Tribal affiliations: Cherokee (Ani-Hyuntikwalaski), Shawnee (Animikii), Iroquois, Huron (Hadiwennodagyes, Onditachiae, Pletho)

Also known as: Thundermen

The Thunderers are powerful, magical storm beings that live in sky cities, commanding thunder and lightning from their lofty domains. They are neither bird nor human, a creature only described as being made of the elements and able to the take shape of other beings, like giant hawks and handsome men. Their normal, natural forms are human and bird-like.

The Thunderers are divided into three separate clans, each having distinct abilities, forms, and customs. All cultures, however, wear clothing only on the lower half of their body and feathers in their hair. Though not human, the beings can reproduce with humans; those who marry into Thunderer communities often never return to the human world. Young halflings or full-blooded Thunderers are extremely dangerous to earthly residents; they are kept and trained within their sky cities until adulthood－for the most part.

The gaze of a Thunderer brings death to mortals who meet their eyes－some wear thin bands of cloth to protect them from harm Thunderers also are able to speak and understand several different human languages; however, many will not lower themselves to speak to mortals or their body prevents them from being understood. The origin of these bird-like creatures are unknown, as they are so ancient, their stories have been forgotten even by themselves.

Asunder: the Great Storm Birds

Outside of their dwellings, this group of Thunderers, the “Asunder”, only wear the form of a great bird, displaying no human characteristics to earthly viewers. These shapeshifters rarely fly below the clouds and interact with humans even less. In the past, people revered them, honoring them with gifts and deference. Their bird forms are colorful: bright, soft feathers of red, orange, yellow, purple, and white. Their beaks are long and sharp, feet thick and powerful, tipped with black, deadly claws. Their slitted eyes can be any color of lightning, differing from Asunder to Asunder.

When Asunder travel, they bring giant thunderheads behind them; as they flap their wings, lightning strikes the ground and thunder shakes the earth. They view themselves as superior to all earthen and sky beings－rulers overall. The Asunder do not eat or have normal bodily functions, existing as cold, unfeeling creatures made up of wind and air; they are ageless and said to be unable to die, though none have attempted to kill one. The leaders of the Asunder summon lightning when they blink and conjure storms without effort, on a whim. The true, human-like forms of these Thunderers are tall, dark, and androgynous; there are no males or females, few differences distinguishing one from the other.

Their cities are built of thick, sturdy clouds, which wind up into immense fortresses resembling tall, spreading oaks. When angered or provoked, the Asunder attack with their formidable bird-forms (12 - 13 ft wingspans), in addition to sending down a barrage of thunderous strikes.

the Snake Eaters: Turkey Headed Thunderers

The true form of a ‘Snake Eater’ is like that of a man, but with a head like a turkey. When required, their arms transform into wings and a tail grows－permitting them to adeptly take flight. As the beings soar, lightning strikes in rhythm with their wings; if a Snake Eater is accompanied by his/her children, the thunder will be more boisterous than usual, as the youths delight in the flashes and sounds they can generate.

The beings can call forth rain on parched lands, as well as draw out their mortal enemies－snakes－from their hiding places; they may also bring strong winds down upon their adversaries, impeding their movements and escape. Like the Asunder, Snake Eaters have little to do with humans, though they too were once revered for their hunting of Uktenas, among other vicious serpents.

Snake Eaters have blue-gray flesh, barred brown and white feathers, and red snoods and wattles. Males have bearded faces, while females have hairless/featherless heads and larger bodies; both sexes have adornments of colorful feathers in both their human and bird forms (copper, gold, red, and green).

Though they mate for life, Snake Eaters raise only two broods; the youths are brought to adulthood (~25 years) before being prodded from the nest. Couples may wait 50 or more years before raising a second group of offspring. These Thunderers may live up to 300 years, before dying of age-related illnesses. There are stories of Snake Eaters interbreeding with human men and women, though, as the beings have ugly features－at least to humans－the relationships are not always desired by human counterparts; some Snake Eaters even kill to whisk away or win the hand of a desired individual. When these Thunderers are coupled with humans, they visit them in their earthly dwellings, but never bring them to their cloud cities or live in their grounded homes. Children produced by these beings never fully develop the powers or features that their Thunderer parent possesses.

