>>58471
KILLER QUEEN will hardly justify her name if she continues to hide in the back of the nest not using her ability to shoot poison. We put the decision off because there was no consensus on the matter. (and I think "others" was mostly "Durandal," as that was the period when participation dramatically fell off.)

>>58436
not sure how I feel about the level of metagaming knowledge involved in this action anyway >_<

>>58391
>!!REMINDER:!! sent to talk to wasps.
We decided on that? man I don't remember it at all. I thought we were going to take a look at both sides. Oh well. Even if we are here to make enemies, the distraction based ambush is not a terrible place to start, and he might surprise us and be all friendly.

>>58436
>>58444
(Scars eats The Metal)

>>58467
(KILLER QUEEN eats The Metal)
>>58590
(KILLER QUEEN eats The Metal/put aside The Metal for now)

(Tied at 2 to 2. If this does not change, question of who shall eat The Metal shall be tabled for the moment)

(I see no real problem with sending Scars and Wings to the spider/wasp field, since KILLER QUEEN is aware the place is currently unknown but contains a good deal of potential food, several of the creatures seen there by Flash are huge, and since there is no other military force that could currently be augmented other than the one Toxic is part of, there is no other place that would benefit as much from his and Wings Of Destiny's presence)

!!REMINDER:!! There is still the lone mutant The Merciless in Crescent with golden, regenerated legs, that may or may not have a Valiance.
!!REMINDER:!! There are still the two new creatures present on the yellow flowers, the black and yellow beetle that is attacked by the bumblebees consistently but does not seem to mind, and a large wasp with a green thorax and head, that is afforded a wide birth by the bumblebees.


Orders?

>>58712
Give The Metal's corpse to Scars.

>>58714
He returns!

Actually, I wasn't sure WHERE I was voting last night, but the more I think about it, the more I want the QUEEN to be better protected. We had a not insignificant time period here where no heroes at all were around the nest to protect the QUEEN, and that might happen again. We are also still vulnerable to surprise surgical strikes on the deeper levels of the colony. And while it is true that if attackers DO get around the defenders and to the QUEEN, the colony has been decimated, if she has the Metal's ability, it does NOT necessarily mean game over. Scars can't be everywhere at once, but if the target herself is difficult to even scratch, he has time to GET everywhere.


And on the point of wanting to give Scars regen/protection, I am sort of holding out hope that a food with some healing properties will be found. (Sufficiently aged Nutrients could do the trick.)


In any event, there were several things which were on hold until Scars returned. I don't want to send him off again right away. If we are going to reinforce Toxic's party, Wings and maybe some additional Flash and/or Do6L might have to do. Still not clear on how much she can carry. Scars should go attempt to make contact with these clearly formidable creatures feeding from the flowers before they fly off again.

>>58714
(3 for Scars, 2 for Queen)

..................[Scars Of Yesterday]..................

I enter Crescent, vaguely puzzled that I can feel a faint Valiance, more like something that is almost a Valiance, somewhere within the hive. ...No, not just one faint Valiance, but two. Strange. Well, changes in my absence are not surprising, and I do not begrudge my queen for not informing me, as her attention is required to run the entire Empire of Cydonia.

Hmm.... so, I am now a Knight of Cydonia, the First Knight, as it were. I am honored that she chose to reward me so, but I do not really know what is entailed by this new title, and while I am confident I can command my body ably, I do not know how well I can command others...

My thoughts are interrupted as I stand before a familiar sight: The Metal, his corpse and the Bohemian Rhapsody we brought back with us before me.

...I will serve my queen, and do all I can to make her desires reality, but to do that, I need more power. ....No I suppose that isn't really accurate. I don't need power that badly now, with my greatly expanded offensive abilities, but I do need more durability. There are too many creatures out there that could tear me asunder with just one well placed blow.

Or at least, there were such foes.

I tear into The Metal's form, eating my way through the breach in it's carapace in the back of it's head. I gorge myself, and as I do, I feel my carapace finish healing, the cracks and injuries to my legs, my back and my mandibles closing up, as my shell takes on a brilliant, metallic sheen, the golden hue of my body deepening into something richer, while my crimson spines along my back are now intermingled with a luxurious sable hue.

!!NOTICE:!! Scars Of Yesterday has gained the Valiance: Extreme Power Metal! This valiance is passive, and radically improves the all around defensive properties of the bearer, improving the defenses of all body parts save the inside of the mouth and the eyes.

!!NOTICE:!! Thanks to Scars Of Yesterday becoming significantly more durable, Cry of the Brave now functions somewhat differently! The new rules are:

-If a Cry of the Brave is activated with only one mandible (termed Level 1 or 0.5 if the mandible is only opened partway), it will not cause Scars of Yesterday to become Lethargic.
- If a Cry of the Brave using two mandibles is employed, roll a d10. A roll of four or lower will induce the Lethargic Trait.
-If three mandibles are employed, Scars of Yesterday must roll a d10 and roll five or higher to avoid becoming Lethargic (if a 1 is rolled, Scars of Yesterday will lose consciousness).
-If all four mandibles are employed, Scars of Yesterday must roll a d20 and beat a DC 15 challenge to stay conscious, and is automatically rendered Lethargic irrelevant of the result.
-All rolls now gain a bonus of 2 to the roll, to be included when rolling the dice.
-The power of Cry of the Brave grows the more mandibles employed.

The ability Fury of the Storm now can be used with 2 mandibles at a time, but must be accompanied with a string of rolls (the same type of roll as used by a normal Cry of the Brave Lv[2]). The attack will end prematurely due to the onset of the Lethargic trait with the first roll to induce lethargy. If no roll induces lethargy, the ability terminates once having been used as many times as there were rolls with no penalty. (Any questions about this, ask in the discussion thread)

(Neither Aerosmith nor Operation Ground and Pound have changed in functionality)

!!NOTICE:!! The yellow and black beetle is no longer so close to Crescent. The wasp with green coloration however, has moved closer. If it gets any closer, it might notice Crescent.


Orders?

>>58797
Status on PULSATING GROWTH?

>>58808
Still there, still hungry, feed it some of the BR?
Along a similar line, I think the 8 fat bottoms aging Pearl Jam should head for the lowest chambers. Will they have any sense of how the process is going inside them?

Scars, go confront the wasp the Mandarinian abominations are leaving alone before it gets too close to the colony. Bring a handful of Flash/TMBG/Do6L as an honor guard.

If Wings is to leave soon, she should stay low till she is well away from the colony, so as not to attract attention.

so much going on concurrently >_< I think I liked the one thing at a time approach better.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/10/06(Tue)16:13 No. 59001 ID: d1210a
File 125487079325.jpg - (102.31KB , 1152x864 , Wasp Near Crescent.jpg )

>>58808
It always hungers. The growth has not changed from being a glistening red mass of spikes and gaping maws, anchored to the chamber it inhabits by fleshy tendrils, shrouded in a muggy, thick mist.

>>58863
How much of the total 31 units of Bohemian Rhapsody should be fed to the growth?

