Awakened Animals

[glass]

I wouldn't allow awakened animals to bread true in most cases, and I don't see them any differently than a familiar or bonded mount that gains intelligence as it's master gains levels. I think from a world-building perspective, it creates too many headaches. I mean, using the rabbit that was mentioned as an example, considering how rapidly rabbits breed the long-term implications would create a situation you wouldn't want to deal with.

'Follow me and we shall forge an empire! A cute and fuzzy empire!' *sigh*


glass.

 

[Klaus]

eek now that is a scary thought

Any as an example anyone remember the Batman of the Future episode which featured an Awakened Gorilla that disliked humans. I love the closing scene of that episode and the choice the Gorilla makes...

Kick-ass episode.

 

[ARandomGod]

Great. Now all I can think of is "Please don't throw my in that Briar' Patch, Brer Wolf!" (When do you think Disney's going to put THAT one out on DVD?)

Actually, they've pulled that story due to "racist connotations".

Going off at a slight tangent, I've sometimes wondered how kind an act awakening an animal is. It strikes me, in particular, that being a single awakened animal of a particular species would be a very lonely existence - especially when it comes to mating. I mean, we may all fancy a fling with a dumb blonde ... but that dumb?

Yes, it would be lonely. Sometimes they'll awaken another of their species for a mate, but then, how to chose the right one? Will it matter? Won't you be getting someone that was, in essence, 'born yesterday'?

And then there are the children to worry about. Do you want your kids being born animal stupid?

Of course, in my animal druid campaign a lot of that is taken care of. They either don't have sex, or have sex with humans, or awaken a companion. And I personally consider contraceptive magic to be common and easy, especially so for a druid.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Moral relativistic quandries are why God gave us Detect Evil.

Both examples you mentioned arn't just evil because of their diet. Hell, in theory a human could be a cannibal and still be good, as long as the eating was for survival purposes alone.

Actually, the above presuposes that survival outweighs other ethical concerns....and that is a presuposition which is shaky at best. Yes, I agree without reservation that a character can commit evil acts without himself being evil. In the case of eating the talking bunny, the act might be necessary but it would trouble a neutral being (read the alignment descriptions if you doubt me). A paladin would be in a bit more trouble.

The idea that my life is of greater value than your life is, simply put, not a good idea. Depending upon how it expresses itself, it might be neutral (you are trying to kill me, and I kill you in self defense) or evil (I kill you for fun).

In Narnia, there is a flat prohibition against eating talking animals. See The Silver Chair for more on this. In Gregory Maguire's Oz books (Wicked and Son of a Witch) there is a prohibition against eating Animals (the capitalization indicating that they are awakened)...albeit that the Wizard instituted a pogrom against Animals talking, making it a lot easier to look the other way....

My campaign has animal gods (Beast Lords) who spontaneously awaken animals, and make humanoid animals as well. These sometimes breed true; sometimes do not. A family of Awakened Dogs might have a couple of normal dogs in their midst. Where things get grey is with the non-awakened relatives. Is it really okay to eat the mother of an Awakened Pig?


RC

 

[ThirdWizard]

Moral relativistic quandries are why God gave us Detect Evil.

Both examples you mentioned arn't just evil because of their diet. Hell, in theory a human could be a cannibal and still be good, as long as the eating was for survival purposes alone.

So as long as the paladin eats the orphans, its okay to kill them? Good to know...


I say they probably breed true, since it changes their nature enough to make them magical beasts. In other words, I see them as far removed from actual animals as a celestial or fiendish versions are, and they do breed true. So, if I had a spell to make a creature gain the celestial template, it would breed true. I also probably wouldn't have either type of creature choose to breed with a normal animal.

 

[Tonguez]

They either don't have sex, or have sex with humans, .

eeeewww now thats taking Roleplaying too far!

 

[Sejs]

I seem to recall there already having been one 'is cannibalism evil?' thread, which, in the end ultimatly went the same place as most paladin/alignment discussions: nowhere, but with a lot of momemtum. If we'd all like to go round and round again, then by all means, but let's do it in a thread of its own rather than this one.

 

[diaglo]

I seem to recall there already have been one 'is cannibalism evil?' thread, which, in the end ultimatly went the same place as most paladin/alignment discussions: nowhere, but with a lot of momemtum. If we'd all like to go round and round again, then by all means, but let's do it in a thread of its own rather than this one.

it always does.

diaglo "my ancestors ate Magellan" Ooi

 

[ThirdWizard]

I seem to recall there already having been one 'is cannibalism evil?' thread, which, in the end ultimatly went the same place as most paladin/alignment discussions: nowhere, but with a lot of momemtum. If we'd all like to go round and round again, then by all means, but let's do it in a thread of its own rather than this one.

It's not the cannibalism part. It's the killing them part.

"Jimmy, I'm starving and you're looking mighty tastey right now..."
*paladin pulls out dagger and slits Jimmy's throat at night*

 

[diaglo]

It's not the cannibalism part. It's the killing them part.

"Jimmy, I'm starving and you're looking mighty tastey right now..."
*paladin pulls out dagger and slits Jimmy's throat at night*

Peggy Sue: I love my pet, Bertha the chicken
Ma Kettle: What do you want for dinner tonight, Pa?
PA: chicken sounds good.
Ma Kettle wringes chicken's neck and starts plucking...

Peggy Sue: cries

Later..

Peggy Sue: Ma, this is really good.