Honestly I really enjoy drawing Ch'rell. I need to find more excuses to draw that football sized bastard. And not just when I'm procrastinating learning how to do Prime's stupid armor.
(minor warning! gross alien drawing in the bio)
(also super sorry about like- any shitty grammar or spelling mistakes. I'm very sleep deprived)
Chosen Name: Cameo ('Deadname' Defect)
Age: Uknown
Gender: Male
sexuality: Homosexual
Current occupation: Founder of the hidden city, Head of "the council", inventor, (formerly) kraang rebel
personality summary: Cameo is an eccentric but self-centred kraang. What he lacks in raw strength, he makes up for in sheer intelligence. He has the most innovative but dangerous mind amongst all the kraang. He is known to be highly manipulative, often nudging others in the wrong direction- for his own selfish gain. He's petty, vain, cruel, the list could go on.
Pre-rebellion
The kraang reproduce through various methods, making them a highly invasive species once fully settled onto a planet. The Biomass that often clings to and terraforms its surrounding environment- is capable of forming "egg sacks", if given the right conditions.
This is a common form of asexual reproduction (aside from thee brood mother) that the kraang practice.
When a baby krang bursts from its sack- the newborn's flesh remains tender & pale, before eventually shifting (x).
However, when Cameo emerged, his flesh- never matured, even as he grew.
During a kraang's "rookie stage" (their races equivalent to adolescence years) They will experience many physical & behavioural changes, but one specific change the kraang look out for, is their "mutations".
the "mutations" are essentially a kraang's special abilities.
to shifting parts of their anatomy or creating a biomass- these abilities are a signal towards higher ranking kraang that their young is ready for more intensive training. if a rookie shows no signs of mutating, they will be killed off.
Cameo was lucky to avoid this brutal fate despite his defects.
Even back then, he was beyond intelligent and took an interest in forging weaponry. Somehow, this talent of his- saved him from certain death. Yet it didn't save him from the kraangs cruelty. The risk of death still loomed over him.
Throughout his entire life, Cameo would be abused- even after proving that he was useful, he would still be subjected to an onslaught of neverending abuse.
His method of survival was manipulation. If Cameo couldn't fight his way out of a situation like most kraang did, then Cameo would 'talk' his way out of it.
needless to say, Cameo grew to hate his fellow kraang. he had no sense of comradery and wouldn't hesitate to backstab them. There was only one person he could look out for.... himself.
Cameo is genuinely confident in his skills. no amount of abuse could ever change the defects mind- he was the best.
his inventions- his work- would be used in conquest. Cameo had been playing a major part in the empire for centuries. However, the kraang were foolish and could not see it- to them, Cameo was just a disposable defect first and an amazing inventor second.
Utrom's betrayal/rebellion
Cameo knew Utrom back in his rookie days. He was cruel and callous but had a strong sense of comradery, just like any other kraang he knew. Utrom however, was his main tormentor during his early days.
so Cameo was genuinely surprised to hear word of his betrayal. The defect never thought Utrom had it in him. Treachery was something unheard of within their empire.
In Typical Cameo fashion, he saw Utrom's betrayal as a window of opportunity. Thus, aided the traitor with his rebellion (coming in with an agenda of his own)
Cameo is the true creator of the Key.
He had 'helped' The mystic warriors & Utrom conjure up the plan if they were to lose the battle- however little did they know, Cameo had plans on using the Key regardless of the outcome. Cameo always had a knack for pulling strings... planting idea's into people's heads..
Cameo KNEW that the battle would be one-sided, even with his aid. He designed the key in a very special way that would allow the defect to mull over his options, preparing himself for nearly any outcome.
He hated the kraang but he knew- more than any other being in the galaxy, how they think and how they function.
he knew that when the key was unleashed, that the sealed kraang would tear each other apart- desperate to snuff out any other rebels sealed alongside them.
What Cameo didn't consider, were the few remaining rebels lucky enough to avoid getting sealed away. Utrom- being one of them.
(much to Cameo's disdain)
This didn't deter him. He knew how to roll with the punches.
To cameo, it was simply the start of a new chapter.
post rebellion
Cameo adjusted to life on earth easier than any other kraang rebel. Humans were far easier to manipulate.
