#manitou dawn

[dcs-fkin-mystics]

DC’s Magic Legacies: PoC Edition

Swamp Thing: Allec Holland —> Levi Kamei

Doctor Fate: Kent Nelson —> Khalid Nassour

Sargon the Sorcerer(ess): John Sargent —> Jaimini Sargent

Bloodwyn: Quintus Arcee —> Raphael Arcee

Wizard Shazam: Black Adam —> Bolt

Spectre: Jim Corrigan —> Crispus Allen

The Manitou: Raven —> Dawn

Verdant Sorcerer(ess): Po-Po —> Current Verdant Sorceress & Xanthe Zhou

[zahri-melitor]

the Background Default Canon thing always gets me when authors bring the Justice League into Bat fanfics. it's one thing to fudge the timelines because there was some big event happening that took everyone out of commission for a little while, or to play loose with what characterization would have been current for side characters, but so often none of the members they include were even on the League in the years surrounding the events they're writing about. just set your stuff in the DCAU at that point.

Ah yes, I am familiar with that irritation, particularly the "why are Barry, Ollie and Hal alive and members of the Justice League right now" form of it. Barry's the worst offender. Is this story set at any point between COIE and Flashpoint? Barry shouldn't be on the League.

But yes, there's so often a blindness to the fact that the 'classic' JLA lineup was basically absent between COIE and 1997, and had plenty of roster changes over the years from 1997 to 2011. It doesn't have to be perfect, but you could at least take a peek at who were core members around the time.

Because sometimes that sort of story is like "and then the Justice League showed up to help" and you're blinking going... which version? Did Bruce really call Maxima, Ray Terrill, Ted Kord and Captain Atom to help out? Because I can guarantee Bruce didn't want that list to turn up to help out.

[phoenixlionme]

DC Native/Indigenous Heroes

1. Ya’Wara - biracial; Indigenous Brazilian Tapirape  

2. Keli Quintela aka Teen Lantern - biracial; Afro-Indigenous Bolivian born

3. Koryak, son of Aquaman - last name unknown; half Inuit and half white; given Aquaman’s racebend in the DCEU as Native Hawaiian like his actor, then Koryak would also be half Polynesian

4. Yara Flor aka Wonder Woman - biracial; Afro-Indigenous Brazilian

5. Dawnstar - Puebloan

6. Arak -  Quontauka Native

7. Tye Longshadow - Apace; I highly suggest following his incarnation from the animated Young Justice series. He originally appeared in the old DC cartoon series, Superfriends

8. Wenonah Littlebird aka Owlwoman - Kiowa

9. Sarah Rainmaker - Apache

10. Sky Alchesay - unknown Native American tribe

11. John Trujillo aka Black Condor - Navajo

12. Ohiyesa Smith aka Pow Wow Smith - Sioux; change name to be more culturally sensitive

13. Manitou Dawn - Apache; change name to be more culturally sensitive

14. Manitou Raven - Apache - change name to be more culturally sensitive

15. Raven from “Teen Titans: Earth One” - Navajo

16. Tom Kalmaku - Inuit

17. Napi from the DCEU - real name unknown; from the 2017 Wonder Woman movie - Blackfoot

18.  Uno/Dr. Curtis “Curt” Falconer aka Aztek I - biracial; Indigenous (Nahua) Mexican

19. Nayeli Constant aka Aztek II - like predecessor; biracial; Indigenous (Nahua) Mexican

20. Keshena Carpentier aka Timber biracial; half Menominee and other racial unknown

21. Bill Great Eagle aka Man of Bats - Sioux

22. Dakota Jamison - Navajo

23. Miiyahbin Marten aka Equinox - Cree

24. Charles Great Eagle aka Raven Red - Sioux 

25. Miriam Delgado aka Mirage - Indigenous, unknown Tribe; from the Teen Titans

26. Wildstar - Puebloan; Dawnstar’s ancestor

27.  Green Arrow of Earth D - unknown Native American tribe

28. Hawk, son of Tomahawk - biracial; half Apache and half white; given the racist undertones, I would make some changes, possibly changing names and making both father and son Apache

29. Thunderer - real name unknown; Aboriginal Australian; tribe unknown

30. Johnny Riley aka Dark Ranger - Aboriginal American

Please list any more if you don’t see any on the list. Be respectful with the comments.

[masamune7905]

DC Comics’ Manitou Dawn

[annon-guy2]

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World - Travel Journal Entries [Chapter 3: Footfalls of Tomorrow]

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Entry 54: This is Emil.

We finally made it to Iselia. Lloyd's hometown.

It really feels like I'm in enemy territory here. Right as we came into the village, we met a boy named Paul who proudly told us that he was Lloyd's number one apprentice. Absolutely unbelievable. Why the heck would anyone be happy to be the apprentice of a cold-blooded murderer?!

I really hate being here, but we have to find some clue as to which way Lloyd went, so we don't have any choice. We should go and talk to the townspeople here, and see the mayor as well.

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Entry 55: When we got to the mayor's house, we saw a group of children playing, pretending to be Lloyd and the Desians. When he saw this, Tenebrae commented that he didn't know who the Desians were. I thought that was strange, but then again, Tenebrae was asleep while the world was separated in two, so maybe it makes sense.

As Marta no doubt knows as well, the Desians were a group primarily composed of half-elves, who wreaked havoc on the world of Sylvarant. The reason that half-elves are discriminated against is that people tend to associate them with the Desians. To be honest, I'm a little scared of half-elves too. Not that I've ever met one before.

I think the main reason that Desians were hated and feared so much was the existance of what were called human ranches. The Desians would kidnap people from nearby towns and lock them in facilities called "ranches" until they died. I've heard that they were doing it to make some sort of special stones called Exspheres, but I don't really know anything more about that.

They say the Desians tried to interfere with the Chosen's quest of world regeneration. That would mean that Colette fought against the Desians. I guess Lloyd did too.

Whenever I think about Lloyd I can feel my blood pressure rising. I just can't help but remember the moment when my mother passed away.

I wonder if I'll be able to keep my cool when I meet the mayor.

We didn't get much information of use from the mayor. And although he spoke as if he wasn't too fond of Lloyd, he still seemed to take Lloyd's side. This is really hard for me. I know that Lloyd killed my mother and yet, everyone always takes his side in everything. Well, if "Lloyd the Great" is so wonderful and caring, then why did he kill my mom? She wasn't even in the Vanguard! They say Lloyd likes to say that all lives are equal. What a hypocrite! The mayor at least let us know that Lloyd's father is in the Churchof Martel's temple north of town.

I want to go and talk to Lloyd's father. I'd like to see what he thinks of the terrible things his own son has done.

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Entry 56: The man we met in the chapel, who turned out to be Lloyd's father, was Dirk,mthe same dwarf we'd met when we were coughed up onto the shore by the manitou.

Dirk wasn't how I imagined him at all. When I asked him if he was ashamed ofthe things Lloyd had done, he said he was proud to call Lloyd his son. I thought for sure that he would apologize for Lloyd's actions, or that he'd call me a liar. At first I got incredibly mad when I heard what Dirk said, but when I heard how firmly he believed in his own son, I just felt sad instead. I could tell that even though Dirk wasn't related to Lloyd by blood, he still trusted him and loved him. It was the polar opposite of my relationship of Uncle Alba. I didn't know what to think anymore.