All 8 Fat Bottomed Girls ready to age Pearl Jam relocate to Deep chambers, and anchor themselves to the ceiling. Every timestamp, the Pearl Jam will age however much it normally would at a given depth level for it's current quality level.

Scars Of Yesterday, along with 4 They Might Be Giants, 10 Death On Six Legs and 5 Flash all march out of Crescent, on orders to approach the wasp that is near the colony. As Scars Of Yesterday leaves the tunnels and caves of Crescent, he loses the vague sense of two almost-Valiances within the colony. In short order all of them are at the base of a yellow flower, upon which is perched the wasp high above. As of yet, they have not been seen.


What should be done?

>>59001
Feed the pulsating mass oh, 10 BR for now.

Scars: You and some of your more agile forces should climb the surrounding plants (I suspect TMBGs may be incapable of such feats) and attempt to contact the creature from there. Or am I misunderstanding the distance between flowers?
Have the rest stay on the ground with the Giants. If the creature turns hostile, your priority will be to get it to the ground so the heavies can lay into it. Otherwise, ask if it hunts the Mandarinians, and that is why they leave it alone, if it is part of the Collective, a Fight Song participant, etc. Do not mention that Crescent is nearby.

>>59001
The Mandarinian Empire is more than just those hornets, right? I mean, they have those bumblebees. Maybe they have other surrogate races. Why not Mr. Wasp? In which case, there is a reasonably good chance the wasp knows of Scars, KILLER QUEEN, and Crescent.

Why? Because Scars was not exactly discreet, got himself registered as the first ant with Valiance at The Collective, got registered as having killed a member of the Mandarinian Empire, fought in the arena, even had a huge fight with another member of the Empire, The Metal. And what happened there? We went on and on about how we were a representative of the Mandarinian Empire, and killed him.

There is good reason to believe the Empire has put two and two together, and figured out we're here.

In which case, Scars should NOT meet with this guy.

I say he heads back into crescent, and the ants use that new intelligence perk for five or more ants together to meet with the wasp, maybe not let on we know what names really are, pretend to be less evolved than we are, maybe get the wasp to think that we are just harmless peons in their domain, nothing to worry about.

Because there is no way we can take on the empire right now.

>>60345
10 units of Bohemian Rhapsody are fed to the growth. The entire organic construct shivers, and swells noticeably larger, and starts to emit heat. It still requests food.

21 units of Bohemian Rhapsody remain
(The Metal's corpse is still largely intact, containing 74 units worth of Quality 7/10 food)

>>60345
Scars Of Yesterday knows that this creature must be communicated with.....
>>60348
....but reflecting back on his vocal actions in The Fight Song, feels hesitant to actually meet, in case the stranger is here seeking him and Crescent as a whole so the Mandarinians may punish them.

...Perhaps discretion is called for.

Scars Of Yesterday sends the 10 Death On Six Legs up nearby flower stalks to be in a covered position near to the potential threat, while the nimble, evasive Flash climb to the flower the creature currently feeds on.

As they climb to the top of the flower, the newcomer takes notice of them. The Flash tense, but the creature does nothing, content to stare for the moment.


YOU CONTROL:
10 Death On Six Legs, hidden near the creature in two groups
5 Flash, with the creature
4 They Might Be Giants, on the ground
1 Scars Of Yesterday, on the ground


....how should the ants act? (Toxic and her group are still hiding from the giant spider, There are two known Sand Pit Monster [Ant Lion] nests that still contain inhabitants, there is a mass of pale threads containing bound corpses and imprisoned insects nearby, Scars Of Yesterday detected two potential Valiances within Crescent, the mutated The Merciless is still idle, and Blue Mind Riot will be returning with the fungus and aphids next timestamp.)

>>60997
Feed the Growth half of The Metal.

Flash: Greet the creature. Run at first sign of aggresion.

>>61001
This. Also have Killer Queen eat some of The Metal too, maybe there's still enough punch left in the carcass to give her the Valiance as well.

>>60348
But... if the wasp here was part of the Empire, why would he be out here feeding himself directly from the flowers, instead of having food brought to him? and why are they avoiding him?

Eh, whatever. A Flash is fine too. Greet it, and ask it why the angry yellow beasts leave it alone.

As for Toxic, I still think he should step out of hiding a short distance from the others and fill the air with greetings to overpower the scent of other ants, and make sure the others stay still, in case the creature can sense ground vibrations. If it turns hostile, the others are to swarm out of hiding.

>>61001
37 units of Abomination corpse (The Metal) are fed to the growth. The growth swells even larger, growing scalding to the touch, and seems to shiver now and then. It occupies the entirety of the test chambers, and feelers seem to be creeping along the ground outward from it's base. Some seem headed towards the tunnel exiting the seal-able chamber.

>>61006
KILLER QUEEN is brought the remains of The Metal, or what is left of it after being feasted on twice before, and tears into the corpse, searching for Valiance. she feasts deeply, finding the creature's stomach, and ripping great chunks free to feast upon.

As KILLER QUEEN feasts, she feels no change occurring in her body, but..... something smells insanely delicious, nearby..... no, two things do? Oh, she longs to feast on them so....


What should she do, follow the scent or keep eating The Metal?

>>61001
>>61007
The Flash collaborate for a moment, their antenna whispering across each other for a frenzied moment. Then they turn to face the wasp.

"...Hello. Why do angry yellow beasts leave you alone?"

The Creature looms over the cluster of ants as it inspects them closely.

"So, you do have sapience. Are you aware you are currently on the land of the Mandarinian Empire? Poachers are not taken kindly, when they're caught stealing resources."

....The wasp smells fairly threatening right now....


How should the Flash Respond?

>>61007 [Toxic:]

I give a stealthy command for my escorts to wait, unmoving within the area of cover, as I go to attempt contact with the creature. The moment I place even one leg down in a new location, the creature grows deathly still, it's body tensing. ....This does not seem good.


What should I do?

>>61674
The Flash should say that they understand that the flowers are off limits. Ask who the new Mandarinian is.

KILLER QUEEN should follow the scent, but be cautious. Bring all remaining idle D6L for protection.

I don't have any ideas for Toxic.

>>61674
Huh.. Eating The Metal leftovers has made QUEEN aware of delicious valiances in the other ants around the colony, and now she has the urge to eat her own offspring? Not sure what to do with that information, especially with the mass having consumed some of it as well. Please hold for panic.

--------
Flash respond: We learned this lesson long ago, and have been limiting ourselves to what the Angry Yellow Beasts do not want. (insert deferential head-bob or smell non-threatening or whatever) Are you part of the Angry Yellow Beasts too?

And I just had an interesting thought... This meeting wouldn't happen to be taking place over Stealin, would it?

--------
Toxic: Fuggin knew it. Feels vibrations like a Flash. Well, cover is blown now, it knows something is in the area, so if you don't want it to find your entire group, they need to stay PERFECTLY STILL, and you need to distract it with communication attempts and draw it closer.

>>61674
Let's follow the scent, The Metal isn't going anywhere.

The smells might be the ants returning with aphids and fungus to farm.

Also, it would be good to get Killer Queen a valiance sometime.

