Thunderbird: The Ruler of the Sky

The Storm Has Eyes

The Thunderbird is the supreme spirit of the Upper World in many Native American cultures (Ojibwe, Lakota, Salish). It is not merely a large bird. It is the storm incarnate. Its wingspan is as wide as the horizon. When it flaps its wings, the sound is thunder. When it blinks (or opens its eyes), lightning flashes. It creates rain by carrying a lake on its back.

The Cosmic War

The Thunderbird exists in a state of eternal war. Its enemies are the creatures of the Underworld: the Great Horned Serpents and the Underwater Panthers. These monsters represent chaos, flooding, and darkness. When a violent thunderstorm rages over a lake, it is a battle. The Thunderbird is diving from the sky to strike the serpents with lightning bolts. It protects humanity from being drowned by the monsters of the deep.

The Raptor

It is a predator. It is so large that it hunts whales. Legends say it plucks killer whales from the ocean as easily as an eagle takes a trout. In some stories, it carries "fire snakes" beneath its wings, dropping them as living bombs.

The Power of Respect

The Thunderbird is a benevolent protector, but it is dangerous. You do not stand in the open during a storm. A lightning strike is a weapon meant for a monster, but humans are often collateral damage. Tobacco is often offered to the fire during storms to ask for its blessing and to calm its fury.

The Final Warning

When the air smells of ozone and the hair on your arms stands up, you are in the blast zone. The bird is hunting, so get low.