Creatures from your culture

Light-hearted discussions, forum games and anything that doesn't fit into the other forums.
Tech Corner - Firewalls, AV etc. - Report Bugs - Board Rules
User avatar
Chai26
Druid
Druid
Posts: 868
Joined: 30 Jan 2006
Location: Midnight Island, Abarat

Unread postby Chai26 » 09 Jan 2007, 09:32

龙(Lóng) or the Chinese dragon is a very sacred creature in my culture.
It is usually depicted as a long, snake-like creature with numerous claws, it has long been a potent symbol of auspicious power and strength.

Emperors of China use dragons to decorate their palace a lot(Take the Forbidden city for example)
Voodoo Child
Some say, he/she sucks the moisture out of ducks.

User avatar
beastmaster
Leprechaun
Leprechaun
Posts: 12
Joined: 05 Apr 2007
Location: dragon plains
Contact:

Unread postby beastmaster » 05 Apr 2007, 13:49

Here is one very strange creature from my country-a bugbear.
Image
It looks like this[it has many other looks].
It is something,like a hairy man with big head,horns and tail,with one eye and one leg.He is a half man-half horse.It can transform into an unnaced boy,into a dog,calf,kid.Lives only during the 'Dirty days'.Because of this Jenuary is called 'bugbear' month.It wanders from night till day.Lives in caves,rivers,desolated wells and places where ivy grows.He entices people and gets on them.He throws them from hie clifs and trees into deep pools or he tears them between the water-wheels!
You can check more here:
For Bulgarians:http://bgrod.org/Vjara/index.php?p=bogo ... =Karakonco
For Russians:http://myths.kulichki.ru/enc/item/f00/s16/a001641.shtml
For Englishmen:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugbear
To create a creature is easy,
To create 20 creatures is easy,
To create the story of these creatures-hard!

User avatar
Zamolxis
Archangel
Archangel
Posts: 1406
Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Location: still too foggy to tell

Unread postby Zamolxis » 06 Apr 2007, 02:55

If you google Bugbear, and go to Images, you'll see this might be quite a cool creature actually, perfectly fitting with the Heroes universe.

Is it from Bulgarian mythology?

- - -

Anyway, although there are not so many graphical representations of him, here is the Zmeu:

Image

Long story short, basically he is the bad guys in most of the Romanian fairy tales - the one our Prince Charming fights with in the end, i/o the Dragon in the West.

Of course, we also have some sort of dragon which - as TT very well pointed already - looks pretty much like the WoG Gorynych:

Image
'Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former' - Albert Einstein

'Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind' - same guy

User avatar
beastmaster
Leprechaun
Leprechaun
Posts: 12
Joined: 05 Apr 2007
Location: dragon plains
Contact:

Unread postby beastmaster » 06 Apr 2007, 06:47

Zamolxis wrote:
Is it from Bulgarian mythology?
Yes,it is.There are some more creatures from Bulgarian mythology,I'd like to show,but in other posts. :D .
Zamolxis wrote:
Anyway, although there are not so many graphical representations of him, here is the Zmeu:
There is also a Zmeu in Bulgarian myths.We describe it as a snake,human and bird,with wings,legs and tail and it has shining flakes.It also has unusual power.Lives in caves,high mountains and cliffs.It's also called Zmeu Gorianin and rules over the winds.He fells in love with young girls and often carries them off.Dies defeated by herbs.The Zmeu can be a protector,or a ravisher.
Image
More on these links:
For bulgarians:http://bgrod.org/Vjara/index.php?p=bogove&page=zmej
For Russians:http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%97%D0% ... 1%8B%D1%87
For Englishmen:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic_dragon[/img]
To create a creature is easy,
To create 20 creatures is easy,
To create the story of these creatures-hard!

