A nice share from a bear:  perfesser-bear spotted this picture from  wolf-nymph

I appreciate folks like  andreajae  helixthefallen  vixyyfox  digitalpotato  philodidelphis  janglur  rockfang and  duroc (and anyone I may have missed) who thought of me when they saw something that would fit in this report! Thank you.


Art by Nelinka Rosenberg; the finished product as well as a WIP gif. Complete with nest!


A game called Dungeons of Hinterberg features a Basilisk's Roost dungeon where you face a...rather monsterous fellow. Nine eyes? Okay! There's a walkthrough of how to beat the poor fellow.

Our exploitation in RPG's has been going on probably ever since there were RPG's. Tricks are so old that that they show up on lists on low-content "news" sites. "Use the Cloak of Algernon to charm one of the basislisks" to farm XP? More like "Kiss the Cloaca of the basilisk who's gonna put an end to your little quest".

It wouldn't bother me so much except for the fact that despite looking cool, we are usually easy to beat--seriously, the poor guy lasts less than a minute, and he's a boss!


We need some better PR. So on that note:

T-shirts from a Haitian source: "Channel the transformational powers of Cockatrice" by wearing it!


Quite a few hits for a Turkish TV show named Shahmaran started coming up this month, apparently they've released season 2. I think the mythological being (from India) has appeared in these reports before. Shahmaran...what's the prophecy all about?

Want to learn Russian? An informative little report with the translation side by side to master important vocabulary words and phrases.

There are few creatures as terrifying as the cockatrice in mythology -- В мифологии есть мало существ, столь же ужасающих, как кокатрис.

In heraldry, the cockatrice is often used as a symbol of courage -- В геральдике кокатрис часто используется как символ храбрости.

And most importantly, where to find honest-to-goodness cockatrices not watered down by modern takes? Go to the real source: Петушиное яйцо.

A last bit from Russian sites: I don't recall this exact pose before though I could be wrong. Looks like there's a little barb in his tongue, and some nice spikes; not much in the way of feathers, though.


Speaking of modern takes and inauthentic cockatrices, watch out for NFT cockatrices eggs in various colors like brown or blue. These seem to be showing up in the Ukraine for some reason...though here's a Russian brown one.

If I ever want to put together a coloring book, I could start at Book of Traceable Heraldic Art which has connections with the SCA. It has separate entries for basilisk and cockatrice even though there's a lot of heraldic overlap.

More heraldric info this month from Crests and Arms, an info site that wants you to buy reports on how your family may be related to royalty. Yeah right! My "real family crest" probably consists of a toad and a rubbish heap* behind a barn.


I keep thinking about swinging up to Portland because of Basilisk Fried Chicken--but to enjoy the food, or to act for the honor of many felled ancestors and cousins? That's the question. It's been named the best place in the state, so that must count for something. But KGW8's reporters could use a little more book-learning: "The restaurant, named after the chicken monster in Dungeons and Dragons..." I should send them some more background reading material.


Video of a painting done (on request) of a cockatrice:

The artist, RileoftheNile, has a few other nice short pieces in their gallery.

And a painting found on Etsy by AdriansAnomalies. The prices are listed in Indian rupees even though the seller is in South Dakota; I'm sure there's a good reason for that somewhere.


Manga with a (possibly mistranslated) title of Cockatrice Cartoon Cockatrice, just Cockatrice, or การ์ตูน Cockatrice ค็อกคาทริส in Thai. It might not technically be "manga" if it isn't from Japan? I don't know. It's by Masaya Nomoto, who I can't find references to aside from info about their short comic (it's only four books). It might not have much about cockatrices in the story but it has at least some artistic references (found here).


I think this is a Cockatrice model for Warhammer III on Steam but I don't know enough about the game to read through the translated page to find what it really is. Neat artwork, though: looks like he's hovering with a big banner attached to his back.


A collaborative single has dropped from Tokyo based duo Bearwear and "2.5 dimensional artist" Yuka Nagase. (What's a 2.5 dimensional artist? I've heard it used in video game context but this might be more like she's...like the Gorillaz?) You can read more about it here.


According to Spincoaster, the video seems to have been uploaded on YouTube right at the end of July:





You may have seen this if you were in Jacksonville, Florida, but it's too late otherwise: Enchantment Con was a one day event. If the site makes you register to read the article, don't worry about it (especially if you missed the con). The online ad is here and the reason it showed up in my searches is it featured this familiar basilisk from Chamber of Secrets.


That wraps it up for this month!



*or a dung heap

Getting back to my roots!  fromthedead asked about how petrification works. I never liked setting the process in stone (so to speak), but there was an original version heavily based on NetHack: here are some of the rules my first character followed though I adapted them right away to parts of the classical mythology that I admired. I don't know if I ever intended a certain character in this story to be me, but it could have been. (Gosh, that's 17 years old...)


An oddity from Chegg, the academic support and homework help site (I think you can also get copies of textbooks there):

Population Modeling

Suppose the life-cycle of the fabled cockatrice can be separated into five distinct stages of development...

The following table will provide the annual probabilities of an individual surviving and staying in their current stage or surviving and moving to the next stage as well as the number of offspring produced that year.

The table of values is provided, and some help in constructing what is called a Lefkovitch matrix is given. I've covered Lefkovitch, Leslie, Markov, and other stochastic processes in classes I teach but I never thought of using my own personal life as fodder for word problems! Well, on second thought...I guess I did, once.

In the problem given, each segement of the population will start growing by a factor of close to 2.09 each "season", more than doubling in size...which would probably come close to meeting the needs of various video games with dungeons and random encounters (one would hope).


A pretty sweet tattoo from an Instagram user named Dogtrap. Lookin' good, though I'd prefer the feathered wings to the bat wings I see so often.


