#;;firstborn

long overdue. I’ve been trying to chip at a google doc and uh, hrm. think I’ll toss the gist into here for mostly myself and anyone else that happen to be curious

likely will still modify subtly in future drawings, but just general gist of what i want to do moving forward for personalization fun because i ... am too lazy to do subtle color shifts/other notes when i can just. [forcibly adds on things that makes it look more like ceremonial accessories than not] (the first is lacking more of the adornments because she doesn’t care for ‘em, plus hello brother)

i never mentioned it, but the scratches dragged across the third’s horns are due to a hunt, whereas the second had mirrored some of the scratches in gentle solidarity (even if it had went against how she idealized their eldest/how it was somewhat disadvantageous when working together but. eh.) and wound up gaining new ones anyhow

names:

i haven’t really figured anything out. i don’t see mine having actual names even when professionalism is involved (manta from yesterday i look at you VERY disrespectfully) as they’re commonly referred to as the collective “lords.” individually beyond respectful hisses and the striking of claws (or tapping the butt end of a lance against ground) at most four times depending on which lord is being spoken to, adjectives and titles are fun. maybe not self-proclaimed ones -- at least beyond the initial passage into adulthood long ago.

i... hm

where the first has been dubbed the primary arbiter and judicator. by merit, she is more adept than her siblings as an individual. not blatantly so, but her wit and due responsibility placed her as such. that being said... she’s not foolish enough as to decide everything on her own, certainly not for their village of warriors when they aren’t receptive to outsiders. she has the sense to seek counsel from the other lords. they aren’t at risk of an echo chamber, and in the end, she herself is the one that finalizes matters after an unhealthy amount of consideration. she has been called indomitable as well (though she herself does not see that the slightest bit true if saying so outside of her prideful spirit) in the way she presents herself and what position she takes in a fight. part of it is because she is a lord, so... what would it do for her to fall so easily and without fight? morale is a funny thing sometimes.

the second is the obligated huntress (and as some have regarded her as... warmonger). her personality is rather brash and almost snarky, and with not much else to consider herself skilled in, she prides herself in almost everything related to hunting. (patience, shockingly, and the utmost attention to little everythings coupled with perhaps a cruelly efficient means of doing things.) well. just a fighter. she’s also that one lord who later after they’d spoke with the king personally was like “We could use just even one of those unnecessarily shiny spikes on his crest as a substitute nail. He doesn’t need all of them does he?” “...Sister.” “Or we toss in a mushroom into that cage. See how long it takes for it to stop bouncing before he realizes.” “Sister.” “Bah! Would you rather I talk about how unrealistic but infuriatingly fun it would be to fight him and all of his people?”

while she finds it somewhat embarrassing, the third has been called an altruistic mediator in her attempts to settle disputes and internal conflict. that, and she more actively shows her concern towards things (thus having more bandages on her just as a precaution). she was the one most receptive to the idea of interacting with outsiders and doesn’t exactly agree with those (aka her older twin) that might feel it more necessary to outright sunder before they ever get to speak. don’t get her wrong though; she understands the justification and wouldn’t give anyone a slip of mercy either (especially if they happen to kill any of their warriors or youth, but she’d entertain a talk for something that somehow snuck through their village and let them go with the risk that of it being determinantal. (well. not like none of them can handle themselves, ha ha.)

the brother is simply... stalwart, zealous in his efforts to improve himself and be as good as his sisters (if not better). even when he tries to hide that, it’s quite obvious that he tries and in turn serves as some sort of inspiration for the other mantids. dude just wants to be the best for the tribe. he’s got little traits of all of his sisters, but in the end, he has interests at heart. he’s formidable! he’s cool! he’s. i forgot what else i wanted to talk about here so oops sorry mister man grjkaldfhj another time

bonus

“Only for a little—” “For longer.” “—okay.”

the third’s the type to overextend herself and dance on the brink of burn-out fairly often (especially so post-deposed lord; involving herself with the village is expected). while both sisters will call her out on it, more often than not it’s the second doing so. sure she’s not the greatest at what the younger can do, but. hey. they all rule together. 

[ ...Context under cut. ]

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[ (ham)MA(ck)-01 ]