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Description

Manda

Intro: Legends of dragons are a worldwide phenomenon. Among the most unique depictions are those of Asiatic dragons; often represented as water/weather gods, and depicted as wise and sometimes even benevolent beings. Such stories come down from very ancient times, and some of the more obscure cycles of legendry are allegedly so old as to predate anatomically modern humans. In the past, some eccentric scholars have suggested that these oldest whispers, heavily distorted and embellished as they may have been through the millennia, nevertheless suggest a grain of truth in reference to such extraordinary creatures. In the new age of kaiju, once-ridiculed speculations are under new scrutiny. While such old tales are common throughout the world and hint of a variety of elder-earth monsters or gods, of particular significance to the Asiatic region are references to a water guardian; “Manda”…

Story: After millennia of dormancy, the ancient super organism known as Mu surfaced in the mid-Atlantic. Several naval vessels were stranded and a rescue/recon mission was launched. The living island proved to be a unique kaiju-based ecology, and though not nearly as aggressive as the likes of Skull Island, many dangers soon reared their heads. A cephalopod kaiju, Gezora, attacked the surrounding fleet and landing party.

Meanwhile, Mu’s resurfacing seemed to trigger a global mass migration event among known and unknown kaiju. Known creatures included the escaped varanid, Komodithrax. From a hidden underwater cave off the coast of Scotland, the aquatic monster, Ogra emerged, which caused significant damage to London with her passing. What was thought to be an unusual oil reserve deep below South Korea was upheaved by a reptilian creature, Yongary, which tore through Seoul. The polar ice caps crumbled at the awakening of a creature that, due to a confusing case of mistaken identity, was dubbed Zilla, which went on to smash his way through New York on his way to the Atlantic. A trail of destruction was also left from the Australian Outback to Sydney by the frilled kaiju, Jirass. From around the world, monsters of all sorts were on their way towards Mu. For what purpose, none could yet imagine.

The dispatched team on Mu’s surface was caught in the middle of this gathering of giants. But they were “rescued” by the indigenous Seatopians, and taken to their home deep within Mu’s cephalic cavity. There they were reunited with the crews of the stranded vessels, mostly accounted for. It was there that they were also introduced to the native gods of Mu; a pair of enormous serpentine kaiju the Seatopians called Manda. The mutated humanoids also explained to the FATHOM operatives among the group why they had appealed for Mu not to be harmed by surface societies.

Mu, they said, was much more than a host organism. More than just another kaiju ecology. It was a place of sanctuary, growth, and nurturing for Earth’s old gods. Slowly, the truth dawned on the captives; an isolated, ever-moving location, an abundance of essential radiation and nutrients, but with no large indigenous predators… Mu was a kaiju nesting site. The Seatopians had watched the surface world enough to know that such a revelation would likely lead to an attempt at Mu’s destruction. Their own ancestors, they claimed, had tried to long ago, and had been wiped out by the kaiju they now saw as gods. And so, for the good of all involved, the Seatopians refused to allow their captives to leave unless they could promise to convince their home nations not to interfere with or harm Mu’s natural role in their gods’ life cycles.

Unfortunately, before any true consensus could be reached, a hasty message managed to leak its way outside of Mu. With the existence and location of the Seatopian base exposed, the Atragon was ordered to attack Mu’s braincase, using its own hull and drill-missiles to provide an escape route for the captives and possibly seriously impair or even kill Mu in the process. The native gods, of course, did no appreciate this. And so, the female Manda attacked the anti-kaiju sub in defense of her home. The surrounding fleet and air force launched their own attacks, but were met with resistance by the male Manda, as well as another hidden guardian…

Abilities: Phylogenetic analysis suggests the Mandas originated as transitional forms between lizards and snakes, leading some to refer to them as the Mother and Father of Serpents. Their long, flexible bodies are extremely agile, especially in water, where they move in an undulating fashion that makes it difficult to predict their next motions. Out of water, they are able to strike at targets at high velocity and precision. They possess no venom, but prefer to entangle and constrict their prey and/or enemies. They can squeeze with enough force to completely crush all but the most resistance of hulls and infrastructure. Their limbs, though small, can aid in anchoring them to prey or steering through water.