Have a listen to Radio Basilisk! No sign of a logo or mascot, but their music selection is pretty eclectic and mostly in English, despite being hosted in Switzerland.


From the French site Clubic, an article about a Ethernet diagnostic device called the Basilisk.

A tool called Basilisk, used for intrusion tests on Ethernet networks, is sold for 600 euros on the Web. Problem: It allows you to bypass network access controls (NAC)...

For a few hundred euros, therefore, hackers can freely obtain a tool for penetration testing on Ethernet networks, which offers the possibility of avoiding detection, by bypassing NAC, the network admission control process. which aims, initially, to prevent unauthorized devices or users from accessing a private or corporate network.

As for the major features of the tool, you already know two of them. But it also has a ghosting mechanism , that is to say transparent merging of the Ethernet traffic of two devices. We can also mention instant connection, without any configuration, and buffering on all ports, to limit the risk of packet loss. Each port has 32 KB of buffer. Basilisk is also a real-time hardware solution, capable of operating without latency with 10/100 Ethernet throughput.

So how does it all work? David Legeay, co-founder of ORSEC Technologies, a Rennes-based company, explains: “ Basilisk conceals malicious traffic within legitimate communications, making detection by SOC teams extremely difficult. There is no need to find an additional network port to connect the malicious device, making the intrusion process simpler and faster.”


For all of us not into super-dramatic hacking, you can at least make off with some assets valued at about .99ETH (Ethereum). Just have a look at this supposed "Cockatrice Egg" and right click!


A great render of a cockatrice spotted on Artstation, which I'll include mainly for this animated version on YouTube:




I went back and forth on whether to include this. It's on YouTube but I won't embed it since it's AI generated and I know some people would have some objections to it. I can't say it's catchy; I wouldn't download it. I suppose it's good to gauge what AI can do from time to time, though. For those who want to listen: Cockatrice Blues.

An inexpensive (and pretty short) game, Cockatrice Forest. Avoid cockatrices as you try to navigate through a forest full of them!

A repeat of a really beautiful 3d print, Basilisk vs. Cockatrice. They're both huge, both staring at each other. The seller is trying to frame it as a confrontation but perhaps there would be other twists we could put on it? Some eggs are visible on the base, one hatched. Maybe they're comparing parenting tips!


Rock the Dock Pub and Grill in Tacoma, Washington recently showcased Iron Cockatrice, a two man group playing strings and singing to a mostly inattentive audience. Keep playing guys, I'm sure your break will come soon. Keep on staring! Err, playing.




Timelapse of a drawing of the cockatrice from Witcher:




Demonstration of different emotes/poses for a cockatrice model as well as some other birds; I skipped right to the relevant part of the showcase. I recognize some of these as very similar to a dinosaur model on Second Life; I wonder if there's a connection?


And a repeat of a podcast I found a couple of years ago, I think...now set to an animated loop. But at least it has a badger in it! Hello from the Magic Tavern, season 2 episode 40: The Cockatrice. The link takes you to about the 9:40 mark where the interview with Patti the Cockatrice begins.



It was a tough month for basilisks of all kinds.

First, a story that could have ended badly but turned out well thanks to combined forces from the EU (I've read a lot of the forces were from Spain, specifically).

From EU Naval Force Operation ATALANTA:

Operation ATALANTA confirms the liberation of the Liberian-flagged Merchant Vessel BASILISK. The 17 crewmembers are safe, and the ship has been secured by one ATALANTA vessel.

The ship was attacked by suspected pirates yesterday 23 May whilst transiting the Indian Ocean, sailing approximately 380 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, Somalia, heading North.


Second, there's a Basilisk Youth Circus in Basel, Switzerland (of course). It was founded in 1969:

Theo Meder put out an appeal in the newspaper: "We are looking for children and young people who would like to join a circus." Around seventy boys came - thirty of them stayed, but none were sent away. The future artists were between seven and seventeen years old, and it was an unwritten rule that the boys had to do well in school too.

Some trained intensively in gymnastics and acrobatics; others as clowns, or other performers. Some parents chipped in to sew, do simple carpentry and other design.

But apparently around May 23 or May 24, There was a fire.

In the winter quarters near the Otterbach customs crossing, a one-meter-high burn hole appeared in the tent wall. As the circus writes, the flame-retardant material prevented even greater damage. Paper and wood that were not available locally were found in the ashes, which suggests arson.

The show must go on! But what a pity if it was arson.

Short story that started out promising but really let me down. It's on Medium, a site that tracks how many times you've visited because they want to charge for their content and...well, don't blame me if this burns up one of your free articles. I should have translated the title first, Mors Pullum--a real tragedy. But at least the author pays attention to myths! "One of the roosters was seen laying an egg, and a snake had gotten to it before they could do anything." Scandalous!


Video clip from Delicious in Dungeon on TV Tropes. I feel as if we've arrived!


A friendly resident decoration and probably the main attraction for me at Wizards Den Cafe, a place reviewed in the Nottingham Post. I almost called it "Wizard's Den" or "Wizards' Den" but...there's no apostrophe. Curious. Sounds like they could also use some egg work: "...the eggs could have done with a little longer." It looks like a place that would rank a few steps higher than Willy's Chocolate Experience, and perhaps shares a similar attitude towards intellectual property.

If I went there I'd try to bring one of my own spoons. How do I know it's mine? Pictures!



T-shirts cropping up again, this time with artwork I haven't seen before. The design is a bit too small in my opinion. If you're going to have a logo or image on clothing, why make it dinky?


A 3d printed model of a giant cockatrice carrying off a bovine from NecroTech Prints. I occasionally wondered whatever happened to Brontes...

And a much more cuddly basilisk, Magtus from Jazwares collectibles. Sort of a soft, squishy pillow...they make a few others, called Squishmallows.


