What kind of animals should Ballybran have? - A Meeting of Minds

***Pam*** · Feb 19 2005, 10:22 PM

Since there seems to be a shortage of Ballybran life mentioned in the CS books, lets make up our own! What sort of creatures do you think Ballybran might/should have?

ghyle · Feb 20 2005, 04:51 PM

voles! and lots of them...

herrings!

crabs!

bigger crabs!

cheese!

Spaceman Spiff · May 25 2006, 03:19 AM

Horny toed swamp bears!

No seriously! One of the people says, "By the horny toes of a swamp bear!" Now this doesn't necessarily mean that it's Ballybranian, since all of the people come from other planets, but it's still up for speculation!

Kath · May 25 2006, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghyle

herrings!

I second the herrings.

Plus lots of other fish - Ballybran has seas and fishermen, right?

edith · May 25 2006, 06:01 AM

Seriously, how about simple structures such as amoebae and Hydra that reproduce asexually? Perhaps they wouldn't be affected by the reproduction problem as I assume cells still split on ballybran.

Thom · May 26 2006, 11:30 AM

Lots of Marine Life - there's the Director of the Farms and Fisheries on the Council.

Probably not so many grazing animals, in fact I wouldn't expect any - since the sea/water's more likely to give protection from mach storms and passover, whereas a grazing animal would have more problems

annachie · May 28 2006, 06:16 PM

Well, there are indications of fish life, crustacians of some sort, and worms.

Given the plants there's a chance of insects, mostly beetles, but then the only 'native' plants mentioned are grasses, and wind born polination/seeding would be somewhat effective on Ballybran.

Fish, beetles, worms, and crustacians.

Then a faint chance of spiders.

I wonder if cockroaches have made it to ballybran and if they would survive.

Becky · Jun 2 2006, 01:31 AM

LOL, annachie!!! Cockroaches, I think they'll conquer the galaxy at some point!

I think that Ballybran needs spiders. (not that I like spiders) But I think insects and small animals should be there. Maybe wolves? They are tough animals and probably the largest that Ballybran should have.

PernesePhoenix · Nov 8 2006, 10:46 AM

amphibians - that way they can be on land and water. when the machstorms happen they smart ones will survive by retreating back into the water.

insects - so the amphibians have stuff to eat on land. Mole Crickets definitly.

sea life - sea monkies and other shrimp, giant seaslugs

, some sort of aquatic mammals

a platypus type animal, after all the world needs more freaks. lol

Greenrider Tresa · Nov 8 2006, 02:53 PM

Rodents - they can live anywhere. But on Ballybran they'd be burrowers and eat insects and worms.

***Hans*** · Nov 9 2006, 11:48 AM

An abundant sealife for sure as they probably are bothered less by the Mach storms.

On land... hmm, creatures who are good in hiding and digging in? Deaf creatures who find their way by smell and sight seem appropriate.

I'll think on this some more.

Sandi · Nov 9 2006, 08:57 PM

How about a six legged animal with a long body, short legs and a long, well muscled tail. It could be a vegetarian, since we know there is plant life. It could have a jointed, armored exterior along the lines of an armadillo. some sort of sucker arrangement on the pads of its feet would be useful climbing rock faces but it also needs clawed toes. It should have active sensory whiskers here and there to sense changes in wind and it should be able to burrow quickly, seal it's ear and eye openings and bundle itself up in a sort of torpor to wait out storms.

PernesePhoenix · Nov 10 2006, 07:58 PM

Just look at the thing.

It'd be perfect as a semi subteranean lifeform on Ballybran.

Menderofillusions · Dec 3 2006, 05:53 PM

What about Crystline type piggie's (Enders Game Series by Card) After the animal life it becomes the crystal, and then the crystal becomes the animal?
Oh gosh that would mean the crystal would be sentiant. Think about it... Crystal Line...stuff seemed sentiant to me.

Bowerbird · Jan 13 2007, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Menderofillusions

What about Crystline type piggie's (Enders Game Series by Card) After the animal life it becomes the crystal, and then the crystal becomes the animal?
Oh gosh that would mean the crystal would be sentiant. Think about it... Crystal Line...stuff seemed sentiant to me.

Now THAT is creative and brings the germ of a whole new series.

What if the crystal IS sentient? It would exist in it's own time and space. Hmmmm - let me think on this and I will get back to you with a new possible plot outline.

