Let's take a look at this DC/Onceborn/Redeemable discussion from exactly
the opposite. First, Determine who the OLMN redeemed. We've already decided
that: Mankind. Unmovable fact. The question to answer is not, then, can a
DC or dragon be redeemed... that's already answered. The only question is,
how do you define "mankind?" I would stay away from the term "Humanity."
Mankind sounds more like "Man and his kind" - much easier to work in
fantasy elements.

Once we define what Mankind encompases, the question of the DC's source
already has framework; they were created outside the OLMN's redemptive
purpose. Did the OLMN create them at all? Let us answer whether they are
living animals or the physical embodiment of evil.

#1: Animal. They must breathe, they must eat, they must sleep. They must
reproduce the same way other animals do. Since they are intelligent, they
must have a societal framework. Indeed, if this is the case, the OLMN must
have created them. The Enemy has NO creative qualities; only copy-cat
abilities. If this is so, then the DC must be on the same level as a
spiritless animal - much like a super-smart monkey. The dragons obviously
then train them to do the dirty work that they do. Once this is ingrained
in their society, it is aweful hard to deny - and essentially becomes their
nature. This is a scaled-up version of training an animal to perform: After
a while of conditioning, the animal no longer needs the reward as a
motivation for the tricks - they are ingrained in their behavior.

#2: Physical Embodiment. A Purely fantastical approach (As seen in many
movies). The body is maintained through no apparent means - they do not
have to eat, though they are capable. The same goes for sleep, etc. The
only thing that sustains the body is doing the evil it has been invoked
for. (Has anyone read Peretti's "The Oath?") In this case, their origins
are completely tied up (in our case - that is Dragonraid) in the Great Red
Dragon. Through his great power of deception, he has mimicked the OLMN's
great creative abilities to produce evil incarnate. In this case, the
origin can be as fantastical as we want it to be. Maybe, dragon eggs hatch
into these DC's. Only those who make it completely through some process
morph into the Dragon's physical form as described (ala - metamorphosing
butterfly). We can have as much fun as we want in this case, being it has
no restrictions on making literal sense.

Though #2 fits into DR much better than #1 IMO, I favor #1 - simply because
I like my fantasy as close to reality as can be.

BTW - Has anyone ever discussed redeeming a talking animal? They're
undoubtedly intelligent. (Oops! Dadgumit, another -message- thread has come
loose... I wonder how far it will unravel?)

Jamey