Is a Beorning a Human or Animal?

Today I take a look at my second game session with my Beorning in LOTRO and the first actual chapter in Dune and I noticed a common theme…Animals vs. Humans. Is my Pangolyn who can transform into a bear or a human an animal or a human? Is Paul Atreides a human being able to overcome his basic instincts or an animal subject to the whims of evolution? Would my Beorning survive the Bene Gesserit test? Would the Blackwolds?

Sifting for Humans

Having looked at balance in the prologue we come to the proper start of Dune and like I mentioned, there really aren’t chapters but sections separated by quotes from historical documents.

There is a ton of good stuff in this chapter but if I had to narrow things down I would say from my point of view, the distinction and separation of humans from animals is the key to this chapter. The Reverend Mother mentions the concept a number of times, her test is designed to kill animals while allowing humans to advance, and even the gom jabber poison is designed only to kill animals.

The bottom line is that Paul was able to pass the tests and proove that he is human. Again, this is a must read.

Quests 2 to 5 Levels Over My Head

Yesterday Pangolyn jumped into Middle Earth and started her journey at Grimbeorn Lodge.  Because I was only able to play a short game session,  she was only able to get through the starting quests but she leveled up to level 3.  This was a good beginning, but from my research, after I accepted that I was done in the starting zone, I was supposed to be advanced to level 5 as I moved into Archet.

That didn’t happen. Instead I had to level up on my own.

With quests that were designed to be run by characters 2 to 5 levels above me, I went out and tried to gain some experience outside the questing system. And it wasn’t too long before I reached level 4.

With only a short time to play today, I leveled up and completed the one level 5 quest I had and I think it was a good one to kick off my time in Archet…Burying the Dead. After the evils of the Blackwold attacks on the town it was right and just that I went out and made time to pay last respects to those who gave their lives fighting to protect the innocent civilians.

Ramble 2 Badger 2| Is a Beorning a Human or Animal?