molagboop

[molagboop]

All About Beaks

It's time to talk about beaks! Transcription and additional information below.

The beak is a sensory organ: it contains many nerve endings, much like human hands. The beak is a crucial part of nonverbal communication, and aids them in perceiving the world around them.

Beaks consist of two bony halves: the upper and lower mandible. These external protrusions are covered with a keratinized layer of skin called the rhamphotheca. Two openings (called nares) function as nostrils

Touching or clasping beaks is a show of affection. This behavior is called "billing", and it isn't always romantic; children touch beaks with their parents and siblings, and most tribes recognize a friendly billing as a socially acceptable greeting.

As an intimate gesture, it can be equated to a kiss: lovers and mated pairs rub their beaks together as a form of bonding. Beaks aren't just used to touch other beaks; nuzzling is a common form of physical contact. Mawkin soldiers will rub their beaks on their comrades' necks, foreheads, and cheeks if given the opportunity to show some love to their fellow warrior.

You can rub your beak on all sorts of things for a variety of reasons. Want to check to see if this log is hollow? Give it a good triple peck, see how the vibrations feel against your skull. Maybe there are a few roast-worthy grubs hidden in there. Intruder in your nest? You've got hands, but while those are busy grappling two different sections of your opponent's body, why not pierce their hide with your handy beak? Hands full? Put something between the planes of your beak and free up an extra talon. This thing can do so many activities!

Bill clapping is also a form of communication: it can be part of a friendly greeting or a threat display depending on the context.

Newborn Chozo chicks possess what is called an "egg tooth": a small, sharp, calcified projection on the the tip of the upper mandible that aids the infant in chipping its way out of the egg. As the chick grows, the egg tooth either falls off or is reabsorbed. Some tribes don't hatch with an egg tooth at all, instead kicking their way out of the egg.

Beak injuries are unbearably painful, and prosthetics are available to replace beaks that are mangled beyond repair. Warrior tribes tend to value the errant crack in one's beak; it's considered attractive, and shows the individual has combat experience.

Beaks are used for foraging, eating, temperature regulation, and social activities like allopreening. A damaged beak can be a point of pride for warriors, but maintaining the health and physical upkeep of one's beak is important no matter the tribe.

#reblob

[molagboop]

Hey there! If you like what I do, it would mean a lot if you considered becoming a Patron.

For $3 USD, you'll gain access to WIP posts where I break down the process of creating a given piece, as well as sketches and the opportunity to see projects while they're being worked on! $3 Patrons also have the opportunity to put in a sketch request for every month they're subscribed (this stacks, by the way: if you don't use your sketch request for the month, you can use it later)!

$10 grants you access to my layered files alongside everything the $3 tier offers. If you can spare the expense and have ever been curious about what my process looks like, you can get your hands on finished Photoshop, FireAlpaca, Sketchbook, and now Clip Studio files for your snooping (affectionate) pleasure!

Thanks for humoring me: I hope your day is swell!

[molagboop]

Hey there! If you like what I do, it would mean a lot if you considered becoming a Patron.

For $3 USD, you'll gain access to WIP posts where I break down the process of creating a given piece, as well as sketches and the opportunity to see projects while they're being worked on! $3 Patrons also have the opportunity to put in a sketch request for every month they're subscribed (this stacks, by the way: if you don't use your sketch request for the month, you can use it later)!

$10 grants you access to my layered files alongside everything the $3 tier offers. If you can spare the expense and have ever been curious about what my process looks like, you can get your hands on finished Photoshop, FireAlpaca, Sketchbook, and now Clip Studio files for your snooping (affectionate) pleasure!

Thanks for humoring me: I hope your day is swell!

#reblog

[molagboop]

Read Electrochromic.

Fasteners? Polished. Whites? Freshly starched. Fucks? None given. Her demeanor is that of an arctic baclozen and her kill count is rumored in the thousands. All business, no shenanigans: Admiral Fuja is the face of calculating military genius.

And she's about ready to turn this frigate around.

Another sketch that has its roots in volume ii of Samus and Adam's Great Big Court Martialed Adventure, broadcast live from the mind of @sablegear0.

#reblob

[molagboop]

Chozo Warlord removes recently displaced rugrat from a Situation.

