#mantichorae

[scarletooyoroi]

"It isn't often to see people seeking out Aaru Village who aren't desert fold or aren't up for no good, I'll give that to ya." Though Thoma looks like a good fella, Candace's concern that he may have ulterior motives for being here is completely valid and understandable. Reason why upon further deliberation she asked Dehya to do her the favor of giving the Inazuman man a tour around the village, to test the waters and confirm or prove wrong her suspicions. "I've heard a thing or two about Inazuma. Hard not to when things had been complicated, right? I take that you being in Sumeru means that the travelling restrictions were lifted?"

There is nothing that isn't genuine and heartfelt curiosity to learn more but also from a personal perspective to see what this guy is about. Everyone who steps a foot in Aaru Village is for a reason, most of the visitors know their business. What about him? In their walk they find a young kid sitting on a carpet outside wearing ragged clothes and reading a book that must've seen better days. Her light blue, sharp eyes narrow at the poor sight. "...I wonder if the hardship Inazuma faced these past years can be comparable to the hardships of us desert folk. Being closed while being guaranteed a decent life doesn't sound half bad."

Just hearing about Inazuma within this moment leads him to a slew of heavy thoughts. Pleasant, but as of the most recent days, difficult, the kind of heaviness that only a taste of life within Teyvat in large could truly sort out.

Any ends of their more amiable part of the conversation finds itself edging down to a more focused calm. For the endless vitality in terms of people, the arts and might it could cultivate, there was a share of glaring wounds also gained and endured as a price.

Lightning flashes. Cutting through all and only allowing those that can rise above to be worthy. A cruel form of beauty.

"You're correct." His voice matches before looking over the mercenary. Just the sight of her vigor compels him to draw from his pool of calm as the oasis known as Aaru now being crossed. Even then, a more perceptive eye could show that despite the changes, struggle remains an underlying current to balance with success. Each step found themselves curious as much as they did thoughtful, accepting the situation with firm eyes that couldn't cast away their softness. Gripping at his cloak to keep it settled proper, Thoma's eyes would focus ahead once more.

As they find themselves situated underneath a small series of trees, giving them prize witness to the boons of Ajilenakh Nuts, he nearly pauses at the curious note that's drawn in the verbal sand. "....Dehya." His voice sounds strained at the notion, when in truth, just picturing the pain of others, witnessing it firsthand despite their vigor allowing them to claw through it by any means, it just hurts.

Within Thoma's eyes, there was no glory or graces to be found in pain like this.

"I'm afraid it's not that easy. Despite the change in scenery, culture and life, there's a cruel lining that stays adamant in persisting." Try as he might, the bitterness of being a firsthand witness, active in the waged war between Watatsumi and Inazuma's mainlands, over those who don Visions, it was a conflict that nurtures strife, newly made young without parents, the chaos that allows a heinous poison to settle with acidic, burning edges within.

"People get hurt, some can manage to fight against it, others are unfortunate to not get those particular means.. Suffering as a result." Licking at his dried lips, it's clear a more sensitive topic was broached to the traveling warrior, the sort that has him looking with a singular eye towards the past, one kept in the present.

"You've caught wind of the decrees I imagine, to be frank, there was a war that cost many their lives. No short thanks to the remnants of a god being used as part of a war effort.. and advantage for other dangerous powers, on top of the earlier made strife." Stepping over to a nearby edge, he's facing away for a moment, more focused on just.. processing it all.

"There are no comparisons when it comes to facing some form of Hell. I wouldn't want to dishonor those that even now, could be going through something we can't even imagine."

@mantichorae

[fcreststridcr]

Starter for @mantichora-flame 🔥

Tighnari walked slowly throughout Sumeru City as he was looking for some new samples the market usually brings in from time to time as long ears wiggle, picking up many sounds as well as voices as his eyes gaze around his surroundings.

The weather was fresh and the air was crisp, the usual for the Land of Dendro. He wondered if he will find some familiar faces also traversing the more he walked on, you never know.

---- 🍃 ----

[alive-and-colorful]

In this playthrough, I start the new Dehya Story Quest in version 3.5 of Genshin Impact, "Lionsblood"! I get to tag along with Dehya as she investigates her mercenary father's deepest secrets.