Milander · Apr 30 2007, 08:07 PM

Given the conditions described in the books, I'd have to guess at reptilian/lizardish life forms. However, as the planet has extensive aquatic areas you'd would also have to see or envision a more extensive environment based on water breathers.... hmm. The severity of the Storms would knock out the idea of avians unless you could create monster birds able to deal with those kind of winds. My money would be on a vast amd complex aquatic environmental system as the storms would have forced most life into the waters to escape them and the subsequent damage they would receive from the brain damage the storms cause through their interaction with the crystals.

Then again, whole ecosystems could have evolved with desensetized or negligible (forgive my spelling) hearing abilities. In that respect Sci-Fi is remarkably forgiving. Gosh, given enough thought I supose we could create a whole ecosystem based on a lack of hearing/brain augmentation etc to explain away their survival. ÍDoesn't Anne mention farming complexes on the planets surface too.. I'm sure I read that in there, and it would suggest that some areas of the planet are far less susceptable to the storms.

gonna try another thread now... tc

granath · May 9 2007, 04:04 PM

Yeah, the storms don't affect all parts of the planet equally. Mainly the ranges, and it would make sense to locate the headquarters of the Heptite Guild near a range.

Feb 19 2005, 10:22 PM	#1
*Pam* Heptite Guildmaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Four Corners Fan of: Lars Dahl	What kind of animals should Ballybran have? Since there seems to be a shortage of Ballybran life mentioned in the CS books, lets make up our own! What sort of creatures do you think Ballybran might/should have? __________________ You can take me down, you can show me your home. Not the place where you live, but the place where you belong. ~Toad the Wet Sprocket The Crystal Singer Continuum

Feb 20 2005, 04:51 PM	#2
ghyle Hrruban Eighth Hrruban Speaker Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: northeast New South Wales Gender: M Fan of: Pern & Freedom Now Reading: The Umbrella Club / David Brooks	Re: What kind of animals should Ballybran have? voles! and lots of them... herrings! crabs! bigger crabs! cheese!

May 25 2006, 03:19 AM	#3
Spaceman Spiff Inactive Join Date: Mar 2005 Gender: M Fan of: PERN!!! Now Reading: Lord of the Rings	Re: What kind of animals should Ballybran have? Horny toed swamp bears! No seriously! One of the people says, "By the horny toes of a swamp bear!" Now this doesn't necessarily mean that it's Ballybranian, since all of the people come from other planets, but it's still up for speculation!

May 25 2006, 06:01 AM	#5
edith Dragonrider Weyrwoman Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Delft Gender: F Fan of: Most of them :) Now Reading: Don't You Have Time To Think- RP Feynman	Re: What kind of animals should Ballybran have? Seriously, how about simple structures such as amoebae and Hydra that reproduce asexually? Perhaps they wouldn't be affected by the reproduction problem as I assume cells still split on ballybran.

May 26 2006, 11:30 AM	#6
Thom Inactive Join Date: May 2006 Location: Reading University Gender: M Fan of: All of them Now Reading: Throne of Jade	Re: What kind of animals should Ballybran have? Lots of Marine Life - there's the Director of the Farms and Fisheries on the Council. Probably not so many grazing animals, in fact I wouldn't expect any - since the sea/water's more likely to give protection from mach storms and passover, whereas a grazing animal would have more problems

May 28 2006, 06:16 PM	#7
annachie Inactive Join Date: May 2006 Location: Australia Gender: M Fan of: Dragonsinger	Re: What kind of animals should Ballybran have? Well, there are indications of fish life, crustacians of some sort, and worms. Given the plants there's a chance of insects, mostly beetles, but then the only 'native' plants mentioned are grasses, and wind born polination/seeding would be somewhat effective on Ballybran. Fish, beetles, worms, and crustacians. Then a faint chance of spiders. I wonder if cockroaches have made it to ballybran and if they would survive.

Jun 2 2006, 01:31 AM	#8
Becky Coelura Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Washington Gender: F Fan of: Fav character - Lunzie Now Reading: Love reading Lanen's books too	Re: What kind of animals should Ballybran have? LOL, annachie!!! Cockroaches, I think they'll conquer the galaxy at some point! I think that Ballybran needs spiders. (not that I like spiders) But I think insects and small animals should be there. Maybe wolves? They are tough animals and probably the largest that Ballybran should have. __________________ Becky aka Coelura1

Nov 8 2006, 10:46 AM	#9
PernesePhoenix Holder Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Gainesville, Florida Gender: M Fan of: Jaxom Now Reading: Materials & Methods	Re: What kind of animals should Ballybran have? amphibians - that way they can be on land and water. when the machstorms happen they smart ones will survive by retreating back into the water. insects - so the amphibians have stuff to eat on land. Mole Crickets definitly. sea life - sea monkies and other shrimp, giant seaslugs , some sort of aquatic mammals a platypus type animal, after all the world needs more freaks. lol Last edited by PernesePhoenix; Nov 8 2006 at 07:27 PM.

