Nightingale the Robber
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You went straight ahead?! You will be killed!
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„
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— Nightingale the Robber's only line in the original version of Ilya Muromets [1956]) |
Nightingale the Robber (Соловей-разбойник) is a supernatural evil creature from Slavic legends. He appeared as a minor villain in the 1956 film Ilya Muromets.
Name
Nightingale the Robber received his most famous nickname for his ability to produce a deadly whistle. He is also known as Odikhmantiev's son (Одихмантьев сын). When Ilya Muromets shows him to the people of Kyiv, he calls him by another nickname, Solovey Budimirovich (Соловей Будимирович). In Slavic legends, this name also belongs to a completely different character, a wandering noble hero instead of a monster.
In the American adaptation of the film, The Sword and the Dragon, the character is named Wind Demon.
Design
Nightingale the Robber is a humanoid dwarf creature with greyish skin and sparse hair on his head, growing in tufts. He has thick eyebrows, which led Ilya Muromets to contemptuously compare him to an owl. Blowing out air with force, Nightingale the Robber noticeably puffs out his cheeks. He wears greyish-blue woolen clothes, and a necklace made from the bones and belongings of killed wanderers.
Personality
Nightingale the Robber lives in a dead forest near the mythical river Smorodinka (Смородинка). Using his supernatural powers, he kills everyone who tries to pass through these places. He is fearful of those who are stronger than him; having been defeated once by Ilya Muromets, Nightingale the Robber didn't say a word while in captivity.
History
- Ilya Muromets (1956)
Ilya Muromets
On his way to Kyiv, Ilya Muromets came across a stone in a field on which sat a talking raven. The bird told him that if he went along the road to the right of the stone, he would find riches; if he went to the left, he would be married; and if he went straight, he would be killed. After thinking for a while, the warrior went straight. Soon he reached the dead forest, where he met Nightingale the Robber, who was fiddling around in a tree. With a malicious cry, the monster began to whistle and blow at the stranger, creating such a strong wind that the giant trees bent to the ground. Ilya Muromets did not lose courage and even reproached his horse, who was frightened by the whistle. The warrior threw a heavy mace and broke the branch on which Nightingale the Robber was sitting. Grabbing the frightened monster, Ilya Muromets rode with him further to Kyiv.
In the city, Ilya Muromets showed the captured creature to Prince Vladimir. One of his servants, Mishatychka, lied that it was a false Nightingale, and the real one was killed by him and drowned in the Smorodinka. Then the prince wanted to see if this monster could make the legendary whistle. Ilya Muromets ordered the creature to whistle, but only with half his strength. The monster whistled and blew, but even half of his strength was enough to sweep away people and heavy objects near the walls of the palace and even inside it. The prince asked Ilya to calm Nightingale the Robber, and the warrior shut his mouth. The guards grabbed the monster and carried him off to the dungeon.
Abilities
Whistling
Nightingale the Robber can produce a deadly whistle.
Wind
Along with the whistle, Nightingale the Robber can blow with enough force to sweep away barrels and bend giant trees.
Intelligence
Nightingale the Robber is capable of human speech.
Weaknesses
If Nightingale the Robber loses his balance, he cannot whistle or blow strongly.
Comics
- The Sword and the Dragon (1960)
The Sword and the Dragon
On his way to the city, Ilya Muromets came to the edge of a menacing forest, and a talking raven on a tree branch warned him that the straight road would lead him to death. The warrior rode forward and soon found the Wind Demon. The creature blew on him with terrible force, but, throwing his magic sword, Ilya Muromets knocked him off the tree and caught him. Other scenes involving the character are the same as in the film.
Comments
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