Lugubrious

Living Reflection: A Psychological Alter Egos RP

To some it might seem like I'm powerplaying a little, grabbing Scarlet Thorn and all, but a grab itself is nothing too substantial. I left the actual things to worry about, the slash and the snare, to interpretation. It seems both of us have decent defensive options; while Ironclad of course had his armor, ST has his healing factor and could definitely stomach a good few blows.

Living Reflection: A Psychological Alter Egos RP

Unfortunately, Kano didn't seem to be taking the hint. As he laughed too loudly, Greg realized a change of tactics was in order. Perhaps, by playing this game, he could make Kano lose interest—in elementary school, he had learned too late that the bully's torment was no fun if the victim didn't allow himself to be the victim. It would have to be subtle, though; overdoing it would likely only escalate Kano's enjoyment. “Ah, I'm from the land down under. Australia, that is. Shrimps, barbies, and all.” Greg let out a slight chuckle of his own. He didn't move except to quizzically raise one eyebrow when Kano picked at a strand of his short, curly hair, even though he very badly wanted to recoil. “Can't say I do, really. Never had much of a use for cosmetics.”

He kept a neutral expression, both eyebrows relaxed, while Kano crossed a leg and maintained full-on eye contact. Few other students could boast as much of a talent for expression as Greg; years of making funny faces with his friends and watching live-action movies endowed him an impressive range of facial movement. “I'm heading home, actually. Nothing on the agenda, though there's this book I'm into -one of those Jack Reacher novels- that's really got me hooked. What's up with you?” Greg turned his body slightly to face Kano and placed an elbow on the window-side armrest.

-=-=-

Though Ironclad made a note of his opponent's jet-black gauntlets and greaves, his momentum carried him forward as an unstoppable force. He hadn't expected the smaller, nimbler Thorn to try and block the jump strike, in fact, he hadn't expected to land such a directional, telegraphed attack at all. Still, the speed and agility with which Scarlet Thorn fell flat to dodge the double slash before regaining his feet with a stylish flourish was impressive. A pity that ebony armor didn't cover more of Thorn's body, particularly after Ironclad's spikes had decimated his foe's clothes but totally failed to deal any real damage to him.

Like lightening came the kick. If Ironclad had been flesh and blood rather than steel and lead, the blow might have fractured half of his ribcage. Worst case scenario, the extremely sudden and violent movement of the bones might puncture vital organs, and he would have been in unspeakable agony, though death by internal bleeding would have soon relieved him of such an existence. As it was, however, the black boot made a minor dent in the thick armor there, and with noteworthy dexterity Ironclad moved his right arm to clamp around the leg and keep it there. In the span of seconds Scarlet Thorn had dealt a worthy blow but at the same time locked himself into close quarters with an Alter Ego specializing in blades—a dire prospect.

As his arm seized Thorn's leg like a serpent constricting its prey, Ironclad replied, “Seems more like a battle of strength to me.” At once, his tail and free arm moved to strike. The tail whipped forward in an attempt to coil around Scarlet Thorn's other leg, after which a quick yank would bring him to the ground. To distract his foe from this underhanded snare, Ironclad's free arm made a wide slash at Thorn's face, which had little chance of really connecting but definitely looked and sounded dangerous.

Dungeon Keepers

True, on their home territory and in shoals they would be an absolute menace. Few to no other creatures could take them on underwater and hope to survive. Glad you're back.

Dungeon Keepers

Exactly so. I envision using the growth serum to help in making future constructs, for example, in a more controlled and useful way than the fashion in which she made Scutra. An aspect of her character I'm going for is to be all wrathful-bloodthirsty-conqueror on the outside, but be a strategic on the inside. Sort of a blend between Nona and...well, I won't get into the specifics.

Really I'm liking the way everyone is going so far. Just because I'm gabbing the most about what I'm doing doesn't mean I'm undervaluing y'alls' developments, I hope.

Pokemon: The Spectre Conspiracy

"Vincent, huh?" Jess said, both by way of greeting and acknowledgement. He looked more like a scholar than a fighter, but looks cool be deceiving. She was proof of that herself, and was determined to continue to be. "Alright, let's do this!"

B's Unown impressed her. Floating, mysterious, weirdly-shaped...like letters of some strange alphabet. Right off the bat she could tell they were flying-type, since they clearly hovered off the ground. Jess wasn't exactly sure how to direct the battle, but showing hesitation in front of a potential rival was out of the question. Jess was lagging behind; already this Miu girl knew more about her partner Pokemon then she did. Something like that could knaw away at her confidence and resolve like a Durant in a log cabin. Leech Life and Supersonic, then. The second option sounded good. "Zubat, use Supersonic!"

