Ask me a question! InCryptid knowledge party.

Probably too spoilery, but I'll take a shot at asking it in a non-spoilery, universe-construction way...

I'm curious about the role that governments play in the human-cryptid equation. I find it hard to imagine that the US government (as an example) doesn't know about the existence of cryptids within the population. However, I could easily see that they wouldn't want the general population to know about them (panic, purges, general destabilization of the status quo). There'd be a dynamic between wanting to exploit them (military applications, etc) but knowing that such attempts would open up the possibility of increasing awareness by the public. I could also see that the Covenant might affect this equation - to do their job, they probably need to interact with governments, but I'd bet they'd be against any exploitation, as it means the cryptids are being allowed to survive. So, do the various governments (past or present) know about the cryptids, and if not, how have they been able to keep below governmental radar?

Okay, here's one I've been wondering about. Witches have been mentioned more than once in the first volume. What makes a witch? Is it an inherited (i.e. genetic) talent, a learned skill, the result of a bargain with some sort of known or unknown entity, or some combination of the above? Is there a moral-values component to it (that is, is the act of using magic inherently immoral or moral, or just a tool whose morality depends upon its application)? Is it exclusively a human talent, or can cryptids use it too...and are some races better at it than others? Is witchcraft the only form of magic, or do other distinctive magical arts exist? Is is a subtle art (a la Pratchett's witches) or a flashy one (calling down thunderbolts)? And have the Prices or the Covenant counted users of witchcraft among their number?

Okay, maybe that's six or seven questions. But I suppose as a general summary: "Witches. What's up with them?"

Random other question I remembered.

Can you tell us more about hidebehinds? I was thrilled to discover that they weren't something my grandfather invented to entertain us--that is, to see them in Discount Armageddon. Where do they live? How do you find them? Why are they called hidebehinds?

The Madhura desire sweets, are there any other species with particular culinary affinities? Does this transfer into actual culinary skills and practice or just a fondness for certain foods?

So, does the covenant operate routinely in the Continental US/North America? If MyTown is invaded by Cryptids, am I more likely to see Prices or Covenanters?

The Prices are cryptozoologists. Are there cryptobotanists? Anybody out there searching for the rose daisy?

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

In case you're still taking questions:

Are there other societies that study the incryptids? Do these other societies have conflict with either the Covenant or the Price family?

I picture this as something like an internal SETI.

I have a question -- what do the titles have to do with the series' subject matter? I love this world, but I'm not quite seeing the clearance connection.

You've made a few references to witches. What can you tell us about magic users?
Is magic as a study an exclusively human practice, with cryptids using their innate magical abilities? How common are magic users? Can anyone learn magic, or is magical talent virtually a cryptid trait in its own right? And what is the Covenant's relationship with magic and magic users?

Horrible, evil woman.

I can't wait. :)

What happens if one of the Healy-Price-Etc family aren't heterosexual? What if a Price priestess brings home a girlfriend, does she become a goddess? If a Price God brings home a boyfriend, is he a priest? And why did the Aeslin mice start calling Frannie a priestess within moments of Jonathan meeting her?