The Mandas are not the most heavily armored of kaiju, but rely more on their reflexes to outmaneuver opponents. They track the motions of prey with a highly developed lateral line system, as well as through rows of small photoreceptors along their backs. Sensory input is processed by a heavy metal-infused nervous system, which is also the source of their finest ability.

Like many types of fish, such as electric eels, both Mandas possess battery-like nodes along their bodies which can generate enormous electrical power. They most often use this power to send bolts of directed lightening from their maws, though they can at times produce a full-body shock powerful enough to stun most medium-sized kaiju. Their control over electrical energy is so precise that it often manifests as hydrokinetic phenomena. The Mandas use this manipulation to slide more easily and quickly through the water, and at times to enhance their strikes or produce a hydraulic “force field” to buffer attacks. Sometimes they are even able to generate tsunamis and whirlpools when working together.

Character: As a pair, the Mandas usually seem to be quite reserved. Perhaps attaining most needed energy through Mu’s residual bioelectrical field, they have rarely been observed hunting or attacking other organisms. They are highly defensive of their home, though, and will strike violently if a threat is sensed. The male seems more willing to venture further from Mu in order to ensure its’ safety. The females, on the other hand, seems to extend her defensive instincts to other creatures of the living island, including the Seatopians. It is speculated, based on Seatopian oral traditions, that the species itself may have once formed a loose symbiosis with ancient paleolithic cultures, similar to Kong’s relationship with the Iwi on Skull Island.

Indeed, the Mandas even share their living space with the Seatopians; a series of biological caverns within Mu’s cephalic cavity, with access to high levels of bioelectric energy generated by Mu’s biolithic brain matter. It is rumored, deep within these caverns, that the Mandas guard their most precious secret; a pearl the size of a small house. At least, it may resemble a pearl to some. To the kaiju, it is something far more valuable than any material treasure…

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Manda is copyrighted by Toho.

Description

Manda

Intro: Legends of dragons are a worldwide phenomenon. Among the most unique depictions are those of Asiatic dragons; often represented as water/weather gods, and depicted as wise and sometimes even benevolent beings. Such stories come down from very ancient times, and some of the more obscure cycles of legendry are allegedly so old as to predate anatomically modern humans. In the past, some eccentric scholars have suggested that these oldest whispers, heavily distorted and embellished as they may have been through the millennia, nevertheless suggest a grain of truth in reference to such extraordinary creatures. In the new age of kaiju, once-ridiculed speculations are under new scrutiny. While such old tales are common throughout the world and hint of a variety of elder-earth monsters or gods, of particular significance to the Asiatic region are references to a water guardian; “Manda”…

Story: After millennia of dormancy, the ancient super organism known as Mu surfaced in the mid-Atlantic. Several naval vessels were stranded and a rescue/recon mission was launched. The living island proved to be a unique kaiju-based ecology, and though not nearly as aggressive as the likes of Skull Island, many dangers soon reared their heads. A cephalopod kaiju, Gezora, attacked the surrounding fleet and landing party.

Meanwhile, Mu’s resurfacing seemed to trigger a global mass migration event among known and unknown kaiju. Known creatures included the escaped varanid, Komodithrax. From a hidden underwater cave off the coast of Scotland, the aquatic monster, Ogra emerged, which caused significant damage to London with her passing. What was thought to be an unusual oil reserve deep below South Korea was upheaved by a reptilian creature, Yongary, which tore through Seoul. The polar ice caps crumbled at the awakening of a creature that, due to a confusing case of mistaken identity, was dubbed Zilla, which went on to smash his way through New York on his way to the Atlantic. A trail of destruction was also left from the Australian Outback to Sydney by the frilled kaiju, Jirass. From around the world, monsters of all sorts were on their way towards Mu. For what purpose, none could yet imagine.