Have those ants shown the Queen their lever trick yet? Or regaled her with the tale of discovery? Or a combination of the two?

>>62010
(She is not currently aware, and likely won't care about the discovery until her obsession with these strange smells passes. After it is done with would be a good time to bring it before her.)

>>61725
>>61739
"We don't want trouble from others, we have been collecting leaves from the stalks, careful to not damage or malnourish the yellow flowers."
"...Well, I suppose that is no real issue, then. But stay away from the yellow flowers and the tenders, or we will have issues with you, to be resolved with your complete obliteration. Are we clear?"
"...We shall take from the leaves, and leave the tenders alone with the flowers. Why do the ...tenders leave you alone? Are you also from this Empire?"
"Yes, I am. ....I suppose you could think of me as a strange mix of scout, warrior, envoy and... other things. If you understand names, I am known as Burn Crazy The Hellion. ...I have another question for you. Have you heard of an ant colony by the name of Crescent, and/or seen a large golden ant with red spikes running down it's back and two sets of mandibles, titling itself as Scars Of Yesterday? We are...... VERY... interested in finding both the colony and the ant."

(The location of this meeting is almost exactly in between Crescent and Stealin', slightly closer to Stealin')


How should the ants respond?

.................................................[KILLER QUEEN:].................................................
>>61725
>>61739
The scents are maddeningly appealing. There is no question, I shall follow the scents. But it would be foolish of me to wander about aimlessly without some form of guard. I wish Scars Of Yesterday was here, to serve his function as Champion and First Knight of Cydonia, but I sent him to assess that strange wasp near Crescent, and must make due.

I summon the idle 22 Death On Six Legs to come with me as my guards while I prowl about my colony, seeking out these incredible smells. It only takes a few turns and a few moments of travel before I stand before The Merciless with golden legs, the one thought to perhaps have a Valiance, the ambrosial scent oozing out of my daughter. I hunger desperately to eat the source of this smell. I can still smell the other scent, equally as delicious, some distance away.


Should I consume my delicious smelling daughter, go seek out the other smell, return to feeding on The Metal, or should I do something else?

.................................................[Toxic:].................................................
>>61739
>>62010
Well, this certainly makes this a precarious situation. If it can sense vibrations in the ground, any movement on the part of my followers will reveal their location. And the creature seems unsure of my specific location from the single step. After some time has passed, and I see the creature's head start to drift from side to side to try and find us, I release a scent message.

"I am Toxic, and envoy of KILLER QUEEN, and I have been sent to communicate with the inhabitants of this field."

The creature grows deadly still once more, but otherwise does not respond. It takes a single, tentative step in the general direction of our hidden location.


What should I do?

>>62137
I wonder if the GROWTH would be able to eat this wasp alive without assistance. The Flash, dumb as they are, might say the closest entrance to Crescent is by digging down at stealin'. They would not be lying. They should also say they are not aware of the current location of that ant named Scars of Destiny.

The Queen should eat the golden-leg Merciless. She has not displayed any additional hero-like awareness, so it would be an acceptable sacrifice for a chance at strengthening KILLER QUEEN. Inform her that she shall serve her queen in death.

Toxic should ask for a response, I'm thinking, and prepare for a possible attack.

>>62137
Queen should check out the other scent I think, on the off chance that something BESIDES our ants is running around the colony smelling delicious. That sort of thing would be important to know. I sort of expect the pulsating mass to smell delicious, though I am not sure it is close enough to pick up on. Scars did say he detected 2 potential Valiances in the colony. The scent might also be the Bohemian Rhapsody currently in storage, which would be just dandy for QUEEN to eat, though I doubt it.


Toxic: If this thing does not show some sign of intelligence in the next moment, assume it is just another killing machine and prepare to bring it down. Supplement the old "surround and swarm" strategy with having a few Do6L climb up the stalks and attempt to drop down onto its back. Expect it to be quick, dodge often and fight opportunistically.

>>62277
I am in favor of not lying, simply from the perspective that no ant has told a blatant falsehood yet, and I don't think it would occur to the Flash to invent it. We HAVE carefully selected details to relate and left the implications up to the listener though, they should be familiar with this.

Flash: We have heard the name Scars of Yesterday spoken with respect among ants. The first of our kind to be strong. We have heard that he slew a great foe, and left on a long journey before we were born.
Ants from Crescent range far and wide, though their closest construction is not far from here. Do you seek to meet with them as well?

Scars: you are fastest besides the Flash. Dash to the colony, prepare a contingent to collapse a section of Stealin inward if we can get the wasp to land above it. Flash should be able to detect the vibrations from inside and give the signal to strike.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/10/11(Sun)10:33 No. 63112 ID: d1210a
File 12552824258.jpg - (648.07KB , 960x960 , KILLER QUEEN Flight Restored.jpg )

(CORRECTION: The insect I was using pictures of, the green metallic flying insect, is actually a bee. It will be referred to as such from here on out)

>>62277
(The growth could eat Burn Crazy The Hellion, but since it is a stationary, mostly defenseless chrysalis, it would need Burn Crazy The Hellion to be restrained in some format.)

KILLER QUEEN looks upon her warped daughter, her hunger growing, her guardian Death On Six Legs surrounding her, and comes to a decision.

"Bow thine head, progeny of mine."

Without question or hesitation, the mutated The Merciless with golden legs bows her head to her god/ruler. KILLER QUEEN leans in close, and with a quick snip decapitates her daughter, and begins feasting on her corpse. As she does, she feels.... something.... flowing from her daughter's form to herself. But more than that, more than any change to her form, is the feeling of.... something missing being returned.

!!NOTICE:!! KILLER QUEEN has gained the Valiance Stayin' Alive! This Valiance allows fast paced regeneration of wounds, at the cost of energy! For KILLER QUEEN, she can draw on her supply of energy for eggs (100 points total) to heal herself before drawing on her personal nutrient supply, but doing so makes it so that the next time she lays eggs, she will only be able to lay a maximum of however much energy for eggs she has unspent. Her personal nutrient total is 25 maximum, and when it hits zero she will instantly become lethargic and be unable to regenerate until she gets more food.

!!NOTICE:!! KILLER QUEEN's shoulders itch and swell, and new wings sprout, granting her flight once more! (80 egg's worth of energy left)

>>62496
Restoration or no, there is still the other scent to track down. ....but what's this? The other freakishly delicious scent seems to be moving!


What should KILLER QUEEN do?

.................................................[Toxic:].................................................
We are still, motionless, soundless, as unmoving as stone. The creature across from us is likewise still, it's head now oriented in our general direction. I prepare to communicate once more, but wait, hoping the creature will lose track of our position first. But as time passes and we create no more noises, chance takes over for us. One of the enormous wasps buzzing about in the air above (A blue one with yellow wings, such as >>44930) suddenly stills it's wings, and plummets straight at the titanic spider.

The two crash together in a terrible impact, and without pause or delay immediately spring into a deadly contest with but one winner imminent.

...well, both the creature and the flying newcomer seem thoroughly occupied.


should I stay here and do something, or should I use this distraction to try and make my way to the center of the field, where the most smells come from?


