Final Project: Trygon, Keeper of the Depths
This is my final project for the English course. Below are two pieces of artwork and the English writing. Each art piece has a brief description below it.
This is the main illustration for this writing piece. This piece was difficult to make due to the angle I wanted to draw Trygon at, but I think it turned out well.
This is concept art of Trygon. In the original story, Trygon was a stingray. However, I felt that for a Lord of the Depths, he should appear more eldritch.
Trygon ~ Keeper of the Deep (Writing)
It seems as though it was many eons ago that I first became aware of the upper world. Although there is a threshold to the ocean’s vastness, I dared not surge above it. I’d seen other creatures disappear above the barrier, large mammals breaking onto sandy shores, never to return to the ocean’s gentle cradle. Those were my favorite creatures to observe, intelligent beings that dwarfed other lifeforms. On several occasions I’d sought to accompany their journey, but it always led to a certain monotony that left me seeking another creature to commune with. Be it from fear of unknown territory or a pride in my dwelling, I continued slinking beneath the waves.
The first time I found a humanoid that spoke to me was by accident. I’d stumbled upon him when roving the ocean’s reefs, contemplating as the coral’s inhabitants flitted to and fro in their unending quest for survival. He towered above the coral, hair flowing in the ocean’s ebb. He had a trident gripped firmly in one hand, with a steely gaze directed towards me. “For what reason do you come to the surface?” He inquired in a booming tone, raising an eyebrow. “I merely seek to observe; I mean not to intrude,” I replied apprehensively. I had previously seen larger humans before in the form of Titans, who had only traveled beneath the waves to cause a ruckus.
The entity curtly nodded, eyes narrowing in my direction. “From where do you travel, monster? Have you a name?” He questioned as his grip on the weapon tightened. I paused briefly, considering my next word choice carefully. “I am Trygon, who resides in the heart of the ocean, far below where any mortal may tread.” The giant rocked back on his heels, eyes still boring directly into mine. “Very well. I am Poseidon, ruler of the sea and king of its inhabitants. I’d heard many rumors recently of you, a spiked fish lurking near where the waves break. Let it be known, should you cause any of my champions strife, I will not hesitate to avenge their suffering.” His declaration hung heavily in the ocean’s currents, a thinly veiled threat.
“I do not intend to cause an uproar, but should your champions bring difficulties to my domain, I cannot promise their safety. They would be wise to avoid my realm, lest they come into contact with my poison.” I retorted, spines bristling. Upon my defiance, the god waved his hand dismissively, turning away as he bellowed, “I have other matters to attend to, but know this: I am not a merciful deity.” With that, he strode away, sinking further into the ocean’s expanse, until he was far out of sight.
Swimming further along the surface barrier, I pondered what may lay above the water. I had occasionally entertained the thought of peeking past the ocean’s waves, but never dared to follow through on it.
He had just stepped foot into the ocean when I spotted him, similar in appearance to Poseidon. His face was twisted in anger, eyebrows furrowed as he scanned the landscape. “You! Bring word to Poseidon that I have arrived!” He bellowed with rage, short flashes of light bursting from his form. Blinking, I realized that he meant to speak to me, yet I hadn’t a clue where the first god had taken off to. I told him as such, but this only seemed to enrage him further. “Poseidon, show yourself, coward!” The god stomped his foot on the sandbar, the ground shaking as he did so. Livid that Poseidon had yet to appear, the deity turned his attention to a nearby gathering of fish, swiping at them.
The being continued on his rampage, which I barely managed to escape. Backing up, I called out, “You should consider curbing your anger, to prevent any lapse of judgement.” Furious, the deity raised a hand to strike, pausing as I continued, “That wouldn’t be in your best interest, as my spines are tough as obsidian, and my poison is strong enough to cause you eternal pain.” “I should imprison you to the deepest corner of the ocean for your insolence! How dare you speak to a god as such!” He bellowed, about to follow through on his threat. Just then, a voice boomed out from across the ocean, “Zeus! What business do you have to justify your appearance here?” Spinning around, Zeus confronts the approaching god, his anger renewed. “You know very well my business here! You dare claim my territory?” He venomously addresses Poseidon. Finding the two gods preoccupied with their quarrel, I took this opportunity to retreat further into the sea’s depths. Since that encounter, I’d rarely set fin near the surface waters again.
