Ixichital, Ixispittle, Ixiwhosit...

Some Background.

The Icky (as I like to call 'em) is based on Central American tales of the manta ray. In legend the manta ray is evil, malign, and draws poor swimmers to their doom. Their priests are blood hungry fiends, thus the vampiric Icky.

"Devil Fish" is another name for them.

The real manta ray is a filter feeder, curious, and tolerates humans rather well. But getting one riled is not a good idea. There are some tour companies that set up "meetings" between humans and manta rays. But be aware that the real Icky is a large creature.

Personal Experience: 'Bout 6 years ago I went with a friend and his family to the Chula Vista, CA nature center. It has a petting pool outside, and there I had an encounter with some sort of ray. I scritched it (a light scratching) between the eyes. It jerked, trembled, and hauled itself partway out of the water in my direction after I stopped scritching. So I kept scritching it on the "top" of the head, and it kept quivering and shaking as long as I did so. When I finally stopped and moved away from the pool, it went back into the water.

I hope the above gives you some ideas about rays in your games.:)
 

log in or register to remove this ad

I remember looking at this thing back in 2nd edition days and, being silly, instructed my friends that it was pronounced ixi-pixie-wooja-woo. The name not only stuck, but it became the name of one of my characters in aother game (a hyperactive troll troubador in Earthdawn).
 
Last edited:

Remove ads

Top