#meradon

[hooter-n-company]

Has bulzar ever eaten someone or eaten one of his human “friends” to keep them safe or just to fuck with them in an endo way?

Not too sure about the first option. It’s not completely off the table, but Bulzar isn’t an affectionate sort of monster, and his protective papa bear instincts really only kick in for his son. Plus, the bounty bros can usually handle themselves fine when things get dangerous. That said, if the trio gets into some SERIOUS peril and there’s no other way to rescue them besides tucking them away in his gut, then it’s certainly an option the big boi would consider.

As for the second option? Most definitely, especially if it’s Balroc.

In fact, he might use the “I’m eating you to keep you safe” excuse if he’s in a cheeky mood and wants a quick snack, even if there isn’t a threat for miles around. XD

“Oh yeah, there’s a dragon over that cliff there. Breathes fire an’ everything! Don’t worry, I’ve got the perfect place to hide ya…” Cue him pointing into his open mouth.

(Btw, the artwork was a collaboration between me and TitanLeon on FA. He did the sketch and lineart while I colored it in).

[copperforge]

“Flight, this just came in through the long range scanners. A group of hard matter returns. Scans indicate hot returns, too. Recon flights and orbital scans were inconclusive due to the equatorial radiation distortion. But command thinks there’s a Greenskin mass carrier out in the western wastes.”

“ETA on contact?”

“Around 50 hours standard, Sir.”

“Get me Captain Cain and the Stormwalkers. Get the whole flight group up and running. I want a briefing and SitRep in thirty. Make sure they are able for launch and intercept in ten hours!”

“Aye, Flight. On it.”

[bangladhamaka62]

|| Bangla Dhamaka

[copperforge]

1st: awesome theme! That will be an epic story board👌🏻

2nd: thanks for providing the PERFECT image as I imagine Meradon Hive on KalidarIV. Minus the bad weather, more sunshine.. might just be a regular sand storm rolling over the planet

Okay guys, as promised, we’re a week after AoP and I’m already zeroing on my next board idea, theme wise…

[hooter-n-company]

How does Bulzar hunt? Is he an ambush predator or the type to run his prey down till it's too exhausted to run or fight back anymore?

Bulzar’s not great at sneaking up on his meals, since…well, he’s friggin’ MASSIVE. It’s hard to be stealthy when you’re the size of a building and your footsteps literally shake the ground you walk on. It doesn’t help that he’s a rather impatient fellow. XD

The fact that he’s so large means he can cover a lot of distance in a short amount of time without breaking a sweat (in the scorching heat, no less). So, his usual hunting strategy is chasing down his prey until he overtakes them or tires them out. Even if they manage to hide or escape, his powerful sense of smell means he can follow their scent trail from a distance…

[hooter-n-company]

How did Milo get his name? Was it his mother’s idea or Bulzars? Or maybe it was a team effort?

I’d say a team effort. Bulzar probably came up with something close to Miko while they were cycling through names, while Demeera was the one to finalize it.

Quoting @amanofhamm here: “Demeera was def the brains of the two but i think when it came to their baby boi they were both all hands on deck. Even if Bulzar isn't always playing with a full deck 🙃”

[hooter-n-company]

If Miko refuses to eat meat would he also refuse to eat insects? I imagine there’s no shortage of scorpions in the desert for him to munch on. Then again those are arachnids, not insects.

Miko doesn’t readily eat insects, but given how imperceptibly small they are compared to him, he’s probably eaten some by accident. It’s bound to happen if he doesn’t see them clinging to the plants he was munching on. If he did notice one in his food, he would immediately react like someone finding a fly in their soup.

He’s a curious lil’ rascal, so even if he won’t eat them, he does like hunting for insects and arachnids large enough for him to spot. It’s a common occurrence to find Miko turning over rocks to find critters underneath, lying on his belly to observe scorpions and camel spiders scuttling by, or catching pretty butterflies (he lets them go after because he’s a good boi).

