#i love nature and the world and everything in it and especially the quetzal

[unrealnokko]

i'm teary eyed at this. emotionally responding to this. gonna cry to this.

I hope this picture of a quetzal makes your day at least a little bit better :)

[asktheisle]

5 (and only FIVE!) songs that make you think of Nat (for the blog anniversary thing)

[Sighs, gently pushing away the playlist of 500+ songs-]

I will do my best to pick 5 that encompass things that also "revolve" so to speak around the happenings on the blog, but this is by far not the end all-be all of song choices gjdfh

(with links and explanations, the post is gonna get long so it'll be under a read more from this point on-)

Hijos del Cañaveral-Residente

Me Vieron Cruzar-Calle 13

This song also encapsulates the entire blog, also being the one song to push me into making this worldbuild and general storyline in the first place.

This one gives me the feel of like, Oscar spending all the time in Nat's youth telling them stories about the island and what he remembered which was a stark contrast to their living situation in Unova. Just this tiny kid becoming enamored about an island where the rain is sweet and you don't lose your way because of the glowing creatures at night, and spending so much time on the beaches that the seasalt is your perfume. If this song were to exist within the world the blog is in, it'd definitely be one of those songs that carry over throughout Nat's whole life and one they catch themselves singing or humming quietly without trying. It just captures everything that Nat is and loves about the island.

Mado Kara Mieru-Christopher Tin

Lo and behold another Residente/Calle 13 song, to the surprise of anyone in frequent contact with me gdjh

The whole song in general is just a very strong Nat energy to me especially with all the themes of winning and losing, of doing things that seem impossible, of failing and falling but getting back up just as strongly. The instrumentation is "soft" so to speak and acoustic which is one of several soundscapes I associate with Nat, and it just comes together into this hopeful feeling of continuing the good fight no matter what.

Never Look Away-Vienna Teng

I go absolutely bonkers with this song and how it relates to Nat's past, especially with certain individuals and how they all tie together. For the longest I would associate the spring section ("radiant greenery") with the things that happen with Quetzal in Nat's past. That same middle voice singing about how much life is left to live and not knowing how many days are left is just something that really sits with Nat too-not sure how much time is left to make something worthwhile and paving the way to give the island a future that it was robbed of.

LET ALONE the instrumentation, me associating Nat forever with percussion and some other individuals with the brass and winds-the percussion being the backbone and the connecting piece throughout the entire thing, starting off subtle and sectioned but remaining ever present before the crescendo into the end where it's thunderous yet still keeping time. Forever the heartbeat that connects others whether they like it or not heheh.

This one feels like a "lighter" version of Muse's Undisclosed Desires (which is also on the main playlist I have for Nat), basically Nat's helpful nature of wanting to see people grow into their best selves and willing to give anyone a chance no matter who they are or what they may have done. There's just this feeling of being welcome with a bit of a mischief streak while being entirely sincere all the same, a musical equivalent of tugging someone along into a dance to get them to crack a smile and have a little fun even if for a few moments.

Footprints on the Sand-Prince of Egypt Original Broadway Cast

I found this one a few months ago but MAN is it fitting. If this blog were a musical, this would be Nat's "I want" song. This overarching theme of being in the shadows of glory and already feeling that you won't make a dent in the world like those before you did, and just the fleetingness of everything like sand prints or clouds passing overhead is just PERFECT. And with Moses going on to sing about not wanting fame or glory but to just leave things better, but already resigning to the idea that it's not his place to stand out like that encapsulates Nat entirely in that they also don't think they'll make much a difference in this life-but it's worth the try anyway.

[heartofnopal]

First of all, kudos for representing your culture ♥ I wanted to ask you though: As someone who shares a similar background with you, I was genuinely conflicted when I first saw your MC, I think I was worried about misrepresentation? Since finding out you're channeling your own culture though, I do feel a bit better, yet still conflicted... Maybe I'm still afraid of doing the same, y'know? How do you feel, genuinely, about sharing yourself like this? [1 of 2]

Going to add your part two: “And, I'm really sorry about the heavy topic of this ask. It's just been weighing on my mind for a good while now and I've only finally mustered up the courage to visit your blog and send it. I'm not sure what I'm feeling and I was hoping you might understand, haha. Please feel free to ignore. [2 of 2]”

Hey there, definitely not gonna ignore. And don't be sorry about the heavy topic. I'm genuinely glad you asked this question and it's something that had been weighing heavily on my mind before I decided to finally make content for the character I've had in mind for so long.

