Can an elan reproduce?
Could an elan reproduce with a human? Could you end up with a half-elan/half-human?
Do they have genitalia, or are they built like Barbie and Ken dolls? Can they have sex, even if they can't reproduce?
Inquiring minds want to know. ;)
I haven't read the submission for Book of Heroic Races: Advanced Elans that closely yet. I'll take a look at it and let you know if there is anything in there. And if not, I'll ask the author if he can add something on this topic.
;)
|
I don't think half-elan is possible since the whole point of Elan are actually a secret process where they transform into an elan. If they could reproduce sexually, there wouldn't need to have all that secrecy and councils.
They are definitely made to look and act humanoid, so they probably can have sex, but don't think reproduction is possible. Plus an elan has almost no incentive to share his gene, since they are functionally immortal (live forever, never age).
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Can an elan reproduce?
Could an elan reproduce with a human? Could you end up with a half-elan/half-human?
Do they have genitalia, or are they built like Barbie and Ken dolls? Can they have sex, even if they can't reproduce?
Inquiring minds want to know. ;)
There is definitely the possibility that they are actually Wraeththu, but I don't like to dwell on that concept.
In the link you provided it states in the opening couple lines that they are incapable of reproducing
Deliberately stating that they can't reproduce leads one to assume that they can still engage in intercourse. Otherwise wouldn't it just state that they are sexually incompatible?
In the link you provided it states in the opening couple lines that they are incapable of reproducing
d'oh! -- Somehow I missed that part... even though I must have read that page a dozen times.
In the link you provided it states in the opening couple lines that they are incapable of reproducingd'oh! -- Somehow I missed that part... even though I must have read that page a dozen times.
So it seems the concensus is Elan sex yes, Elan reproduction, no.
It would be awkward for an Elan to get pregnant anyway! It would totally make someone not play a murderhobo. IT'S UNNATURAL!!!
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
An elan gets its ball (or its lady balls) radiated to the point of being dead.
That's right, I'm saying elan woman have balls.
Elans giving birth to Elans is no different to computer programs that write computer programs.
And like computer programs, I don't think all Elans have to be the same, or made in the same way.
Richard
Elan's are chosen and then created by a ritual. They don't give birth at all.
|
Fair point.
Though we're assuming that elans are chosen after they've been born to a normal mother.
Maybe the transformation to Elan happens when a non-Elan foetus is extracted from a mortal mother and implanted into an Elan one.
Or maybe the whole Elan process could be explained by test-tube babies and artificial insemination. i.e. the transformation from mortal to elan is essentially managed by surrogate motherhood, and the selection process is just about making sure you get the right genes of the father.
Richard
They aren't test tube babies... Just read the entry...
Born not of a mother or father, but created, elans were once mortal beings. Built by a shadowy council to live as psionically awakened superior life forms, elans are capable of sustaining themselves with nothing but the power of the mind. Elans are no longer true mortals, having been unfettered by a secret ritual that created this new race and reborn anew, with but wisps and fragments of memories of their previous lives. Incapable of breeding, elans expand their numbers by choosing members of other races, most often humans, and transforming them into new elans. This would pose a problem for the continuation of the race, except elans do not die of old age. The secrets of the transformation ritual are typically limited to the elite members of the elan secret society that exists, and they take these secrets to the grave before sharing them with lesser beings. Elans are often chosen for being exceptional in some way: sometimes it is because they excel in physical challenges, other times it is because of their quick wit or sharp intellect, or in some cases a natural ability to work with the psionic arts. But none of the elans could ever be described as normal, mediocre, or standard. While most elans, even those of non-human origin, physically resemble humans, there is usually something that stands out about every elan.
They were chosen from an at least semi matured remarkable specimen from other races, then undergo the ritual.
|
|
I did read the entry.
There's nothing there about semi-matured.
In a world of magic there's no reason why someone shouldn't be able to spot an exceptional mortal creature pre-birth.
It may not be how it was intended; but I see nothing in the description to preclude it.
