Iโve been rewatching Maya and The Three recently and I forgot how much I loved it.
While I do have complaints about the pacing in some episodes and lack of reason behind certain character development, itโs a show I truly enjoy. Not to mention, itโs in the same universe as The Book of Life and I ADORE that movie ๐ญ๐ซถ
Anyway, I hope yโall enjoy Zatz in my style. Heโs such an attractive character in general, but his voice actor being the same as Hisirdoux from Trollhunters makes it even better ๐
This is a piece written for a Greek Mythology class I had a couple years ago that Iโve rediscovered. This is essentially copy-pasted from my google doc so you get the full experience.
Any notes, ideas, or comments are welcome ๐ค
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**This is all written from the perspective of a researcher on this fictional planet. I do have drawings of this creature as well. Please donโt steal ๐
a. Where does your creature live?
The Gradov live on the planet Bolarum, a terrestrial planet laden with highly toxic fumes. The surface of the planet is composed of deep valleys and craters, forest-like rock pillars, and dense flora. The mass amount of carbon dioxide provided by the planet allows for any and all beasts that reside on it to be just that โ beasts. With two moons orbiting its orange skies, Bolarum is quite the sight. The fumes of the torrential geysers, called Toks, contain Lycorine. In small doses this, toxin is harmless; however, with the amounts exuded, it is extremely noxious. This doesnโt bother the residents of the planet of course. Most have adapted to either be immune to the toxins or โ like the Gradov โ breathe it.
b. What does it eat?
Gradovs are omnivores and they eat what they can. Having no teeth, these creatures swallow their food whole. Whether that be the wriggling beings known as Jinn or the beautifully deadly Trepel flowers, they donโt care. Gradovs use their front and back claws to slice their food into pieces when unable to swallow their food whole. The eggs of Yuls are a special delicacy to them; Yul nests are highly difficult to find and when they are, it is a treat.
Specimen #00489 โDvoq '' prefers to eat Jinn and other fun-to-chase food items. Its ultimate favorite food, however, are Dinkolils. Dinkolils are bright, yellow leafed fruit bushes that offer large amounts of small, slimy pink fruits.
c. How does it behave?
The Gradov species as a whole is very social, so long as you yourself are not a Gradov. Despite being extremely social, they are territorial. A single Gradov can host several square miles of territory on their own, underground and/or above. When in contact with a creature of a different race, Gradovs will often stake them out. This โobservation-periodโ can last anywhere from a day to several weeks. If the creature becomes a threat to the Gradovโs flora or previously accepted fauna it will quickly dispose of it. Otherwise, the Gradov will silently accept the creature as one of its own. On rare occasions a Gradov will form a bond with an accepted creature and give its life in servitude to that creature. They are exceptionally loyal and will only bond once, once the bond-mate โ an Oroov โ dies, the Gradov will spend the rest of its life in โdedicationโ. Dedication is a mourning ritual that happens throughout the last 5 years of a Gradovs life after it's Oroov has passed. This ritual looks different depending on the bonds between each pair.
During the โobservation-periodโ a Gradov learns and catalogs information about the creature in their territory. When they find an Oroov this does not change. They study their partner and, in the end, use the information gained to make an intricate gravesite for their partner. (Under the assumption they dont die first.) Before the burial, Gradovs will use their observations to please their partner in any way they can โ they strive for only the best.
Specimen #00489 โDvoqโ
Dvoq is a weary creature. It does not shy away from a fight or a chase, but it is not quick to trust. It has one of the longest observation-periods recorded being 15 months watching a mere Krok โ flightless birds with large eyes. It has yet to find an Orlov and has not shown obvious signs of interest in any previously accepted members. Dvoq, once trusting, is a very playful Gradov and will often initiate play. This specimen has had several encounters with active Toks and Yul. It has narrowly escaped each time. Most notably being the first encounter it had with a Yul.
d. What special powers/qualities does it have?
Aside from being able to breathe the toxic fumes of the Toks, the way Gradovs breathe them is fascinating. They do not have lungs; instead, they absorb the Toksโ fumes through their skin. Doing this also coats them in a thick, mucus-like slime. This slime allows the Gradovs to easily slip away from potential predators and through tight crevices within rocks. Being toothless, Gradovs must swallow their food whole. This comes with the adaptations of both an easily dislocated jaw bone, and extremely stretchy organs. The Gradovs are asexual reproducers. This means they do not need to copulate to have offspring. That said, they do copulate with their Oroovs in order to take specific characteristics of their genes; this has a set of rules attached.
