Mount up! - The hominacanth (also known as a "scutter")

[Mike S]

Masa had been contemplating how to quickly transport his desert warriors from one raid into Black Spire territory to the next. Horses and camels were too easily killed and when armored up ended up tiring too quickly from the heat. Elephants were to costly and loud for covert operations. Then he remembered the hominacanths he had encountered on one of his travels deep into the desert canyons of central Gorr.

Getting these creatures to work for him proved easier than one would expect. In fact his need for the creatures actually gave them the incentive to carry his men, for in exchange for the opportunity to feast on the targets of the raid, the "scutters" (as Masa's men came to call them) would each transport two of Masa's men on their back. Fast, heavily armored, and a deadly weapon of themselves, Masa couldn't find a better transport for his raiding parties.

[-Carson Haupt-]

This is creepy! But then again I guess that's the point. I really like the base too!

[Jorrith]

That is one bad-assed scorpion-ish mount! Instead of scissors blades! Really like it, it has a nice twist to it.

[Yzalirk]

It's awesome, I love it!

[Simon_S]

Good job mate . I also like that you took the time to build such a nice base for it.

Edited August 14, 2014 by Simon_S

[Gunman]

The face of the mount is badass Idd. I like the fact that it can carry 2 ppl at once and the base is sweet too!! Nice entry!

[Dr Ops]

I'm building scorpion too, but you was first :(

Great work, especially 'human part' of this beast ! :)

[Gideon]

Great semi-humanoid beast! Very nice base design also, smart border

[Scaevola]

Very nice mount, I like the stinger and base. Perhaps some larger legs might make it look a little better though.

[robuko]

Brilliant. I love the bases you're coming up with these days Mike. The scutter is a fearsome mount indeed, only for the bravest!

[Lord Vladivus]

Awesome Mike! Love it!

[Hammerhand]

Very cool! I like the different take on a mount you've done here, having it be a humanoid creature rather than just a beast.

[mccoyed]

That's a cool looking creature with an interesting and nicely designed base. However, I don't love it as an inclusion to Mount Up! due to the fact that it's not a "mount" in the sense of being a domesticated animal bonded to and used by humans (and humanoids of course) but rather a humanoid sentient creature unto itself. Ultimately, this may be my own sense of things and I don't mean to be narrow, but I do feel like it's a poor fit for the contest in that sense.

[Mike S]

Thanks everyone for the comments!

That's a cool looking creature with an interesting and nicely designed base. However, I don't love it as an inclusion to Mount Up! due to the fact that it's not a "mount" in the sense of being a domesticated animal bonded to and used by humans (and humanoids of course) but rather a humanoid sentient creature unto itself. Ultimately, this may be my own sense of things and I don't mean to be narrow, but I do feel like it's a poor fit for the contest in that sense.

Perhaps I should have described the hominacanth better. First of all while it can learn to understand certain parts of human language, it cannot speak other than with the clicks, snaps, and hisses it uses to communicate with its own species. Secondly, it is not a creature that socially mingles with civilized beings for several reasons- one, being that it is a scavenger that feeds on corpses and two, it has no emotion. Even a gorilla is on a higher sentient scale than a hominacanth and a dragon would be even on yet a higher scale. Also the hominacanth will not let just anyone ride it but a rider first must form a bond with the hominacanth by offering it a corpse that the hominacanth considers of high value and signaling his intention to ride. As long as the rider continues to provide an adequate supply of corpses the bond between mount and rider will continue. There have been legends of riders who forced "scutters" to be their mount using steel chains and hooks, but in this case the "scutters" cannot be used for offensive purposes as they will turn on their masters as well.

[Mike S]

Another interesting fact is that if the hominacanth comes to depend on its rider for food developing a symbiotic relationship with him, it will give its life defending him. But because the hominacanth has no emotion, even if it has developed a symbiotic relationship with its rider, it will still feast on his dead body if given the chance .

[mccoyed]

It's awesome you have that all thought out.

[soccerkid6]

This mount is just as scary as most of the Nocty ones, I like the black/red color-scheme and that minifig section matches the rest of the creature nicely

The sand dunes are excellent as well. The only minor complaint I have is that it looks like rather precarious seating for the two soldiers. Some sort of saddle would be cool

[TheUtilityBelt]

This is really creepy! And if that's what you were going for, than you nailed it!

[Kayne]

Just what Kali needed! This is what I picture as a mount in our wonderful homeland!

[Maxim I]

Haha, one of my favourite entries so far!! Excellent idea!

[TenorPenny]

This is probably the most contextually-right beast since the Ice Mole. Nice work..!

[Mike S]

This mount is just as scary as most of the Nocty ones, I like the black/red color-scheme and that minifig section matches the rest of the creature nicely

The sand dunes are excellent as well. The only minor complaint I have is that it looks like rather precarious seating for the two soldiers. Some sort of saddle would be cool

Thanks! I wanted to give the impression of the riders easily hopping off even while the mount is still moving and while other mounts may be quite bumpy, this one is one smooth ride.

This is really creepy! And if that's what you were going for, than you nailed it!

haha, just trying to strike some fear into the black spire! not sure if it creepy enough however...

Just what Kali needed! This is what I picture as a mount in our wonderful homeland!

Thanks! Still I was a little inspired by the first build I saw from Siercon and Coral- their black scorpion mount...

Haha, one of my favourite entries so far!! Excellent idea!

Thanks so much!

This is probably the most contextually-right beast since the Ice Mole. Nice work..!