Lugubrious

Dungeon Keepers

Bbeast, you've made a slight error with the Compendium. I specifically did not make an entry for Macula because they're not actually creatures or minions. They're just walking bug cameras, really, no more complicated than the runic scrying glyphs I used for security purposes in the previous version of DK. I just thought the bugs might better fit the theme than the usual scrying pool. I only took three turns to make them, which defies the Fibonacci sequence, and I also said in my most recent post that I was just now beginning my second creature. I'd honestly recommend only mentioning the Macula in my dungeon description if at all.

Living Reflection: A Psychological Alter Egos RP

You can count on me.

Pokemon: The Spectre Conspiracy

After receiving a pleasant greeting from Apple, Jess seated herself at the sleek wooden table. In the minutes that followed, she became acquainted with B, his serenely floating Unown, and the Honedge on the table, which she'd initially mistaken as a conventional sword and, saying "What a lovely sword," attempted to grasp by the handle. Fortunately, the Professor managed to stop her before her fingers made contact, and quickly explained to her the life-draining properties of the Sword Pokemon. The event, though small and unimportant, really opened up Jess's eyes to the world she was preparing to embark on. Her cursory, intimate knowledge of Pokemon would soon grow to a vast index, encompassing types, the difference between special and physical attacks, and much more. She simply couldn't wait to begin.

Luckily, the other trainers weren't too far behind her. One by one they arrived, and Jess watched closely. If these were to be her group, be them friends or simply co-workers, she'd need to get to know them. First to arrive was a girl, long-haired, a few years younger than her, who introduced herself as Miu Kita. Despite Jess's hopes for companionship, there was something about this girl that Jess inherently didn't like. Maybe it was her constantly-narrowed eyes, her slight smirk, or just her bearing as a whole—Jess couldn't tell why, but first impressions indicated that the two might not mix. Instantly, Jess regarded the situation as a challenge; either they'd become fast friends or resolute enemies. Whichever the other girl made of her, she'd commit to. No room for hesitation. For a split second, Jess thought she saw the other girl's eyes glance at her torso, perhaps judging her for her pudginess. A spark of anger ignited in Jess's mind, but she instantly buried it. She wouldn't let this girl under her skin.

The other trainer was far less of a conundrum. Jess guessed him to be her own age, and he seemed objective and impartial to the world around him, as if his mind were elsewhere. Naturally, this Vincent Willow seemed a little excited -who wouldn't be?- and as he approached, Jess flashed a slight smile.

Finally, the fourth arrival appeared, proving herself to be a thin, agitated girl with short, lavender hair. Above all else, she seemed on edge, and either because of that or her obvious fatigue she mistook Apple's assistant for the Professor herself. Assuming that the Miu the snark would be unpleasant about it, Jess sought to distinguish herself by giving Bailey a sympathetic look when she glanced at her. After that, it was Pokemon time. The one-eyed boy fumbled a Pokeball once more before the lineup was complete. Jess was eager to make her pick, but once Apple declared that it would be a blind pick, it didn't matter so much, so Jess let Vincent choose first. She barely even registered that he ended up with an Azurill before she grabbed her own Pokeball, turned away from the table, and threw it at the ground. The ball bounced once with a metallic clang and opened midair.

Into the balmy morning air came appeared Zubat. Instantly, it sought shelter from the harsh sunlight by darted toward its new Trainer and clinging to the underside of her cap, where it was partially shaded from the bright rays. Jess was surprised. Growing up, she'd always heard what a common and garbagey Pokemon Zubats where, little more than cave-dwelling pests. This one seemed to like her, though, and now that she saw it up close she could examine its tiny, adorable ears and fuzzy blue fur. Yes, she decided, this would do.

Living Reflection: A Psychological Alter Egos RP, interest check and signups

Well! We have eight people now, quite the catch. Seems we're clear to go...right?

Pokemon: The Spectre Conspiracy

Looks like we have our unfortunate answer.

Dungeon Keepers

Hah, bad luck. Just because I did it doesn't mean you can't however, and since I doubt you're going to have big bugs with huge eyes on their backs I'm sure you could come up with your own creative approach.

Living Reflection: A Psychological Alter Egos RP, interest check and signups

Looks like those other people are a bit reticent. If you don't want to take the possibility of excluding someone, I'd send out PMs to the people in question, but regardless IC should begin sometime soon.

Unlikely Heroes

Seems like a good size to me.

Unlikely Heroes

He knew. Somehow this armored overseer knew about the crash, the sickness, all of it. Garrett's arm-extending was a neat trick, but Adam, after coping with his own newfound ability for some time now, wasn't all that impressed. Following that, he began to put two and two together. If he had powers, and this guy had powers, did everyone in this sand-strewn cell have powers? He began to regard the others with a new sense of suspicion, except for the girl of course—her profuse tears and flowing nose left her in a sorry state, fit for no more than pity.

