monster modifications

[marycatelli]

Should I add swan maidens to this world I'm building?

It's a deeper question that it may seem at first glance. There are worlds where I could just go and throw them in.

Because there, they would not alter the mood.

Innocuous and even beneficent, they would fit in worlds where the monsters are frequently marvels and wonders. In a world where everything else is hostile -- drakes, wolves, woodwoses, hags, ettins, dwarrow, all taken from a common folklore -- they are an anomaly. Also, they are the first actual shape-shifters if I use them. (I could throw in werewolves, were I so minded, but I haven't yet.)

decisions, decisions

Comments

[archangelbeth]

Swans can be pretty mean, though, can't they? Like geese? You might have to give the swan-maiden lore a bit of a twist (more swan than maid), though...

[marycatelli]

Hey, you can draw on werewolf lore in which the werewolf keeps his human mind in wolf form; you can use swan maiden lore with harmless swan maidens.

Especially since I was thinking of using in one of the classic forms. The ones where she's the daughter of an evil wizard/ogre/what-ever.

[archangelbeth]

Swan maiden who'll break your leg with a wing if she can? O:>

[marycatelli]

Nah, those swan maidens just fly off as swans. As maidens, they know magic. They can tell you how to deal with their fathers.

[archangelbeth]

That's useful! If they care to, of course. (My internal swan mays are being obstreperous with me. Lack of sleep. >_> )

[marycatelli]

The secret is to get on their good side.

[archangelbeth]

That's a lot of loaves of bread... O;>

[marycatelli]

Good heavens, she's out of a fairy tale, she can bake her own bread, and better than anyone else.

Did you know that "lady" means, at the root, "loaf kneader" -- that is "bread maker"?

[archangelbeth]

HUH! No, I did not!

[marycatelli]

Etymology turns up weird stuff.

[archangelbeth]

That is awesome.