#reblob

[molagboop]

Hey there! If you like what I do, it would mean a lot if you considered becoming a Patron.

For $3 USD, you'll gain access to WIP posts where I break down the process of creating a given piece, as well as sketches and the opportunity to see projects while they're being worked on! $3 Patrons also have the opportunity to put in a sketch request for every month they're subscribed (this stacks, by the way: if you don't use your sketch request for the month, you can use it later)!

$10 grants you access to my layered files alongside everything the $3 tier offers. If you can spare the expense and have ever been curious about what my process looks like, you can get your hands on finished Photoshop, FireAlpaca, Sketchbook, and now Clip Studio files for your snooping (affectionate) pleasure!

Thanks for humoring me: I hope your day is swell!

#reblob #sorry for the multiple reblogs: i need to get better about promoting these things

[molagboop]

Raven Beak's mom.

#chozo #metroid #sketches #raven beak

[molagboop]

Hey there! If you like what I do, it would mean a lot if you considered becoming a Patron.

For $3 USD, you'll gain access to WIP posts where I break down the process of creating a given piece, as well as sketches and the opportunity to see projects while they're being worked on! $3 Patrons also have the opportunity to put in a sketch request for every month they're subscribed (this stacks, by the way: if you don't use your sketch request for the month, you can use it later)!

$10 grants you access to my layered files alongside everything the $3 tier offers. If you can spare the expense and have ever been curious about what my process looks like, you can get your hands on finished Photoshop, FireAlpaca, Sketchbook, and now Clip Studio files for your snooping (affectionate) pleasure!

Thanks for humoring me: I hope your day is swell!

#reblob

[molagboop]

I don't know when Patreon added this (probably when they changed the post editor's UI), but creators can now also catalog their posts in collections... which pleases me greatly because I love being able to find things.

#it's like ko-fi galleries and deviantart folders but a decade late it's great #txt #not art #i am the sorterr. i sort good.

[molagboop]

Hey there! If you like what I do, it would mean a lot if you considered becoming a Patron.

For $3 USD, you'll gain access to WIP posts where I break down the process of creating a given piece, as well as sketches and the opportunity to see projects while they're being worked on! $3 Patrons also have the opportunity to put in a sketch request for every month they're subscribed (this stacks, by the way: if you don't use your sketch request for the month, you can use it later)!

$10 grants you access to my layered files alongside everything the $3 tier offers. If you can spare the expense and have ever been curious about what my process looks like, you can get your hands on finished Photoshop, FireAlpaca, Sketchbook, and now Clip Studio files for your snooping (affectionate) pleasure!

Thanks for humoring me: I hope your day is swell!

#not art #txt #times are tough: i try to keep prices low on Patreon because I'm not currently offering any physical goods or the like #and not everyone can afford to shoot a few bucks out.

[molagboop]

This is from August 31, 2022. It's technically a WIP shot, but this was before I started painting over the bust. I like this version better than the one I ended up posting publicly, so I'll drop it here.

#raven beak #chozo #metroid dread #avian #headshot #bust

[molagboop]

So I put the power of friendship and impractical outfits into Metroid Dread. No suits, no shields: we die in a giant laser hand cannon fight like true warriors.

#raven beak #chozo #a lot of effort for a bit #i thought back to that one piece i did a few years ago where i put raven beak in bikini armor and i said #'wouldn't it be funny to see him actually fight in something like that?' #because as we all know exposed flesh in combat is very humorous when large guns that shoot beams are involved #and then my train of thought fell to 'wouldn't it be funny if Samus was covered more than Raven Beak is' #'to subvert the sexy outfits thing a little bit but also drive home the 'god-emperor of Chozo Victoria's Secret' look he has going for him' #So the original sketch was created July 21 2023. And I redid it on April 10 2024. #and built Raven Beak bulky like a pro wrestler to really drive home the drama/hamminess of the situation but also to make him look stronger #my outfit design continues to be lacking but my commitment to the bit remains unmatched #... it's also so much easier to draw silly bikini armor that makes no sense than it is to put characters in regular clothes. or armor. #if you want a 'lore justification' for the lack of armor let's just say Raven Beak doesn't need the suit to be powerful. #and Samus is about to demonstrate that he has sorely underestimated her. by a mile. or a kilometer. #anyways the differences in their outfits match their upbringing and general philosophy #Samus opts for the more practical leotard offering her mobility and lightweight motion #Raven Beak guns for the full regalia that shows off as much muscle as possible while not skipping out on symbols of rank #and he NEVER leaves home without a cape #the cape is a must if shoulder-mounted black hole generators aren't available.