The dispatched team on Mu’s surface was caught in the middle of this gathering of giants. But they were “rescued” by the indigenous Seatopians, and taken to their home deep within Mu’s cephalic cavity. There they were reunited with the crews of the stranded vessels, mostly accounted for. It was there that they were also introduced to the native gods of Mu; a pair of enormous serpentine kaiju the Seatopians called Manda. The mutated humanoids also explained to the FATHOM operatives among the group why they had appealed for Mu not to be harmed by surface societies.

Mu, they said, was much more than a host organism. More than just another kaiju ecology. It was a place of sanctuary, growth, and nurturing for Earth’s old gods. Slowly, the truth dawned on the captives; an isolated, ever-moving location, an abundance of essential radiation and nutrients, but with no large indigenous predators… Mu was a kaiju nesting site. The Seatopians had watched the surface world enough to know that such a revelation would likely lead to an attempt at Mu’s destruction. Their own ancestors, they claimed, had tried to long ago, and had been wiped out by the kaiju they now saw as gods. And so, for the good of all involved, the Seatopians refused to allow their captives to leave unless they could promise to convince their home nations not to interfere with or harm Mu’s natural role in their gods’ life cycles.

Unfortunately, before any true consensus could be reached, a hasty message managed to leak its way outside of Mu. With the existence and location of the Seatopian base exposed, the Atragon was ordered to attack Mu’s braincase, using its own hull and drill-missiles to provide an escape route for the captives and possibly seriously impair or even kill Mu in the process. The native gods, of course, did no appreciate this. And so, the female Manda attacked the anti-kaiju sub in defense of her home. The surrounding fleet and air force launched their own attacks, but were met with resistance by the male Manda, as well as another hidden guardian…

Abilities: Phylogenetic analysis suggests the Mandas originated as transitional forms between lizards and snakes, leading some to refer to them as the Mother and Father of Serpents. Their long, flexible bodies are extremely agile, especially in water, where they move in an undulating fashion that makes it difficult to predict their next motions. Out of water, they are able to strike at targets at high velocity and precision. They possess no venom, but prefer to entangle and constrict their prey and/or enemies. They can squeeze with enough force to completely crush all but the most resistance of hulls and infrastructure. Their limbs, though small, can aid in anchoring them to prey or steering through water.

The Mandas are not the most heavily armored of kaiju, but rely more on their reflexes to outmaneuver opponents. They track the motions of prey with a highly developed lateral line system, as well as through rows of small photoreceptors along their backs. Sensory input is processed by a heavy metal-infused nervous system, which is also the source of their finest ability.

Like many types of fish, such as electric eels, both Mandas possess battery-like nodes along their bodies which can generate enormous electrical power. They most often use this power to send bolts of directed lightening from their maws, though they can at times produce a full-body shock powerful enough to stun most medium-sized kaiju. Their control over electrical energy is so precise that it often manifests as hydrokinetic phenomena. The Mandas use this manipulation to slide more easily and quickly through the water, and at times to enhance their strikes or produce a hydraulic “force field” to buffer attacks. Sometimes they are even able to generate tsunamis and whirlpools when working together.

Character: As a pair, the Mandas usually seem to be quite reserved. Perhaps attaining most needed energy through Mu’s residual bioelectrical field, they have rarely been observed hunting or attacking other organisms. They are highly defensive of their home, though, and will strike violently if a threat is sensed. The male seems more willing to venture further from Mu in order to ensure its’ safety. The females, on the other hand, seems to extend her defensive instincts to other creatures of the living island, including the Seatopians. It is speculated, based on Seatopian oral traditions, that the species itself may have once formed a loose symbiosis with ancient paleolithic cultures, similar to Kong’s relationship with the Iwi on Skull Island.

Indeed, the Mandas even share their living space with the Seatopians; a series of biological caverns within Mu’s cephalic cavity, with access to high levels of bioelectric energy generated by Mu’s biolithic brain matter. It is rumored, deep within these caverns, that the Mandas guard their most precious secret; a pearl the size of a small house. At least, it may resemble a pearl to some. To the kaiju, it is something far more valuable than any material treasure…

----------
Manda is copyrighted by Toho.