|
About Tehuti
I am an amateur writer of novels, serials, and novellas. Most of my work is in the genres of fantasy, mythology, drama, occult, GLBT, and erotica.
As I'm not seeking publication, I offer my work online for free reading. I'm not seeking stylistic critique so much as feedback from people who just like reading what I write. I love hearing what people think of my characters, plots, themes, etc., so if you have any comments or advice on those, feel free to share. I'm not hugely popular and often go many months without hearing from readers so I enjoy all the comments I get!
My interests are Ojibwa mythology, Mackinac Island, Egyptian mythology, Jungian symbolism and dream interpretation, ritual crime, fantasy writing, and various other things you can find in my personal bio, available just to the right. Please click to learn more about me and what I'm looking for in terms of readers and potential friends.
Feel free to hit me up if you're interested in any of these things, and enjoy my writing!
Tar! :) |
Return To Manitou Island: Characters
RETURN TO MANITOU ISLAND
Character List
Fully Updated
All attempts have been made to make this list as spoiler free as possible. Please be aware that slight spoilers may be necessary; however, these should not ruin the plot of the story. This will be updated as new characters appear.
AUGWAK
Chief of the cannibal GeeBees. Selfish, conniving, and thoroughly unreliable, he has learned a dangerous new talent since Charmian's last visit. He also accepts a gift from Chakenapok which could mean the return of the full, terrible power of the original Wendigo GeeBees...at a terrible cost for the Island. He bears a standing grudge against Charmian for once holding his spirit stone hostage.
BEAR PEOPLE
The people of Mudjikawiss's tribe, living in the mountains of the west. They resemble a mixed cross between humans and bears (humanoid, with bear features).
BLACK ELK HORN
Husband of Silver Eagle Feather, and new chief of the Red Leaf Tribe. Wary and distrustful of mainlanders and outsiders, he only reluctantly accepts his new role as leader of the tribe. Although his beliefs are often at odds with Charmian's, he is merely doing his best to protect his people from what he sees as a threat to their way of life...but his isolationist stance and short temper tend to make him difficult to get along with.
CHAKENAPOK (AKA "Flint")
Primary antagonist, taking the place of Ocryana in the original story. He is an ominous yellow-eyed watcher who appears to have great powers and an odd interest in Charmian and the Island, but his motives are unclear. He appears to think of his antagonism toward the Islanders as a sort of game.
CHARMIAN
Protagonist and mainlander protector of the Island. Following the death of her beloved grandmother she returns to Manitou Island in an attempt to escape the real world, but finds that things have changed drastically...and that a new evil even more powerful than Ocryana must be fought. She again slips into the role of defender, although her long absence has left her confused as to what's now going on.
CHARMIAN'S GRANDMOTHER
The only mainlander in Charmian's life, aside from her friend Drake, to know of Manitou Island's existence, she is also the only one Charmian entrusted with her tale of her adventures on the Island. It is her death which sends Charmian on a quest to escape the real world, and her gift which ensures that Charmian finds her way there again.
CHIEF
A stocky Ottawa living in town. He frequents the taverns and Fur Company with his constant companion, One-Eyed Pierre, and tends to drink too much; just like Pierre he is overly superstitious and often cowardly. He always wears a fur cap. Despite a rocky start with Charmian, he and Pierre seem to be mostly harmless. His real name is unknown.
CLOUD
Gray horse belonging to Thomas Leeds. Although apparently only a riding animal, he displays an odd intelligence at times, and is Thomas's constant companion.
CROOKED CREEK
A short, plump native woman who took up residence with Francois LaCroix as part of a joke, and ended up becoming his wife. Although seemingly shy and naive at times, she can be quite bold and forthright if given the chance, and is good with both a stewpot and a gun.
DAKH NATHA & SIKT NATHA (AKA "Dreamrender" & "Dreamwanderer")
Twin Ocryxes, born of Tal Natha and Red Bird. They possess the ability to influence dreams. Although fearsome in appearance and highly protective of their parents and of the Island, they are of an unusually cool and rational nature and are not easily unnerved.
DRAKE
An old friend of Charmian's, who last accompanied her to Manitou Island and shared her secret. Unfortunately, since returning, he seems to have forgotten about the Island, and his forgetfulness makes Charmian wonder whether her own memories are real. He and Charmian have drifted apart.
JUSTIN DUPRIES
Islander of French descent, son of Justine Dupries and Ocryx, and lately husband to Little Dove and father of Page. He possesses great healing powers which Charmian calls upon often. Despite this, he is somewhat ashamed of his demon lineage, and for the most part plays the part of a regular Islander. Some of the Islanders regularly rib Charmian about her past crush on him.
