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ursulav — Quippet, Shaman's Apprentice

Published: 2013-03-11 22:39:35 +0000 UTC; Views: 10699; Favourites: 308; Downloads: 51
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Description Quippet didn’t want to be a shaman.

He didn’t like shamany things. Incense set off his asthma. He wasn’t good at chanting. Fasting made him feel hungry, not enlightened. And the Spotted Mushroom Drink made him throw up, and one time he’d been out getting it and gotten between some reindeer and the mushrooms and…well…it was ugly. He’d needed a whole lot of stitches. Reindeer are hardcore.

The problem was that he heard voices.

Crazy-Wool, the tribe’s shaman, told him that the spirits were tormenting him and his only choice was to become initiated as a shaman, go into the spirit world, and battle them into submission. “The spirits must be bent to your will!” bleated Crazy-Wool, his breath reeking of the Spotted Mushroom Drink. “They will drive you down into madness unless you have the strength to resist their wickedness!”

“Uh-huh,” said Quippet, trying not to cough.

The elder shaman told him, sometimes two or three times a day, how vital it was that he stand strong against the influence of the spirit-voices, that he refuse to listen to their wiles, and that if they ever told him to do anything, he was to come to Crazy-Wool immediately.

Quippet always agreed—and felt guilty—and went to go alphabetize the magic rocks.

Truth was, the spirit voices told him to do things all the time.

They said “It’s snowing out, you better wear a hat or you’ll catch your death.”

They said “You should have a hot cup of tea and everything’ll look better in the morning.”

They said “You try to have a nice day now, Quippet.”

They said “You’re a good sheep, Quippet, you keep your chin up and watch out for those nasty reindeer.”

And every year on his birthday, they all sang a rousing chorus of “For He’s A Jolly Good Sheep” and took turns telling him how much they valued his friendship and how proud they were of all he’d accomplished. One of the voices even composed a small poem in his honor. (It wasn’t a terribly good poem, but all the voices cheered anyway and Quippet had been very moved and a little confused.)

He didn’t want to go into the spirit world and battle them. He was horribly afraid that if he tried, he’d come back out with a cup of tea and a small note saying that everyone loved him very much and wanted him to be happy.

It was all very worrisome.
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Poor Quippet is 15 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 5 inches tall. I am pleased with the design of the front end, but his tail doesn’t look as tail-like as I’d wish, so I may go back to a more rounded butt on the next one. I was pretty happy with his full-body dreads, though.

His face is cast plastic resin, his feet are Super Sculpey, the fur is…err…fur…and he’ll be on e-bay tomorrow.
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Comments: 71

Darkhymns [2013-07-12 22:10:18 +0000 UTC]

Aww, I love that backstory!

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GaiaTigre [2013-07-07 20:38:53 +0000 UTC]

I'm pretty sure I squealed when I started looking through my backed up deviations. He is simply glorious.

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DreamTheorem [2013-06-03 13:03:38 +0000 UTC]

Ahhh he's so adorable <3

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celli87 [2013-06-02 20:12:34 +0000 UTC]

Some times the best part of your artwork are the stories about the piece, but I love the paintings too. You are my favorite artist, both literary and painter.

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jarredspekter [2013-05-17 21:36:55 +0000 UTC]

He's like a baby Mystic from Dark Crystal

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casadrat06 [2013-05-06 03:58:54 +0000 UTC]

He's super cute. :3

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Andemoren [2013-04-26 08:17:05 +0000 UTC]

Love it! Both the doll (?) and the story! The favorite button isn't really enough

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Lanefaer [2013-04-12 00:01:48 +0000 UTC]

Yes!

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GrammarshineHyena [2013-04-06 05:39:23 +0000 UTC]

OMPBJ, he is adorable!

That story's great, too. I just friggin' love your quirky style.

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riverotter7 [2013-03-31 13:17:15 +0000 UTC]

He's truly Wonderous, for all his "failings". Tell him he can come over to the Den and graze in peace without worrying.

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sketcherjak [2013-03-31 03:47:43 +0000 UTC]

Awesomist backstory!

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GarnethRiparian [2013-03-30 19:36:59 +0000 UTC]

Best backstory ever!

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loralye [2013-03-26 00:27:36 +0000 UTC]

D'aaaw.

(that's all I got...I just want to hug everything now...except maybe Crazy-Wool, dude sounds intense)

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Rainbow-Addict [2013-03-20 20:52:48 +0000 UTC]

I love your mind! Please tell me this is a book! Quippet is strange and adorable!

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FlailingHands [2013-03-18 06:51:18 +0000 UTC]

This is the third time I've read this little snippet. I keep reading it aloud to people. It's just too cute! Thanks for posting it!

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emilysodders [2013-03-14 14:46:52 +0000 UTC]

What a funny fellow and story! Great work!

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Lumasan [2013-03-13 22:18:52 +0000 UTC]

I want one of these sheep. Sheeeeeeeep. I want all the sheep in the world. I love sheep. So adorably stupid and adorable.

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mousewrites [2013-03-13 17:11:05 +0000 UTC]

I love your descriptions, and the life they breathe into an already damn-lifefull critter. I feel like the sheep could be in the same world as Digger, like she could run into them somewhere on her journeys.

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bluecreekphotography [2013-03-13 01:22:33 +0000 UTC]

Ooh, I love him and his sweet story and would be so happy to give him a good home but he's already gone up way too high for me to afford. I will just have to send him good thoughts instead....

