#the flight of the winged serpent

[cadere-art]

Is your worldbuilding based off an already created work? (I have a feeling it's not but I'm not great at recognizing fandoms)

Also I want to know more about the worlds referred to in the species descriptions you've posted. Are we talking planets? Realms? Continents? How does travel happen?

All my work is original! I think it's cool that fandom spaces exist but I've never been a big fandom person myself.

I have, mainly, three settings I'm working on, from most recent to oldest: Ostbaye Moon is a sci-fi setting I'm occasionally working on with my husband for a TTRPG project which may or may not eventually come to life. I haven't really posted about it here and I'm not actively working on it at the moment. This setting is set on an habitable moon of a gas giant which is coveted by different alien factions who want to exploit, inhabit, protect it and more. This setting has several planets and stuff implied but is centered on that moon. This setting has some sort of FTL and wormhole tech but it is somewhat unimportant to it.

Pigeon Aéropostale, which I've been posting about recently, is a story set in the fantasy setting of the Endworld / Le Terminal. The Endworld is a planet or a dimension which has a one-way connection to a few other worlds, including ours. When a lot of things die in a small time/space region, there's a chance that at the moment of their death, they will find themselves alive and intact in the Endworld. No one has ever returned to one of the origin worlds from the Endworld - most people in the Endworld were born there, descendants from people who, at some point in the past, materialized from a tragedy in their origin world. The Endworld is planet-sized (whether this is constant or the Endworld is expending is a source of in-world debate), but the story mostly happens in Iscea (Iscée), a country rolling into industrial revolution at full steam in which Sébastie Jayde, illegitimate daughter of a trading magnate, is trying to build the first postal airline out of aviation's first hiccups.

Uanlikri, my oldest (and biggest) setting, is a fantasy setting with no magic whatsoever that I would personally rather describe as a bronze-age sci-fi. There's a lot of anthropological intent to Uanlikri. Uanlikri is one of the continents of the antiole world - the one with the dinosaur guys (there may or may not be antioles in Endworld as well - there were, when I was working on it 10 years ago, but now that I'm working on it again I'm not sure I want to keep them in. Time will tell). Uanlikri is a large continent, slightly smaller than Africa. There are other continents on this planet, but for the sake of my sanity, I'm not touching them except to the extent where people there have active relations with peoples on Uanlikri. Travel on Uanlikri is mostly by foot or by boat. Most of my work on Uanlikri is centered in the Basin region, which I haven't really posted much about because I've been busy working on my "Peoples of Uanlikri" vignettes for the peoples of the South, but suffices to say that the Basin region is a mediterannean-ish theater of empires hitting eachother and themselves on the head over centuries. The Basin region of Uanlikri is home to two stories I hope to write someday, both about the fall of the Namitan Empire, a large polity in the North of the Basin: The Flight of the Winged Serpent, which recounts the life and death of the last Emperor of Namitie, and Empire's Wake, which takes place in the vassal state of the Protectorate of Ranai as the Empire crumbles into civil war after the death of the last Emperor.

[rachaelmayo]

This is still a work-in-progress. Eventually, I will partially cut out the dragon (I like the way the watercolor turned out for this one, so I want to preserve some of it) and put it into a background with 3D embellishments and other fun stuff.

I plan to do a full-body treatment for all of the dragons from the Dragons of Every Dawn and Dragons of the Twilight Dream images; so far only the Rat and the Serpent are in this partly-finished state. I have Dog, Horse, Tiger, and Rabbit inked and watercolored, but I still need to draw the rest of the zodiacal animals.

I made this with watercolor, Prismacolor pencil, and gold paint pen over a watercolor underpainting, over an ink drawing.

[yonderoo]

Here Be Dragons

As I gaze upon this majestic tableau, I am transported to a realm where the mountains themselves bow in reverence to the titans that roam the skies. Here, before us, stretches a canvas of the world untamed, a landscape where the clouds whisper secrets to the soaring peaks.

Behold, the dragon! With wings unfurled, a canopy of fiery orange, it commands the heavens. Its scales, a mosaic of emerald and copper, glint like a trove of jewels bestowed upon the earth by the gods of old. This creature, this paragon of might and magic, rides the gusts with the grace of a sovereign without a crown. Its eyes, aglow with the wisdom of eons, survey the world below with a piercing intensity. It is the guardian of mysteries, the keeper of the eternal flame.

In its presence, we are reminded of the tales spun by the hearth—a tapestry of heroes and monsters, of battles fought in the shadow of such titanic beings. This dragon, with horns that aspire to pierce the firmament, is more than a mere beast; it is a symbol of all that is wild and free, a relic from an age when the world was still a map of wonder, waiting to be charted.

