BIRD-MEN of THURIA BIRD-MEN of THURIA
Classification: Terrestrial semi-humanoid/avian
race (Hidden
race (see comments));
pre-Cataclysmic
era
Location/Base of Operations: Unrevealed
(apparently extinct on Earth);
formerly unidentified mountains (the highest, most
ancient crags) of the unexplored lands in southern Verulia
Known Members: Ravian, Vultus, others unidentified
Affiliations: Brule the
Spear-Slayer, Kull (both allies and enemies of some level);
Ravian and his people worshipped Ka,
the bird of creation;
formerly the guardian of the Amulet of Ka
Enemies: Brule the Spear-Slayer, Kull (both allies and enemies of some level)
Aliases: They weren't given any name in the story; "Bird-Men of a Thuria" is a descriptive term for the purposes of this profile and general clarifications. Nonetheless, before the deaths of their women and children, they might be more appropriately described as the "Bird-People of Thuria"
First Appearance: Kull the Conqueror III#2 (July, 1983)
Powers/Abilities: The Bird-Men had large avian wings that allowed them to fly, even carrying an adult male human or even catching and lifting aloft a falling, well-built adult male (such as Brule, as seen in the main image). Rather than being pectoral limbs like actual birds, these wings sprouted from their back, presumably forming another joint with their scapulae (shouderblades) and/or humerus (upper arm bone; or possibly articulating with their clavicles (collarbones) or vertebrae/spine).
They have an avian head, with a large beak, paired eyes, and no visible external ear.
The rest of their bodies, including
their hands, appeared to be grossly human in appearance and function.
While they may or may not have been able to make bird-like sounds, the Bird-Men were silent and spoke telepathically.
The Bird-Men remained unaging via the power of the Amulet of Ka.
Vultus could magically generate illusions, but there is no evidence that other Bird-Men had similar powers.
Ravian wielded a sword forged of metal fallen from Earth's ancient skies, which Ravian at least believed to draw power from the Amulet of Ka. This sword could slay even the guardian of the Amulet of Ka or a member of the Bird-Men otherwise rendered virtually immortal by the Amulet of Ka.
Traits: While once would-be conquerors of the world, after the slaughter of all of their women and children, the Bird-Men largely (with the notable exception of Vultus) resigned themselves their doomed existence, despite being unaging due to the Amulet of Ka. Most saw their existence as a burden with no purpose.
However, holy tradition forbade the bird-people to leave their ruins.
Vultus notably
dreamed of his people's lost glory, but Ravian and the others considered
this a futile dream.
Type: Bilaterally symmetric semi-humanoid
avian bipeds
Eyes: Two (on head; red; yellow
sclera)
Fingers: Four (plus opposing thumb)
Toes: Unrevealed (presumably five)
Skin color: Gray (perhaps more brown in some images)
Hair: None; black feathers
Note: See Powers/Abilities for
other physical features
History:
(Kull the Conqueror III#2 (fb) - BTS) - Centuries
before mankind fashioned language of the tongue (speech), the Bird-Men
spoke telepathically.
(Kull the Conqueror III#2 (fb) - BTS) <Millennia before 18,500 BC> - The Bird-Men ruled a portion of the Thurian continent.
(Kull the Conqueror III#2 (fb)) - Seeking
an empire, the bird-men raised battle against the first true men in the
Northern lands. However, the bird-men were instead vanquished in the
Northern mountains, with their females and children slaughtered to the
last.
(Kull the Conqueror III#2 (fb) - BTS) - Only
one meager troop of males under Ravian's command survived to return and
settle upon a barren summit in southern Verulia.
Possessing the the Amulet of Ka (a splinter from the glittering talons of Ka, the bird of creation) the bird-men placed it among the topmost crags of their mountain and it yielded them endless life.
At some point (either before or after the defeat by the humans), Ravian obtained a sword, forged of metal fallen from Earth's ancient skies and allegedly powered by the Amulet of Ka.
Over time, the ruling Ravian and many others came to see their people's existence as a burden with no purpose. However, holy tradition forbade the bird-people to leave their ruins. Ravian was aware that only his sullen nephew Vultus still dreamed of their people's lost glory.
(Kull the Conqueror III#2 (fb) - BTS) - Verulian
tradition told of the location and life-saving properties of the Amulet
of Ka, although allegedly no man had ever visited the mountains in
which it existed.
(Kull the Conqueror III#2 - BTS) <18,500 BC> - After Tu, the chief councilor of Valusia's King Kull, was gravely wounded in southern Verulia, Kull's physician noted that only magic could save Tu, and he advised Kull to seek out the Amulet of Ka. Accompanied by his long-time ally Brule, as well as Akreon and Ethias, Kull traveled to and began to scale the bird-men's mountain, although Ethias perished en route (secretly slain by Akreon, who sought to usurp Kull's rule).
(Kull the
Conqueror III#2) - As they
approached the mountain, bird-men apparently watched from the skies
above, indistinguishable at that distance from birds.
