Request for Input - Abbey of St. Cenodoxus

general
21

Had to look that one up. I suppose that would be better than Lenny and Squiggy.

But I would prefer to not have Hollywood, Bollywood, etc., bastardize my work. I can bastardize all by myself, thank you.

22

I know y’all are just dying to know what’s going on. I’ve managed to populate the Abbey somewhat.

First off are the “mobs”, those referred to in their plurality. For various reasons, most, if not all, will not be given proper names.

  • “the dryads” – tree spirits; no differentiation, therefore no personal names (Seriously, dryads are “spirits of the trees”; they don’t each get their own). Very protective of Xore.
  • “the hobs” – tiny brown men who help with chores. Currently fortifying the buttery against the miahlushka.
  • “the miahlushka” – Lakota “Little Wise Men”, mischievous tiny Native Americans.  Planning to launch a raid on the buttery any minute now, from under the baler.
  • “the pyx” – pixies, tiny winged people. Since the hobs welched on the deal last time, they’re not taking sides this time, and making it really obvious.
  • “the spriggan” – four goblins attached at the tail (it would be rude to use individual names to address all of them). Very earnest and impressionable.
  • “the tokoloshe” – tiny African people wearing armor made from insect carapaces. Currently yelling insults at both sides from the rungs of a ladder.
  • “the tomtes” – Swedish Little People, who are much too busy with serious matters to take part in all this foolishness.
  • “the monks” – the previous (human) inhabitants and caretakers of the Abbey, who seem to have stuck around to help out.

Now for the rest of the Abbey.

Note that underlined names are changelings: children born to human parents but throwbacks to some older race or species. Changelings usually exhibit their “monstrous” traits slowly over time.

Anicchay (Djinn) – bright pink boy whose body, from the waist down, is pink mist. At ten, already has a mustache and goatee. Does not grant wishes. Quote: (after somebody says “I wish”) “Yeah, I’ll get right on that.”

Anika (Succubus) – slightly short for a girl of twelve, but her body has the proportions of a fully-developed (and then some) woman. White hair and red eyes in her normal form, able to take the form most pleasing to her quarry. Keeps most of the boys at a safe distance (for her).

Aqillaq (Yeti) – black skin and fine white fur, simian face, arms and legs appear longer than they should, fingers and prehensile toes are even more disproportionate. Stolid presence in the Abbey, fast reflexes, looking forward to winter. (Yetis are only one among several tribes; sasquatch, hibagon, yeren, yowie, and wendigo)

Beorht “Beo” (Gargoyle) – chubby, bat-winged, head is somewhat reptilian-shaped; skin looks like dark gray stone. Abandonment issues, self-esteem issues, wide variety of phobias, impressionable.

Beth (will’o’wisp) – A ball of green-yellow light with no apparent substance. She is able to mesmerize others, except those with inherent resistance. By some unknown fashion, she is able to carry considerable weight within her light (whatever she is carrying is not visible while doing so). Not fond of Liss.

Cain (Faun) – Hypersexual and severe ADD, prankster. Warning sign: “I’m bored.”

Ceinwen (Llamwyr/water goblin) – goblin with more of an amphibian appearance; extremely pale skin, pale blue and pink scales on scalp, throat, spine, tail, hands and feet. Doesn’t object to Sjøvift’s presence in the “water cloister”.

Dejan [day-han] (Minotaur) – twelve; naïve, gentle, helpful, i.e., a tragedy waiting to happen.

Dora (Gorgon) – deceased. De facto leader of the kids at the Abbey for over 80 years (just past adolescence for her species).

Elena (Werewolf) – Dark gray fur in wolf or hybrid form, dark gray, wavy hair in human form. Strong and fast, but very shy about being seen unclothed, regardless of form. The most devout Catholic in the Abbey.

Gavin (draken/drake-kin) – boy with silver-blue scales over most of his body, sharp talons, bright blue eyes; can change into a dragon (four-limbed, plus wings, barbed tail, reinforced spine) of comparable age (since he is just beginning adolescence, his size as a dragon is at the same maturity). However he can not remain in his dragon form for more than a few hours a day. Has access to various magics; has interests in a variety of subjects. Although he is quiet and keeps to himself, he has taken actions which show a certain amount of compassion and fellowship, especially to Beo.

Greta (Valkyrie) – bright blonde hair and white wings, robust figure. obnoxious, bossy, overbearing, militantly conformist. Is called “Die Fliedermaus” when someone wants to get her attention. Kait continually questions her intelligence, sapience, and edibility.

Isaac (Centaur) – rather quiet and patient; horse half resembles a Morgan, human half is very tanned.

