Australia has a ‘swooping season’
every fall where residents have to
dodge a multitude of magpies that
aggressively protect their nests
by dive-bombing anything and
everything in their vicinity. SourceSource 2
@leftnotright you better confirm this, i actually like magpies…. so far
@plunnybreeder Tis true, tis true. I have been attacked and so has my father, he had a scar on his neck from a rather courageous one! Fun times in Australia.
*groans* Just when I thought swans were the worsts (and also badass and prettiest), here come the lil’ hellspawns from the sky. Oh well. I still like you guys.
and @blackkatmagic is this what you had in mind for Itama in “One is for Sorrow”?
Actually, no! Australian magpies are a type of butcherbird, while European magpies (what Itama becomes) are a type of corvid, like crows. It was tempting to make him an Australian magpie, because they’re terrifying, but the corvid magpies are one of the smartest birds in the world. And also corvids, which makes them just as scary lbr.
It’s hard to imagine. I mean, here, these birds are notorious for snatching anything shiny that’s not nailed down, but actually attacking people?!
@stereden yep. We resort to wearing zipties all over our bike helmets to discourage them from swooping:
this is a real thing
it’s totally, utterly normal and accepted
Swooping season lasts for all of Spring, generally (Late August to October…ish) – so, your Autumn-time, our Springtime… when the birds begin breeding
people have been known to get creative
because our Aussie magpies are actual murderbirds that are twice the size of a European magpie, and can punch their beaks through your goddamn hand. Seriously, look at this beak ok
they are NOT clever lil collecting corvids, they’re big strong (and noisy…!) butcherbirds. Most of the year they are chill and leave you alone. Their song is actually really nice.
but once a year they go into ATTACK MODE: KILL ANYTHING THAT MOVES EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE TO MY NEST. KILL IT GOOD AND DEAD.
Swooping Season: Just Say Arrrghfuckshitnohelpit’saftermeit’sfuckingafterme
I blame you, @determamfidd, for the urge that wouldn’t let me go until I drew this. It’s been ages since I drew anything (mostly because I’m not that good at it), but I just started my new job and it’s slow at the moment because I’m waiting on other people having the time to meet with me to discuss the project I’m there for, and I had a pencil and a bloc of sticky notes.
Which resulted in this (image quality sucks, I’ll try to scan it tomorrow)
Also, I had a question: in chapter 31, it is said that Gimizh killed an Orc with his broken lamp – yet in the latest chapter he tells Gimli he killed a goblin. So what happened? 😛
Text: Gimizh Bofurul [did I get that right, Dets?] – The Terror of Erebor
Text: Other possible appellations include:
– Gimizh Cookie Thief
– Gimizh Lampswinger
– Gimizh Orcbrainer
Text: The lamp that slayed an orc
AHHHH @stereden! I LOVE HIS FRECKLES AND HIS LIL FACE AND HIS EYES AND HIS HAIR! you wizard you!!!!
yes, Gimizh Bofurul would be right!
Oh – Orcs and Goblins are the same thing in most sources- Tolkien used the words interchangeably (in the Hobbit, for instance, he uses ‘Goblin’ or ‘Hobgoblin’ and not Orc) but uses mostly ‘Orc’ in LOTR. I like the word ‘goblin’, myself, I think it is a fun word to say and write! Plus it has children’s-fairy-story connotations. So I had Gimizh use the word to make him feel more childish 🙂
ALSO YEAAAAAAAH I LOVE THAT LAMP, stick it on a plinth and enshrine it for future generations, THE LAMP THAT KILLED AN ORC! BONKED IT RIGHT ON THE BONCE!
The author: the amazing @determamfidd ! Who is fantastic and great and everything ! Even though she will break your heart repeatedely, which is not okay at all Dets, really, why do you do this to us? I kind of imagine her as being half buried under a mountain of books and reference (because of all the research that goes into her story), one hand typing frantically (because long chapters) and the other writing music (because there are songs to go with the story, and they are amazing!), all the while working on her khuzdul and elvish pronounciation (because languages! are! important! in! Sansûkh!)