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KathrynMichaela [2013-03-12 23:46:33 +0000 UTC]

You are making a whole herd! <3

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KnotYourWorld [2013-03-12 22:46:04 +0000 UTC]

You have no idea how close to home this hits. I love the humor you inject into all you do, but this is kinda spooky. I was admiring Pludwump and thinking my wife might like a pattern to do a blue sheep for our daughter who loves sheep. Pludwump, while quite lovely and a fine leader, wasn't quite right because Blue is our girl's fave color. OK, here's where it gets spooky. Three years ago she was diagnosed Bi-Polar w/ Schizo effective facets. She is struggling through highschool, which hasn't gotten any less toxic than it was when I attended back in the Jurassic, I mean the late 70's. I didn't ask for the pattern before as I figure you get enough correspondence and requests that don't come with the most sincere appreciation for your art, $. I would love to get Quippet and I certainly think he's worth the $255 he's up to now, but we aren't in that position right now. You need to get a contract with a toy maker, or curiosity shop or something, because one of each isn't enough for your legions of fans!

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Silleren [2013-03-12 21:21:55 +0000 UTC]

Gosh it's so awesome xD

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SnailPropulsionLabs [2013-03-12 21:17:18 +0000 UTC]

Oh Quippet, I want to hug you.

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ZiggyJester [2013-03-12 20:25:49 +0000 UTC]

The stories you attach to these little guys is so amusing. But I can't get over the fact that I would soil my sheets if I ever spotted one in my room at night.

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Th30ther0ne [2013-03-12 20:18:05 +0000 UTC]

really cool....and weird stuff as always, love your descriptions as well

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hoppytoad79 [2013-03-12 19:12:52 +0000 UTC]

Poor Quippet, indeed. I say ignore Crazy Wool.

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ManicMinion [2013-03-12 17:39:19 +0000 UTC]

he looks so nervous hahah adorable! lovely creation!

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lantairvlea [2013-03-12 14:59:04 +0000 UTC]

These are almost too awesome for words. The stories are great too.

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SoulFragments [2013-03-12 13:13:49 +0000 UTC]

Loved the back story! The sheep is pretty cute too love that his eyes dont match hehe and the blue fur!

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EatToast [2013-03-12 12:53:26 +0000 UTC]

Quippet is adorable! Love the stories you put with these little guys. :>

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KSilvershade [2013-03-12 12:44:37 +0000 UTC]

I want voices like that!

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Tamara-Hawk [2013-03-12 12:38:50 +0000 UTC]

*grins* I love him ^^ Poor Quippet

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LisaGorska [2013-03-12 12:06:04 +0000 UTC]

hahah! oh, the stories you write cheer me up always! poopr quippet indeed! looks confused and indecisive

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Flying-seacow [2013-03-12 08:09:44 +0000 UTC]

That is amazing, so much detail on him, like that little skull? And I adore how his ears flop to different sides.
And of course that little story is perfect.

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marleenie [2013-03-12 07:43:57 +0000 UTC]

Reminds me a bit of the goats in The Sound of Music's puppet scene... but punkified.

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corvus-draconis [2013-03-12 05:59:57 +0000 UTC]

If Quippet wasn't cute enough on his own, his back-story is even more endearing. Great work!

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FlailingHands [2013-03-12 05:32:20 +0000 UTC]

THANK YOU for the stories attached to these sheep! This one gave me the laugh I needed to round out my day. Thanks!

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Nullcast [2013-03-12 04:59:28 +0000 UTC]

I'm kinda curious why dA has decided to fill "More like this" entirely with phalloi on this picture.

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Porecomesis [2013-03-12 04:38:09 +0000 UTC]

Aw, poor little Quippet. That's a truly fantastic story. What's the deal with his eyes, though?

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AbsentiaXuicoatl In reply to Porecomesis [2013-03-12 05:01:13 +0000 UTC]

Apparently the sheep tribe has horrible eye conditions o.O....

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Porecomesis In reply to AbsentiaXuicoatl [2013-03-12 05:12:34 +0000 UTC]

One eye doesn't have an iris. I wonder if that's a problem?

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AbsentiaXuicoatl In reply to Porecomesis [2013-03-12 20:33:05 +0000 UTC]

Also, you know, the bulging.. >.>

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Porecomesis In reply to AbsentiaXuicoatl [2013-03-12 21:17:51 +0000 UTC]

Well, Pludwump has bulging eyes, too. Maybe that's normal for the Wool-Tribe?

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AbsentiaXuicoatl In reply to Porecomesis [2013-03-13 04:10:04 +0000 UTC]

Maybe, now that we have a second example...Pludwump had also seen some pretty horrible things.

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Porecomesis In reply to AbsentiaXuicoatl [2013-03-13 04:26:13 +0000 UTC]

... So the eye-bulging may be connected to the sight-related experiences of the individual? Interesting.

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AbsentiaXuicoatl In reply to Porecomesis [2013-03-13 06:53:45 +0000 UTC]

Huh... I never thought of that... but Quippet doesn't actually see things.. he only hears them. But still...

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coppercap [2013-03-12 04:17:26 +0000 UTC]

This is great. I love these guys.

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aNarwhal [2013-03-12 04:16:51 +0000 UTC]

Adorable@

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aNarwhal In reply to aNarwhal [2013-03-12 04:17:03 +0000 UTC]

*Adorable!

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ariakitsune [2013-03-12 02:48:29 +0000 UTC]

I love this. The story is very cute. Makes me want to hug him.

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