Re: "First Alynx" and other TR questions.

From: KYER, JEFFREY <jeff.kyer_at_...>
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2001 16:51:41 -0500

bethexton_at_... wrote:
>
>
> 1) I've seen a couple of references to a hearth's "First Alynx," and
> it is noted that this critter is the only one to challenge the hearth
> mistress's authority. Having been partially raised by a tabby cat I
> can understand how this relationship goes. My question is more one
> of Alynx organization. Is the first Alynx male or female, or
> either? Do Alynx really respect such an individual, or is this just
> the one that gets to sleep closest to the fire most nights? Do the
> other alynx come into the hall much, or mostly hang out in the barns
> and around the store houses?

Why of course! They all _have_ to pay attention to him or her so they can then ignore them. I don't think gender is a problem, though it could be that the biggest, meanest tom is the King'o'the Cats. Think 'Greebo' from the Discworld books. But I suspect it gets a lot of privlege, though I don't know how many of the alynxes are actually intelligent...?

> 2) "Alynx queens" are also mentioned. Is that a term for any female
> alynx of kitten bearing age, or is this again a term for alynx of
> some rank within the feline world?

This is actually the name given to any cat that has had kittens... Its fallen out of common usage.

> 3) Not related to TR, but now that I'm thinking about it, do alynx go
> into "heat" the way that terrestrial domestic cats do? And how long
> do they go between litters? (I'd think they'd have litters less often
> than domestic cats, being somewhat larger hence needing more
> territory to support themselves).

Good question!

> 5) The long-house is described in a fair degree of detail, except for
> one thing: doors. How many and where? i.e. "One door in the middle
> of each of the short ends." "A number, scattered fairly
> randomly." "Three along the east wall (one in the middle and one at
> each end)." Normally I wouls assume on the short walls, but with
> shrines at each end I'm thinking maybe that isn't the case (besides
> the simple layout issues, do you want your shrine right next to a
> door where thieves or raiders can most easily get at it?

Doors in the middle of the long wall conveniently divide a long house into a byre (left side) and quarters (right side). This can be seen in various archeologicical digs...

But since you and I are from an area where "Longhouse" has a totally different connotation. The traditional Iroquois longhouse, made of bark over wood, has only entrances at the ends for structural reasons. We'd probably find that up in Balazar, with the natives using those for winter quarters.

Those things are cold in winter but better than a hide tent!

> 6) I loved the bit about minor air daimones playing with the smoke,
> and eventually making small balls out of the ash. But what do they
> do with those balls? Drop them on peoples heads? Let them settle
> slowly to the ground? Blow them out the smokehole? Herd them all
> into one bucket?

They drop them. Who knows. They seem playful. They might bomb the First alynx with them or try to get them into the stew until the Hearthmistress scolds them. I think cleaning up the smoekballs is a job for young kids...

Jeff

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