Why is Deshret's Relics becoming aggressive? What does Dunyarzad's family have to do with this? Can Dehya handle the truth? Let's find out~

[bagnabraghe]

Una grande curiosità per il corpo della parola

Jolanda Insana. Foto di ©Dino Ignani http://www.dinoignani.net/ Il problema del male è centrale nei versi di Amelia Rosselli e di Alda Merini. La violenza della guerra e quella, non meno tremenda, dell’istituzione psichiatrica trovano una dolorosa rappresentazione nelle loro opere. Malgrado le significative differenze in materia di scelte linguistiche e stilistiche, per entrambe, la parola…

[adrianomaini]

Una grande curiosità per il corpo della parola

Jolanda Insana. Foto di ©Dino Ignani http://www.dinoignani.net/ Il problema del male è centrale nei versi di Amelia Rosselli e di Alda Merini. La violenza della guerra e quella, non meno tremenda, dell’istituzione psichiatrica trovano una dolorosa rappresentazione nelle loro opere. Malgrado le significative differenze in materia di scelte linguistiche e stilistiche, per entrambe, la parola…

[whencyclopedia]

Manticore

The Manticore, derived from the Early Middle Persian merthykhuwar or martiora, meaning "man-eater" (also known as a mantichora or a martichore), is a fearsome hybrid creature found in classical and medieval literature. It has the body of a lion, the head of a man and a scorpion tail that can shoot poisonous darts.

The manticore is one of the most bizarre and ferocious creatures depicted throughout classical and medieval bestiaries. Its roots can be traced back to India and Persia (modern-day Iran). The myth of the manticore spreads over several centuries and is mentioned most famously by Ctesias (5th century BCE), Pliny the Elder (23-79 CE) and Pausanias (c. 115 to c. 180 CE).

Appearance & Characteristics

The earliest known mention of the manticore comes from the Greek historian and physician Ctesias in his Indica (written in the 5th century BCE). Although the Indica is now lost to time, fragments of Ctesias' work exist in other authors' writings, and we have a clear description of the manticore. According to Pliny the Elder in his Natural History:

Ctesias writes that amongst these same men there is found an animal called the Mantichora which has three rows of teeth like a comb, the face and ears of a human, and bluish eyes. It is red in colour with the body of a lion and a tail with stingers like a scorpion. Its voice is as if the sounds of the pipe were mixed with a trumpet and it is a creature of great speed which avidly goes after human flesh. (8.75)

Pliny's account of the manticore influenced later writers. He seemed to give the monster a basis in reality as he was considered the expert on strange and marvellous creatures for hundreds of years.

The morphology of the manticore was believed to have developed from its environment – the rugged and barren landscape of the Indian and Middle Eastern deserts. It needed to be fierce and to have weapons at its disposal to be able to catch its prey and prevent being caught by predators. Initially preying on animals like pigs and mountain goats, the manticore began to be lured to villages by the livestock it was hunting and inevitably began to attack and feed on humans, establishing the lore of the man-eating manticore.

The manticore would famously leave no trace of its prey behind. It could attack a human up close with its sharp claws or shoot poisonous darts from its scorpion tail from a safe distance. When it unleashes the poisonous darts from its tail, the tail either bends back or stretches out. Roman writer Aelian (175-235 CE) states that "whatever it hits, it kills, with the exception of elephants" (Characteristics of Animals, 4.21). The poisonous stingers are described as being thick as a rope and one foot (30 cm) in length. Once a stinger has been discharged, another one grows in its place.

Manticores did not just satisfy their appetites by killing one human but would chase after multiple people at a time, taking great pleasure in the hunt. Its favourite way to lure and hunt prey was to hide its body in the long grass, so from a distance, all humans would be able to see would be a human head. Deceived by this, humans would get close to the manticore, and before they knew what was happening, they would be attacked and killed. This showed how cunning and clever the manticore was. Although humans were undoubtedly a manticore's preferred prey, they would also regularly hunt the animal kingdom, except for lions which they could never overpower.

In order to stop the manticores' aggressive nature, the Indians would hunt baby manticores and smash their tails with rocks to prevent them from growing and shooting their poisonous darts and thus taking away their ability to harm humans from a great distance. Manticores lived in burrows deep under the ground where they could hide from their prey and avoid being seen by humans.

Continue reading...

[genshin-impact-updates]

The eyes of a vulture, the spirit of a lion, an unbridled daughter of the desert

"Sing a song, sing along, take your sitar, let's sing all day long."