.................................................[Scars Of Yesterday].................................................
I dash back to the colony as quickly as I can, readily employing Aerosmith to accelerate my travels as soon as I am far enough away from Burn Crazy The Hellion to avoid detection. As soon as I return, I issue orders to ready one of the chambers in Stealin' nearest the surface to be ready to be collapsed, with at least one flash present to detect vibrations and collapse the chamber the moment the detect anything heavier than They Might Be Giants or Myself above the new made trap. After establishing the location of this chamber relative to the location of Burn Crazy The Hellion, I tear back towards the flowers. I hope that this plan to attack someone who claims to be, among other things, an envoy of the Mandarinian Empire is such a good idea.


.....strange, I sense no Valiance in this newcomer, but they remind me of The Metal. I wonder why that is?
...............
"We have heard this title, Scars Of Yesterday, used with respect. First Ant with Valiance, fought well in The Fight Song. First strong ant. An-"
Burn Crazy The Hellion trembles, strange clicking and buzzing noises emanating from it's form. ...It's laughing?
"RIBABABA, I'll grant that this Scars of Yesterday has attracted attention to itself, and has performed better than most ants do, but it is by no means the first strong ant. You could find several other ants, clinging to the title of 'strongest ant,' not too far from here, let alone in the entire land. .....So, how did you hear of Scars Of Yesterday, or know what The Fight Song is?"

....the bee's scent no longer smells as amused.


What should be done/said?

>>63112
Flash: Oh, well that question is EASY, hardly requires any trickery at all. We were visited by a large beetle and a small spider who serve as representatives of a group called the Collective. We showed them hospitality, and learned most of what we know about the world around us from them. They did not mention these other strong ants though. What does he know of them?

Toxic: Go ahead and explore deeper I guess. Resume previous careful movement strategy and give the fight a wide radius.

Queen: um, just keep doing your thing I guess. Continue tracking the scent.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/10/12(Mon)12:00 No. 63491 ID: d1210a
File 125537404785.jpg - (121.28KB , 800x534 , Burn Crazy The Hellion Is HUGE.jpg )

>>132204
"A large beetle and a small spider visited our colony, saying they were from The Collective-"
"Collective emissaries visited you?"
"They were looking for whatever made all those really big hornets-Mandarinian Empire Warriors- swarm around some time ago, and left not long after arriving."
"...So, The Collective knew as well. But you said they came earlier, yes? ...Well, that is....interesting."

As Burn Crazy The Hellion continues to ponder the new findings you revealed to him, the Flash proffer forth another piece of dialogue.

"There are strong ants elsewhere? We don't know much about the world beyond what you and those two from before told us: Where are these other ants?"
"...Hm? Oh, them. South West a bit, that's where they are. Most of them are filthy, mindless mongrels, so do not hold out hope of finding much more than the barest traces of sapience there. You know how... limited... ants can be."


What should the ants say/do?

.................................................[KILLER QUEEN:].................................................

I decide to track down the other scent, no matter how it may move.

........
........
....Strange, I can't seem to get much closer than a chamber away from the scent. I wonder, how could I catch this elusive source of ambrosial smells?


How should KILLER QUEEN attempt to catch the scent, or should she go do something else (such as resuming her duties as queen)?

.................................................[Toxic:].................................................

I will not let such a boon as this pass unused. I rally my cohorts, and we stick to the shadows while cutting a wide path around the struggle. As we do, it becomes clear this is a close and heavily contested match.

...Indeed, our strength, such as it is, may well be enough to turn the tide in favor of anyone we chose to aid. I may not like fighting, but this does look like an opportunity to attempt to contact the wasp side of the conflict. Still, there is no guarantee that they won't try to eat us as well.


What should I do?

!!NOTICE:!! The portion of land with pale threads and both bound corpses and still struggling prisoners has expanded, and it now loosely shares a border with Def Leppard's field. The area covered by the threads is still small, and the actual cause of this change is still unknown.

!!NOTICE:!! The Yellow Beetle seen feeding on yellow flowers has changed directions, and is now heading roughly towards where Burn Crazy The Hellion is meeting with ants.


Orders?

>>63491
Killer Queen: Muster a small squad of idle ants (I apologize, but I have no idea what we actually have sitting around) to fan out and around to stop whatever she's smelling from moving ahead of her.

With regards to Toxic's conflict, I'm not so sure we should be getting involved - I don't trust either side to not just eat us. But the spiders are encroaching on territory we've all but claimed as 'ours,' so we need to do something one way or another - either negotiate with them (VERY UNLIKELY, how I see it) or team up with the wasps. (Wasps don't eat ants, as far as I know, so they'd be more likely to at least be amenable to talking with us.)

For Burn Crazy the Hellion, I would say stall or talk amongst yourselves, and see what the oncoming beetle does. If it goes against BCtH, that might be useful to us.

Also going to throw a post in Discussion about the quest as it stands - bit of feedback, just don't want to clog up the thread.

>>64705
>>64705
(Focusing on KILLER QUEEN's mini-quest for now, will then focus on the 'Burn Crazy The Hellion meeting the colony' event, then if desired focus on what the ants under KILLER QUEEN's direct control at Carpathian Ridge (9 They Might Be Giants, 40 The Merciless, 1 Flash, 5 Death On Six Legs shortly arriving[2 are ordered to fertilize the Sisters])should do about the encroaching pale threads/bound bodies, before swinging back around to focus on Toxic and her cohort in the Spider/Wasp Field, then finally wrapping up with any last desired orders before egg laying and ending the timestamp. That sound more manageable?)

KILLER QUEEN has available to her as idle ants:
7 They Might Be Giants
30 The Merciless
42 Fat Bottomed Girls
4 Flash
And 22 Death On Six Legs as her current escorts.


What ants should she summon, and how shall she use them to find the scent's source? Remember, only KILLER QUEEN can perceive the scent, and nothing is known about the source of the scent.

Sounds like a good solution. Is the scent moving if Killer Queen stays put? If not, summon 10 Fat Bottomed Girls and the 4 Flash. Send the 4 Flash through a different route to get into that room from the far side (if possible, I don't recall the colony layout) or just into that room. They should split up to cover any and all exits. Send in the Fat Bottomed Girls, as though they're following their fellow FBGs down to age some nutrients, and see if the scent stays put. (If it does, it's hiding from you. If not, the Flash will see what's leaving the room from the other exits.) If the scent stays put, then continue to pursue it with Killer Queen and have the Flash tell you if anything left the room as you headed in.

If the scent IS moving even when Killer Queen stays put, then just continue to pursue it and have the Flash split up to outflank it. Your colony's not big enough that it can flee forever, especially when being herded by you and the Flash.

We should probably at least have our D6Ls ready for whatever, if this thing happens to be an enemy. Keep them with us.

>>64869
KILLER QUEEN ponders about the tantalizing scent emanating from the chamber before her. As she stands silently testing the air, KILLER QUEEN notices no movement on the part of the source of the scent.

So, it is simply staying far enough away to avoid KILLER QUEEN.

That can be handled.

10 Fat Bottomed Girls and 4 Flash are ordered to this location.

....
...?

