Ookla the Mok
Context
Thundarr the Barbarian as a 1980-1982 Saturday morning cartoon on US TV. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic far future. After an errant comet/planet nearly collided with Earth the world has been devastated, the Moon was broken, and it became possible to practice magic.
The cartoon mixes a lot of comic book tropes of that day, as many of the people creating it came from comics (Steve Gerber, Jack Kirby and Alex Toth having played the largest roles). For more context, you should first read our Thundarr character profile.
Background
- Real Name: Ookla.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Thundarr the Barbarian and Princess Ariel.
- Base Of Operations: Mobile.
- Height: 6’6” Weight: 360lbs.
- Eyes: Yellow Hair: Brown
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Powers and Abilities
Ookla has incredible strength and is great at improvising melee weaponry. He is also a decent shot with a bow. Combined with his fierce looks, Ookla is a force to be reckoned with.
Ookla once donned a disguise as an old woman and tricked two guards into letting him into the prison holding Thundarr and Ariel.
Ookla, like Thundarr, can get his aquart mount to run for many hours or days without stopping and perform jumps even into perilous situations.
Discrepancies
His “Class 10” strength is supported in every episode except in “Valley of the Ape-men”. There, Ookla is bound by normal chains and he cannot break them. In the same episode Ookla is bound in ropes and he cannot break them either.
I originally gave Ookla Cold Immunity at 01 AP because of his short hair and mane. But then in the only episode with snow “Stalker from the Stars” Ookla gets a cold while neither Ariel nor Thundarr do.
Ookla sneezed and knocked down a door, I didn’t do anything with this because I felt it fell into the humor genre. In “Portal into Time” Ookla coughs and chokes while sitting on the ground in a dust cloud, Thundarr is on one side of him and Ariel on the other. They hold a conversation with no trouble at all.
Unfortunately, it seems that about half way through the 1st Season Ookla is made into a comic relief character as well as someone for Thundarr to rescue. This presumably has an impact on his Hero Points and other statistics.
Video
A low-res but surprisingly clean version of the opening and closing credits of Thundarr.
History
Moks live much like archetypal native American Indians did. See the Thundarr the Barbarian writeup for Ookla’s history.
Description
Ookla is a primitive-looking creature. He resembles a furry, hulking human with a thick mane similar to that of male lion. His facial fur is black, in a pattern that gives him a ferocious skull-faced appearance. It is made all the more frightening by his large canines and cat-like eyes.
Ookla’s body is covered in short brown hair and he has long draping arms. His feet are cloven and he wears black boots over them. Moks tend to have a strong, musky smell.
Personality
Ookla is a loyal companion to Ariel and Thundarr. He trusts Thundarr without reservation and will protect Ariel with his life.
When Ookla becomes frustrated or angry he is likely to smash something. He has been known to swing groundlings, rat people, by the tail and toss them for taunting him or smash the controls to a helicopter because he couldn’t get the hang of flying it.
Ookla is a physical person, quick to display emotion in a rough-and-tumble fashion. Among themselves, injury from such horseplay is rare, but among other species Moks have a reputation for being casually violent and dangerous to be around.
He can face down some pretty nasty beasts with just a growl and a flex of those gargantuan muscles. He can back up the threat, too. In more than one episode he picks up a car and swings it around.
At heart, though, Ookla is a softie. He is Thundarr’s stalwart companion, and never in the entire series does he let the barbarian face a threat alone – unless he’s guarding Ariel, that is.
Ookla speaks a guttural, growling language that is difficult for others to speak. The massive musculature and growling speech sometimes gives the impression that he is an uncivilized beast. However, he greatly enjoys music – though sadly he’s not a very good dancer.
Quotes
“RAAAR-RARA-RAR !”
“RAWR-RAWR-RAWR.”
DC Universe History
See the entry for Thundarr the Barbarian.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Ookla
| Dex: 04 | Str: 09 | Bod: 06 | Motivation: Upholding the Good |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 05 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Adventurer, Freedom Fighter |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 04 | Resources {or Wealth}: 000 |
| Init: 013 | HP:045 |
Skills:
Acrobatics (Climbing): 08, Animal Handling: 04, Artist (Actor): 02, Charisma (Intimidation): 07, Martial artist (AV only): 05, Weaponry (Melee): 07, Weaponry (Missile): 04
Advantages:
Languages: English (Ookla understand’s the language but only speaks Mok himself), Sand people.