He had power over them and it felt great.
He took pleasure in sparking discourse amongst them, even causing full-on wars. All he had to do- was to give them a simple nudge. perhaps gifting them kraang armour, or something "mystical", whatever it may be but something was missing
The Kraang rebels had indirectly affected Earth in many ways- some more drastic than others. Cameo would spend his time studying these changes. Sometimes intentionally playing a part in it.
The planet itself already had strange properties- but when exposed to empyrean- only seemed to amplify the planet's properties.
now "empyrean", is the essences of kraang. their tech and bodies have empyrean within it. It is what they used to terraform planets to their liking.
If a creature is exposed to pure empyrean the results are unpredictable. This was how the Yokai emerged. To Cameo- the yokai were guideless creatures with no sense of direction, hiding away in fear of people. what He saw, was an opportunity.
Cameo offered the yokai a safe haven, A place hidden from humanity where they can 'truly' express themselves as long they stuck to his rules.
for the next couple of centuries, he'd retain control over the yokai- creating a false identity called "the council of heads", allowing the people of the hidden city to live a lie.
present day
Cameo had been around for centuries and had met plenty of yokai like Baron. they were always a means to an end, a minor misstep along the way but for a brief moment, Cameo underestimated his opponent- eventually leading to the mass mutant that plagued NYC.
what he didn't suspect, were the turtles.
ever since those ragtag teenagers accidentally unleashed Baron's Oozesquitoes to NYC, Cameo had been watching them from the shadows. He studied them and their ties to Baron, finding their misadventures quite amusing.
Along the way, He eventually hired Hugin & Munin due to their previous ties to Baron (also because he couldn't resist how pathetic they were).
Now- Cameo debates on making his move.
if the turtles can handle a kraang invasion, who knows what else they could handle. The defect is excited to find out.
Triva
Current voice claim is Jacob Tobia (their role as Double trouble)
Cameo's defects affect him in many ways. Back in the empire, he would wear special gear to protect himself both in and out of his mech suit but nowadays?? he has a special skincare routine to keep himself protected
Cameo still continues to make Kraang weaponry. it's his way of passing the time and relaxing. He prefers doing it when cloaked however since thumbs can come in handy
He dotes on Hugin and Munin, spoiling them like two purse dogs- in return, the Duo follow his very command.
Cameo and Big Mama are good friends :) sometimes he'll call himself 'Lil' Papa' as an inside joke. they both openly joke/talk about backstabbing each other and wouldn't hold it against them if they did. Their friendship is unique to say the least
Baron does not know that Cameo is "the council of heads" nor does the general public know.
Think of it as the Wizard of Oz situation.
He is also the inventor of cloaking brooches but- many yokai have taken it and improved upon his invention across the centuries.
While Cameo prefers to cloak, he isn't ashamed of his true form- and will even uncloak post-Rottmnt-movie.
He is often mistaken for a yokai rather than a kraang.
The original traitor. The first defender of earth.
You may be able to read more about him Below. (side note: some things in my previous posts may be reconned)
(edit: sorry about any of the spelling and grammar errors)
Assigned Name: Utrom
Age: Uknown
Gender: Unknown (Queergender)
sexuality: Pansexual (poly)
Current occupation: Part-time nature conservationist, full-time tourist. (formerly) Rebel leader and Kraang surveillance scout
personality summary: Utrom is a jovial charismatic bundle of love, who cares deeply for the world around him and is burdened by his past. He continues to learn and grow for centuries, wishing to right his wrongdoings. He is a strict pacifist, however, Utrom is still capable of intimidating others when needed. Think of him as the fun laidback uncle of Earth! (for the most part)
Backstory!
Pre-Rebellion:
Utrom started out as any other Kraang, born on planet primordial and raised to be a soldier for their glorious empire. He was by no means, a cut above the rest. Utrom was just another nameless soldier- another cog in the machine
He (just like any other member of his species) took pride in what he was. Despite his big hulking figure, Utrom served as a surveillance scout for the empire. His occupation was to scout out planets prior to the oncoming conquest. He would study various things like the enemies' ecosystem, culture and technological advancements. Utrom had a deeper fascination- perhaps, even a hidden admiration for other lifeforms but not to the extent where he’d feel remorse for aiding in their complete genocide.