On my return to the depths of the ocean, I encountered another entity, this one more familiar than the last two. Rather than being another humanoid or deity, this was a fellow sea creature that had existed in rumor for as long as the Titans had strode the Earth. Rivaling my magnitude, this multi-armed monster spent most of its time lurking in the darkest corners of the ocean, only crawling out from its abyss to capsize and seize unsuspecting sea vessels. Deplorably, this monster only sought to wreak destruction upon whatever was within its grasp. Although I’d contended with this giant squid in the past, I would have rather not stumbled across it. Despite sharing an abode with this behemoth, we didn’t converse; this may in part be due to the Kraken’s lack of speech in any tongue. Only once it had tried to ensnare me, but never again once it was stung. Passing the entity with unease, I returned to my domain, settling in to rest.
Some time later, I was approached by a third deity who called himself Ares, holding the title of god of war. He had strode into my domain with an air of self-confidence, sure that he would obtain the trophy he’d set out for. The prize in question turned out to be my tail, which if weaponized could harm gods. I’d sought an answer as to how he had been informed about my venom, but the query was shrugged off. “Why do you seek my tail?” I had asked him curiously, as a god already holds unfathomable power.
“I seek to give a gift to another, one that would befit her stature. The ability to ward off even the strongest gods would be a gift of great strength, and grant me her favor.” He replied. Amused, I realized that he sought only to improve his standing with another through artificial flourishes. Then, a notion struck me. “If you are willing to be stung by my venom, and suffer through its curse for eternity, that would be a fair trade, wouldn’t it?” I proposed to the god, knowing fully well that he wouldn’t consider such a horrendous deal, lest the god of war be unable to fight freely. As expected, this cast doubt into him, uncertainty flickering across his face as he weighed the trade offer. The deity shrugged, maintaining a farce of bravado as he declined the deal. “Nevermind, your tail is not worth exerting effort over.” Ares states, turning to leave. He left my domain fuming, but not seeking any form of confrontation. After the initial visit from Ares, more gods and demigods had come to seek out my tail, all of them being turned away by the unfair deal.
For a while after that, I was left in the dark by my lonesome, pondering returning to the surface. While there were a magnitude of interesting species lurking below the depths, I had gotten used to observing them day in and day out. None of these creatures spoke my tongue, and interactions with other intelligent entities were limited. After exploring the entirety of the ocean several times over, it left me feeling restless. There was another unexplored world, one that lay above the ocean’s cold barrier, a world full of life, where the gods dwell and speak with ease. The gods roamed freely between the two worlds, yet I couldn’t. Agitated, I took to swimming until I was tired, returning to my den by nightfall.
Many seasons passed before another god dared to seek me out, once again in search of my poison. She set foot in my realm, but she had a different demeanor than the previous gods before her. She walked with grace, a sense of frivolity and lightheartedness following wherever she went. When she stood before me, I asked her for a name, and of her purpose for seeking my venom. She had simply replied with the name Artemis, quickly followed up by a question of her own. She sought to hunt me, in a fair trial, even to her disadvantage of it being in the ocean, then keep my tail as a trophy. Although the idea amused me, I had grown tired of those seeking me out as some sort of weapon or an item to boost their own ego. Therefore, I refused and offered her my deal. As she wasn’t interested if the trade didn’t involve a hunt, she also left empty handed.
It was a short time after my encounter with Artemis that I found another person seeking my tail. This time, the seeker wasn’t a god, but a nymph. She didn’t have the same sense of frivolity as Artemis, or the confidence of Ares, but she walked with purpose and her stride never faltered. She stood in front of me, daring to look me in the eye, albeit hesitantly. “Who dares enter my domain, and for what reason?” I addressed her coldly. It had become a monologue at this point; a rite of passage that led to a declined deal, followed by a stint of time where I would be left to my own devices.