PAGE DUPRIES (AKA "Sky")
Young son of Justin Dupries and Little Dove. He is one-quarter Ocryx and has an odd, somewhat silent temperament, but his powers are yet to be determined. He bears two names as a result of his parents' inability to completely compromise their differing native and European ways.
JEAN-CLAUDE GAUTIER
A French-Canadian mainlander who traps and trades furs in the town on Manitou Island. He is known to be superstitious and to drink too much, and is often rude and heavyhanded toward his native servants.
GEEBEES
Also known as the Geebis or Wendigo GeeBees, these are the cannibal giants who dwell in Devil's Kitchen under the leadership of Augwak. Tall, gangly, and bug eyed, they are a constant source of fear for the Islanders, but in reality are quite cowardly of those with greater powers, such as Charmian. They can appear and disappear in a puff of wind, and are more active and powerful during the winter.
GEEZHIGO-QUAE (AKA "Sky Woman," "Sky Mother")
A powerful wind manitou and ruler of the Fairy Realm. She long ago dwelt upon the Island, but ordered her people into seclusion from the human world when their way of life became endangered by outsiders; now she dwells in a gigantic tree known as the Sky Tree, and watches over the Island from there. Stern, distrustful, and forbidding, she greets Charmian's offer to help the Island and the Fairy Realm with skepticism.
GLOOSKAP
A powerful manitou of a distant land, whom Charmian seeks out for assistance with Chakenapok. Long ago Glooskap faced a similar problem with his own brother, Malsum, the sleeping Wolf, and he is rumored to have great knowledge of many things. Glooskap is wise but somewhat unconventional, and not quite as serious as most manitous; Marten acts as his messenger and go-between.
HALFLING SPIRITS (AKA "Lost Souls," "Lost Spirits")
Odd, malformed spirit creatures which wander about the Island, particularly in the vicinity of Arch Rock or other dimensional gateways. They are the combined spirits of those who did not make it to the Spirit Land. Although of questionable origin and unusual looks (many resemble furred GeeBees), they are harmless, and tend to simply drift about as the mood suits them.
IROQUOIS
A confederation of enemy tribes from the New York region, who travel to Manitou Island in an attempt to capture it. "Iroquois" is the name given to them by outsiders. At least one Iroquois in the story, Singing Cedars, is actually Onondaga.
KHIIETA (AKA "Dewrunner")
A young female Ocryx and constant companion of X'aaru. The two seem to be always busy seeking out a new place to live, but are not too busy to help Charmian when she needs it. Despite her fearsome appearance, Khiieta is just as childlike and friendly as X'aaru.
FRANCOIS LACROIX
A French-Canadian voyageur, trapper, and fur trader who can travel between the Island and the mainland of his time with ease. Courteous, knowledgeable, and unflappable, he was the first white person to ever see Manitou Island and often assists Charmian and the others in any way necessary.
LAUGHING LYNX
An important medicine man in the Midewiwin (Medicine Lodge). Stick-In-The-Dirt appeals to him to allow Charmian to enter the Lodge due to her amazing powers. The elder is skeptical, but decides to give Charmian a chance.
THOMAS LEEDS
A young man of British descent born upon Manitou Island. He is the owner of an oddly intelligent horse named Cloud. He and Charmian quickly become friends as he seeks to learn more about his Island home, though he may not be as naive as Charmian believes he is.
LITTLE DOVE
Youngest daughter of medicine man Stick-In-The-Dirt. Now Europeanized, she still retains some of her native ways. To Charmian's surprise she and Justin Dupries have married and now have a young son, Page. Despite this, her nature has hardly changed, and she is as friendly and cheerful as ever.
LOX
A hideously deformed wolverine-like creature, the first and only "successful" living creation of Malsum.
MALSUM
Otherwise known simply as the Wolf, the evil younger brother of Glooskap. He created only evil things, and was placed in an enchanted sleep when he attempted to overthrow Glooskap. Now he is imprisoned deep beneath the Earth, yet his powers may still remain active in the waking world somehow.
MANABOZHO (AKA "Great Rabbit," "Michibou")
A powerful half-manitou and trickster of native legend, he is also Charmian's frequent guide and teacher--and source of irritation. Although intelligent and aligned to wood, wind, and earth, he is often flighty, moody, and unreliable. He may hold the key to Chakenapok's mysterious hatred of the Island. In his rabbit form he is known as Michibou.
