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fandomhigh2017-09-19 11:57 pm
livingartifact) wrote in fandomhigh2017-09-19 11:57 pm
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Introduction to Earth Zoology, Wednesday, period 1
Jenkins had sent notification this week for the class to meet at the Portalocity office in town, and to bring jackets. After a quick headcount and some quiet negotiations with the attendant, a portal opened, and Jenkins ushered the students through, straightening his jacket and adjusting his bow tie as he cleared the portal edge and it closed behind them. He gave the scenery around them a thoughtful look.
"Mountains in the distance, sparse and grassy vegetation, high altitude, lovely chill in the air. . . . I tell you, I did not think that would work." He set his hands on his hips and nodded. "Welcome, students, to the Tibetan Plateau."
A central Asian man in a business suit stormed up to Jenkins, yelling in Mandarin. Jenkins answered back, and after a quick exchange of money, accepted a couple tanks from the man and turned back to the students. "We are presently in one of the lower lying areas of the plateau, at approximately 2,000 meters above sea level, where some individuals may begin to experience altitude sickness. So please, if you feel lightheaded or fatigued, as though you may be ill, come take advantage of these oxygen tanks. Were I to lose a student on one of these trips, I'm sure I'll be at least reprimanded."
Once he made sure they all knew where and how the oxygen was available, it was time for class to begin in earnest.
"There are, in Earthen cultures, a great many legendary creatures of the ancient world that have befuddled modern scholars. Some are believed to be remnants of extinct species, such as our friend Nessie. Some are thought simply to be fanciful notions thought up in more primitive times. And some, like the unicorn, are thought to be philosophical chimeras — that is creatures created by combining aspects of a number of other, known creatures. Approximately 2400 years ago, a Grecian physician named Ctesias wrote a treatise on a far off land he referred to as 'Indica', where a 'one horned ass'. A remarkable creature with a body like a horse, a white and red coat, the hooves and stature of an ox, and a single, dark, ringed horn extending up from its forehead. Much has been made of this legend, of course, but modern academics have come to believe that the 'Indian ass', as he referred to it, was in fact a combination of three creatures native to the very plateau on which we stand." He nodded into the distance. "Our friend with the oxygen tanks has arranged to have those creatures herded towards us now."
Across the plains came a large group of running, goat-like creatures, some of which had extremely long, remarkably straight black horns. "The Chiru," Jenkins introduced, "or Tibetan antelope. As you can see, only the males have horns, which have been considered quite valuable throughout Asia over the course of human history, though it is the trade of their wool that lead to their endangerment as a species. Frequently the horns would be bought and sold as single units, rather than pairs, leading to the misconception of outsiders that they were one-horned creatures. Note the ridges. Our Ctesias certainly did."
Once the last of the antelopes had cleared, another much smaller herd was driven in the students' direction, this one of reddish brown donkeys. "The kiang," Jenkins said. "One of about a dozen species of wild asses — those of you familiar with modern slang who've not yet snickered are showing remarkable restraint — these creatures have never been successfully tamed by man. They are remarkably stubborn animals, and fierce warriors. I would not get too close unless you'd like to be kicked or bitten. From these, our historical fantasist would have gotten the equine form of the unicorn's body, the coloration of its coat, and its willingness to fight to the death rather than be taken."
The asses cleared the area as well, and the people doing the herding came into view, those not on horses riding instead astride great, hairy, horned beasts adorned with brightly colored saddles. "And now the stars of today's show," Jenkins said with a smile. "The domestic yak. I'm afraid its wild ancestor is much too shy and vulnerable to present to you all, but it's much more fun to end with an animal you can greet properly face to face, isn't it? Now, one might not look at such a creature and think 'delicate, magical friend to virgins'. But it is from the noble yak that our friend Ctesias took what he seemed to feel was the most perplexing detail of his Indian ass, its ankle bone. Ankle bones were used at the time in popular games of chance, you see, but the bones of horses and other solid-hooved creatures are not properly shaped for rolling and gambling upon. That this mysterious one horned horse of his had one was fantastical indeed." The yak riders dismounted, smiling at the students and waving them over. "Now go on. An encounter with a yak is a singular experience. You don't want to miss it."
"Horn, body, and feet," Jenkins summarized when the portal back to the island appeared again and the yaksmen headed off. "All put together, a solid theory for where an ancient individual, without the benefit of photography or rapid transit may have come up with such an extraordinary creature such as a unicorn." He smiled, hands in his pockets. "It's all nonsense of course, but there's nothing wrong with engaging with a little bit of nonsense every now and again. Perhaps next week we will go and meet the real unicorn."