These beings reside in ornate palaces woven of clouds; they float in gentle, blue skies. Some take their halfling children to live with them after their human parent passes away.

The Protectors: the Benevolent, Winged Men

The Protectors are dangerous beings with handsome features, impressive wings on their back, and the ability to partially or fully transform into a bird, as well as call down lightning, bring forth strong storms, and generate powerful gusts of wind.

All Protectors are male, taking human companions to bear their children. These Thunderers fall in love and attempt to woo desired mates; they cover their eyes with cloth, so that their gaze does not kill. Many win their companion’s hearts by saving them from danger, unwanted marriages, or beckoning to their every whim and call.

Once a couple has been formed, the pair lives above the clouds in the Thunderer’s city. They allow their spouses to occasionally leave the sky to visit family, teach their offspring of human customs, and to enjoy other things ground dwellers have to offer; they are also offered a magic drink that allows them to look into Thunderers’ eyes and not die. The eyes of a Protector tell much about their mood, appearing calm and bright blue when happy or peaceful and rolling gray or black when angered. Some groups of these beings－the oldest and most powerful－do not have a deathly gaze, nor do they die or take wives; they see all of humanity as their children and grandchildren, doing all they can to protect them from harm.

Not all human-Protector unions begin smoothly; some of the entities are unable to speak in an understandable manner with their mates, instead speaking their loved one’s language backwards. Communication takes much practice and patience for these individuals, while others are able to speak fluently by observing those below during their childhood. Though these Thunderers are not as skilled in language, they are often physically stronger.

All children produced by the Protectors are considered full-blooded Thunderers as they display all the characteristics of their father and none of their mother; all Protectors’ offspring are also male. Once a human mate dies, the Thunderer may take another companion after a long period of mourning (lasting at least a century). The beings may live up to 500 years, with maturity reached around the age of 80.

Protectors help humans in danger and eradicate serpentine creatures, like the Uktena, who they believe are evil. Thunderers act under the command of a single leader, who is replaced by one of his children upon his death. The ruler of the Protectors acts as a fair and honorable king, dictating where, when, and who does what. Unlike other kingly figures, the Protector’s leader is the most active member of the community and is involved in the most dangerous tasks; he also lends wisdom in all matters. The Protector’s king often goes looking for brides for his sons, favoring women in poor or unfavorable circumstances, imagining a better, happier life for them in the skies; yet, only kind, compassionate, good-natured women are permitted to bond with the Thunderers and enter their cities.

Though they have no need to eat, the Protectors have magical vineyards and orchards in their quaint cities. Unlike other Thunderer communities, these towns are simple with rectangular homes that open to the sky, large, open-air communal buildings (one of which the king rules from), misty hot springs, and paths that overlook the scenic beauty of the world below. Though homes are in the clouds, the Thunderers may also live elsewhere for a time, such as in secret alcoves under waterfalls. Scattered about, there are smaller groups of Protectors who live farther away from the main gathering; these live under lesser rulers and in less mystical, more earthly dwellings.

Thunder Son

On the edge of a village, a beautiful woman lived alone. Her long, brown hair was treated with oils and delicately combed, her luxuriant clothing always fresh and clean. Though a pretty sight, she was also very strong－cutting and carrying wood, working the cornfields, and fetching heavy water baskets each evening. The woman knew she was extremely desirable, so lovely, in fact, that she constantly admired herself, living joyously in the presence of her own reflections. However, she did wish to marry; but, she didn’t want just any man, she wanted someone just as special as herself.

Then the woman met a man like no other; he was unusually handsome, strong, and graceful. He followed her home, walking beside her and taking the water from her hands. The feathers tied in his hair floated as he stepped, giving him an ethereal beauty, “Maiden, let me help you with your water baskets. Then I would like you to come to my home and meet my family.”

As if under a spell, the woman followed him smiling, but never allowing herself to look him in the eye. The couple walked to his mother’s wegiwa, where the woman was introduced to his two sisters, who asked that she stay with them. The man’s family liked her and appreciated her company, and she enjoyed his company; so, she agreed to remain, becoming the strange, strong man’s wife.

While the women worked in the field, the man hunted all day, bringing back more than enough meat. He was an extraordinary hunter and the women were skilled farmers, so the household never ran low on bread, stew, or cornmeal. The little family was happy with each other and their lives.

