SPACEFUTURE: Hydra Valkeeri, Part 2: BEASTMASTERS OF VENUS

[Rigel]

Here are a couple more vivid vavoom Venerians from RETRO-VENUS. They both have Master's degrees--in BEASTS. They are beastmasters, is what I'm saying, which is a valuable skill in the beast-intensive rainforest-marshes. DON'T call them beastmistresses; that's what you'd call Maurice's daughter Belle. Beast Mastery is a different thing entirely, quite independent of gender. 

This sculpt is Hydra's Valkeeri Controller A.  The Beast in question here was a Paizo Hound of Tindalos, which didn't look creepy enough for Cthulhu use, but which would fit right in with the fungal jungles. I assume it fills a coyote-like niche, if coyotes could climb trees and swing from vines. This Controller is quite self-assured; you just need to take a firm tone with these creatures and establish dominance. 



And here's Controller B, dealing with a recalcitrant and obstreperous reptile. The Beast here started as a D&D grab-bag Basilisk, but those extra legs looked perfect for a Space Marine Iguana*, so I painted some eye-watering aposematic spots on it. This thing is poisonous and venomous and psychoactive and also pointy. RETROVENUS demands such adaptations of it to deter its natural predators.

Now, imagine how badass the Venerians must be to have no spines, fangs, claws, or poison sacs. 

Controller B is making that point abundantly clear even to the dull-witted lizard brain of this Beast. 




*Do I mean a xenoequivalent to our Galapagos marine iguanas, or an iguana as tough as a Space Marine? Yes. 

[Glitterwolf]

Wonderful stuff!

[Redd Knekk]

As I’ve been reading this, I’ve imagined an excited British voice over doing all the “fungal jungles” and such. Only Brits say cordite LOL. ‘Muricans say gunpowder! Lol

 

Really getting a kick out of reading this and Xibalba!!! Keep it up.

 

“And POINTY” - quote of the year

[Rigel]

4 hours ago, Redd Knekk said:

As I’ve been reading this, I’ve imagined an excited British voice over doing all the “fungal jungles” and such. Only Brits say cordite LOL. ‘Muricans say gunpowder! Lol

 

Really getting a kick out of reading this and Xibalba!!! Keep it up.

Thank you! I do kind of covet David Attenborough's job. Don't worry; there's plenty more retro planets and factions to go in this strange travelogue! 

[Warlady]

"Si-it!" (a la Barbara Woodhouse)

[Iridil]

Very creative as usual - the reptile in particular is so vividly painted I would never register it as the basilist sculpt without prompting. Love the poison jungle setting!

[Rigel]

5 hours ago, Iridil said:

Very creative as usual - the reptile in particular is so vividly painted I would never register it as the basilist sculpt without prompting. Love the poison jungle setting!

Thanks! I'm just riffing off of a grand tradition from Clark Ashton Smith and Stanley Weinbaum onwards. The blue and green reindeer moss really pop, though!