Perhaps of interest to those who enjoy baking: this set of Cookie Cutters from Loot Cave Co. which inclues several types of dragons along with a cockatrice. Might skip it for myself since the cockatrice cookies appear as if they'd be...too complicated. Neat idea, perhaps a rough execution.


SciFiPulse reviews a periodical I hadn't seen before, Forgotten Runes. This came up because of Wizard's Cult 3, involving a wizard who has sworn an oath to watch over a cockatrice egg until it hatches. Sounds like my kind of guy! Though I think he's also responsible for the egg needing someone to watch over it in the first place. At least he's stepping up and taking responsibility!


That's all for this month. I'm looking forward to the semester wrapping up, I'll tell ya.

Something that hit the news in several different sources, including ATI, BNN, The Miami Herald, and The Smithsonian Magazine:

They describe an archaeologist, Mr. Tomasz Murzyński, and his discovery of a small badge probably carried by a pilgrim that depicts a basilisk (or a "basilisk dragon" as the World Herald calls it--and then links to an article about cockatrices).

The institution that will eventually display it had this to say: "The history of the creation of badges, or pilgrim's signs, in Western Europe goes back to the early Middle Ages. They had various forms and shapes - spiral, square, in the form of cross, shells, rings, shields. They featured figures of saints, knights, human heads and chests, as well as zoomorphic figures (birds, animals, dragons). The oldest pilgrim badges are related to the St. John's trail. Jacob, they are shaped like a clam shell and date back to the 11th century."

This article from LiveScience suggests that it may be something called a Zilant and not a basilisk after all. I should start making a "cousins" update sometime soon...

A cute video of a sculptor, The Redheaded Poet, working on a baby (hatchling) cockatrice:


A much longer and detailed version of the events in the above video are here.


For old times' sake, a 3d printable cockatrice by Bestiarum Miniatures. From the side it looks like the poor guy has an ax growing out of his chest but it's just really tough bony plates. And from behind...Oooh la la!



A German language article in the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung about the installation of a basilisk statue (a picture here, from the article).

It's apparently a well-known local story, usually commemorated in the weather vane of the church where the incident took place. "According to legend, a basilisk is said to have hatched fifteen eggs under the church, breathing deadly breath on all residents who came too close...including the priest." An egg hunt just in time for Easter!


And a wall hanging I'm looking to get; put in a bid for it over on eBay. Front view and From the Base. I'll try to get a picture of it after it arrives and I've chosen a spot for it.

I don't know if this is true for all artists, but  BruceBadger draws much, much more than he ever uploads or shares online. He's got a rabbit, B. Dalton, and upon looking at several sketches of him in a pile of artwork out in a storage space, I thought of this:

Hauke stares at Dalton's backside, his expression betraying salacious thoughts.

Dalton: What do you want?

Hauke: I was just thinking, it's nearly Easter, right? I expected you to start putting on some more weight, since after all this is about when you bunnies start hopping around to lay--

Dalton seizes Hauke's wattles and drags the basilisk's beak right up to the rabbit's nose

Dalton: We don't talk about that. We never talk about that.

Dalton stalks off leaving Hauke slumped on the ground, trying to straighten himself out.


Anyway, for those fans of his, I'm hoping Bruce will be drawing some more soon.

I know I said I was going to ease back on the miniatures, but check out this beast of a fellow from The Hidden Fortress. Bawk yeah, he's ready to run over with those giant feet and give you a good pecking.


But there's a much softer side, in evidence here from Moss and Moonshine's shop: Aphrodite the Albino Cockatrice Chick. Isn't she the most adorable little puffy fluffball? Tail needs a bit more development, it kinda looks like a rat, there...but a few more sheds and I'm sure it'll look beautiful.



An audio story, The Basilisk's Stare, which was originally broadcast in in 2020 (I may have missed it--I'd have to consult the old journals).
A printable page for coloring while you listen! It has the typical reflective shield trick. The end turns into a commercial from the smug--er, the bright young lady for her father's armor. "Everyone says it's the shiniest around. The basilisk would too--if he could talk, that is!"




I hadn't realized basilisks made it into the world of Game of Thrones. I don't know if the show caught up to that yet, but that would be a reason to watch at least one episode.

A song titled Cockatrice by a group called Globz. They seem to have a few tracks out there named after various creatures or animals, maybe it was just our turn this month? Don't know.

Another poem, this time from the mysterious Bigguy:

The cockatrice regards the mirror

The gaze thrice distilled poison.

He sees not

mere ugliness, though he wishes he could.

He sees evil in

his countenance.

It is as toxic as

The fury he, scatter-shod,

Casts about his roiling body.

He can feel the harm he does,

His caustic gaze devours flesh and

He wants to close his eyes, but

The ache of lonesome decades

Drags them back open.

He used to cry oaths of penitence to the stars

As though that shame meant something.

Now he wishes that

He believed in

What he believes in,

And that

She loves him half

As much as he hates himself.



And finally a poetic reading (for the kiddies--convert them young!)

Kicking off a new year and a new set of 12 reports (I hope) for sightings "out in the wild" of both basilisks and cockatrices...I leave off pictures on FurAffinity and most other art sites because they have their own search functions and if you're already here, you know how to find stuff for yourself.

For those investors out there, BSX is out there! New Year, new opportunities. I keep telling myself I should buy in just to say I have it.

A 3d print of a cockatrice from NovaMinis that comes with a short video showing a turnaround view:



And a buttload of different builds and models can be viewed here, at Couatl's Hoard. Many models I've found in the past are here, and there might be a few new ones. (If I run across more 3d printable models in the future, I'll probably skip sharing them here unless it seems they're not in this list.)




