Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Khopesh122 09-15-04, 12:09 PM	I don't know if this has been covered before, or perhaps I simply cannot find the information in the ECSB. I've been trying to identify the magical beasts that adorn the crests of the Dragonmarked houses. Some are pretty obvious, some I've guessed at, some I have no clue about. Cannith: Gorgon Deneith: Chimera Ghallanda: Not sure (blink dog?) Jorasco: Griffon Kundarak: Manticore? (resembles the description, but looks little like the pic in MM 3.5) Lyrandar: Not sure. Kraken, maybe? Medani: Basilisk Orien: Unicorn Phiarlan: Hydra Sivis: Cockatrice Tharashk: Dragonne Thuranni: Displacer Beast Vadalis: Hippogriff Anyone have a better idea of Ghallanda, Kundarak, and Lyrandar? And are the rest correct?
Ph33r_the_Wheelchair 09-15-04, 12:53 PM	I believe that you are right on all accounts. The House Ghallanda crest could not be anything but a blink dog, although I agree that it's not really obvious. And Kundarak and Lyrander are definitely manticore and kraken. Remember that the creature on each crest is a magical beast. However, I think the real question is why each house is represented by a seemingly random magical beast. I guess a couple make sense (kraken for Lyrander) but most seem completely random.
Saurenda 09-15-04, 01:07 PM	What would the crest of the house of death be? A litch, or another magical animal like the others?
Eraleas 09-15-04, 01:14 PM	I really like how they are drawn. Great art and the fact they don't use regular animals adds a lot to it. I think the identity of the beasts is pretty much clear.
atanhel 09-15-04, 03:52 PM	maybe this is a great baker's dozen problem :P
lukelightning 09-15-04, 04:14 PM	I think the House of Death's mark should be a grey render.
Saurenda 09-15-04, 04:37 PM	I think the House of Death's mark should be a grey render. Interesting. I wanted to say zombie but they aren't magical creatures. =/ We may never know.
Khopesh122 09-16-04, 02:04 AM	I think the House of Death's mark should be a grey render. That's certainly different, but not quite as iconic or (presumably) recognizable as some of the ones already used by the dragonmarked houses. Personally, I'd vote for a Sphinx (andro- or gyno-) to be the crest of the House of Vol. Of course, now that Vol seems to have a blood fetish thing going on, I guess the crest could be a Stirge :D However, I think the real question is why each house is represented by a seemingly random magical beast. I guess a couple make sense (kraken for Lyrander) but most seem completely random. Other elements on the crests seems to indicate the specialty of the various houses (an anvil on Cannith, fruit on Ghallanda, quill and scroll on Sivis, some of the others don't have such clear relevance), so, it may be possible that the animals were chosen based on qualities that aren't quite so apparent, or, perhaps, just because they looked cool.
ENHenry 09-16-04, 10:09 AM	Blink Dog? *blink* I suppose so - I have no other expalanation, and at first thought it was a wererat, or something - but that would have made no sense. It would also make sense to use magical beasts, because the beasts used in the crests of our real world were often the most powerful beasts known to man: Lions, Bears, Tigers, Wolverines, etc.
Angelion 09-16-04, 10:30 AM	It's a dog for sure, halfling loves dogs. I was thinking of a hyena.
lukelightning 09-16-04, 12:34 PM	Good point. A sphinx would be a good choice. I chose grey render just 'cuz it was a big tough magical beast. How about gelatinous cube? That's certainly different, but not quite as iconic or (presumably) recognizable as some of the ones already used by the dragonmarked houses. Personally, I'd vote for a Sphinx (andro- or gyno-) to be the crest of the House of Vol. Of course, now that Vol seems to have a blood fetish thing going on, I guess the crest could be a Stirge :D