What Is Your Favorite Mythical Race?

[Zack]

Elves, beautiful and immortal.

 

[Frank Drebin]

i'm a big fan of fairies, it's kind of a fetish.

 

[Virote_Considon]

Nothing really, but just to say....Dragons, because the chance that they actually existed is slightly higher than the other crap you put in the poll.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Homo superior. Human genetic engineering and bionics just cannot be developed fast enough.

 

[Traitorfish]

Homo superior. Human genetic engineering and bionics just cannot be developed fast enough.

I've never really understood the term "Homo superior"; it's a taxonomic nonsense, so it doesn't really lend much credibility to the concept.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

I like the term. If you don't, your problem, not mine.

 

[Traitorfish]

I like the term. If you don't, your problem, not mine.

I think the fact that you are using term which don't really mean anything is at least a little "your problem".

 

[Kyriakos]

Where are all the actual ancient mythical beings?

I voted other/ Hydra Lernaia.

edit: i thought it was "Favourite mythical being". Since it is a race i change my vote to the Hippocentaur race.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

I think the fact that you are using term which don't really mean anything is at least a little "your problem".

You're the one who keeps complaining about it.

Reminds me of that guy on a video game forum who chided me for an instance of using "clip" instead of "magazine". Now I always use "clip" just to rile him up.

 

[PeteAtoms]

Minotaurs
Sphinx

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Huh, a female minotaur. There's an interesting thought. Or maybe they can multiply another way.

Sphinxes are cool.

 

[Kyriakos]

According to greek mythology the sole Minotaur was born out of the sexual act between a member of the female minoan roalty and a bull. In fact for this to happen, to lure the bull, Daedalus was called to make a statue of a cow, inside of which the female royal went.
Also of note is that the woman was struck with madness and willed such a thing, as a punishment by a god (dont recall which one atm) for Minoas II refusal to sacrifice his best looking bull to him, as he had pledged.

After Theseus killed the Minotaur nothing else appears to have taken its place

 

[Traitorfish]

You're the one who keeps complaining about it.

I don't "keep" complaining about it; I issued a single remark as to the nature of the term, and then responded to your post. You're quite free to use if you like, I just think it's a bit of a silly term, being, as it is, both taxonomically incorrect and an unscientific value judgement; "posthuman" seems better. If nothing else, it's not from X-Men, which isn't exactly a reliable scientific journal.

 

[Sveon]

Other- trolls, specifically the mythical and folkloric Scandinavian variety.

I second this. Even more specifically, the John Bauer variety.

BTW, that Finnish troll music is nice but I suspect the singer may have an industrial vacuum stuck up his arse. If so, someone should release him so we can hear what he's singing.

I also think gnomes and goblins are worthy to be mentioned.

 

[Kyriakos]

Trolls are interesting. I know nothing about how they came to be part of the mythos of the Norse though

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Fine, "posthuman" or "transhuman" is fine. Sounds better, even.

 

[Traitorfish]

I second this. Even more specifically, the John Bauer variety.

Oh, indeed. Bauer's work is quite wonderful.

For the unenlightened...

Spoiler :

Trolls are interesting. I know nothing about how they came to be part of the mythos of the Norse though

I'm lead to understand that they stem from the same animism that most pagan and folkloric beliefs stem from; trolls, in particular seem to have been related to the more malevolent side of nature, sometimes being associated with the giants or "jötun". It generally seems that "trolls", as a distinct entity, emerged in the Christian era, the name originally having been an adjective used to describe things which were related to a malicious or dangerous form of magic or supernatural activity, and so, like the English and French "fairy" could describe any number of things. In fact, if I understand correctly, there are still some regional differences in Scandinavia as to what is and isn't considered a troll, and the image which the rest of have is a rough average of the lot. It's possibly telling that they're about the one variety of mythical creature which even modern fantasy has failed to find a consistent archetype for.

 

[Till]

Illithids are frighteningly awesome.

 

[Traitorfish]

Penny Arcade certainly agree.

 

[Verbose]

I'm lead to understand that they stem from the same animism that most pagan and folkloric beliefs stem from; trolls, in particular seem to have been related to the more malevolent side of nature, sometimes being associated with the giants or "jötun". It generally seems that "trolls", as a distinct entity, emerged in the Christian era, the name originally having been an adjective used to describe things which were related to a malicious or dangerous form of magic or supernatural activity, and so, like the English and French "fairy" could describe any number of things. In fact, if I understand correctly, there are still some regional differences in Scandinavia as to what is and isn't considered a troll, and the image which the rest of have is a rough average of the lot. It's possibly telling that they're about the one variety of mythical creature which even modern fantasy has failed to find a consistent archetype for.

I'd say that outlook on the "troll" is a little too bleak, compared to the position they occupied in the traditional agricultural society.

The "troll" are simply out a kind of alternative "other" society touching the mundane human world. They mostly do what human folk do most, but they have magic powers, great physical strength, tremendous wealth, magic cattle, etc., etc. kinds of nifty things humans might want. Marrying one of them was often a good thing, except the husband/wife was usually placed under an injunction not to do something (see his/her spouse during the dark hours etc.) Getting to trade for some of their cattle could make a man rich.
They are potentially dangerous if you get on their bad side, but can be a tremendous help, if you get on their good side. Since they are usually invisible etc., overstepping some kind of boundary can easily be done involuntarily, so humans should take precautions and make sure they don't anger them by mistake. A specific problem was how "troll" could exchange their own offspring for a human child, a "bortbything", a "changeling". Handled properly, the Troll could be coerced to make a return swap.

And "troll" isn't the only name for this kind of supernatural parallel society. In parts of Sweden they were known as "vittra", and on the island of Gotland as "the little people under the earth" (di sma under jårdi).

Their size was kind of indeterminate. Sometimes they presented as giants, but usually they were regarded as tiny folk. Apparently there are still old people in rural Sweden who won't pour out hot water outside unless first calling out a warning, so the "troll"/"vittra" can get out of the way first.