February 2024 SN Magi Comparative Breeding Studies
DOI:20.200000024/0M65//0vvP4l5
Magi Merkwerkee
Abstract:
This paper is a review of the creation of Snopals during attempted Silvan Otter breedings. Snopals are magical constructs created by a mixture of snow, ambient magic, and the otters' own talents. Snopals themselves tend to be otter-like in appearance, though exact shapings vary by the design of the otter that created them. The fact that they appear most often when the otters are in a heightened state of creative frenzy suggests that their creation takes a very specific type of energy.
Introduction
Silvan Otters are magical creatures found primarily in mountain streams on the westward side of the Alasre Mountains, ranging from near the constantly-frozen peaks down into the Silvan Forest itself. Extremely social, they tend to live in large family groups on the banks of the rivers they fish in for their dinners. The otters are social enough that the members of the family group are often not all otters; it's not unusual to see a bevy of otters include Passeri Gryphons, Minirrells, and sometimes even larger creatures like Nulorns or Serpaens.
This intense social drive interacts strangely with a Silvan Otter's magic; Silvan Otters can, at any time of day and any season in the year, generate their own body weight and more in snow. While younger otters tend to use this ability for mischief, adult otters use it to create elaborate sculptures at any time of the year. These sculptures can then be affected by the otters' magic and come to life in the form of a Snopal.
Snopals are not, in the strictest sense of the word, creatures. They are constructs animated by Silvan Otters, and while they are not under the command of the otters they are devoted to them. A Snopal will remain with the otter who created it until the day the otter dies, barring misadventure, though there is no concrete data about what happens after that point.
The creation of Snopals only happens when Silvan Otters are breeding - or attempting to breed. This suggests that creating Snopals take a very specific type of creative energy.
This intense social drive interacts strangely with a Silvan Otter's magic; Silvan Otters can, at any time of day and any season in the year, generate their own body weight and more in snow. While younger otters tend to use this ability for mischief, adult otters use it to create elaborate sculptures at any time of the year. These sculptures can then be affected by the otters' magic and come to life in the form of a Snopal.
Snopals are not, in the strictest sense of the word, creatures. They are constructs animated by Silvan Otters, and while they are not under the command of the otters they are devoted to them. A Snopal will remain with the otter who created it until the day the otter dies, barring misadventure, though there is no concrete data about what happens after that point.
The creation of Snopals only happens when Silvan Otters are breeding - or attempting to breed. This suggests that creating Snopals take a very specific type of creative energy.
Conclusions
The experiment was run over the course of several hours. Of a total 32 valid breeding attempts, 21 - approximately 2/3rds - produced a Snopal, even if an otter egg was not produced. 2 attempts were discarded from the study because [REDACTED].
The high incidence rate suggests that Silvan Otters desire the companionship of a Snopal very strongly. The fact that Snopals only appear during Silvan Otter breeding attempts is indicative that some aspect of the breeding also causes Snopals to spontaneously generate.
This study could be made better by a longer testing time, to see if the high Snopal incidence rate is influenced by the season.
The high incidence rate suggests that Silvan Otters desire the companionship of a Snopal very strongly. The fact that Snopals only appear during Silvan Otter breeding attempts is indicative that some aspect of the breeding also causes Snopals to spontaneously generate.
This study could be made better by a longer testing time, to see if the high Snopal incidence rate is influenced by the season.
Data
34 total breeding attempts
All Silvan Otters in their Winter aspects
Result: Otter Only
7
21.88%
Result: Otter + Snopal
13
40.63%
Result: Snopal Only
8
25%
Result: No Progeny
4
12.5%
2 breeding attempts removed from study pool for [REDACTED]
All Silvan Otters in their Winter aspects
Result: Otter Only
7
21.88%
Result: Otter + Snopal
13
40.63%
Result: Snopal Only
8
25%
Result: No Progeny
4
12.5%
2 breeding attempts removed from study pool for [REDACTED]
Citations
PkGriffin. “Snopal #1066.” Magistream, December 19, 2019. Accessed February 27, 2024. bestiary/1071.
Sochitelya. “Silvan Otter #553.” Magistream, December 16, 2014. Accessed February 27, 2024. bestiary/558.
Rosehill. “Breeding Records.” Magistream, February 7, 2024. Accessed February 27, 2024. records/breeding.
Sochitelya. “Silvan Otter #553.” Magistream, December 16, 2014. Accessed February 27, 2024. bestiary/558.
Rosehill. “Breeding Records.” Magistream, February 7, 2024. Accessed February 27, 2024. records/breeding.