Gonna start by introducing Quetzalli and what it means for someone like this in the Arcana world. Because it's a fictional universe, there's no such thing as Mexica. Same goes for all other canon characters, we know the cultures they were influenced by, but the people don't actually exist in this world. But I absolutely love that characters do have influence from our real world cultures and I wanted to share that of my ancestors because all of our cultures have a right to influence fiction just as much as any other. And when I realized Nopal is influenced by modern day Northern Mexico/Southwest US, I felt so happy to think people inspired by ours could exist in this world because they're ignored in every other fantasy.

One other good example I can think of is Avatar the Last Airbender which has nations and people inspired by real-world cultures. Inuit, Chinese, Japanese, and Tibetan cultures are among them yet even then there are other elements and no one nation is strictly influenced by one culture alone nor do they completely mirror them. I was also happy to notice that the Sun Warriors were primarily influenced by Mesoamerican civilizations including Mexica, Incan, and Mayan with some Southeast Asian influences as well. On the other hand there are movies like the Road to El Dorado that has established itself in a real-world setting and so I’d be very strict on how the culture is represented. 

As you probably figured, Quetzalli is influenced by the Mexica (Aztec) culture as it used to be before La Conquista. And the Mexica as the people they were haven't existed since then, but instead have changed with time. Yet I've grown up surrounded by their legacy and that of the Chichimeca people in my town in Mexico, particularly the Zacatecos, Caxcan, and Guachichil (Quetzalli's mother is influenced by Chichimeca peoples who would likely be placed in the Catclaw desert in the Arcana world). But honestly, what has pissed me off so much is the way our people are seen and treated. Even many people in Mexico are racist and still look down upon those of indigenous descent. But we should be proud and I wanted to create a character who is proud, brave and powerful because that's what I feel like when I embrace that part of me. Thus Quetzalli was born!

But integrating the character into the Arcana universe is tricky. There are many elements that I could keep and some that I couldn't because not everyone will understand some concepts. Death is a tricky subject and even in the Arcana universe, it's heavily influenced by western concepts of death in which death is like some ultimate scary thing and that's that. While of course I don't take death lightly, even as a child it wasn't ever truly scary. I was raised to believe it's a cycle and death is not feared but honored and respected. So when I was taught about Mexica sacrifice as a kid (most people only know about sacrifices like some bs to justify la Conquista while there’s SO MUCH good shit like public education and genius engineering)  although I don’t agree obviously, it makes sense to me because I could understand how a people would view it as a cycle that must continue. The sun rises and falls, seasons change, people die, people are born. Even enemy war captives who have a sliver of divinity that allowed the capture. It's all a cycle where life and divinity must be returned in order for it to be given back. There was never enough blood to give to everyone that is and will ever be and so much be returned.

This is one of the things I'm leaving out in Quetzalli because it's a delicate subject that I know people won't understand. And because she's a fictional character only influenced by the Mexica in a fantasy world, I feel okay leaving the bloodshed out (also people might vilify her and the Mexica people for it like they already do). If I was to make her a character in a real world scenario, then nope, I'll need to be strict and include everything whether everyone likes it or not. Other things about her that I've stretched is the fact that she's an Eagle Warrior. Although women had more independence over their work and finances (compared to many European women at the time) and that it was believed women could be powerful leaders (depicted in stories and history) they weren't allowed in combat, at least in the last 200 years of the empire. I'm not counting the time women joined the struggle under Huey Tlatoani Cuauhtemoc because that was a desperate last stand.

But if you read my short story "the game begins" it's known that Quetzalli cannot become a warrior and thus will listen to Huehuecoatl in hopes he'll help her get there. Another thing I stretched is her coliseum outfit. I wanted to incorporate some essential parts of the Eagle Warrior's uniform: the greaves, the chimalli, and especially the cuacalalatli and feathers lining the leather so she may embrace the eagle's fighting prowess. Those parts are there but I also wanted to keep in with the theme of the Arcana coliseum outfits in that they are very revealing and made for show over function as we've seen with Julian and Asra. I also wanted to share the cuacalalatli and I think the idea of embracing an animal's prowess is beautiful in that one looks up to nature to feel strength.

I try to add Mexica elements where I can because I love to share more and so few people know about Mesoamerican cultures. But I also try to keep it on the same level as the other Arcana characters who show their real-world cultural elements while not making that everything there is to know about them. I want her to still feel apart of this world and story, she’s a character like all the others. So sometimes I’m limited to clothing, tools and weapons, language, flowers and plants, motifs, her hummingbird familiar, even the appearance of the “Ascending Eagle” but I think references to our world’s Tonatiuh is as far as I can go while maintaining Arcana universe. 