[hooter-n-company]

Hey I just saw your post about an anon going missing and I don’t wanna go missing to so I’ll keep this short quick and simple

Does he digest his prey first to get all of his fat kinda like how a bear would eat a crap ton of food and hibernate to keep there body fat until they get skinny early spring which is when they start munching again

Or

Does he have a ton of prey in his gut and over time does he just slowly digest them kinda like a sarlac pit or Jean jacket from nope slowly getting nutrients with time but not really needing food for a long time

Or

Am I wrong about all this lol and he just keeps a crap ton of prey in his gut until he’s full and just doesn’t eat a ton 

Maybe not as simple as you hoped, you forgot to mention who this is referring to. XD

Just kidding, I assume you’re referring to Bulzar and how he stores fat. I mention here that Meradon digestion is relatively quick, so definitely the first option, with the exception that he doesn’t hibernate (although he does get very lazy and sluggish after a meal).

Also because I find the second option DEEPLY unsettling.

[hooter-n-company]

What’s Meradon digestive systems like? Like does it take weeks for a meal to fully digest or is it within just a few hours, like humans?

Depending on what and how much the Meradon ate, it takes anywhere from a few hours to a week for a meal to fully digest. Meradon stomachs are quite powerful and can easily break down tough material like bones and tree bark. That said, it takes a LOT to fill them up, so unless the Meradon is completely engorged, meals don’t take very long to process compared to the super slow digestion of snakes and crocodiles.

That said, they are very efficient at storing nutrients and fat in times of scarcity, so the nourishment they get from meals lasts them a lot longer. Plus, they REALLY don’t like wasting food, so most Meradons will eat as much as physically possible if there’s plentiful resources.

Bulzar is especially greedy even for his species, so expect him to show signs of bloating for several days after a feast…in part because he loves his between meal snacks. XP

[hooter-n-company]

Do Meradons fear fire? Many creatures do, even humans, so would they?

Well, Meradon scales are super tough and resistant to heat, so they usually aren’t afraid of being burned (with the exception of their vulnerable youngsters). That said, most Meradons are wary of what the fire represents, because it’s usually accompanied by human beings…

[hooter-n-company]

Does Miko like lithops? They're a kind of desert plant that look almost exactly like rocks except for when they bloom their flowers.

He probably wouldn’t even notice them given how well camouflaged they are, plus they’re so tiny compared to him. But he would be absolutely delighted if you pointed them out to him, and he’ll definitely keep a closer eye out for them to watch the flowers bloom. ^^

[hooter-n-company]

How the heck is Bulzar so fat? You’d think living in a desert would have the opposite effect.

You walked right into that one, anon.

Jokes aside, you know how camels have fat deposits in their humps to get them through times of scarcity? It’s like that with Meradons, but with their bellies. And believe me, Bulzar in particular makes sure to “stock up” before the dry season.

[hooter-n-company]

Based on the results of the last poll, it's time to introduce this fella (as well as his family) to Hooter's line-up! Special thanks to @amanofhamm, the co-owner of these characters. He's the one who pitched the idea in the first place, and came up with most of the written info about them and the world they live in.

Bulzar is part of a race of desert dwelling reptilian giant, known as the Meradon. Voracious, gluttonous, gruff, crude, and harboring an intense distrust of humans, he's a terror to the unfortunate (and delicious) travelers who accidentally cross his path. He takes immense pride in his size, strength, and appetite, although he's certainly not the sharpest tool in the shed. Despite his ferocity, he is an incredibly loving and protective father of one, named Miko. He may be stern at times, but he will sacrifice anything for his son, even if it means giving up a few live meals to avoid upsetting his strictly vegetarian child.

