Hydra Miniature

cults3d

This is a digital 3D printable model of a Hydra miniature for tabletop games.It was modelled based on the diary entries of Giles Grafton. Here is one of the entries concerning this model: The many-faced god I met Father Francisco shortly after I arrived in Egypt. At first, we were both travelling with a group of merchants from Cairo, but after a few days, we decided to abandon the trade routes and venture into the unexplored and exciting corners of this strange land just by ourselves. My reasons were obviously scientific – I have heard and read many fascinating stories about the creatures still living along the shores of the Nile and I yearned to see them with my own eyes. Father Francisco, on the other hand, was more interested in meeting the people of this land. He was a man of faith and thought it his mission in life to bring the Gospel to the unfortunate souls that have not yet been given the chance to let the light of Christ into their hearts. Despite that, we got along quite well, Father Francisco was a smart and educated man and a good companion. And after another few days, he got a chance to fulfil his dream. We reached a small village that seemed, at least at first sight, almost completely untouched by Christian (or, indeed, by any) civilisation. The villagers were cautious and mistrustful of us at first, but they didn’t seem to pose any real danger. I did not understand their language, but Father Francisco, who spoke many languages, was able to communicate with some of the people from the village who, as he explained to me later, occasionally traded with Egyptian merchants. After Father Francisco explained that we mean them no harm and that we (well, he) came to tell them about God, they became friendlier and invited us to share a meal with them. I could not participate in the conversation, of course, but later at night (that we spent in one of the huts that these good people allowed us to use) Father Francisco explained that our hosts indeed aren’t Christians – they worship a deity they call “The many-faced god”. When he told them about Jesus Christ, they asked him to bring this holy man to sit with them. Father Francisco told them that they cannot meet him in person, which, as he told me, confused them greatly. They thought it silly to worship a god that you cannot see and explained that they regularly visit the lake that “The many-faced god” lives in to bring him sacrifices and to receive his blessing in return. There was going to be another sacrifice the very next day and we were both invited to watch. I could see that Father Francisco was quite irritated and overall nervous about that whole affair, which was understandable, but I told him not to worry about it too much. I have already had my own theory about the god of these people. The villagers woke us at daybreak. They showed us the sacrifices they have prepared for their god – it consisted entirely of food, mostly various types of meat – and then asked us to accompany them to the lake that, according to their legends, connects the realm of gods with the realm of men. When we have reached the lake (which was actually quite ordinary), the villagers put the sacrifice on the big rock covered with strange symbols. Then they all knelt and waited in silence, while I and Father Francisco watched from a distance. Soon, waves appeared on the, until now, calm surface of the water and shortly after that a giant lizard head emerged from it. And then another one. And another. One by one, six heads on long, scaly necks appeared – all belonging to one body. I couldn’t tell whether Father Francisco was terrified or fascinated, but he could not take his eyes off this – indeed many faced – god. And nor could I. The creature looked shortly at the crowd gathered before its twelve eyes and then swiftly devoured the sacrifice. After that, it slowly returned to the water. When their god was gone, the villagers started to laugh and cheer. Apparently, this was how the ritual was supposed to go – the sacrifice was accepted, the village received god’s blessing.  On our way back to the village I assured Father Francisco that what we witnessed wasn’t a god. It wasn’t a demon either. This creature was a hydra, member of a species that in the ancient times lived even in southern regions of Europe. I was determined to stay in the village for some time to study that amazing creature, but regrettably, Father Francisco decided not to stay with me. He thanked the villagers for their hospitality but left almost immediately. I would not dare to question this man’s faith, but I suppose he realized that in the eyes of these people, Jesus Christ stood a little chance against the twenty feet tall, six-headed lizard god with claws as long as swords and scales as hard as steel. I do not blame him. I do not blame him at all.