A couple of years ago, inspired by the urumi (Indian whip-sword carried wrapped around the waist), I made a Celtic-inspired swordbelt for an exhibition at my school. Since then, I had the itch to make a replica of the sword from #Xena, my fave series for decades, but I never found the time to do it. Then I came across #WarriorNun and the cruciform sword was added to the list of projects. And then shit happened and, for various reasons, but above all for mental health, I closed commissions and decided, with the little free time I had left, to reconnect with my creativity. And, with my miraculous attendance at the Warrior Nun convention in London in February, my brain took it as a signal to get to work. As always when I set out on a project of my own, I took the opportunity to carry out some experiments that were burning in the back of my brain, and they've been a success, so I'm pretty happy with the result. I hope you like them too!
El Cuero, meaning "the hide" or "leather," resembles a primitive stingray with wide pectoral fins and a barb-less, whip-like tail. Its eyes are on stalks, and it boasts an extendable mouth akin to a sturgeon. Witnesses describe razor-sharp claws along its fringes, used to secure prey, and there are even suggestions that it utilizes hunting knives from previous victims as weapons. El Cuero's size ranges from 2 to 5 feet across, weighing approximately 65 pounds.
According to South American natives, El Cuero is dubbed the "aquatic tiger" due to its reputation as a voracious predator. Similar to a crocodile, the creature is said to surge out of the lake, overpowering its prey, often humans. It allegedly employs a proboscis to puncture the skin and extract internal organs and blood. El Cuero is said to seize individuals and animals while they bathe or cross the water, employing an irresistible contraction by folding upon itself. Using its claws, it wraps its prey, drags it to the bottom, and consumes it. The creature is described as incredibly strong, with the ability to drag a horse into the water. Despite its strength, there are claims of hunting methods involving nooses or throwing cactus chunks into the water, causing El Cuero to pierce itself.
Countless, albeit controversial, human attacks have been reported. In one account, a woman washing clothes by the lakeside claimed that El Cuero surged from the water like a crocodile, swiftly engulfing her sleeping baby. The creature then disappeared into the water as rapidly as it had emerged.
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Pic credit: Paranormal Strange Wiki.
Source: Encyclopaedia of Crytozoology; Cryptidwiki.
In addition, some anatomical features occasionally associated with the cuero include: suckers, a protrusible mouth, and varying numbers of eyes, often peeking out on stalks from beneath where the head would be on the "hide" that is its body.
Animals popularly brought up as explanations for the cuero are primarily the ray or the octopus.
Three similar but very different pieces. One for a challenge, one for creativity and one for plain and pure fun.
The emerald and gold d20 is in the hands of my friend Noelia, who wanted a bag with a nice marbled design but left all the creative decisions in my hands, trusting me blindly.
The blue d12 was commissioned by Ana with very specific specifications: inspired by the game Coyote and crow, with the corporate colours and a specially designed typology.
And the antique bronze d12 came about while watching my friend Capitán Yelmo playing a game with a very Ancient Roman aesthetic, and where I tested the viability of a semi-invisible half meat seam (with a satisfactory success).
Three pieces that sum up very well my creative capacity starting from the (almost) same pattern.