Re: why can't Morocanth throw rocks? (fwd)

From: Robert McArthur <mcarthur_at_fit.qut.edu.au>
Date: Mon, 18 Dec 95 16:11:06 EST

Sandy says
> Lacking a thumb is a nontrivial part of throwing. I
> double-dog dare you to pick up a spear-like object and throw it
> without using your thumb. How much range and accuracy did you get?
> Now try it with a hatchet? Hmm. Even a rock isn't as effective by
> far, and _your_ shoulder structure is far more mobile (though
> weaker) than a morocanth's. Not only that, but using your hand as a
> thumbless prehensile paw is _still_ more flexible than a morocanth's
> hoof.
>
> >But even if their shoulders prevent them effictively throwing
> >things,I'd have thought they could use slings.
> Spoken by a man who has never used a sling. I have, and you
> need LOTS of wrist action (morocanth wrist action is as
> circumscribed as their shoulders) plus you simply can't aim your
> pellet without a thumb. You have to release it at just the right
> time. Slipping the loop (note that slings don't have loops for the
> hand, by the way, but I guess morocanth could have them
> special-made) over your forefinger isn't going to cut it for a quick
> release.

Sandy, I'm afraid this sounds awfully like "Men [sic!] were never meant to go faster than 3 miles per hour" (or insert your favourite number). Have you watched the para-olympics recently?

Just because you can't do something by taping up your thumb and trying for a while, don't underestimate the possibilities of a) a magic rich world, b) an animal as intelligent as humans, c) a society/culture at least 1600 years old - and most likely much older (See below...), d) the necessity of learning such things to survive, and e) the magical morokanth thumbs which can be gained.

Now, I agree that they concentrate on the list of their advantages you mentioned but I would hesitate to say they cant throw spears, and do many other things you seem to feel they cannot.

BTW: the trolls must have an amazing memory I'd say... supposedly there were 4000 generations between I Fought We Won and the dawn (TrollPack). Now since time there may have been another 50 generations. If "every troll can trace their lineage back to KL" (Trollpack), and each ancestor takes 5 seconds to recite (name and what they did), it would take 6 and a quarter hours just to get back to IFWW! There must have been a fair time between IFWW and Wonderhome, and I can't imagine the great KL is continually procreative through the ages...

Personally, I have trouble with my few cousins!

Have a bonza "sacred time",
Hope to see you at RQ Con DU in early fire season (?), Robert McArthur

PS. There now exists in Australia a company called "Issaries" : I know as I've just created it :-) It, of course, shows the runes of Harmony, mobility and trading.

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