#ahuul

Today I was reminded of my long defunct Tyrantis ask-blog, which, while ultimately a failed experiment (’cause if I couldn’t keep up with it back then, I sure as fuck can’t now that I’ve got carpal tunnel syndrome), produced some really good pieces that I’m still proud of today despite their shortcomings.  Also it helped flesh out my second novel, which you can buy now BTW.

ATOM Stop Motion Models: Tweaks and the Gang So Far

I decided to refurbish Tyrantis and Gorgolisk’s models a bit while I was making new ones. I made Tyrantis’s eyes a little larger and gave them some skin around their sides to show that he’s a creature with forward facing eyes and, y’know, make them look less buggy.  Gorgolisk’s modifications were more extensive - I replaced her old neck and tail armature pieces with a series of smaller ones, making her far more articulated and capable of coiling.  I would have done that in the first place but I wanted to save those small pieces in case other armatures needed them.  I also gave her a complete set of dorsal plats and a better rattle, because I half assed it the first time and she deserves better than that.

Name: Kongamahuul

Aliases: Mistress of Despair, The Cruel Ruler, The Draconian Enforcer, Ahuul’s Evil Bitch Mother

Date Discovered: December 26, 1956 Place of Origin: The Chasm of Sorrow Stomping Grounds: Is seen sporadically through the northern hemisphere. Not contained aside her home in the Chasm of Sorrow Height: 100 feet, 110 with the crest Length: 190 feet Wingspan: 300 feet Biology: Kongamahuul is one of the largest known specimens of the Flying Retrosaurs, and stands terrifyingly as tall as the largest land dwelling predators. Though it seems she is some demonic evolution of them, possibly even a mutant among mutants. As unique abilities almost unheard of. Super Strength Enahanced Healing Parthenogenetic Immunity to Radiation Harmonic Yamaenon Communication Refined Telepathy

Personality: Ahuul’s progenitor is the dominating force of nature of the land, sky and sea. She is most at home in the air, for sure, but is far from helpless on her legs or beneath the sea of she needs to be.

She was discovered far into Canada’s wilderness, in a deep chasm that dove into a dark hollow that was discovered to be mostly lifeless, no doubt to its intimidating mistress that destroyed all that was in it when the power shift came with the Superquake of 54. It was desolate, a complete mess after the underground atomic testing had resulted in a high amount of damage in this particular hollow. Those who came near it were not heard from again, and it became clear why once the quarantine zone went up to keep anywhere from going near some time later after Typhon Island was discovered. The tenant of this territory took offense, and made a statement in action and word. Kongamahuul is one of few Kaiju that can fluently communicate with humans with a Psionic ability. She did not understand humans at first, but she experimented with her captors before ending their lives for trespassing upon her world without permission or any formal apology. It is also from her personal interrogations that she learned of how the world was actively coming along with contemporaries, and she took to the south to gather more information, leading to many grisly killings and fierce battles with other kaiju. Through those encounters, her ability to control other Kaiju became clear. The study of using unheard frequencies was not just something humans could abuse, but also by her. Her shrieks and roars register upon such instruments, and the Kaiju without the fortitude and willpower to resist her commands tend flee, obey or find themselves frozen in fear. The only other Kaiju she shown any respect for are other top tier predators or powerful herbivores. Her interactions with Tyrantis and his family have shown that, much to Tyranta’s apparent hatred for her. She has also shown a curiously soft side toward young offspring and juveniles of Kaiju, hinting at a softer side behind this cruel ruler. Kongamahuul was a name given by a combination of Lerna and Eric, but mostly Eric as he blatantly named it Ahuul’s mom and surprised to find out that she literally was his parent. The interactions between Ahuul and Kongamahuul are tense to say the least. Ahuul is fearfully respecting of his mother, but also despises her rule over him. Anytime he ever has anything to squawk about, she will remind him what happened to his siblings who attempted to usurp her powerful position. With what few times she has spoken to humans, she was quite polite and freely gave information that some would use against her, such as her lineage with Ahuul. She even was proud to boast of her collar of teeth and claws, which she explained are a warning to all of her bloody history of overpowering those who tread on her hospitality and forgo her kindness. She also made it clear she has no qualms mass murdering many, many humans if she deems it necessary. After some time she returned to her mostly barren kingdom in Canada, deep underground and on her throne crags, as if waiting for something interesting to be worth her attention.