As storytellers, we are drawn to these vistas that exist beyond the reach of ordinary life, where our dreams take flight on dragon wings. And so, we commit this image to memory, a reminder of the boundless imagination that dwells within us all, whispering ever so gently, "There be dragons."

How to draw a dragon head (source: Yonderoo)

[bestiarium]

The Crawfordsville Monster [modern cryptid; urban legend]

As far as modern urban legends go, most sightings of cryptids and creatures tend to fall into one of several recognizable categories: a lake monster, a flying saucer, an ape-like creature, etc. But every once in a while you have something weirder or unique:

On April 5, 1891, a supposed monster was sighted in the skies above Crawfordsville, Indiana, in the USA. A local pastor, Reverend G. Switzer, left his house to get some water from the well in his backyard when he supposedly experienced a strange feeling somewhere between dread and awe. Uncertain what caused this feeling, he looked up to see a large serpent-like being flying through the sky. The snake moved quickly even though there was no wind that night, and seemed like it was about to land, only to change its mind and take off again.

The paster and his wife were not the only witnesses, for that same day the apparition was seen by two workers about to haul ice on their wagon. They were so frightened of the creature that they took shelter until it was out of sight.

The size of the creature varies between stories, putting it somewhere between 16 and 20 feet (5 à 6 meters). It did not have wings – although other accounts added several fins or fin-like structures – but was able to fly by means of writhing movements, not unlike those of a real snake. The monster was white and had no head, or at least no clearly visible head, but it did have a large, brightly burning eye. Despite the lack of a visible head or mouth, the monster emitted a wheezing noise.

The Crawfordsville Daily Journal named the creature ‘the Midnight Wraith’ but today it is more commonly referred to as 'the Crawfordsville Monster'.

When researching this sighting, I came across some very weird UFO theories. While they tend to strain credibility, I admit that it’s fun to theorize about, in a fantasy worldbuilding kind of way. For example, the last source I listed here mentions a theory about atmospheric creatures that live in the clouds of our planet and stay afloat because of their extremely low-density bodies. The Crawfordsville monster, supposedly, could be such a creature.

Several explanations have been put forth. Some claimed it was a spirit. Professor Robert Burton assumed that the witnesses might simply have been under influence of alcohol or drugs. A later sighting in the same location put forth a simpler, albeit anticlimactic, explanation: two men followed the flying ‘monster’ around until it came close enough for them to identify it as a giant flock of killdeer birds: local birds with a distinct white belly. There were several hundred of them in the flock, and the birds’ erratic flight pattern might have been caused by their confusion from the electric lights, and the many moving ‘fins’ of the monster would have been the wings of the different birds. Perhaps exhaustion in the early hour, combined with the dark night sky, caused the ice haulers and the pastor to mistake the flock for a monster.

Sources: Clark, J., 2005, Unnatural Phenomena: A Guide to the Bizarre Wonders of North America, Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 408 pp., 160 pp., p. 87-88. Zach, K. B., 2003, Crawfordsville, Athens of Indiana, Arcadia Publishing, p. 140-141. Hunt, C. M., 2023, Ghosts & Legends of Crawfordsville, Indiana. Haunted America, Arcadia Publishing, 160 pp., p. 12-18.

(image source 1: Mart, T.S. & Cabre, M., 2021, A Guide To Sky Monsters : Thunderbirds, The Jersey Devil, Mothman, and Other Flying Cryptids, Indiana University Press, 174 pp.) (image source: Enshohma on Deviantart)

[aglennco]

Constellations from our group's game of The Prophet's Path for our campaign, Post Solar. Transcriptions of the text plus the image of the star map are under the cut:

Prelapsarian: A Prelapsarian will believe themself capable of anything, enabling them to look past antiquated perspectives to usher in new ideas, but they must take care not to reach for the sun. When working alone they often find themselves in over their head.

Compatible: Commitment Avoid: Redeemed Lucky Numbers: 2, 22, 36, 48, 52 Notable figures: Stele of the Compassion, Jack of Guts, Eschaton Elegy

Embrace: Embrace wants nothing more than to keep the world safe in its arms. They make noble leaders who will devote themselves to building a more just world, sometimes at the cost of their own happiness. A too tight Embrace is painful for everyone involved.

Compatible: Harlequin Avoid: Prelapsarian Lucky Numbers: 4, 8, 10, 12, 44 Notable Figures: Mercadier de Nulle, Mortis of the Blood, Anthem Rebis, Oranges-for-Breakfast

Chase: Children born in the grip of the Chase are masters of their field. They seek to endlessly improve at their chosen work, but they never forget to have a bit of fun in the process. Other Constellations may mistake gaiety for a lack of responsibility if the Chase mixes work and play.