I also don't see any reason why the elan transformation couldn't actually take place by growing in the womb. I suppose that true eugenics is excluded by the statement "born not of a mother or father", but "creation" via surrogate birth seems ok.
IMVHO, of course :-)
Richard
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
I'm pretty sure you should ask Haley first before you have sex with Elan. She'd probably fill you full of arrows for trying.
Oh, wait, what are we talking about?
You win the thread, good sir.
Book of Heroic Races: Advanced Elans
...um, do we have an ETA for this? :-)
It's on the calendar for June, but it might be switched for July.
I did read the entry.
There's nothing there about semi-matured.
In a world of magic there's no reason why someone shouldn't be able to spot an exceptional mortal creature pre-birth.
It may not be how it was intended; but I see nothing in the description to preclude it.
I also don't see any reason why the elan transformation couldn't actually take place by growing in the womb. I suppose that true eugenics is excluded by the statement "born not of a mother or father", but "creation" via surrogate birth seems ok.
IMVHO, of course :-)
Richard
How does someone have a quick wit, sharp intellect or excel at physical challenges before they are born and matured? Short of GM intervention and plot devices for the game?
I'm not saying it couldn't be a possible story line, but it isn't the "norm" for every character or NPC created to have a predestined future. I think you are using the "it didn't say it isn't so it is" argument to validate your rather far fetched (as it isn't even hinted at any where in the book ever) as legitimate.
The important thing here is that Elans do not age, so even if the Elan Council decided to convert a fetus, it'd... be a perpetual fetus. Not ideal for a player character, and likely to be all sorts of offputting to your fellow players.
The important thing here is that Elans do not age, so even if the Elan Council decided to convert a fetus, it'd... be a perpetual fetus. Not ideal for a player character, and likely to be all sorts of offputting to your fellow players.
I see where it says they don't die from old age, I haven't seen anything saying they don't age (to be fair).
In the race description, it's stated that "Many elans become wanderers because over time, others may take notice that the elan does not age and start to ask questions."
Although rereading the Elan race description, there doesn't seem to be anything stopping the Council from transforming this baby into an adult... Which brings me back to my last point, in that that's going to be incredibly offputting and creepy.
Which I guess could be fine, if it fits the tone of the game. It's definitely not normal for the Elan Council, though, and as-presented, they'd likely wait for the kid to grow up before contacting them anyway. Because prophecies aren't reliable, and acting on them generally ends badly. The Council is smart enough to know that.
|
|
How does someone have a quick wit, sharp intellect or excel at physical challenges before they are born and matured? Short of GM intervention and plot devices for the game?
I'm not saying it couldn't be a possible story line, but it isn't the "norm" for every character or NPC created to have a predestined future. I think you are using the "it didn't say it isn't so it is" argument to validate your rather far fetched (as it isn't even hinted at any where in the book ever) as legitimate.
That's the principle of breeding. It's why you pay so much money to have last year's crufts winning poodle shag your poodle. I also think if we had midwiffery magic we'd be able to tell a lot about an unborn baby.
(crufts is a uk dog show, BTW)
And I'm not saying "it didn't say it isn't so it is", I'm saying "it didn't say it isn't so it could be". As for "far fetched" - this is a fantasy RPG isn't it?
Richard
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The thing is if they could reproduce with their original race...I would kind of think the result would be a normal member of that race...or even if two Elan mated it would be just a normal member of the race. Of course since the child's 'gene' would be considered 'good' it might later become a Elan. So there might be a reason for them to do it...
I haven't read the submission for Book of Heroic Races: Advanced Elans that closely yet. I'll take a look at it and let you know if there is anything in there. And if not, I'll ask the author if he can add something on this topic.
Most excellent. I look forward to more information on one of my favorite races when the new guide comes out!
BTW, the signature elan psychic warrior arrived over the weekend. link
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Nice!
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Elans are by far my favorite psionic race. Will be picking this up.
Elans are by far my favorite psionic race. Will be picking this up.
I really hope you enjoy it. I am enjoying reading through Loki's work and I think fans of elans are really going to enjoy it.