“I am Circe of Aeaea, and I seek your tail.” The nymph stated bluntly, straightening her posture. “For what reason do you seek my tail?” I inquired hollowly, preparing to turn her away. “I seek to protect the one that I love.” She replied, awaiting my response. I was slightly taken aback, as she was one of the rare few that sought not to use my poison for show. Yet she would still decline once I offered her the deal. “I will give you my tail, but only if you agree to being stung, and bearing its curse for the rest of time.” I stated, watching as she too turned to uncertainty.
However, the resolve in her eyes then hardened and she readily agreed to the deal. Astonished, I nodded and held out my tail to her. This was the first time that anyone had taken up the deal, and I expected her to decline last second, right before she made contact with the venomous spines. Yet she did not waver as her hand neared the spikes, bracing herself for the impending life sentence. This gave me pause. What could be so precious in the above world that a non-god would sign away the rest of their life for? I could see nothing down here that would cause any creatures in the depths to fight that hard to secure one’s safety. A pang of regret hit me then; what would my life be like if I were to have been a surface dweller? Would I have cared enough to protect those that I held in high esteem? The world above the surface barrier seemed to be vibrant, with a sun shining down unobscured by layers of water and murk. There seemed to be no lack of sociable creatures above the waterline. Did they all communicate and live together in the same area?
As I thought more of her reasons and world, I felt an empathy towards her. Her hand was nearly on my tail, and without another thought I pulled it away. She seemed to be just as surprised as I was at this. “You may have my tail.” I told her curtly. She sought an explanation for my change of heart, but I couldn’t form it into words. I told her she was the first to accept the deal, and that was enough proof of her resolve. I simply asked that she return it after she was done. I allowed her to leave my domain with my tail, a task many before her were unable to do.
I am again alone, now that she has left, her task completed successfully. However, I have many questions that are unresolved, and I would like to get answers to at least a few of them. As I watch my golden blood slowly drift upwards, seeping from where my tail once was, I realize that there is no reason to remain in this domain any more. The treasure seekers will not be returning for a long while, and I do not wish to contemplate the ‘what if’s of life. I swim upwards, even though the distance to the surface barrier seems to have doubled. It is daybreak when I arrive at the sandbars, the waves crashing loudly onto the shore above me. I once again feel that familiar sense of dread as I near the surface. However, if a nymph was able to face an insurmountable task with courage, how could I, a god of the depths, who has lived for thousands of years, not face my own? I will not die from simply being in the above air.
With my resolve steeled, I cast my gaze upwards, and break through the surface of the water.
The first time I found a humanoid that spoke to me was by accident. I’d stumbled upon him when roving the ocean’s reefs, contemplating as the coral’s inhabitants flitted to and fro in their unending quest for survival. He towered above the coral, hair flowing in the ocean’s ebb. He had a trident gripped firmly in one hand, with a steely gaze directed towards me. “For what reason do you come to the surface?” He inquired in a booming tone, raising an eyebrow. “I merely seek to observe; I mean not to intrude,” I replied apprehensively. I had previously seen larger humans before in the form of Titans, who had only traveled beneath the waves to cause a ruckus.
The entity curtly nodded, eyes narrowing in my direction. “From where do you travel, monster? Have you a name?” He questioned as his grip on the weapon tightened. I paused briefly, considering my next word choice carefully. “I am Trygon, who resides in the heart of the ocean, far below where any mortal may tread.” The giant rocked back on his heels, eyes still boring directly into mine. “Very well. I am Poseidon, ruler of the sea and king of its inhabitants. I’d heard many rumors recently of you, a spiked fish lurking near where the waves break. Let it be known, should you cause any of my champions strife, I will not hesitate to avenge their suffering.” His declaration hung heavily in the ocean’s currents, a thinly veiled threat.
“I do not intend to cause an uproar, but should your champions bring difficulties to my domain, I cannot promise their safety. They would be wise to avoid my realm, lest they come into contact with my poison.” I retorted, spines bristling. Upon my defiance, the god waved his hand dismissively, turning away as he bellowed, “I have other matters to attend to, but know this: I am not a merciful deity.” With that, he strode away, sinking further into the ocean’s expanse, until he was far out of sight.