The scent has moved again! It has fled to a different chamber! The Scent now seems to be coming from Chamber 10, the deepest, largest chamber, with only a single entryway.

....now that KILLER QUEEN thinks about it, how can she trap the source of the scent? She is the sole entity capable of differentiating the scent's source from anything else in the colony.


What should KILLER QUEEN do?

>>64878
Flood the room with minions, do sweeping searches, plug the entrance with yourself and whatever minions are needed.

>>64882
KILLER QUEEN orders 30 The Merciless, 42 Fat Bottomed Girls and 4 Flash to converge on her location, with the bulk of their number going into chamber 10 to seek out the source of the smell and some few staying behind with her to cover the entrance.

As the ants travel towards their goals, KILLER QUEEN discerns the scent shifting about inside the chamber for a short while before settling once more.

As her children arrive to sweep the room, KILLER QUEEN continues to focus almost exclusively on the decadent, rich odor wafting from the chamber.

.....
.....
.....

The ants have swept the chamber thoroughly, and while they were able to eventually (thanks to the Flash) pick out a faint scent in the room, presumably the same that KILLER QUEEN smells (although they did not comment about the smell seeming tasty or otherwise), but found the scent to thoroughly spread throughout the chamber to pinpoint the source.

KILLER QUEEN is certain that the target is still in the chamber.


What should KILLER QUEEN do?

>>64886
Physically block the chamber entrance, with TMBG or better yet soil. Spread the Flash around the outside walls straining every sense to detect movement. Everyone but QUEEN should stay still as she enters the room to look around herself.

>>64889
KILLER QUEEN orders the ants still in the chamber to cease movement and stay still for a time, while ordering the ants around her to seal the tunnel shut with herself and her other children sealed inside with the scent.

The Chamber is sealed behind her as KILLER QUEEN enters chamber 10.

...The smell, the luxurious, incredible smell, is too spread out, too widely dispersed for KILLER QUEEN to find any particular place where the smell seems particularly strong. She is sure, however, that the source of the smell has not left the chamber.

All her children stand still about her, seemingly the sole occupants of the chamber.


What should KILLER QUEEN do?

>>64896
If the scent is evenly distributed... Check the exact center of the chamber in midair. Perhaps it is a webspinning creature.

This is kinda weird though. If it's an ant, it's defying the Queen by running away.

Maybe its something crawling in the earth around the chamber walls? Or could be something that can cloak itself.

>>64911
A focused inspection of the center of the chamber at all elevations leads to no discovery. Unless it is invisible in some form or other, the source of the smell is not hovering/suspended in the room.

KILLER QUEEN swings her head to and fro, her antenna akimbo as she strives to find her target.

She stalks about the forms of her still children, the sole moving creature in the room. Why is this scent so difficult to locate? No, that isn't the question, as that is simple to answer: If the smell, the sole known means of tracking the target is, for the most part, spread evenly about, then how can it be located? Perhaps if the room was somehow aired out..... hmm, but wouldn't there be some means of tracking her target in a room where every identified occupant is bound to do as she says?


What should KILLER QUEEN do?

Have the ants link up in a chain and sweep the room.

Huh. A valiance that grants invisibility. Maybe try to call out to it? Attempt to come to an agreement with it, even. It makes itself known and works for you. In turn you don't kill and eat it to gain its power. It'd be incredibly useful as a spy if it really is invisible.

It's either that or it's hanging from the ceiling and very, very small.

>>64940
KILLER QUEEN orders the ants currently sealed in the room with her (The Merciless, Fat Bottomed Girls and Flash) to form a grand link, and sweep the room again. The scent will not escape her.

And so the 30 The Merciless, 24 Fat Bottomed Girls and 5 Flash in the room begin reorganizing themselves into a huge line, to thoroughly sweep the room.

...So far, nothing has been found.


Should KILLER QUEEN continue sweeping the room, or do something else?

Have the rest keep sweeping the room while you try and talk to whatever might be here.

>>64944
Wait until the sweep is complete. It should be done with a circle traveling the circumference of the room as if it were latitude lines on a globe. Otherwise the thing could just keep moving to avoid the line.

If it still results in no discoveries, then reopen the room. Block the exit with one or more ants until the air is vented, so that tracking with scent can be done once more.

Fan dirt through the area via sustained wingbeats, if something's camo'd in there and hiding on the wall/ceiling or whatever, the pattern of the dust falling should give it away.

Forgot we have wings now that's a good idea.

>>64948
Several attempts are made to contact the source of the smell, but no response is given, no matter the message used. If the source is sapient, it does not seem interested in revealing itself by its own actions.

>>64951
A vigorous, thorough sweep of the room with the 30 The Merciless, 24 Fat Bottomed Girls and 5 Flash still yields no results, despite being carefully designed to prevent any target from escaping capture by the sweep. Strange. But the source of the smell is most certainly still in the room.

>>64952
>>64957
KILLER QUEEN flares her wings, buzzing them forcefully while still on the ground, and stirs up a strong wind. The pervasive yet tantalizing odor permeating the room is blown about, but that is not all that is done.

As KILLER QUEEN marches about, she blows dirt off of the walls, scours the floors, and dusts the ceiling while trying to reveal some sort of clue about the scent, but to no avail.

The room is now somewhat more busy, with a solid, uninterrupted chain of interlinked ants standing by while KILLER QUEEN moves the air about with her beating wings.


What should KILLER QUEEN do now?

>>64968
Okay, it seems the scent-bearing ant has blended in with the Queen's entourage. Open up the room, Queen exits and waits in the next chamber right at the entrance to it. Have each ant come through individually; the Queen will inspect each one in turn until the scent reveals itself.

Should also give us a chance to air out the room.

>>64972
This, except bar each ant from exiting via outside-ant barricade (basically, TMBGs and Flashes to fill the gaps) until the Queen's inspected it. Prevent it from just sneaking past or something.

Wow, this fucker is tricky. I half wonder if it's burrowing through the walls or something.

>>64980
A burrower was my initial thought too. Should we just start digging, tear the room apart and be done with it? Seems like the quickest route, but my question is why would it stay near this room after running away from us for so long if it could burrow?

>>64988
This is a deep chamber (not the one the Fat Bottomed Girls are aging Pearl Jam in), and as such, has compacted clay and rocks as it's basic composition. Digging anywhere near as fast as the scent would have to have moved is normally impossible, and would not explain why the scent is so easily tracked (to an extent).

>>64972
>>64980
KILLER QUEEN orders all the ants to stay motionless as she re-opens the chamber, along with the aid of her children still guarding the closed tunnel connecting to this chamber. Shortly the path is opened, and KILLER QUEEN orders those of her brood that were not sealed in the chamber with her to completely and utterly block all creatures from passing into the next chamber without her express, individual approval.

KILLER QUEEN then orders all of her children in the now unsealed chamber to individually approach her, and after being checked proceed to the next area.

However, the checking process is impeded by the scent wafting powerfully out of the room now that it has been opened. As the scent nearly overwhelms her reasoning in a mad desire to feast on it, one of her fellow ants obeys her recently issued orders, appearing before her to be checked.

