Zaratan

Zaratan

The Zaratan is a grandiose turtle and is notable for its impossible size. Zaratan shells are easily mistaken for small islands.

Okay not the best ending, but it is Z for crying outloud. 
I could have gone with Zee End.  YaY!!  But I didn't. 

From AnnaBelle to Zaratan's and every thing in between. It has been fun trying to find creatures from A-Z. Some I might use. Others-- probably not, but it has been interesting trying to find creatures with a specific letter.

Maybe I'm not alone...

You've all heard me whine about the HOA and how I have a bulls eye on my front door.  While I was walking Chester yesterday we went down a street that we generally don't use and I saw a house that had once had numbers but now only the 8 shows.

I thought, "Soooo when they said they wanted a number, they didn't care what number, just pick one. Damn why hadn't I thought of that."

But wait... they very next house had done much the same as I had and just printed their house number on a paper and stuck it to the window.  However, their numbers were not as sarcastic as mine. AND they didn't use the lovely blue tape. 

It's good to know that I'm not the only one in the neighborhood they are keeping an eye on. 

Yuki-Onna

Yuki -Onna appears as a woman with long hair and white skin, a spirit of someone who perished in the snow.

Yuki-Onna appear on snowy nights as a tall, beautiful woman with long black hair and blue lips. Her inhumanly pale or even transparent skin makes her blend into the snowy landscape. Despite her inhuman beauty, her eyes can strike terror into mortals. She floats across the snow, leaving no footprints and she can transform into a cloud of mist or snow if threatened.

Xiang shi

Okay -- so I was going to avoid Vampires, Werewolves, Mermaids etc.  But when they creep into your life sometimes you just gotta go with it.

Xiang shi is a Chinese vampire.   According to Chinese folklore if you don't bury your dead right away they might become xiang shi.  So, if you find yourself facing a person with red glowing eyes, covered in green fuzz-like corpse mold, with long white hair, you’ve got yourself a xiang shi.

To defend against the xiang shi, try holding your breath. Other effective techniques include sticky rice (but not the regular kind) and chicken eggs (but not duck eggs). 

Hilarious.

 "One moment Mr. Xiang shi I just need to step to the fridge for some.... damn it, DH ate all the sticky rice and chicken eggs!"  Holding my breath?  Perhaps-- if someone covered with corpse mold was in my house it might be an automatic response.  However, I'm going for the option not mentioned.  RUN!!!

I think it was a cat in another life.  Just say'n.

Walriderske

The Walriderske is a ghost or night demon that terrorizes people while they sleep by sitting on their chests and suffocating them.  The victim is paralyzed, unable to cry out, and aware of a frightening presence in the room.

I can see why another name for this creature is, wait for it..... Nightmare. ;)

I was inVited

Major play on another V day -- better than the first!!!

Oh dear gods... My son invited me to see my G-Daughter play soccer. 

Long story, we've not been included in her life...but times they are a changing.

What's the most important rule?  the coach calls out.

"Don't touch the ball with your hands," a young padowan offers.
"Oh yeah, that's important too.  What's the second most important rule?"
Yes... HAVE FUN.

You can see mom, Papa and Tink in this picture.

This is the goal where we aim the ball... oh, wait, puppy dog.  ahahahaha That family might not want to acknowledge us... but, I'm sorry, she's got her grandma's blood if she's distracted by critters.

That's our girl.  #2... interested in cute kids and dogs.

I had so much fun.  I was glad to finally be included in her life.  Long story, but the divorce is almost final..If the gods are with us we'll be able to have a bit of time with her.  Keep 'em crossed for me.

Vilkacis

The vilkacis is a werewolf in Latvian and Lithuanian mythology.

It is not clear whether there is a physical transformation. As in the Twilight series.

Or if the soul actually enters the body of a wolf.  As in the Game of Thrones - A skinchanger or warg is a person with the ability to enter the mind of an animal and control it.

 

Eh--the pickings are pretty slim and I didn't want to do Vampire. 
But hey--Team Jacob, baby.

Urisk

The urisk is a Scottish solitary faery who haunts lonely pools. He will often seek out human companionship but his peculiar appearance terrifies those he approaches.

Okay - I have a soft spot for things that are so ugly they are beautiful. 
Take the bulldog for example.  Who could not love a face like that.

We had a bull dog when I was growing up -- he looked much like the above pup.  His owner left him at the dog pound, apparently to "teach him a lesson".  My Grandpa worked at the pound and when on the third day at 5:00 the owner didn't show up he claimed Sir Percival for us.  When the agitated owner got to the pound at 5:30 looking for his "No good dog", he was informed that it was too late. Technically it was and he never need know that the pup he abandoned went on to live a long life with a loving family.

