Aquitaivas

**This is the Flagship Monster of Monster Hunter Project Gigas**

The Aquitaivas is a Bird Wyvern known for its razor-sharp wings and golden mane. It first appears as an Urgent Quest to unlock High-Rank quests.

## Description

Larger in size and wingspan than most other Bird Wyverns, but otherwise not atypical in terms of body structure, Aquitaivas retains avian characteristics. It has a serrated beak and blue, keen eyes. Tawny brown plumage covers the majority of its body, and a crest in the fashion of a mohawk travels from its lower neck to its tail, becoming a deep red when the wyvern is excited. It also sports white feathers with characteristic rhomboidal markings in blue and red. A set of these decorative feathers circles its head in the form of a crown, also extending from the tip of the tail. Even more stunning is its trademark mane, a collection of bright gold fur that covers its back, with the largest pair of white feathers protruding from it. However, its most distinctive feature is not its plumage but its great wings. While Aquitaivas maintain a more upright posture not unlike that of a Qurupeco, it's not uncommon to see the monster supporting its body on its wings, a stance vaguely reminiscent of quadruped wyverns. Lined with terrible talons and supported by an elongated bone sharp as a scythe, the wings make for one of its main weapons. Their size and maneuverability make Aquitaivas highly adept in aerial combat, and while on land, it uses its wingtalons to pin prey into the ground before delivering a killing blow. In conjunction with its bulky, powerful legs, escaping from an Aquitaivas' grasp is almost a hopeless ordeal.

The wyvern further separates itself from the rest through the usage of an unique element. Aided by its strong lungs, Aquitaivas weaponizes the very air itself, releasing streams of pressurized wind in a vast array of forms; be it quick projectiles, larger spiral blasts, or an ongoing current like a beam.

## Ecology

* **Order**: Saurischia
* **Suborder**: Bird Feet
* **Infraorder**: Bird Wyvern
* **Superfamily**: Preying Bird Wyvern
* **Family**: Aqui
* **Species**: *Helioaetos coronatus*

Being a Bird Wyvern, it is related to monsters such as Yian Kut-Ku, Qurupeco, or Hypnocatrice. However, it is known to be way more dangerous than the average Bird Wyvern, its strength and intelligence being comparable to those of powerful Flying Wyverns.

Aquitaivas possesses more air sacs than other Bird Wyverns. An extra pair of abdominal sacs, larger than the rest, are modified in such a way that when the Bird Wyvern exhales, a portion of the air remains within them, which allows the Aquitaivas to spit it out as projectiles ad libitum and ensures it can mantain its Wind breath for a prolonged period of time without risking asphyxiation. If it wants to power up its attacks even further, it instead inhales deeply, at which point the air in the sacs is aggregated to the air in their lungs and then blasted out with enough force to fracture bones or cause internal damage. Other monsters must generate or otherwise produce their element through various physical processes, for example, through the usage of volatile powders or even having to rely on the consumption of one specific kind of food to develop their own elemental abilities. Meanwhile, the Aquitaivas can make use of its Wind attacks for as long as it can breathe, one of the many traits that make it so fearsome. Its expertise over the element makes it so that sometimes it's simply called the Wind Wyvern.

The Bird Wyvern is naturally adaptable, and thus it can be seen living in deserts or tundras. While it can withstand cold and hot climates well, once the temperatures become too extreme, it'll migrate in search of more temperate areas. As such, Aquitaivas can be seen in arid locales during the cold season, and frigid zones during the hot season. Even in those harsh habitats, the Aquitaivas are very succesful top-predators. Although normally passive, it has a high metabolism compared to other Bird Wyverns and so it must prey often, hunting several smaller prey during the day or one or two large ones.

Perhaps its greatest aid during hunting is its fantastic eyesight. Unlike most other monsters, its eyes possess double foveas, one that focuses on detail, and the other in movement, which allow the Aquitaivas to lock onto a target like a laser focus. It can keep track of a lone Altaroth from almost 10 kilometres away, even during a dive. Its main hunting strategy has the wyvern use its powerful legs to deliver a heavy kick that knocks its prey down, then immediately employ its wings to practically skewer its prey against the ground, bringing all its weight down on the pinned monster. The Aquitaivas then finishes off the immovilized victim with a well-placed peck that aims to sever the trachea, if the monster is large enough, or simply breaks the neck if small. Nevertheless, attempting the pinning maneuver might leave it vulnerable, so it's only performed when the Aquitaivas is near certain of success. When its quarry instead proves itself to be too fast, too big or too powerful, the wyvern will first make use of its razor-sharp wing scythes and talons to wound and weaken its target before moving on for the kill. Its Wind Blasts are also used towards this end, being particularly useful for sending flying prey careening out of the sky or stunning its target from a distance by aiming its blasts at the head. Scientists theorize their manes may too play a part when the Aquitaivas hunts. Being mostly diurnal predators, they exhibit techiques that could suggest they take the position of the sun in the sky into consideration, ensuring that its rays amplify the brightness of their manes even further. This is used as a method of camouflage, and can even blind prey when they swoop in. Nevertheless, the exact use of the mane isn't really known and others say it could be use to deter rivals or attract mates.