"Sing my sword, sing my bow, sing my tattered ban-dan-oh."

"Fear no one, fear no lad, only fear if Dehya is mad."

"We love Dehya, she's beautiful and strong. Oh, our precious Dehya, we'll never do you wrong."

— A song sung by the members of "Blazing Beasts" around the campfire

◆ Dehya

◆ Flame-Mane

◆ Unfettered Desert Mercenary

◆ Pyro

◆ Mantichora

"The Eremites," a loosely-organized mercenary organization, is Sumeru's most powerful armed force. They consist of many mercenaries and bands of warriors-for-hire who carry out assignments independently.

One such brigade is the "Blazing Beasts," whose most renowned member is Dehya, also known as the "Flame-Mane."

A highly regarded warrior among the mercenary circles, Dehya is brave without being impulsive, and strong without being arrogant. Life in the harsh desert environment has allowed Dehya to accumulate much combat wisdom through various battles, and she is by no means your typical insolent and ignorant martial artist.

As long as the pay is good and the commission reasonable, Dehya is more than willing to take up her sword to defend those who hire her.

However, there is one thing these employers should be aware of. That is, the agreement they establish with Dehya is only temporary and purely transactional. The reins to tame this lioness is never, and will never be in their hands.

Although mercenaries sell their strength to make a living, their dignity and lives belong only to themselves.

The desert lioness is no one's slave, and her sword only follows her heart.

[genshinresource]

Genshin Impact Character Constellation: Pyro (Shapes)

Bennett: Rota Calamitas

Klee: Trifolium

Xinyan: Fila Ignium

Thoma: Rubeum Scutum

Xiangling: Trulla

Diluc: Noctua

Hu Tao: Papilio Charontis

Amber: Lepus

Dehya: Mantichora

Yanfei: Bestia Iustitia

Yoimiya: Carassius Auratus

[enden-k]

3.5 livestream summary

codes:

KARU3RG6NY65 5SRC28YNNYP9 SB8UJ9H7NH8V

banners:

1st half: Dehya (5star pyro claymore) + Cyno Rerun 2nd half: Ayaka rerun + Shenhe rerun + Mika (4star cryo polearm)

Dehya is not an exclusive character: after 3.5 update, Dehya will be available in the standard banner

story + quests:

New Archon quest: Caribert (Kaeya and Dain screen time!!)

Mantichora Chapter: Act I - Dehya story quest

Hangout Events VIII: Faruzan

events:

Windblume event comeback!! Collei comes back to Mondstadt with Cyno and Tighnari! (free 4star claymore + various mini games and challenges such as chasing balloons, rhythm game and taking photos again)

Spices from the West - spice event again (where we created seasonings for dishes and could gift them to our characters in the teapot if some remember)

Fungus Mechanicus - fungus event related to the beast tamers tournament, mixed with theater mechanicus (return of bongo head!!!!)

Vibro Crystal Verification - vibro crystal event again

other:

new cards!!! kokomi!!!!! card!!!!

new abyssal lector + black serpent knight enemies

new feature: we now get additional rewards for archon quests completion such as intertwined fates etc!

not related to the livestream but adding it myself seeing Tighnari having a big role in the 3.5 event: the english VA officially got fired for the awful and disgusting things he did, his lines so far will be removed and a new VA will be hired

[manasseh]

Dehya - Mantichora

[scarletooyoroi]

The scorching desert forgives nobody. Its predatory claws are permanently on the wait of the closest opportunity they have to hunt and disintegrate everything that is ill-prepared to defy its mightiness. How else would sands that buried thousands of civilizations behave if not as menacing and deathly? These past years its activity has increased with the coming of the Withering to the desert, attracting monsters one could only imagine from the darkest moments of history.

Dehya was en route to Aaru Village to pay a visit to Candace as she always does every time she has the chance to leave Sumeru City, when her job allows her some free time or Dunyazad knows she's going to stay bedridden for a few days until she spotted an unfamiliar figure treading the sun-reflecting sands. Call it natural concern or curiosity, sharp eyes locked onto him from the heights of a rocky structure, wondering if he even has a iota of idea of where he's headed to. The desert conceals dangers aplenty and monsters aren't the only concern when certain human activity is just as dangerous— if half of them were competent at all.

