C Is For Creatures...

I have spoken of creatures before, when writing fantasy. This is where you want to think outside of the box, but you also don't want to confuse your readers. There are lots of cool creatures in fantasy writing. Gnolls, Goblins, Imps, you name it.

What about thinking outside of the box and coming up with new, exciting creatures.

I've talked about mine before. There is the Belching Scurvy Knave. He's a very ugly bird. Looks like an ostrich that is constantly molting. Blue feathers, probably cross-eyed if you looked him straight on. But he struts around like he's the most gorgeous thing in the world. His mating call gives him his name. It's a belch, followed by an "Oooh!".

I also have Morigwaiths. These are shadow wraiths that were created when Argisindya (the wizards city) magically destroyed itself. The blast leveled the land and when the shockwave struck people almost 500 miles away, it knocked their souls out of their bodies and into their shadows. So they drift around looking for a weary traveler to stop and doze in the shade so they can inhabit their body.

So think about things when you want to create creatures for your world. Pick a couple of animals, toss 'em together and give them a funny name. I mean, really, we have a platypus. Come on. Who thought that one up?