#prophetic birds

[wingedblooms]

Bird of prophecy

I’ve talked a lot about Elain’s connection to the myth of Blodeuwedd, a spring maiden transformed into an owl. A long time ago, I also stumbled across the Gamayun in Slavic mythology, which is associated with other bird-maidens (like Sirin, which comes from the Greek Siren). The Gamayun is a half-bird, half-woman of prophecy. She symbolizes knowledge and wisdom and acts as a divine messenger. This bird-maiden originates from the Huma in Iranian mythology. According to legend, the Huma flies invisibly above the earth and its shadow foretells the next king when there is no heir. It is depicted as a combination of creatures like a mighty griffin. It would be fitting if Elain, who is canonically wise and prophetic, traveled like the Huma: a fusion of animal forms and invisible to all. The Cauldron travels that way, and it would be appropriate (and badass) for a divine messenger to mimic the power it gave her. All those with the gift of Sight we’ve met in the Maasverse—Baba Yellowlegs, the oracle, and shapeshifter mystic—also seem to navigate more than one form, even if it only involves iron teeth and claws. Could Elain also possess her own bird-maiden form as a seer? Or will her flight through time and space remain mental? Only time will tell.

[emaadsidiki]

Streets of Madinah 🕊️

[winding-maze]

Parrot studies turned into a concept of the Fallen London parrots, the Blue Prophets. With bonus Poetess in casual zeefaring clothing showing off her Chambers of the Heart tattoo!

[painedpen]

This is Ochako Uraraka btw. If you even care.

[thecorruption-thespiralsversion]

For a while I messed up some dates with regard to Oliver and Graham's break up. All the details we had was that Graham got replaced April of 2006 and that Oliver says he had broken up with him prior to 2007.

I had it in my head that Not!Graham had been the one broken up with.

Seeing as how Oliver was living with Graham until the break up, and Graham living alone at the time of the statement. Probably not the case, right.

Still, I'm stuck on this. Something feels not right about this situation and how it directly (or indirect, but Im sure it had some effect on Oliver) it all lead to Oliver becoming an avatar of The End.

Then on a relisten I catch it. Graham had been resorting that table for years. And remember that the table is an artifact of The Web. The Not!them is just bound to it.

Was it... was their break up The Web's fault (in part).

Can you imagine Graham missing important events, or meet ups. Forgetting to complete favors or deliver on his promises. Failing to give the time and affection need to maintain a relationship.

All because he got stuck, captivated, and enthralled by a hypnotic pattern on a table he invested so much time, money, and effort into.

Then, a few weeks, maybe months later. The other thing trapped in a web of it own lies. A creature bound by metaphor to an object meant to trap and enthral. Kills, and replaces even the very memory of him in all but a select few.

I have a strong suspicion that Oliver was not one of the (un)lucky few.

But I need to know.

Does Oliver remember the Real Graham?

Or can he only conjure the memory of the thing that replaced him.

[knizuu]

“While you salute to the mighty, I’ve been hiding”

“To the scars I go, to the valley I reign”

AJSDFGERG HAD FUN DRAWING THISSS Essentially Jet is the only oblivious green grape bird to the Battle Kukku Empire’s unstable self

[evolutionsvoid]

Though the Church of Divine Wealth reigns supreme in this land, it isn't the sole faith that can be found. Just looking at the Church itself, you can find many sects that have formed inside and out. Those who worship a sole humor, or perhaps those who see their gods in different idols or flesh. At such a size, it was almost inevitable that fragments would break off and find their own way in this world, taking the good word and fluids to create their own truth. But beyond the reach of the precious golden Ichor are others who find worship in different places. Hearing songs from the depths of the ocean, or seeing hope in the stars dancing through the sky. And there are some who find the same faith in death and rebirth, but they have their own angels.

In this world, vultures are sacred birds, for none can deny their role in the great cycle. They are those who come from the heavens to mourn the dead and bring them back to the cycle for rebirth. With bowed heads, they consume the fallen flesh then ascend to the gods themselves, to ensure those who have perished can be brought back to the creators to be reshaped and reborn. It is said that the vultures themselves can bring forth new life, vomiting eggs from their maws, crafted from the essence of those they carry within. Eaters of the dead, birthers of new life, there is no surprise why some revere these divine birds. They who see these vultures as messengers of the gods, maintainers of the great cycle. These birds have a connection to the world that goes beyond nature, and into something far greater in their eyes. They carry the words of the gods, see the fates of those who live and determine who is worthy of divine rebirth. To have one's body consumed by a wake of vultures is an incredible honor, as you have been deemed a fitting soul. Thus, the followers of these birds believe in sky burial, leaving their dead up high so that the blessed messengers may come to collect them.