ATOM Stop Motion Models: Ahuul and Promythigor

A.T.O.M. Kaiju File #2: Ahuul

Aliases: The Menace of Makeout Point, The Generiton Slasher

Date Discovered: March 16th, 1954

Place of Origin:The Hollow Mountain

Notable Stomping Grounds: The Hollow Mountain, Typhon Island

Height: 95 Feet (125 including crest)

Length: 80 Feet

Wingspan: 180 feet from wing tip to wingtip

Biology: Ahuul belongs to the carnivorous branch of the retrosaur family, specifically belonging to the Flying Tyrant subclade.  Like many flying tyrants, Ahuul is a cunning predator with grasping talons and needle-like teeth.

Ahuul sports the standard set of kaiju powers, including:

Super strength

An enhanced healing factor

Immunity to radiation

Personality: While Ahuul’s predatory instincts could account for some of its misanthropy, the creature displays levels of cruelty that go beyond the innate ferocity of a hunter.  Ahuul is known for playing with his prey and trying to inflict as much pain on his victims as possible before striking a killing blow - behavior that gives him apparent delight.  He is, essentially, a bully, picking on the weak and cackling with laughter as he does so.  Despite his love for violence, Ahuul is cowardly and often flees from battle whenever the tide turns against him.

Ahuul is also something of a prankster, albeit a malevolent kind, and has been known to trick kaiju into fighting each other simply for his own amusement.  This capricious side of the reptile’s personality is the only reason the beast has made any allies amongst the world’s kaiju; Tyrantis swayed the flying beast to his side by offering him a good fight, which the vicious monster relished.

Since his vicious streak is ten miles wide, Ahuul is a hardy combatant.  The reptile’s long claws are great at raking the flesh of fellow kaiju, being sharp and strong enough to tear through their armored hides and into the soft wet muscle beneath it.  While his bite isn’t strong, his jaws are bristling with crooked fangs that can create a ragged wound.  His crest doubles as a blade to gore his enemies with, and is remarkably sturdy compared to most other crests in the flying retrosaur family.

Flight is Ahuul’s main weapon, however, and he uses it to his advantage.  There are few kaiju who can fly, and fewer still who can match his speed, which allows the kaiju to soar in and out of combat with incredibly ease.  Ahuul is able to quickly wear down most opponents without taking a scratch himself.  He is also clever enough to drop heavy objects from great heights upon his foes.  In a pinch the reptile will even carry his enemies into the air with him, flying far up into the sky before dropping them painfully down to earth.

Ahuul’s greatest flaw as a warrior is often the reason he starts a fight in the first place: he is a sadist, and most of his blows are meant to be painful instead of lethal.  Ahuul spends so much time hurting his enemies that he often lets his guard down, carelessly ignoring the actions and plots of his foes until it is too late. This, combined with the beast’s cowardice, means he rarely wins a fight.  Then again, victory is also rarely his goal - Ahuul fights to for the sake of violence itself, not to win.

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holy crap drawing wings is so much easier now I love this new tablet

These files are going to be posted in chronological order of appearance, which means Ahuul here is Tyrantis’s first opposing kaiju in the story.  A lot of people assume he occupies a Rodan/Anguirus sort of role because of that, but A.T.O.M. isn’t that blatant with its homages.  He’s more of a frenemy than an ally - in my mind Ahuul’s much more like Kumonga, being a voracious and territorial monster that opposes and allies with Tyrantis in equal measure depending on what’s most convenient for him.  He’s also just kind of a prick in general.

Ahuul’s design got a couple of tweaks.  Back when he was an actual pterosaur, instead of the retrosaur equivalent, he had this awesome neck ruff of fur that I really liked.  It gave him sort of a villainous rockstar vibe.  Since my retrosaurs are explicitly reptilian, that couldn’t fly anymore, so I gave him a neck frill as a substitute.  It kind of doubles as an homage to Alichino’s design from No Sympathies, and I think that’s neat.  I also gave him a long tail to complete the “horribly inaccurate rendition of a pterosaur” look - he’s the perfect mix of rhamphorhynchoid and pterodactyloid traits to make paleontologists angry!

Finally, I should acknowledge that using Ahuul as a starting antagonist is at least slightly and homage to Godzilla 2014 - flight is a good power to give the enemy of a grounded monster, since it forces both combatants to get creative in countering each other’s contrasting strengths.

Also it’s a fun homage to the student movie I made that Ahuul comes from back in high school: