehawks have a human form, a hawk form (perhaps slightly larger than you're average hawk), and latter on, the hybrid form. Agathokles gave several good ideas and I think each is very possible, or rather, all can occur without eliminating the possiblity of the others. I think my favourite has to be the 'curse'. If this was of arcane origin, it could be that copies of this curse are currently lost on scrolls, walls of ruins, etc. just waiting for someone to stumble across them and meet their fate. The Immortal idea could create interesting plots between followers of Ruaidhri and those of another Immortal who wishes to see his werehawk children thrive.
#5 agathokles Nov 01, 2005 11:39:20	Could a werehawk lay an egg, though? I mean, I know this is fantasy and all, but I assume that in their non-hawk form they are mammals (humans). If a werehawk was pregnant, how would that work? In non-hawk form the embryo would be carried in the womb, right? Raises some interesting speculation on the nature of how werehawkdom works. Either they would have to remain in hawk form throughout the pregnancy in order to lay their eggs, or else they would have to either remain in human form throughout the pregnancy (which might be difficult). Maybe they're simply sterile? I don't know whether there's a canonic answer in Mystara/OD&D. If so, it should be in PC4. Otherwise, one may look to AD&D sources. According to the Van Richten's Monster Hunter Compendium I (the more detailed source on werebeasts in AD&D), lycanthropes of all phenotypes remain in human or hybrid form during the last months of gestation. Transforming into fully animal form may lead to stillbirth. Actual partum happens mostly in human form, and the werebeast is born in human form and cannot assume any other form until they reach puberty. I'd say that for lycanthropes with a small animal form (such as werehawks), risks of transforming during gestation are much higher than, say, for weretigers or werebears.