Aquitaivas are sexually dimorphic: Males tend to be somewhat leaner and possess larger back feathers, which go all the way up to the tail. Females, in comparison, are usually larger and bulkier, and have shorter back feathers. During mating season, Aquitaivas become much more aggressive as fierce competitions ensue over nesting spots. Monogamous, pairs mate for life and each year build a new nest to raise young in. A female Aquitaivas will commonly lay one or two eggs, with three being a rare oddity that requires optimal conditions and a healthy individual. The male brings food and patrols the territory while the female stays at the nest with the eggs, although he will also incubate in occasions, with the female taking the time to hunt, rest or groom herself. Aquitaivas chicks hatch well-developed, with a downy fuzz covering their bodies and opening their eyes a couple days later. Their signature shining gold mane develops at a young age, so unfortunately for the chick it makes it very easy to spot and extremely vulnerable. Due to this, the parents must protect it at all times, with one patrolling the territory while the other stays at the nest. As the chicks grow, so does their needed food intake, meaning the adults may have to abandon the nest during a period of time, to bring food more often or work together to take down an specially large prey that can feed the chicks for several days.

It is during this critical period of an Aquitaivas' life that that most human attacks take place in. Outside mating season, Aquitaivas don't see humans as a threat, although there's been rare cases in which an starving individual has attacked an human for food. In case of attack, a hunting request is immediately sent, although only experienced hunters are allowed to hunt Aquitaivas, as their speed, power and wind elemental attacks make it a deadly foe. Hunters have also reported older Aquitaivas to be extemely cunning when fighting, even going as far as playing "mind games" with hunters.

## Attacks

### Ground

* **Roar**: Done when first noticing a Hunter or when enraged. The Aquitaivas raises its head, then emits a loud screech. Can be negated with the Earplugs Armor Skill.

* **Taunt**: Kicks up dirt, spreads its wings and makes a growl similar to that of a red tailed hawk, in a "Come get me" sort of fashion.

* **Peck**: : Pecks the ground several times, like most Bird Wyverns. Done rarely.

* **Charge**: Simply runs towards a target. The Aquitaivas may chain another attack upon finishing. It may also stab its wing talon into the ground, using it to pivot, and charge again in a different direction.

* **Side Bite**: Like most Wyverns, bites at its side.

* **Quick Slam**: Sightly raises its left foot and wings, then smashes the ground with its body. Fast.

* **Triple Wind Shot**: Raises its head, then blasts three wind projectiles from its mouth, first right, then left, and middle.

* **Wind Blast**: Very quickly licks its beak, then lowers its head charging a wind shot in its mouth. The Aquitaivas will open its mouth wider as the projectile gets bigger. When fully charged, it will remain completely still for an instant before blasting the projectile in front of it, with such force it pushes the Aquitaivas backwards in recoil. The wind blast will travel a medium distance, but it will deal heavy damage if it hits a target. If it doesn't connect, instead of creating an AoE, it will collide against the ground, making it look cracked with pointed spikes before disappearing. This will deal minimal damage should a hunter run into them.

* **Wind Beam**: Raises its body, spreads its wings and fires a wind beam from right to left.

* **Wing Talon Rake**:Screeches as it takes aim, then lunges and slams its wing down, piercing the terrain with its wingtalons. It then pulls its wing back before freeing it from the ground. Only done when enraged.

* **Wing Slash**: : Aquitaivas raises its wing, then makes a sweeping slash. Might do two, first with one wing, then with the other, advancing slightly

* **Dual Wing Slash**: Like the regular wing slash, will raise a wing and slash in front of it with it, but immediately after finishing, it will raise its other one and slash again, this time using the momentum to spin in a full circle before stopping.

* **Turnaround Wing Slash**: Will raise a wing while looking behind it, then slash with it while spinning its body to face the opposite direction. The best way to avoid this attack is to roll out of it or roll under the Aquitaivas' feet, as getting whacked by the tail during the duration of this attack will also deal damage.

* **Shining Flash**: It will duck its head to its side and expose its mane to the sun. The mane will shine extremely bright and create a flash of light, stunning anything in range. Can't be done in sheltered areas such as caves, or at night.