MANI
A former Devil's Lake manitou who, after being saved by Charmian, deserted Ocryx and Mitchi Manitou to become a solitary manitou. Now he has grown and acquired his own tribe. He and Charmian are closely aligned due to their shared spirit, and both can feel each other's pain. Despite his imposing appearance he is a gentle creature, protective of and somewhat infatuated with Charmian.
MANITOUS
The primary spirit creatures residing all about the Island, from the powerful greater manitous such as Geezhigo-Quae and Manabozho, down to the simple tribal manitous who live in the Island's natural spots. They take the form of large deerlike creatures and are aligned to many elements. Aside from the fickle greater manitous and the evil-minded Devil's Lake manitous of Ocryx, they are mostly peaceful and reclusive beings dwelling in a simple society of their own. They can be called upon to offer their powers to those who know medicine or elemental forces.
MARTEN (AKA "Abistariooch")
A Mikumwesu (distant relatives of the Michinimakinong and Maemaegawaese) and close personal friend of Glooskap. Despite his childlike behavior, he is over three hundred years old; and despite his diminutive size, he is a cunning shapeshifter who can assume numerous forms, including those of creatures much bigger than himself. He is still quite naive and prone to throwing temper tantrums, though his odd skills often prove to be useful to others.
MASKED NATIVE
A shadowy assailant, wearing a mask of a wolf's skull, who appears to attack Charmian and then disappears seemingly into thin air. So far his name and motives are unknown, though he seems to possess an unusual knowledge of all her abilities, as well as powerful abilities of his own.
MICHINIMAKINONG
Also known as the Turtle Fairies or Turtle Spirits, these are the original inhabitants of the Island, who long ago moved to live within their own realm, reached through the Fairy Arch. Aside from being shorter than average and bearing wings, they resemble traditional fairies very little, and are actually a warrior race who used to protect the Island. Now ruled over by Geezhigo-Quae, they maintain very little contact with outsiders, whom they mostly distrust. Mackinac Island, Manitou Island's "real world" counterpart, was named after them.
MITCHI MANITOU
A large white manitou of somewhat evil alignment. He resides in Devil's Lake and is the leader of the lake manitous, serving Ocryx.
MORNING STAR
An Iroquois woman who was kidnapped from her tribe by an enemy common to her people and to the Islanders' people. Stick-In-The-Dirt cared for her until she was well, after which she became his wife. Despite this, she is treated as an outsider by the rest of the tribe, even by Stick's oldest daughter, White Deer.
MOUNTAIN MANITOUS
Tribal manitous who live in the mountain region near the land of Mudjikawiss, and guard the mountains there. They are much similar to the Island tribal manitous, but look slightly different, and are more reserved and cautious.
MUDJIKAWISS (AKA "Mudji," "Bear")
Older brother of Manabozho and first of Wenonah's four living sons. He is the most like his father, aggressive, blunt, and domineering, with a very poor temper and no sense of humor to be seen. He detests his younger brothers as lazy and cowardly, and distanced himself from them long ago by moving away to the west to be closer to their father (who was only ever interested in him, and not his other sons). He is a big muscular man with a bear tattoo upon his breast, and rules over the Bear People in the mountains of the west. His morals are somewhat old fashioned and he does not believe women should be in any position of control...a fact which gets him in hot water more than once. His element of power is fire.
NATHALIT (AKA "The Dreamer")
A mysterious creature who came to the Island long ago, and whose actions have since influenced much of what's since happened there. "She" (she has no real gender) now keeps watch over the Island from the Borderlands, or the place between reality and dream, and interacts little with others.
NEBANAUBAE (AKA "Sleepers," "Sleeping Ones")
Hybrid fish/humanlike creatures (much akin to merfolk) who live in deeper bodies of water throughout the Island and the Fairy Realm. Although neutral in temperament, they are known to kidnap humans and transform them into their own kind. They can wander onto land only during rainstorms, and share a strange connection with the dream realm. They nearly always ask for some sort of payment in exchange for their services.
NISKIGWUN (AKA "Ruffled Feathers")
A Michinimakinong (Turtle Fairy Spirit), and leader of Geezhigo-Quae's forces. He is the guardian of the gateway between the human and fairy realms and takes his duties very seriously, for the most part shunning other races, though Charmian's quest piques his interest.
NOKOMIS (AKA "Grandmother")
Manabozho's elderly grandmother, who resides in the Crooked Tree, away from human eyes. She and Old Mother Manitou, although similar in appearance and temperament, do not get along well. Alternately doting and grandmotherly, and ill tempered and shrewish, she is an unusual character carrying an unusual secret.