Compatible: Prelapsarian Avoid: Succession Lucky Numbers: 6, 22, 33, 44, 66 Notable Figures: Juni of the Compassion, Abacus the Weasel, Dr. Temple Shrine, The Prophet's Sister

Flight: Flight cannot abide standing still for too long. There is always something to do and somewhere to be. They may be quick to flee but they are always the first to discover something new. If they forget to rest, it is easy for them to overlook what they love.

Compatible: Chase Avoid: Prelapsarian Lucky Numbers: 8, 9, 14, 55, 69 Notable Figures: Conifer of the Miracle, Captain Ache, Wing and a Prayer

Harlequin: The Harlequin has a pronounced sense of duty that allows them to patiently pursue their goals. While they are often a gregarious Constellation, they are not good communicators. They must learn to choose their words carefully to avoid misunderstandings.

Compatible: Embrace Avoid: Chase Lucky Numbers: 1, 3, 4, 16, 18 Notable Figures: Hart, The Miracle, Cardinal Meridian

Succession: Change follows Succession wherever they go. They don’t seek revolution, but they won’t follow old rules for tradition’s sake. Following their own path might hurt those they love most if they do not take care to explain themselves.

Compatible: Triskelion Avoid: Burr Lucky Numbers: 24, 30, 40, 48, 60 Notable Figures: Jori, Captain Montmercy, Mourning, Glory

Redeemed: Redeemed knows its time will always come, if they can weather their opposition. They know what the world needs before the world itself realizes it. If they restrain themselves from carrying grudges they will eventually find themselves with like minded companions.

Compatible: Loss Avoid: Triskelion Lucky Numbers: 4, 9, 13, 17, 39 Notable Figures: Juri of the Compassion, Syllophane

Triskelion: The Triskelion is known for its wicked heart, but it is not doomed to tyranny. The Triskelion is three hearts made one: the traitor, the lover, and the lost. If they can find balance between their natures, their heart will allow them to achieve many noble deeds in the face of disbelief.

Compatible: Flight Avoid: Serpent Lucky Numbers: 3, 4, 21, 30, 52 Notable Figures: Jaci of the Compassion, Old Bones

Commitment: Those born under Commitment devote themselves to their beliefs. They are unshakable and loyal, but struggle to respect those who do not share their outlook. They must take care not to commit themselves to that which would never let them free.

Compatible: Serpent Avoid: Embrace Lucky Numbers: 5, 23, 34, 41, 53 Notable Figures: The Lost Angel, Solstice Sixtine, Joli of the Compassion

Serpent: The most mutable of the Constellations, the playful Serpents desire companionship and warmth. They trust those in their embrace to always have their best interests at heart. When that trust is broken, they repay the deepest wounds with the sharpest bite.

Compatible: Serpent Avoid: Loss Lucky Numbers: 2, 8, 15, 38, 65 Notable Figures: Hercif of the Miracle, Hercun of the Miracle, Estell Manor

Loss: Those born under the sign of Loss start the world with nothing, but they have everything to gain. The children of Loss will do anything to obtain more than the Constellations ever dreamed of achieving. A Loss is never a setback: it can only sharpen their desire.

Compatible: Harlequin Avoid: Loss Lucky Numbers: 0, 1, 31, 68, 70 Notable Figures: For Felinus, Valentine Egress, Lorelei, The Prophet, Kotowari

Burr: The Burr is stubborn and ambitious, seeking an indulgent life of their own making. They pursue their goals with single minded focus and must take care to pay attention to the schemes of those who might take advantage of their drive.

Compatible: Loss Avoid: Commitment Lucky Numbers: 7, 13, 19, 37, 55 Notable Figures: Iola, Sophia, Captain Hardwood, King Burr, Errol Clay Frick

[puppetmaster13u]

SO I was inspired by This Reblog and absolutely adore any and all dragon Aus. And was hit with a rapid bit of inspiration.

Danny sighed through his nose, rolling his shoulders as another blob coiled across his arm like a serpent. It was an interesting thing, how they mimicked other forms, though he didn't understand all of it.

Normally they wouldn't mimic him so much, not so strongly at least. But well, the ghosts here were mere whispers, visible to a few and unable to interact much. Which is what really brought him here in the first place.

Apparently something is blocking the access to the Realms here, enough that someone needs to do something about it. And look, he's not the Ghost King (thank fuck, he'd never be able to have Star-Time if he was) but he does sort of have a job to do. As the child of Time and new Ancient of Space to-be.