The story: The battle was over, and Thorin Oakenshield awoke, naked and shivering, in the Halls of his Ancestors.The novelty of being dead fades quickly, and watching over his companions soon fills him with grief and guilt. Oddly, a faint flicker of hope arises in the form of his youngest kinsman, a Dwarf of Durin’s line with bright red hair.(Follows the story of the War of the Ring).
(Bagginshield, Gimli/Legolas) In which recovery takes time, the dead members of the Company take to watching Gimli as though he’s a soap opera, the living struggle with being left behind, Legolas is confused, Khuzdul is abused, and Thorin is four feet and ten inches of guilt and anger.
(summary taken from the story itself)
Why I love it (and went as far as inflict more heartbreak upon myself by rereading it and finishing the available chapters at two in the morning this morning):
– It’s well-written. Both in term of grammar/style and in term of plot, this story is nearing perfection
– the characterisation of the various characters is spot-on and credible. Characters are not static, they change with time and events.
– The characters themselves are varied, well-written, with a lot of thought and research going into their backgrounds
– A+++ representation of the LGBTQA+ community
– A+++ sass by some characters
– Frerin. If nothing else, you should read it for Frerin, who is an adorable cinnamon rolls that needs all the hugs and another serving of his grandmother’s dumpling soup (and he is not being paid enough to be the psychologist for the rest of the dwarves. Protect Frerin)
– The Dwarrodams. Oh the Dwarrowdams. They deserve a glorious song because they are the pinnacle of badassery. Dìs is frigging amazing, Hrera is terrifying (and I fear for Mahal if she decides to make good on her promise), and the rest of the fierce dwarrodams do not demerit either.
– The dwarflings. The dwarflings are very close to being my favourite characters and will probably end up taking over the world.
– Thorin’s recovery. It’s a long and harsh road, and that’s what makes it credible.
– Daìn.
– The songs, both written and performed and I will never get the Iron Hills for me out of my heart.
– Basically everything? Even the heartbreaking parts? Especially the heartbreaking parts? Because they are so well-written that it’s a pleasure to have your heart broken by them?
SO GO AND READ IT! It’s 44 chapters of greatness, with still a few more to come, and it’s soooooooooo worth it! Just make sure you have some tissues ready, because trust me, there will be tears.
after all your beautiful reviews and oh my god, I come back to read this, and my heart is pounding and flapping away like a whole horde of drunken butterflies oh my god…!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH, THANK YOU SO SO MUCH!!
keyboard on my laptop is kaput, gotta get it replaced. I’ve cleaned it out, re-installed the driver, all of that, and it is still craptastic. AUGH. So, I’m really sorry if you’ve tagged me or messaged me in the past two days: I’m sorting this out, but it is slow going.
also: I HAVE THE FLU augh I ache, GOD do I ache right now. My sternum aches from coughing and sneezing, my BACK aches, my head aches, everything hurts
On the upside, SO MUCH WRITING GETTING DONE – but on Mr Dets’ PC, which is sorta irritating bc I wanna be in bed. i miss my laptop *cries*
Still! Chapter 44 is currently sitting at approx 10K, and I have another 5K of ch45, and drips and drabs of 46 done…!
also STEREDEN IS A GEM just wanna say that – i am reading your reviews from your re-read as they come in, and they’re a little spot of joy, and I LOVE YOU SO MUCH K. Thank you so so much!!
ALSO! I believe it is @notanightlight‘s birthday???? HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DARLINGEST ONE. OH WONDROUS NOTA, my dear dear friend!! I hope it is an awesome one!!! You are a beautiful person, one of my very first friends here on tumblr ever, and I can’t tell you how much your friendship means to me, lovely. Go have an amazing year.
