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Description

Gaw

Intro: The kingdom of Skull Island has persisted for as long as life has existed upon Earth. Over millions of years, the unique kaiju ecosystem has changed and adapted itself in ways that have produced an endless variety of forms. As with most healthy biomes, apex predators have played a major role in its’ long-term stability, the most recent of which is the primate superspecies K. rex, represented today by the singular Kong.

Many rival species have risen and fallen over the years, the most prominently observed of which have been the vicious Vagnosaurs. But as exploration of the island and relations with its’ native people improve, the telltale signs and stories of other challengers are being uncovered. Iwi legends and bonebeds across the jagged, exposed cliffs of the island, tell of a race of tyrannical saurians, terrorizing the island through the Mesozoic, clashing with the Gorosaurs for dominance. As they developed a specialized, cyclic cast system, their incursions became less frequent, but ever more brutal and costly. Even as Kong’s kind evolved, their coming would always mark a significant blow to the species, contributing overall to the witling of their numbers. The most recent revival of this ancient species occurred within historical memory of the Iwi tribe, and is spoken of as a great and terrible battle in which Kong’s parents lost their lives. Biollante herself was forced to imprison the monster within a massive, sealed pod of amber to prevent her from finishing off the primate species then and there.

That was a long time ago, and much has happened surrounding the island since. Most notably, the invasion of King Ghidorah has wreaked havoc upon the land’s ecosystems and ultimately deprived it of its’ king. That king is still very far away and will take time to return. And Biollante’s power has been significantly reduced and diluted by recent events. A temporary situation, fortunately, and manageable among the remaining kaiju…were it not that a stray gravity beam unleashed by the Golden Terror during his pass-over happened to strike a great, hidden, gnarled pod, encrusted by trees and vines, splitting it open, sending fractures throughout the amber matrix, and allowing fresh air to reactivate the metabolism of what had been trapped within…

Story: Although most of Skull Island’s surface area is considered too hazardous for prolonged human occupation, FATHOM has managed to establish an outpost base upon an isolated peninsula that’s been in operation for the past few decades. A lack of local radiation deposits, and the rough and barren surrounding terrain and rip currents have reliably deterred larger florafauna superspecies from the area. For added security, the base has constructed a large wall, blocking the narrow canyon passage that serves as the single access point to the rest of the mainland. Having fortunately been clear of Ghidorah’s path of destruction, the base was vital in monitoring the developing situation on the island.

Shortly after the end of the invasion from Planet X, the outpost began to register unusual infrasonic signals from deeper within the island. The bioacoustic frequencies seemed to closely match those recognized as signature of Kong, specifically patterns indicating distress. The possibility of an undiscovered second surviving instance of K. rex was deemed sufficient grounds for an active investigation, and so an expedition, equipped with the latest survival tactics and technology, was dispatched.

What the away team eventually discovered, though, was a strange, gall-like growth of immense proportions, the scar of a gravity bolt exposing an amber matrix within. Research was soon hindered by an unusual gathering of Venatoraptor packs, mostly of the so-called “Deathrunner” subspecies. Operations were suspended entirely at the arrival of the female Gorosaur, who had also evidently been attracted by the alleged calls of an ally to her kind. At her approach, whatever was inside the structure showed signs of activity, further breaking the growth apart. And when the archosaur kaiju was closest, Gaw made her first move.

Bursting free of her prison, Gaw ambushed the Gorosaur. The away team quickly retreated to base before witnessing the final outcome, though later surveys would confirm the female Gorosaur’s death. It was also realized too late that the victor had proceeded to track the team back to base. Despite extensive countermeasures and sacrifices, Gaw soon made her way to the base, tore through the wall, and attacked the Skull Island outpost. Prompt evacuations kept human losses to a minimum, but the base was overrun by Gaw and her Venatoraptor packs.

So began the reign of Queen Gaw upon Skull Island…

Abilities: Considering her primarily maniraptoran traits, Gaw is extremely lightweight and agile, juxtaposed to her size and strength. Her bones are honeycombed with a self-reinforcing fractal support network, granting more overall durability while being less than half the weight of similarly sized bones of many other kaiju. These hollow spaces are penetrated by an advanced air sac array that allows a fine degree of control over not only respiration, but also her nuclear metabolism, and can effectively filter sufficient intake from even average background radiation levels. She can further boost her energy by ingesting radioactive ores are gastroliths, though these effects are often short-lived.

