--- In SkunkworksAMA_at_yahoogroups.com, Scrapper Black Dragon <scrapperbd@...> wrote:
> Let's look at someone like Khetzel - okay, she's a big girl, who appeals to some, but she is not a sexual character, as JMH outlined. How would you interact with her? Big, potentially dangerous, giving you an 'eyeful' of her curves, totally different set of values and social structures that we are used to. There is a fair chance you may not like her initially as she is not behaving in a way you expect (or like).
Khetzel (literally, meaning "Queen Protector") is the "muscle" who backs up Bast. She is frequently referred to as a "dispatcher", since it is her job to eliminate threats and potential problems for the Queen, her Royal Court, or the people she reigns over (Onika's species). She shares a telepathic link with both Bast and the various Khets (both Selkhet and Serkhet, female and male respectively). The Khet species itself has a sort of hive-mind mentality. If one protector is in trouble, they all know it. This ability is especially useful in fights, since each Khet knows what the others around it are going to do, as well as knowing what their prey is going to do.
Khetzel moves like a snake (although she sorta waddles when she walks due to her huge hips). Just like a cobra, she is lightning-quick when she needs to be. Much like a snake, no expression or emotion is shown on her face (or rarely, if it is). Ever seen a snake exhibit happiness? What about sadness? Depression? Anger? They all kinda look the same.
Unlike the Khet species, Khetzel is capable of full speech, though her voice is closer to a whisper than a normal speaking tone. The Khets themselves often communicate with the Asar (Onika's species) via telepathy, since their throats and mouths are not designed for speech (nor expression). Vocal speech from say, Treska, would be short and to the point. Rather than saying "I want you to sit in that chair over there while you wait for your friend to arrive", she'd likely say "Wait in chair, friend come". They're just not made to vocalize.
The vast majority of the characters in that particular story are most certainly not intended as "fap material". I imagine some folks might think it's "sexy" that Khets and Asars run around nude, but their civilization doesn't really wear clothing. Khets never do, and Asar only wear stuff when either going to the marketplace, or if there is a special ceremony coming up. So, yeah, there's nudity in the story, but it's not intended as a "sexy" kinda nude. Think of it as the difference between the chicks you see in "National Geographic" and "Penthouse Magazine". They're both nude, but the mood isn't quite the same. ;P
>
> It would be interesting to see how we would go, if we were dropped into their world. Let's assume we were stuck in human form, they had seen humans before and didn't try to exterminate us; ie, safe for the immediate. I am guessing that it would be a huge learning curve - like the first time overseas to a country where you don't speak the language, plus all the strangeness of different species. It would be a real eye-opener!
In Khetzel's world, it'd likely be a short-lived experience! But it might not be too bad in the skunk's world. Then again, it depends on how you act. Remember, these folks are more in tune with their animal sides than we are (in a sense), so they'd be able to recognize odd behavior, the scent of fear, whatever. And while they are intelligent like humans, they also have the strength and whatever natural ability their particular species might have. I'm sure even someone as sweet as Onyx could fatally injure an attacker with nothing more than teeth and claws. No need to spray them!
I would imagine there would be inquisitive folks in their world who probably wouldn't raise a hand to hurt a human being, either because they feel it is wrong, or they see no reason to do so. Killing in self-defense in accepted, but murder is not.
>
> Thinking of insights to Jim's worlds; I wonder if the secret site will be released, or whether its material will just appear on the regular site? Or has it been backburnered for another decade? ;-)
When the site is up, you'll have to just look around to see if you can find it! I won't make it easy to find, you know.
--JMH
Received on Tue Sep 22 2009 - 22:31:09 CDT