Erethor Dire Animals and Astiraxes

[Dweller on the Threshold]

A question that has been bugging me for quite a long time: Astiraxes are supposed to be able to possess animals (as per the D&D subtype).The Dire Animals of Erethor are described in the Midnight corebook p.326 as being awakened animals considered as Magical Beasts for effects such as astirax possession.

I would be tempted to assume it means that they are immune to such possessions.
Yet the last chapter of Crown of Shadows seems to imply that the heroes were being followed by possessed dire wolves which are later shot by elves.

What is your opinion on this matter?

[Nifelhein]

Contradictons! In my opinion theya re not subject to it, I have used a Dire Shark in my game though, and I can explain that I used it as a large shark, looking for the dire version only because of balance, you can either treat the dire versions as large versions of the animals, mostly rare aniamls that grow to that size.

And int eh meantime Dire Animals are all intelligent beings, which are even suitable as a playable race!

[Dain]

Same as Nif,
There are indeed some contradictions in the books, sometimes also misspellings. Can be confusing sometimes.

imo, Astiraxes can only possess animal that have limited intelligence.
Dire animals are evolved animals and capable of thinking as well as speaking. Astirax possession is not possible then.