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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:44 pm
What is the range of ‘non-speech’ Sentinel sounds? For example, what sorts of bird noises might they make, and if it’s not too much to ask, in what situations?Quote: Any noise that a Strigidae owl would make, a Sentinel would make. Hoots would be for long-distance calls, and would most frequently be used to announce oneself or send word over a distance (from Ranger to Ranger, for example). It's safe to describe the 'intent' of the hoot in an RP post, as was one with Lichen and Drywood in the 'Routine Check-up' RP. Beak clacking is a sign of fear, distress, aggression, and general pissiness. A startled Sentinel might clack a couple of times, a Sentinel who is about to attack (or is acting like he/she is) would clack in conjunction with a poofed-up threat display, etc. The RP between Fletcher and the Brigadier when she was ready to go kill Tempest gives some good examples of Sentinel body language and sounds. Chittering is a hatchling/fledgling noise, and is a sort of 'whiny' vocalization. Gimme food, gimme that, don't touch that stuff it's mine, etc. Like a kid going "EEeeeeeeeh" in a really annoying, nasal tone. Peeping is a less whiny way of asking for food, and is one of the few noises that a hatchling would make. Fledglings would still make that noise as a sort of throwback to their youth, perhaps inadvertently when they are surprised or in an attempt to be particularly endearing to a parent/Minder. Hissing is a strong aggression noise, as in cats. It could be used to warn of an attack, or as a bluff, or a startled Sentinel might hiss (and probably clack as well). Also, what sorts of noises to fledglings make that adults don’t? (Namely, do fledglings peep? You’ve never told me off for having them do it before, but I don’t actually know!)Quote: Young Sentinels tend to do more chittering and peeping, and less hissing/hooting/clacking. That's not to say that they wouldn't try to clack or hiss if they are being aggressive, but the noise produced wouldn't be terribly impressive at all (think of young Simba's roars). As Sentinels age they stop chittering and peeping, much as teens start to call their parents 'Mom and Dad' instead of 'Mommy and Daddy.'
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:27 pm
Since it takes days for areas of the forest to be covered, would it be possible for some Sentinel families not to be recognized or known? (Like people who lived in the ourskirts of town.)Quote: They wouldn't be known by those within the Deep Woods, or other remote areas, but they'd be known by the Sentinels that Hunt/Scout/etc. in those regions. Also, since some Sentinels are more comfortable in the cold or better suited for darker areas, would there be a stronger concentration of certain types in certain areas of the forest? Say, Shadows in the Deep woods would be more common while being less common in the Cold Regions.Quote: There's no hard and fast rule, and all of the types will be distributed throughout the entire forest as theirShadows hang out in the Not Cold (southerly) regions. Mists up north in the Cold regions. Deep Woods would be, oddly enough, in the Deep Woods. And Wildtypes and Ghosts are equally unspecialized and can be found evenly dispersed through the regions. Also, if a Minder was withholding a fledgings despite giving references from other Sentinels, could the potential parent go to a higher authority or another Minder to ask or report them for being unrational despite all their best attempts to be a proper parent? (In regards to Sly, Liam, and Aspen.)Quote: Honestly, if a Sentinel expressed way too much interest in a specific fledgling and that fledgling wasn't somehow related to him/her or someone that he/she knew, then almost everyone would think that the situation is more than a bit peculiar. Especially if the fledgling isn't honestly excited to go live with him/her. The general opinion would be that the would-be parent should just go find another fledgling from another Minder. If it seemed that the fledgling was willing and there was absolutely no reason for the Minder to reject the request other than personal bias then there would have to be inquiries made - unfortunately, the Sentinel task that would mediate this sort of situation hasn't been fully described yet and will not be ready for some time. So in the specific situation of Sly/Aspen/Liam it would be best to sort things out without need for external mediation. And remember that the Watchers are always around, so there is always an objective outside opinion available (via staff NPCs, if needed).
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:45 pm
Would a Sentinel be able to carry other creatures on their backs? It seems a little humiliating to me to be 'ridden,' but just as a hypothetical question, if it was necessary for a Sentinel to carry something on his or her bare back, how much could they carry? Quote: Carrying something on their back would be subject to the same restrictions as in their talons, so far as weight is concerned. Same deal for overly bulky items. Since other critters (like mus, etc.) would tend to cling tight to the Sentinel's body they wouldn't be much of a bother. And most Sentinels wouldn't care about being 'ridden' any more than humans mind carrying a pet cat or having their rat/ferret climb on their shoulders.
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:09 pm
I have a question about the way Sentinel have their territories set up. Is it sort of like one large town in the middle of the Deep Woods, and then moving outward from that small towns, and then individuals here and there? Or is it mostly individual outside of the "town center" in the middle of the Deep Woods? Quote: The entire Deep Woods area is heavily populated, with most territories adjoining each other. Territories within this area tend to be noticeably smaller, as well (usually just a tree or two). The Sentinel equivalent of roads (clear passage zones) exist between most territories. So in that case it's rather like a city, yes, where the central region is 'downtown'. As you go further from the 'prime' regions of the Deep Woods you'll find that territories become larger and a bit more spread out. And once you go even further out there will be unpopulated gaps between territories...and family/friend groups will often gather together, in what could be considered as villages. How would a Sentinel enter another's territory in a non-aggressive way? Quote: A simple hoot of greeting to announce your presence, followed by a pause to hear the reply. No reply or a 'go away' would mean that you'd best leave, unless you're willing to risk being attacked. Some territories are generally more 'okay' to enter without notice - specifically, a Medic's territory is considered to be open to any patient, any time.