Then, of course, Garrett went and confirmed Adam's hypothesis. He prepared to respond, to ask what was to be done with them, when the connecting door cracked open and a voice called through it. Until now, Adam hadn't given any thought to the idea that there was more than one captor, but the notion seemed obvious now. A few moment later and Garrett was gone, bestowing upon the prisoners a final apology and farewell. Adam pondered this man. Of course he was afraid of anyone who took advantage of a moment of vulnerability on his part, but before now he has assumed that this guy was just some grunt following orders, uncaring about the result. Garrett's mannerisms, however, were awfully informal and sociable. Perhaps this wasn't some finger on the arm of a greater power, like the government; maybe this 'Stretch' was part of a small, close-knit group. But were they the heroes or the villains? There was no clue to be had.

If worse came to worse, Adam decided, he would try to fight. His ability was still largely uncontrolled and untested, but he'd lived long enough to know that a little sand in the eyes goes a long way. Even as Adam created this mental resolve, however, he knew that he wouldn't be able to back it up. These people had guns, possibly unknown superpowers, maybe twenty-five years, and probably professional training versus fifty-one year old, pacifist Adam. There really was nothing he could do but wait. “God help us,” he murmured, staring with droopy eyelids and a morose frown at the spot where Garrett had disappeared.

Dungeon Keepers

An hour and a liter of mutagen later, Clotho's new security system was complete. Resting candidly on the floor of her Heart was a large insect, approximately a foot across and wide, with traits of both tick and cicada. It sported a thin carapace, murky brown-green in color, that would help to camouflage it, but its dominant feature was the huge eye in its abdomen, facing upward. This startling oculus resembled a human's, but its sickly yellow in hue and orange iris served as stark distinctions. Clotho called the new species Macula, but they were hardly creatures worthy of fighting in a Keeper's horde. Instead, she envisioned the Macula functioning as a living security system for her Dungeon. The Macula would quickly adjust to their habitat, accepting the current creatures as members of the ecosystem. Anything else would be picked up by their bulging abdominal eyes and registered as a threat, instigating an alarm response. Using their loud, grating song, they would alert other Macula throughout the tree, who would in turn take up the cry.

Of course, when Clotho created actual creatures later, they would need to be inducted into the Macula's catalog of accepted entities, but that was a problem for later. For now, Clotho had a security system. Though not perfect, the little Macula were quick, and if targeted by intruders they could run or close their eyes with shell membranes for defense. The real potential in the Macula came with an open end Clotho purposefully left in their design; once sufficiently developed, the bugs would be able to translate their visual images into signals that could be received and viewed from great distance. Though the future plans were hazy, Clotho guessed that -after the construction of some sort of observation chamber- she would be able to use the Macula to peer into other lands from the safety of her own Dungeon. It was a brave new world that had such creatures in it.

Just as Clotho was forming these plans, the light streaming in through the hole in her Heart's ceiling shivered and discolored, like two liquids poured into one another. A deep red light replaced the white, and in that instant everything changed. Suddenly Clotho wasn't so safe after all in her paper nest in the sky, and mind raced with questions. Was some sort of great event taking place? Was she under attack? The single Macula lolled open its bulging eye before skittering into the comfortable shadows. Conversely, Clotho stretched her cooped-up wings and shot through the hole into the open air.

It didn't take long to discover the source of the disturbance. Elysium's sun, once so vibrant and holy, was stained crimson. As if all life stood still in fear or reverence, an intense quiet had settled over the jungle, despite the high-altitude winds howling at Clotho's ears. Though beautiful, the sight was also immensely foreboding. She couldn't imagine why this had happened to the source (it had always seemed to her too remote, too permanent, for alteration), but if it was the work of some being, incredibly powerful...

The thought made Clotho feel small, vulnerable, and insignificant. Out of these feelings arose rage. “I must grow stronger,” she whispered into the thin, chilly air. The work on a receiving station for the Macula visions would begin immediately, and in the meantime she'd begin work on a second creature. Though she had only just emerged from the cocoon, it was time to enter it again. Clotho descended into her dungeon to seek out Scutra and relay her orders and create blueprints for the new facility, which he in turn would convey to all the imps.

Status

3/3 security measure
05 new creature
Location: Dungeon
Dungeon: Jungle north of Saploya River, N16°W12° An incomplete and unfurnished yet vast hive spanning the length, width, and height of a massive, ancient tree in the jungle. The hive itself is constructed of a magically-created liquid that expands and hardens into a stiff, paperlike substance upon exposure to air. The main body of the hive is suspended by countless support struts that reach for hundreds of feet in every direction. The Dungeon Heart is situated at the very top of the tree. Bugs called Macula infest it, functioning as living security cameras and alarms. Currently has: Dungeon Heart, Myrmidon Spawner. Living Foundry, Apothecary, Macula infestation
Forces: 24 Drone Imps, 59 Myrmidons, imp construct Scutra