In combat, Gaw makes extensive use of her talons, on both her feet and hands. Heavily muscular, and reinforced with a diamond-like matrix, these claws can pierce through the toughest hides once the skin is breached. She has been observed using a tactic predicted by some paleontologists known as RPR, or Raptor-Prey-Restraint, in which she pins smaller targets under her or stabilizes herself upon larger opponents with her wings. The primaries of her wing feathers are also armed with a solidified edge, forming a razor-sharp blade that can slice through even metal structures as seen during her attack at the Skull Island base. These blades, together with her talons, are usually aimed toward sensitive areas near joints or major arteries to quickly deprive an enemy of mobility and stamina as she begins to eat them alive. Though she cannot actively fly, her feathers also provide an extra degree of agility and lift during powered leaps, and controlled gliding from sufficient heights. However, it has been noted that successive moltings seem to be producing gradually larger and more aerodynamic feathers, suggesting that active flight could be a future possibility.

Character: Gaw is highly intelligent, socially adept, and cunning in ways beyond what has been seen in corvids or parrots. Her origin itself is still under study, but appears to be a form of a cyclic cast system derivative of the Venatoraptor genus, triggered by a variety of environmental and social ques that prompt the development of far larger and more physiologically advanced individuals as natural born leaders of the species. This instinctive dedication is perhaps one of Gaw’s greatest strengths, as she is considered the reigning matriarch by the majority of the Venatoraptor population, communicating with her subjects via an elaborate array of vocalizations ranging from ultra to infrasonic. The Deathrunners seem to be the most ardent followers, and they carry out her instructions with vicious efficiency. Other subspecies, such as the flight-capable Windrunners and burrowing Excavaraptors, have also been seen making radical shifts in territorial behavior to adhere to their new queen’s demands. By local accounts, the few packs that refuse her orders are being hunted down by more loyal packs, which Gaw actively promotes.

This ingrained need to dominate is what has made such a monster of Gaw. Indeed, she seems to abhor resistance to her will in any way. Since taking residence upon Skull Mountain, she appears to be using her loyal packs to permit the growth of hypervore populations beyond sustainable levels across the island. Some postulate that she is attempting to instigate a systematic mass extinction, with the intent of leaving only species she can actively control.

Besides those of her own kind, Gaw has also been seen to be very adapt in mimicking the vocalizations of other animals, practically to an indistinguishable degree. Remote monitoring has recorded several previously unknown bioacoustic patterns directed to various subterranean chambers within Skull Island. It seems she is prompting other major kaiju to rise as well, and setting them on courses to directly interfere with Kong’s journey home…

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Gaw is copyrighted by whoever owns the rights.

Been looking forward to unleashing this beast for a while. I'm also curious, how do you guys think an incarnation of Gaw on screen could work in some future type of Kong movie?

Description

Gaw

Intro: The kingdom of Skull Island has persisted for as long as life has existed upon Earth. Over millions of years, the unique kaiju ecosystem has changed and adapted itself in ways that have produced an endless variety of forms. As with most healthy biomes, apex predators have played a major role in its’ long-term stability, the most recent of which is the primate superspecies K. rex, represented today by the singular Kong.

Many rival species have risen and fallen over the years, the most prominently observed of which have been the vicious Vagnosaurs. But as exploration of the island and relations with its’ native people improve, the telltale signs and stories of other challengers are being uncovered. Iwi legends and bonebeds across the jagged, exposed cliffs of the island, tell of a race of tyrannical saurians, terrorizing the island through the Mesozoic, clashing with the Gorosaurs for dominance. As they developed a specialized, cyclic cast system, their incursions became less frequent, but ever more brutal and costly. Even as Kong’s kind evolved, their coming would always mark a significant blow to the species, contributing overall to the witling of their numbers. The most recent revival of this ancient species occurred within historical memory of the Iwi tribe, and is spoken of as a great and terrible battle in which Kong’s parents lost their lives. Biollante herself was forced to imprison the monster within a massive, sealed pod of amber to prevent her from finishing off the primate species then and there.

That was a long time ago, and much has happened surrounding the island since. Most notably, the invasion of King Ghidorah has wreaked havoc upon the land’s ecosystems and ultimately deprived it of its’ king. That king is still very far away and will take time to return. And Biollante’s power has been significantly reduced and diluted by recent events. A temporary situation, fortunately, and manageable among the remaining kaiju…were it not that a stray gravity beam unleashed by the Golden Terror during his pass-over happened to strike a great, hidden, gnarled pod, encrusted by trees and vines, splitting it open, sending fractures throughout the amber matrix, and allowing fresh air to reactivate the metabolism of what had been trapped within…

Story: Although most of Skull Island’s surface area is considered too hazardous for prolonged human occupation, FATHOM has managed to establish an outpost base upon an isolated peninsula that’s been in operation for the past few decades. A lack of local radiation deposits, and the rough and barren surrounding terrain and rip currents have reliably deterred larger florafauna superspecies from the area. For added security, the base has constructed a large wall, blocking the narrow canyon passage that serves as the single access point to the rest of the mainland. Having fortunately been clear of Ghidorah’s path of destruction, the base was vital in monitoring the developing situation on the island.

