- "You cannot pass. Go back to the north seas and freeze."
"Why, Master Protas?"
"Because it pleases me." - ―Protas and the aiwha pod, "The Tale of the Aiwha Pod"
The monster-god Protas was destroyed by an aiwha pod after he defeated an army of sentient kikla. According to "The Tale of the Aiwha Pod," it took place on the planet of Kamino. The aiwha pod was victorious after one of its members sacrificed himself, resulting in Protas' death and the aiwha becoming respected across all of Kamino.
Prelude[]
- "Protas met the vast swarm of kikla in the deepest waters of the Ancient Trench, and there they fought."
- ―Ryan Kaufman, "The Tale of the Aiwha Pod"
Kamino, home of "The Tale of the Aiwha Pod" and the destruction of Protas
According to the legend of the Kaminoan species, "The Tale of the Aiwha Pod"—translated from Kaminoan to Basic by Ryan Kaufman—Protas, monster-god of the oceans of the[1] planet[2] Kamino, was a great and powerful being. He had defeated Melkorr, a deep water titan, and destroyed an army of kikla, comparatively smaller yet sentient beings. They had challenged the god-beast for rule of the seas, and with those victories, he had become arrogant in his old age. Knowing he had no opposition, he wielded his authority without restrain, and with that attitude he came upon a pod of aiwha. Protas stopped the pod from swimming south for the winter, telling them to go back north simply for his own amusement.[1]
The battle[]
- "The aiwha knew they could not return, that they would surely die in the north seas. We must fight, they told themselves. And so they did."
- ―Ryan Kaufman, "The Tale of the Aiwha Pod"
The aiwha decided they had no choice but to fight, as a return to the north would result in their end. Unlike Protas' earlier opponents, the aiwha, who sought neither fame nor glory, offered no challenge and simply attacked the god-beast. With their numbers, they combined their attack and used their jaws to rip at his flesh. Despite these efforts, Protas' hide was so thick that they could not defeat him with a single blow. Protas scattered the pod, but they continually returned with a single-minded purposefulness. Slowly they were able to make the powerful being bleed, but were unable to kill him.[1]
Protas then exposed the soft flesh of his throat, and one of the aiwha, who noticed it, charged in and clamped down on the weak area. The god-beast, feeling himself weaken, used his fins to smash at the aiwha but could not dislodge him. The aiwha sacrificed himself in that manner—he never let go, which allowed the rest of the pod to deal Protas a death blow, finally defeating the elder god.[1]
Aftermath[]
- "And that is why, to this day, the aiwha rule the oceans and are accorded a measure of respect even among the largest, most powerful, and most plentiful beasts."
- ―Ryan Kaufman, "The Tale of the Aiwha Pod"
Due to their defeating Protas and bringing peace to the waters of Kamino, the aiwha were given respect among all the creatures in the oceans.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
The destruction of Protas appeared in the short story "The Tale of the Aiwha Pod," which was written by Ryan Kaufman and published in 2005's Star Wars: Republic Commando: Prima Official Game Guide.[1]
Appearances[]
- "The Tale of the Aiwha Pod" — Star Wars: Republic Commando: Prima Official Game Guide (First appearance)