[tl;dr: chiru, kiang, and yak]
"Mountains in the distance, sparse and grassy vegetation, high altitude, lovely chill in the air. . . . I tell you, I did not think that would work." He set his hands on his hips and nodded. "Welcome, students, to the Tibetan Plateau."
A central Asian man in a business suit stormed up to Jenkins, yelling in Mandarin. Jenkins answered back, and after a quick exchange of money, accepted a couple tanks from the man and turned back to the students. "We are presently in one of the lower lying areas of the plateau, at approximately 2,000 meters above sea level, where some individuals may begin to experience altitude sickness. So please, if you feel lightheaded or fatigued, as though you may be ill, come take advantage of these oxygen tanks. Were I to lose a student on one of these trips, I'm sure I'll be at least reprimanded."
Once he made sure they all knew where and how the oxygen was available, it was time for class to begin in earnest.
"There are, in Earthen cultures, a great many legendary creatures of the ancient world that have befuddled modern scholars. Some are believed to be remnants of extinct species, such as our friend Nessie. Some are thought simply to be fanciful notions thought up in more primitive times. And some, like the unicorn, are thought to be philosophical chimeras — that is creatures created by combining aspects of a number of other, known creatures. Approximately 2400 years ago, a Grecian physician named Ctesias wrote a treatise on a far off land he referred to as 'Indica', where a 'one horned ass'. A remarkable creature with a body like a horse, a white and red coat, the hooves and stature of an ox, and a single, dark, ringed horn extending up from its forehead. Much has been made of this legend, of course, but modern academics have come to believe that the 'Indian ass', as he referred to it, was in fact a combination of three creatures native to the very plateau on which we stand." He nodded into the distance. "Our friend with the oxygen tanks has arranged to have those creatures herded towards us now."
Across the plains came a large group of running, goat-like creatures, some of which had extremely long, remarkably straight black horns. "The Chiru," Jenkins introduced, "or Tibetan antelope. As you can see, only the males have horns, which have been considered quite valuable throughout Asia over the course of human history, though it is the trade of their wool that lead to their endangerment as a species. Frequently the horns would be bought and sold as single units, rather than pairs, leading to the misconception of outsiders that they were one-horned creatures. Note the ridges. Our Ctesias certainly did."
Once the last of the antelopes had cleared, another much smaller herd was driven in the students' direction, this one of reddish brown donkeys. "The kiang," Jenkins said. "One of about a dozen species of wild asses — those of you familiar with modern slang who've not yet snickered are showing remarkable restraint — these creatures have never been successfully tamed by man. They are remarkably stubborn animals, and fierce warriors. I would not get too close unless you'd like to be kicked or bitten. From these, our historical fantasist would have gotten the equine form of the unicorn's body, the coloration of its coat, and its willingness to fight to the death rather than be taken."
The asses cleared the area as well, and the people doing the herding came into view, those not on horses riding instead astride great, hairy, horned beasts adorned with brightly colored saddles. "And now the stars of today's show," Jenkins said with a smile. "The domestic yak. I'm afraid its wild ancestor is much too shy and vulnerable to present to you all, but it's much more fun to end with an animal you can greet properly face to face, isn't it? Now, one might not look at such a creature and think 'delicate, magical friend to virgins'. But it is from the noble yak that our friend Ctesias took what he seemed to feel was the most perplexing detail of his Indian ass, its ankle bone. Ankle bones were used at the time in popular games of chance, you see, but the bones of horses and other solid-hooved creatures are not properly shaped for rolling and gambling upon. That this mysterious one horned horse of his had one was fantastical indeed." The yak riders dismounted, smiling at the students and waving them over. "Now go on. An encounter with a yak is a singular experience. You don't want to miss it."
"Horn, body, and feet," Jenkins summarized when the portal back to the island appeared again and the yaksmen headed off. "All put together, a solid theory for where an ancient individual, without the benefit of photography or rapid transit may have come up with such an extraordinary creature such as a unicorn." He smiled, hands in his pockets. "It's all nonsense of course, but there's nothing wrong with engaging with a little bit of nonsense every now and again. Perhaps next week we will go and meet the real unicorn."
[tl;dr: chiru, kiang, and yak]
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All of this was fascinating. And afterwards she could take her notes back to the library and pick through them further to help her with some of the terminology.
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As soon as the lecture began, however, Sidon forgot all about his coat and his discomfort, completely enraptured in learning about these new creatures, so of which he'd even seen around Hyrule before! Well, something quite similar, at any rate, so he was eager to perhaps point out some differences.
Oogle the animal
Talk to Jenkins
I mean, magic, obviously, but still.
OOC
One time at a LARP in college, I managed to get a rousing chorus of this song going.
I'm reasonably certain I was not invited back to that particular LARP again.