Jump to content

FAMOUS DUCKS OF THE HERO WARS!


Stew Stansfield

Recommended Posts

On 5/16/2019 at 10:06 AM, Quackatoa said:

Thank you, Aonstream, that's very kind!

I'm currently working on a fan-created project that is less a traditional 'ducks book' (i.e. it won't function like a typical splatbook with culturally inflected character options and background and the like) than an adventure pack set in Duck Point. I'm writing and illustrating everything myself, so I'm afraid it's a terribly slow process! So, nothing immediately on the radar, but will hopefully have something ready next year.

Fan projects are far more fun in my view. Less Mostali canons to worry about.

Can't wait!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

I've been quite lazy lately, sadly, but thought I'd update things with a mix of finished pieces, works in progress, concept and development sketches...

 

Duck Rune Priestess of Engizi

Clad in ritual armour composed of freshwater shells from the Creek-Stream River and saltwater shells collected on pilgrimages to Mirrorsea.

StreamPriestessComp.thumb.jpg.dc76e0c10f1a5c5dfd0a779559fdd583.jpg

*****

Duck Rune Lord of Humakt

Wearing the typical panoply of a horned helmet, ring-mail jack and studded leather, and carrying a bronze greatsword.

HumaktiComp.thumb.jpg.bc5967efbb0695af7de32a0e81f190ff.jpg

*****

Spearducks!

An (unfinished) update (centre), of an old sketch from a dozen years ago (left); and a Vingan Nestguard (right).

Spearducks.thumb.jpg.12912128fc7370acdde3841fb5d96775.jpg

*****

Sootfeather, pyromaniacal spirit-cultist of Oakfead

With his pet rubble runner.

Sootfeather2b.thumb.jpg.a71882bc06b3df8406701f83486a84ad.jpg

2077636120_SootfeatherStats.jpg.3e0d06537de3a65f0dea8c4ad17c494e.jpg

*****

A map of Dragon Pass

As owned by everybody's favourite bandit.

Duckdom.thumb.png.57d35148609933d5d965a1ab98b36df7.png

 

Edited by Quackatoa
  • Like 12
  • Thanks 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 minutes ago, jeffjerwin said:

I have a question about cigars.

What are those ducks smoking?

Personally, I've always thought the best smoking leaf comes from elves. Most upmarket cigars are made from Runners, though the very best are likely made—or at least claimed to be made—from dryad- or nymph-leaf. Ducks hire brave adventurers to venture into the elfwoods to find and capture the choicest leaves for their tubes of truth-seeking.

The aldryami are obviously not particularly pleased with this and any expedition faces being hunted and composted by exceedingly angry elf warriors.

But that's OK – they make great cigar boxes.

Edited by Quackatoa
  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

45 minutes ago, seneschal said:

Your pictures and write-ups are fun as always.  Thank you.

But would a helmet of shell really offer much protection?  Or is the headgear mostly ceremonial?

If it's good enough for a (dragon-)snail! :)

(What are snails, anyway... slugs that went on a heroquest to gain armour?)

But, more seriously, I suspect it's a bit of both. When I first started doing this in earnest, I started drawing ducks in phrygian-style helmets. Over time I started elongating the 'proboscis' and then started to curl it around into a whorl, much like a snailshell (and Air rune, of course). Then I thought: why not use an actual shell from a large snail? It sort of took off from there and became a bit of a shtick.

Having written all this, I've just realised you may just mean the first image, with the sea shells? D'oh! Sorry! Yep, that's ceremonial. Though I suspect a Rune Priest of a Water entity using the armour favoured and enjoyed by that rune's denizens will enjoy a little more protection than wearing a helmet covered in shells would in our world.

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Quackatoa said:

Wearing the typical panoply of a horned helmet, ring-mail jack and studded leather, and carrying a bronze greatsword.

 

Shades of Bashki's Wizards, Nice!

 

2 hours ago, Quackatoa said:

Spearducks!

 

A few of these aimed at you and respect for ducks might make a comeback.

Never went away says some!

2 hours ago, Quackatoa said:

Sootfeather, pyromaniacal spirit-cultist of Oakfead

 

Swweeettt!

1 hour ago, jeffjerwin said:

What are those ducks smoking?