Nov 8 2006, 02:53 PM	#10
Greenrider Tresa The Contrary Planetary Brain Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Gender: F Fan of: The Ship Who Searched Now Reading: The Calhoun Collection, Nora Roberts	Re: What kind of animals should Ballybran have? Rodents - they can live anywhere. But on Ballybran they'd be burrowers and eat insects and worms. __________________ Thinking, understanding, reasoning, willing, call not these Soul! They are its actions, but they are not its essence. Akhenaton? (c. B.C. 1375) Egyptian King and Monotheist

Nov 9 2006, 11:48 AM	#11
*Hans* Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Netherlands Gender: M Fan of: Pern!	Re: What kind of animals should Ballybran have? An abundant sealife for sure as they probably are bothered less by the Mach storms. On land... hmm, creatures who are good in hiding and digging in? Deaf creatures who find their way by smell and sight seem appropriate. I'll think on this some more. __________________ Hans, also known as Elrhan, Master Archivist Visit The Pern Museum & Archives for all your Pern and Anne McCaffrey News and Resources! The Pern Museum & Archives is the home of the Pern Encyclopedia and the Pern Bloodlines.

Nov 9 2006, 08:57 PM	#12
Sandi Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Gender: F	Re: What kind of animals should Ballybran have? How about a six legged animal with a long body, short legs and a long, well muscled tail. It could be a vegetarian, since we know there is plant life. It could have a jointed, armored exterior along the lines of an armadillo. some sort of sucker arrangement on the pads of its feet would be useful climbing rock faces but it also needs clawed toes. It should have active sensory whiskers here and there to sense changes in wind and it should be able to burrow quickly, seal it's ear and eye openings and bundle itself up in a sort of torpor to wait out storms.

Nov 10 2006, 07:58 PM	#13
PernesePhoenix Holder Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Gainesville, Florida Gender: M Fan of: Jaxom Now Reading: Materials & Methods	Re: What kind of animals should Ballybran have? Just look at the thing. It'd be perfect as a semi subteranean lifeform on Ballybran.

Dec 3 2006, 05:53 PM	#14
Menderofillusions Inactive Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Washington, the state not the district Gender: F Fan of: Freedom's, Doona, Petaybe Now Reading: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stien	Re: What kind of animals should Ballybran have? What about Crystline type piggie's (Enders Game Series by Card) After the animal life it becomes the crystal, and then the crystal becomes the animal? Oh gosh that would mean the crystal would be sentiant. Think about it... Crystal Line...stuff seemed sentiant to me.

Apr 30 2007, 08:07 PM	#16
Milander Inactive Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hungary Gender: M Fan of: The ship who... series Now Reading: Going Postal - Terry Pratchett	Re: What kind of animals should Ballybran have? Given the conditions described in the books, I'd have to guess at reptilian/lizardish life forms. However, as the planet has extensive aquatic areas you'd would also have to see or envision a more extensive environment based on water breathers.... hmm. The severity of the Storms would knock out the idea of avians unless you could create monster birds able to deal with those kind of winds. My money would be on a vast amd complex aquatic environmental system as the storms would have forced most life into the waters to escape them and the subsequent damage they would receive from the brain damage the storms cause through their interaction with the crystals. Then again, whole ecosystems could have evolved with desensetized or negligible (forgive my spelling) hearing abilities. In that respect Sci-Fi is remarkably forgiving. Gosh, given enough thought I supose we could create a whole ecosystem based on a lack of hearing/brain augmentation etc to explain away their survival. ÍDoesn't Anne mention farming complexes on the planets surface too.. I'm sure I read that in there, and it would suggest that some areas of the planet are far less susceptable to the storms. gonna try another thread now... tc

May 9 2007, 04:04 PM	#17
granath Talent Tower Prime Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Proud Mom! Gender: F Fan of: Afra Lyon Now Reading: Faye Upton: Dragonchoice 3	Re: What kind of animals should Ballybran have? Yeah, the storms don't affect all parts of the planet equally. Mainly the ranges, and it would make sense to locate the headquarters of the Heptite Guild near a range. __________________ Decaf coffee is an oxymoron. Instant coffee is an abomination. Give me the real thing and nobody gets hurt. "Do. Or do not. There is no try" -- Yoda VP of the Afra Lyon fan club!

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