### Air

* **Hover**: For the most part of the fight, Aquitaivas will hover above the ground, like Berukyurosu. Unlike other Flying Wyverns such as Rathalos, it doesn't produce air pressure that requires skills to negate.

* **Aerial Wing Slash**: Similarly to the ground version, Aquitaivas will stay in place while raising its wing, then lower it with a slash. Being in the air grants it more freedom of movement, increasing the range of the attack. Might do two, like the ground version.

* **Claw Jab**: Quickly scratches with its claws in front of itself. Low knockback and damage output, so it often uses this to put targets in place before going for a stronger attack.

* **Aerial Turnaround Wing Slash**: Similar to the ground version, but faster. Aquitaivas will slash the ground with one of its wings, while gracefully spinning its body to face the opposite direction. This attack has little warning, so avoiding it may be difficult.

* **Ripping Charge**: Aquitaivas will growl and fly upwards to gain some height, then use its wing scythe to smash the ground as it assumes a perpendicular position to it, charging forward at high speeds tearing the ground with its wing. When about to finish this attack, Aquitaivas will pull its wing out of the ground while slashing upwards, hitting anything in range. When enraged, it will instead pull its wing out of the ground, quickly turn around to face the opposite direction, and charge again using its other wing. Upon finishing this attack a second time, it will always turn around, flap its wings twice staying in place, and perform a Hard Landing.

* **Aerial Wind Beam**: Pulls its head backwards for a few seconds, then releases a wind bream from its mouth while following a target. Might sweep its head to the sides in an attempt to hit its target.

* **Aerial Wind Shot**: Same start up animation as Aerial Wind Beam, but a bit faster and shots a single wind projectile instead. Can chain up to three times, while also switching targets.

* **Aerial Wind Blast**: Leans back in an exaggerated motion with its wings spread, hovering still for a second, then pushes itself forward as it splits a larger wind projectile towards the ground which explodes in an AoE. Using its own recoil from the blast, it glides towards its next target without losing momentum. Less powerful than the ground version.

* **Pin**: Strikes with its legs in the fashion of a Rathian or Rathalos. Will pin the target if it connects. The Aquitaivas will bite the hunter several times, then finish him or her off with a Wind Shot. Can be cancelled with a Dung Bomb. Only done when low on stamina.

* **Wingtalon Pin**:Aquitaivas propels itself higher into the air, picks its target, and divebombs after it, wingtalons first. The force of the impact cracks the ground around it, creating an AoE that needs Tremor Res to be negated. If it connects, the Aquitaivas will pin the target with its wings. The target will be completely immobilized, making Dung Bombs impossible to use and breaking free will be twice as hard. Furthermore, the Aquitaivas will keep biting the hunter until he or she faints or manages to break free. Getting hit by the wingtalons themselves will deal high damage. If affected by the tremor, it won't deal damage, but the Aquitaivas will knock the hunter with its head and pin him/her anyways. If it fails, it will get itself stuck on the ground for a few seconds, allowing time to attack.

* **Hard Landing**: Lands by forcefully slamming its body against the ground, crushing anyone under it.

* **Swiping Crescent Wing**: It will gain some height before diving at a target, scraping the ground with its legs. Just as it lands, it spread its wings and performs a wide circular wing slash, hitting anything around it. Only done when enraged.

* **Boulder Smash**: It will perform a similar animation to its "Hard Landing" attack, gaining a little bit of height and then slamming into the ground, tightly clasping the ground with its claws. Then, it spreads its wings and flaps vigorously, tearing a massive, flat boulder from the ground around half the width of its wingspan. It then lets the boulder drop into the ground after ascending to a small height. Only done when enraged.

* **Quadruple Wind Beam**: Aquitaivas' most dangerous attack, only done when enraged. It will fly high, with its wings fully spread while charging this attack for several seconds. When fully charged, it will fire four wind beams across the area in an asterisk (\*) pattern. The attack itself has two phases, as the ground will explode after each beam, similar to Amatsu, but to a lesser degree. Hunters can stop this attack by using Bowgun shots, Bow arrows, or Bouncing Bombs. This will also be the only time when Flash Bombs will make Aquitaivas fall to the ground when airborne.

### G-Rank only attacks

* **Sand to the Eyes**: Just like Qurupeco, it will use its wings to send sand or snow towards a target before taking flight. This can actually inflict Iceblight if the hunter's Ice Res is low enough.

* **Fake Out Wing Slash**: Will do the same startup animation as its Wing Slash, but instead it will perform a different attack.

* **Covert Wind Blast**: Attacks with a Wing Slash, however, rather than returning into position normally, it holds out its wing for longer to cover its frontside, then "reveals" itself firing a Wind Blast.