Jerry Jay (Siren) – looks like a normal twelve-year old, until he takes his shoes off. Able to mesmerize nearly anyone by singing or playing music, with a few other sound-based magic effects (sleep, blindness, mute, dancing, etc.). Usually very glad to use his abilities to cheer up the other residents; also knows a troubling numberof bawdy songs and dirty limericks. Previously was very popular on the Gospel Music circuit and church-tent revivals. Seems to have a crush on Anika, which could spell doom for both of them.

Joey (Vampire) – Converted at six years old (vampires can not be changelings), has been in residence for about one year. Somewhat of an “old soul”. No bloodline known as yet. Tries to get along and help out as he is able, except Greta. By necessity, avoids some of the fire-based residents. Like several other residents, never sleeps in the same place twice.

Kait Leithleach (Bakeneko/Cait Sidhe) – five-tailed, telepathic cat; all the memories and skills of her past four lives, all of them closely related to medical schools and universities. One tail is scarred from burns (received during her present incarnation). Unsolved puzzles or mysteries mean the rest of the residents have to “hear” her rant until she figures it out.

Líadan (Banshee) – young, fair-skinned girl still coping with the death of her “mother.” Technically, banshee are not, and can not be, changelings.

Liss (Fire elemental) – a thin column of vari-colored flame, sometimes takes the form of a snake made of fire; protective of Smed and barely tolerates Beth.

Loấnh (Chu-srin) - shapeshifter, all shapes combine a mammal head with a fish (or aquatic reptile) body and hindquarters; mildly telempathic and understands humanoid speech.

Maria (Pooka) – out of many generations of Hispanic ancestors, has one Irish ancestor, four generations back, and she blames him. Changed at twelve, currently thirteen.

Mesenge (Jengu) – beautiful, African river mermaid with some healing ability; scales resemble fire opal.

Myeong Dasu (Kumiho) – “nine-tailed fox”; he has only four, since he is currently in his fourth incarnation; illusion, able to speak out loud, minor magic.

Naiarta (Lamia) – from the waist up, a beautiful young Hindu woman, from the waist down, a thick (and long) snake. Very knowledgeable and somebody you don’t want to piss off.

Nivedor (Criosphinx) – body of a lion, wings of an eagle, human male head with ram’s horns; really sick of riddles, but even more sick of Greta. Quote: “I got a riddle for you; it’s got lots of blood and screaming in it.”

Osoishin (Raiju) – leopard-shaped blue and white lightning elemental; can understand humanoid speech and somewhat empathic. Usually quite curious, but during storms, becomes very agitated and hyperactive.

Rachel (Harpy) – gray-skinned girl with bird feet and wings. Very sensitive, depressed, abandonment issues. Ability to detect guilt and treachery is currently hay-wire.

Rafe (Vampire) – Transmuted to solid crystal when attempting to drink the blood of a gorgon. Most residents who knew him agree that this is an improvement. Member of a relatively new bloodline that was considered to have great potential, until the head of the bloodline disappeared (Rafe’s father killed Dora; Yari and Maria, with Anika’s help, took their time killing him). Rafe’s “corpse” is currently standing in a corner of the crypt beneath the chapel.

Sebastian (Ogre x troll) – currently fourteen and over twelve feet tall. Tusked, long black hair. Dark gray skin that appears to be pebbled (combination of subcutaneous chitin and cartilage). Able to use both “stone-pass” (troll) and shapeshifting (ogre); isn’t comfortable using either. Is steadily reading his way through the Abbey’s extensive library. Current de facto leader; trying to control the legendary tempers of his forebears as he enters puberty. Became a changeling due to a misborn ritual where his parents were about to sacrifice him to an “Elder Thing”.

Senka (Leshy) – looks like a spindly, tall tree with black bark skin and black moss hair (no leaves); blends in with the illusions over the Abbey’s trees and grounds perfectly. Some ability to communicate with forest animals and forest plants. Does not go out of his way to interact with most of the residents, prefers solitude. Is usually civil when approached. Has been at the Abbey for a very long time. (Dora was reasonably certain that the illusions over the trees and grounds were made to resemble him)

Shallie (Wind elemental) – normally only visible by the effect she has on items and beings around her (or in her way). Her relationships with others do not go much farther than “just getting along”.

Sjøvift (Nokke) – thirteen years old, he is able to sing and play any instrument as well as assuming a form most pleasing to his subject. He refuses to take on female forms, however.

Skakatrin (Selkie) – “were-seal”; would be happier if she didn’t have to share the “water cloister” with boys. Still pouting over changing a week before her birthday and missing her birthday party.

