I'm in the process of world-building for my NaNo novel, and I'm debating about whether or not to include fantasy creatures. So I am curious...

What is your favorite fantasy animal? What do you like about it? Is there any fantasy creature which you enjoy, but you don't think gets enough attention in literature? Why?

You can mention your own original fantasy creatures, but please make it clear if you don't want me to use them in my story!

I love dragons, which is why I patterned my Diegose after them. However, I also love Gryphons, but not the lion headed kind. I like the ones that have eagle heads.

I too of course love dragons. And as I've stated before, I'm not big on the lion headed griffins. So I stand in agreement with Airianna there. Valley of Dragons griffins are the eagle headed type of course This is sooooooo hard!!!! There are so many super cool fantasy creatures out there. I especially like the Dragonlance series minotaurs. Draconians, from the same series are also awesome. I don't want to be cliche and say dragons so..... *thinks really hard* I give up. Simply for the fact that I love kenders (also from the Dragonlance series) and that they have made me both laugh and cry... I'm gonna say kender.

I really like gryphons...either kind. I have a creature that are called Sapramuh which are basically another kind of large cat, but they are much smarter than, say, lions or tigers. They can communicate easily with humans, and make great pets, because you most always know exactly what's bothering them, if something is.

Neat! Like a giant talking house cat?

I really like dragons, which seems to be a big favorite on this topic Dragons are just so majestic looking, in my mind, atleast.

Hmmm hard to say. You may be thinking of a manticore, often portrayed as a batwinged lion with a scorpions tail.

Wow! Thanks so much for the awesome suggestions! I happen to like dragons as well, and I love their earthbound cousins, dinosaurs! Maybe this is my chance to finally have a story where dinosaurs are a developed part of the world.

I do love house cats, so an extra-large one might be just up my alley...

I will study all the suggestions, and I will let you know what I ultimately decide on.

Actually, I believe that a manticore is a blood-red colored lion with the head of a human. Extremely vicious. And they don't seem to be used much in fantasy.

I LOVE Phoenix. But I also feel that people don't write enough about them.

And then dragons. <3. I LOVE dragons. But everyone seems to be writing about them nowadays, so I can fully satisfy my love of them.

I intend to write a story about pheonixes. Someday... They really intrigue me.

I'll use them. Just watch me.

Phoenix actually play a pretty important part in my story, too. I've got a thread about Enderion Phoenix in my subforum somewhere.

Let's see... other creatures. My favorite remains Phoenix, but one from Enderion that I'm very fond of is the Deelqaves; sort of like living, breathing, rock in a humanoid giant form. I've got a thread about them, too, if you're interested.

Then of course, the fish that live in the East of Enderion that can 'shape-shift'. Their bodies are very cool. Basically they're just tiny fish that can modify their shape (being invertabrate) (sort of like sea cucumbers on earth can) thus impersonating another, poisonous fish (which is also very cool, btw).

I guess I should post some more about my creatures... I had forgotten how much I enjoyed them. But it's eleven o'clock here, so time to take the whole gang to bed.

*whole gang leaves*

eruheran

Griffin and Phoenix seem to be the most popular choices... excluding dragons. I will have to look into them. I was pondering a talking hawk; I may be able to substitute for something else winged for more variety.

Griffins and Phoenixes. I also have a creature in my book called a Neraakuhl (Nē Rā Kūl) which are based off Japanese dragons. Japanese dragons have a body like a Chinese dragon with a wolfish head and two arms a little ways beyond the head.

I am researching the phoenix, and I think he might work wonderfully for a secondary character. But I will have to develop him enough to warrant making him a phoenix, versus any other bird, or else the phoenix designation will feel stuck-on. If that makes sense.

I have decided to officially employ a phoenix in my story. I talked with a writing friend last night who is more educated in mythical creatures than I am, and we brainstormed some great ideas. There's a quirk in my fantasy world that applies to even the phoenix, so it should be an atypical take. I have his basic backstory aligned, as well as a sacrificial ending. I'll just have to make sure there's plenty for him to do between point A and point B! I'm excited. Thanks for the suggestions, all!

Should this topic be archived now that Philli has made her decision and no longer needs input?

I don't know. You should probably ask Jay or Lady Esmerelda or some other big, , person.

Griffin, I'd consider you a big name person.

Well, thank you, but I wouldn't. I've been a mod for less than a week!

lol. You're still learning, then?

Definitely still learning.

lol, well somebody should archive it just to stop this ridiculous sidetrack.

(A sidetrack on the sidetrack, your name is Caleb, too, right?)