Excited and just about as naive as his trainer, the Zubat took flight, flapping its wings in an energetic storm to gain some altitude. Once the little Bat Pokemon drew level with B's Y-shaped Unown, it inhaled deeply and released a blast of sound in its opponent's direction. Instantly, both it and its trainer knew that something was amiss. Rather than fly true and hit the enemy Symbol Pokemon, the soundwave shot off skyward, harmlessly passing several feet over the Unown and sailing off to the clouds. Unsure of how to react or what to do next, all Jess could say was, "Oh...okay..." as her Zubat fluttered around anxiously. "Don't worry about it, buddy!" Jess called out reassuringly. "We'll get 'em next time! Vince, you're up!"

Dungeon Keepers

Clotho's smart enough to plan ahead. Well, either her or the being that empowered her. Regardless, her general plan is to ultimately crate and wield a magic nullification venom, which temporarily locks down all magical abilities of the victim in the same was a snake's venom locks down the nervous system. Of course, Clotho's forces don't have that respect, so they'll continue being weak to magic for some time.

Dungeon Keepers

As I'm looking through the compendium, I'm making matchups in my head. Things like, whose level-one creature would come out on top, ect. I feel like Viktor's ogres would be at a stalemate with Clotho's Myrmidons, offense versus defense, the ogres capable of taking spear thrusts and shield bashes easily but unable to really get anything substantial in return. Cavartem's Walkers, I feel, would triumph over the Pain Elementals by two virtues: I doubt they care much for any sort of pain and their dead, unfeeling forms could hold out fairly well against the PEs' death explosions. The virtue of flight alone makes the Angels trump most of our other level-ones, all but the PEs, really, though Myrmidon spears and shields might be able to withstand an aerial assault depending on what weapons the Angels are using. Right now I feel as if Xir'Ain's Eels have the short straw, but the Runners make up for it. As far as secondary creatures go, the Runners, well, run circles around the Antlions, though I feel that Viktor's skeletons would make an ample challenge for either of them. The Skeletons have the range on both parties, able to keep out of tailblade-range of the Runners and poke at the Antlions' soft spots while avoiding their thrashing around.

When we eventually exchange blows its going to be fun.

Kangutso, I suppose I'm ready to begin when you are. Send the PM?

Pokemon: The Spectre Conspiracy

I think it would be characteristic of Jess to team up with Bailey. She and Miu already have a bit of a thing, and Miu seems unlikely to want to side with Bailey as well.

Dungeon Keepers

The cocoon hung, perfectly still and quiet but for the whistling of the wind through the holes in the chamber walls. It had hung this way for several hours, but at this moment its stupor was broken. From within, its resident pushed against the thick, warm weave. Each shove extended farther than the last, until finally the fibers began to tear. After the first few threads snapped, the rest was easy, and with a gasp Clotho erupted from the swaddling cocoon. The intake of clear, cold air helped clear her muggy head, and after a few breaths she tore the remaining way out of the cocoon, leaving its smothering embrace behind. She thought of the trial of exiting her Heart as symbolic of the hatching of any creature, bringing something new and great to the world. In this case, Clotho held tucked beneath her arm an egg the size of a melon, a limestone slate in color and with pitted surface. Now able to move and think freely again, the Swarm keeper wasted no time by prepping her wings with a flurry of beats before taking off. Her burden limited her ability to fly, but she was downward-bound anyway.

If the Myrmidons lived in a cavity at the King Tree's base, the Antlions would dwell in underground burrows amongst its roots. The Antlions were built like tanks, just taller than a horse and as wide as a hippopotamus. They were thick, bulbous insects, not terribly unlike termites, but far more evocative of larvae in general. The outstanding feature of the Antlion was its head; four huge mandibles dominates the creature's front side, capable of striking with impressive force, crushing nearly anything before them, or grinding obstacles to dust. Stone, wood, even metal would fall before the voracious pincers. This, combined with thick legs and ultra high-traction feet -courtesy of a vast amount of barbs and hairs on each- made them very effective diggers. In turn, this meant that they'd also be outstanding siege engines, able to burrow through wall and building alike. Mental acuity and magical ability had not been considerations of Clotho; the Antlions were built for sheer physical prowess. A charge by these creatures could overwhelm the enemy defensive line, while an ambush from underground could decimate an unwary foe. This versatility meant that the Antlions, while straightforward in their capabilities, could always be useful.