A somewhat cringy (in my humble opinion) celebration of various identities (at least 14 that I'd heard of and a few more I hadn't) marketed for pride. It's interesting they chose cockatrices, not sure how that worked out. But like the super long video...I just report what's out there. Have a look at their pins, some of which are cute, and consider pledging.



Book for sale from an author named Schmitz which, from the blurb, features a traveling vet and a cockatrice in crisis as well as some other goings-on. Only $2.99 for the eBook! (I wonder, does anyone who does the Thursday prompts sell their stuff like this?)



Youtuber BlueRooster76 who operates Rooster's Leather & Steel checks the forests for the elusive Cockatrice. I'm kind of surprised he found anything...I don't remember the last time I visited a forest.
Nice sound effects...not. :>


And a stirring tale of Sir Gwythir Owain vs. the Cockatrice of Brastondell, learning to fight using just his hearing (and some direction from the audience). While the ending wasn't great for the cockatrice, he got even at the end!


A fairly long stream of two guys discussing miniatures and other gaming paraphernalia they've made, while painting a cockatrice figure. I skimmed through parts of it and skimmed through the transcript...maybe not a lot there but people more devoted than I to craftsmanship might enjoy them.



Ever since I stumbled across Dungeon Meshi I figured a day like this would show up. Netflix is making a show about it. The trailer is here, which features a brief look at the basilisk. (Looking seriously cute here!) The English title is Delicious in Dungeon so of course it's just a matter of time before the protagonists feast on the poor thing. It's in episode 2, apparently; ready about it here or here: everything tastes like chicken.

Coincidentally I found this recipe for Quiche Basilisk which, before you get all excited, is probably named after Basel and not our favorite and not at all delicious extended family.



A game where you confront Roko's Basilisk, available on Steam. Ignorance is bliss...or can at least lead you away from the opposite of bliss.


Another track from Basilisk, the album from J. Robbins, was released for promtional purposes. "Last War" is a bit more rockin', and of course rocks are great!


And wrapping up with a poem by Murdo Maclachlan:

The Cockatrice

The venom found in triad cuts
was blue and paled the blood;
a traveller lone beckons doom
if walking paths that wander on
in lands where feathered wings loom.

The statue stands in stone relief
above the plinth in halls of gods,
its twisting tail and toothed beak
telling well the visage shadowed
upon the sky in mountains bleak.

Blinkered hunters taunt the moors,
knocking arrows sharp as spears,
hearing trumpets in parade,
but scales are a tougher steel,
and claws rake as good as any blade.

Archers haste to watch the clouds,
without a dream that death might crawl
among the heather, stalk and slither;
a dragon with blood of basilisk
is the silence that slinks hither.

An avian neck and bat-like wings
rear and spread, strike too quick;
muscles seized with talons' hue;
the Cockatrice erupts like fire,
and rips for blood paled by atter blue.

A couple of hours early but I've got a little bit of celebrating to do.

A miniature I know I haven't run across before because why would a rabbit need a cockatrice to ride on? I guess the novelty got me. Sometime I should commission a cockatrice riding something else.


Antique carved from wood up for grabs. I'm not positive about the ID on this one but I think I can see it. Must have been pretty when the paint was new.


A classic engraving: Basilisk or Amphysian Cockatrice, tail nowed (Tail is knotted, and it's got a face!) I have a coffee cup with that on it.


A new place to check out if I ever do get to Europe: The Cockatrice B&B. It's unclear where, exactly, the source of the name might be as they state it's an old pub. But who doesn't love a good pub?


At least Basilisk, the new album (his second solo album) from J. Robbins refers to basilisks in the second track, Exquisite Corpse. You can listen to it there after reading about the artist; though the single is on YouTube, too.



Thanks to  Rockfang for finding this video!

Footage from a game, nice cycled animation when idle.


And a speedpaint:

Sort of based on raptor artwork.


Unknown anime:

Some sort of battle stage simulation gone wrong!


Youtube was sort of a treasure trove this month; lots of videos uploaded dealing with petrification in anime and other shows. There was also a channel that I suspect is completely AI/Bot driven and automated, "Mindful Wake", which uploaded at least two videos jam packed with different (appropriated and uncredited) artwork. Is this going to be a thing going forward? Essentially a slide show about some topic with a ChatGPT-generated narration? And I thought those YouTube channels that just had a computer narrating Reddit stories was lazy. I did not link the Mindful Wake videos because I don't want to steer any traffic that way (but you could probably find them on your own if you're curious).

This was a pretty crummy year; not exactly for me but for someone very close to me. Without going into details, I'll say this: never take your health for granted and never take the health of your loved ones for granted. A lot can change, and very quickly, completely out of the blue. I thank everyone who has been a fan of my spouse's work and I hope you will encourage him to continue drawing.


Don't know what it was about July, but that was the BasilCockWatch with the most comments. I suppose it was mostly due to a thread of conversation and not different readers commenting, but I'll take what I can get.

Assessing how stuff I've written has done this year, I looked at what got the most favorites and comments but then thought "Would something that's been up a long time just seem as if it got more attention?" So I looked at ratios of favorites to views, and comments to views (expressed as percentages). We can think of it as the likelihood that someone viewing the item commented or favorited. Though the comments are probably not a great indicator because I respond with at least "thanks" to a lot of comments, so maybe the comment percentages should be split in half? If I have more time I'll think about that more.

Biggest draw for favorites was, of course, pornographic. Roughly 4% of viewers decided to fave See How You Like It. It may have something to do with art being embedded in the pdf but who can say!

The biggest conversations happened on responses to the Thursday Prompts which of course makes sense. (I apologize about how lazy I am about reading other writers' work.)

Hopefully everyone out there keeps reading and writing...or drawing, sculpting, knitting, making music, or what have you.