Deciding that the guy was taking a route where no Eremites would be in sight, Dehya opted for making her way to Aaru Village and leave it be. Except to her surprise she had to take a detour when she noticed a suspicious activity from the Fatui and a couple of Eremites. She knows about the extreme needs desertfolk have, albeit she's far from stupid. Anyone knows that whoever has it in them to have any kind of contact with the Fatui, they're up to no good.

She would never expect to find the same guy she has encountered earlier fighting a bunch of Fungi. To wield a polearm and brute force their way to victory is no easy feat, she'll give him that. However, the fact that he isn't from this place solidifies when he seems to be on repose and a couple of scorpions emerge from the sands stealthily. A sigh and a shake of her head follow at the sight, who in their right mind would feel so confident that everything is over? There is no "over" unless you're in the safety of a village. Before it's too late, she summons her claymore and with a spin around herself does she throw it towards one of the scorpions which remains immobilized for a few moments until it ceases to move. In a flash of fire she reaches out to her claymore and with a battlecry she takes it in her hands to hammer it against the other scorpion.

Phew. Her claymore disappears in sparks of fire as she treads her fingers through her hair to straighten herself up. "One can't never declare victory without watching their back, city boy. Never forget that."

His spearwork was a rare commodity amidst the gilded sands. A mastery of distance, aggression and a constant application of momentum caused the Fungi to quickly be rendered to a losing battle. No matter the tactics, elemental powers or the attempted enactment of applying fear, all they're left with were a series of blood dripping wounds and the anguished cries of the fungi-beast. Fresh steam spills from his lips as his body sings jovially to the challenge at hand.

Thoma was well aware that getting the gauge of proper footing would be the challenge here. For the advantage of his many abilities, being unable to fight on the home court would render them all useless. Amidst their wild eyes, the reflection of composure would burn bright in the glimmering jades. "Thank you, for this experience--" Bracing himself with a stirred culmination of will, his technique would go faster as his body leapt broadly forward, weaving through icicles and razor like leaves alike as Homa is spun into a crimson stir of decimation.

Their heads would be the price, freshly removed from brutal strokes of creativity, leaving their forms to dissolve away back to the Ley Lines.

All in all, a good workout. The passion laced vigor begins to gradually quell as his body calms, his mind already upon the next task ahead. "Aaru they said the place was. In that case I--"

"!!"

He didn't even hear that behemoth of a blade whistle in the skies, that was the raw scale of speed enacted. It wasn't until the tough carapace was ripped through like butter fated to a hot knife, that he witnessed its wielder, tearing through the unforgiving desert akin to one of it's destined daughters of potential. Quickly turning to witness the good willed act, it'd be amidst the venomous viscera and the force of her finality that leaves him briefly stunned.

Where did she..? Such questions die down as ultimately, what she succeeds in doing was keeping him from an ill fate, another blaze that refuses to leave this particular sort be reduced to embers.

Watching as they diminish their weapon (through their united element no less), the same respect is given with Homa, a held breath finally being exhaled as he just realizes it. Despite the sharp words of warning, part of him couldn't help but join into their style with the gratitude that rests within. "Shows how far I am out of my element, huh? I've encountered much.. but enemies that can easily sneak from the earth.." Part of him doesn't want to imagine what his alternative angles could've looked like.

After all. Sand was under Geo's dominion, his Elemental sight has a particularly rough time discerning the details of beasts who use this unique camouflage.

Stepping up towards the mysterious character, his pose was respectful and standing tall before he takes that advice to heart, showcasing his appreciation by a Inazuman styled bow.

"Thank you. I admit... There's many new laws to the nature of combat that I'm highly unaware of here, that could've ended so much worse for me. Y'know, big cities and all." That jab had amused him, might as well run with it.

"I'm Inazuma's very own Thoma." He begins, easing up to face her once again. "May I have the honor of knowing my hero's name?"

@mantichorae

[onaras-oficialni]

Den 21 - Nezištný dar

Thalis Uldarion nikdy nedělá nic nezištně.

Uldarion hleděl na bandu chudáků, kterou mu jeho muži přivedli. Unavení, špinaví a posetí čerstvými ranami. Tahle hrstka že se dokázala vypořádat s uprchlou mantichorou?