Of these followers are the Speakers of Carrion, priests and prophets who give themselves to the vultures and faith. The Speakers utterly worship these birds, to the point that it is their life's goal to become like them. Being eaten by a vulture is one honor, to be reborn as one is something far greater. So they don cloaks stitched from shed feathers, and wear masks that bear their wondrous visage. Clawed gauntlets upon their arms to give them talons, and hunched forms to share the same postures as their blessed birds. They wish to be like the vultures, and in turn choose to speak for them. Speakers of Carrion are said to be able to predict the future, divine one's fate and suss out secrets hidden in the world. Their connection to the messengers give them a vision and mind that can tease out the mysteries of the world. But in order for one to receive such wisdom, they must bring offerings to the Speakers. Food and dead flesh are simple gifts, but still eaten with appreciation. This shall gain you a few words and a paltry vision. What you really must bring them is a fresh liver, as that is the organa these vulture worshipers view as the most valuable. To them, the liver is the seat of the soul, and it holds great power and knowledge within its meat. Offer them a liver, and they shall greedily devour it and use its essence to answer your questions. One ability they are said to have is to be able to draw information from the life of the person the liver once belonged to, reading their digested essence to pull forth secrets and knowledge. Some will bring the livers of dead loved ones to the Speakers of Carrion to get answers for questions never fulfilled in life, to know what secrets were kept from them, or simply to hear their final words before returning to the cycle. Animal livers can help power the visions of a Speaker, but they are very much weaker than a liver pulled from man.

Livers are not the only offerings they crave, as they can be prophets if gifted the right material. What they seek are pellets vomited forth from birds, common for some species but incredibly rare for the likes of the divine vultures. Inside these hardened nuggets are said to be messages of fate, written in code and bone. If one has the luck of finding an intact pellet, bring it to a Speaker so that they may tease it open and see what secrets it holds for the future. Their art calls for cutting open the pellet, and observing the materials held inside. Hair, bone and other digested pieces are words and letters within these pellets, and how they are arranged paints a picture. From this divination, they speak of things to come and what lays in your future. If you find a rare vulture pellet, they can possibly learn secrets that are kept from mortals, taking a peek behind the veil of it all. This divination may require a lot of patience, but when one watches the process, they will no doubt see art. 

In their pursuit to be like the vultures, the Speakers seek to eat the livers and essences of those who passed, so that they may carry their burden. For each soul they consume, they will add a carved weight to their back. Shaped from bone and crafted in the visage of man and bird, these are meant to symbolize the essences held within their guts. The heft of them to remind them of the burden they carry. It is their hope that if they play this role enough, that the vultures will see them as kin, and that they may be granted the life of a divine bird. Some believe that this rebirth will occur when they perish, and others think that this transformation will come in life. When they have consumed enough and pleased the gods enough, their feathery cloaks will swallow them and birth forth a new vulture, a new messenger. To the Church, these folk are mad heretics, worshiping false idols and denying the grandeur of Ichor. These folk are chased from the towns and cities, labeled as lunatics and liars. To go to a Speaker for their services is seen as blasphemy and imbibing in heretical knowledge. However, the Church's efforts against these folk has been quite lax compared to others they persecute. They keep them away from the settlements they hold sway over, dissuade others from seeking them, but do little else. It is said that the Church sees them as so useless and pathetic, that they don't want to waste their time on a few feathery madmen. And once war broke out across the lands, all efforts to keep these followers away have vanished, as they have greater worries now.   

So now the Speakers of Carrion sit upon their perches and squat within destroyed towns, reading the skies and beckoning to the birds. Those who have lost faith in the Church may seek them for hope and closure, trying to find anything to cling onto in these trying times. And sometimes, while you walk these ravaged lands, you may find a tattered robe of black feathers left upon the earth. Many would say it is the remains of fools who sit and preach while bandits and monsters run rampant. Another victim of this bloody madness. But to those who find these discarded garments, they can't help but look to the skies and wonder...