...and what about the artist? (sounds like he might be canadian, if ya know what I mean, eh?)

Cheers

  • Like 1

... remember, with a TARDIS, one is never late for breakfast!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I really like the threaad, and especially the drawings! Amazing!!!

I know it's old, but I want to bring this up (not for you, but just in general).

 

On 6/19/2018 at 5:40 AM, Quackatoa said:

DO DUCKS HAVE BOOBS?

Boobs are, as I'm sure we all know, mammary glands - and that, by definition, means mammals. Are ducks mammals? I would presume not, because they got cursed not to fly - not to change their biology. Does a duckling suckle mother's milk?? (I think we need a Duck-pac book!)

Personally, I dislike the inclination for artists to anthropomorphise not only general body shapes, but also complete societal trends, including what humans think of as attractive. Clothing I get - it's handy (usually), and you can show stuff off - as many ducks would (in particular, the males).  So, in that vein, I'd keep the males as the more inclined to dress flashy and have lots of bling (and a few points in Sing and Dance!) Female ducks can also show off nice stuff - but I don't think they'd be quite as showy as the males.

Ducks don't need boobs...

(on the armour for a Vingan - maybe if they're specifically trying to emulate a human expression of a deity... or if they're really taken with human society)

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 minutes ago, Shiningbrow said:

Boobs are, as I'm sure we all know, mammary glands - and that, by definition, means mammals. Are ducks mammals? I would presume not, because they got cursed not to fly - not to change their biology. Does a duckling suckle mother's milk?? (I think we need a Duck-pac book!)

"This is a race cursed by the gods during the Great Darkness for not joining them versus the forces of Chaos. It is unknown whether they were originally human and became feathered and web-footed, or originally ducks cursed with flightlessness and intelligence."

– RuneQuest (2nd ed., 1979), p. 79.

"Legend claims that these odd creatures were cursed during the premortal times. It is unclear whether they were humans cursed with feathers and webbed feet or ordinary ducks cursed with intelligence and flightlessness."

– RuneQuest (3rd ed., 1984), Creatures Book, p. 15.

"The origin of the ducks is a mystery to outsiders. Legend claims they were cursed by the gods in the Great Darkness for not joining them versus the forces of Chaos, although it is unclear if they were humans cursed with feathers and webbed feet or ordinary ducks cursed with intelligence and flightlessness."

– Sartar Companion (2010), p. 110.

"It is unknown whether they were originally human and became feathered and web-footed, or originally ducks cursed with flightlessness and intelligence."

– RuneQuest Glorantha Bestiary (2018), p. 31.

 

I realise that what I'll term 'the Borderlands paradigm' is strong (not least as it's the longest description of ducks published, and has been reprinted practically word for word in River of Cradles, and also the RuneQuest Glorantha Bestiary), but it's worth remembering that Borderlands (1982) does note (Referee's Handbook, p. 25): "Their origins are obscure, though some tales tell of them as an avian folk who forswore their allegiance to Yelm to follow Orlantha, and were denied the sky as punishment." (Emphasis mine.)

I know, this is a fairly long-winded way of defending the potential for something I don't actually believe (!), but I like that the sources are intentionally ambiguous and like to reiterate that they're not as proscriptive as is often assumed.

Indidentally, this is also the case for keets, for whom the idea that they gave up their powers of flight is pretty standard. (Particularly because it reinforces—and self-reinforces—the perception gained from Borderlands for ducks, given the contrast: one kind cursed involuntarily to flightlessness for their own cowardice and selfishness; the other voluntarily and selflessly sacrificing it to save the world.) But, were I to be provocative, I'd suggest that the most neutral reading of Revealed Mythologies would suggest that modern keets are likely descended from ancestors that never could fly. But there's a lot going on, there - not least 'Greg things' vs 'Sandy things'.

 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, Quackatoa said:

"This is a race cursed by the gods during the Great Darkness for not joining them versus the forces of Chaos. It is unknown whether they were originally human and became feathered and web-footed, or originally ducks cursed with flightlessness and intelligence."

– RuneQuest (2nd ed., 1979), p. 79.

"Legend claims that these odd creatures were cursed during the premortal times. It is unclear whether they were humans cursed with feathers and webbed feet or ordinary ducks cursed with intelligence and flightlessness."