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Entry 57: So, Marta here.

In the end, it seemed that Dirk didn't know where Lloyd had gone off to, either. On the way back from the temple, a very pretty woman asked us if we knew where Paul was. You know, the little boy we met when we came into Iselia, who had said he was Lloyd's apprentice. No one knows where Paul is at all. When I told her that he had said he was going to the cursed ranch, she said that he must've gone to the human ranch, and left.

I got a little worried for Paul, but Emil didn't think we should care about him since he's an apprentice of Lloyd's. I'm sorry, Emil. I told you that the Emil I know doesn't think like that, but all that shows is that I haven't been paying enough attention to who you really are. I've just been trying to make you into my prince. I've been so foolish. Please forgive me.

Back in Iselia, everyone was worried about Paul. We decided to go to the human ranch to look for Paul.

Emil, if you're reading this, I want us to be friends again. From now on, I'm going to try hard to see you for who you really are. I can't stand you being mad at me when we're traveling together. I'm going to work hard to make myself better, so please forgive me.

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Entry 58: This is Emil.

I'm sorry, Marta. I just saw you apologized to me in here, too. When we were on the way to the human ranch, you told me I was one of the nicest people you've ever met, even if I do get scared sometimes. That made me realize that you really have been paying attention to me, and to who I am. I mean, I'm really scared of monsters, I don't like fighting, and I'm kind of a wuss. And even though I said some horrible things to you out of my anger at Lloyd, you still told me I was nice. Marta, you're far, far nicer than I could ever hopeto be.

So Marta, I hope that you'll forgive me, instead of the other way around. Let's travel together and not get in any more fights.

I feel a little awkward writing any more now, so maybe I'll leave the account of what happened next for Marta.

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Entry 59: Marta here.

That means we're friends again, right?♡

So then, we went to the human ranch to look for Paul.

But it was covered in a thick layer of fog, and Emil seemed scared. I was a bit scared too, to tell the truth, but we're more worried about Paul. Just think how scary it would be for him if he were lost in that thick fog! Come on, we've got to go and find him.

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Entry 60: We found Paul deep in the human ranch. But before we could get to him, we were trapped by a monster, and it nearly got us! But the woman we met earlier named Raine appeared and saved us. Turns out she's a teacher in Iselia.

Once we'd introduced ourselves, Raine gave us a mysterious look and said she had something to talk to us about. But for now we need to take Paul home, sowe decided to head back to Iselia.

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Entry 61: When we reached Iselia, Raine went to take Paul back to his home, and told us to wait for her in the school.

I wonder if she is Lloyd's old teacher, who the mayor told us about. And also, what could she want to talk to us about? I feel a little anxious thinking about it.

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Entry 62: This is Emil.

Raine turned out to be Lloyd's old teacher. She was a little different from the friends of Lloyd we already met, who all trusted him entirely. She talked about him in a very distant, emotionless way, almost as if she didn't trust Lloyd anymore. Marta seemed to be disturbed by Raine's attitude, and she left in the middle of our conversation. Tenebrae and I went out together to look for her.

It seemed Marta was shocked when Raine didn't stand up for Lloyd, who had been her friend. She said if she were in the same position, she would have stood up for me if someone claimed I'd done something wrong. When she said that, I realized why we were having so much trouble finding out about Lloyd's whereabouts.

If I were being followed by someone who saw me as their enemy, and this person came to Marta to ask about me, doing nothing but insulting me and blaming me for atrocities, Marta probably wouldn't tell them anything useful at all. I mean, I certainly wouldn't want to deal with anyone who came to me asking about Marta and only said bad things about her. But that applies to people who are so fond of Lloyd, too. I also realized that Raine had been trying to tell us this, but we hadn't listened to her. That's why we decided to go back to the school and try talking to Raine about Lloyd one more time.

Raine said a lot of complicated things, but it seems like she believes our claims, and she also believes in Lloyd. Maybe it's because there's no hard evidence to contradict what we're saying. She's a very calm and rational person, and I was very happy that she decided to believe us. Raine also told us that a man in Iselia named Pepe, Colette's next-door neighbor, saw Lloyd recently. So we decided to go and pay Pepe a visit.

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Entry 63: We talked to Pepe, and he told us he saw Lloyd go in the direction of the Triet Ruins. We decided to follow after him right away, and Raine asked us to takeher with us. It seems like Raine wants to know what's going on with Lloyd, too. Lloyd was Raine's student and her friend, after all. Since I have such a hard time keeping calm whenever I think about Lloyd, we decided it would be a good idea to have Raine come along with us. Raine's a cool and collected person, and if we happen to run into Lloyd, I think having Raine with us might help us to get an explanation of why he hurt so many innocent people in Palmacosta.

So we all headed off together towards the Triet Ruins. I'm not sure if Lloyd is actually going there or not, but I suppose we don't have any other option but to go and see.

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Entry 64: Marta here!

When we got to the Triet Ruins, we saw a very unexpected side of Raine. She's crazy about ruins! Whenever she sees any ruins at all, her personality changes. She becomes extremely excited and goes nuts over all of their archaeological aspects. I remarked that she reminded me of Emil in that way. In the battles we've been in lately, it seems like Emil changes into a different person entirely. But Emil hadn't even noticed that he was changing. Maybe to him it just feels like he's getting angry or something.

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Entry 65: We ran into someone very unexpected in the ruins. His name is Genis, and he's Raine's younger brother. I never thought that I would see so many half-elves, apart from the Desians. I used to think all half-elves were like the Desians, but Raine and Genis seem just like us humans!

Oops, getting a bit off-topic there. Genis was in the Triet Ruins because he'd followed Lloyd. Which means that Lloyd is in the ruins right now! Yes! Hopefully we'll be able to get Lumen's core back from him!

However, as we came to the path that led deeper into the ruins, we saw that it was blocked by some sort of weird monster. Tenebrae said that it probably fled into the ruins to escape the unusual weather outside, and that we might be able to get it to move if we can bring it a type of food that it likes. So now we need to get to the oasis in the city of Triet to fish for food for the monster. If we don't hurry, Lloyd might get away before we get back. Let's go quickly and not get sidetracked!

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Entry 66: When we got to Triet, it was snowing. Isn't that a little strange? I mean it is a desert. If we don't hurry up and awaken Ratatosk things are only going toget worse.

But we can't get ahead of ourselves. First things first. We've got to go and catch ourselves a monster in the oasis!

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Entry 67: At the oasis, Tenebrae surprised everyone by transforming into a fishing rod! Centurion bodies must really come in handy. Emil managed to catch a monster to serve as food for the monster in the ruins, but the monster he caught was way too huge to carry. So we decided to make a pact with it and have it join our party. Now we can all go back to the Triet Ruins together.

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Entry 68: We felt too sorry for the monster we'd caught. It was invited into our party only to be eaten, so we promoted it to the role of a decoy to distract the path-blocking monster while we slipped past. Nothing went according to plan, but in the end, we managed to get into the inner part of the Triet Ruins. Tenebrae said that he can sense the presence of Ignis' core here.