Connections:
Thundarr (High), Ariel (High), Other Moks (High).
Drawbacks:
Strange Appearance, Minor Irrational Fear of Water.
Equipment:
- Medium-powered bow [BODY 03, Enhance (EV): 01 (cap is 04), Enhance (Range): 03 (cap is 06), Ammo: 01, Recommended STR: 03, R#02, Limitation: Low Penetration, Descriptor: Piercing].
- Quiver [BODY 02, Enhance (EV): 01 (cap is 04), Ammo: 05, Limitation : Ammunition load for a medium bow]. Ookla’s arrows have blunt tips.
- Later in the series Ookla upgraded to stun arrows [BODY 02, Enhance (EV): 01 (cap is 04), Projectile weapons: 04, Ammo: 05, Bonus & Limitations: Ammunition load for a medium bow, EV and Projectile Weapons are Combined but both Powers are Bashing].
Equart (A mount costing 73 HPs)
| Dex: 02 | Str: 04 | Bod: 05 | Motivation: Equine |
| Int: 01 | Wil: 01 | Min: 02 | Occupation: Mount |
| Inf: 00 | Aur: 00 | Spi: 01 | Resources {or Wealth}: N.A. |
| Init: 003 | HP:000 |
Powers:
Running: 05
Game Stats — DC Adventures RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Ookla — Averaged PL 7.2
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX | FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09 | 04 | 02 | 01 | 05 | 01 | 01 | 01 |
Powers
Mighty ● 4 points (Permanent)
– Massive — Growth 1 (Innate, Already Factored In).
– With one hand — Enhanced Advantage (Improved Grab).
Combat Advantages
Close Attack 2, Daze (Intimidation), Defensive Roll 4, Improved Grab, Improved Smash, Ranged Combat 5, Startle.
Other Advantages
Equipment 2, Languages 1 (English, spoken only), Teamwork.
Skills
Athletics 2 (+11), Close Combat: Large Blunt Objects 4 (+11), Deception 2 (+3), Expertise: Riding 5 (+6), Expertise: Animal Training 5 (+6), Insight 2 (+3), Intimidation 9 (+10), Perception 3 (+4).
Offense
| Initiative +2 |
| Unarmed +7, Close, Damage 9 |
| Large blunt object +11, Close, Damage 11 |
| Bow +6, Ranged, Damage 3 |
Defense
| Dodge | 6 | Fortitude | 9 |
| Parry | 6 | Toughness | 8/4* |
| Will | 4 |
* Without Defensive Roll
Complications
- RAWR-RAWR-RAWR! Ookla understands, but cannot speak, English.
- Relationships Ookla is absolutely loyal to Thundarr and Ariel, and would defend them without a thought.
- It’s Just a Little Water, Ookla Ookla is afraid of water. Really deep water is perhaps the one thing that could stand in the way of his loyalty to Thundarr and Ariel.
- Who… What… is that? Ookla’s savage appearance sometimes draws strong reactions of fear or contempt.
- Upholding the Good Ookla responds almost instinctively to injustice or need.
Power levels
- Trade-off areas Attack & Effect PL 8, Dodge/Toughness PL 7, Parry/Toughness PL 7, Fort & Will PL 7.
- Point total 95. Abilities 44, Defences 13, Skills 16, Powers 4, Devices 0, Advantages 18. Equiv. PL 7.
Notes
Ookla is the junior partner in the trio, and he accepts this with little complaint. He is a much more straightforward combatant and problem-solver than Thundarr or Ariel, but his physical power is incredible.
Giddyup !
HEAVY WARHORSE PL 5
STR 4, STA 4, AGI 2, DEX 0, FGT 3, INT -4, AWE 1, PRE -2
Powers: Growth 4 (Permanent, Innate), Senses 2 (Low-Light Vision; Accurate Smell), Speed 1
Skills: Close Combat: Unarmed 3 (+6), Perception 5 (+6).
Offense: Init +2, Unarmed +6 (Damage 4), Defenses: Dodge 4, Parry 4, Fortitude 4, Toughness 5, Will 3.
Totals: Abilities 0 + Powers 12 + Skills 4 + Defenses 9 = 25 points.
Helper(s): Wikipedia, rpglibrary.org ; Under the Broken Moon RPG. Sébastien Andrivet, M&M stats by Pawsplay.
Source of Character: Thundarr the Barbarian the 1980s animated series by Ruby Spears Productions. Voice by Henry Cordon.