Swimming further along the surface barrier, I pondered what may lay above the water. I had occasionally entertained the thought of peeking past the ocean’s waves, but never dared to follow through on it.
He had just stepped foot into the ocean when I spotted him, similar in appearance to Poseidon. His face was twisted in anger, eyebrows furrowed as he scanned the landscape. “You! Bring word to Poseidon that I have arrived!” He bellowed with rage, short flashes of light bursting from his form. Blinking, I realized that he meant to speak to me, yet I hadn’t a clue where the first god had taken off to. I told him as such, but this only seemed to enrage him further. “Poseidon, show yourself, coward!” The god stomped his foot on the sandbar, the ground shaking as he did so. Livid that Poseidon had yet to appear, the deity turned his attention to a nearby gathering of fish, swiping at them.
The being continued on his rampage, which I barely managed to escape. Backing up, I called out, “You should consider curbing your anger, to prevent any lapse of judgement.” Furious, the deity raised a hand to strike, pausing as I continued, “That wouldn’t be in your best interest, as my spines are tough as obsidian, and my poison is strong enough to cause you eternal pain.” “I should imprison you to the deepest corner of the ocean for your insolence! How dare you speak to a god as such!” He bellowed, about to follow through on his threat. Just then, a voice boomed out from across the ocean, “Zeus! What business do you have to justify your appearance here?” Spinning around, Zeus confronts the approaching god, his anger renewed. “You know very well my business here! You dare claim my territory?” He venomously addresses Poseidon. Finding the two gods preoccupied with their quarrel, I took this opportunity to retreat further into the sea’s depths. Since that encounter, I’d rarely set fin near the surface waters again.
On my return to the depths of the ocean, I encountered another entity, this one more familiar than the last two. Rather than being another humanoid or deity, this was a fellow sea creature that had existed in rumor for as long as the Titans had strode the Earth. Rivaling my magnitude, this multi-armed monster spent most of its time lurking in the darkest corners of the ocean, only crawling out from its abyss to capsize and seize unsuspecting sea vessels. Deplorably, this monster only sought to wreak destruction upon whatever was within its grasp. Although I’d contended with this giant squid in the past, I would have rather not stumbled across it. Despite sharing an abode with this behemoth, we didn’t converse; this may in part be due to the Kraken’s lack of speech in any tongue. Only once it had tried to ensnare me, but never again once it was stung. Passing the entity with unease, I returned to my domain, settling in to rest.
Some time later, I was approached by a third deity who called himself Ares, holding the title of god of war. He had strode into my domain with an air of self-confidence, sure that he would obtain the trophy he’d set out for. The prize in question turned out to be my tail, which if weaponized could harm gods. I’d sought an answer as to how he had been informed about my venom, but the query was shrugged off. “Why do you seek my tail?” I had asked him curiously, as a god already holds unfathomable power.
“I seek to give a gift to another, one that would befit her stature. The ability to ward off even the strongest gods would be a gift of great strength, and grant me her favor.” He replied. Amused, I realized that he sought only to improve his standing with another through artificial flourishes. Then, a notion struck me. “If you are willing to be stung by my venom, and suffer through its curse for eternity, that would be a fair trade, wouldn’t it?” I proposed to the god, knowing fully well that he wouldn’t consider such a horrendous deal, lest the god of war be unable to fight freely. As expected, this cast doubt into him, uncertainty flickering across his face as he weighed the trade offer. The deity shrugged, maintaining a farce of bravado as he declined the deal. “Nevermind, your tail is not worth exerting effort over.” Ares states, turning to leave. He left my domain fuming, but not seeking any form of confrontation. After the initial visit from Ares, more gods and demigods had come to seek out my tail, all of them being turned away by the unfair deal.