Three for T Day

aka picture day.  Lots of pictures. 
These are supposed to be short so I won't go into great detail.

Tulips

Nothing to do with my story, but they are up and begin with T. ;)
I planted them 100 years ago and didn't know you were supposed to dig up the bulbs -
but every year they come back, smaller and smaller and smaller.

Tengue
The Antagonist in Whispers is the Tengu.  I needed a creature that could pass for human and the Higher Tengu seemed to fit the bill. 

As far as a real person goes.  I picked the dude from Ever After. 
What do ya think?  Eh? Eh?  Oh yeah - Nailed it!!

The Lower Tengu are more dog like in appearance and so I chose the lion dog to represent.

As far as a real dog goes I suspect the breed would look more like a French Bull Dog. 
The lower Tengu is not really evil, it is just misunderstood.  Honest.

Teylor
Teylor is my main character.  Her mother was a sorceress and her father was an elf.

She's not had an easy life.  She's spent her childhood taking care of her crazy mother and trying to survive.  After her mother's death she finds herself compelled to find her grandmother.  She discovers that perhaps her mother wasn't so crazy after all. 

Magic is real.

Old Dog new again...?

The kids swear that the dog of the back yard neighbor is the same one.
I disagree. 


I tried to make friends with the back yard dog and I have waxed profane about the dog who would not be friended.


This dog looks much the same, but the color is slightly off AND this one can be bought.


Oh he's tough... bark, bark, barking, but he's figured out the treats I proffer are DELICIOUS and I get a small hesitation prior to the bark, bark, barking.  I'm thinking this one can be won over.


I'll let you know.

Shaeli Avona

Shaeli is a Fairy.  Her element is spirit.

She was falsely accused of something her twin had done and was banished from Fairy.  Shaeli wanted to fit in with the human world and she was taken in as a ward of the 'Aunties'.  They ran an occult business out of their home. At some point  when it becomes obvious that Shaeli's ability will superseded the Aunties they become intimidated by her and deposited her with Fanny -- kind of them I suppose-- they could have just tossed her out on the street.

Raicho

In mythology, Raicho is a Thunder-Bird. It looks like a wren and lives in a  pine tree. It has the ability to mimic thunder.

A bird that can mimic thunder? That's a lot of soundage from a bird the size of a wren.

Qilin (ch'i-lin)

In Chinese mythology the qilin's  rare appearance often coincided with the imminent birth or death of a sage or illustrious ruler.

 A qilin has a single horn on its forehead, a yellow belly, a multicolored back, the hooves of a horse, the body of a deer, and the tail of an ox. Gentle of disposition, it never walks on verdant grass or eats living vegetation.

 In 1414 a live giraffe was brought to China for the first time and presented as a qilin to the Ming emperor Yongle. The tough old warrior, seeing through the intended flattery, curtly remarked that he certainly was no sage and the animal was certainly no qilin.

Qilin....Giraffe... Easy mistake.

Kisses?

Though the description does kind of sound like a giraffe...

Ya know if you didn't have the statue to look at.

Porri Sikkes Belpo

I liked Abby from NCIS as a fairy -- when I went looking for picutres of her I found that someone else was of the same mind set. ;)

Porri is a fairy. She is of a different tribe than Shaeli and Daxliegh.  Her people are called "The Watchers". They got this nick name during the Great Schism when they refused to be drawn into the war.  They tend to keep themselves apart from the political arena that is Fairy.  Their goal is to remain 'objective' in all things.  The fact that Porri came at Fanny's request is a source of contention with some of the other girls. 

Her element is air.  Her totem is the Raven.

Old Shuck

Awe shucks --Who doesn't love a black dog?

Okay, well maybe not THIS black dog.

Old Shuck has many names, Black Shuck, Old Shock or simply Shuck.


Old Shuck is one of many ghostly black dogs recorded across the British Isles.  Sometimes he is considered an omen of death.


It is reported that if you are walking alone one night and you see a huge, black dog with eyes that are on fire walking beside you; or if you feel his hot breath one night, you have a year to live.


I read a short story once years, upon years ago.  I can't even tell you if it was in a magazine or in a book, but the story dealt with Old Shuck.  Instead of the predictor of death, he was the protector of women and children.  I rather liked that version. 