I'd never heard of the game Redfall, apparently it's met with some disappointment for the developers, Bethesda's Arkane Studios. But to generate some more buzz, a few bugs have been fixed and a new weapon unveiled: the Sniper rifle "Basilisk". It can petrify enemies under certain conditions (given they are not immune to it, or have not already been petrified) with a single shot. Very nice!


Taking it slow on the miniatures unless they're new:

Possibly new cockatrice for 3D printing from either Darkshroud or Vermillion miniatures...it's confusing.

Neat sculptures of a cockatrice as well as a basilisk from SnitchyTheDog as seen here.


And a few videos this time around.

Link to about 2 and a half minutes into a video about rewards if the game they're creating gets enough attention. I didn't watch the whole thing, I just checked out where the Cockatrice is.

Speed sketching video that goes a little bit into the mythology and advises you to bring a mirror on your first meeting. Trust me: No. No, don't bring a mirror.


This is better on mute; just blot out the annoying juvenile repetative narration. :>


An interactive piece of artwork by Anhad Sawhney, "Eyes of the Basilisk". It tracks you thermally, like a snake!



More articles here and here.
The walls have eyes!!

Trying to cut down on the repeats of miniatures, but I think this is a new one. I suppose that literally, it's new! Baby Cockatrice monster in Resin from nidsnbits.

And here's one more from FORG3D_MNL. They have a sweet D&D style basilisk as well. I was never brave enough to go for all 8...

Pop culture piece on Looper, Harry Potter's Basilisk goes a bit into different interpretations and may spark a bit of research, which is a good thing! And best of all: Speaking of serpents, a basilisk almost never looks like what Rowling created...most depictions of basilisks are far smaller and more iguana-like. Basilisks often feature a mixture of scales and feathery plumage, along with a varying number of legs or wings, depending on the region.

Old school fanzine, Cockatrice, dating back to 1963! I dig the illustration. (I've placed it here and here as a backup.) Who is Crockett, and what did he remember?

Exeter, considered one of the UK's most haunted cities, had a Halloween ghost hunt at the White Hart Hotel, the site of a potential massacre due to a cockatrice in a well (though it could have been marsh gas):

"Tragedy struck in 1649 when the inn had an old well that had long been neglected.

The White Hart's owner, Roger Cheek, employed Paul Penrose to climb down the well to repair it. At the bottom, Penrose suddenly fell dead, suffocated by ‘an uncommon stench’. A second workman, named William Johnson, was called to go down and investigate. When he reached the bottom, he too fell dead.

A friend of the men wishing to help his workmates, also descended the well and almost died himself, but was pulled back up. He rolled around in agony, to be revived with water and oil.

When he recovered, he said that there was a strong smell that hindered his breath. Some onlookers said that it was a Cockatrice - a legendary creature that is part lizard, part rooster - that caused the deaths..."


Basilisk Cryptocurrency (BSX) underwent a shocking 30.38% increase on Saturday, Oct. 28...reaching values of just over 65 microdollars! Or 6.5 millicents. That's $0.00006536 for people who don't know the metric system. If only I had gotten a hold on some of that while it was still inexpensive. I wouldn't have to live in wells and other holes in the ground. On Halloween, it dropped to 64 microdollars and recieved a short-term technical ranking of 77 for what that's worth. Buy! Buy?


And I hope you had a Happy Halloween!

Very slim pickings this month...just as well, I've been busy. School's been rolling forward at a bustling, no break pace.

Come one, come all, come big and small!



A miniature I think we've seen before. Spiked tail, good for stabbing; two little grabby claws on the bat wing? Seems like it might be a repeat. The close-up view and the detail is nice though.



A broadcast from Stories Podcast, The Wherwell Cockatrice. You can skip to about 2:45 to get past the intro and commercials. They didn't get the rooster part right, but they did bring up the toad. (Ms. Croaker!) Begotten by pride and stewed with jealousy! "Adult cockatrice could kill with a glance! But the little one could only give you a headache." It seems to swallow a lot of folks whole. It also couldn't be hurt by its own stare reflected back...but a mirror still saved the day.


And that's about it! Everything else was either talking about the Basilisk Razor gaming mouse, or news releases about people in Hogwarts: Legacy being angry they can't get into the Chamber of Secrets to get killed by the basilisk there. (At least...that's what SHOULD happen but it probably won't because hooray wizards and invincible children.)


In other news,  BruceBadger started drawing again. If you're a follower of his, he may be uploading things in the near future. Keep your fingers, toes, claws, and whathaveyou crossed!

I normally don't link to artwork on this site in these updates because I figure if you wanted to find this stuff, you know where the search function is. I also don't usually link out to just plain artwork that isn't a physical item or attached to some sort of news, but this jumped out at me:

Maybe it was the cactus in the background that made me think of home?

Is it AI inspired? I can't tell. I know AI-created content rubs a lot of people the wrong way, didn't mean to ruffle anyone's feathers here.


Another unusual inclusion: Fursuit head?

By Oh Rats Creations in the EU. A posable comb and...a removable tongue. (I yank on my own tongue for a second.) Huh. I like it better when they're forked, anyhow!


As usual, MINIATURES!


A crowing cockatrice from Donya Quick. This is a little unusual because a cock's crow is supposed to be fatal for the average cockatrice to hear. But I guess trying to mimic your dear old dad is a natural instinct, for better or for worse. Looks like he's putting a lot into that crow, needing to stablize himself with his wings.


Hand-sculpted by Paul Muller, this one has a striking resemblance to a certain picture in the old second edition D&D Monster Manual I have sitting around somewhere. It's from Badger Games and I must admit I feel a little partial toward THAT name. :> The site has a cute little mascot.


