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cl0ckw0rkf0xIn chapter 15 I introduced the Keepers totem form (changed from battle form, I didn't like it, but I wanted to get it down and couldn't think of anything good at the time), and I need a bunch of combinations of animals that would look cool. Think pegasus, griffin, hippogriff, dragon, gargoyle, etc. It's just, there's only so many classics and the only get you so far. A couple of general principles:
-Should be something that could conceivably engage in hand to hand combat (or claw to fang to hoof to....)
-Wings are good. filmy insect/fairy sort of wings are ok - fragile perhaps, but that just means they'll be the first to go down when they get hit with dragon fire...sucks to be them.
-wierd colours are a go.
-water creatures would be cool, except they need to be capable of at least land combat.
-must look COOL. In your imagination, anyway.
I need a really good one for Justin. His should be red/orange in colour; Catalyst totem forms are always the colours of fire. Extra XP for whoever comes up with a good one for him.
-Should be something that could conceivably engage in hand to hand combat (or claw to fang to hoof to....)
-Wings are good. filmy insect/fairy sort of wings are ok - fragile perhaps, but that just means they'll be the first to go down when they get hit with dragon fire...sucks to be them.
-wierd colours are a go.
-water creatures would be cool, except they need to be capable of at least land combat.
-must look COOL. In your imagination, anyway.
I need a really good one for Justin. His should be red/orange in colour; Catalyst totem forms are always the colours of fire. Extra XP for whoever comes up with a good one for him.
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(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-20 07:24 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-20 09:49 am (UTC)basilisks are associated with fire both in lizard and multi-animal format
Chinese dragon-turtle (cuz I'm sure they have better things to do than just hold coins in their mouths)
an ever-shifting mess of earthworms in semi-hominid form (2 arms, 2 legs, etc) that burrows with a million little worm mouthes into anything it touches (worm-touch) and is silent except for squishy noises (cuz worms have no vocal chords) and blind (cuz worms have no eyes) but so sensitive to vibration it doesn't need eyes (and can probably quickly burrow in and out of the earth)
many armed spider-like kali form (death-woman power with swords even!)
lobster (claw hands)/scorpion (stinging tail)/shark? (sharp pointy teeth) combo
and I personally recommend the jaws-within-jaws manticore feature that made the aliens in the alien movies so freaky
further research lead me to:
Wa-won-dee-a-megw - a snail spirit that can live in trees, on land or in the water, as well as change size and appearance to look like a huge snake, alligator or scaly man; has horns which can be ground into a magical powder (Abenaki mythology)
Mishibizhiw (also known as Mishipeshu) is a horned panther living in the waters. (Anishinaabe mythology)
Taken from the bestiary of Pantheon.org
Date: 2007-03-20 08:44 pm (UTC)A fabulous water-bird of Scottish Highland folk belief. The creature haunts lakes and salt wells.
Cerberus
In Greek mythology, the three-headed watchdog who guards the entrance to the lower world, the Hades. It is a child of the giant Typhon and Echidna, a monstrous creature herself, being half woman and half snake.
Originally, the dog was portrayed having fifty or hundred heads but was later pictured with only three heads (and sometimes with the tail of a serpent). Cerberus permitted new spirits to enter the realm of dead, but allowed none of them to leave. Only a few ever managed to sneak past the creature, among which Orpheus, who lulled it to sleep by playing his lyre, and Heracles, who brought it to the land of the living for a while (being the last of his Twelve Labors).
In Roman mythology, the Trojan prince Aeneas and Psyche were able to pacify it with honey cake.
Cherufe
The Cherufe is a enormous lava creature in Chilean mythology who lives in volcanoes and feeds upon young maidens. To protect the local population, the sun god sent his two warrior daughters to guard the Cherufe. With them they brought magical swords which are capable of freezing the creature. But on occasion it will escape and thereby causing volcanic eruptions.
Chimera
In Greek mythology, the Chimera is a monster, depicted as an animal with the head of a lion, the body of a she-goat, and the tail of a dragon (sometimes it has multiple heads).