Chester the protector. (And all around cool dude! ;)

Nienna Silimaure

She is an elf. An elf on a mission. Her goal is to get Teylor to go to the Fairey Lands.  Though of course no one knows this...just between us.

Her element is fire.  Her totem is the salamander.  There is not a whole lot I can say about her without giving away the story line.  Suffice it to say, she has her own motivations for helping Teylor. 

Merrow

I was going to avoid typical creatures. I looked down the list ..Mermaid no. Merrow? Well, that sounds interesting. Jokes on me, it's a mermaid. Guess it was destined to be.

Merrow is the Scottish and Irish equivalent of the mermaid and mermen of other cultures.

What was especially cool was finding this picture from Alan Lee.

Someone else must have liked it too.  Liked it enough to ink it to their bod.



Lernaen Hydra

Okay - What I like about this creature is it  is a nine headed monster guarding the gate to the Underworld. In fantasy there are always quests and tasks to be completed. While Whispers isn't THAT kind of fantasy I kind of liked this creature. Helps that this artist's rendition looks like a dragon--I like dragons.

Slaying this beastie was one of Hercules' tasks, but becuase he brought a friend it pissed off a Goddess and so the task didn't count any more... wait, what? Maybe you're a Goddess, but that's just not fair.

Did I mention that it had razor sharp fangs filled with poison AND that when you cut off one head it grew back and brought a friend?  (Kind of like plucking a grey hair--don't try that at home folks;)  AND one of the heads was immortal...IMMORTAL and he killed it anyway.  Wait, what?  Dead immortal....hmmm.

Klaboutermannikin

Well, that's a mouthful -- The Klaboutermannikin are said to inhabit the figureheads of ships, giving them guidance and protection. In the event that a ship with a klaboutermannikin does go down, the klaboutermannikin goes down into the sea with the drowned to aid their souls in reaching their proper afterlife.

I suppose if I have an ocean in my Fairy Land where the Irish Sea Guardians can play, it would make sense that there would be ships. Having a Klaboutermannikin for protection would not be a bad thing.  Though I'd probably change the name to something less of a mouthful.

Jaren Longwell

Is he a Giant or a Mountain Troll?
Initially I intended him to be a giant... but in the discovery process what comes out?
He hates being called a giant.  He was mocked as a kid for being tall. His father believed ill of his mother when Jaren began to tower over all of the other village children.  Their village sided with the father and Jaren and his mother were cast out.

Wanna know a secret?  His father line had the blood of the Giant Mountain Trolls in him.  Stupid man kicked his wife and kid out for nothing.  Guess that makes Jaren of Giant Mountain Troll descent. (Once again my 'vision' of troll is not the typical--why do gnomes and trolls have to be ugly?  Just say'n.)

Left to their own devices Jaren did the best he could but eventually his mother dies.  There is nothing for him in Fairey and he crosses over to the mortal realm where he becomes Fanny's right hand man. 

He connects with Teylor and helps to guide her through the troubled waters that can be Fanny.

Irish Sea Water Guardians

Oooo- This was very interesting to me as our family goes back to the Isle of Man.



Water guardian fairies are of small stature and are sacred to the Sea God Manann. They are said to be surrounded by a greenish blue light. They guard the Irish seas and are said to float on broken eggshells or surf on Irish seashells during storms.

They are said to have originated on The Isle of Man, though water guardians are known throughout the world. Also known as Sea Sprites, Manx Undines, and Undines; their element is water. They are fiercely protective of their own, but are still disposed to help all living things in need on the sea, if they are specifically asked to do so.

Sooo when the boat goes down, hit the Epurb, call out to the Water Guardians and when you see an eggshell floating by don't assume someone didn't dispose of their trash properly. It might be your rescue floating by.

Hreidmar

Okay - I didn't want a dwarf for a major character and went with Bailey our southern gnome instead for the earth element.  But in the fairy world it would make sense that there would be a dwarf population.   So while I was casting about for someone or something  from Faerie that started with an H I came across this dude.  Seems he's in a lot of role playing games, but I found this site as well and it was interesting.  Nastrond  Here's the description of Hreidmar from the site. 

Hreidmar (also spelled Rodmar or Hreithmar), in Norse mythology, the father of Regin, Otter, and Fafnir. In some versions he was a powerful magician, in others, king of the dwarfs. In one story, the gods Odin, Hoenir, and Loki had been traveling together, and Loki had killed an otter who had been eating a salmon, thinking to make a meal of them later. The three came to a farm owned by Hreidmar. According to the 'Prose (or Younger) Edda', the gods asked if they could stay the night, and offered to share their dinner. When Hreidmar saw the body of his son Otter, he called his other sons, Fafnir and Regin, and they took the gods prisoner.