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:15 pm
The potato chip chirop question made me think. Are there 'wealthy' Sentinels? Like ones that are rather plump and could indulge in junk food companions out of sheer enjoyment and because they had the funds? Quote: There could be. Keep in mind that a 'plump' Sentinel would have trouble flying, however, so they'd best provide a service that is desired enough that they can have their necessities provided for them. And how would a Sentinel aquire things that could be used to get other things? I know they can hunt and trade berries and food for services, but is there anything else? Quote: Favours. Sentinels use a barter system, but they can also barter for favours and future/ongoing services rendered. A Keeper could make an ongoing deal with a local Artisan, for example, to provide culls in return for getting their breeding stock marked with dye. This leads me to think that if large families that all had various professions, they would be rather wealthy from being a close family and pulling their funding together. Or, if the family were to die, their child would be well off to some degree? Quote: The 'wealth' of a Sentinel is, for the most part, bound up in either items or the individual. Favours that have been traded cannot be transferred to other family members, in most cases, so a Sentinel who trafficks in such things will not leave a fortune for his/her family. Heirlooms would be the most typical representation of Sentinel 'wealth', but since most individuals would be extremely reluctant to part with such items.. well. Peridot may have lots of extremely fancy jewels, but unless she's going to trade them for something she won't gain anything from them. A young Sentinel who came into an inheritance that he/she wasn't attached to might choose to barter it all away, but they wouldn't be very popular among other family members! Inherited items will, in general, need to be discussed with staff before they can be approved. Maybe Sentinels in prime territories would be considered wealthy because they would be living in a place that either had a lot of prey, berries, or material that Apothecaries/Gatherers/etc. would want. *Wonders if there could be a fat, pompous Sentinel about*
Quote: A prime territory would certainly be an asset, and would make it easier for a Sentinel to become 'wealthy' - but a prime territory will also need to be defended. Prime territories are also something that should be discussed with the staff first, as we may eventually 'force' Sentinels to defend highly-desirable territories.
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:23 pm
How do Sentinels show affection in private, once they've wooed their paramour? I figured preening, but is there any specific place? Or anything else? Quote: Full-body preening would be something that mates do for each other. Feeding. Offering gifts and treats. Cuddling close. That sort of thing - Sentinels are too practical to engage in elaborate displays of affection.
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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:46 pm
Taking a break from my behaviour questions to ask one about something that pertains to one of my quests.
What is the Sentinels' grip of breeding genetics in companions? I know how it is in Sentinels themselves, but do they know more about, say, mus?
Is it possible for me to still have a Sentinel who breeds for a specific (and incidentally, fancy) pattern type? I was thinking merle.Quote: The Keepers would definitely be among those with the best idea of genetics, on a basic Mendelian level. Smart + smart = smart or smarter. Smart/small + dumb/big = average/average. That sort of basic understanding. They wouldn't be so advanced as to get the idea of a Punnett square, of course, but the concepts of line breeding and back-crossing would be something that Keepers would do. If you like how a particular mus looks/acts, breed it back to it's parents or other relatives! Makes sense, right? Along those lines, they'd have noticed certain mutations and colour variations that crop up from time to time. Keepers, incidentally, would be among those who are most likely to be tolerant of genetic Aberrants (since they may have come across albinos in their lines) but they'd probably still cull those sorts of mishaps in most cases. Thing is, the colour of a companion is probably one of the least important genetic traits it has - since most Sentinels who care about their companions will have them dyed to match. So a fancy merle mus may be something that your Keeper is interested in, but his charges would most likely be covered in dye once they leave his care. Something to keep in mind for his character - other Keepers would probably think it's a bit odd for him to care so much about something so frivolous rather than size/smarts/taste.
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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:25 pm
How do Sentinels' senses compare to human senses? I don't want like, exact proportions, but I would love just a "stronger/weaker" sort of thing for these categories, maybe some qualification if you wanna put it down:
Colour vision: Sense of smell: Sense of taste: Sense of touch/awareness of changes in air pressure, heat/cold, etc...:
Also, which colours would be most prominent to Sentinels?Quote: Since it would be extremely (and unreasonably) complicated to have vastly different senses, we have decided that the Sentinels are almost entirely analogous to humans. So while an owl is mostly colourblind, a Sentinel has perfectly 'normal' human vision. Colours to a Sentinel look exactly the same as they do to a human. No one colour is any more prominent. Same goes for the senses of smell and taste. Owls do not have highly-developed senses in that respect (owls will happily hunt skunks, for example) but it would be too awkward to expect that the average player will be able to keep track of huge fundamental differences like that. So for sake of simplicity, Sentinels smell and taste things with the same level of discrimination that we do. They're just practical enough that they don't really care overmuch about smelling good or having gourmet eats. Hearing would be one thing that Sentinels DO trump humans in, profoundly. They hunt by sound and sight combined, and can easily pinpoint the location of a sound through expert triangulation. They would be sensitive to changes in air pressure, the feel of drafts against their feathers, and other such things related to flight.. but this would be an innate and instinctive thing. Much like how we shift our balanced to walk on uneven ground without really thinking about it.