We've got to get it before Lloyd gets it first!

We also learned something very interesting. A summon spirit named Efreet used to sleep in the Triet Ruins. Well, when Raine heard that the Centurion's core here belonged to Ignis, the Centurion of Fire, she suggested that each core of a certain elemental attribute might be located in the same place where that attribute's summon spirit used to be.

If that's true, we might be able to get all of the Centurions' cores before Lloyd by traveling around to all of the old locations of the summon spirits! This makes me feel like we might have some hope after all. Let's do our best!

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Entry 69: Ignis' core was still on the altar when we got there. We hatched the core immediately, but right afterwards, Lloyd appeared! We beat him to it by a hair!

Lloyd left without stopping to answer Raine and Genis' questions at all. It seems like the only thing he's interested in is stealing Centurions' cores. I wish I knew what he's planning on using the cores to do.

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Entry 70: Raine and Genis seemed really shocked to see how strange Lloyd was acting. The two of them decided to go on a journey to figure out why Lloyd is doing the things he is. We got Raine to tell us where all of the summon spirits used to be, and then we decided to make Flanoir our next desitation, so Raine and Genis offered to accompany us to the port at Izoold so we could take a ship acrossthe ocean.

Even though we have a long way left to go, I finally feel like we have a ray of hope in our journey. It was so depressing to have no other choice but to follow Lloyd as he travelled, and to always be one step behind him. From now on, we're going to go around to all of the places where the summon spirits used to be, and we'll find all of those Centurions' cores before Lloyd can get his dirty hands on them!

==============================

[lesbianspeedy]

A lot of questions but! 2 5 7 19 23 24 for Ollie

2. Favorite canon thing about this character?

him always trying to make up for his mistakes, and learning from them. and also the way that feeds into him as a father figure.

5. What's the first song that comes to mind when you think about them?

lifestyles of the rich & famous - good charlotte or that's life - frank sinatra

7. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you like?

defend his ass against batstans lmaoo im sorry its always funny. though sometimes ppl do need to learn to let it go luv

19. How about a relationship they have in canon that you don't like?

im so over him and merlyn im saury. i simply do not care. (unless this specifically means ship. in which case. idk. that whole thing with manitou dawn)

23. Favorite picture of this character?

this is a high contender

24. What other character from another fandom of yours that reminds you of them?

hrghrhghgh trying to remember my other fandoms. uhhh geralt from the witcher. mainly bc of the girldad of it all. sorry its all think about. daddy issues

[ruknowhere]

A REDOLENCE FOR NIMS , O triple sob -- turned forty at midnight -- body at dawn booze-soddened but hopeful, knowing that the only thing to remember is dreams. Dead clear zero, Sunday afternoon in an attic of a closed resort on Lake Michigan with one lone duck riding the diminishing swells of yesterday's storm against the snowy cliffs of North Manitou: Whom are we to love? How many and what for? My heart's gone to sea for years. This is a prayer, plaint, wish, howl of void beneath breastbone. Dreams, soul chasers, bring back my heart alive.

, -JAMES HARRISON

[theam-cjsw]

The AM: March 6, 2023

This week’s AM features a few happy returns, with new music from AM favourites Nabihah Iqbal, Mega Bog, and Benoit Pioulard (to name a few). Plus a throwback to classic mid-2000s chamber pop, violins played in the LA river, a David Axelrod track that’s technically credited to someone else, Morabeza Tobacco getting as close to the "Good Times" bassline as is legally allowed, and a healthy mix of atmospheric sounds, post-punk raves, experimental compositions and other offbeat easy listening for a Monday morning.

Listen on Soundcloud

Hear it at CJSW.com

Other listening links

Ongoing Spotify playlist (to avoid my commentary)

Tracklist after the break.

Hour One:

réfraction Onur Tarçin • Single

Ellipses Andrew Bird • Echolocations: River

A Constant Source of Joy and Fascination waivestate • Sprout Sessions

Vivid Elskavon • Origins

Bruises Earth Trax • Closer Now

Sweltering Drive Masahiro Takahashi • Humid Sun

Our Future Salad Days Dreamsploitation • The Soft Focus Sound of Today

Synchronized Swimmers Contagious Yawns • Dream of Consciousness

Bolan Muppets Glissandro 70 • Glissandro 70

Hour Two:

Les Points Cardineaux YouYourself&i • L'Amour des Anoures

Betwixt & Between Spencer Cullum, featuring Erin Rae • Spencer Cullum’s Coin Collection 2

Walking Through Morning Dew Shana Cleveland • Manzanita

Synesthetics L.T.Leif • Come Back To Me, But Lightly

O Torto Santo Bike • Arte Bruta

Tonight’s Episode Yo La Tengo • This Stupid World

Elementary Particles The Hylozoists • La Fin du Monde

Warning Against Judging a Christian Brother The Hylozoists • La Fin du Monde

The Edge David McCallum • Music: A Bit More of Me

I Have Been Alone The Common People • Of The People / By The People / For The People

Way Far High Season • The Call

Anniversary Dawn to Dawn • Postcards from the Sun to the Moon

Hour Three:

Line in the Sand Brian Eno, Hot Chip, goddess • Single

The Void Benoit Pioulard • Eidetic

Manitou (Single Edit) Zoon • Bekka Ma'iingan

The Clown Mega Bog • End of Everything

The World Couldn’t See Us Nabihah Iqbal • DREAMER

Mariana's Web Uncanny Valley • Fevering Stare

Saturnus Morabeza Tobacco • Shadow of the Cherry

Destiny Decisive Pink • Ticket to Fame

NST Gnoomes • Ax Ox

High and Low Shirley & The Pyramids • Maid of Time

Medicine Road Fog Lake • Dragonchaser

[ochoislas]

UN DEJO PARA NIMS

Triple sollozo... cumplidos cuarenta a medianoche... el cuerpo al alba apesgado de priva pero confiado, sabedor de que lo único digno de recordar son los sueños. Neto nulo cierto, siesta de domingo en el alto de un albergue cerrado del lago Michigan con un único pato sobrenadando menguantes tumbos de la tormenta de ayer contra la riba nevada de Manitou: ¿A quién vamos a amar? ¿A cuántos amaremos? ¿para qué? Mi corazón lleva años en la mar. Esto es un rezo, queja, voto, brama de vacío bajo el esternón. Sueños, acosadores del alma, traed vivo de vuelta a mi corazón.

*

A REDOLENCE FOR NIMS

O triple sob — turned forty at midnight — body at dawn booze-soddened but hopeful, knowing that the only thing to remember is dreams. Dead clear zero, Sunday afternoon in an attic of a closed resort on Lake Michigan with one lone duck riding the diminishing swells of yesterday’s storm against the snowy cliffs of North Manitou: Whom are we to love? How many and what for? My heart’s gone to sea for years. This is a prayer, plaint, wish, howl of void beneath breastbone. Dreams, soul chasers, bring back my heart alive.

Jim Harrison

di-versión©ochoislas

[patheticbatman]

Part Two of Chantha Rasphone! (Part One if you are confused but curious). This one will pick up directly where the last one left off.

