#ahool

[ararebreedstory]

For the longest time, when people would say "Cryptocurrency," this is what I'd imagine.

[wyvernslovecake]

(I’m gonna make your OC Shriek into a Kaiju, cause why not…you’re epic.)

Hello and welcome back to yet another Monarch Declassification Briefing. Today you will be learning about a terror from the darkest parts of Hollow Earth.

Monster ID: Titanus Ahool

Height: 35 m

Length: 38 m

Wingspan: 55 m

Description:

Titanus Ahool is a considerably small Titan, with black fur and red eyes. It’s wings have a thick, leathery texture and appear to be resistant to scratching.

Like a bat, it’s wings are actually hands with really long finger bones which allow it to wrap itself up when not in flight.

We’ve discovered that Titanus Ahool might actually be an entire species, one which might even be sprawling across Hollow Earth, but we haven’t been able to find a single one. Our researchers theorize that due to their elusive nature, these creatures might be solitary animals.

The only reason we even know of this species is because a juvenile was discovered back in 2013, it flew up from a hole in the ground and started screaming.

Speaking of screaming, these beasts can emit a powerful sonic shriek which we’ve found can interfere with our technology. We’ve also found out that Titanus Ahool has some sort of bio-electric organ, which it expresses through biting and scratching.

It has since been tranquilized and is being researched in facility 64 “Wyvern’s Den”.

Extra Facts:

-This creature is highly intelligent, being able to use simple tool and write small phrases with its claws.

-It seems to sustain itself on blood and meat. If blood cannot be provided, give meat. If meat cannot be provided, give blood.

-It can eat up to 53 liters of blood in a single day.

AHAHHSHDJDHDHJDND I DJDHDBD SHRIEKY'S MAKING HER KAIJU DEBUT WITH A SPLASH!!! OF BLOOOOOD!!! 🤩🦇🩸

You've done her fanged ferious self justice, Dino! The Ahool is an excellent jumping off point, and I like how you clarified that she's a very intelligent kaiju. Which means she'll only be more dangerous the bigger she grows.

I'm curious, despite the name is she a juvenile of the same species as Titanus Camazotz and that's why no other members of her species can be found? Are Camazotz and Ahool different species under the same family of chiropteran megafauna? Or is this a convergent evolution thing where they look alike in spite of not being related?

[dendrilart]

Ahool artwork for "Hoomans" the Cryptid Card Game

[cryptid-quest]

Cryptid of the Day: Ahool

Description: The Ahool is a giant bat seen on the Indonesian island of Java, named after the bizarre sound it makes. It was first brought to the West’s attention in 1925, when naturalist Ernest Bartels claimed to have seen it at the slopes of Salek Mountain. He encountered the creature again in 1927, where he heard its iconic screech. 

[labete-du-gevaudan]

In the Java Rainforest, a creature known as the Ahool is said to fly across the night sky. There are many different theories as to what this creature could be. Naturalist Dr. Ernest Bartels and Cryptozoologist Ivan T Sanderson believed that the creature was a gigantic undiscovered bat species. Many estimate that this mystery bat could have a wingspan of 10 feet. Dr. Bartels also thought it could possibly be an irregularly large bird as well; though many witnesses deny this, saying they can tell the difference between a bat and a bird.

The Ahool was first brought to the west’s attention when Bartels witnessed it. He claimed that he was searching around a waterfall in the Salek Mountains when the Ahool flew right over his head. He encountered it again in 1927 when he heard its unique cry from his bed at night. Bartels spent much of his life in Java and knew the difference between animals’ noises, leaving him puzzled.

[phantomlight496]

A drawing from a while back in October

The creature is called an Ahool

[thetalkingcow]

random cryptid drawings :)

[rate-every-bat]

Today's Bat: The Ahool

I love cryptids, so I was thrilled that this guy was recently requested! The Ahool is a cryptid described as a 10-to-12-foot bat-ape with a terrifying cry. Without further ado, let's swoop in:

Environmental Impact: Since this is a cryptid native to Indonesia and the Phillipines, there are a few ways we could swing this. The first would be speculative: I'd imagine a creature this size would require a lot of food, provide a lot of fertilizing guano, and reign absolute terror on any human it came across. We could base it off of first-hand accounts, though they're varied and contradictory. We could base it off of the Giant Golden-Crowned Flying Fox's score, as I think that's the most likely real-life corollary (or myth origin, if you're not feeling whimsical). However, I'm going to default low here, because there simply isn't any real information available.

🦇/5

Beauty: Looking at the several horrifying and ape-like depictions of the Ahool helped me see what people who are afraid of bats see. Because it's scary. I chose the above illustration because it didn't look like a sleep paralysis demon.

🦇🦇/5

Power: The telltale cry of the Ahool is the most concrete and iconic power I can name here. However... I know in my heart that this thing would eat me for breakfast if it could. Top marks.

🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇/5

Overall: Yes to cryptids, yes to bats, no to getting eaten by a bate-ape twice my size.

🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇/5

NOTE: I hesitate to list sources on this creature, as a lot of online articles about the Ahool simply spread misinformation about real-life bat species (ie claiming that Flying Foxes only echolocate, claiming that it must be more ape-like because Flying Foxes don't roost in trees, etc). I'm currently hunting for a printed source to get more information on ahool sightings, and I'll share that if/when I come across it. It's fun to play in the space when admiring cryptids and legends, but please remember to be respectful and inquisitive while you do so.

(PS: If you're a cryptid fan, or you resonate with the approach I took here, please check out the Oh No, Ross and Carrie podcast. They're where I take a lot of my passion for the supernatural from!)