....with the smell wafting this powerfully out of the room, it is all but impossible to tell where the scent is coming from. How does she check the occupants of the room?


What should KILLER QUEEN do?

>>64993
Order the ant back inside until the smell abates some. It'll just give a false positive at this point.

Keep everyone where they are move down the hallway and start venting the hallway with your wings. You might be able to disperse the smell enough to discover the source.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/10/14(Wed)21:32 No. 65009 ID: d1210a
File 125558117569.jpg - (88.42KB , 800x549 , Ant In Chamber.jpg )

>>64995
KILLER QUEEN orders the ant back into the chamber until she can clear out the smell, >>64996 perhaps by once more using her wings.

The ant return to the chamber without any complaint, joining it's brethren.

KILLER QUEEN is now ready to try to air out the room, but is unsure how to go about it, what with the chamber being fairly massive and there being but the one, relatively narrow tunnel for air to flow through.

What should KILLER QUEEN do?

Man, I just wanna have Wings of Destiny come in and gas the whole room. All this crowd control would be easier if everybody else was knocked out.

>>65009
Well... I guess... Make another exit tunnel, instructing a few Merciless to stand where it emerges, and not to allow anything to exit it. Then continue to vent it via wing power, and after the smell stops continue the individual inspection strategy.

>>65019
Making such an exit tunnel, one that did not intersect any existing tunnels or chambers, would take a large amount of time, and would mean putting KILLER QUEEN's quest on hold until completed.

>>65017
This could be done very easily. Wings Of Destiny is still at Crescent, ready to assist. She has been waiting while Scars Of Yesterday and some ants have been communicating with Burn Crazy The Hellion, with the original intent to make a flight to Toxic's location with Scars.

What should KILLER QUEEN do?

Lets try gassing the room first. Maybe the haze will have some effect.

>>65034
Gas the crap out of the room and use it as an opportunity to get inexplicably cranky at Wings of Destiny a bit for not being the perfect subservient ant.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/10/15(Thu)14:29 No. 65149 ID: d1210a
File 125564218391.jpg - (100.49KB , 800x550 , Ant Pleading.jpg )

>>65035
>>65095
KILLER QUEEN summons Wings of Destiny to the location while keeping the chamber tightly sealed, the occupants motionless.

...It seems to take Wings Of Destiny longer than is absolutely necessary to make her way to her queen.

"What took you so long? Your presence was commanded immediately."
"Wh-what?! Oh, oh, um, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

Somehow, watching Wings Of Destiny nearly melt in shame and confusion made KILLER QUEEN feel somewhat more at ease. Strange. Even stranger, KILLER QUEEN can feel some sort of.... kinship towards Wings Of Destiny, that there is something the two of them share. Hm, could this be the perception of Valiance that Scars Of Yesterday mentioned? The scarlet, jade and golden KILLER QUEEN spends a moment appraising the golden ant before her.

Hmm. Perhaps it is to be expected, since Wings Of Destiny has not been within Crescent since gaining sapience, that she take some time to navigate her way through.

Enough. The smell must be tracked down, and the source identified.

Wings Of Destiny is ordered to employ her Valiance, Purple Haze, to impair and disable the occupants of the chamber, to make the objective of finding the source of the smell easier to achieve.

......

......

......

The ants are starting to waver on their feet as they try to remain standing as ordered, but their movements are feeble, sluggish. One of the ants irks out a feeble message to her queen.

"....Glorious mother/god, we will die soon, if this continues."


What should KILLER QUEEN do?

>>65149
Evacuate everyone but the TMBGs to block the door, Wings and KQ.
I'm assuming KQ isn't as affected, the TMBGs will serve to block the doorway even if they die (the effort wasted is regrettable, but catching an invisible intruder is more important) and Wings is presumably immune to the effects?
In any case, have KQ and Wings search the room.

>>65150
Problem: The scent still permeates the chamber, and with it so pervasive, any attempt to discern if any given ant is the source of the smell will likely fail.

As such, the only way to evacuate the chamber is to do so without being able to check those evacuated.

KILLER QUEEN and Wings Of Destiny, both still outside the chamber itself, are completely outside of the path that the Purple Haze follows.

Some of the ants are beginning to slump to the ground from the effects of Purple Haze. Only a few ants, the one that addressed her among them, are still standing tall, their bodies barely trembling.


What should KILLER QUEEN do?

Remove all the nonmoving ants from the chamber to one with fresh air so they can be identified as smelly or not. As more slump over, continue the process with them.

>>65164
KILLER QUEEN will not relent. This scent is too puzzling, too enthralling, to be dropped so idly.

However, a plan occurs to her. If she were to have any ant that collapses brought out to the next chamber to get aired out and allowed to recover, she could simultaneously check them for whether they are the source of the smell.

But how to ensure that the source of the scent, whatever it may be, does not escape while her attention is elsewhere? This will have to be done slowly and carefully.

.....

.....

.....

As time passes and Wings Of Destiny continues to flood the room with Purple Haze while KILLER QUEEN personally oversees each ant removed from the chamber, inspecting them and their relation to the odor. So far, no luck.

Enough time has passed that only a scant few ants are left still upright in the room: only a bare handful can even claim to still be standing, three The Merciless, the fifth Flash, and one Fat Bottomed Girl, one of only two of the original 24 to still be standing.

!!NOTICE:!! The scent seems to be getting stronger!


What should KILLER QUEEN do?

Unless you are about to have piles of dead ants everywhere we should keep going. Keep a eye on the ants still standing. If one of them is the source then they might be sturdier than the rest.

>>65167
Cut to the chase. Inspect the loudmouthed one.

>>65173
>>65167
i agree with this

>>65173
>>65167
i agree with this

>>65167
HEY HEY WHOA WAIT WE HAVE AN EXTRA FLASH.

I'm a goddamn idiot for not noticing this sooner.

>>64886
>KILLER QUEEN orders 30 The Merciless, 42 Fat Bottomed Girls and 4 Flash to converge on her location

>>64944
>And so the 30 The Merciless, 24 Fat Bottomed Girls and 5 Flash in the room

(We also went from 42 FBGs to 24 FBGs, but that's a bit less significant - I assume that's either quest author error or just that the extra FBGs were left outside in sealing the chamber off.)

Anyways. THAT FLASH IS A SPY. Or something. Make sure you block the hell out of its escape as you confront it. This thing is tricky as hell to be able to blend in like it does, and it already understands the hive dynamics enough.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/10/16(Fri)09:41 No. 65282 ID: d1210a
File 125571128814.jpg - (95.99KB , 800x551 , Ant Suspected 1.jpg )

>>65170
Hopefully, the source of the smell is sturdy enough to stand out during this testing process.

>>65238
....wait. KILLER QUEEN came to hunt down this scent with only 4 Flash: How did the number swell to 5? And only one flash is still standing, the other 4 already having collapsed, been tested, and been removed.

>>65173
>>65176
KILLER QUEEN orders the chamber to remain blocked as she orders Wings Of Destiny to cease spreading Purple Haze. As the powdery dust slowly begins to settle to the ground, another The Merciless collapses, and is brought before her. It is quickly checked, found clean of the odor, and is carried to the next chamber to recuperate.