Shortly after the end of the invasion from Planet X, the outpost began to register unusual infrasonic signals from deeper within the island. The bioacoustic frequencies seemed to closely match those recognized as signature of Kong, specifically patterns indicating distress. The possibility of an undiscovered second surviving instance of K. rex was deemed sufficient grounds for an active investigation, and so an expedition, equipped with the latest survival tactics and technology, was dispatched.

What the away team eventually discovered, though, was a strange, gall-like growth of immense proportions, the scar of a gravity bolt exposing an amber matrix within. Research was soon hindered by an unusual gathering of Venatoraptor packs, mostly of the so-called “Deathrunner” subspecies. Operations were suspended entirely at the arrival of the female Gorosaur, who had also evidently been attracted by the alleged calls of an ally to her kind. At her approach, whatever was inside the structure showed signs of activity, further breaking the growth apart. And when the archosaur kaiju was closest, Gaw made her first move.

Bursting free of her prison, Gaw ambushed the Gorosaur. The away team quickly retreated to base before witnessing the final outcome, though later surveys would confirm the female Gorosaur’s death. It was also realized too late that the victor had proceeded to track the team back to base. Despite extensive countermeasures and sacrifices, Gaw soon made her way to the base, tore through the wall, and attacked the Skull Island outpost. Prompt evacuations kept human losses to a minimum, but the base was overrun by Gaw and her Venatoraptor packs.

So began the reign of Queen Gaw upon Skull Island…

Abilities: Considering her primarily maniraptoran traits, Gaw is extremely lightweight and agile, juxtaposed to her size and strength. Her bones are honeycombed with a self-reinforcing fractal support network, granting more overall durability while being less than half the weight of similarly sized bones of many other kaiju. These hollow spaces are penetrated by an advanced air sac array that allows a fine degree of control over not only respiration, but also her nuclear metabolism, and can effectively filter sufficient intake from even average background radiation levels. She can further boost her energy by ingesting radioactive ores are gastroliths, though these effects are often short-lived.

In combat, Gaw makes extensive use of her talons, on both her feet and hands. Heavily muscular, and reinforced with a diamond-like matrix, these claws can pierce through the toughest hides once the skin is breached. She has been observed using a tactic predicted by some paleontologists known as RPR, or Raptor-Prey-Restraint, in which she pins smaller targets under her or stabilizes herself upon larger opponents with her wings. The primaries of her wing feathers are also armed with a solidified edge, forming a razor-sharp blade that can slice through even metal structures as seen during her attack at the Skull Island base. These blades, together with her talons, are usually aimed toward sensitive areas near joints or major arteries to quickly deprive an enemy of mobility and stamina as she begins to eat them alive. Though she cannot actively fly, her feathers also provide an extra degree of agility and lift during powered leaps, and controlled gliding from sufficient heights. However, it has been noted that successive moltings seem to be producing gradually larger and more aerodynamic feathers, suggesting that active flight could be a future possibility.

Character: Gaw is highly intelligent, socially adept, and cunning in ways beyond what has been seen in corvids or parrots. Her origin itself is still under study, but appears to be a form of a cyclic cast system derivative of the Venatoraptor genus, triggered by a variety of environmental and social ques that prompt the development of far larger and more physiologically advanced individuals as natural born leaders of the species. This instinctive dedication is perhaps one of Gaw’s greatest strengths, as she is considered the reigning matriarch by the majority of the Venatoraptor population, communicating with her subjects via an elaborate array of vocalizations ranging from ultra to infrasonic. The Deathrunners seem to be the most ardent followers, and they carry out her instructions with vicious efficiency. Other subspecies, such as the flight-capable Windrunners and burrowing Excavaraptors, have also been seen making radical shifts in territorial behavior to adhere to their new queen’s demands. By local accounts, the few packs that refuse her orders are being hunted down by more loyal packs, which Gaw actively promotes.

This ingrained need to dominate is what has made such a monster of Gaw. Indeed, she seems to abhor resistance to her will in any way. Since taking residence upon Skull Mountain, she appears to be using her loyal packs to permit the growth of hypervore populations beyond sustainable levels across the island. Some postulate that she is attempting to instigate a systematic mass extinction, with the intent of leaving only species she can actively control.

Besides those of her own kind, Gaw has also been seen to be very adapt in mimicking the vocalizations of other animals, practically to an indistinguishable degree. Remote monitoring has recorded several previously unknown bioacoustic patterns directed to various subterranean chambers within Skull Island. It seems she is prompting other major kaiju to rise as well, and setting them on courses to directly interfere with Kong’s journey home…

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Gaw is copyrighted by whoever owns the rights.

Been looking forward to unleashing this beast for a while. I'm also curious, how do you guys think an incarnation of Gaw on screen could work in some future type of Kong movie?