Unlike most Kraang, Utrom would acknowledge to some degree his enemies were capable of outwitting them- though he knew no creature could ever overpower the might of kraang, Utrom also knew blindly underestimating their prey would have consequences.
This was not a common ideal, even for scouts like him.
His comrade. The one assigned to aid him on all his missions. Kraang2. Had a completely different set of ideals, ones that were more aligned with the common kraang soldier. They were polar opposites in many ways BUT- their differences were what forged their strong bond.
Utrom had even developed deep romantic feelings towards Krang2 but due to the culture they live in. Recognising or understanding such complicated emotions was nearly impossible. From his perspective, Kraang2 was his comrade and nothing more.
Sure, he liked the way She’d slaughter their foes or how she’d recklessly jump into battle without a thought or- even the quiet moments where they talked about climbing the ranks together but, She was just a comrade. Nothing more.
Utrom never knew why but Kraang1 (2’s elder brother) did not trusted him. He didn’t understand what warranted such specific hostility directed his way. Utrom never made the connection that his close friendship with 2 may have been the root of it. Kraang1 never outwardly showed his concern for his younger siblings, especially in front of others. Kraang1 was also a higher-ranking member of the empire, he is considered a prodigy to General Chre’ll.
He would abuse his authority over Utrom, singling him out from other soldiers for petty reasons.
To describe dynamic in the simplest of terms: they are like petty coworkers. a lot of their interactions would range from passive aggression to straight-up hostility or (more commonly) strained professionalism.
Utrom, being a lower rank could not bite back- otherwise, he'd be met with severe punishment. The abuse he undergo was something normalised within their society. Utrom would quietly question The kraang as a whole, however, his doubts would be buried. His head 6ft deep under the propaganda he was raised upon.
He was a soldier, meant to aid the empire's glorious crusade. To keep the natural order of things. the strong will devour the weak.
Utrom's betrayal/rebellion:
Names are important things within their culture. They are symbols that are achieved, rather than a title given upon birth.
Typically, a kraang would earn their Name after ascending the ranks and becoming a general however, a name can be earned through other means...more importantly, earning a name isn't always a good thing within the kraang.
Planet Earth was meant to be Kraang1's first conquest. Think of it as a crowning, one where Kraang1 would assert himself in the empire as "General Prime" (after a successful invasion.)
So what exactly happened?
Utrom, someone who was never seen far from kraang2's side- working in tandem- Was tasked with scouting out earth, alone. He was no position to question Kraang1's decision as per usual and thus, remained silent.
Once Utrom arrived on Earth (landing in Japan during the Heian period.) He went through the usual motions, Examining and collecting data. However, during this time- without his beloved comrade to distract him, his doubts began to take hold.
It was then he met a Sōhei, one who was unafraid of Utrom. Normally, when an enemy discovers him- Utrom was quick to kill but.. this time, he didn't.
the Sōhei fascinated him. They had simply struck up a conversation and even in that moment, they had hit a personal cord with Utrom. With words alone, he began to wonder- his doubts beginning to unearth.
So he did something he'd never thought he'd do.
Utrom began to befriend the enemy. He learned many things with the Sōhei and eventually, other humans too. A whole new world of opportunity had opened up to him, one that he'd never considered if he was with the kraang.
All of this was done under the Kraang's (metaphorical) nose.
Utrom saw how imperfect the empire was, thanks to the help of his human friends. Yet, he wanted others to see it too. Utrom wanted his fellow comrades to know, that there was more to life then blood and conquest.
He began to orchestrate an entire rebellion, gathering kraang from lower ranks to rise up and defend Earth. Kraang2 was the first to know about this but opposed the idea. Yet she remained silent, thinking that Utrom would come back to his "senses" (which he never did.)
This rebellion was how Utrom earned his name. Once word got out about a traitorous scout, he was 'branded' and named Utrom.
However, this act would lead more kraang to aid Utrom. He was a normal loyal soldier like they were, if he had the courage to fight authority then perhaps they could too?
This lead to a full on Battle on earth. The rebels and humans were getting decimated, despite everything- they were losing to the kraang.
Til the very last second, the human friends pulled out a piece of precious kraang tech. One built by a rebel and meant to seal in the kraang....and perhaps the rebels too.