More info under the cut:

Name: Bulzar

Pronouns: He/him

Age: Late 30s to early 40s (in Giant years)

Species: Meradon

Role: Pred

Height: 50 ft tall

Abilities: Immense size and strength, resistance to extreme heat, can survive long periods without food or water

Likes: Meat (especially the squirmy variety), melons, pumpkins, hot weather, sunbathing, isolation, long naps, defending his territory, oases with plenty of water, scaring humans, showing off his scars, making Miko smile, happy memories of his mate

Dislikes: Humans (with a few rare exceptions), poachers, other desert monsters, dark magic, cold weather, dry spells, hard to digest plants, giving up live meals, Miko in distress/danger, showing vulnerability or weakness, grieving his mate

Other Info:

- When he was younger, Bulzar was captured and brutalized by a band of humans who intended to brainwash him. He managed to break free and devoured his captors, but kept the chains around his wrists and ankles. He thinks they make him look badass.

-He met a female Meradon named Demeera while in captivity, freeing her during his escape. They would soon become a mated pair with an incredibly close bond, eventually having a son together. Not too long after Miko's birth, Demeera would contract a serious illness. Despite his best efforts, Bulzar didn't have the resources or medical knowledge to help her, and she passed away while Miko was still a baby.

- While Bulzar has a serious dislike of humans, the one exception is a trio of human bounty hunters: Balroc, Owin, and Grimaldus. The three healed Miko's injuries after he was attacked by hunters, and despite getting off to a VERY bad start with the lil' Meradon's father (who ate Balroc and quickly regretted it), they would sort things out and be on generally friendly terms from that point on

-Raising Miko, he quickly discovered his son's aversion to killing/eating animals, something quite rare for omnivorous Meradons. While Bulzar is bothered that Miko refuses to eat meat with him, he still respects his son's wishes and will hold off on hunting for prey when Miko is present.

[hooter-n-company]

Did Bulzar’s son come from an egg or was he a live birth? I know some reptiles give birth to live offspring as opposed to eggs.

The second option. Meradons give live birth, but the newborns are a bit more developed than human babies to help them survive in a harsher environment. Even though they need constant care from the parents in the beginning, they are born with their teeth and can start eating meat and veggies right off the bat. They still need it to be mashed up or torn into tiny pieces so it’s more manageable for their little baby teef.

Of course, no matter how rough n’ gruff his father is, he was a complete mush as soon as he laid eyes on this widdle guy. ❤️

[hooter-n-company]

Would Bulzar ever consider finding a new female to be his second wife/mate? Or is it a case of Stoic The Vast from HTTYD where he doesn't want to find a new wife because the first one was irreplaceable?

I’m leaning towards the latter. One reason being that Meradons are solitary beasts that mate for life, as @amanofhamm describes here:

“They don't necessarily have any social structure, as these creatures are nomads and tend to favor isolation. That's actually a big part of why they're so rare. Meradon don't typically seek out companionship and as a result, fewer families are formed. Bulzar himself probably wouldn't have even met his wife were the two of them not captured by humans.”

More importantly, Miko has a VERY strong resemblance to his mother, both in terms of looks and personality. To Bulzar, finding another mate would be gravely disrespectful of Demeera’s memory, which is why he makes the effort to sit down with his son and tell stories about her and what she was like. Miko doesn’t have many concrete memories of his mom from when he was a baby, so that’s all the more reason for his dad to help fill in the blanks.

[hooter-n-company]

Has anyone ever tried to poison Bulzar before? How do Meradons handle poison? I imagine their large size means you’d need a HEFTY dosage.

For Meradons in general, poison is one of the few reliable strategies to take them down (and unfortunately a common one among poachers). Their insides are much more vulnerable than their heavily armored outsides, so it’s possible to subdue them with toxins meant to be inhaled or ingested…although it would take an absolutely MASSIVE dose of something seriously potent.

The hunters who successfully captured Bulzar were able to incapacitate him with knockout gas, allowing them to physically restrain him. But in the end, it wasn’t enough to keep him restrained for long, and they were left at the mercy of a very angry and very, VERY hungry escaped Meradon…

On a lighter note, Bulzar has accidentally poisoned himself on a few occasions by eating something he really shouldn’t have. Thankfully his guts are strong enough to prevent any permanent damage, even though it gave him a serious bellyache. XD