SPACEFUTURE: Terror Birds From Deneb V!

[Rigel]

Irresistible fellows, these. Shaggy, bulky bodies like a ROBOT MONSTER or a moa; long, bendy necks; beaks somewhere in the hornbill-flamingo-shoebill-Skeksis-vulture range. From CP miniatures. They came in 3 packs: Soldiers (4 riflebirds plus a squad leader), Diplomats (3), and Auxiliaries (3 riflebirds with hats). The skin color scheme was based on blue, red, and yellow boobies; the beaks were inspired by a number of large birds. I added some headgear for fun and in homage to the dandelion-headed Looney Tunes "Instant Martians."

 

I get the idea they are of a highly organized bureaucratic culture with expansionist tendencies, unlike the tribal Venerian Amazons (Hydra Valkeeri).

 

The Hydra Imperials, below, are also from an expansionist imperial culture, but the Terror Birds are less centralized and more impersonal in their cruelty.

 

 

They get  around. Seen here with Hydra's Slishans, who have little culture and almost no technology but DO know from mineral resources.

 

 

 

And seen here engaged in diplomatic negotiations with the highly-cultured Andromedans/Neirans. Both species have a great appreciation for the arts and for manipulation. You wouldn't call either culture "decadent," because of the railguns, but 'Baroque' might be appropriate. 

 

Notice that the Bombshell Neirans are towering statuesque specimens. Vavoom to a point that makes the Venerians look puny.

 

Trade talks with a chieftain of the Mole People from Sirius B.

 

 

and theological disputation with an Exalted Proselyte of the Yoggs.

 

The Brain Squids are an esoteric lot and require a delicate touch.]

 

A disputed claim of precious nuclear resources on the border of the Robot Hegemony. The Robots are prohibited by First Law to harm humans, but your beaky bois here do NOT qualify.

 

 

A Martian delegation, bearing the wisdom of aeons of progress and aeons of rust. A culture this antique requires more than one specialist.

 

 

 

The Krodox are one of the few spacefaring species to outmass a Terror Bird, They are willing to trade ceramic goods for new and exotic meats, and respect bigness in a fellow-sentient. 

 

 

Humans are not known for their bigness, but are slippery customers. Tricksters and clever dodgers. 

 

 

Lastly, a diplomatic summit with representatives from most sentient, spacefaring species.

 

As always, C&C welcome! What do you think their alien avian civilization is like?

 

[Glitterwolf]

Love the beak colours, great job.

The story/setting is awesome as always.

[Samedi]

Story time!

[Iridil]

Love this pulpy goodness! Fantastic beaks and coloring...

[Chaoswolf]

Great stuff here!

[Guyra]

This is just super cool! 

[Rigel]

Thanks, all! 

On 2/21/2022 at 2:11 AM, Glitterwolf said:

Love the beak colours, great job.

The story/setting is awesome as always.

On 2/21/2022 at 1:40 PM, Iridil said:

Love this pulpy goodness! Fantastic beaks and coloring...

Used a number of real-world birds as inspiration for the beaks! The pink ones are flamingo, the yellow a combination of toucan and hornbill, and the blue ones a bunch of hornbill/vulture combinations.

On 2/21/2022 at 7:17 AM, Samedi said:

Story time!

Oh yeah, you know it! I tried to pack a lot of visual culture into the vignettes.