Not to mention that as said new Ancient-of-Space-to-be the Observants can't complain that much about him entering a world they didn't like.

And oh boy, this world. Yikes. There's some corrupted stuff freaking everywhere (even if not visibly), and monsters. And he does mean monsters, a lot of these things are corrupted as all heck- though thankfully the skeletal undead ones leave him alone no matter what form he takes.

On the other hand? There's this little gremlin child that reminds him of Ellie that runs into him repeatedly. Danny is starting to think it's on purpose actually. Child? Child where are your caretakers, you can't just charge at the lion-horse people- ... Danny despises prophecies. Alright child, he's going to start following you because you haven't even eaten tonight apparently. And your weapon has broken. Twice. And you're apparently surrounded by ghosts, how has he not noticed- alright. OKAY. This is fine.

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

Link, would like everyone to know, that he is actually having so much fun right now! There's this sort-of Hylian that he found when looking for Koroks whose sort of like a stal-hylian? Or something? But they're nice!

And they have wings! He thought it was some sort of cloak at first, but no, they're full on wings! And he's going to convince them to take him flying. He will.

After he takes care of this itching on his back, because it's getting really distracting...

Yes I used Flight Rising specifically because @fairy-lights-and-blobs mentioned it specifically for Danny's wings.

A Danny & Link <3 But also feel free to imagine them as mixed with any dragon really.

[draconesmundi]

Dracones Mundi infographics to explain some of the dragon design features in my project :3

Image IDs in alt text or below the cut:

A labelled diagram depicting a dragon’s head. Labels are: ear slit. Wattle on horn that looks like an ‘ear’. Dorsal finlets made of thick skin. Overlapping osteoderms like Vancleavea (accompanied by Vancleavea fossil photo). Overall appearance inspired by pseuedosuchians, including extant crocodiles (accompanied by skeletal mount of Prestosuchus and a photo of a baby Nile crocodile). Smoother scales on belly for sliding though mud into bodies of water. ‘Beard’ or jaw wattle of thick skin. Rear venom fang, full of cytotoxic venom. The dragon can ‘spit’ like a spitting cobra, and the cytotoxins are similar to those found in puff adder venom. Lots of different snakes inspire dragon venom (accompanied by diagram of snake skull).

A dragon family tree accompanied by a paragraph of text. Text reads: There is a lot of morphological diversity in Dracones Mundi – dragons all evolved from a type of pseudosuchian, and had a basic ‘four legs and a long tail' body plan. Many families have atrophied their hind limbs, many have small legs and more serpentine shape. Dragon wings are not limbs, but patagium spread between osteoderm spokes, so there is a diversity in wing size and function (display, thermoregulation, camouflage) beyond gliding (only the flying serpent family really use them for gliding…). Flight is achieved by magic.

The dragons on the family tree are: turtle dragons, such as the cucafera. Firedrakes, azhdar and long are in one family. ‘Beast dragons’ such as the tatzelwyrm. ‘Feathered serpents’ such as coameh. Wyverns and cockatrices. Flying serpents or ‘amphitheres’. Wyrms and serpents. Sea serpents and lake monsters.

[robininthelabyrinth]

Prompt 1: Along with forming a golden core most cultivators gain the ability to shapeshift. What they shift into depends on the cultivator, but there are certain tendencies in bloodlines. Jiang Cheng has shifted exactly once in absolute privacy. He didn't stay shifted after finding scales and claws instead of feathers and wings, some sort of reptile from the Yu bloodline. He's since been pretending not to be able to shift at all, but you can only deny your nature for so long.

ao3

The children of Jiang sect were supposed to be birds.

It was part and parcel of everything they were, everything they stood for, the history of their sect reaching back for generations. Their ancestors had bid their descendants to attempt the impossible, and their filial descendants lived up to their command – they spread their wings and flew freely in the air, unstoppable. They lived as freely as they flew, living according to their own inclinations and wishes, and in so doing thrived in all respects.

Naturally, living so close to the water, the most common type of bird for a Jiang sect disciple to shift into once they were old enough to form their golden cores was a duck. It was so common so as to be a joke in the cultivation world: how are the Jiang temperaments so good? It’s because they treat everything like water off a duck’s back!

But you didn’t have to be a duck, of course; there were plenty of other types of bird. You could be a falcon with sharp talons, like Wei Wuxian – who wasn’t even a real Jiang! – or a beautiful songbird, like Jiang Yanli, or any type of bird from the many that were Jiang Cheng’s shidi, from the humble pigeon to the brilliant parrot and back. You could even be a peacock, if you just so happened to have some Jin sect blood in you – there was a reason Jiang Yanli’s match with the Jin sect heir was so popular with everyone in the sect, even putting aside the political benefits of it. All the old women were sighing all day over what beautiful children they’d have one day, with such lovely plumage.