-----------------------------------------------------

"Speaker of Carrion"

In a world crafted from dead flesh, where bodily fluids are held as gods, of course the scavengers are seen as divine. And about time too!

[comparativetarot]

The Prophet. Art by Alexandria Huntington, from The Nameless One.

[necer0s]

Okay this might be a hot take, but I don’t actually think Tim Drake’s next (or at least his final) identity should be a vigilante at all. I think the Batfam— and DC in general— has more than enough people on the ground to kick ass and solve crimes. Instead of increasing that number by a fractional percentage, Tim should double the number of people in a much more important role… and assist Oracle.

Now I understand this is going to be controversial, so let me lay out my reasoning.

Point 1: Oracle is clearly overworked. She’s running comms, digital investigations, and digital protections for the Batfam, the Birds of Prey, the Justice League, and also the entire world anytime something global happens. There are a couple other techies on other teams (Cyborg, Steel, etc), but no one else who’s actually doing Oracle’s job. Having someone to take part of her workload would be a big deal.

Point 2: Tim has historically been good with computers. It hasn’t come up as much recently, but it is an established part of his character and skills from very early on.

Point 3: Tim has repeatedly stated that he does not want to become Batman. This would be the most non-Batman-like direction he’s ever taken his career.

Point 4: Tim is currently dating a civilian. When he goes out in the field, he’s risking not just himself, but Bernard as well. This would be a slightly safer career path for both of them.

Point 5: Tim would be SUCH an annoying Oracle and it would be SO funny. He would constantly be turning on field agents’ bodycams and backseat driving. “The clue you’re looking for is right over there.” “You know you have someone sneaking up behind you?” “Oh, I solved this one already.”

In conclusion, I think Tim should be an Oracle and he should take on the codename Muninn.

[wildtornado-o]

"Yeah. I know. Im not real."

I AM NOOOT. OKAAYYY....

AND THEN HER FACES OF ACCEPTANCE... Neo :((((

[gameyface46]

ALULA!!! (colorized)

See, I still like Kirby! Was tempted to draw Calamus and Bandee with Calamus in a bandana… but I’m still a bit unsure about drawing Calamus… Also, the struggle was real drawing the top-left one. I kept getting little things wrong… but it came out alright in the end. I do think it does look a wee off, but I can still look at it and say “Yeah that’s Alula and not some strange imposter” so I win.

Does this count for the August project? I’m kinda pissed at myself for getting these projects out only a few days late… but it’s done. I think the coloring and line art jobs are good! But my main concern is drawing her from any other perspective besides front. I don’t think I get that yet. But I’m willing to bet the more I do it, I’ll get better. OneShot is so great, and I want to draw so much fan art. Could this have been the spark? The guiding light to me getting out of artist’s block?

Even… my saviour? Nah, I’m kiddin’. But still, OneShot rocks.

Also, Blue and Orange are the supreme complementary color combo.

Ok.

Can I talk about something for a second?

I don’t get bird people anatomy. So… are they wearing a sweater, or a vest? Do they have arm feathers, or no? Also, the eyes on the top on their head (the bird ones) emote with their regular eyes. So… do they have four eyes? Or is their hair a separate being?

Y’know what? It doesn’t matter.

But it matters to me.

Because in the top-left image, Alula is wearing Aqua’s coat, not her sweater/vest. So…

Never mind. It’s fine.

[lotrmusical]

My high school did a yearly poetry recitation contest (Poetry Out Loud), so Oh Boy do I know some poems. My favorites are Ozymandias and "the world is about to end and my grandparents are in love," by Kara Jackson. Also in 8th grade we had a Poe unit and had a class contest to make the best music video of the Raven, so I still know a good chunk of that.

i hadn't heard of the kara jackson one! just read through it and enjoyed it, particularly these lines > 'grandma returns to her love like a hymn, marks it with a color. // when the world ends will it suck the earth of all its love? /will i go taking somebody’s hand, / my skin becoming their skin?'

[disabled-battlekukku]

Rock 'n Royale

(Prophet AU by @knizuu)

[birdyverdie]

He's just a little guy...

[dk-thrive]

The birds will always inhabit the earth, the birds calling the dawn.

— Paul Lynch, Prophet Song (Atlantic Monthly Press, December 5, 2023)

[knizuu]

I want what they have <33