The gods offered Hreidmar wealth in exchange for their lives. Otter was skinned, and Hreidmar said that the gods' ransom would be the skin filled entirely with gold, inside and out. Loki was sent out to acquire enough gold to do this. He returned with Andvari's hoard, including the ring that Andvari had cursed. The gods gave the gold to Hreidmar to filled the otter skin, all except the ring, which Odin set aside. When the otter skin had been both filled and covered on the outside with gold, Hreidmar examined it closely and saw that one whisker still showed. Unless it was covered entirely, Hreidmar said, he would not let the gods go. So Odin took out the ring and covered the whisker and declared that the ransom had now been paid. Hreidmar accepted it, and the gods were freed.

Loki told Hreidmar that a curse had been attached to the ring, and Hreidmar declared that if he had known about the curse, he would not have agreed to accept the transaction. Then Fafnir and Regin asked their father for a share of the gold, but he would not give them any of it. Fafnir waited until Hreidmar was asleep, then murdered him with a sword, continuing to fulfill the curse that had been put on the ring.

Well that's kind of interesting -- cursed ring and all, the getting killed part, not so much.  But still you have to be pretty bad ass if you can capture three gods.



Hoppy Easter!!

How could you not love a holiday that has cute fuzzy bunny's pooping chocolate eggs. 

I mean really, don't get no better than that!!

Other randomness that is not A-Z

Could this be the place where the lucky finally meet their match?

Um-- I thought this said Lucky Avenue- I just realized seeing it blown up it says LUCY

 Sorry Lucy where ever you are -- hope things aren't really a dead end.

This is sad... but I can seen me wearing these...

Meow!!

Last but not least... One does not expect to walk into a co-workers office and see your boss wearing her glasses so he can work on her computer.  It was totally Aw-Some.

How could I NOT take a picture... this is what I heard... "What are you doing Kyle?" then laughter ensues.  I, of course, grabbed my camera to find out what was going on.  When the crazies at my work are friendly... it is hilarious!!

Geancanach

The Geancanach (Gan-cahn-ock) is pixie-like in appearance, with huge eyes that curve upward on the ends and large pointed ears. They are always depicted as being very small, no more than a few inches in height, and having playful, if somewhat mischievous, smiles. They have small wings which do not seem functional, and they appear to move from place to place by dematerializing and reappearing quite rapidly. They may be mistaken for flickering lights or lightning bugs.

.

Okay - I can see how these would be fun little creatures to have running around.  Love the mischievousness and the fire-fly aspect as well.

Fanny Bottomwaker

When I first saw the name... I died.  I was doing a google search looking for odd names about five years ago and there was the strangest of them all.  Bottomwacker.

That was all it took. Her name would be Fanny-- Fanny Bottomwacker. I saw her with a wooden spoon handling a passel full of children in an orphanage. It would be a tongue in cheek romp.  When I began to flesh it out things changed.

I kept the wooden spoon, but she is over way more than some wayward kids.  She's the life and death between the worlds.  Trouble is she isn't getting any younger...her family has always guarded the portal.  Her daughter, however, ran off with an elf.  She needs her daughter now and put out a call to both realms for her to get her butt home. 

It is her granddaughter who answers the call.
Problem is that her granddaughter doesn't believe in magic.
What can I say...Issues.

Fanny muddles through as Fanny does.  She's a spry old gal who has fight left in her. She's also a bit crochety. When Teylor finally comes to grip with the fact that magic is real and tells Fanny she's ready to learn.  Fanny tells her she's not ready to teach it.  Teylor shrugs and walks off.  What ev.
Those two are destined to butt heads.
 

The thistle came one night when I was walking Chester.  The moon looked like a thistle to me.  I gave it to Fanny.


A little bit from the story. 

Fanny laughed and looked to the tree where she expected to see her granddaughter hanging upside down. Teylor was sitting on the branch. Maybe she really was getting older; no one should have been able to have moved an inch.


"Let me down," Teylor called to Fanny.

"Get yourself down. You got yourself up there," Fanny said.

"You're just a mean old witch," Teylor yelled back.

Fanny stopped and pointed a finger at Teylor. "I am a sorceress to you young lady. Only my friends may call me a witch."