No, in the Jiang sect, you could be anything…as long as it could fly.

The Yu sect weren’t birds.

That was how Jiang Cheng’s father had been able to resist marriage with his mother for so long – the Yu sect were grounds-people, powerful and admirable in all respects but not quite to the taste of the Jiang sect. They were snakes and scorpions, spiders and serpents. The Violent Spider lived up to her name, turning into a small creature that was both flashy and deadly, filled with venom, beautiful in its own way…but that way was not the Jiang sect’s way.

It wasn’t a complete rule, of course, or else Jiang Cheng’s parents wouldn’t have gotten married at all. Plenty of people in the Jiang sect, following their hearts freely, married people who weren’t birds, choosing to carry their loved ones with them in their hearts as they flew – after all, weren’t they all cultivators? Even if you couldn’t fly in your shifted form, you could soar on a sword.

But it was better to be able to fly naturally.

If you could fly on your own, shifted, then that meant you had the Jiang sect heart. It meant you didn’t need to rely on anyone else to fly for you…it meant you didn’t have to be in anyone’s heart to reach the sky.

(Jiang Cheng’s mother was called Madame Yu, even when she ought to be Madame Jiang. Wasn’t that because everyone, including her, knew that she didn’t live in the heart of her husband the sect leader whenever he took to the air?)

Jiang Cheng had dreamt of flight ever since he was a child. He didn’t care what type of bird he’d be, whether sharp or soft, big or small, as long as he could get into the air. When he first learned how to fly on his sword, he barely spent any time on the ground, always wasting his spiritual energy puttering around enthusiastically.

And then he’d gotten old enough to hear the whispers.

His temperament is like his mother’s. Always sharp and scolding! Always thinking too much! How can he fly free like a Jiang? He has too many cares, tying him down to the ground. It’s good to be responsible, but not to the point where you no longer follow the sect’s path. He’s just too much.

I bet he’s not even a bird at all.

Wei Wuxian had never paid any mind to any of them and told Jiang Cheng to do the same, but it was easy for him to say, the genius that understood the Jiang sect motto down to his bones. The very same day he formed his golden core he turned himself into a falcon and dashed into the air, free and proud, faster than all the rest of them. Not like Jiang Cheng.

Not at all like Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng, who waited until he was all alone to try to shift, not telling anyone, and who recoiled in horror when he saw the flash of scale instead of feather that appeared on his skin – he didn’t even bother completing the full shift, fleeing back to the safety of human flesh. There wasn’t any point in finishing the shift. After all, if he wasn’t able to fly, could he even call himself a Jiang?

He pretended instead that he was just indifferent to the shift. Who needed it, anyway? It was so frivolous! He could fly just as well on a sword, and work on his cultivation in the meantime. Shifting was just a waste of time. If his father was disappointed, or more disappointed than usual, he didn’t say it; his mother, who had previously expressed some interest in his shift, dropped the subject so gracefully that he didn’t even realize it for months and months. Only Wei Wuxian still pestered him, and him Jiang Cheng already knew how to refute.

He didn’t shift. He didn’t see the point.

He didn’t shift at the Cloud Recesses.

He didn’t shift when he came home.

He didn’t –

“You’ll have to go in your animal forms,” his mother said as the Lotus Pier burned behind them. Her face was stern as anything, looking down at the two of them in that horrible boat she’d forced them on, Zidian binding and compelling them. “It’s the only way for you to escape notice.”

“No – no –” Jiang Cheng cried, resisting, even as Wei Wuxian’s resistance collapsed and he turned into that falcon again, unwillingly soaring into the sky with a collar of purple lightning around his neck dragging him as if by a chain. “Mother…!”

“Go!”

Jiang Cheng shifted.

Just like the first time, the scales came first, and he lowered his head, not wanting to see his mother’s disappointed expression – he knew, and she knew, and he knew that she knew, but knowing was one thing and seeing was another. He didn’t want to see her expression when it was confirmed that he was her son in truth, and in so being, was no true Jiang.

After the scales came, his body began to lengthen, his arms shrinking, and he assumed he would fall to the ground and shrink the way Wei Wuxian did – except he didn’t.

He got bigger.

His arms got smaller, but they didn’t disappear. His mouth spread across his face, but his teeth grew larger, curling out from his jaw, and from his brow he could feel horns appearing.

What in the world…?

“Oh, my son,” his mother whispered, and when Jiang Cheng looked up at her in surprise, he found that her always-steely eyes were suddenly wet. “Thank you for letting me see you fly.”

