#quinkin

Cryptid of the Day: Quinkin

“DreamWalker” © deviantArt user “Kattang”. Accessed at his gallery here

[Commissioned by @wannabedemonlord​, of a set with the imjin. The timara has more of an internet presence than the imjin, for a slightly stupid reason. Because it is a tall, thin humanoid, Slenderman stans have claimed that it’s evidence that Slenderman is “real”.]

Timara CR 4 CG Fey This humanoid is twice the height of a man but rail-thin. It has rubbery black skin, oversized ears, and carries a satchel filled with rocks.

The timaras are gentle but mischievous fey giants native to warm forests. They are so skinny that they can hide behind trees and in the cracks in rocks. Oftentimes, they live near dangerous places and use their powers to keep unsuspecting mortals from coming too close. Wicked fey, however, are their enemies, especially the predatory imjins. If imjins are afoot, timaras will use magic to communicate with each other over wide distances and gather to stop their attacks. A timara prefers to keep its distance in combat, pelting opponents from afar with thrown rocks. If forced to close, they use flint-tipped spears or their fists to fight. Timaras can magically manipulate plants, and often use this ability to hinder or attack foes in their natural terrain.

A timara stands between ten and twelve feet tall, but they are so skinny that they weigh no more than an average human.

Detail from The Quinkins © Percy Trezise and Dick Roughsey.

[Commissioned by @wannabedemonlord​. The word “quinkan” or “quinkin” is used to refer to figures from ancient Australian rock art (current estimates are between 15kya and 40kya). The Ang-Gnarra are the current occupants of the land, and their interpretation divides the figures into benevolent timaras and sinister imjins, among others. These entities are major players in the children’s book The Quinkins, which is my primary source for this adaptation to Pathfinder. That link leads to a read aloud version of the text, with a little animation in the paintings. It’s highly recommended.

Oh, and yes, the “tail” is a bowdlerization. Male imjins are traditionally depicted with giant genitals, and females with pendulous breasts. These are very common folklore motifs. But they’re not something that most folks feel comfortable bringing up at the gaming table.]

Imjin CR 4 CE Fey This ugly little humanoid stands a little shorter than a man, with oversized claws and teeth. It has a pot belly and a fatty striped tail which hangs down to the ground. Its eyes are red and wide, and its ears fan out like an elephant’s.

Imjins are vile fey creatures native to caves. They are hunters of humanoids, but their purpose differs depending on the age of their victim. Adults are killed and consumed, but children are captured and turned into new imjins through sinister rituals. The imjins are enemies of more goodly fey creatures, especially timaras, with which they frequently do battle.

Although an imjin is a fierce melee combatant, they prefer to get enemies off guard through trickery. They are skilled mimics, and may disguise both their voices and their features to lure in potential victims. Imjins rarely engage in ranged combat—if a distance lies between them and their quarry, they close the gap with long hops, bouncing on their striped tails like a kangaroo.

An imjin stands between four and five feet tall. Like many fey creatures, they can live for hundreds of years unless slain in combat.

Cryptid of the Day: Quinkin

Quinkin - Dreamtime creatures of Kuku Yalanji people from far north Queensland (very similar to the Yowie or Bigfoot)

The yowie is an Australian cryptid known throughout Queensland and New South Wales. First found in Aboriginal oral history, it has become one of Australia's most famous monsters.

The yowie is thought to be a hairy, ape-like creature who stands anywhere between seven and twelve feet tall. It is said to have very large feet and hands, and reports of its temperament vary from timid and shy to violent and aggressive.

Image source.

Monster master list.

I think Slendy is a new take on a very old story

I was a bit confused about all these random 'Slendy Blogs' that turned up a few years ago. Not because of the scary aspect of the story, but because I had a strange feeling that I'd heard this all before. It reminded me of some of the old Dreamtime lessons I grew up with, in particular, the stories of the Quinkins.

Quinkins are not just one type of spirit/monster/protector. There are many, many different type of quinkins, but the strange thin ones stuck in my mind. Not because of their scary nature - quite the opposite. These thin quinkins are actually the nice ones.

It's actually the shorter, rounder ones that are the troublemakers.

I did a bit of back tracking, and found out the the story of the Slender Man did actually originate from Western Australia, of all places. Quinkin sightings are still a fairly common thing, but out west it's less cause for hysteria. When I was little, I thought it was normal to see something following you in the bush, just out the corner of your eye. A tall, thin man who blended in with the trees so well your eyes could never quite track him.