Cultural Note - Philippine history is rooted in resistance!

Did you know that the first official Filipino hero was a Visayan chief who successfully resisted Spanish colonialism?

Lapu-Lapu was one of two datus (chiefs) from the island of Mactan in the Visayas (southern) region of the Philippines. He is famous for defending the island of Mactan from Spanish colonizers led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

While other tribes were welcoming of Catholicism and Spanish colonizers, Lapu-Lapu refused to pay tribute to the Spanish crown--even when the other datu of Mactan capitulated.

Raja Humabon, a tribal leader who had been quarraling with Lapu-Lapu at the time, convinced Magellan to attack the island of Mactan for Lapu-Lapu's defiance.

In 1521, Magellan and his men attack Mactan and lose to Lapu-Lapu's warriors. This victory delays the colonization of the Philippines for more than 40 years.

A good mate of mine is starting DnD for the first time this month, and this is the character he's come up with which I was able to bring to life.

Solven is a druid/monk from the icelands who aspires to become a kind of high guardian referred to as 'A Glaciheir'. A rank that not many can obtain because it holds such monumental weight and responsibility to it.

Solven also aspires to one day improve his magic to the extent that he'll be able to fight along side other great warriors of the tundra, turning into a polar bear or forging weapons purely from the ice around him.

His design is very viking inspired but he wants to evolve the character more and more and potentially explore other snow-based mythologies/cultures to continue developing him beyond a simple ice viking.

What do you guys think? :D

As today is Johnny Appleseed Day, it's time for the annual reminder that John Chapman was a real person, who spent years traveling around Ohio and the rest of the country planting nurseries of apple trees.  

His stated goals were to make apples available to all and spread the doctrine of the Church of Swedenborg. He was a strict vegetarian and believed that pruning a tree was as cruel as maiming a person.  

He was reportedly also a very kind person who loved children and animals and was a gifted storyteller.  

I figured the two dual wielders go together.

(1) Wherever I appear, RedStarryNight follows with his commissions that seek to flesh out his incredible world of vampires - some historic, some conceptualized. This one in particular is a Soft-Shaded Torso of the Hungarian folkhero and real-life general, Pál Kinizsi.

My family’s D&D characters.

I’m the halfling rogue, my sister is the elf wizard, my brother is the dwarf cleric and my dad is the human fighter. My other sister is being our awesome DM! 

FOLKHERO "Diamonds on the soles of her shoes" [Paul Simon cover]