As the ants that brought her the recently collapsed ants are still standing nearby, KILLER QUEEN orders them to surround the remaining 4 ants still standing after prolonged exposure to Purple Haze.

...now that she looks more closely at the suspected ant, KILLER QUEEN notices that the ant in question is of an entirely different strain than any of her own children. Why could no one recognize this until now?


KILLER QUEEN get ready to address the accused ant. What should she say?

>>65282
Just glare and keep pumping.

>>65282
Shame there's no hive mind yet, otherwise we'd know about the other colony of intelligent ants.

No nonsense, no chance for bullshit. Look menacing. "Explain yourself."

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/10/16(Fri)12:22 No. 65326 ID: d1210a
File 125572090696.jpg - (65.39KB , 479x600 , Ant Suspected 2.jpg )

>>65304
>>65283
KILLER QUEEN is fairly certain she knows what the source of the scent is, and moves to address it.

"You are not one of my children. Explain your presence here, immediately. And if you plan to continue this charade, pretending to be one of my ants, this room will continue being pumped full of poison, until such time that you die."

The other ants, Wings Of Destiny among them, look at KILLER QUEEN strangely. Odd, that they should do so even after the invader is revealed. How is it they still cannot perceive it?

After a long moment of inaction, KILLER QUEEN prepares to order Wings Of Destiny to continue gassing the room, when the ant finally addresses them.

"........Okay, you win, I admit it, I'm not one of your children, just.... don't spread any more of that dust in here, alright? Look, I was just passing by the area, saw some other ants, and decided to follow them for a free meal. All I did was take a bit of excess food, that's it. .....But how did you find me?"

Strange. Despite being identified and trapped, the ant does not have even the barest trace of fear or uncertainty in it's scent, only confusion and amusement. Why is it so calm?


What should KILLER QUEEN do/say?

>>65326
You doubt that I would know my children?
Who are you, what are you, and how did you fool my offspring?

Explain that how we discovered it should be obvious by now. Ask it more about its colony and why its all alone sneaking around our nest.

>>65326
"You smell... delicious. Tell me why I shouldn't eat you, strange ant."

it isn't an ant. Eat it

>>65332
"You doubt that I would know my children?"
>>65337
"The reason you were discovered should be obvious. Now tell me, little one, what colony are you from, and why are you alone in mine? What masks you from my offspring?"
>>65356
>>65422
"Oh... and you smell... delicious. Also tell me why I shouldn't eat you, strange ant."

"...huh. Guess you are one of her daughters, then. ....Look, I don't have a colony, not really. I come... no, I guess I came from a small nomadic collective to the north. I'm here because I need food, and I have a somewhat... restrictive diet. Your colony has food I require.

....As to why your brood cannot discern me, a far better question is why can you? I have become rather adept at my craft, and that you pierced my veil puzzles me."

!!NOTICE:!! The 7 They Might Be Giants blockading the chamber have now entered the room, and are holding an aggressive stance towards KILLER QUEEN while being unresponsive to orders! They are also blocking any other ants from joining KILLER QUEEN, Wings Of Destiny and the attending Death On Six Legs inside the chamber!

"....And lastly, as for why you should not eat me, well, I believe that should be self apparent."


What should KILLER QUEEN say/do?

>>65511
Are the non-mindless-drones still responsive?
(assuming yes)
Spit poison in the faces of those who stand with the creature. Make the strike quick and decisive. No threats shall be made against you inside your own home. You are in charge here.

Wings: Now is your chance to show KILLER QUEEN that you are an asset. Despite your uncertainty and awkwardness around her, you are a champion of the Fight Song. You are smarter and more powerful than any of your sisters. Bull rush the intruder, like Metallica would.

>>65511
First, ask how he knows Killer Queen's mother. If he is a friend of hers, his survival might yet be possible.

Second, inform him that if he wishes to leave alive, an attack on the queen of a colony is not going to get him anywhere. In fact, the mindless Giants will not even be able to reach the Queen so long as she can fly, and there are more than enough D6L to take him out even without assistance from the outside. Assistance that would surely overwhelm even the mighty Giants. Besides, once he's dead... would the Giants even remain hostile?

Still, casualties would be enevitable, and both D6L and TMBG are difficult to replace. Perhaps an arrangement can be met. We could employ him. In exchange for food, he can work as a scout for us.

If you wanted food and answers you should have come to us openly. Stealing from someone and threatening them in there home is not a way to make friends. Stand down or die.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/10/17(Sat)17:09 No. 65751 ID: d1210a
File 125582457072.png - (16.98KB , 832x638 , Invader Status.png )

>>65528
>>65533
KILLER QUEEN starts sending out messages to the Death On Six Legs and Wings Of Destiny, but the ants around her don't seem to respond, despite still holding defensive stances around her to guard her.

...And now that she thinks about it, She is still the only one that can even perceive the invader. Unless she can dispel whatever effects are barring both her children from perceiving the invader as well as manipulating the mindless They Might Be Giants (and likely interfering with her messages to her own children), this conflict will be rather difficult to handle.

"How do you know of mine mother, invader?"

"Hah, no chance. If you want me to answer questions, then you have to answer mine. I may not be in the best of positions, but I am by no means without the ability to make this conflict difficult for you. What do you say?"

>>65543
>>65533
Hmm. If this situation could be settled peaceably, this ant's ability, however it may work, would likely be immensely useful. Still, the ant is being particularly helpful, and has bee stealing from under KILLER QUEEN's antenna.


What should KILLER QUEEN say/do? (refer to picture for rough placement of ants)

>>65751
(And Death On Six Legs are the bright red dots)

I can smell you. I can see you. Without knowing how you are hiding yourself from my children how am I supposed to answer your question. You ask how I can detect you? I just can.

After telling him that ask what Wings sees when she looks at this ant.

>>65751
Tell him you first figured out which ant he was by noting that there were too many Flash present. Then a closer examination revealed his true form. Also, his smell was detected after eating of a special corpse. Now, get him to answer our question.

>>65764
Yeah, pretty much. "I can smell you, I can see you, I can hear you. What else can there be to perception? Your form is similar to my brood, and your scent pervades the colony with a density that makes you hard to pinpoint, but always I perceive your presence. Here you stand, and I simply know that you are not mine. Are you yourself aware of how your skill functions?"

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/10/17(Sat)18:47 No. 65809 ID: d1210a
File 125583042470.jpg - (35.09KB , 800x533 , Ant Suspected 4.jpg )

>>65771
KILLER QUEEN responds quickly, her INTELLIGENCE letting her realize that by agreeing, she answers a question, thus getting a free answer from the invader.

"I accept your proposal. Now, since I answered your first question, tell me: How and what do you know of mine mother, vagabond?"

"....Well, I did say a question for a question: So be it. I have heard of your mother only through another of her daughters, Running Wild. Now, tell me: Why can you detect me?"

>>65764
As KILLER QUEEN prepares to answer, she taps Wings Of Destiny on the side, and after gaining her attention, directly yet lightly communicates to her.