As Kull and his allies scaled the mountain, Akreon pretended to accidentally kick Brule off the mountain, but the falling Brule was caught by one of the bird-men, who then picked Kull and Akreon off the wall. Realizing that to struggle could mean falling to their deaths on the ground far below, Kull and his allies allowed the bird-men to carry them to their shadowy cave at the summit. The bird-men then gently set down their charges and flew off silently.
(Kull the Conqueror III#2) - Ravian then telepathically guided the "wingless ones" to his throneroom, a chamber at the end of the corridor, where he introduced himself and noted the history of his people.
Kull then introduced himself and noted that he had come for the Amulet of Ka. Although Vultus argued, "Never!" Ravian countered that Vultus was wrong, and he told Kull that perhaps it was time that his ancient race closed its eyes in final sleep. Noting that they must seize it by hand from its guardian at moonrise, Ravian instructed Kull to rest until dark and he would then aid them.
Vultus and seemingly a number of
other bird-men
(although the others were actually magical "illusions" generated by
Vultus) subsequently confronted, threatened, and assaulted Kull and his
allies; while these illusions could apparently strike the humans, Kull
and his allies found their blades passing through them harmlessly).
The fight was
interrupted by Ravian, but Vultus
insisted he would never forsake his golden dream of the past. Noting
that they had outlived the past and that the future was no longer
theirs, Ravian drew his sword, and instructed Vultus to resign himself
to let the amulet pass from them. After Vultus defied and
challenged Ravian,
the king stabbed Vultus in the chest, telling him that the sword would
be his final rebuke, as it granted violent death in the name of the
Amulet of Ka itself. As
Vultus died, his seeming warriors vanished, and Ravian confirmed that
these had been mere illusions raised by magic.
Ravian then advised Kull and his
allies to hasten as the moon was risen and the Amulet of Ka was
revealed, silvered in the moon's glow upon the mountain crest beyond
gemmed portals at which he pointed. Noting his sword to have been
forged of metal fallen from the Earth's ancient skies, Ravian gave it
to Kull to aid him in his efforts, and he gave them each a shield, as
well. Ravian then returned to his throne to await whatever fate befell
them all.
(Kull the Conqueror III#2 - BTS) - As Kull and his
allies faced the guardian bird of the Amulet of Ka, Akreon stabbed
Brule in the back, and Brule's apparent death spurred Kull to slay the
bird and claim the amulet. After Brule voiced Akreon's guilt, Brule
slew Akreon and used the Amulet to heal Brule.
(Kull the Conqueror III#2 (fb) - BTS) - As soon as
Kull grasped the Amulet of Ka, Ravian sensed this as "time
breathed a
gentle breeze across my frame, cooling my lifeblood." The other
bird-men embraced eternal sleep in shaded chambers.
(Kull the Conqueror III#2) - As Kull and Brule
returned, Ravian told them how he had sensed their success and that his
subjects had already passed. Before he died, he asked that they let him
grasp the Amulet of Ka. Kull placed the Amulet in Ravian's hand, and he
noted, "Humankind, our ancient enemy,
has brought us peace this day.
And Kull has won the Amulet of Life and Death." Ravian
then slumped in
his throne, swiftly decaying into a skeleton and then into dust.
(Kull the Conqueror III#2 (fb) - BTS) - Kull and Brule returned to the camp in Verulia, and they used the Amulet of Ka to save Tu's life.
Comments: Created by Alan Zelentz, John Buscema, Dan Green, and Joe Chiodo.
The bird-men are described by
Brule as "creatures of the elder universe," and Akreon or Brule (the
speech balloon aims to both of them, although perhaps a LITTLE more to
Akreon) also
noted them to be one of the elder races, whom he considered to be
masters of dark deceit and sorcerous illusion. But what are they?
How many millennia ago did Ravian's people rule and then fall? Since they specify "true men" (presumably to differentiate from one of the Elder Races), I would think it had to be sometime after 30,000 BC and no later than 20,500 BC.
Verulia was one of the seven empires in the Thurian continent, the major landmass of Earth in the pre-Cataclysmic era. The other empires include Kull's Valusia, easternmost Grondar, Commoria, Thule, Kamellia, and the "Triple Federation" of Zarfhanna, Farsun, and an unidentified country.
It would be a really cool use of continuity if the Raven's Eye turned out to be Ravian's Ka-powered sword
This profile was completed 01/23/2022, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Bird-Men of Thuria should be distinguished from:
Kull the Conqueror III#2, pg. 20, panel 4 (rescuing
Brule);
pg. 23, panel 3 (warring against
man);
pg. 24, panel 1 (mountain);
panel 2
(amulet);
panel 6 (Ravian
face);
pg. 28, panel 5 (Ravian with sword);
pg. 30, panel 4 (guardian, full
distant);
pg. 31, panel 1 (guardian vs.
Kull);
pg. 32, panel 2 (guardian, death);
pg. 36, panel 5-7 (hand decaying into
dust)
Appearances:
Kull the Conqueror III#2 (July, 1983) - Alan Zelentz (writer), John Buscema (penciler), Dan Green &
Joe Chiodo (inkers), Ralph Macchio (editor)
First posted: 09/28/2026
Last updated: 01/23/2022
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
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