So, I've plotted an alternative means of advancing Lessons in Motherhood, but I neglected to make sure that the prior history that I'll be working with is canon. Did the Tened once walk the Earth in the current canon?
I do not recall what was stated in Jon's story "Hoof and Claw" on the subject. But I don't see any reason why not.
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I was surfing Deviant art and found a really cool pic! Could this be a good pic of what the Tened look like?
http://ununununium.deviantart.com/art/raptor-24678259
The only problem I see with that picture involves the ink. I'm not so sure that they would have marked up their feathers like that. Aside from that, it looks good. My own personal imagining of their appearance would follow more in line with Ixerin's work. Give her Cretaceous-era Deinonychus antirrhopus thumbs and smaller claws, and you have a Tened.
Ixerin's work? Do you have any examples?
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With FA being down until Monday, all I have are links to her DA archive. The picture that I'm linking is her ref picture. I must give warning that there is some blood from messy eating on it.
http://ferahgo-the-assassin.deviantart.com/art/Reference-Sheet-Ixerin-89607029
Hmmm, a little too feathery for my taste. I like my dinosaurs with scales rather than feathers, and I think Jon described them as scaled fellows. It's been a while since I read the relevant story so I can't be certain on that.
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The Tened were described as avian, and the ancestral/combat form was scaled. I think we could revise things to make them feathery, since current scientific theory holds that theropods had feathers. When Jon wrote Hoof and Claw, paleontologists had not yet found feathered dino remains, so then-current theory still had them covered in scaled hides rather than feathers. We know better now, of course. :)
But I like them better with scales!!! Waaaa! They had scales when I was growing up, so there! ;-)
Seriously, I'm partial to scales as that's how I've always seen dinosaurs. All of these new feathered theories and varieties just seem wrong to me. But this isn't my call, just my thoughts.
At least triceratops still has scales!!
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I've already stated my mental picture, but I'll go ahead and repeat myself. I think a Tened would look very much like a Deinonychus with thumbs. Plumage-wise, I think they were colorful, especially the guys.
Meh, the science can go… eat… brocolli-flavored ice cream. The scaled raptors are simply just way way cooler than this feather garbage ;)
I happen to think feathers are way cooler than bare scales. Rule of Cool isn't a concern here.
I totally do not have bright plumage!! Bad fox!
I'm a bare scales kind of dinosaur, but I suggest we follow the rule of "First to Get There" in this case.
Dominus tecum
On a different note - I added some more details to the Tened entry. Tell me what you think?
http://mkworld.wikidot.com/creatures:tened
One question I have, can both variations not exist? Here is one paragraph in hoof and claw:
My goat-like mentor smiled. "Very simple, my friend. Jon here is what I could call a 'battle form'. We have found no weapons associated with the Teneds because they didn't need them! They changed themselves when they needed to fight! Perhaps Jon's current form represents some kind of ancestral form. But the fact remains, Jon here is well suited for battle. And not much else."
Is it possible that the tened themselves are feathered and that their ancestors/battle forms were more like the drawing above?
Also, would it be possible for either to be picked if one were to change into a tened?
I doubt that both variations existed in history. Jon wrote the story before firm evidence of feathered dromaeosaurs was found. I personally would explain the amulet's battle form being unfeathered when the stag used it as a side effect of being used by a mammal.
I do not think that the Curse could re-make a person into a tened. Tened were people, and Nasoj wanted to turn people into animals. Now, the Curse might be able to change a person into the animal ancestors of the tened, and because of the counter curses, the person would look very much like a tened. However, if a true tened were to be brought back to life, or a spirit manifested herself, she would be the first to say that something seemed to be "off" with the Keeper's form.
Could be, could be. :)
Been wondering. I have some people interested in the Tened - including myself. Is anyone using or planning to use them in a story?
Christof and I do have some story ideas which build upon the Tened. What do folks have in mind?
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