Awesome and very cool artwork Kyoht!

But won't they get any problems with the White Wolf franchise? Uktena is the copyrighted name of a Werewolf Tribe from their Werewolf: The Apocalypse series?
(No, that's no rant, just a clue.)

Uktena is a Native American word and does not belong to White Wolf.

Okay, no problem - like I've said, this was no rant, just an actual question, because the guys from White Wolf can be very uhm ... difficult if they smell copyright issues. ^^

That would be like them using the word minotaur for something in their games and then claiming they own the word minotaur. I doubt they would be that stupid.

If you look into the examples of Beholders and Mindflayer creatures, both too based on "real world myths" to some extent at least, WotC successfully forbade any other form of company the use of these names and creatures. It's not if companies don't try to do such things.

That's a bit different.

Mind flayers, for example, are inspired by Lovecraft. D&D calling them mind flayers or illithids is unique to D&D. Their appearance is not. Same with Beholders. Creatures of that appearance exist elsewhere, true, but not with the exact same properties, name, and appearance as in D&D.

If I made a naga creature and decided to call it something unique, and used it in the production of something, I could rightfully pursue a case against someone that used said creature and said name in something of their own. I'd have nothing to pursue, however, against anyone that made a naga creature with a completely different name.

A good example of that would be Final Fantasy I's "Sorcerer" monster. While low-rez (to say the least), it was clearly a pale, squid headed humanoid in robes. DnD players can easily take a look at it and think "Mind Flayer", but it's a different monster that likely was has the same source of inspiration.

The idea of a horned serpent exist in a lot of tribes stories. Uktena himself is a Tsalagi story.

He's huge, white, has seven spots, the horns of a deer and the teeth and claws of a panther. His breath is poisonous and his stare will kill your family. But embedded in his head is a jewel that would make you the most powerful medicine worker around. So aim for the seventh spot.

I know for a fact that the RPG Rifts (by Palladium) has a monster by this name, as well as a mecha based on it. So there's already a previous example of other game companies using the name and myth.

Kyoht's version is cooler, though.

Did you know there are horned serpents in real life?

Beautiful work. Amazing details. I hope the miniature does the art justice,

Nothing says life giving properties like a horny snake.

Best comment.

As another interested RPG Tabletop gamer hon... I'm curious.. just how BIG is this creature anyway... ( are we talking normal sized for nature.. say.. anything between 6 to 15 or so feet long.. bout the size of a decent python or such.. or is it something much bigger.. going in the 20's of feet as the "smallest" of its type...

.. and if size is indeed a factor regarding its age and its personal capabilities.. the older it gets, the bigger and more powerful it gets.. yes? )
and lastly.. are they generally benevolent healers or are they temperamental... just like "storms" that can bring both life and destruction depending on severity and area.. mm?

I don't have that sort of information, sorry.

Actually, I was just given some scale sheets I can share with you! http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/4361395/

This is awesome

This looks really awesome. I can't wait to see the resulting minis!

Aaaaand suddenly werewolves appear.... :B

Coolest snake dragon I ever seen

The totem of the Silver River Pack from the Werewolf: Tribe Novels. Nicely done.

Those chinspikes must make it hard for him to eat things wider than his mouth D:

I would love to see this in color! Gorgeous

absolutely breathtaking work, the detail is just amazing

Very cool take on the Uktena.

This is really badass and I've never heard of it. What kind of mythology is it in?