Scutra met her on the leaf litter, bearing good news and a vial made from a hollowed-out branch. “The observation station is complete, mistress,” he clicked, covering his sensitive bulging left eye with a sickle, “I've tentatively called it the Compound of Eyes, as the structures that display the Macula's vision resemble ommatidia.” Clotho's own eyes, a brilliant yellow with layered pupils, narrowed as if to say 'how clever of you'. Realizing that his master could care less, the imp construct continued. “And, as requested, I have created a growth hormonal serum.” He explained as Clotho seized the vial with her free hand. “All the necessary constituents were in you already; all that I did was reorganize them.”

Clotho set the egg down on the ground uncharacteristically gingerly, as if it were an unstable explosive. Instinctively, Scutra took a few steps back. Without hesitation Clotho put the vial to her lipless mouth and drank. The aim was to incorporate the new concoction into her own repertoire, for use with the Stinger, but there was no easy way to do it. While her internal systems instantly got to work reworking the ingested liquid into a usable toxin, the serum also exhibited some effect on her own form. Spikes all over Clotho's carapace lengthened, and a few new ones formed, particularly on her head, where they stretched sideways into sharp substitutes for eyebrows. A hairlike material that more closely resembled scales emerged from Clotho's cranium in a linear pattern, forming a ridge about two inches tall that would have been a mohawk in a human, stretching from the base of Clotho's skull to the top of her forehead. Additionally, Clotho's pointed feet split in two, becoming both more elevated and more clawlike.

“Everything...satisfactory, mistress?” Scutra ventured to ask. Clotho looked at him as if noticing him for the first time, the blood-red sunlight illuminating her from behind. Her inner pupils were now fiery orange. “The body is an amazing thing,” she sighed, extending the Stinger and examining the new pink liquid seeping from the injector's tip. “Always evolving. This process is going to hurt quite a bit when you eventually craft me a neurotoxin.” She reared back before plunging the Stinger into the egg in front of her. Barely seconds past before the egg burst, the creature inside quickly swelling to huge proportion. In a matter of moments, a fully-grown Antlion stood where the egg had rested a moment before. It was a beautiful thing; against the leaf litter in the poor light it was notably hard to spot despite its size, and its gruesome mandibles gleamed wickedly like metal weapons. “Dig deep, my child,” the Swarm Keeper crooned, running a clawed hand over the edge of one of the Antlion's mandibles as it stood stock-still. “Make a colony. I'll need more of you for what's to come.”

With a guttural shriek the Antlion turned its head toward the ground and began to dig, shifting earth and plant alike in a whirlwind of activity. Seconds later it was gone, burrowing underground, and the dust settled. Clotho turned to face the general direction of Virens, red light now shining on her altered face. To Scutra she declared. “I'm going to visit the city again. Some Macula will follow me; I want eyes in Virens, even after my mission tonight is done. Tell the imps they have a few hours off.”

Status

5/5 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, Compound of Eyes
Forces: 24 Drone Imps, 59 Myrmidons, 1 Antlion, imp construct Scutra

Compendium:
Antlion – second creature. Living siege engines. Six feet tall, six feet wide, and sixteen feet long, these huge bugs are sturdily built, with multicolored splotchy shells. They have four huge mandibles on their heads; these mandibles are incredibly dense and possess extraordinary strength, and are used for digging through the earth or tearing apart structures and enemies. The feet have high traction due their barbs and hairs. Physically powerful, but has negligible mental or magical capability. Though big and intimidating, Antlions' slowness and stupidity make them relatively poor fighters in sustained combat (though they can charge fairly quickly). The head, all muscle and no shell, is the weak spot—if you can get past the mandibles.

Clotho (changes italicized) - A low-born human girl called Nona was stung by an insect carrying the soul of a Keeper from an age long past, and the fusion of the two minds made her. A tall, lithe physical fighter that prefers speed to brute strength and is a master of bugs and parasites of all kinds. She is a foot taller than most men, with long arms and legs, and has a rather spiny, chitinous exoskeleton that is a dull brown-maroon in color. Two gossamer rounded wings form into a cloak when not in use. A mohawk of sorts adorns her head, made of a rough, leathery material that resembles scales. Her favoured weapon is a barbed sabre, which goes in cleanly but is very messy coming out. Using the power from the Biomancers' Guild's amulet, she has improved armour and a needle-like protrusion from her arm called the Stinger. The Stinger is full of corrupted life magic, capable of delivering devious toxins once developed as well as being a potent tool for exerting her will.

Dungeon Keepers

Sorry if I kept you waiting. I'm on fairly often, but not for extended periods of time. Before we begin collaboration I want to make a quick post detailing Clotho's new creature. I'll get that done after work today, and after that we can start.