My favorite part of writing fantasy is imagining the creatures. I make up all sorts, in a range of ages from hatchlings to elder masters. I do love dragons, but am partial to those unique species from my imagination. Many times I begin with a basic anatomy plan from mythic fiction, since readers like some recognizable structures. Here are some useful sites that are wonderful storehouses of those tried and true types from folk legends around the world.
I’ll share one of my favorite dragon-like creations, the cimafa. It’s a horrid monster, about to undo my heroine, Lyra, in my Enchanted Bookstore Legends.
My cimafa heralds its arrival with a blood-curdling screech, laced with power which reverberates in your ears and causes tremors along your nerves. Otherwise, it is difficult to locate until it is upon you, its vast magical power undectectible, known as a stealth aura. It glides in shadows.
Once it is near, it presents as a horrible creature, small in stature for a dragon, like a firedrake, but covered in black shimmering scales. Two pairs of horns extend back from its elongated head. Flames ring its nostrils. The voice box pumps as the chilling sound echoes from the gaping mouth, across rows of pointed teeth. The pupils, dark as pitch, are its most dangerous weapon, capable of pulling your entire aura, even that which contains your soul, from your body, mind, and heart.
Unlike other firedrakes, between its translucent wings it may permit a rider, only if that person agrees to a type of “deal with the devil.” In order to ride, one must sacrifice a portion of his/her soul to the beast.
What fabulous, fun or scary creatures have you created? Please share.
Art credit: QueenOfDorks
8 comments:
In Eel's Reverence, I took mermaids, imagined them reproducing like fish or seahorses rather than mammals, and gave them long, serpentine tails so they could get around on land. :)
Marian Allen
Fantasies, mysteries, comedies, recipes
I created a race of "lizard people" where they appear to be human in posture, stance, etc but they are covered in hard green scales, a sparse patch of red hair on top of their head, yellow cat like eyes, and forked tongues. When they speak, they hold out their S's to the point of extreme annoyance. Their Gods demand they steal magical force from others with the use of blessed daggers. (Yes, the other person has to die during this process.)
They have children like mammals do - live birth but can only have at most, two children in their lifetime.
In the book I am currently writing, I'm thinking of having like, vampire pixies, but haven't really fleshed out the full details for them yet.
I LOVE making up new races and creatures based on real myths.
I created a creature called an "arbolenx" for my forthcoming novel Vaetra Unveiled.
As the name suggests, it is a tree-dwelling feline with lynx-like characteristics (tufted ears and tail). The female weighs about 40 pounds while the male can be as large as 55 pounds.
The creature is intelligent and capable of human speech, although it suppresses certain hard consonants that might sound like spitting noises (bad news in the feline world).
They have hand-like paws with sharp claws that make them excellent tree-climbers and capable of using tools and weapons. They occasionally trade with humans, but generally avoid human population centers.
They have an innate magical ability that lets them blend into their surroundings like a chameleon.
In the scene where one of them appears in my book, arbolenx Ru-Rahl provides my main character Jaylan with some useful information regarding a man Jaylan is tracking. Ru-Rahl owes Jaylan a few favors, and is anxious to pay them off.
Interesting post!
In my book The Awakening, coming Jan 2012, I created gargumen. They are half human, half gargoyles. They are human in shape, but with wings, gray, tough skin, no nose (just holes), piranha teeth, dark eyes, razor sharp claws, and they shriek horribly (nails on chalk board). They work for demons and they are not friendly. LOL.
Isn't it great what your imagination can come up with?
Best Wishes,
Mary Abshire
Marian, I love mermaids and have written two books of a series about them. Those modifications sound fascinating.
Anastasia, your lizard race sounds interesting and complete in design even to their spiritual connections.
Daniel, I'm intrigued by your arbolynx. Sounds like something I'd love!
Mary, reading your description of the hideous gargumen I didn't expect them to be nice guys! Love your fearsome details!
Hi,
Great question!
In my newest release, Carry on the Flame: Destiny's Call, I write about a demonic creature I called a Tracker.
It is conjured by the priestess Phoebe who practices dark arts. It was created through the clay of her hatred and greed, and suckled on her deceit and ambition. Its purpose is to stalk and haunt the main character, Sharay, and rob her of her powers, suck her dry, and threaten those she loves.
Jodine, your Tracker sounds wickedly cool! Even more interesting that your dark priestess created it to do her evil deeds, like a type of familial.
In Darklands there are some unicorns - but they're actually just horses that have been forced to grow horns through invasive genetic manipulation - and they're foul tempered about it.
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