User avatar
Zamolxis
Archangel
Archangel
Posts: 1406
Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Location: still too foggy to tell

Unread postby Zamolxis » 06 Apr 2007, 22:11

beastmaster wrote:There is also a Zmeu in Bulgarian myths.We describe it as a snake,human and bird,with wings,legs and tail and it has shining flakes.It also has unusual power.Lives in caves,high mountains and cliffs.It's also called Zmeu Gorianin and rules over the winds.He fells in love with young girls and often carries them off.Dies defeated by herbs.The Zmeu can be a protector,or a ravisher.
The Romanian Zmeu does have a thing for young girls as well, only he usually steals them to make them his brides, hence the human-like form most of the time. ;)

It can also be half-human half-beast, and sometimes of large proportions (kinda like an Ogre, or even a Giant). We don't kill it with herbs. It's the Lad Charming (the Romanian "Prince Charming") who usually kills him. He's always evil, never a protecter (maybe of its own prey only). :p
'Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former' - Albert Einstein

'Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind' - same guy

User avatar
Kalah
Retired Admin
Retired Admin
Posts: 20078
Joined: 24 Nov 2005

Unread postby Kalah » 06 Apr 2007, 23:26

Haven't seen the trolls mentioned yet...

Image
In War: Resolution, In Defeat: Defiance, In Victory: Magnanimity, In Peace: Goodwill.

User avatar
winterfate
Round Table Hero
Round Table Hero
Posts: 6191
Joined: 26 Nov 2006
Location: Puerto Rico

Unread postby winterfate » 07 Apr 2007, 02:52

The info on the trolls is fascinating. :D

So Thor hunted them down, eh? :)
The Round Table's birthday list!
Proud creator of Caladont 2.0!
You need to take the pain, learn from it and get back on that bike... - stefan
Sometimes the hearts most troubled make the sweetest melodies... - winterfate

User avatar
Kalah
Retired Admin
Retired Admin
Posts: 20078
Joined: 24 Nov 2005

Unread postby Kalah » 07 Apr 2007, 12:18

Actually, no. There are two different things; a troll and a jotun. Tor hunted jotuns. Trolls on the other hand enter the playing field when Christianity becomes a factor in Scandinavia. The trolls are very un-Christian, of course.
In War: Resolution, In Defeat: Defiance, In Victory: Magnanimity, In Peace: Goodwill.

User avatar
ThunderTitan
Perpetual Poster
Perpetual Poster
Posts: 23270
Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Location: Now/here
Contact:

Unread postby ThunderTitan » 07 Apr 2007, 12:37

Aren't jotuns just giants?!
Disclaimer: May contain sarcasm!
I have never faked a sarcasm in my entire life. - ???
"With ABC deleting dynamite gags from cartoons, do you find that your children are using explosives less frequently?" — Mark LoPresti

Alt-0128: €

Image

User avatar
Kalah
Retired Admin
Retired Admin
Posts: 20078
Joined: 24 Nov 2005

Unread postby Kalah » 07 Apr 2007, 21:07

Yes, but they exist in the pagan world of the vikings. They were then part of the mythical universe of Asgard, Midgard and Utgard, living in opposition to the gods, and generally considered "the bad guys".

When Christianity started dominating people's beliefs, the trolls kept their role as the opposition to God and the Church, namely as heathen creatures - or creatures of pagan beliefs. Scholars have a theory that the belief that trolls are turned into stone when the sun shines on them is an allegory of enlightenment (i.e. convertion to Christian faith); that if you embrace Christianity you will come to realize that the big, scary troll staring at you in the woods is in fact just a big ol' rock.

So, to sum up: Jotun = old norse beliefs. Trolls = Scandinavian Christian beliefs. Basically.
In War: Resolution, In Defeat: Defiance, In Victory: Magnanimity, In Peace: Goodwill.

User avatar
ThunderTitan
Perpetual Poster
Perpetual Poster
Posts: 23270
Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Location: Now/here
Contact:

Unread postby ThunderTitan » 07 Apr 2007, 23:45

Kalah wrote: Scholars have a theory that the belief that trolls are turned into stone when the sun shines on them is an allegory of enlightenment (i.e. convertion to Christian faith); that if you embrace Christianity you will come to realize that the big, scary troll staring at you in the woods is in fact just a big ol' rock.
Didn't dwarfs turn to stone too?
Disclaimer: May contain sarcasm!
I have never faked a sarcasm in my entire life. - ???
"With ABC deleting dynamite gags from cartoons, do you find that your children are using explosives less frequently?" — Mark LoPresti

Alt-0128: €

Image

User avatar
Kalah
Retired Admin
Retired Admin
Posts: 20078
Joined: 24 Nov 2005

Unread postby Kalah » 08 Apr 2007, 02:25

Sure. Same thing. Christianity considered these creatures to be part of pagan beliefs, i.e. superstition. Enlightenment and belief in the true God would enable one to see these creatures as the figments of imagination they were.
In War: Resolution, In Defeat: Defiance, In Victory: Magnanimity, In Peace: Goodwill.