A 3-d printed miniature from Epic Miniatures who I swear looks like he's not just ready to stare, he's ready to start pummeling you with little pterodactyl-like claws on the wings. If I ever got more serious into suiting...I think I'd start with this as inspiration.


Another entry from Badger Games, we have a little metal figurine. Looks like he just woke up and is squinting a bit.


From Only-Games we have...chicken lizard bird bat beast. Got all that? Also for sale on Cults3d, as noted in July.

Unpainted miniature cockatrice with lots of nice tailfeathers to go with the snaky tail. It's a good look, I'll admit that!

And last but not least, a nicely painted 3-d printed miniature.

These are starting to dominate the report...I should maybe start setting the bar higher for including them.


Games!

A board game with a horror and cooperative style is coming out at the beginning of September: From Ravensburger, the third title in their Horrified series features a Greek twist with Medusa, the Minotaur, and Cerberus...and a bunch of other non-unique monsters of which cockatrices are included. Yaaaay, inclusion. Should have been a basilisk though, since that's an actual Greek word and all (Βασιλίκος).


That's all for August! Check in next month.

Interesting reference material:
From original sources, along with an interesting picture:

The Basilisk’s breath was poisonous and withered all vegetation except the rue (an evergreen shrub). Its glance was fatal to all men and animals, apart from the weasel, and shattered giant rocks into splinters. If, by any remote chance, a blind person with no sense of smell managed to kill a basilisk, its deadly venom would travel through the weapon and strike dead the person who held it.


And more contemporary sources, like the show The Witcher--I think this video appeared in another month's report. And here's some advice on how to effectively use monsters in Warhammer (this blog contains pictures of a few models I know I've shared before).




Small figurines!
Three different poses for cockatrice miniatures from Crafty Witch Miniatures. It's got a somewhat scrawny tail for my tastes but maybe it's more "whiplike"?


A cockatrice in flight from Epic Miniatures, for sale on Cults3d. Might have a barb or sting on the tail, which is more like it!


Some assembly required: Age of Sigmar Cockatrice (cast in resin) for tabletop gameplay. This one's tail is big enough to support the whole body, rearing off the ground. And to that I say kudos to you, you really kept up with your workout routine. (*sucks in his potbelly*)


Clothes!
I hadn't heard of Spreadshirt before but they have an interesting cockatrice item! The climate here isn't great for hoodies, but the same design is on shirts.



Music Scene!
The video for "Basilisk" from the album Hologram, group Edge of Paradise.

An article about the release from BraveWords that also has a link to the video. I see lots of gyrating band members but no mythological creatures...



A less visual and more audio-based adventure from artist Mulluck begins with track one, The Gloomy Cockatrice. It has a happy ending with Alive Forever, Turned to Stone:

Alive forever, turned to stone
Attend her with no breeze on her lee;
Leaving her wild pride at the same tone,
Whispered my perfect look upon me.

How playful!


And finally in Sports News!
The Basilisk Marlins, who I mentioned last month, have lost to the Crocs and they are out of the Commanders Cup. Maybe next time!

A quick journal just to reach out to some people. If I seem whiny, then you were probably not in the intended audience. Move along.

My spouse and I have had a pretty bumpy road this year with both expenses and health. The badger's medical issues became extremely serious; if you've watched or are a fan of  BruceBadger's artwork, send him a word if you'd like. I don't know if he'll see it in the near future, or if he'll respond. Like I said...things are serious. But positive thoughts do matter.

The medical bills are not huge as he has great insurance. The expenses for important repairs to our home honestly dwarf the hospital charges. I was able to swing a great deal on a low interest rate loan but only if the amount is paid off in full by a deadline. I can do it but it means cutting a lot of corners. I may have to reevaluate some commissioning habits of mine, and subscriptions of all kinds.

Changes are coming to work due to generational attitude shifts that may be good for society as a whole but maybe not so beneficial to me personally. I just have to ride it out.

This won't be a year I look back on fondly. And it's not even over yet.

I may be overreacting to this but I couldn't let it go.

Someone posted a link to the cover art of Breed to Come, fiction by Andre Norton, to a Telegram channel where I sort of lurk. People asked "Where is that from" and the answer was that it was from the novel..."Straight up furries before it was a thing".

Before furries were a thing.

Did "furry fandom" begin in 2010? Or even later? Did furry become a thing just in time for people who graduated from high school this year to have a chance to pick a fursona? Did it become a thing when fursuit makers became able to advertise themselves and their services?

Just my personal opinion, but "Fashion is smashin' the true meaning of it".

Do we go all the way back to Narnia by Lewis or The City by Simak in the 1950's?

Do we go all the way back to The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr in 1821?

When did furry become a thing? Ask a writer. We'll know.

Anyone in London? Catch Oliver Wallace as he tells stories at Cockatrice and Cocktails. Seems to be July 1 only!



Listed as #1 in the List of the Strangest Monsters in Roman Mythology. It's nice to have top billing but are we then really the most strange?



This quote attributed to W.R. Gingell caught my attention:

She was interesting in a cockatrice kind of way: alien and very, very deadly.

First strange, now we're alien. It's like someone doesn't want us around.



Papua New Guinea Defense Force has an amateur sports team, the Basilisk Marlins!

Hey Basilisks! I see a marlin in your logo but...you know, I think this is more about the "running across water" basilisk lizard--this confusion happens a lot. I'll root for you guys anyway in the Commanders Cup.



A coloring page for kids (though the wings look like they're already shaded): A cockatrice versus a snake. It reminds me of artwork you'd have pre-game of mascots for teams going at it. Slytherin vs...some other house with a cockatrice mascot? I'd be down for it.



Nice to see some mythology is being taught along with coloring activities. It's recommended for second graders and while it's classified under Social Studies and Cultural Studies, it apparently doesn't align with any common core, Texas, or Virginia standards; neither does it align with standards from Canada or Australia. For shame, for shame.