Utrom knew this and allowed this, knowing that he too may be sealed as well.
Once the Key was unleashed, the battle was over in an instance.
Utrom somehow managed to avoid being sealed into the prison dimensions along with only a small handful of rebels left. The rest were sucked into the prison dimension where they'll no doubt, meet their demise.
This... Affected utrom in many ways he never thought it would. Unsure what to do with himself. He gifted the Key to one of his human friends.
The lost of kraang2 cut him deeply... Now stranded on earth, all he can do is heal and live a new life.
Post-betrayal
Utrom spent his first century on earth within Japan, living closely with the Sōhei he trusted so dearly. He had vowed to become a pacifist after the war, which was a tough journey for Utrom.
He had lived his whole life as a soldier. War was the only thing he knew but with help from his Human friends. Utrom managed.
Eventually, one by one his friends would pass on. Their lives were so much shorter than his.
He than decided too travel across earth. learning from humans without involving themselves in their conflict. Utrom would spend many centuries attempting to conserve the planet's ecosystem, socialising with humans and more importantly, trying to forget kraang2
Fast forward to present day
Utrom received word from the E.p.f that there was a failed invasion within NYC and that his presence is required. He was horrified to know, that he'd be helping with Kraang2 interrogation.
He did not work for them, serving more so as a "kraang consultant" due to his former role as a rebel leader. Yet, given that this was his old comrade, he felted the need to stay.
Now Utrom is trying hard to undo the damage that she and her brothers have caused.
Triva:
Utrom voiceclaim is Keith david (x)
Utrom likes telling stories about his time on earth. His antics with vary but all of them bizarre in their own special way. Utrom is essentially one big history book. A living artifact.
Utrom begins to keep an eye on those involved in NYC's invasion. Whether they be good or bad.
He struggles with being a pacifist, even til this very day. He often worries about snapping at someone since he's constantly aware of his strength.
Utrom great with dealing other peoples emotions however, closes himself off from his own feelings. He feels responsible for everything that had happen and is trying hard to 'fix' everything.
He still retains strong romantic feelings towards kraang2 and will continue to visit her once The E.p.f efforts in finding her brothers prove to be fruitless. (biggest simp in all the galaxy)
Pre-krang reveal:
Utrom eventually makes himself known to the turtles post-invasion. Acting as a goofy mentor/uncle. He'll show up at random moments to give them advice on whatever high-jinx the brothers are currently in.
Leonardo however, hadn't trusted Utrom since day one. So many things about the man screamed out red flags to him. The way that Utrom is everywhere, his strange amount of knowledge, his inhumane abilities- the list could go on.
The rest of the turtles (and by extension- their friends & family), adored Utrom. His presence provides a great sense of comfort as he bestows his wisdom upon them.... also the guy is just fun.
he buys them free pizza
Post-krang reveal
After Utrom is outed for being a krang, the Trust between him and the turtles is completely shattered. They continue being on friendly terms (except for Leo) but ultimately become suspicious of his every action.
You see, While Utrom means well, He isn't exactly forthcoming with information regarding the kraang. The knowledge he shares is rather selective, only giving one piece of the puzzle instead of the whole picture. The turtles believe him on certain things yet don't trust Utrom to be entirely honest.
Donnie continues to interact with Utrom while his brothers keep the kraang at arm's length. They spawn a mutual familiar bond, one akin to estranged Uncle and troubled nephew.
Bonus: Utrom and April
Unbeknownst to both Barry and April- Utrom had made his newfound home within their apartment complex.
Utrom is a good neighbour (despite being a little mysterious).
however, April wouldn't mind Utrom so much if he didn't playfully flirt with her mom on an occasional basis. He doesn't realize he's doing it, Utrom thinks he's simply being friendly and making Carol {aka April's mom} laugh.
(headcanon: April's parents are divorced and carol is currently single.)
do you have a design for the krang inside the crying titian?
okay okay i know i have like ALOT of unanswered asks lying around but- FINALLY decided to answer one.
I tried to challenge the 80'S kraang vibes into him. Didn't think of any in-depth lore to him other than, hahaha what if the crying titan was the same kraang that gave shredder his armour (and they were secretly boyfriends)