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The flavor text comes from a charm that hails from the Isle of Mann and is meant to ward off fae who swap human babies for changelings. Folklorist Sophia Morrison was fundamental in the Manx cultural revival at the beginning of the 20th c. 2/5
There's no shortage of griffins to choose from among medieval manuscripts! Key characteristics include that they carry off large livestock to feed their young -- and humans count as livestock in their book. 2/5
I like this passage for its connection to the moon, which evokes, for me, the dark elf origins of Drizzt Do'Urden. Also, the text suggests the interplanar nature of the Guenhwyvar. 8/9
The client was most excited about images from a 17th c. German series of watercolor studies of animals. The client especially liked the hooded falcon but also wanted birds in flight. (I've used this manuscript before for the "Cat, Rat, Elephant" series.) 4/7
The client wanted birds to represent Thopters, so I dived into the archives! 3/7
The image is a little too busy, so I decided to make the focal point the bottom badger and just ditch its friends. I essentially just moved down the top of the frame, retaining the river for additional color and visual interest. 3/5
In our story, the crow warns the naughty monkey not to climb a mast. The monkey does so anyway, falls, and hits his head. The fox warns the monkey not to sit on the throne. The incorrigible monkey does so, falls, and is devoured by dogs (!). 3/14
I adapted the image from a charming collection of Æsop's fables made in Germany in 1430. Here's an illustration of the well-known fable of The Fox and the Raven. 2/14
Friends who are not colorblind: Is what I'm imagining what you see here as well? Red cloak over blue skirt. Burgundy, uh, energy field on a bright orange background.