Jiang Cheng felt his body uncurl, Zidian compelling him, and he leapt into the sky, body flowing behind him like a ribbon in the breeze – he was his mother’s son, scales and all, but he was a Jiang, too.

The Jiang sect were supposed to be birds.

Jiang Cheng had been disappointed in himself when he wasn’t, but he’d forgotten that he’d never much cared about being a bird.

He’d only wanted to fly.

The dragon in the air above the Jiang sect, purple lightning dragging him away, threw his head back and roared, promising vengeance when he returned.

[paintedkinzy-88]

"Dragons (ACTUAL dragons, not drakes or serpents...)"

Leo doesn't consider himself a /real/ dragon because he can't fly?? You can't do this to him he's already been through so much 😭

Does he think the same about Donnie?? Or is his thought process more along the lines of 'because Donnie made his own wings, that makes him more of a dragon than me?' and if/when Donnie does make him wings, would he doubt himself to the point he doesn't think they make him a dragon because he sees them as cheating only when he uses them??

I have so many thoughts about that one line raghh

I mean

Draxum was trying to rebirth the dragons of legend, back when Yokai first were created themselves. He was aiming for perfection here.

Hate to tell ya, but if Splinter hadn’t swooped up those eggs, Drax was just gonna let the “failures” die outside the incubator. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

It’s less Leo thinking he’s not “dragon enough” and more knowing him and Donnie aren’t TRUE dragons. They’re related, but in every google search/dragon book, a “true dragon” is four legged, two winged, rough scaled, and fire breathing. Everything else is like… a subclass.

They are more like drakes, sea serpents, leviathans, or more simply put, water dragons. Still dragon-like just not… ACTUALLY one.

I wouldn’t worry too much about the false wings, though! Flight is flight and that’s all the boy wants. (ﾉ´ヮ´)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

[evolutionsvoid]

When the dragons fell and Eitr was spilled upon the earth, new life was born. A strange combination of old and new, creatures never before seen in this land, yet still old and primordial. Familiar shapes and traits emerge in these mutations, hearkening back to an age long past. It seems even in its lowest point, Eitr still burns and seeks to return to these ancient times. Perhaps these mutations are its attempts to rekindle its age, and perhaps its potent toxicity is the bitterness towards the youth who stole it.

One of the monstrosities born from the Eitr pools of dragon wounds is the Primal Chimera. Once a leech, now warped into something great and primordial. Its new form is a puzzle, a perplexing chain of flesh and Blood that terrifies locals and frustrates hunters. It is a beast of three heads and three minds, yet inhabiting a singular body. The largest of the three forms is a powerful, yet sluggish, creature. Eight legs drag it across the land, while a gaping toothless maw swallows everything before it. Armored bumps of bronze dot its hide, a hint at the legacy that has tainted it. Yet, it becomes more apparent when its mouth pulls open and vomits forth the next head.

The second head is armored and fierce, a great hissing serpent of olden times. Its three jaws snap and gnash, seeking flesh and Blood to tear into. Upon its body is a pair of wings, but they will never sustain flight. Rather, they seem more for signaling and intimidation, flapping them frantically to appear larger and more menacing. It is faster and nastier than its slow compatriot, often straining its body forward and pulling with frustration when its lower half fails to keep up with its desires. If prey succeeds in fleeing out of reach, than the third head may emerge to deal with it.

The third form is far smaller and unassuming, like a spiky tongue lancing out from the toothy jaws. Its armored head bears a proboscis, and it seems little else. However, this form is what harnesses the crimson lightning of Blood, which is tainted with Primal Flame. In an instant, it can sheath its wormy form in a coating of crackling electricity, and spew forth burning bolts. It has also been seen dragging itself across the jaws and limbs of its brethren, anointing them with the same searing energeiai. In battle, it can shoot from the maw with lightning speed and release a powerful burst of energeiai that fries foes on the spot. And whenever someone falls, the tiny head takes the fluids, the jawed head takes the flesh and the yawning mouth of the third head swallows what is left.

The Primal Chimera is a threat to many, as its hunger has been tripled by its mutation. All heads need to feed, and each has its own desires to satiate. Thus, it crawls across the land in an endless search for prey, eating what cannot escape. Fighting it is a nightmare, as it appears that all three heads must perish before the entire creature falls. Two of the three sport armored hides, and their great bulk can crush foes. Hunters claim that the only way to truly have a chance is to coax out the third head and lop it off quickly. This begins the end for this beast, robbing it of its lightning source and causing it great pain. However, for it to emerge, it must be good and angry, and once it is revealed, it won't hesitate to start shooting out burning energeiai. Be quick in your actions and moves, strike down each head with haste or be fried and devoured.

