transcript 04/12/2011

After a couple weeks of twitter fails, and low to no attendance. #mythbeasts came back with a vengeance. Shapeshifters in all their glory

@leapetra 30 mins until the shapeshifters come out! #mythbeasts 6:01 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra getting ready for chat. Other than werewolves, what are some of your favorite shapeshifters? I have mine! #mythbeasts 6:10 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra in 10 mins What did Loki and Odin do when they were women? #mythbeasts 6:19 PM Apr 12th, 2011


@leapetra Alright Simpsons are over ready to talk about shapeshifters? #mythbeasts 6:28 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra Anyone joining me for chat tonight, I am ready #mythbeasts 6:30 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@WeegZilla #mythbeasts what you chatting about tonight? 6:33 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@HollyIMerriday @leapetra I'll chat with ya! I need some myth & magic to take my mind of stressful day @ work! #mythbeasts :) 6:33 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @WeegZilla shapeshifters. All shapes and sizes #mythbeasts 6:34 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles Love me some shapeshifters! #mythbeasts 6:34 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra werewolves come to mind, but anyone have any other favorites? #mythbeasts 6:35 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @giggilles Another one to add to my list #mythbeasts 6:36 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles My first intro to shapeshifters was reading Sheri Tepper's Mavin Manyshaped years ago in the 80's. Heard of her series? #mythbeasts 6:36 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@HollyIMerriday #mythbeasts I like the "Finfolk". Mermaids. Selkies. What would you call someone who morphs into a dolphin? 6:36 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles @HollyIMerriday Dolphin, eh? I think you have freedom to do what you want there. Don't think it's established. #mythbeasts 6:37 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @HollyIMerriday That's and interesting question. Just dolphins or whales as well? #mythbeasts 6:37 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra One I recently found was the Leshy. He can change into many animals and mushrooms #mythbeasts 6:38 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@WeegZilla #mythbeasts doubelgangers 6:38 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @k_h_koehler Join us at #mythbeasts flesh eating mermaids sound interesting 6:38 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles @leapetra Leshy? What mythos is that? #mythbeasts 6:39 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @WeegZilla Those are freaky #mythbeasts 6:39 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@TruthTeller10 RT @argylestyle: RT @leapetra: werewolves come to mind, but anyone have any other favorites? #mythbeasts / compassionate conservatives 6:39 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles This was the first one of the Mavin/Tepper series. She can take all forms. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/89590 #mythbeasts 6:39 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@HollyIMerriday #mythbeasts Have a dolphin shifter in my WIP so looking for suggestions... I was really excited when @leapetra announced this as topic! 6:40 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @giggilles Slavic / Polish they loved to trick people in the woods and kidnap women. #mythbeasts 6:40 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @Pyris hey! Ravenkin? #mythbeasts 6:42 PM Apr 12th, 2011


@leapetra @HollyIMerriday I wonder if the pacific islanders would have something like that #mythbeasts 6:42 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles @leapetra Gotta love beasts that lure you into the woods. It's so primaeval. #mythbeasts 6:42 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@Pyris Hi everyone! What about Ravenkin? #mythbeasts 6:42 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@HollyIMerriday @leapetra Ooh, good thought on the Pacific Islanders. I have good mermaids though. #mythbeasts 6:44 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@WeegZilla #mythbeasts I created me own shapechangers HellSpawn created from the blood of the great Dragon Hell when it fell to earth.. 6:44 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@Pyris Re: Ravenkin: I've only encountered them in an RP setting (Ravenloft) but I thought the concept was very good #mythbeasts 6:44 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @giggilles I have a special place in my heart for woodland tricksters #mythbeasts 6:44 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@HollyIMerriday @leapetra As well as a VERY heroic and yummy merman! :) #mythbeasts 6:45 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @WeegZilla Shapeshifter dragon? or something else? #mythbeasts 6:46 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@Pyris @weegzilla that sounds pretty intense #mythbeasts 6:47 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@Pyris @weegzilla that sounds pretty intense #mythbeasts 6:47 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@HollyIMerriday #mythbeasts I'm more Paranormal Romance so I need my characters a little kinder & gentler. 6:47 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles One of my beast ;) peeves is when authors don't deal with the mechanics of the shapechanging itself. When it's glossed over. #mythbeasts 6:48 PM Apr 12th, 2011


@HollyIMerriday @giggilles Mechanics? #mythbeasts 6:49 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @giggilles Pratchett did a good job of handling it with Angula. You never see her change because she is modest. #mythbeasts 6:49 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles I want to feel the internal struggle between beast and human. I want to feel the fight between the two elements. #mythbeasts 6:50 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles @leapetra Oh I need to read that now. Thanks. #mythbeasts 6:51 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@HollyIMerriday @giggilles Ah! What about HOW/WHY they changed initially? #mythbeasts 6:52 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @giggilles any of the Discworld that deal with the City Watch from Men at Arms on. She is my favorite werewolf #mythbeasts 6:52 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@HollyIMerriday #mythbeasts Some Shifters are born that way, w/ mine, it's result of what villain has done to them. 6:54 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles @HollyIMerriday Yes, what ties ties them to each world. Real shifters have reasons for why they have alter egos. i.e. Trickery #mythbeasts 6:54 PM Apr 12th, 2011


