#aillen

KANEKO'S CRIB NOTES LXVIII: X-CaliBR8ting the Divine

🎃 HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 🎃

Here's something spookier than scary October mummies and ghouls: waiting until the last minute to begin the annual KCN post. Like, I had the whole year to finish it, but still waited until the last week to start the write-up. "Oh, I have plenty of time," I said to myself sometime around July. [scream] I guess I can partially blame 2025 being "a year," but that's just an excuse; on top of all its trash, Kaneko achieved the impossible and resurrected himself--only to associate his art with slop.

But he did some good new art, too, a few examples of which are included here!

COMP: Megaten's demon-summoning device.

A comment hidden within Digital Devil Apocalypse revealed that the classic forearm-mounted COMP is inspired by the similar "X-CaliBR8" from The Dungeonmaster (1984).

MEDJED: Minor Egyptian deity that became a Japanese meme.

Kaneko's Medjed follows most Japanese pop culture depictions in cribbing the deity's appearance from the Greenfield Papyrus.

BALAM: 51st demon of the Goetia; a king.

Tsukuyomi's Balam is interesting in that it doesn't much resemble the Dictionnaire Infernal illustration like most of Kaneko's Goetia demons do (although his sleek form is right at home with "later" designs such as Orias or Morax); instead, he seems to be cribbing himself, namely the Balam sprite from SMT If... . But it's likely more complicated: If...'s design has the most in common with the written description; further, If...'s is a refinement of the multi-headed Balam from MT2. We're satisfied calling it a refinement of a refinement.

AILLEN: Fiery foe of Fionn mac Cumhaill.

Aillen as a tall, horned, fire-emanating entity appears to stem from this Beatrice Elvery illustration from 1914--one easily found on Wikimedia Commons. Is this the first known instance of Kaneko pulling a Doi and using Wikipedia as a source?

METATRON: The angel known as the "lesser YHVH."

In a promo for Tsukuyomi, Kaneko divulged that Metatron's shining facade is inspired by the armor of Mordred from 1981's Excalibur.

Thanks to PSI Guy, Vesk, Kid Capes, and the rest of the Stealing Knowledge Discord for ideas and assistance!

There have been some decent ones.*

One of my favorites so far is Aillen:

@whatissleepeven since I know you like these.

Fionn Mac Cumhaill, Hero of the Fenian Cycle, finally arrives!

Disclaimer: Some of these drabbles are not presented entirely accurately to the source material they are drawn from. They are not meant to be entirely accurate. That being said, I hope you enjoy, and constructive criticism is always welcomed and encouraged.

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Fionn Mac Cumhaill

The night sky was crisp and cool, and a young man, maybe 17 was sitting upon the roof. His hair was the color of freshly fallen snow, eyes the color of the noon sky. He spun a spear, red in color with an orange and yellow tip, in his hands.

“Fionn Mac Cumhaill.” A voice, low and calm, called out, causing the young man to turn around. Standing on the roof behind him was another young man, dark hair and nut colored skin, his orange eyes were piercing.

“Diarmuid.” Fionn greeted, climbing to his feet.

“I can’t believe you’re actually going through with this,” Diarmuid smiled, a small one, “To fight a member of the Tuatha de Danann? You must be mad!”

Fionn gave his spear a quick spin, “Not mad. Only determined and confident. You may watch, if you wish.”

“I’ll be asleep. That’s how he operates, putting everyone to sleep before burning the city. I’m intrigued on how you’ll stay awake.”

Fionn only smirked, “You just dream your dreams pretty boy, when you wake up, you’ll be happy your pillows aren’t singed.”

“Alright, alright,” Diarmuid turned around, “Good luck, Fionn.”

With that, Diarmuid left, leaving Fionn alone, spear in hand.

…

The song was low, quiet at first, only causing Fionn to grow drowsy. Fionn could see the citizens dropping into sleep below, as the silhouette of Aillen, the fire-breathing man of the Tuatha de Danann, appeared on the horizon.

The sleep began to weigh heavily on Fionn’s shoulders, and he knew it was time to put his plan into actions.

The spear in his hands rippled with heat, steaming in the air. The spear’s true power was to burn like a raging wildfire. Fionn took a deep breath.

…

The scream of agony distracted Aillen, causing him to stop playing his song. Turning in the direction of the scream, Aillen laid his eyes on a young man, hair the color of mountain snow. His eyes were heavy with, not sleep, but pain. His spear tip was steaming, drops of blood on the ground around him.

A cauterized burn scar marred the right side of his jaw.

“Aillen!” The young man roared, “I! Fionn Mac Cumhaill, son of Cumhall, and rightful leader of the Knights of Fianna, will end your burnings of this city!”

Aillen was taken aback, this warrior, barely more than a child, wounded himself to attempt to stop Aillen?! Aillen decided to humor the warrior.

“Alright boy, I will give you to honor of facing Aillen, the fire breathing man of the Tuatha de Danann,” Aillen smirked, confident, after all; there’s no way a mortal can kill a god.

…

Aillen gasped for air, completely taken aback. Fionn took another step forward, driving his spear deeper into Aillen, the red hot tip burning the god’s insides.

“H-How?” Aillen murmured.

“Simple,” Fionn whispered, rattled from the battle, tired from dodging Aillen’s blows, “I’m better than you.”

Fionn tore his spear from the god's stomach and Aillen smiled.

“You will be a great hero one day...Fionn. It is...a good death...to go out, facing you…”

Aillen’s body vanished into golden ashes, which blew away in the wind.

Fionn took a step backwards, before stumbling, falling over from exhaustion.

“Hey, look out there!” Diarmuid joked, catching Fionn.

“D-Diarmuid,” Fionn said, still exhausted, “What’re you doing here?”

“Well, I woke up, and had to come see what the commotion was.”

“Were your pillows singed?” Fionn smiled.

Diarmuid shook his head, “No. No they weren’t. You’ve cleared the King’s task...you will be admitted membership of the Fianna.”

“And leadership of it.” Goll mac Morna, current leader of the Fianna, interjected, “You truly are your father’s son, Fionn Mac Cumhaill. But moreover, you are a worthy warrior in your own right. I will officially transfer leadership to you once you’ve recovered.”

Fionn smirked, “I promise...the lead you well.”

“And I promise to serve you well, Fionn.” Diarmuid smiled.

“I will try...and be the best leader to you...I can.” Fionn smirked, “I think...I need to sleep.