Those who have done battle with these beasts swear that their dance has had a secret audience. Figures watching from afar, hiding in the shadows. Yet when they look, there is no one there. But some glimpse a flash of movement, of someone fleeing the scene. Who knows who they may be, though many point towards the Academy of Veritas Mundus. Their interest in Eitr has been known, and their reputation and rivalry with the Church makes them tempting targets for blame and rumor. Yet, that doesn't mean it can't be true...

[fablegaze]

Spectember day 17 - evolutionary history of dragons

yet again reusing old art because i am still too tired to draw new stuff

all modern dragons are descended from a hexapodal ancestor; the salamander

(all further drawings show the nostrils on the head which was a mistake oops. they're not supposed to be on the head but i also haven't decided where they should be yet)

dragons have split into a multitude of clades, and I'm focusing on wyverns (flying dragons) & drakes (bipedal, arboreal dragons), but there are also lindwyrms (long, serpentine dragons), hydras (dragons that have turned a variety of limbs into false heads), and sea serpents (aquatic dragons)

wyverns started out small, gliding from treetop to treetop with a membrane that stretched between their limbs and tail. somewhere along the line, they started evolving powered flight, and the two outer fingers on their middle legs grew to accommodate this

eventually this grew into the fully fledged wings that wyverns have today. sapient wyverns have, on average, a wingspan of about 15ft (4.5m). larger wyverns do exist, but the vast majority of them are smaller than this

the history of drakes is a lot simpler than wyverns: they learned to climb trees. they're like the monkeys of the dragon world, helped along by thumbs on every foot & a prehensile tail

they love to scamper and scurry and scuttle

[imperiuswrecked]

IMPERIUS REX!

Namor Week 2024 - Day 4 - Tattoo @namorweek

Thank you to the marvelous @pointdotiozao for creating a set of Namor inspired tattoo designs for me! I love the designs!!! Inspired by both the movie & the comics, these tattoos infuse ink and Namor's famous catchphrase "Imperius Rex".

The Talokan Tattoo features The Feathered Serpent as shown in the movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, it's serpentine body wraps around the glyph that says "Imperius Rex" and Namor's vibranium spear.

The Atlantean Tattoo features Namor's famous trident with a addition of wings at the end to represent his flight, the words Imperius Rex line the top and bottom of the trident, presented in different directions.

Namor Nation! If you wish to color the Talokan Tattoo then please share your creations in the reblogs of this post and credit the artist @pointdotiozao !

[smorgasvoid]

Wyverns Pt. 1: Saurian Wyverns

Saurian Wyverns (Clade Vernosauria) are a clade of winged sauropodomorph dinosaurs (as in they share a common ancestor with sauropods) previously mentioned a few days ago. They are divided into two groups, the bipedal Euvernosauria and the quadrupedal Parasauroptera.

A. Quicksilver wyvern (Argentivernios longipes), a species of Verniid Euvernosaur native to deserts and plains. Despite being smaller than most species in their family, they are faster on land and more adaptable than their relatives. They feed primarily on amphibians, lizards, eggs, carrion and small mammals, though they won't hesitate to hunt down a small ungulate if given the chance. They are capable of flight, albeit limited.

Element: Metal

B. The Cave taurex (Minotauregalis spelaeus) is a species of large Ferocipterygid Parasauropteran. It is named such due to its bull-like horns. It is an apex predator that will hunt mid to large-sized animals such as ungulates, marsupials, ornithischians and other wyvern species. When it does eats smaller animals, it feeds on crocodylomorphs, fowl and primates. Most specimens prefer to avoid human settlements so fatalities are rare. With the exceptions of mothers and hatchlings, taurexes are solitary and territorial.

Element: Dark

C. The desert nagatorn or ghost nagatorn (Nagatornis phantasmicus) is a species of Ophiopterygid Parasauropteran that was thought to be a type of legged serpent until 1820 where it was revealed to be a true saurian wyvern. The desert nagatorn is an adept flier that feeds almost exclusively on desert fruits, contrary to its serpentine appearance. Its droppings contain seeds which are dispersed throughout the desert, making it an important keystone species. It appears that this species mimics a type of cobra found in the same environment.

Element: Spirit

D. The snow bjird (Parvoboreoptera nix) is a small-bodied Batrachodraconid Euvernosaur native to tundras. The males sports two ribbon-like feathery structures (if they count as true feathers), which are used in display. It is a weak flier, preferring to walk on land whilst feeding on insects. When threatened, it hides in a burrow.