@leapetra @HollyIMerriday @giggilles do you think some don't have that issue, like the ones born with the ability, or would all of them? #mythbeasts 6:54 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles @leapetra Well a Leshy would do it to feed, yes? Holly's do it because the villain changed them. #mythbeasts 6:55 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @giggilles I think Leshy do it to mess with people that mess with the woods. #mythbeasts 6:56 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@WeegZilla #mythbeasts Hell was 1 of the 7 great dragons . it went rouge but was defeated by 2 lesser dragons when they team up. 6:56 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles @leapetra @HollyIMerriday I have ones who were changed by a being to be its speaker. #mythbeasts 6:58 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@Pyris Most of the shifters I write about are born that way. Some have issues with it and some don't, it depends on their temperament #mythbeasts 6:58 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra What about humans and gods that choose to change. Like Loki and Odin, changing to women #mythbeasts 6:58 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@HollyIMerriday #mythbeasts My merman (Mentor to MC) balances two identities as a means of protecting others. He's a school teacher by day... 6:58 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles @Pyris being a shifter sets you aside. you're not a part of the standard world or culture. #mythbeasts 6:59 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @jennspiller They both became women and other females. Both had children that way too. #mythbeasts 6:59 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@jennspiller @leapetra Loki and Odin changed to women? I don't know those stories. Interesting. #mythbeasts 6:59 PM Apr 12th, 2011


@WeegZilla @leapetra or Zeus turning into a golden shower.. kinky bugger #mythbeasts 7:00 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles @leapetra are the gods truly shifters, or just impersonators ? #mythbeasts 7:00 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@jennspiller @leapetra Cool. I need to look this up. #mythbeasts 7:00 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@HollyIMerriday #mythbeasts And bad a-- demon slayer by night! ;) 7:00 PM Apr 12th, 2011


@leapetra @WeegZilla I think Zeus beats Odin and Loki for the amounts of different things he changed into #mythbeasts 7:01 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@Pyris Ohh yes @leapetra! And Zeus, the great philanderer #mythbeasts 7:01 PM Apr 12th, 2011


@leapetra @WeegZilla Oh yes, vampires change change many shapes. Not too much in movies lately. #mythbeasts 7:03 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @giggilles that's a good question. What would make them true shapeshifters? #mythbeasts 7:03 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@WeegZilla psychic vampires can change shape since they are asteral projections they can learn to change shape at will #mythbeasts 7:03 PM Apr 12th, 2011


@HollyIMerriday @giggilles @leapetra What did you mean by "changed by a being to be its speaker"? Interesting notion! #mythbeasts :) 7:05 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles @leapetra I'm not sure. Gods have so many more powers, versus shifters who only have 1 - 2 forms or varied forms. #mythbeasts 7:05 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles @leapetra Perhaps it's better to say that shapeshifting is a skill gods have? #mythbeasts 7:06 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@Pyris Aren't there also quite a few references to Celtic bards changing shape too, especially after spending time in the underworld? #mythbeasts 7:06 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@WeegZilla the morrigan are shapeshifters they can appear as any of the trinity. young girl. woman. or old hag. #mythbeasts 7:07 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles @HollyIMerriday @leapetra It's my story, a shifter race can transform others into shifters like itself, and uses them. #mythbeasts 7:08 PM Apr 12th, 2011


@HollyIMerriday @giggilles @leapetra Oh, cool! :) #mythbeasts 7:09 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles @WeegZilla The Morrigan is also a deity/goddess. #mythbeasts 7:09 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@Scramasax77 @leapetra regular species (not hybrids), but super endowed? E.g. Nighteyes the wolf (Hobb) or Shadowfax the horse (Tolkien)? #mythbeasts 7:09 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @Scramasax77 Not much done with that, but interesting to have animals that become more human #mythbeasts 7:10 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles @Pyris I hadn't heard that, but that's very nifty. #mythbeasts 7:10 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra Shapesfhiting as a punishment? Do you think those stories are warnings or tragedies? #mythbeasts 7:12 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@WeegZilla #mythbeasts. there are those who can change shape at will and there are those who's shape was changed through curse or spell 7:13 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @Scramasax77 And then I remember the Lancre witches turning Greebo the tomcat into a man. Very handsome, rouge man #mythbeasts 7:13 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@Pyris @giggilles I was specifically thinking of Taliesin but the Celtic hero Cu Chulainn does it too. #mythbeasts 7:14 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@Pyris @leapetra Both, which we touched on when discussing Medusa #mythbeasts 7:15 PM Apr 12th, 2011


@HollyIMerriday #mythbeasts My villain thinks they are doing the planet a favor by getting rid of humans. 7:16 PM Apr 12th, 2011


