If you haven't heard of it, check out the A to Z blog and join in the fun.
Here at Untethered Realms, we're taking on the Challenge as a group. Each day, one of us will be sharing with you a fantastical creature that may be from one of our books, a favorite movie, or something we just came up with as entertainment.
Today we have...
D is for Dreean
A central character in my Jewels of Chandra series is from a humanoid species known as the
Dreean. His name is Rhone and he's introduced in the first book, Diamonds and Dust. Rhone is 5'5",
an average height for a Dreean male and quite stout. He has a barrel chest and
large biceps. His distinguishing characteristic is a nose like a pig's snout,
which causes my human hero, David, to unfairly judge him as unintelligent when
they first meet. In point of fact, the Dreean are highly intelligent and very
loyal, often employed as bodyguards. Rhone appoints himself as David's
protector, feeling the man without magic needs some extra help. The Dreean
manifest their magic in their aim; any weapon they throw will hit its mark.
*There should be a photo right here but Dreeans are notorious for not wanting their picture taken...not to mention they don't live on Earth. Sorry but you'll have to use your imagination. Think of a hairy caveman with a pig's snout and an impressive double row of sharp teeth.*
Would you be able to carry on a sensible conversation if you had to watch someone's snout bouncing around and wiggling while you talked?
I would find it hard to carry on a sensible conversation if I had to watch someone's snout bouncing around and wiggling while I talked? However, I think once one became used to the snout, it wouldn't matter at all.
ReplyDeleteI love that the dreean's are intelligent because pigs are known to be intelligent, so it fits with the snout! I wish Rhone would have consented to a pic but the description is almost better than any pic could ever be. :D
ReplyDeleteHi, Debra. Yes, it's disconcerting to watch until you get used to it. After that, it's another facial expression giving clues to his feelings. :)
ReplyDeleteJulie - My drawing talents weren't up to doing him justice and there aren't any cameras on his world so we both decided to go with words. ;)
ReplyDeleteVery cool about the dreean! And those shy creatures! They're just so hard to get a picture of. ;)
ReplyDeleteRhone sounds like a cool character. I think the snout would be a bit distracting to start with, but Rhone would soon bowl me over with his intelligence ;)
ReplyDeleteMore than the snout, I'd be looking at the double row of teeth!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting character / creature!
I confess I'd most likely giggle, but I'd not assume him unintelligent. Cool creature.
ReplyDeleteCherie - I think Rhone gnashing his teeth at the camera would scare any photographer away!
ReplyDeleteEllie - Yes, the snout distracts David at first and he focuses on it a lot!
Yolanda - and it's really bad when he chews up the bones in his meal. People move away from him!
Mary - David makes the mistake of thinking Rhone is unintelligent at first...not realizing a Dreean has superior hearing when he comments on it! Yikes!
I'd have to look down or away and then sneak some looks until I got use to Rhone. My imagination kicked in as I read the blog. Love it.
ReplyDeletePigs, so like humans, can be benevolent or not. In Atwood's Oryx and Crake, the pigs are to be avoided, they are nasty conniving killers. So I'd be looking at the eyes, not the nose or snout. The eyes can tell more about the inner type person.
ReplyDeleteGreat intro. Never judge a person by their snout. Got it.
Hi River - I certainly could not carry on a conversation with a wobbly snout - I'd be having fits quietly ...
ReplyDeleteWhat a story line .. and imagination to boot .. fun though .. cheers Hilary
OK I would be hypnotized by his flopping snout and he would club me over the head for sure. Quite the character
ReplyDeleteSounds really cool. I love that they rarely if ever miss their targets. Seems they could make good assassins if they wished to be.
ReplyDeleteBrandon Ax: Writer's Storm
I can think of rather a lot of worse things to watch bouncing, jiggling, wobbling in front of me.
ReplyDeleteSnouts are fine.
Emma - I'd have the same problem watching him, which is why I had such fun making him up! :)
ReplyDeleteD.G. - You're absolutely right. Never judge a person by their snout. ;)
Hilary - And it would be hard to contain those quiet fits! I'd be giggling. :)
Birgit - He wouldn't club you if you were nice to him. Promise. :)
Brandon - He'd be an excellent assassin, but he also has a strict code of honor...which makes him marginally safer. ;)
EC - There are the other jiggly things to consider but his snout is very expressive...and funny when he's embarrassed. ;)
I love your very visual description.
ReplyDeleteYvonne
This makes me want to read Diamonds and Dust even more, River. I'll get to it, don't worry! :)
ReplyDeleteHah! I'd love to sit back and watch that conversation unfold. =)
ReplyDeleteYvonne - Thanks! I'm glad it created mind-pictures for you. :)
ReplyDeleteChrys - Don't feel lonesome. I haven't gotten to yours either! So many books, so little time. :P
Crystal - There are some pretty funny moments when talking to a Dreean. ;)
It'd be hard, but I could talk to a dreean without even twitching my nose or anything. Do they snort?
ReplyDeleteNever judge based on looks, my mama always told me. Though a pig's snout would throw me off too!
ReplyDeleteEnchantress - And a :) back at ya!
ReplyDeleteGwen - He hasn't snorted, prefers to grind and gnash his teeth to scare you. :)
Christine - Your mama is smart but poor David was still trying to figure out what rabbit hole he'd fallen in so we'll cut him some slack. ;)
Hi, River,
ReplyDeleteNow that's an interesting-looking character. I believe I'd have a challenge keeping a straight face after the picture you just painted.
Great going .. nice characterisation .. hope to read more .
ReplyDeleteI am your newest follower. if you don't mind could you please return the favour:
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Thank you very much in advance.
With my crazy imagination we might become best friends. Cool species definitely helpful in a fight.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most imaginative creatures I've heard about for a while. Great imagination.
ReplyDeleteJ.L. - Yes, I laugh every time I think of him. :)
ReplyDeleteVikas - Thanks for stopping by! You must be quite busy with all those links. :)
Sheena-Kay - Crazy imaginations are the best kind!
Graeme - Thanks! That means a lot coming from you and your imagination! :)