When Ldreth awoke at midnight, Amalai was jumping on his stomach, his connection to her was gone, his magic was already spent, and there was a sword above his head, pointed away from his child.

And he was tied up with his own belts.

“Oh good, you’re awake,” said the assassin. He looked haggard, like he had just weathered a toddler on a rampage.

“Oof,” said Ldreth.

Judging from the state of disarray in his room, perhaps the assassin had.

“We’ve been trying to wake you up for ages,” the assassin said casually. “You and I have some bargaining to do.”

Ldreth’s mind raced wildly. He was tied up, but his daughter was fined his magic was used up - likely in dealing with the poison that had knocked him out - and would not replenish enough to deal with the human until dawn. There was no way he would be able to communicate from here with anyone downstairs, not even he yelled at the top of his lungs at the bottom of stairs. He certainly could not get there without the ability to open the door. His bell for calling servants was hung on the wall, far out of reach. Even the pixie he hired as a nanny was out cold – maybe the poison had some sort of time aspect.

His stomach hit the floor as he looked up at the assassin. No, not assassin, he admitted, resigned. A knight.

A knight with no armor, an awkward hold on the sword, and I so dark and inviting that Ldreth thought he could get lost within them. But a knight nonetheless. 

“What is it you wish, conqueror,” he growled, teeth bared.

The knight’s ducked his face for a moment and cleared his throat. He squeaked, “Three-”. The werman coughed, bringing his right arm to cover his mouth in embarrassment. “Three oaths I ask of thee, kidnapper.” He paused dramatically. “First, that you release the one you call Amalai from your attentions and grasp until she reaches the age of majority. From there on, she may decide to contact you as she wishes.”

Ldreth kept his face still, but sobbed and relief inwardly. Childe had much harsher terms for his siblings’ return - he never saw Burd Ellen again. Even if they had been in the same room, he would not have been able to sense her. He could wait for Amalai. It was his own fault that the knight had reached Amalai before he had returned her himself. “Agreed.”

The knight smiled brightly. “Wise choice, your Majesty.”

Mesmerized, Ldreth’s eyes stayed on the knight’s lips a moment too long. 

The knight smiled wider. “Secondly, you or yours may not set foot or keep your portal within the lands of my genus loci, the Asha Manitou Turtle Person. I have beaten you in combat, and it does not take kindly to thieves of children.”

Hot shame and anger bubbled up in the king’s gut. Something must have shown on his face, because the night removed Amalai from atop Ldreth’s stomach. The knight stepped over his body, and held the swordpoint over his throat. “Agreed?”

The king swallowed again, and felt the hairs of his neck brush against the blade. “You do not know with whom you deal, knight.” Now more than ever, Ldreth wished his magic was not spent. In that moment, he would have rent the knight limb from limb, if he could, never mind how much Ldreth wanted to run his fingers through that hair.

“Perhaps I do not,” acknowledged the knight, “But neither do you. Do you agree to the second oath?”

Giving up access to part of the human world was a terrible loss for all of his people - but especially Ldreth himself. That area of the world was densely populated, especially with people of the Rowland line. But if it meant not feeling the cold bite of iron in his throat, sapping away at his powers for a year and a day? In this contentious time? He would do it. Even now, his wing stung - and that had merely been a nick. Ldreth could not afford to be out of commission for the coming calamity. “Agreed,” he spat.

The sword moved away. 

“Third: you give up your claim on the Rowland line - forever.”

Eyes wide, Ldreth snarled, “So you would ask me to voluntarily end my line – my peoples independence – forever?” Hot tears sprung into his eyes, and Ldreth could not hold them back. “My Realm is small, but proud. I have not been able to produce an heir, and the Suhma Court breathes down our necks even now. You cannot ask me to rid myself of the only way I am to have a child.”

Ldreth cast his eyes to his daughter. He had been so close - and now he would have another child ripped away, to die a quick mortal death at the relentless choking grip of Elli herself.

As if the knight had read Ldreth’s thoughts, the knight coldly asked, “But has your method been successful? Both times, hundreds of years apart, I must add, the children you took were returned to their families.” His voiced softened. “But I have an idea - one that might give you a better chance.”

Ldreth looked up at the knight. “What could you possibly offer me that is of equal worth?”

The knight smirked, and Ldreth could no longer deny his attraction. “The ability to give birth to your own.”

Ldreth stared.

“Adoption is of course a valid and wonderful way to have children.” The knight continued. “But from what I have heard of Faerie’s laws, that it makes the claiming of such children difficult - somehow theft or curse is a more valid acquisition. So, I will give you the ability to bypass such issues.”

Ldreth nodded, mouth agape. “But how could I get such an ability? I am a faeman! A man!”

The knight shrugged. “So am I. But if we traded abilities, I think both of us could benefit quite nicely.

Mind racing, Ldreth did the math. Human men were generally more willing to pursue short relationships. If he himself could bear the (wonderful, cherished) consequences, then becoming a father could become a lot less difficult. But -

“I cannot perform such a transferral without preparation,” lamented Ldreth, unwilling to admit he had no magic available.

“No worries,” the knight said. “Just come to me before the next new moon. I need another Baci Su Khwan anyway.”

“I will visit you as soon as you are out of this … Turtle Person’s lands.” 

“Ag-” the knight stopped himself. “And you must agree to never visit revenge upon me or mine.”

Ldreth had not planned on it anyway - this was a deal he could live with. “Agreed.”

“Do we have an accord?” The human smiled, giddy, as if he had always wanted to say that.

“We have an accord,” confirmed the king. 

Both hissed as the Bargain-mark pricked and burned into the skin of their left-ring fingers, an odd spot, the ambient magic of Ixrun binding them together. 

“What is this?” asked the knight, marveling at the intricate marking on his finger.

“A sign that we are bound to each other.” 

Ek must have been satisfied, for he unbuckled the belts on his legs, wings, and finally the king’s hands. 

Seizing his chance to bind the man further - for humans were slippery curs - Ldreth grabbed the knight by the head and kissed him.

The soft lips did not yield, but Ldreth got what he wanted, the werman accidentally getting a bit of spit into his mouth, making him a citizen of Ixrun, and giving the king his name. He licked his lips, to try and cover up his surprise at already missing the sensation. “I will always know you now, Chantha Rasphone,” Ldreth bared his teeth. “There will be nowhere I cannot find you.” Despite the king’s position on the floor, vulnerable, he saw the fear enter the knight’s eyes.

But then the werman cleared his throat, and a wicked glint enter his eyes. “Call me Ek, Calyute Ldreth Tynch u’Ixrun.”

Ldreth’s throat went dry. He had thought that iota of magic he had gained in the last few minutes had been enough to shield his name from being taken too.

He nodded, defeated.

The knight - no, Chantha - no, Ek - offered Ldreth a hand. “I would suggest firing the pixie,” he said casually. “Look at the switch on the bed. Enough babies die of SIDS every year, you don’t need another thing keeping them silent.” Then he turned away. Ldreth was no longer important. Ek held his hand out to Amalai.