On to three dimensional art:

Muelsfell Cockatrice 3d render for sale from Daz ED. Looks very enthusiastic and happy to be there!

This other 3d printable version is here from Evox Arts. Looks like the giant variety...is that a goat he's carrying away?

Yet more mountable cockatrices for RPG figures from Nidsnbits; riding in style.

It doesn't look like this fellow from WowMiniatures is down for having anyone ride him. According to the source, The Cockatrice is an unsettling and repulsive creature...hmmph! I've read enough. I think I've seen the general pose before, but the coloration and texture seems different. He seems to be hanging out with a few skulls tucked by his tail, and it even looks like the beginnings of the tail head seen in heraldic circles is suggested...though it's hard to tell if that's a mock beak that is really more like pinchers, or a genuine face from this angle.



Pictures of a weather vane depicting the Wherwell Cockatrice lead me to articles about it, but I couldn't actually find the image in question. Interestingly, the one in this legend was spawned by a duck! Quackatrice?



Another source for Good Mythical Morning merchandise. I wonder if people buy them in bulk and then sell them off in other places...kind of like scalpers for concert and sports tickets.



And a new shirt (at least, I hadn't seen it before) from RedBubble: Stop Staring at my Cockatrice!

Another familiar pattern shows up on this shirt from the same site. I think I have it on a coffee cup.



An ad for the Razer Basilisk mouse's smaller, cheaper alternative, the Cobra. As if this report featuring the mostly benign water-running lizard wasn't enough, one of the largest dislikes of mine is the downgrading of basilisks and cockatrices to cobras and asps (see different translations of Isaiah 11:8 and 14:29). I suppose it's in line to have the smaller, cheaper, but still pretty functional mouse be named after the smaller, weaker, not-as-deadly-but-no-slouch-either, cobra.



And finally, a story I hadn't seen before; there's some confusion about "St. Basil" and "St. Basilisk" here. Lots of these name mix-ups in June for some reason...

June 4 in the church calendar – St. Basil’s Day. He lived during the reign of Emperor Maximian and preached Christianity, for which he was imprisoned. While imprisoned, the Basilisk began to prepare for his sacrifice. But suddenly he was released, so he went to his own land and bade farewell to his family.

He's later recaptured and sacrificed, and becomes a martyr after predicting he has seen his family and friends for the last time. Advice for the next time June 4th rolls around:

* It is not recommended to do things in the field or in the garden – what you plant on this day will definitely not grow.
* You cannot borrow anything.
* Do not curse or slander. (I figure these would be "standing orders" for people who'd celebrate days dedicated to saints...)

Time for another roundup!

An obituary for an artist, Rae Richards, who I had heard of when I came across a wall hanging she had done. I had always assumed it was made of fabric or quilted, but the article seems to refer to her as a painter? You decide, painted or sewn?


Lots of folks ask me if I'm aware of Good Mythical Morning, and of course I am. Here's another chance to pick up one of their t-shirts.


It's the FC Basel (Football Club in Basel, Switzerland). You'd think basilisks would be a natural choice for a mascot since the whole town has a pretty cohesive theme. But no: the mascot is some idiot clown named Joggeli. What are they THINKING?! Ugh.


The cyptocurrency Basilisk (BSX) has been hitting the news this month. I guess it did well--by not losing as much value as other currencies did. I keep thinking I ought to at least make a token investment in this. It'd be cheap, as of the publication of this analysis it was $0.000237450, which was a gain of 117.77% over its 30 day low. (I could have almost doubled my money, in other words!)

Update: As of Monday (Memorial Day), it was $0.000281092. We're in the money, baby!

Stop the press: Right at the end of May it experienced a downturn. Is it Time to Cash Out?


A nice miniature with an option to have it painted from YourMiniature.com. Comes with a "brooding over a nest pose". Awwww! Though it looks like someone may have left their own mingled in with the originals, as the eggs' sizes aren't consistent. And one of them doesn't look like it hatched, it's more like it got smacked on the top and caved in. That's what happens when you don't guard the nest.

I think this one from Troll Trader might be the same base figure, but there are differences in how the tail is curled up..if you want to go in a different direction with the paint job.


Finally, it looks like someone might have had the same idea as me, and has collected quite a few links to videos about basilisks. I've mentioned a few of them in prior Watch reports but there are some in there I've never seen.

So there's someone here on FA whose journals I go read occasionally.

I don't watch him, I don't think I could stand it. We have a few watchers/commenters in common, and I see him reply to things here and there; we could be in the same social circle but for the fact that I don't think I'd like talking to him very much.

I go read the journals to see awful, awful takes and bizarre leaps of logic and tribalism sparked by the back and forth of comments. There's a common, dare I say predictable, event these days that tends to create a corresponding journal of his. And I go read it and all the comments, shake my head and get up and wander around muttering.

Is there a name for this? Someone suggested "hate-watching" but I don't actually watch his account, as I said.

Anyway, the badger and I started re-watching his collection of Poirot (starring David Suchet) and a bizarre scene came to mind:

Mon Dieu, this Scoob, he is indeed a trial I cannot abide! But as if he is not enough, coming to add to my troubles is the Monsieur Shaggy with his appetite most grotesque! No, I tell you, no! Poirot will not assist you unwind the truth behind this farce. No! I bid you good day!


As some of you may know, the badger had a stroke a few months ago. A few people have asked how he's doing, and he's hanging in there.

A few days ago he told me he was going to go out back to hang out with his cat, Poe, and he leaned down and gave me a kiss. I'd just finished eating some of that Greek style yoghurt, which he dislikes, and I said "Gosh, I hope you didn't taste too much yoghurt on that."

"I just had a cookie, did you taste that?" He asked.

"Nope," I said.