[molagboop]

Part of a commission up top and a few warmups with color slapped on below. I was asked to workshop a few outfits as part of a reference sheet. On the left, we have Raven Beak giving a presentation on gravitational anomalies in orbit: on the right, he's looking at fruit in a local market.

The first image below that is a dress that was just fun to draw while warming up. Next we have a cowl + goggle combo for novices stationed in Ferenia: I figured they'd want to keep the sand out of their eyes and nostrils. Finally there's a simple novice's cowl, draping headwear intended to serve as the first layer beneath more complicated headdresses and symbols of office.

In combination with the goggles in the previous image, one would probably wear the "cap" version of this garment, tucking the end that drapes over the back of the neck beneath the patterned facemask and fastening the feathered straps to a modified version of the leather strap beneath the chin of one's goggles. That way, a scholar can keep the sand off their plumage as well as any facial orifices.

#chozo #metroid #avian #secretary bird #raven beak

[molagboop]

Because I can't help myself, I illustrated his rant from the tags about why he thinks he should be in charge of the galaxy.

Original post: X

Supplementary material: X

#reblob #winging it

[molagboop]

I have seen no less than two artists draw Samus wearing a bikini over her power suit, and I wanted in.

#reblob

[molagboop]

Sword aunt online.

Lore dump under the cut.

This is Kesh Ka, Raven Beak's aunt on his mother's side. She is part of a monastic order known as the Severed Talons in the Federation's common tongue. They are reputed with the ability to manifest blades of sheer energy, not that you'll find a Ghiska spear-maiden without a physical edge or two on her hip.

The Ghiska are a subsect of Mawkin warrior monks who spend a good deal of their lives in isolation. They gather every third, sixth, twelfth, and twenty-fourth day of the month in a monastery nestled between four peaks. Their fighting style is an acrobatic blend of spear maneuvers and unarmed trickery. The Ghiska also train in the use of single-handed weapons.

The Ghiska value the principles of balance, agility, and a deft mind. Balance is the ability to stay stable and on your feet in the heat of battle, and agility refers to the swiftness and accuracy of one's strikes. A deft mind is one that is soothe and focused amid chaos, and permits a warrior to invoke the Severed Talon.

Kesh Ka brought Raven Beak to the monastery during his youth as part of his (rather extensive) combat training.

#reblob #this will be on the test

[molagboop]

Life on ZDR, Volume I: Social Hierarchy

Hello, and welcome to Volume 1 of my Mawkin headcanon posts, where my brain explodes all over your dashboard. I think a lot about Birds, so much so that I've had to organize those thoughts in writing. This time, we're talking about the upper echelons of the chain of command on ZDR. Specifically, who's in charge of the tribe at large.

Massive brain dump under the cut, I don't want to flood dashboards. The source for 99% of this information is "I made it up". The other 1% is Dread spoilers.

Next post: ->

Who leads the Mawkin?

We're all familiar with Raven Beak, Big Cheese of the Mawkin tribe. He's the leader of the bunch, but that leader has a name. Several names, in fact. His formal title is "High Lord of the Mawkin", or "Warlord". The Warlord is also commonly referred to with a few alternate names by the common soldiery: Lord-General, Lord-Commander, Supreme General (if you're an ass-kisser), War Chief, simply the "General" or "Commander", etc.

If you wanna get real archaic, you'd say "Hunt Father/Mother/Leader". That's a title you'll usually only hear in a historical context or uttered by priests addressing the ancestors. Nowadays, Mawkin leaders have bigger things to worry about than fending off large animals and feeding the people, but the term hasn't vanished from the lexicon.

Raven Beak best genarul

The Lord-Commander is at the very top of the social hierarchy, being recognized as the tribe's strongest warrior. The Warlord's word is law. Their commands are followed to the letter and without question. If you're a Mawkin soldier and Raven Beak tells you to jump, you will jump. Individuals who require specific instructions may ask "how high?", but the end result is still the same.