Ldreth drank in the sight - he would not see her until she came of age, and he intended to remember everything, even if he had more children.

She wrapped her small hand around two of Ek’s fingers.

“Ready to go?”

Ldreth was not ready for her to go. 

She nodded solemnly. 

Ek walked her out to the balcony. “Turtle Person?” He called to the open air. “We are ready to go home.” He picked Amalai up, and she clung to him like a koala-spider.

A great rending sound, like metal torn asunder, groaned and echoed through the land. A crack in the sky appeared. Ek lifted his sword, and a swirling mass of riverwater touched down and swallowed the two up. 

The water retreated up, up, up, and the crack in the sky scabbed over. The sound played backwards. 

They were gone.

“Good show, old chap!” Merlin said as Ek and Sunya flew out of the hole in the ground, Ek barely landing on his feet. He patted Ek’s shoulder. “Especially with that last bit.” He winked. “Very clever indeed.”

“Uhhh, thanks.” Ek did not really know what to say to that.

“With that matter done, I must away! Other young heroes to meddle- I mean advise. Until we meet again!” He popped back out of sight. 

Turtle Person snorted, then pointed a still-healing claw at Ek’s dha. “I suggest you learn how to use that properly, young man.” It said. “This is not the end.”

Ek’s heart sped up. Was it bad that he was both disappointed and glad to hear that? Regardless, he nodded. “I will, Turtle Person. Thank you.”

Turtle Person nodded back and shimmered out of sight.

Ek looked at Phi Thooey. 

She colored and went behind him to see Sunya, whose cub was resting on his shoulder. “Hello, Nyai,” she waved.

When the little girl saw the phi, she buried her face into Ek’s shirt. 

His heart lurched. “Phi Thooey, I think she’s tired.”

The phi looked a little sad, but withdrew. “I understand. Ek,” she grabbed hold of his free hand. “You did well, and entered at a lucky time. Only a few minutes have passed here. Your break is nearly over - I have placed a fresh bowl of chicken and fries at your table, and made it invisible to all others. I do not want you to be punished for eating on the clock.” She pointed down the way, where a pair of frantic parents were trailing a guard. “There are Nyai’s parents. I will see you at the wat.”

Ek blinked, and she was gone. “Thank you!” He called to the empty air.

Shrugging, the ache of his arms and chest scars overwhelmed by satisfaction, Ek put Sunya on the ground - park policy made it clear that these circumstances did not merit any more than holding her hand - and brought her over to her parents. After he hid the dha in some bushes, of course.

Then he used the last few minutes of his break to wash up, arrange his clothes to hide the stains and rips (he was not successful), and went back to work. 

He still had hours left of his shift. He pulled the guide out of his pocket and touched his lips. 

THE END

Chantha Rasphone Explanation

Okay originally I thought this would have to be split up a lot more, but I had to 'split' the story so late in the narrative, the rest of this should fit. So read on!

This is the longest story I’ve ever written. Not counting the section dividers, glossary, pictures or this explanation, it’s over 40 printer pages - over 21k words long. It’s no Lord of the Rings, but it’s a new high for me and I’m pleased with myself. I started writing it in June of 2023, after I finished up writing the Napoleon adaptation. I was out of time, interest and eventually journal pages (I used that journal for other things too) during the months following that summer, so I did not finish until June 2024, writing several other, shorter stories along the way. But I made it to page 93 - the very last page for the story! 

Then I typed it up, changed word choices, pacing, and occasionally small scenes, until I was at last satisfied. I set out to write the beginning to a queer, problematic and slightly bloody relationship, set in a similar story to the film Labyrinth (1986) (that’s going to come up a lot lol) and I believe I reached that goal. 

In terms of inspiration, Ek is a bit of me (job, to whom I’m attracted, interest in helping kids) and a bit of a friend N (transman, does not want to be the birthing parent but wants kids, impulsive). When I started the story, N was struggling with his mental health and so I created a version of him who doesn’t have to face such things. But I can be slightly unimaginative, so the character ended up being like myself as well. Then Ek ended up being Laotian (leading to a lot of edits, they were worth it but dang) because of one very interesting twelve year old I looked after while working the Lost Parents position. He had recently come out and felt kind of alone, because a lot of queer representation is still very white and/or very Americanized, divorced from any heritage, and he wished it was not so. So Ek grew from being a queer copy+paste version of Childe Rowland to a guy with his own title.

Chantha Rasphone was chosen as the name of my hero for two reasons - syllables and sort-of alliteration. Childe (Chial-dey) as a name used to mean a noble boy who had yet to become a knight. It briefly became a first name after the original poem became popular, before eventually shortening and meaning a gender neutral term for a young human. So overall the name is four syllables. I searched long and hard for a male Laotian name that both started with the same sounds (ch- and r-) and had the same syllables. I finally settled on Chantha Rasphone. Chantha also means moon, a literary symbol for change, which is a nod to how his body will be changed on a new moon after the story ends. Ek was chosen because it sounds nothing like Chantha and means hero, and I enjoy being on the nose!

Ldreth is based on the villain from the film Labyrinth (1986), to whom N and I both find attractive. We both like men, but we both like very different men. I think Jareth is  the sole character we both feel strongly about. I ended up giving him more muscles, wings, and facial features as if he was from the area of Australia that inspired many of my animals. Plus he has fantasy vitiligo (a skin condition that causes loss of melanin, dark colored skin cells, in often-symmetrical patches)! But he was still very inspired by Jareth, even though he’s a milder in terms of casual cruelty and a bit more physical than magical. Only once did I finish drawing him did I realize I was inspired mustache- and physique-wise by Tom Selleck in ‘3 Men and a Baby’ and King Bradley from ‘Full Metal Alchemist’. 

But his final homage to Jareth is his name. Sure, his private name is Calyute, the same as a defending Pindjarup (the people on whom Ldreth is facially and locationally based) warrior who successfully rattled Australian colonizers, but his most common one that we see used throughout the story is Ldreth. Literally I was just coming up with placeholder names because calling the guy ‘the king’ and thought about names that would not BE Jareth but certainly sound like Jareth. The ‘d’ sound and the ‘j’ sound are similar, so I did ‘Dreth’ for a while. Then I wanted it to be two syllables and be unlike any other name I have ever heard (that’s how I came up with Tynch and Ixrun as well). So I stuck an ‘L’ in front. The next summer I tried to think of something better, but by then the name stuck. Names are dangerous when left unattended, lol.  

By the way the wings were a last minute addition to make the choking seem more forceful . And they were originally going to be butterfly wings. But it turns out I suck at drawing butterfly wings, and I did not feel like practicing,  so I switched it to Western Spinebill wings. This especially worked because Ldreth’s vitiligo gives him white markings about his eyes and near his mouth. It literally took me hours to find a bird that was definitely from southwest Australia that has brown wings. But when I found this one I cheered! It even eats nectar, which I think is very fae-like. 

Also I both like and find boring fae who don’t look that different from humans. So I wanted to give him something.

Another note before I get into the drawings: glossaries are useful dictionaries at the end of books to help readers (often young but I don’t think you stop needing such things as adults) define new and foreign words. Even if I don’t notice the book having a glossary until I reach the end (because they’re often at the end) I still like to read through it. 