OCRYANA
Charmian's and the Islanders' former enemy. Although she still sleeps, imprisoned beneath the Island, the memory of her dreadful power still fills Charmian with fear.
OCRYX
The demon of Devil's Lake, and a powerful elemental. Once a spirit esteemed by Gitchi Manitou, he was changed into his current demonic form by his jealous mate, Ocryana, who was then cursed with the same form herself. He appears as a giant wolf demon with horns, wings, and a snake tail, and has power over water and wind; by Ocryana he is the father of Tal Natha, and is also the father of Silver Eagle Feather, Justin Dupries, Red Bird, X'aaru, and numerous others upon the Island. His vicious temper has settled somewhat since bringing Shadow Water back to live with him, but he is still short tempered and asocial. He commands the lake manitous, including Mitchi Manitou, and his life is the Island's life. Although feared, he often makes bargains with humans in exchange for gemstones, which he favors.
OLD MOTHER MANITOU
Old manitou woman living in Sugar Loaf Rock. Although of a rather crotchety temperament, she is wise and nurturing, and particularly dotes on X'aaru, whom she raised from a pup. She takes the form of an old woman wearing horns, and is at constant odds with Nokomis.
OLD YELLOW TURTLE
Old chief of the Red Leaf Tribe. He is in poor health when Charmian arrives, but manages to impart on her some advice and an odd gift. His passing only reminds Charmian more strongly of her reasons for escaping the mainland, and is the cause of great grief throughout the tribe.
ONE-EYED PIERRE
A scrawny, wiry Pottawatomi who lives in town and frequents the taverns and Fur Company along with his constant companion, Chief. Unlike Chief he does not drink much, but is prone to coming up with foolish schemes; like Chief he is very superstitious and sometimes cowardly. He wears a glass eye and despite his sometimes overbearing nature, is mostly harmless. His real name is unknown.
PAKWA
Sometimes called the "Hermit GeeBee," Pakwa is a solitary GeeBee who broke away from Augwak's tribe and no longer eats human flesh. He eats just about anything else, however, and his eternally blank stare and neutral attitude are rather unnerving. He has a particular fondness for sweets.
PAUGUK (AKA "The Flying Skeleton")
The Spirit of Death and guardian of the Spirit Road, who prevents the living from entering the land of the dead. He appears as a gigantic skeleton with fiery eyes, and is supposedly the spirit of a human who was once cursed.
PEEPAUKAWISS (AKA "Puka," "Grasshopper")
Older brother of Manabozho and second of Wenonah's four living sons. He is the prankster of the family, always pulling practical jokes which tend to anger his other siblings, particularly Manabozho and Mudjikawiss. He finds life to be a grand amusement and has a difficult time taking anything seriously, though when he does get upset, he tends to get over the top upset. His attitude is perpetually histrionic and prissy, and he tends to throw raving fits over the most mundane things. He also has a fondness for elaborate costumes and decorations, and adores dancing. He dresses all in feathers of every sort and color and always tries to look his best. His element of power is air/wind. He wandered away from home one day, and simply forgot to ever return.
RED BIRD
Half-demon daughter of Ocryx, and mate of Tal Natha and mother of Dakh and Sikt Natha. She lives with them in a cave atop the Island, and is Charmian's close friend following her first visit to the Island. Although meek and uncertain, she possesses vast powers which have helped spare the Island from harm.
SHADOW WATER
Estranged daughter of the defeated Ocryana. Now living in Devil's Lake with former rival Ocryx, she has given up her evil ways, though she still lives on the fringes of native society. Her powers are potentially great but she insists on subduing them, lest she return to her former ways.
SHADOW WOLVES
A mysterious new force on the Island, taking the form of large smoke-colored wolves of greater than average intelligence and malevolence. They attack only Islanders for some unexplained reason, although Charmian herself is now included in their sights. Despite their aggressive nature, the manitous of the Island refuse to kill them. So far their exact purpose, and even their origins, are unknown.
SILVER EAGLE FEATHER
Half-demon daughter of Ocryx and a human woman. She is a powerful medicine woman who is feared by most of the Islanders, although she uses her medicine only for good. Wife of Black Elk Horn and mother of X'aaru, she often assists Charmian and others with medical knowledge and advice, and has an unusually close connection to the Island.
SINGING CEDARS
Iroquois spy sent to scout out the Island for the coming of his tribemates in an unexpected attack force. Although possessing more courage than most, even he is bewildered by the bizarre sights he encounters upon the Island, and soon finds himself in an unusual relationship with Charmian.