There have been many Warlords throughout the course of ZDR's history, and Raven Beak is only the most recent. His predecessor was Screaming Blade, a rugged warrior whom Raven Beak was proud to serve for many years as part of the Honor Guard. Yes, Raven Beak usurped his employer. No, nobody was bothered by that... at least not as bothered as us humans would be if one of our world leaders was assassinated. We'll talk more about how succession works later.

Pictured: Former High Lord Screaming Blade, who looks perpetually angry in photographs. Rest in pepperonis, king.

Every Warlord has an entourage. They usually accompany the Commander abroad, staying close to them and sleeping in or near the General's quarters on board the vessel during travel off-world. The entourage can consist of advisors, lovers, warriors who have the Commander's favor, etc. The Honor Guard is a consistent staple of the Warlord's entourage. They are the General's bodyguards and closest confidants. This is mostly a ceremonial role, as the Warlord can defend himself, but they are some of the most gifted warriors on ZDR. Raven Beak usually has one or two guards tailing him during "normal business hours", if only as a formality.

The Honor Guard gets to wear fancy armor. Members of Raven Beak's Honor Guard get sick capes.

This individual has style. Grace. A sense of importance and superiority.

They get to stand near the Warlord at all times and they get to wear a cape. What a job. I want a cape...

How is the next Warlord determined? Who gets to be Warlord?

Anyone can be the Warlord, granted they're powerful enough.

The title of High Lord is not hereditary. If you're the child of a Warlord, you will not inherit their title upon death—you have to earn it. You earn the Commander's crest by killing the standing Warlord.

It doesn't matter whether you assassinate them or slay them in a fair duel. If you are of the Mawkin tribe, and you kill the current High Lord, you will assume the mantle. That is how it's always been. Raven Beak challenged Screaming Blade for the Warlord's crest in an honorable duel.

It began as all good duels do: the participants stripped down to their smallclothes and chose a weapon. The fight lasted ten minutes, ending when Raven Beak impaled Screaming Blade on his own halberd and spilled his innards all over the battlefield.

This new Angry Birds: Space dlc is weird.

By the end of Metroid Dread, Samus is technically the new High Lord of the Mawkin. She is part of the tribe by virtue of possessing Raven Beak's DNA, and she granted her father a glorious death in battle, so she's the new leader of the tribe. Even if he was eaten by a gelatinous parasite, and the "Raven Beak" she destroyed was an impostor with all of his memories, she is still responsible for the destruction of the Mawkin's finest warrior. He was Number One, and she knocked him off that hill. If the tribe has any colonies out in space, and she finds them, they would have to recognize her as their Commander. If anyone doesn't like that, they can challenge her for the position.

What happens when a new Warlord takes the office?

The new High Lord must announce themselves before the army. They'll give a speech after naming their predecessor and reciting their own lineage.

Now I know what you might be thinking:

"Wait, are you telling me that Raven Beak had to announce who his parents were?"

Not just his parents, dear reader. His grandparents, his great-grandparents, his great-great grandparents, any family members of significant note that he isn't directly descended from... all the way back to his eldest ancestors. The Mawkin are strict adherents to tradition when it comes to rituals of significance. This ceremony tends to run long.

... very long.

Every Chozo in the Mawkin tribe could recite their entire family tree to you on a dime. We'll talk more about the importance of ancestry in another post.

When a new Warlord takes power, ride-or-die members of the previous Commander's entourage can opt to join their Warlord with the ancestors instead of serving the new leader.

Those who choose death have two options: either be executed by the new Warlord outright, or engage in an honorable duel with the new Warlord. If the previous Warlord's loyalist wins that duel, they get to be the new Warlord, and anybody that was waiting their turn for a chance to bat at the person that was just dethroned gets to decide whether this individual is a better leader, or if they still want to join the guy who was dethroned two Warlords ago in righteous death.

It's not about whether or not they think the new Warlord is going to be a terrible ruler, it's more a matter of loyalty and worth. Half of Screaming Blade's entourage joined him in the afterlife after Raven Beak took the throne. They were dedicated to their Commander, and felt that if Raven Beak was truly worthy of the title, he would be capable of defeating them.

A couple of challengers were looking to usurp Screaming Blade themselves, and felt they could take Raven Beak in a fight if given the chance. They were wrong.

#reblob