When considering which species to cross, Oak-bending Eye comes across a metagaming difficulty. It should probably be determined what she knows about. There are probably many things that her player knows about life forms that she doesn't, and vice-versa. One way to adjudicate it could be to say that no OOC research should be done, but prior player knowledge might be okay. ::shrug:: Yeah, I suppose I do have about 8 years of collegiate or graduate biology training.... We might just have to figure out what's reasonable for her to know given her environment. Which means that she has a great incentive to go off exploring the world in search of new life-forms to mate her creations with. Adventure hooks!
Other things to consider:
- The crossing spell notes any 2 species: it therefore seems okay to cross animals with plants.
- Going to dry climates, one might encounter kangaroo mice (they don't ever need to drink)
- Gorillas are technically a non-sentient species, but Koko has been taught a sign language.
- Parrots can speak, though they don't really know what they're saying. I wonder what would happen if one crossed Koko with a parrot.... (okay, I know where your mind's going, David, but keep in mind that the most advantageous traits are retained for the spell)
- Spider silk, needless to say, is really cool.
More might come as I think of it, especially during times when I don't have to cram for exams.
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One thing that might play into adjudication is that OBE is a hybrid herself--a body and soul born of the Age of Sorrows and joined with the essence and soul or partial soul of a millennia-old Lunar Exalt. Her current memories and knowledge may not include a whole lot of detailed biological knowledge (yet), but her old Exalt soul may remember some of its knowledge from the First Age (is that what it's called?). So it's also a question of how much access OBE has to her First Age memories. And additionally, she has had access to the teachings of much older Lunars than herself, many of whom may remember the First Age or have been taught by one who does. I think it's fair to allow for at least some flashes of insight from your OOC biology student self.
What classifies a critter as sentient or not? Are dolphins sentient? Are dogs or cats? Why aren't gorillas? What about crows, who, I've read, have something of a language of caws?
I don't see why you can't cross plants and animals with the spell unless it says "no crossing plants with animals" or "this spell is meant for animals only" or some such in the rules. In fact, given the epic and savage scope of the game and the crazy products of some of the First Age magic, I think it makes perfect sense that some Exalt somewhere might have thought to cross plants and animals.
Keep in mind, too, that there are creatures that live near ocean vents, and some of these creatures produce a substance that allows them to stick firmly to whatever surface they like. This substance is, so far, the strongest glue yet discovered, either natural or man-made.
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