User avatar
Veldrynus
Round Table Hero
Round Table Hero
Posts: 2513
Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Location: Inside your head!

Unread postby Veldrynus » 08 Apr 2007, 09:29

Kalah wrote:Sure. Same thing. Christianity considered these creatures to be part of pagan beliefs, i.e. superstition.
Right. Men with wings and flaming swords, and red men with horns are more logical beings.
Veldryn 15:15 And Vel found a dirty old jawbone of a walrus and put forth his hand, and took it, and in his unholy rage, he slew thirty four thousand men and children therewith.

User avatar
EDN
Scout
Scout
Posts: 156
Joined: 10 Sep 2006

Unread postby EDN » 08 Apr 2007, 15:38

The christian culture (does is count?), Leviathan:
Image

Fenrir from norse culture (again, does it count?):
Image

vhilhu
Druid
Druid
Posts: 863
Joined: 13 Aug 2006

Unread postby vhilhu » 08 Apr 2007, 15:51

the most feared and ominous creature of Estonian folklore is the Kaakohuke. nobody is safe from it.

Image

User avatar
Colonel_here
Leprechaun
Leprechaun
Posts: 6
Joined: 09 Apr 2007

Unread postby Colonel_here » 09 Apr 2007, 05:12

In tartar mythology a giant snake plays important part. It is even used to be on teh flag of our capital. The snake was responsible for diseases in the city and so one of the Tartar wizards went and defeated it.
"Only a fool fights a battle he knows he can not win" - Ghengis Khan
"The job of saving the lives of those who are sinking is the task of those who are sinking" - Ostap Bender

User avatar
Veldrynus
Round Table Hero
Round Table Hero
Posts: 2513
Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Location: Inside your head!

Unread postby Veldrynus » 09 Apr 2007, 08:48

Colonel_here wrote:In tartar mythology a giant snake plays important part. It is even used to be on teh flag of our capital. The snake was responsible for diseases in the city and so one of the Tartar wizards went and defeated it.
Why is always the snake the bad one? :disagree:
Veldryn 15:15 And Vel found a dirty old jawbone of a walrus and put forth his hand, and took it, and in his unholy rage, he slew thirty four thousand men and children therewith.

User avatar
Kalah
Retired Admin
Retired Admin
Posts: 20078
Joined: 24 Nov 2005

Unread postby Kalah » 09 Apr 2007, 11:25

Veldrynus wrote:Right. Men with wings and flaming swords, and red men with horns are more logical beings.
I didn't say it made sense by modern standards. :)
Veldrynus wrote:Why is always the snake the bad one?
Well, you could blame the Bible again, for making the snake the scapegoat of the fall of man... which could have to do with the fact that some of the gods squeezed out by the new belief preached by the old testament, were snake-gods.
What I think though, is that the snake was considered "the enemy" by lots of folks all over Europe, Asia and elsewhere, because it was dangerous. Look out for the snake, kids. They'll bite you and kill you. They're evil.
In War: Resolution, In Defeat: Defiance, In Victory: Magnanimity, In Peace: Goodwill.

User avatar
Zamolxis
Archangel
Archangel
Posts: 1406
Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Location: still too foggy to tell

Unread postby Zamolxis » 09 Apr 2007, 11:56

Veldrynus wrote:Why is always the snake the bad one? :disagree:
I also love snakes. (No Vel, I'm not flirting with you)

It's maybe part of the reason why I used to love Nagas so much. Or the H3 Fortress town, with their Serpent Flies and all the other reptile monsters.

*sigh*
'Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former' - Albert Einstein

'Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind' - same guy

User avatar
Gaidal Cain
Round Table Hero
Round Table Hero
Posts: 6972
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Location: Solna

Unread postby Gaidal Cain » 09 Apr 2007, 14:19

I think Vel'd like to hear that during the medieval times, commoners in sweden often lived with (non-poisonus) snakes in their homes, apparantly to kill rats and stuff. It's the snakes which could kill men who gave them all a bad reputation.
You don't want to make enemies in Nuclear Engineering. -- T. Pratchett


Return to “Campfire”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 33 guests