The skin of Gradovs is consistently bright and colorful. These colors can range anywhere from white as snow to neon pink. Colors are selected by the parent of each Gradov for survival purposes. Most of the time the colors chosen are made to help the offspring camouflage.
e. How/Why was your creature created?
Gradovs evolved from aquifer dwellers that were forced to the surface by the emergence of the Toks and tectonic movements crushing their original habitats. They adapted rather quickly, utilizing their ability to โstealโ certain genes from their Orvoos and, being egg-layers, were able to recoup their numbers rather rapidly.
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Dvoqโs First Experience With A Yul
Entry #273
A Yul had managed to slither into Specimen #00489โs territory on 09/14/**. It took the specimen several days to notice the Yulโs presence. When the serpentine was finally spotted, Specimen #00489 became exceedingly rigid. It tagged behind the Yul for several days and got closer with each passing one. On the 9th day, the Yul, tagged Specimen #01738, striked at Specimen #00489. The Gradov quickly evaded the predator and sped its way through the sulfurous stalagmites of โThe Yellow Zoneโ. Several of those stacks came down. There were no absorbed casualties.
The chase lasted approximately 7 minutes before Specimen #00489 was able to elude the Yul. Specimen #00489 made an incredible feat by flattening itself against one of the sulfur walls and utilizing its camouflage. Very impressive for its young age.
Entry #628
Specimen #01738 returned last week. It did not take long for Specimen #00489 โ dubbed โDvoqโ โ to take notice of the creature. I believe that many of the creatures Specimen #00489 has collected alerted it. This time, Dvoq did not stalk the Yul from the ground level, but instead took to high ground. It watched Specimen #01738 for 3 weeks. On the eve of the fourth week, the Gradov leapt into action โ Specimen #01738 had attacked Specimen #03957 and attempted to do it harm. Dvoq stole the Yulโs attention and drove it to the edge of โThe South Yellow Zoneโ. Tricking the Yul into crossing over a Toks, Specimen #00489 successfully killed Specimen #01738.
Entry #917
Dvoq made a rash decision and nearly scorched itself on an active Toks. While playing with a Specimen #00627 โ โIsht '' the Snyde โ Dvoq jumped over the geyser. As the Gradov came down to the ground the geyser burst and pushed both creatures away. I monitored them closely for the next several days. Immediately after was the most interesting interaction Iโd seen from the two. Isht cared tenderly to the Gradov after tentatively avoiding the calming geyser. It was very affectionate to the specimen in an almost Oroov-like manner. This was a new development and intrigued me greatly. Dvoq was not as equally affectionate, but seemed to appreciate the concern. The two of them monitored each other for an extended period of time. I believe it may have been a scare for the both of them. After about 2 weeks Dvoq began to give Specimen #00627, Isht, gifts of Dinkolil berries. I have my suspicions โ this may be a courting โ but I will continue to monitor the creatures and their development.
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Again, let me know any thoughts you have, tips, or general comments! ๐ซถ
โ Destiny is a gift. Some go their entire lives, living existences of quiet desperation, never learning the truth that what feels as though a burden pushing down upon our shoulders is actually a sense of purpose lifting us to greater heights. Never forget that fear is but the precursor to valor and that to strive and triumph in the face of fear is what it means to be a heroโฆ โ
โ Donโt think. Become. โ
Again, visiting the concept of Jim in all his glory with Excalibur and everythingโthough more canon leaning in that I wanted to keep a bit of the design style of the movie one (except for the Halo Crown, that was my idea he he) while also getting inspired by other designs and bringing back the Trollhunter armour design in too! Thought itโd be fun to at leats try to incorporate how heโs both a knight (in the sense of being a Trollhunter) but also his โgraceโ through the light and crown and all that.
And also how itโs sorta asymmetrical, and maybe in another piece I could put in a bit of his Troll form accents โ but generally I wanted to show how heโs not just one, โuniformโ person but of multiple facets and aaaaaa I donโt know if this makes sense but neverthelessโฆ!
THIS TOOK ME SO LONG BUT IT WAS SO FUN DOING IT โ plus! I got to redraw the older post with Jim & Excalibur in it but this time as an actual full piece.
(Sorry for the ramble but I also gotta add that itโs funny how Iโm in Morocco and how they have these mountains called the โAtlas Mountainsโ which is Perfectly In Theme with how I did the other bulk of this piece here so yay to that)
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