* **Wind Counter**: Sometimes after being staggered or fliched, the Aquitaivas will quickly take flight and fire a Wind Shot from its mouth. Fast and little to no warning, but can be rolled through if reacted quickly enough.

* **Triple Aerial Wind Blast**: Start up animation identical to the regular Wind Shot, except it fires at a precise spot. After the second shot, it pulls its head back, and after a brief delay, fires a charged Wind Blast, which upon hitting its target or the ground forms a tornado that moves haphazardly before dissipating. The attack can be blocked without the use of Guard Up, but shielding all three will likely trap the hunter in knockback and decimate stamina, being left open for the tornado.

* **Blast, Beam, Lash**: A leghty combo which begins with Aquitaivas standing tall and firing two wind shots, left and right; with the following third being replaced with a sweeping beam. Without missing a pace, it finishes with a Claw Lash that brings it to the air.

* **Wing Talon Pin into Wind Shot**: If the initial attack fails, the Aquitaivas will use a Wind Shot to free itself from the ground, giving hunters much less time to attack while it's stuck.

## Quests

 **Subquests** | **•** Break Aquitaivas' wings **•** Sever Aquitaivas' tail
 **Client:** Village Chief
 **Note**: Unlocked after clearing every LR★★★★★ Key Quest. Disappears upon being completed.

 **Client:** King of Desert Country
*Where I come from, the day comes with a searing wind, and at night the frigid gales pierce our homes. Now the two Aquitaivas nesting in the Plains threaten to bring calamity. Hunter, you must banish them and save my people.*

 **Client:** Tattletale Boy
*Mother tells me not to look at the sun directly, but when I went outside today, I could swear it was CHASING me! I went back as fast as I could, but now nobody will believe me! PROVE that I was right!*

 **Client:** Winter Village Rep
*Tourism is on a nosedive ever since a pair of Aquitaivas appeared in the Tundra. Some say they're mates, some say they're rivals. Does it matter? Don't leave us in the cold and salvage local commerce!*

## Carves

* High Rank
* G-Rank

* Breaking its mane will cause it to drop a shiny, which can be a  **Wyvern Tear**, **Aquitaivas Feather**(HR)/**Quill**(GR), **Guilded Pelt**(HR)/**Solar Brightmane**(GR) or **Auriferous Shard**(HR)/**Gem**(GR) if lucky.

## Armor

### Blademaster

* Fire 0
* Water -15
* Ice +5
* Thunder -20
* Wind +20
* Dragon -5

**Skills (High Rank)**: Evasion +1, Razor Sharp,  Taunt

**Skills (G-Rank)**: Evasion +2, Razor Sharp, Rock Steady,  Taunt, Stamina Recov Down

### Gunner

* Fire +5
* Water -10
* Ice +5
* Thunder -15
* Wind +25
* Dragon 0

**Skills (High Rank)**: Evasion +1, Load Up,  Taunt

**Skills (G-Rank)**: Evasion +2, Load Up, Rock Steady,  Taunt, Stamina Recov Down

## Notes

* Notes
* Credits

* When enraged, the red rhomboidal patterns on its feathers will intensify. The mohawk will also turn red, and the mane will shine brighter.
* When low on stamina, it will drool from its mouth and its mane will turn a duller color. In this state it'll become slower, and if it tries to perform a Ripping Charge, it will always fall to the ground. It will prey on Aptonoth or Popo to recover stamina, and attempt pin attacks more often.
* Aquitaivas' head, back and wings can be damaged, and its tail can be severed.
	+ The first time its head is damaged, some of its feathers will break. The second time the majority of its feathers will be broken and its beak will be chipped.
	+ When its back is broken, the right back feather will break completely and some patches of fur on the mane will be missing. A way to easily break Aquitaivas' back is to succesfully topple it during a mount twice.
	+ Each wing can be broken. A section of the wing scythe will be snapped off, reducing the range of some of its attacks and making that wing weaker to damage.
	+ Similarly, breaking the wingtalons of each wing will make the tremor AoE of its Wingtalon Pin smaller, as well as making it easier to escape out of it.
	+ The tail yields one carve when severed.
* Aquitaivas will remain airborne if Flash Bombed in mid air. However, it will still attack blindly.
* A G-Rank Aquitaivas will always attempt a Wind Blast against a stunned hunter.
* Hunters are awarded with a "Wind Pendant" for their Guild Cards upon defeating an Aquitaivas, much like other flagship monsters.

- All artwork in the page done by: Setheo.

- Icon and coloring by: Narwhaler.

Huge thanks to them!