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==History== | ==History== | ||
The Guardkin are descendants of dogs that were decanted by the Pelted during their Exodus from a small amount of genestock 'rescued' during their escape. Since these samples created dog-like wolves (or wolf-like dogs), the Pelted assumed them to be the pets that humanity used as partial data for the creation of some of the more lupine prototypes. The people who would become the Hinichi volunteered to take care of these orphans of the Exodus (a decision that would later become their basis for arguing the precedent/rectitude of [[Second Chances]]'s efforts)... but they assumed that the creatures were very smart animals, not people. They bred them for intelligence, but there was some debate over whether they were as smart as a Pelted, a debate possible because the Guardkin refrained from attempting to communicate for their own, inscrutable reasons. | The Guardkin are descendants of dogs that were decanted by the Pelted during their Exodus from a small amount of genestock 'rescued' during their escape. Since these samples created dog-like wolves (or wolf-like dogs), the Pelted assumed them to be the pets that humanity used as partial data for the creation of some of the more lupine prototypes. The people who would become the Hinichi volunteered to take care of these orphans of the Exodus (a decision that would later become their basis for arguing the precedent/rectitude of [[List of Organizations and Business |Second Chances]]'s efforts)... but they assumed that the creatures were very smart animals, not people. They bred them for intelligence, but there was some debate over whether they were as smart as a Pelted, a debate possible because the Guardkin refrained from attempting to communicate for their own, inscrutable reasons. | ||
While the Guardkin sapience debate was never distinct enough to generate factions, the people who believed them to be as smart as any Hinichi self-selected into the care and breeding of the Guardkin, leaving the regular population to think of them as smart animals. Before the delegation headed by [[Benneit Drummondly]] brought the first two Guardkin to [[Escutcheon]], the [[Hinichi]] who handled the husbandry of the Guardkin couldn't decide between preserving the existing pattern of 'very intelligent animal' or change them to become more like the Pelted, and capable of speech. In the end, they decided they could not receive consent from the Guardkin for substantial modifications, and were resistant philosophically and spiritually to the idea of playing God. Needless to say, [[Talthien Sura Eddings |Talthien]]'s utterance of "Graeme says they've been waiting for someone like me all their lives" rather, um, rearranged everything. <ref name="rph-08" /> | While the Guardkin sapience debate was never distinct enough to generate factions, the people who believed them to be as smart as any Hinichi self-selected into the care and breeding of the Guardkin, leaving the regular population to think of them as smart animals. Before the delegation headed by [[Benneit Drummondly]] brought the first two Guardkin to [[Escutcheon]], the [[Hinichi]] who handled the husbandry of the Guardkin couldn't decide between preserving the existing pattern of 'very intelligent animal' or change them to become more like the Pelted, and capable of speech. In the end, they decided they could not receive consent from the Guardkin for substantial modifications, and were resistant philosophically and spiritually to the idea of playing God. Needless to say, [[Talthien Sura Eddings |Talthien]]'s utterance of "Graeme says they've been waiting for someone like me all their lives" rather, um, rearranged everything. <ref name="rph-08" /> | ||
Revision as of 01:55, 13 July 2022
Dem dogs.
Vital Statistics (At a Glance)
- Species Type: not sure about this
- Origin: Selectively Bred by the Hinichi
- Frame Type: Quadraped
- Average Size: wolf-sized (can be larger)
- Average Lifespan: unknown
- Gravity Preference: medium
- Homeworld: Hinichitii
- Native Language: telepathic
Physical Appearance
Ranges from that of a large working dog (shepherd-style, tall with triangular, upright-pointing ears, long muzzle, and long tail) to wolf-like.
History
The Guardkin are descendants of dogs that were decanted by the Pelted during their Exodus from a small amount of genestock 'rescued' during their escape. Since these samples created dog-like wolves (or wolf-like dogs), the Pelted assumed them to be the pets that humanity used as partial data for the creation of some of the more lupine prototypes. The people who would become the Hinichi volunteered to take care of these orphans of the Exodus (a decision that would later become their basis for arguing the precedent/rectitude of Second Chances's efforts)... but they assumed that the creatures were very smart animals, not people. They bred them for intelligence, but there was some debate over whether they were as smart as a Pelted, a debate possible because the Guardkin refrained from attempting to communicate for their own, inscrutable reasons.
While the Guardkin sapience debate was never distinct enough to generate factions, the people who believed them to be as smart as any Hinichi self-selected into the care and breeding of the Guardkin, leaving the regular population to think of them as smart animals. Before the delegation headed by Benneit Drummondly brought the first two Guardkin to Escutcheon, the Hinichi who handled the husbandry of the Guardkin couldn't decide between preserving the existing pattern of 'very intelligent animal' or change them to become more like the Pelted, and capable of speech. In the end, they decided they could not receive consent from the Guardkin for substantial modifications, and were resistant philosophically and spiritually to the idea of playing God. Needless to say, Talthien's utterance of "Graeme says they've been waiting for someone like me all their lives" rather, um, rearranged everything. [1]
Culture and Religion
The Guardkin consider themselves part of God's pack, so they think of themselves as a group as the godpack. Anyone who helps them find their bondmates is called a matchmaker. Brothers and sisters are referred to as littermates. Bleddyn observes that they are not technically dogs; they are related to the Hinichi, who were made with wolf DNA, so they are closer kin to wolves. But that there might be some 'working dog' DNA in there as well.[2]
Quotes
- Lia and the wolves in Farmer's Crown (Fiction) is a fun segment. I am not going to quote it all but recommend Kindle pages 60 (of 438) to the end of chapter 4.
- /But you don't smell as they do. They're scared of it (touching) or disgusted. You're sad that you can not touch./ The Guardkin's nostrils flared. /An old sorrow, like a scarred wound. Those smell different too./
... /That is why we came. We were hunting our fate. We have run it to the ground here, in this room, with you. A Godpack packmothers without cubs, with the most acute sense of smell of any biped we've met. Who hunts the fate of her people, but is so far in front of her pack that they can't help her./ He lifted his head. /But we are fast runners. You will not hunt alone anymore./
(So Liolessa is no longer alone in her search for good futures?)
Abilities
They can talk to any esper but prefer to choose one or two people and practice talking mostly with them. [1] But their psychic powers often present to them as smells: they smell emotions and histories, along with more strictly biological things, like diseases and lineages. [2]
- They also smell the future, maybe? see quote from Farmer's crown above.
It is implied they can talk to each other. [3] It is demonstrated they can in the presence of Liolessa [4]
They do *not* disturb the Pattern, so Eldritch with pattern sensing don't see their participation in it. [2]
Characters
- Bleddyn has brown eyes [5]
- Bran has blue eyes [5]
- Graeme, Talthien's bonded. (gray with elegant black mask, back and tail and brown eyes)
- Madoc
- Moire (amber-eyed ivory with yellow dorsal fur), Graeme's mate.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 A Rose Point Holiday, Chapter 8
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Farmer's Crown, Chapter 4
- ↑ Scions Flight, Chapter 7
- ↑ Farmer's Crown Kindle page 62 of 438
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Farmer's Crown, Kindle page 61 of 438