SNOW BEAR
An old wabano, or fire-juggler (medicine man), of questionable repute and supposedly great powers. He is a Makwamosa, or Bearwalker, who can shift his form into that of a great bear. Charmian seeks him out for knowledge, though it's uncertain whether he will help or hinder her efforts.
SOOLEAWA CHEPI (AKA "Silver Fairy")
Self-appointed "Queen of the Windwalkers," the distant cousins of the GeeBees and an offshoot of the Wendigo race. She appears as a small overly adorned woman with wings and a haughty, histrionic, self-absorbed attitude. She loves flattery but her moods are very changeable, and she tends to quickly fall in and out of love with almost any male she meets. She has an odd relationship with the Michinimakinong.
SPIRIT ROAD
The path that every departed spirit must take to reach the Spirit Land; traveling it takes four days. Although merely a road, it appears to be sentient, and communicates primarily through empathy. It is the Spirit Road's duty to provide a way to the afterlife, and to trick the living into keeping out of the Spirit Land. Like any manitou, it can be propitiated with tobacco.
STICK-IN-THE-DIRT
A low-level medicine man of the Red Leaf Tribe, and widowed father of White Deer, Lily Flower, and Little Dove. His powers are only average; although highly timid and superstitious, he is oddly protective of Charmian, as the first Islander she met on her first trip there. He still carries the grief and guilt of his wife's death at the hands of Ocryx, whom he had accidentally released, years ago, but does what he can to protect his tribe and family.
TAL NATHA (AKA "Dreamspinner")
The youngest of the three pureblooded Ocryxes (the only pup of Ocryx and Ocryana), and guardian of Manitou Island. It is he who spins dreams for all the Islanders and helps protect the Island from harm with the help of his mate, Red Bird, and two pups, Dakh and Sikt Natha. As an Ocryx he is fearsome looking and highly protective of the Island and his family, but is of a mainly reclusive, peaceful temperament. He is also the one who first brought Charmian to the Island, though her presence there now confuses him--as he is not the one who called her.
UNNAMED VOICE
Mysterious voice which speaks to Charmian in her dreams, and seems to know more about what's going on than it actually says. It speaks in the voice of a female, and Charmian cannot be sure whether it was sent by Chakenapok, or acts independently of him...even its intentions are unknown.
WABASSO (AKA "White Rabbit")
Older brother of Manabozho and third of Wenonah's four living sons. He is the most softspoken and levelheaded of the four siblings, though he can also be indecisive, passive, and inattentive. He often plays peacemaker and has to put up with the shenanigans of his brothers with a great deal of patience. He plays a flute which can communicate with animals, but which also tends to put humans to sleep. His element of power is water. He is the sibling closest to Manabozho, and remained with him the longest before leaving home.
WALKS-ON-THE-SHORE (AKA "The Mad Huron")
A Huron (Wyandotte) mainlander residing on the Island. He occasionally serves as Gautier's porter, and causes Charmian no end of irritation with his somewhat bizarre, off-kilter ways. Despite his questionable sanity, he seems to know more about the Island than he lets on.
WEAVERS
Friendly spirits who live beneath the Island and weave a peculiar sort of medicine which can aid in travel between distant places, such as the medicine found in the Sky Tree or Charmian's dreamcatcher. They are peaceful but very shy, and very rarely seen by outsiders.
WENONAH
Deceased daughter of Nokomis, and mother of Manabozho and his other siblings. She died in childbirth after Manabozho was born.
WHITE DEER
Oldest daughter of medicine man Stick-In-The-Dirt. Unlike younger sisters Lily Flower and Little Dove she has not been successful in marriage, and so is learning to be a medicine woman. She is easily frustrated and impatient, but also perseverant and determined.
X'AARU (AKA "Rainbowbringer")
Demon son of Ocryx and Silver Eagle Feather. He has matured somewhat since Charmian last saw him, and has even taken a mate, though he still maintains his naive, childlike temperament. He has the power to create rainbows, which can serve as gateways between different realms. He received the nickname X'aaru from Charmian as a result of his real name being unpronounceable to humans.
Please REVIEW if you rate.
Please DO NOT rate if you won't review.
Thank you!
© Copyright 2003 Tehuti, Lord Of The Eight (UN: tehuti_88 at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved.
Tehuti, Lord Of The Eight has granted InkSpot.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
|
Click "Contact Me" to let me know what you think!
This page last updated 11/11/09. Still under construction so may change at any time.
|