This story has an oversized glossary. That size was not really needed, but as I was creating it (mostly for the Laotian terms and the made up Faerie words) I ran across a post about Alice Te Punga Somerville’s poignant poem, ‘Kupu rere kē’. It was not the first time had seen it, but it was right after I had compiled the extensive-but-only-by-necessity glossary for West of the Sun, East of the Moon, and it got me thinking. Here is the poem in its original form.

Kupu rere kē - by Alice Te Punga Somerville

My friend was advised to italicise all the foreign words in her poems. This advice came from a well-meaning woman with NZ poetry on her business card and an English accent in her mouth. I have been thinking about this advice. The convention of italicising words from other languages clarifies that some words are imported: it ensures readers can tell the difference between a foreign language and the language of home. I have been thinking about this advice. Marking the foreign words is also a kindness: every potential reader is reassured that although you're expected to understand the rest of the text, it's fine to consult a dictionary or native speaker for help with the italics. I have been thinking about this advice. Because I am a contrary person, at first I was outraged — but after a while I could see she had a point: when the foreign words are camouflaged in plain type you can forget how they came to be there, out of place, in the first place. I have been thinking about this advice and I have decided to follow it. Now all of my readers will be able to remember which words truly belong in Aotearoa and which do not. 

English is not the Indigenous language of the USA, nor is Laotian. But this poem made me think about how I can so easily use English as a crutch to explain Laotian terms, perhaps to an oversimplified extent, and expect every reader to comprehend it. 

So before writing this, I ended up writing a ridiculous amount of definitions for an entire evening. You don’t have to read the entire thing, but think of it as a statement piece - neither language, English or Laotian, should be anything but foreign here. And while I can only truly write extensively in English, the point is now out there. 

(Also I very rarely italicize words, because I often change mediums and document programs, so it gets lost in translation. And to save myself a headache, once I finished that glossary that night, I made a strict rule to not add to it anymore. That was the kind of side quest that would take over your brain forever if you let it.)

Okay, on a less serious note, let’s get to the drawings!

As stated above, this story grew out of control and the title even changed. And as I tend to draw titles before anything else, that meant I had to make a new title drawing. The original, which says Childe Rowland (see below, before the glossary) was my attempt at artistic triangles. I had fun making it, but it was definitely less relevant than my new one. It says Chantha Rasphone, and even has his dha and phial! His name is lowercase because I felt it matched the vibe. The final title picture was drawn nearly seven months before the other pictures. 

The second picture was the second to last I drew for this. I wanted to space out the story-specific drawings evenly throughout the book, and as I was drawing to a close I realized I did it have enough drawings with Ldreth, and had zero of Sunya. So I eventually drew this one. I think the perspective came out decently. By this point I had decided on Ldreth’s hair length, but the original version of this specific illustration has a longer mustache. Sometimes you have to get the final step to realize what would complete your vision. Sunya is probably one of the most accurate children I’ve ever drawn, and I drew her too tall for her age. Such is life. She’s wearing a swim shirt and shorts, because I think toddlers look cute in those and it helps them avoid sunburn. Ldreth is wearing an outfit inspired by Jareth (high collar, frilly necktie), a little bit of a wrestler’s outfit (high boots, bare shoulders) and slightly Garnet from Steven Universe (gloves which only have a middle finger).

The third picture was the first one I drew outside of the title, because I knew I wanted it to have the most people and I was excited to draw Phi Thooey. 

Of course, that’s when I realized I had lost the image of a temple statue that I planned to use as her model. So I had to do some digging, found a cool goddess named Phra Mae Thorani, who is often recognized across Southeast Asia. I found a very detailed statue, simplified the decorations on the cloth a little, and drew Phi Thooey! I also shortened her hair style to just a bun on top, because she does not ever squeeze the waters of detachment symbolically out of her hair (like Phra Mae Thorani, to help people ignore temptation) - she is not a detached spirit by any means. I have her presenting the phial in that way because I just think presenting objects like that is visually cool. And in that moment, I was artistically charged and ready to take on hands.

Next came Turtle Person, whose design is based on both male and female Nanticoke-Lenape attire, and which (hopefully) strikes a balance between traditional and modern Lenape design. It is not stuck in the past - it even bears their modern symbol, a turtle overlaid by a drawn bow, as the embroidered patch on the end of their braid. Plus, it has scales, stripes, a back turtle shell, and though you can’t see it, claws. That’s why it’s holding its hands like that - one finger is within the other fist, to staunch the bleeding. Its skirt probably has the best ruffles I have drawn to date.

Then I drew Ek. I hate how his hairstyle looks in the back but it’s one of those things that looks better with shading. Otherwise, I’m satisfied with how it turned out. His uniform was based upon mine, minus the clear fanny pack because I did not feel like drawing it. Note the bracelet on his wrist - both he and Sunya have one. 

I drew Merlin last. By this point, I was artistically fatigued. I really like drawings Merlin being old and thin and having an incredibly long white beard and such, but I decided to go another route. Merlin was likely inspired by an ancient British chief, so I based his face off a reconstruction of a British man from that time period. People’s faces in general were widened because they had to chew tougher food, which expands the jaw. His robe is vaguely inspired by generic wizard robes, though I tried to hearken back to the inspiration of those robes, which were scholar robes, and added some leaves to reference Merlin’s ultimate fate. He shot moon, asterisk and star symbols at Ek because that was the best way my artist fatigue could imagine magic. 

The fourth picture (and the first to not be story-specific) is a kangaroo-dolphin. I first invented it for the charity coloring book, Li’s Friends: Horrible Pets to Protect You From the Horrible World. As I had only planned (and had time) for 8 drawings in this story, which meant they were few and far between in such a long fairy tale, I wanted to include extra pictures. So it was not much trouble to include this little guy! My work for that coloring book project inspired all the animals that appeared in Chantha Rasphone.

The fifth was the thylacine-emu catching her young and Ek. Drawing this made me realize two things. One, since my farm now had emus, and they actually had wings, as opposed to moas, which had no upper limbs at all, it would make more sense reference and story wise to change the birds I had originally written (thylacine-moas, because that was another Li’s Friends chimera invention, see the drawing) to thylacine-emus. Thank god for the word replacement tool. Two, I needed to standardize Ek’s face. 

One of my biggest struggles throughout this project was keeping a face consistent. Even if you use one model, one photo consistently, if you take time to consider what lines and face angles you want to consistently depict, you’re going to get varying faces. So this time around, I bit the bullet and drew a little Ek. I ultimately changed the hairstyle, but the Laotian model I used had the haircut as seen in the face model. I think my face consistency has a long way to go, but improved significantly. 

The sixth was one I tried drawing all year, in between when I stopped writing Chantha Rasphone in August 2023 and started again in June 2024. I had just finished that section, and I knew I wanted to include a picture from this scene. Initial plans included Frondrum hanging from Ek. Eventually, to combat artist fatigue, I made it a smaller drawing with only a partial view of the taipan-purinina and Ek. This made me happy, and I was able to move onto the next drawing. I did give Ek top-surgery scar stains before I finished, just to be extra.