"Takže vy mi chcete říct," zeptal Eagila, "že se vám uspaná mantichora uprostřed cesty probrala a splašila, načež se z ničeho nic zjevili tihle ubožáci a zlikvidovali ji?"

"No... v podstatě?" usmál se nervózně Eagil, "Napřed jsme se snažili to urovnat sami, ale nešlo to, takže Kass běžela pro pomoc a u východu našla Perlu a tyhlety a ti nám pak šli na pomoc? Šťastná náhoda?" Zadíval se na Uldariona jako provinilé dítě, kter�� doufá, že nějakým zázrakem nebude potrestáno.

"A vy jste čirou náhodou seděli v ústí stoky, najednou se vám tam zjeví polomrtvá trpaslice a váše první reakce byla zjistit, co ji tak zřídilo?" obrátil se Uldarion ke skupince.

"I tak se to dá říci, drahý pane," ujal se slova mladík v pestrobarevném kabátci, "mé jméno je Aurelius, je mi ctí. My všichni jsme nezávisle na sobě hledali útočiště před deštěm a dílem náhody jsme se sešli v téže stoce. Když se pak zjevila slečna Kass, tady - Perla, že? - tady Perla se rozběhla jako první, za ní následovala Krugga, já tuším běžel jako třetí. Vedeni hlukem nalezli jsme scénu masakru a rozhodli se zapojit do boje."

"Takže ten útok jste vedla vy?" stočil Uldarion zrak k malému stvoření v obrovském kabátě, které Aurelius označil za Perlu, "Proč?"

"V tý chvíli mi to přišlo jako dobrej nápad?" odvětilo stvoření, "A taky mi záleží tady na Eagilovi. Musela jsem vědět, že je v pořádku."

"A ostatní se k vám přidali prostě jen tak?"

"Možná? Možná chtěli udělat něco hezkýho? Možná je důvod, proč nás osud sved do jedný roury?"

"V tom případě musím poděkovat osudu, že jsem se nemusel vypořádat se zdivočelou mantichorou." Luskl na Kaima, "Vyplať těmhle kanálovým krysám 400 zlatých za jejich ochotu běžet vstříc nebezpečí. A kdyby se vám náhodou chtělo ještě trochu riskovat, nějakou práci vám najdu."

*

Thalis Uldarion nikdy nedělá nic nezištně.

Uldarion hleděl na mága v rudém plášti. Právě si od něj vyslechl popis pěti dobrodruhů známých jako Krysy. Ovšemže je viděl, ani ne před týdnem. Vyptávali se ho, zda nemá nějaké informace, které by mohli využít v boji proti Konsiliu. Řekl jim, že magikus Grix bude na výroční slavnosti v Alabastrové vile. Teď byl Grix mrtvý a jeho kolega se vyptával po Krysách. Možná by na ně měl být hrdý.

"Ano, znám je. Tuším, že jsem byl první, kdo jim kdy zaplatil, pomohli mi s nějakou potvorou... pak jsem je ještě párkrát najal, jsou docela schopní... ale už to bude měsíce, co jsem je viděl."

"Takže nemáte žádné zprávy, že by se objevili v Alassyru?"

"Je mi líto. Můžu říct svým lidem, aby po nich koukali, ale nic neslibuji."

"Jestli nám pomůžete, Konsilium umí být velmi vděčné."

"Tím jsem si jistý."

Ti blázni se už zase vrhli po hlavě do nebezpečí. Nemají šanci vyhrát. Ale až selžou, nebude to Uldarionovou vinou.

[lovejudgement]

Mantichora

rb & credit to use

[scrcbe]

@mantichora-flame liked for a starter !

he  wasn't  particularly  hung  up  on  the  fact  that  dehya  declined  his  suggestion  to  join  the  akademiya,  but  he  did  still  think  it  a  shame,  and  was  reminded  of  that  whenever  he  saw  her.  naturally,  there  was  no  need  to  pursue  her  further  with  the  matter,  as  he  was  certain  her  mind  would  not  change  no  matter  his  efforts,  and  he  wasn't  quite  invested  enough  in  the  whole  ordeal  to  try  any  harder  than  he  already  had.  ❛  hello.  if  you're  looking  for  the  general  mahamatra,  i  can't  help  you,  ❜  he  'greets',  arms  folding  before  his  chest.

[sora-genshin]

Lionsblood‣(Mantichora Chapter Act:I )

‣Dehya Story Quest