– RuneQuest (3rd ed., 1984), Creatures Book, p. 15.

"The origin of the ducks is a mystery to outsiders. Legend claims they were cursed by the gods in the Great Darkness for not joining them versus the forces of Chaos, although it is unclear if they were humans cursed with feathers and webbed feet or ordinary ducks cursed with intelligence and flightlessness."

– Sartar Companion (2010), p. 110.

"It is unknown whether they were originally human and became feathered and web-footed, or originally ducks cursed with flightlessness and intelligence."

– RuneQuest Glorantha Bestiary (2018), p. 31.

 

I realise that what I'll term 'the Borderlands paradigm' is strong (not least as it's the longest description of ducks published, and has been reprinted practically word for word in River of Cradles, and also the RuneQuest Glorantha Bestiary), but it's worth remembering that Borderlands (1982) does note (Referee's Handbook, p. 25): "Their origins are obscure, though some tales tell of them as an avian folk who forswore their allegiance to Yelm to follow Orlantha, and were denied the sky as punishment." (Emphasis mine.)

I know, this is a fairly long-winded way of defending the potential for something I don't actually believe (!), but I like that the sources are intentionally ambiguous and like to reiterate that they're not as proscriptive as is often assumed.

Indidentally, this is also the case for keets, for whom the idea that they gave up their powers of flight is pretty standard. (Particularly because it reinforces—and self-reinforces—the perception gained from Borderlands for ducks, given the contrast: one kind cursed involuntarily to flightlessness for their own cowardice and selfishness; the other voluntarily and selflessly sacrificing it to save the world.) But, were I to be provocative, I'd suggest that the most neutral reading of Revealed Mythologies would suggest that modern keets are likely descended from ancestors that never could fly. But there's a lot going on, there - not least 'Greg things' vs 'Sandy things'.

 

Fair enough!

I suppose I was more MGV... it seems weird to punish humans by turning them into  Ducks - although there have been weirder curses. Flying creatures with intelligence (and some level of handedness), and the ability to fight Chaos - but refusing to - and being cursed with flightlessness (especially by Sky/Air gods)  makes a LOT of sense! Especially mythically - the god could easily say (enforce) "you're not coming into my realm any more"...

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The ducks and keets are all related to webbed feet birds, birds with both water and sky as parents. At least that's what Tholaina tells us. Reducing their sorry state to the Sky connection (a captured sky being, according to Tholaina's Prosopaedia entry) leaves out their water ancestry.

It doesn't seem very likely that any cursed being would gain sky attributes like beaks or feathers. (I won't rule out the possibility that the ducks stole these from the dismembering of Hippogriff, though...)

 

  • Like 1

Telling how it is excessive verbis

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, Shiningbrow said:

Ducks don't need boobs...

Well, a google search for images of Ducks with Boobs has brought up almost nothing, which indicates they probably don't have them. 

  • Haha 2

Simon Phipp - Caldmore Chameleon - Wallowing in my elitism since 1982. Many Systems, One Family. Just a fanboy. 

www.soltakss.com/index.html

Jonstown Compendium author. Find my contributions here. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

42 minutes ago, soltakss said:

Well, a google search for images of Ducks with Boobs has brought up almost nothing, which indicates they probably don't have them. 

Well, I used a google.au... so, perhaps Aussies like their boobs on ducks more than where you're searching 😛 (but, yeah.. not a lot)

 

 

(now, how many reading this are going to try their own search?? 😛 )

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, soltakss said:

Well, a google search for images of Ducks with Boobs has brought up almost nothing, which indicates they probably don't have them.

They could just be similar to platypus and sweat out milk for the young rather than needing breasts.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

St. Canard’s sorceress turned superhero Morgana Macawber could give Elvira Mistress of the Dark a run for her money in the, um, physique department.  Even quiet houseduck Binkie Muddlefoot has a distinctly non-avian profile.  Dunno, maybe its the corrupting influence of big city life, or perhaps ducks are careful to conceal their feminine charms around those violent, horny humans.  🤔😉

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I still think the "born in an egg" thing with them is libel, a downright canard. But while the women may pack their bras to conform to a human standard of va-va-voom, I don't know what they look like with their clothes off and don't push. They think they look great and seem to have no trouble attracting the ganders.

singer sing me a given

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...