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 10:20 am
If more then two eggs are laid in a clutch, would the parents or the Minders have named the hatchling(s)? Quote: Either/or. If the parents plan to stay involved in the life of their adopted fluff then they'd usually keep the egg until it hatches and then name him/her before bringing the hatchling to the Minders. If they're just going to dump the egg and let it grow up as a member of the clan rather than a member of their family, then they wouldn't bother. It really depends on the specific circumstances!
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:46 pm
I know hens are crazy about eating egg shells, but would a female Sentinel do that after her clutch has hatched? Or would that be gross, like picking your nose or chewing on your fingernails?Quote: Chickens aren't carnivores, so they don't have a ready source of calcium in their diet - which means that reclaiming the lost nutrients in the egg shells becomes quite important. Since Sentinels are primarily carnivores and are thus easily able to get calcium from the bones of their prey they shouldn't need to eat egg shells. That said, some Sentinels might choose to do it for spiritual/ritual/etc. reasons, much as some humans choose to eat the placenta. Most others would think that was weird, though, and probably a little gross - just like how the average human feels about afterbirth consumption. Oh... What would be the Sentinel version of picking their nose or other gross habit?Quote: Casting pellets in public = burping, but a bit grosser Preening near the cloaca = scratching your a** Ripping apart food that doesn't need to be ripped apart to be eaten = eating with your hands Being excessively messy while eating Passing mutes (bird crap) during conversation, or on your perch, or from too high (it's polite to fly lower before letting loose) Incoming! *splat* ..sorry... couldn't resist wink
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Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:54 pm
Approximately how long are Sentinels fertile, and is there a difference in males and females? How old is too old to safely have eggs?Quote: Female Sentinels are fertile until they reach the age we would consider as 'elder'. Males remain fertile until they're too old and creaky to be able to get down to business. In general, most Sentinels will stop having eggs once their grandchildren are old enough to have eggs. Follow up question: Would it be creepy for a Sentinel to pick a mate who is significantly younger or older? How much of an age difference is too much?Quote: Yes and no. Just so long as both Sentinels are of a reproductively active age there wouldn't be any major head-turning. But if a really old Sentinel takes a really young Sentinel as his/her first mate then that would be considered a little odd. Taking someone younger as a mate after your first mate has passed on or left you isn't that odd, however. There'll still be some gossips and some whispering, but it wouldn't be horribly scandalous. And, of course, nobody would ever dream of taking a fledgling as a mate. Even taking a too-recent graduate would be a bit odd - it's expected that they'll go through at least a season after graduating before they consider settling down and having eggs.
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Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 5:20 pm
Would companions with a higher level of speech ability be any less able to communicate with their non-companion cousins? Quote: Indeed! There's only so much room in their tiny little brains, you see, even if they are bred for intelligence. So for every bit of Sentinel-ese they learn, they become less able to communicate with their non-companion relatives. Most companions will speak to each other in Sentinel rather than their 'native' language, actually.
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Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 6:25 pm
O HAI. GIFT HAS ANOTHER REALLY RANDOM BIZARRE QUESCHUN.
Do Sentinels' voices differ in sound from male to female in ways similar to human voices? Or, rather, would it be relatively easy for a Sentinel to distinguish another's gender by the sound of his or her voice?Quote: It'd be about the same for Sentinels as it is for us - you can generally tell by voice, but there are some manly gals and some girly guys.
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Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:22 pm
Just a few questions...
How does a Sentinel act submissive?Quote: Since Sentinels aren't social creatures in the same way that other animals are, they don't really have a 'submission' posture. That sort of behaviour only comes into play in animals with a hierarchical social structure, like wolves. Sentinels don't really 'play rank' as much as other creatures. That said, the closest thing to an act of submission is a basic 'please don't eat me' display. Trying to make itself look smaller by flattening eartufts, slicking all its feathers to its body, hunkering down - that sort of thing. Could a Sentinel change his/her name after adulthood? Something like a fresh start?Quote: There's no official registry of Sentinel names out there, so anyone could change their name at any time! They just have to start telling others to address them by their new name.
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Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 8:00 am
Do Sentinels have a concept of Hell or an afterlife of any nature? If so, what do they call it? (If this is to be revealed at a later date or whatever, I'm game with that. :3)Quote: Given that, in general, the human concept of an afterlife (and more specifically, heaven and hell) is rooted in a religious system that operates as a set of societal morals, it's rather unlikely that the Sentinels would have a similar construct. Their religion is simple, and it has nothing to do with their laws (unlike most human religions). They believe in Noctus, and the extent of their afterlife beliefs is that after they die they 'return to Noctus' - most Sentinels tend to be too practical to dwell on what exactly that means.
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