But to summarize what I feel about it. Indigenous american cultures are widely ignored among Arcana apprentices and I honestly feel that we should not feel ashamed to include them, especially if they're our own. And I do understand the feeling of not wanting to misrepresent cultures, it IS important to avoid stereotypes even if it's a fantasy setting. Also one thing some forget is that indigenous people are PEOPLE like everyone else and have every right to exist in media. We don't have to adhere to every aspect of our culture nor should we be ashamed and hide it away. Quetzalli is influenced by Mexica but she's a normal person in this world with every right to be there like any other character, wear her clothes, speak her language, get upset, be sensual, kick some ass, hate and love... None of this says any less of her or her culture. 

The things I've included in her has been a monument to the power she feels and that of the people she's influenced by, the same pride and power I feel when I embrace my roots. It took me a while to finally get around to sharing her, but I'm glad I am. Thank you so much for this ask. 

Si quieres hablar mas, o si todavia tienes miedo de crear un personaje como este, dame un mensaje? Nuestra gente y nuestros ancestros tienen derecho a existir aqui. :D 

[lizzie-wendigo]

It's been a long time since I wanted to make an OC that was a Nahuatl god, and well, I finally did it, it went through many changes of design and color, but this was the end result.

Dammit! This OC is not very relevant to the plot, but I always wanted to, plus I don't want to leave her single either! now I want to ship her FUCK! it's the bad thing about having a creative mind.

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-Name: Nikté

-Age: 30 years

-Species: Xochiquetzal (Demigoddess)

-Dedication: Goddess of love, flowers and art

-Likes: love (in all ways), offerings, music, flowers (especially those of cempazuchitl), native food, Nature

-Dislikes: sexual harassers, breach of trust, racism, incest

-Skills: She can see the purity of a heart/love in people's eyes. She can imnotize with her beauty, make flowers and trees grow. She is a goddess, so she can do many things with her magic.

-Facts:

Her name "Nikté" means "Flower" in Maya (her name was originally going to be "Xochitl" (which means "flower" in Nahuatl) but it was very cliché

Her symbol is a Purified Heart

Her design is inspired by the design of the goddess "X'tabai" that appears in the movie "Nikté" (name that was also inspired) which is a cartoon movie of Mexican production.

Her hair with "Celosia Red Velvet" flower petals, which is also usually used in offerings on the Day of the Dead

Her lips are made of obsidian

She can turn her arms into Quetzal wings (like a harpy)

The demigods and demons are extremely tall compared to the stature of other humanoid species.

She lives in Mictlán (the spiritual world of Tenoch Island), in her own region. So that the gods can receive you, you must bring an offering (food is the most common) to their palaces. Of course, Nikté almost always accepts the offerings, because she loves everyone

Her lackeys/servants are plant people, most are Cempazuchitl flowers

She hates Incest with all her being. She doesn't tolerate such impure acts.

She is very pure of mind, so she doesn't care about dressing like that, besides that she can only attract the attention of men who have already given their soul and heart to another woman (I mean, faithful men)

She knows that women like her and Ms Chalice often attract impure men and fall in love with them, as "Purified Hearts" tend to seduce impure people with the possibility of making them change for the better.

She often asks people questions about their romances, and that makes them quite uncomfortable (especially cuphead)

She can feel the true family and brotherly love of the Cupbros for her adoptive sister Ms Chalice, so they earned her trust and respect.

Nikté took good care of Ms Chalice while her brothers fulfilled the tests

-BIO:

After the Cupbros had permission from Madame Pepper to keep Ms Chalice. After a "mission" trip to Tenoch Island, the Cup siblings were confused, as everything was in order. Until the sudden disappearance of Ms Chalice made the cup bros come to her rescue, since she was kidnapped and taken to Mictlán. After a rescue trip of Cups and Mugs, they arrived at the palace of Xochiquetzal, where Nikté was taking care of Chalice.

She revealed to them that Pepper managed to arrange some tests, to prove to the Cupbros of her brotherly love, if they passed the tests, they could gain soul ties with Chalice and make her her soul sister permanently. And since Nikté was very moved by the history of the Cup siblings, she agreed to protect Chalice in Mictlán in her palace, so she won't let her go until her brothers pass the tests.

They were three tests of brotherly love in different spiritual worlds, the rescue in Mictlan made by Nikté was the first test. Now they had to make trips to different places, but they can stay in Tenoch Island in the meantime, and they could visit Chalice, but for this only one could enter Mictlan and bring an offering to Nikté.

Madame Pepper may have trusted in another merciful god from another culture, but she preferred to leave Chalice in the hands of Nikté, knowing that with her she would be even safer

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