@leapetra @WeegZilla One of my favorite movies. #mythbeasts 7:17 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra The only shapeshifter I have wrote about is a family of werewolves and a leshy. The vampires have lost how to change #mythbeasts 7:17 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@WeegZilla Ladyhawk is a good example of a shapeshifting curse #mythbeasts 7:17 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@HollyIMerriday #mythbeasts But there is another character, a good character who fixes it so the victims have human form until sundown. 7:18 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@Pyris mmmm, Ladyhawk #mythbeasts 7:20 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @giggilles werewolves, moon cycles, and pms all related. #mythbeasts 7:21 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles #VampireDiaries has a curse for the werewolves and vampires, and why it keeps the wolves on a monthly schedule #mythbeasts 7:21 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@HollyIMerriday #mythbeasts Which I kind of "stole" from Ladyhawke & Shrek! :) @Vigil_Merriday is a little different though... 7:21 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles So some modern shows are keeping the curse motif. They don't become wolves until they kill. #vd #mythbeasts 7:22 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles @leapetra Yeah, how is it pms and werewolves are suddenly on par? seriously? #mythbeasts 7:23 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@HollyIMerriday #mythbeasts @Vigil_Merriday can take either form any time of the day or night as he has Fey blood on his mother's side. :) 7:23 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @giggilles There is a way to become a werewolf that is related to that, but I don't want to gross ppl out on chat #mythbeasts 7:24 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles @leapetra oh, ewwww! yeah no. #mythbeasts 7:25 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@jolantru RT @leapetra: Shapesfhiting as a punishment? Do you think those stories are warnings or tragedies? #mythbeasts 7:25 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @WeegZilla Link? #mythbeasts 7:25 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@WeegZilla I have a collection of short stories called Origins it's my ideas on the Origins of Mythical creatures #mythbeasts 7:25 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra I know chat will be over soon, but if anyone wants to keep going that cool. #mythbeasts 7:27 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@HollyIMerriday @leapetra Yeah! I'm having fun! :) #mythbeasts 7:28 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra shapeshifters are a vast category. #mythbeasts 7:30 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles I need to bail soon. Have a wee beast to feed, else he'll transform. You don't want to know into what. #mythbeasts 7:31 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@WeegZilla on subject how werewolves come into being. vampires. you become a vampire if you drink their blood a bite from them your a ghoul #mythbeasts 7:31 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@getfanged RT @leapetra: shapeshifters are a vast category. #mythbeasts 7:32 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra Anyone want a clue about that "thing" Type O Negative's song Wolfsmoon has a nice poetic description. #mythbeasts 7:33 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@Pyris I have to vanish as well as it's late here in the UK #mythbeasts 7:34 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra Next week! Phoenix! #mythbeasts 7:35 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra Alright, this chat went well, helps when there are no technical difficulties #mythbeasts 7:35 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@cdreimer In my developing vampire mythos, the vampire king can shapeshift into anything. Regular vampires cannot. #mythbeasts 7:36 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@jimbronyaur Sorry to intrude, but what is #mythbeasts ? 7:36 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @jimbronyaur new chat on Tuesdays. Talking about any creatures in myth and folklore #mythbeasts 7:37 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@jimbronyaur @leapetra Ah, very nice! What time is it held??? (and can I join in on the fun?) #mythbeasts 7:38 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@giggilles good chat all. see you for phoenix action next week! #mythbeasts 7:38 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @cdreimer I know why I limited my vampires, but not many modern writers want their vampires to shapeshift anymore #mythbeasts 7:39 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@cdreimer The vampire queen can shapeshift into a smaller form, say a raven. She hides among humans to bear the next vampire king baby. #mythbeasts 7:39 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @jimbronyaur 6:30 to 7:30 pm Eastern Time #mythbeasts 7:39 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@Pyris See everyone next week then o/ #mythbeasts 7:43 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@cdreimer @leapetra I think everyone is trying to get away from the generic vampire to do something different. I'm a traditionalist. #mythbeasts 7:43 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @Pyris bye bye #mythbeasts 7:44 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @cdreimer So am I, its something they have to rediscover. #mythbeasts 7:44 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@jimbronyaur @leapetra Cool! I'll be there next week. #mythbeasts 7:45 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@cdreimer @leapetra Besides, if Dracula didn't turn into a bat in "Love At First Bite," who would ever scream about a black chicken? LOL #mythbeasts 7:46 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@cdreimer #mythbeasts RT @WeirdWarEditor: @cdreimer I have yet to read ... how shapeshifting doesn't violate law of the conservation of mass, though! 7:52 PM Apr 12th, 2011


@cdreimer Quantum mechanics might be the exception for shapeshifting if you want to ruin horror with a scientific facts. #mythbeasts 7:53 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@cdreimer When the sorcerers shapeshift into wolves or birds in David Eddings's fantasy series, everything is still there but it isn't. #mythbeasts 7:58 PM Apr 12th, 2011

@leapetra @cdreimer Interesting to think about, with transhumanism, would shapeshifting be as easy as downloading an app? #mythbeasts 8:01 PM Apr 12th, 2011