One day, though, the man returned with bloody hands, messy hair, and torn moccasins; he was very late and the women worried upon seeing his worn form. “Today’s hunt was difficult,” he smiled wearily, “the deer was fast, and when I shot it, it was only wounded. I prayed and followed it, but the deer ran into the sacred waters, ate healing grasses, then rolled in the mud－its wounds disappearing! I knew that I was not meant to kill this one, so I returned to the field and prayed to find another deer. The next one I saw was an old stag. It stared at me, and I knew that it was mine. It was a beautiful deer with magnificent horns and a fighting spirit, it took off over the hedge, running out of sight. Yet, I was also agile, and I soon found its tracks, which led over the edge of a high cliff. But, I didn’t notice the cliff at first, only the tracks. I fell, badly bruising myself, cutting my hands and legs as I rolled down the edge; a bunch of thorn bushes stopped my fall, saving me, but also causing more pain. Once I was free of the thicket, I limped home empty-handed.”

Feeling tired, he sat down and leaned back on his wife’s lap; she stroked his hair, feeling the weariness he exuded. Suddenly, she noticed that his body began to change, his breathing slowed and the hair she played with shrank to scales. Horrified, she inched out from under his giant, fanged head and ran outside, panicked. Seeing her fear, the man’s mother ran after her, “We are Serpent-People, but we are good and wish you well. My son truly loves you, yet if you feel that you can no longer stay here with us, then you should run away. But, go quickly! If he wakes up and knows you have run away, he will try to find you and bring you back. Run, go quickly! And do not look back!”

The woman ran, but as she thought about the man－his kindness, strength, and how good he truly was－she slowed. She was no longer sure what she wanted, so she sat and prayed; falling into a deep sleep, she dreamed that pride was to blame for her troubles and only wisdom would bring her home. She awoke suddenly to find herself in the middle of a thunderstorm, the sky dark and heavy with coming rain.

From above, Thunderers called to her, their deep, booming voices deafening, “Run! Run! The Snake-Man is behind you! Run! He’s going to catch you, run!” The winged men’s voices were so loud, she held her hands over her ears, sobbing as she fled. Her heart pounded in her head, but she could still hear the rustling of a large serpent despite the noise. She quickened, running through the mountains until she found a lake she recognized, one near home. There standing on its shores were three handsome men. The tallest held out a hand, motioning her to stop; he lifted a tall, shimmering spear and threw it behind her, piercing the Snake-Man. A roaring, black cloud then surrounded the men, their anger unabated; the other serpents must be taken care of as well.

Soon after, the Thundermen took the woman to their father’s island home, telling her of its wonders and sights. There she met the elder’s third son, who was quiet, kind, and thoughtful; they married and had a son together. The boy grew to be strong and skilled with his powers, but the woman grew restless, unhappy. She asked her father-in-law if she could go home to visit and introduce her son to her people; he allowed it, as long as the boy never used arrows－ the bolts would turn to lightning and cause great destruction. She agreed, forbidding the boy from ever touching them.

Life was quiet and peaceful for a time, the boy quiet and remaining close to his mother. But as he grew older, the other children distanced themselves and began to make fun of him. They taunted his ability to do many things, but when they realized that he would not touch a bow and arrow, they focused on that, knowing it bothered him.

One day, when the children laughed that he was a baby that could not use a bow, he became so angry that he lost control of himself. The boy picked up the bow and shot wide, hitting some trees and causing them to burst into flame－the blaze quickly spreading. With a frown, his grandfather swooped down and picked the boy up before the flames could lap at his flesh; there he was kept, where he could no longer hurt mortal men.

The woman, however, decided to stay on the ground with her people, living alone but working with others. She felt little for the Thunderers, though they tried to help people and rid the world of creatures they felt were evil. Yet, she felt they misjudged the Snake-People, slaughtering them only for their serpent forms and not their spirits, which she believed were good. Beauty was no longer interesting to her; she warned others to look into people’s hearts for attractiveness, not their faces. Her own heart was saddened, and she regretted her decisions, the life she was left with; the day the serpent’s body was pierced, her heart was also.

-Thunder Son, Shawnee Legend