I just finished reading both @determamfidd‘sSansûkhand scarletjedi’s Comes around again, and now my head is full of the glory of the lady Dìs. (also, if you haven’t read this two awesome fanfictions, do so NOW. They are long, they are beautiful, they will make you rage laugh cry and they are absolutely amazing)
And now I need a fic where Dìs arrives at Erebor when Thorin is in the thrall of Gold-sickness.
Either because one of the other members of the companies sent her a message with the Ravens [or because the Ravens saw how messed up Thorin was and acted independently] or, in Comes around again, because Gimli told her that they would reach the Mountain by Durin’s Day and she refused to be let out, but arrives just as her brother is refusing to uphold his promises, and lectures him.
I have this image of Dìs in front of the gates, between the mountain and the men/elves alliance, shouting in Khuzdul at her brother to come out right now and fix this, because she would not have his reign begin as an Oathbreaker. Also, Fili and Kili better be alright or else she would skin him personnaly.
The elves and men don’t quite now what to make of this strange dwarf (the voice seems female, but he looks just like any other dwarf so what gender is the newcomer? And how comes he speaks so angrily with Thorin? Also, how dare he ignore the Elvenking?).
Bilbo is very very shocked because he did pick up some Khuzdul along the way, mostly swearwords, and the Dwarrodam seems pretty angry at his friend (to be fair, Bilbo is also pretty angry at him at the moment so he doesn’t quite begrudge her that). Also, he totally noticed that it’s a dwarrodam, but mostly because he’s been around dwarves for so long now.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Company is torn between stupor (what the hell is the Lady Dìs here?), relief (Thank the Maker, finally someone who can make Thorin see sense!) and outright fear (shit shit shit she’s angry I don’t want her angry at me! Fili, Fili, she’s going to kill us once she hears everything that happens and I’m too young and too pretty to die and what if she hears about Tauriel ?), and decide that discretion is the better part of valour. Thorin might be their King, and they would normally support him in everything (even when he’s acting like a spoiled brat like right now), but going against the Lady Dìs is not something they are willing to do, not even for Thorin. They do have some survival instincts, after all.
They exchange a look, then turn towards their illustrious leader who’s still gaping at his sister through the hole in the wall.
Balin nods. Immediately, the Ri brothers grab Thorin while the Ur cousins make quick work of their makeshift barricade to create an opening. Kili and Fili try to make themselves scarce, but are caught by Oin and Gloin.
Dwalin starts the countdown, and when he reaches three they push/throw Uncle and Nephews through the gap.
Hopefully, they pray, this offering will placate the fierce Dwarrowdam. They just faced one dragon, they do not want to face another, much scarrier, one.
THIS IS TOO FUCKING PRECIOUS AND I KINDA WISH I HADNT ALREADY WRITTEN THIS PART SO I COULD SHAMELESSLY STEAL THIS!!
“THORIN YOU GREAT LUMP OF BEARDLESS ORC DUNG, YOU GET YOUR CRAVEN HIDE OUT HERE RIGHT NOW OR SO HELP ME MAHAL!!!”
Fili: you might want to go down there uncle.
Kili: aye, you don’t want her more angry, do you?
Goldsick!Thorin: *sweats*
Hahaha thanks ^^ And you’re welcome to use this in an out-take or something 😉 This was after all inspired by Gimli’s comment of “However I am subject to a higher power […] His sister” in your amazing fic. (I can also see her add something on the subject of ”WHAT KIND OF EXAMPLE ARE YOU SETTING FOR YOUR NEPHEWS BROTHER YOU PROMISED TO TAKE CARE OF THEM AND WHY IS KILI HURT?” )
Honestly, Dìs is the best. I really need to read more Tolkien (most of my knowledge comes from the LotR books and movies, and the Hobbit movies) to learn more about her, because between you and @determamfidd I’ve kind of fallen in love with her character.
It probably won’t be by me (because I’ve like three dozens WIP and lots or RL stuff to do) but someone really needs to write a version of the Hobbit where she decides to go with them because there’s no way she’s letting her sons go on an adventure without supervision (and no, Thorin, you don’t count.).
Aw Yiss 