Element: Ice

E. The emperor wyvern (Orionopteryx imperator) is a species of large Orionopterygid Euvernosaur that inhabits forests. These large bodied carnivores are a symbol of courage and teamwork in many Chortisian cultures. While they are usually solitary, packs of 2-4 have been observed taking down particularly colossal megafauna.

Element: Fire

Bonus: The Dingrag (Megalacerta seismodeus) is a highly dangerous Megalacertid Parasauropteran that inhabits deserts. It is also the heaviest Saurian Wyvern. The dingrag is believed to be the last member of an ancient lineage of flightless Parasauropterans. It has been given monikers such as "The Desert's Stomach" and "The Ogre That Stalks the Sun".

Element: Metal/Earth/Fire

It's most noticeable feature is its muscular neck/hump, giving it the strength to toss prey around, which usually kills the unfortunate animal when it hits the floor.

The meat from the neck region is said to be the most tough kind out there. It has a strong flavor that can be off-putting to some.

Its skin has semi-mineralized serrated denticle-like scales, most noticeable on its arms, which is a good reason not to rub your skin on it (going near it would result in death anyways).

An angry dingrag will become red and hot to the touch.

The most common cause of death in humans is being pummeled to death by its forelimbs, though being crushed by its weight, tossed around, decapitated, eaten, and blood loss.

While magic lessens its need for calories, it is still a glutton that hunts megafauna and humans. Larger specimens exist, though these are typically rare, they are either very old dingrags that lived a long life or infertile hypertrophic specimens that don't live very long due to heart complications.

The dingrag is behind me, isn't it?

Wait don't leave without me! NONoNoNOnono OH SHI-

[blasphemousclaw]

I think Rykard and Messmer have a ton of parallels that go beyond just their appearances… before the DLC drops, I wanted to lay this out in case it becomes important! Regarding Messmer, I’m referencing some bits of text from the DLC preview, so this does contain some mild spoilers:

- They’re both demigods, and they’re probably both children of Marika (Rykard being indirectly, through Radagon, and Messmer more than likely being Marika’s son)

- If Rykard was indeed born with red hair, they would both have been redheaded

- They’re both associated with fire (Rykard with his magma sorcery and burning Erdtree paintings, Messmer with his own unique flames)

- They’re both entangled with literal serpents, Rykard with the Great Serpent and Messmer with his winged snakes, which actually look like they might be an amphisbaena? (a mythical winged serpent with a head on either end)

- They’re both associated with imagery considered taboo by Erdtree society: fire (“the burning of the Erdtree is the first cardinal sin”), and serpents (“the serpent is viewed as a traitor to the Erdtree”)

- Both of them might’ve started out doing dirty work on behalf of the Erdtree/Golden Order/Queen Marika: Rykard as Praetor commanded a company of inquisitors who would imprison and brutally interrogate members of the populace, and Messmer seems to have carried out a fiery purge against the people of the shadow lands at Marika’s behest. Both Rykard and Messmer seem to be characterized as an executer of “justice”

- For that matter, both of them are shown to be extraordinarily cruel and ruthless. These two have conducted suffering on a scale that no other demigod can match

- It seems like both Rykard and Messmer were traitors to the Erdtree in some capacity: we already know all about Rykard’s uprising against the Erdtree, but regarding Messmer, there’s a DLC item description that mentions his “flight from the Erdtree,” implying he was driven out… perhaps because of some kind of traitorous act?

- Related to this point, Rykard and Messmer are both specifically described as “serpentine”: Gideon describes Rykard as “reviled for his serpentine demeanor,” the word “serpentine” here referring to Rykard’s treacherous nature. Basically Gideon is telling us that Rykard is widely hated because he was a traitor to the Erdtree… but what the player wouldn’t know yet is that “serpentine” has a double meaning here, because Rykard is literally a serpent… how sneaky! Messmer is also described as “serpentine” in the same DLC item description I referenced before: one of Messmer’s commanders would “rebel after learning of his liege’s serpentine nature.” The question is, does this word have a double meaning too? Is it meant to both refer to Messmer’s snakelike appearance, and to imply that he also committed some kind of betrayal?

These two seem almost too similar for it to be a coincidence??? The big question for me is if Rykard knew of Messmer’s existence… could there have been some crossover between them? Impossible to know yet, but I’m gonna go into the DLC on 24/7 Rykard watch if I catch the slightest whiff of his presence you WILL hear from me. I WILL find answers.

[talonabraxas]

I am the Sun of Wisdom and the Ocean of Knowledge. I cheer the faint and revive the dead. I am the guiding Light that illumineth the way. I am the royal Falcon on the arm of the Almighty. I unfold the drooping wings of every broken bird and start it on its flight. – Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 169.

Quetzalcoatl, “Feathered Serpent”