"Want to try again?" He then opened his mouth wide, showing me what I could look forward to tasting if I cared to try.

Yeah, he's back to his old self.

Things were pretty light this month!

A followup to Halfling Lord on a Cockatrice from Alchemist Models, the same figure is offered by Grimskald except here, he's a General! The halfling, not the cockatrice. Even though it's a repeat, I thought it was worth including because of the paint jobs the new version shows off. Flashy! (It's also popping up in other places, too: IcarusUndone, for one. Seems like everyone's jumping onto the cockatrice steed bandwagon this month.)

And that's about it for visuals! Like I said, not much activity except for repeats (the same old reviews for the Razer Basilisk gaming mouse, which I bought for teaching online during 2020; and the self-healing concrete company trying to raise funds.)



An amateur natural historian/mythologist/paleontologist on BitChute, Dardanus of Troy, spends a lot of time talking about how "silly" the chicken with snake tail version is. Basilisks were dinosaurs all along! (I think that's the point of Monster Hunter?) The guy also feels it just doesn't make sense to have four legs and wings. Yeah...I guess. Killjoy.



Have a listen to Celluloid Cockatrice by Kueik. Reminds me of something you'd play in a high-stakes "rush to get to a goal" stage of a video game more than Alternative Rock but what do I know.


A podcast (BOMcast) about more Bible shenanigans in Isaiah: listen to it here specifically for the song, which begins around 11 minutes in. More musical numbers follow.


You'd think with so little media to go through this month I would have written more. A lot's been happening in the last few months...been keeping me busy.

Leftovers from last time: a review of Basements n' Basilisks which came up in last month's report.


Hard rocking, epic anthem The Basilisk from The Mid Six. At least, that's what I'd say if they paid me as a staff social media influencer! But I'll give them a freebie due to the subject matter.



Speaking of free, who wants to color inside the lines? Here are some Cockatrice Coloring Pages for your inner cub, whelp, fledging, you name it. This one in particular has an expression that makes me laugh...don't ask me why there seem to be a picture number 7, 8, 9 and 11, but nothing else. Maybe the other pictures were just too awesome for children.


Usually the title "Halfling Lord on Cockatrice" brings up amateur Bad Dragon dildo porn, but this time it's a neat little 3d model from Alchemist Models. Charge!

I misread the title of this figure from Glaer of Doom as "glare of doom". Easy mistake, right? The dinky extra wings are an interesting touch.

A super-dinky but colorful figurine from FigurePhenatix.

A little less colorful fellow from Warp Miniatures, who I've featured before.

And the fairly morbid collected skeleton which also has shown up in prior reports...not sure when, though. When you're a skeleton, the months just fly by...


A few things on Etsy that caught my attention, including adorable baby pictures--look at that dinky comb! There's also this ring, and these miniatures--I really dig the guy on the left with the staff, there--and an acid-etched mirror. If anyone wants to get me a present for the end of the semester, coming up in about a month...have at it!

Probably done a variation on this one before. I'm positive conversations like this have happened before.

M comes in from getting a beer from the "out-back" fridge.

A: <Urrp> (medium volume belch)

M: <BlurHUUuurrrrrUP!> (exaggerated with extra vocalization)

A: You say the sweetest things.

M: It's because you're a lovely man.

M hugs A with one arm, sort of from the side, and rubs his chin on A's shoulder.

M: Rather, you're a "handsome" man, not "lovely".

A: I'll take "lovely".


Later that day

A Geico commercial where the gecko tastes wings plays on the TV.

M: If he fell into the fryer he'd probably be indistinguishable from those wings! Ha ha ha!

The gecko coughs from the spiciness of the wings.

M: I don't think reptiles can taste capsaicin. I know birds can't, and I'll bet he couldn't taste it either. He wouldn't be bothered by it at all.

M huffs.

M: This commercial isn't scientifically accurate.

A: It's a talking lizard selling car insurance? And THAT's what you're concerned about?

M shrugs and wanders off.

"HydraDX (and its sister project Basilisk) are cross-chain liquidity protocols designed to enable frictionless liquidity for crypto assets across various chains. In contrast to most decentralised exchanges that rely on separate pools for separate assets, HydraDX’s solution enables deposits of ‘all’ assets into one shared liquidity pool, the ‘Omnipool’, unlocking unparalleled efficiencies."

That's a mouthful. But I wouldn't mind an Omnipool. Sounds swanky! :>



If I ever wanted to leave my stamp on things, this rubber stamp from SniggleSloth would do just the trick. I think I remember trying to carve things like that in art classes but mine always turned out hideous.



Another podcast, coming from the Witcher-based lore.

And more Witcher universe takes: Interviews with effects artists for the Netflix series. I might go look for clips later.


For beginning adventurers, there's Caves of the Cockatrice. It says it's appropriate for level 1 adventurers. Level 1?!?! That's enough to survive a cockatrice with the means to set himself up in a cave, for goodness sakes? Sometimes I just want to stare at the world. Though I have to admit..."Caves of the Cockatrice" could be a great title for a much more...intimate and interesting adventure, if you know what I mean. Heh heh heh...Bueno.


And just spotted on Steam: Basements N' Basilisks. I've heard it has a good story, and lots of rolling of dice. Does it have basilisks? Well, you can kind of see one in the cover art! That counts, right? Right?


Started in the middle of the month: Item #3, the Basilisk beer! Part of a mythological brews series. Though they discuss some of the older myths...roosters, toads, all of that. :> But their overall discussion is more suited to hunting and killing them, which...I suppose is more the Witcher point of view.


Image of the can if you're in that part of the world.


Episodes of a manga have featured basilisk and cockatrice prepared in various nutritious ways; lucky diners in Japan can see how they'd like them...or as close as we might be able to get.