The seventh picture is the last non-story-specific one included for Chantha Rasphone. In Li’s Book of Friends, the crocodile-bees are not sapient, but are otherwise the same. This picture is meant to be the one found in Ek’s survival guide. Which to be honest, is also partially inspired by Li’s Book of Friends. 

The eighth illustration was originally going to be Ek hopping out through Spejo the Mirror, it being tilted and transparent enough that you could see both his backside and his front going through. But the only using line-art restriction plus my desire to depict my magical mirror design one last time٭ lead to me drawing this instead. I’m not as pleased with the perspective - foreshortening limbs is hard - but regardless it is over and I am glad. 

٭ I drew a single magic mirror like this throughout many of my stories, including my very first, Snow White. While the Acacia Tree has an evil stepmother who looks into a mirror with vanity and malice in her heart, this was the very last last depiction of my version of the Magic Mirror.

The ninth was the last drawing I drew on August 4th - it was an uncharacteristically slow day at work, and the following day more than made up for its oddness. But I was happy to utilize the time for my projects. I created the Ldreth facial reference right before illustrating this. I did mess around with longer haired versions of Ldreth, but after receiving input from my buddy answeringmysister on Tumblr, I shortened it. This was also the picture that made me give up upon butterfly wings and go with wings. Again, artistic fatigue is real, and I already knew how to draw foreshortened bird wings. 

For clarity’s sake, Ek’s left arm (he’s left handed) is striking Ldreth’s right wing with the dha, cutting in and poisoning (potioning?) him. Ldreth is wearing a different outfit than the diving picture. He still has bare shoulders, but he has full gloves and a tail coat now. This situation will definitely lead to some awkwardness down the road, when the two start seriously feeling attraction for one another, but the choking and poisoning felt necessary to both in the moment. Narrative tension is fun :).

The absolute last picture (for a reason ^_^) is Ek and Ldreth kissing. I just wanted to be evil. One of these days I’ll draw a kissing picture where both parties look natural, even if one is resisting. Still, it’s an improvement from none looking natural!

Thank you for reading!

Chantha Rasphone Glossary - had to be split up because tumblr was scared of all my bullet points. Start here for the Laotian terms, and for the links to the next bunch.

[connectparanormal]

Forest Spirits

Stories of forest ghosts abound in the heart of the old forests, where sunlight seeps through in dappled patterns beneath a dense canopy. People believe these phantom-like creatures, believed to embody the spirit of the forest, to be the guardians of the natural world. With their quiet movements amidst the woods, they are more felt than seen—a whisper among the rustling leaves, a shimmer in the morning mist. A common depiction of forest spirits is that of enigmatic, elusive beings whose shapes merge perfectly with their surroundings. According to some traditions, they resemble wisps of shadow or light, while others see them as animals or humanoids covered in vines and moss. They can have an aesthetically pleasing or unsettling aspect, which reflects the forest's dual character as a haven of mystery and tranquility. Many civilizations honor and venerate forest spirits. People regard them as the guardians of ancient wisdom, their understanding of the natural world extending back to the dawn of time. It is thought that these spirits keep the ecosystem's delicate balance intact, ensuring that everything in the forest lives in harmony. A woodland spirit is believed to be fiercely protective of their territory; therefore, to enrage one is to invite calamity. Narratives of encounters with forest spirits frequently include their capacity to mentor and assist individuals who behave responsibly towards the forest. A gentle glow or a helping hand may guide a lost traveler to safety. In particular, healers and shamans consult these spirits in hopes of receiving knowledge about secret springs and medicinal plants.

Various cultures' folklore depicts woodland spirits in a variety of names and shapes, each with its own special qualities and tales. The Kodama are tree spirits from Japanese mythology that live in old trees and bless people who respect them while condemning those who do them harm. In Celtic traditions, the Green Man is a symbol of rebirth and the cycle of growth. He is frequently shown as a face composed of leaves and vines. According to Native American beliefs, all living things are home to the Manitou, a spirit that guards and guides the natural world. But there isn't always harmony in the relationship between people and forest spirits. It is believed that these ghosts become resentful and even go into hiding as a result of human invasion and environmental degradation. In these stories, the formerly kind spirits transform into messengers of bad luck, revealing their fury through storms, failed crops, and other misfortunes. The spirits view the pollution and deforestation that result from human growth as direct insults, which upset the equilibrium and peace they work so hard to preserve. The stories of forest spirits all have a deep reverence for nature and an understanding of its inherent worth, despite the differences in representations and beliefs. These spirits serve as a reminder of the interdependence of all living things and the significance of living sustainably. They are the forest's spirit, an enduring presence that keeps watch over the always-shifting dance of life that occurs there. Stories of forest spirits serve as powerful reminders to recognize the ancient ties that bind us to the planet and its many kinds of life, as well as to maintain and safeguard our natural environments in the present era. The depictions of forest spirits in literature, art, and oral traditions continue to evoke awe and respect for the natural world. Paintings and sculptures frequently depict their forms entwined with the forest's flora and fauna. Poets and writers use the enigmatic nature of these spirits to evoke the magic and mystery of the woods, transporting readers to a realm where the boundaries between the natural and supernatural worlds become blurred.

Modern environmental initiatives use the symbolism of forest spirits to promote sustainable living and conservation. In order to highlight the sacredness of the forests and the necessity of preserving them from degradation, activists conjure the image of these guardians. Through utilizing the rich cultural heritage of forest spirit mythology, their aim to cultivate a shared sense of accountability and environmental stewardship among people. The capacity of forest spirits to forge deep and meaningful connections between humans and the natural world is ultimately what gives them their enduring legacy. They serve as a reminder that the forest is a living, breathing organism with a spirit and soul, not merely a collection of trees and animals. These tales urge us to respect the ages-old cycles of nature, remember our role in the larger scheme of things, and treat the planet that supports us with kindness.

[batfsm]

Youngest to oldest:

Etrigan the Demon (Jason Blood) ~ 1,500 Years Old (I should not be but I was surprised by the connection to Raven.)

Wonder Woman (Diana Prince) ~ 2,200 Years Old (I thought she be older.)

Manitou Raven (Raven) and Manitou Dawn (Dawn) ~ 3,000 Years Old (I now need to know who exactly they are.)

Hawkman (Carter Hall) ~ 3,100 Years Old (Damn, I thought he and his wife were close in age. Guess not.)

Hippolyta ~ 3,200 Years Old (She was a member? Cool!)

Black Adam (Teth-Adam) ~ 4,600 Years Old (For real? Wow.)

Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz) ~ 225 Million Years Old (Not surprising at all.)

Orion ~ 4 Billion Years Old (Who? I don't really know him.)

Doctor Fate (Nabu) ~ 10 Billion Years Old (Knew he was old but damn.)

The Spectre (Aztar) - Timeless (Not surprising at all and I barely know who they are.)

[zahri-melitor]

I don't know if it's just me but it feels like alot of the points people use to criticise Tim are things that can actually be seen with early Damian writing. The too smart, dangerous, over-competent and slightly murderous character doesn't really fit Tim as a character even though he's ascribed to that and criticised for it but it can easily be seen with Damian.

