Kintsukoroi, by Alsares Lynx
One of the things I’ve noticed about illustrations of dragons (and many imaginary creatures in general) is how closely they resemble dogs. The charming beast above is a sleepy German Shepard through and through, in spite of the wings, long tail, and feathered goat-featured face. This is not a criticism of the artist, mind you. It’s how mythic animals are made appealing and familiar through the the use of real-life analogs, making them seem more real.
Another way to bring the unfamiliar to life is by using off-hand mentions of familiar-sounding but nonexistent people, places, and things, what I call Local Color. Below is a list of many examples taken from my Twitter feed, 2017 – 2020.
Local Color I (Fantasy)
| Gems and Minerals |
Celadocine Bellapaz Pixie Glass Firefly Malachite Air-pearls |
| Diseases |
Thruxus Polyanchosis Tuberculosis of the Cheeks due to drinking alcohol Screaming Argathera Cyanopsy Speckled Bubscratch |
| Torture Devices |
The Coquette-mincer Scarlet Trimmer Concrete Buskins The Wheel of Impressment Panafore-snapper Face-pleater The Royal Masticator |
| Stars and Constellations |
Weszar and Jorab, the Twin Archers Anulior, the Falling Thief Eubregeuse, the Healer’s Braid Irulces, The Studious Beekeeper Geltut, the Human-Headed Crow Mirakneba The Gryphon Villsturus and Valdkaa, The Twin Stars Faunabi, a dim red star in the constellation of the Lioness Vatrima, a white star also known as the Salamander’s Tongue |
| Secret Societies |
Archers of the Ebon Hawk Sons of the Midnight Eagle The League of Celestial Illusionists Elders of the Silver Maggot |
| Inns and Pleasure Houses |
The Bitter Stag The Frolicsome Dragon The Minstrel’s Manor Twenty Ponies and a Sip Elanara’s Saucy Dungeon |
| Witches |
Zylphzarina Hilanska |
| Noble Crests |
Hippocampus holding an anchor on a field of yellow and white stripes Scarlet serpent entwined around a yellow fish Two crossed axes inside a hexagon Mermaid riding a sea-lion Wyvern’s head impaled on a pike |
| Mythical Realms |
City of the Jade Dingo The Lost City of Umbergay The Medieval city of Fairmarvel The City of Gnarlwood, ruled by Lady Ivorolor |
| Tarot Cards |
The Gryphon: The creature holds a bouquet of flowers in its beak and its head is crowned with stars. In the background is a plowed field. The card implies good health, but when reversed, a broken bone.
The Steward: He wears a fur doublet and fights a cockatrice with an axe. Behind him, several people have already been turned to stone. It means a close associate will betray the subject. Adaptation: Depicts an anthropomorphized rooster riding an ox. Its meaning changes with whatever card is placed at its right. The Widowed Lady: A weeping woman dressed in black swings a censor trailing smoke. Behind her is peaceful farmland. Means ill fortune for the near future. The Hawk: A brown and white hawk hovers above a burning furnace about which men work. Can mean either industry or the need to remain watchful. |