Fanny felt her stomach drop when Teylor visibly shrank back towards the trunk of the tree. The child was as willful as her mother had been. She hated fighting, but by all the gods this one would stay. She did not have the energy to take another chance like she had with her daughter. She would get that child to understand her role in this if they had to do it hissing like cats the whole way.

Not the A-Z Challenge

But I saw this picture and had to share. 

And this is what I thought: 

Look at all them ho's.  Don't mess with the one in the back!!!

Why yes, I am sick and wrong... why do you ask?? ;)

Eer-Moonan

Found this interesting creature by chance.  Maybe I liked the Moon part of the name. 

This is the name of a group of monsters in the legends of the Dreamtime of Native Australian people.  They had the bodies of dogs with women's feet and the head of a porcupine.  They were extremely stealthy and hunted humans. 

I can see these as the minion of the Tengu who rise to power once the Tengu have been banished.  Definite possibilities

***I think I'm kind of lost in this challenge.  I'm getting e-mail but can't firuge out how to go to the otheres people's blogs. -- I can be dense so this doesn't surprise me***
Maybe I just suck... alas

I can still read the A-Z on the people I usually read....that's a plus and awesome!!!

Daxleigh Avona

Daxliegh is the twin of Shaeli (thus the need for Spot to be Cat ;).

Shaeli was banished to the earth realm because she was falsely accused of something Daxliegh did. Daxliegh was just a child when this happened and in my minds eye I can feel her back story as this child. Hiding from the wrath of her elders only to discover upon her return that her sister has been banished.

Daxleigh's element is water.  Her totem is the Dragonfly.

`

Words I associate with Daxliegh:  Twin. Shame. Agenda. Power.  Strength.


I decided I wanted to have a dragonfly totem in the story when one day I was surrounded by them.  I was in the discovery process at the time and it seemed that they had to be in the story. 

I was amazed that they waited while I went in the house and got the camera.

Cat (aka Spot)

Okay -- so it is a bit of a stretch but I have a supporting cast member whose name begins with S.  I didn't want to ignore poor Spot.  This story was originally going to be a tongue in cheek romp.  Thus Fanny's last name... you'll have to wait for F day.  Yes, I am mean that way. It's just a couple of days, you'll be fine.

When I was doing 'discovery' I decided that Fanny had a cat with stripes.  I wondered what to name the cat and Julie suggested Spot.  I liked the name.  From time to time Teylor asks why he is named Spot and the response is always:  "That's a long story."  

It is a long story too.  But I can't share it with you just yet. ;)

Bailey Ellymil

Bailey is a gnome.  I chose gnome over dwarf because dwarf is so typical.  I needed someone who was an earth element and gnome seemed good for that.  I know, I know, one does not normally look at Reese Witherspoon and think gnome.  But I did and the voice in my head is her southern twang from "Sweet Home Alabama"

She is supporting cast.  Prior to Nano I put together a Story Bible (of sorts) I knew I wanted a character to represent each of the elements.  Having said that I'm not sure of the source for the following.  When I was putting together my Story Bible I was just looking for info and not thinking that someday I'd need to credit someone.   So if I've copied your blog or web page, please let me know and I'll credit you.

*The word Gnome means knowledge and also earth dweller.  Gnomes correspond with the earth and all its aspects.  Also associated with one who is a hoarder of precious metals, dazzling diamonds, and other sparkly bits nestled in the folds of the earth.

*Gnomes are symbols of the earth.  As such, they encourage stability, grounding and offer a rooting quality to our experience.  They are not without their wiles.  Part of the levity that comes from these little dudes comes from an innate liveliness they imbue.  They love their Mother (Earth) and are in-turn, loved back by her.

* Source unknown

Bailey tries to help Teylor unlock the 'earth element' within her.  Call a stone to your hand, a child's first lesson for gnomes. 

**"Relax," Bailey said. "Calm your thoughts and let the stone come."

Teylor wiggled her shoulders trying to relax and imagined the rock. When no rock appeared in her hand she called out in her mind. Rock. I need a rock. Please.


She tried to calm her mind. She didn't want Fanny laughing at her for not succeeding. Anyone please, I need a rock she thought again.


A gasp from Bailey made Teylor open her eyes. She rush to the window. A black raven sat on the window sill tapping with its beak. Teylor opened the window.  "Thank you," she said as the raven dropped a white stone into her hand.

** Whispers in the North - Nano 2011

Teylor has magic, but it seems to always 'backfire' in some way or two others.  Not even Fanny can appreciate the strength of Teylor's magic but we get the first hint when she causes havoc across both realms. All beings become obsessed with getting Teylor a stone.