I don't hate Damian as a character, but I get what you mean about it being tiring that DC keeps pushing him to the top of the totem pole especially since the way the do that is by making other characters seem incompetent and by ignoring other characters. Also correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Cass, Barbara or Tim have been on the Justice League but Damian as a teen younger than them technically is/was?

Oh boy. Late response on this, but I've been playing with it for a while.

Starting with the last point first: Tim’s actually the only one of those three who hasn’t been on a main universe Justice League at any point.

Barbara was a member of the JLA after the Morrison reboot for quite a while between 1998-2000. She’s also got the tendency to pop up in JL stories and events as one of the computer folk helping maintain their systems. She’s certainly more focused on her OWN team and I don’t think she’s ever been a member as Batgirl, but as Oracle? As Lian Harper says in Titans #1 (1999), she’s secretly running the League.

Cass was a member of Justice League Elite, a morally ambiguous Justice League spinoff coming out of one of the more confusing JLA arcs. She was placed on the team undercover as ‘Kasumi’ by Bruce essentially as a spy. In tone it feels like DC trying their hand at a The Authority ripoff before they gobbled Wildstorm up. Is it a good series? No, but it does mean Cass has been on a Justice League team with Wally, Ollie, and a bunch of Z-listers you’ve never heard of. (Someone is now going to defend oh Manitou Dawn to me and while I DO like her, she's a Z-lister, sorry)

Digression aside!

I think a lot of the time when people are arguing against a character, they are frequently complaining about the flanderised, fanonised version of that character that they trip over in fic all the time more than the character on page in comics. Not always! But those do tend to irritate people more.

In terms of "what people want to argue fanon Tim to be, Damian already is" sort of? I mean there are multiple fanon versions of Tim, but yes, "too smart, dangerous, over-competent and slightly murderous" is a common one among people who want to really insist Tim killed lots and lots and lots of people in Red Robin #8 (a reading I do not subscribe to). It is equally an okay but not great description of Damian, in that I would mostly place even early Damian as 'dangerously violent' not 'murderous' by BFTC.

I don't think it's great in terms of complete accuracy for either of them, but yeah, if you boil things down, it's closer to Damian's actual character than Tim's.

In terms of DC pushing them: yeah, Damian by being THE Robin between 2009 and 2019 or so got a solid editorial pitch as a central character, because 'Robin' as a title has that extra cachet outside of intense comics nerd circles. There were events and storylines that centred his position as The Robin, but equally it comes out in basic things like...which characters are prioritised to appear in anthologies! If we are writing a Batman Christmas story, let's have it feature Bruce and Damian, or Bruce, Dick, Damian and Barbara. And so on.

Now whether Damian's getting prioritised over every other 'kid' of the family is a murky discussion - there's a place for the conversation that certain writers in particular had a tendency to focus on Damian being Bruce's biological kid, over and above the adopted children - but generally it comes and goes in waves and with what stories are pitched. It's very clear when you read comics that some writers just like using particular characters more than others. There's often stories written where to make the story work, someone has to be left holding the idiot ball or being needlessly aggressive, to provide conflict, and writers who do this obviously have to choose someone to do it for them. If a story is centring Damian, generally he isn't going to be the one who finds out he's wrong after providing the conflict. If it's centring say Tim, then Damian might be used to push the narrative forward. And when a writer does like one character more than another, they might choose the one they don't intend to write often as the one who gets stuck being idiot ball.

TL;DR: on some occasions Damian might be being prioritised. On others he isn't. He got a lot of spotlight to himself during the 2010s; that's been more balanced since then (honestly Dick has been the one hogging spotlight for the last few years, if anyone).

[kitzatara]

Who do we think the other 2 magic users are? In the trailer Zatanna had two other protégés. Are they random metas or familiar names.

I’m thinking Khalid? Zachary?

And the other girl could be rachel or misty i guess, maybe manitou dawn? but idk neither of them looked familiar.

[docgold13]

365 DC Comics Paper Cut-Out SuperHeroes - One Hero, Every Day, All Year…

October 11th - Manitou Dawn

Dawn and her late husband Manitou Raven hail from the Obsidian Age of Atlantis, circa 1000 BC. They were born in North America, from a tribe which would one day become the Apache Nation. Dawn and Raven were recruited by the rulers of Atlantis to join heroes from across the world so to form a ‘League of Ancients’ to address global threats. A time traveling Justice League helped this League of Ancients defeat Gamemnae and, afterward, Dawn and Raven chose to accompany the JLA into the future. Manitou Raven was made a member of The Justice League and later the Justice League Elite. Raven became obsessed in his work, attempting to decipher the ‘stony path.’ Dawn felt neglected by her husband and the two grew apart. Sadly the two were unable to reconcile as Raven was killed in action on a mission. Dawn took Raven’s magical staff as her own and became Manitou Raven, wielding the same magical powers once possessed by her husband. With these powers, Dawn was able to assist the Justice League Elite in defeating the traitor in their midst, the villains known as Menagerie. Since then Dawn has taken a semi-active role in the affairs of the Justice League. During the Infinite Crisis, Dawn was a pivotal player in stopping The Key, who had developed new, super-powerful telepathy. Manitou Dawn first appeared in the pages of JLA #75 (2003).

[the-antiapocalyptic-man]

ended up doing the whole Superfriends/Ultimen/Runaways gang. More or less the same meta as my last post on the group, but with a couple variations. All presented here in a kind of rough sketchbook format

I left out Vulcan this time, but Virgil kinda fills the “Son of Vulcan” role (this I rolled Black Vulcan, Son of Vulcan, and Juice all together under the expanded Shazam/Garden of Eternity umbrella). He’s the youngest hero here, but sort of brings everyone back together.

Tye is a metahuman patterning herself after the mythic hero Manitou Dawn, as well as a popular Black Metal singer and percussionist in several groups. She has the size-changing powers and super-senses of the Ultimen!Longshadow.

Eduardo is a little further afield: his primary power is teleportation like the YJ version, but he also spent some time training under the mystic Extrano, giving him a wider range of abilities on par with the Superfriends version. He briefly dated Bunker, but he and Miguel decided they were better as friends (occasionally hook-ups notwithstanding, I mean Ed’s beautiful, fuck)

Goldrush is here, but now she’s kind of El Dorado’s archnemesis, on account of her powers are a direct result of experiments by the White Dragon

Asami’s reworked to be a sort of weird fusion of the Superfriends’ Samurai, Ultimen’s Wind Dragon, and Sam Koizumi, all filtered through 90s anime tropes. She’s a metahuman with aerokinesis powers, but “Wind Dragon” here is a yokai she’s consolidated with her powerset through her sword. She was actually originally inspired by Red Tornado and was elated to meet both the mechanical Tornado and Cyclone.

Katana was her sidekick for years before Tatsu married Maseo and moved to America. Maseo’s death and Tatsu willingly taking on Soultake was a point of contention between the two, leading to Tatsu to break from her mentor entirely and agree to join up with Task Force X as a handler.

pls ignore how small Tatsu is, none of these are to scale with each other, I just messed up and didn’t get around to fixing it yet