Basic Cryptozoology - First Period - Wednesday, 7/23

[brandyforapples.livejournal.com]

"One of the most well-known category of cryptids," Abigail Irene began as the students began to file in, "are shapeshifters."

She waited until they were all in their seats before she continued, smiling brightly at them. Her clothes were now straight, her eyes bright and cheerful... and there was still a rather telling red spot at the side of her neck from a lovely sort of pirate lout who'd gotten a bit feisty with her. Her short hair, as helpful as the length usually was, did nothing to hide it, though she'd ignore any looks at it she got. Or smile.

Mike, her small patchwork terrier, padded out to sit at her feet just as she continued.

"This might be a reflection of the array of creatures which vastly change their appearance in the natural world... or perhaps just an explanation for the wildly varying accounts available and shoddy research."

She paused for a smile.

"I'll be covering a few of these creatures today in class and asking a couple of questions. And make sure to listen at the end of class, as there is a very small assignment for each of you due next class."

[ocd coming up!]

Comments

Re: Werewolves / Lycanthropes

[brandyforapples.livejournal.com]

"For all we know, it might be different depending on which world you're talking about. The idea that silver is toxic to werewolves is certainly not a new one; even touching silver to the skin of a werewolf can result in a reaction, after all.

"Another theory to consider would be that as the transformation is a magical one, set off by certain amounts of visible moonlight (as of course, the moon itself is always roughly equidistant to the Earth and such 'phases' are caused only by a shadow), the inclusion of silver overloads the system, as a sharp shock can 'blow' a circuit in a mechanical device. A thaumaturgical formula made to react to certain parameters can implode when those parameters are exceeded, after all."

Re: Werewolves / Lycanthropes

[likethegun]

"I never thought about it like that," Sam admitted. "Living things are just as much a device as machines, and just as capable of overloading. And you're right, I can only talk about the werewolves from my world. Silver might work differently on them than on the ones from other worlds. It would be a lot easier if it was the same everywhere."

Re: Werewolves / Lycanthropes

[brandyforapples.livejournal.com]

"And yet, the fact that there are creatures similar enough with the same names on different worlds speaks to some manner of truth. Do the differences speak to the differences inherent in the worlds, or do the similarities?"

She smiled.

"These aren't questions I have the answers for, obviously, as I've never been to a place such as this. But I think they are worth asking."

Her shoulders shook in a faint chuckle.

"Then again, I'm an investigator. I think all difficult questions are worth asking."

Re: Werewolves / Lycanthropes

[likethegun]

Sam laughed as well. "Having been here for a few years, I can say that I definitely think there are a lot of similarities between the worlds people come from, and not just in the creatures we have to face."