Smed (Kobold) – Red and black scaled goblin with an affinity for metals, gems, and fire. Age unknown, but usually behaves like a boy between seven and ten. Rescued by Liss from Bikini Atoll.

Trevor (Mandrake) –– wizened (eleven years old) plant gnome with large serrated leaves and several stems, each bearing a single lotus-like purple flower,  coming out of the top of his head; the fruit of the flowers ripen into orange-red berries shaped like small tomatoes two weeks before the first frost of autumn. Arrived at the Abbey as a sprout. Sleeps during the day because sunlight gets him “drunk”. Usually stand-offish and sarcastic, unless he’s playing rummy.

Uindo no Yari (Tengu) – Falcon-winged Asian boy; practices rigorous exercise as well as chores around the Abbey. Usually expressionless and soft-spoken. Was eight years old when he avenged Dora’s murder.

Ukiuk (Ijiraq) – an arctic “no-see-um” with the ability to make a person lose their way (even if the destination is in line-of-sight); shapeshifter, but rarely seen directly. Rarely leaves the “cold cloister” in any season but winter.

Xore [cho-ray] (Hamadryad) – resides in one of the trees within the Abbey (was delivered as a sapling – Douglas fir – almost 20 years ago). More bored than Cain, due to being limited to a short distance from the tree (claims that it is not “her” tree, but she is “his” hamadryad) but is able to cope with it. Has limited communication with other plants.

I have a couple other species that will figure into the plot, which is why you don’t see more trickster spirits or undead listed. And yes, I have one or two more Asian races waiting to be introduced.

23

@Nabiki, am I correct that Uindo no Yari would be referred to as Yari in informal conversation?

24

Well, yari is a spear. Uindo so far as I know is the romaji spelling for window. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of uindo no yari. When I was practicing martial arts, all we ever said for the spear was yari.

25

Sorry, I left out context. That was the name I meant to use for the kengu character. I mean for Uindo be the surname and Yari be the given name.

I can’t remember why I was including the ‘no’.

26

Having read through the list of characters a couple of times now, I think there are too many different “races”. I had to scroll back and forth a lot just to keep track of who liked/loved/hated who and why.

I think that halving or even quartering the number of races and increasing the numbers of each may be a better way to go.

27

“no” means “of” Uindo is still the romaji spelling for window, however. As for form of address, it really depends on the relationship of the person doing the addressing as well as how formal a person the one being addressed is. In modern Japan, friends would call a person by first name. If they are even a little old fashioned, though, they will still address them by last name. The relationship/formality is defined more by what title/modifier they use… ie: -sama, -san, -kun, -chan, -rin, -chi, -pi. If no modifier at all is being used, the addresser is either rude or very close to the person. -chan, -rin, -chi, -pi are diminutives, used by people close or as insults. They are also usually (but not always) used for children or young girls.

Edit: Sometimes the modifiers are used on idols by fans, for example, Yamashita Tomohisa is often known to his fans as Yamapi.

28

Ah, that’s it. I meant it to mean Yari/spear of the Wind.

@Viking - I’m seriously considering that, but I need a certain spread of abilities for the plot to work right. And the minimum number of characters needed is already as low as I can make it.

1 Like
29

I know what the first four are but I’m not familiar with the others. When are those used?

30

You might try Kazeno Yari, then. It would be kind of like Tsukino Usagi (from Sailor Moon) whose name literally translates to Moon’s Rabbit (which refers to a fairy tale).

31

The last three are pretty modern. They’re mostly used to be cute. They’re usually used by high school girls.

Edit: Or maybe younger…

32

Yeah, I just tried Google Translate and it is now giving me Kaze instead of Uindo. Not sure what that is all about.

Kazeno Yari it is then. I was trying to go for the sense that the spear is made of wind, but that’s probably way too complicated for the purpose anyway.

I need to stop being so nitpicky.

33

Now that you’re telling me it came from Google translate, I can see where uindo came from. Pronounce “wind” with a Japanese accent, then spell it in katakana, and you’ve got “uindo”.

34

Um. Okay.

That’s… That sounds very strange.

35

Japanese steals words from other languages all the time. They even have an alphabet specifically for foreign derived words (katakana). For example, their word for bread is パン, or ‘pan’ from the Portuguese word. Computer is コンピュター, or conpyutaa (read computer with a Japanese accent).

Edited to fix spelling.

36

Oh, I see now.

I think I better double-check any Japanese words I am using in other projects. If other words are also katakana, I’m going to look like an idiot.