Cusith
An enormous hound of the Scottish Highlands. It is said to be a dark green in color, with a long braided tail and the size of a bullock.
Feng-huang
The Chinese phoenix and the personification of the primordial force of the heavens. Feng-huang has the head and the comb of a pheasant and the tail of a peacock.
Firebird
In Russian folklore the Firebird (Zshar-ptitsa) is a miraculous bird. Its feathers shine like silver and gold, its eyes sparkle like crystals, and it is usually been seen sitting on a golden perch. At midnight this bird comes to gardens and fields and illuminates the night as brightly as a thousand lights; just one feather from its tail could light up a dark room. The Firebird eats golden apples which give any who eat them youth, beauty and immortality; when the bird sings, pearls would fall from its beak. The Firebird's chants can heal the sick and return the vision to the blind.
Gagana
In Russian folklore Gagana is a miraculous bird with the iron beak and copper claws
Hippocampus
The hippocampus was a fabled sea animal from Greek mythology. It was found in classical myth. It resembles a horse with the hind parts of a fish or dolphin. The chariot of Poseidon was drawn by a hippocampus.
Manticore
A monstrous creature which inhabits the forests in Asia, especially in Indonesia, Malaysia and India. The manticore, considered to be the most dangerous predator in these regions, has the body of a lion and a head with human resemblance. The mouth is filled with three rows of razor-sharp teeth and the scaled tail ends in a ball with poisonous darts. The monster stalks through the forest in search of humans. Upon an encounter with a human, the manticore fires a volley of darts at the victim, who dies immediately. This unfortunate person is devoured completely, even the bones and clothing, as well as the possessions this person carried, vanish. When a villager has completely disappeared, this is considered proof of the presence of a manticore.
And more Taken from the bestiary of Pantheon.org
Date: 2007-03-20 08:44 pm (UTC)One day, when King Arthur stopped to rest by a spring, he was surprised by a sound like thirty baying hounds. A strange animal with a snakes head the body of a leopard the back legs of a lion and the hooves of a deer burst through the underbrush, pursued by king Pellinore. Pellinore had hunted the Questing Beast, as the creature was called, all his life but never managed to capture it. Malory describes it as "the strongeste beste that ever he [Arthur] saw or herde of."
Roc
In Arabian legends, the Roc are gigantic birds, often referred to as 'the Great', and capable of carrying off elephants for food.
Selkie
The shy Selkies are marine creatures in the shape of a seal. They can be found near the islands of Orkney and Shetland. A female can shed her skin and come ashore as a beautiful woman. When a man finds the skin, he can force the Selkie to be a good, if somewhat sad, wife. Should she ever recover the skin, she will immediately return to sea, leaving her husband behind. The male Selkies are responsible for storms and also for the sinking of ships, which is their way of avenging the hunting of seals.
Singa
A mythical creature of the Indonesian Batak people who live in the mountains in Sumatra. Although the name means "lion", it resembles no living creature. Its representation, generally confined to the head, is the synthesis of several superior forms of creation and its appearance varies between the buffalo and a distorted human figures. However, some Singas show clearly identifiable legs beside the face and every form of intermediate between the Singa and the clearly anthropomorphic is to be found. Characteristics are invariable the bilateral symmetry, the lengthened face, and round impressive eyes, occasionally accompanied by highly developed eye-brows (which at time are depicted almost like antlers).
The Singa is the dominant theme of Batak decoration, particularly among the Toba Batak where it is to be found on houses, domestic utensils, wooden coffins, stone sarcophagi, copper jewelry, etc. Its omnipresence would seem to indicate above all a protective role.
Tatzlwurm
Also known as the tunnel worm, jumping worm or mountain stump. The tazel worm, a worm-like lizard about two to three feet long with two or four short legs, is said to be so poisonous that even its breath could kill a human. It is also said to be very agressive, attacking anything that moves. Rumored to live in the Alps, some say that it can jump two or three yards in one bound. Its scales are supposedly so thick that blades cannot pierce them.
Yali
In Indian legend, the Yali is a creature with the body of a lion and the trunk and tusks of an elephant.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-04-02 04:05 pm (UTC)check:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chupacabras