For a while after that, I was left in the dark by my lonesome, pondering returning to the surface. While there were a magnitude of interesting species lurking below the depths, I had gotten used to observing them day in and day out. None of these creatures spoke my tongue, and interactions with other intelligent entities were limited. After exploring the entirety of the ocean several times over, it left me feeling restless. There was another unexplored world, one that lay above the ocean’s cold barrier, a world full of life, where the gods dwell and speak with ease. The gods roamed freely between the two worlds, yet I couldn’t. Agitated, I took to swimming until I was tired, returning to my den by nightfall.
Many seasons passed before another god dared to seek me out, once again in search of my poison. She set foot in my realm, but she had a different demeanor than the previous gods before her. She walked with grace, a sense of frivolity and lightheartedness following wherever she went. When she stood before me, I asked her for a name, and of her purpose for seeking my venom. She had simply replied with the name Artemis, quickly followed up by a question of her own. She sought to hunt me, in a fair trial, even to her disadvantage of it being in the ocean, then keep my tail as a trophy. Although the idea amused me, I had grown tired of those seeking me out as some sort of weapon or an item to boost their own ego. Therefore, I refused and offered her my deal. As she wasn’t interested if the trade didn’t involve a hunt, she also left empty handed.
It was a short time after my encounter with Artemis that I found another person seeking my tail. This time, the seeker wasn’t a god, but a nymph. She didn’t have the same sense of frivolity as Artemis, or the confidence of Ares, but she walked with purpose and her stride never faltered. She stood in front of me, daring to look me in the eye, albeit hesitantly. “Who dares enter my domain, and for what reason?” I addressed her coldly. It had become a monologue at this point; a rite of passage that led to a declined deal, followed by a stint of time where I would be left to my own devices.
“I am Circe of Aeaea, and I seek your tail.” The nymph stated bluntly, straightening her posture. “For what reason do you seek my tail?” I inquired hollowly, preparing to turn her away. “I seek to protect the one that I love.” She replied, awaiting my response. I was slightly taken aback, as she was one of the rare few that sought not to use my poison for show. Yet she would still decline once I offered her the deal. “I will give you my tail, but only if you agree to being stung, and bearing its curse for the rest of time.” I stated, watching as she too turned to uncertainty.
However, the resolve in her eyes then hardened and she readily agreed to the deal. Astonished, I nodded and held out my tail to her. This was the first time that anyone had taken up the deal, and I expected her to decline last second, right before she made contact with the venomous spines. Yet she did not waver as her hand neared the spikes, bracing herself for the impending life sentence. This gave me pause. What could be so precious in the above world that a non-god would sign away the rest of their life for? I could see nothing down here that would cause any creatures in the depths to fight that hard to secure one’s safety. A pang of regret hit me then; what would my life be like if I were to have been a surface dweller? Would I have cared enough to protect those that I held in high esteem? The world above the surface barrier seemed to be vibrant, with a sun shining down unobscured by layers of water and murk. There seemed to be no lack of sociable creatures above the waterline. Did they all communicate and live together in the same area?
As I thought more of her reasons and world, I felt an empathy towards her. Her hand was nearly on my tail, and without another thought I pulled it away. She seemed to be just as surprised as I was at this. “You may have my tail.” I told her curtly. She sought an explanation for my change of heart, but I couldn’t form it into words. I told her she was the first to accept the deal, and that was enough proof of her resolve. I simply asked that she return it after she was done. I allowed her to leave my domain with my tail, a task many before her were unable to do.
I am again alone, now that she has left, her task completed successfully. However, I have many questions that are unresolved, and I would like to get answers to at least a few of them. As I watch my golden blood slowly drift upwards, seeping from where my tail once was, I realize that there is no reason to remain in this domain any more. The treasure seekers will not be returning for a long while, and I do not wish to contemplate the ‘what if’s of life. I swim upwards, even though the distance to the surface barrier seems to have doubled. It is daybreak when I arrive at the sandbars, the waves crashing loudly onto the shore above me. I once again feel that familiar sense of dread as I near the surface. However, if a nymph was able to face an insurmountable task with courage, how could I, a god of the depths, who has lived for thousands of years, not face my own? I will not die from simply being in the above air.
With my resolve steeled, I cast my gaze upwards, and break through the surface of the water.