"Tell me, what do you see, when looking at the ant before us?"
"Umm.... which one? There's the four ants we have surrounded for you.... which I don't really understand. ....Um, if you don't mind me asking, why... why are the They Might Be Giants doing this? ...I don't want to fight them...."

For the moment, KILLER QUEEN leaves Wings Of Destiny in her state of reluctant confusion, as she responds to the invader's question, mind racing. But this line of might lead to this debacle becoming less disadvantageous.

>>65778
"...I am not sure how to answer, without first knowing why I shouldn't be able to perceive you. I can smell you, I can see you, that is all I know currently."

"....Hmph. Well, if you want that knowledge, you will have to answer another question. I know this to be Crescent, the colony that Scars Of Yesterday is from. I know about your dislike of the Mandarinian Empire. I ask you this: How do you plan to oppose them? Their numbers are great, and their warriors formidable."


How should KILLER QUEEN respond?

At the moment we plan on building our forces and learning more about our surroundings before directly dealing with the empire. They do know we exist so we will stay hidden as best we can for now.

>>65809
Destroying the Mandarinian Empire is a stepping stone along our path, not goal itself. Current plan, subject to change as we learn more about the world: Build up a power base by expanding our holdings, gathering information and resources wherever they can be found, and collecting allies to integrate into our own budding empire. They are formidable, but we have proven that we can stand against them, especially when they underestimate us, so we will not let them know our full strength until we find a place to strike.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/10/17(Sat)19:36 No. 65831 ID: d1210a
File 125583337696.jpg - (36.49KB , 800x534 , Ant Suspected 5.jpg )

>>65819
>>65822
KILLER QUEEN answers the invader's new question, so as to learn more about the creature's talent.

"For now, my empire's goal is to grow, become more formidable and with greater resources to draw on, to establish alliances as necessary, until such time my Empire Of Cydonia become powerful enough to openly crush and consume the Mandarinian Empire. They know of our existence, but for now, we are still free to grow and advance in preparation. Now, tell me: how is it you deceive others?"

".........Fine. My hive specializes....specialized....in pheromone communication, encryption, masking, mimicry and the like. I happen to be one of those more adept at this craft. Now then.... the golden legged daughter of yours, that regrew lost limbs: She could have grown into a powerful hero, a Knight of Cydonia with Valiance of her own, serving in your name. Why, then, did you instead eat her?"


How should KILLER QUEEN respond?

>>65831
She could not think for herself. All other ants with special abilities were able to do so. She had gained her legs from eating of the strange roots of the yellow flowers, and there was no indication that she would continue to develop in any way. Knowing what you say now, perhaps it was rash in eating her... but now, her budding power serves her Queen directly.

>>65835
(and what question should she ask back? Or should she take another action?)

"You say specialized and mention another daughter of my mother's, one, "Running Wild." I am left to assume that your colony is gone. Were you of her colony or were you vanquished by it?"

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/10/17(Sat)20:21 No. 65849 ID: d1210a
File 125583610558.jpg - (186.37KB , 800x563 , Death On Six Legs Listening.jpg )

>>65835
KILLER QUEEN pauses for a moment before carefully replying.

"She could not think of herself as an individual. All other ants with special abilities were able to do so. She had gained her legs from eating of the strange roots of the yellow flowers, and there was no indication that she would continue to develop in any way, as her strange adaptation did not transform into a Valiance until I consumed her. Knowing what you say now, perhaps it was rash in eating her... but now, her budding power serves her Queen directly."

Wings Of Destiny is starting to look at KILLER QUEEN in a puzzled manner.
"..U-um.. who are you talking to?"

Several of the more nearby Death On Six Legs swivel an antenna more closely to their queen, still guarding her from the errant They Might Be Giants while listening in.


How should KILLER QUEEN answer Wings Of Destiny?

>>65840
"You say specialized and mention another daughter of my mother's, one, "Running Wild." I am left to assume that your colony is gone. Were you of her colony or were you vanquished by it?"

The invader takes a long time to respond, and anger appears in it's scent.

".......destroyed, by her and her progeny........"

A long moment passes as the invader remains unresponsive. For a moment, KILLER QUEEN toys with the idea the invader is refusing to continue with the question-answer exchange, before new messages fill the air.

".....Would you accept my service, if the price were you must kill your sister and her colony? If you accept, I don't really care what you need me to do, I'll do it."


How should KILLER QUEEN respond?

>>65849
Tell Wings of Destiny we're speaking to a visitor from another colony, and she can't hear it because of its power.

Before we accept this agreement, ask how Running Wild managed this feat, and why she did it in the first place.

>>65849
Eh. Depends on if we can get the alliance of our sister. If every one of your siblings produces a nest like our own and we can ally, holy shit no.

>>65849

give the ant equivalent of a sigh and ask if the stranger would be willing to stop confusing the others for a moment.

I am reluctant to destroy a potentially friendly colony to gain the service of one sneaky, food stealing ant, no matter how skilled she may be. (and despite how much fun attacking a rival ant colony sounds) However, it is quite possible that our sister would prove unreceptive to friendly relations for one reason or another, in which case, hey, she probably needs to die anyway. We should ask for directions and send a small envoy of Flash to recon and potentially attempt communication.

(in before these are the mindless ants to the southwest)

>>65868
Ants are territorial. They probably wouldn't hesitate to kill a queen sibling or its progeny if it entered their territory. If she's still not very intelligent, more instinctual, she won't hesitate to kill us. I suspect this to be the reason she destroyed the colony of the ant we're questioning.

I propose saying something to the effect of, "I will not go out of my way to destroy another of my mother's line but, should she invade upon my territory and refuse to ally with me, I shall crush her without question."

Then attempting to get the secrets of masking pheromones out of this ant as pay for its protection in the interim.

>>65872
KILLER QUEEN exudes an exasperated scent, shaking her head.

"....Can you at least let my children perceive you? I will continue to speak with you, but I can't answer your question. >>65868 I will not commit myself or my empire without knowing more."

The invader seems unwilling to accept this, and refuses to continue the dialogue.


>>65865
KILLER QUEEN turns her head aside to speak with Wings Of Destiny for a brief moment.

"There is a visitor inside the hive, who is rather.... capable of going unnoticed. Until they allow it, it seems I am the only one who can notice it."

Wings Of Destiny seems uncertain, but accepts the response. KILLER QUEEN turns back to the invader.

"At the very least, if I knew how my sister Running Wild destroyed a hive of such... subtle ants, and why."

"Insufficient."

....This ant is rather stubborn, and seems almost.... resigned, to this ending in violence, for why else would it reject such amenable compromises.

>>65877
Hmm... there is no guarantee that KILLER QUEEN would not have to contend with her sister. After all, her memories of their mother are.... strangely faded, lackluster. KILLER QUEEN does not even remember other sisters going out to start their own colonies.... or really anything detailed before she left her mother's colony. Strange.
.............
.............
Enough arbitrary postulation. ...But still, there might be something to this. Another time.

"...Perhaps if you were to tell us more of how you manipulate pheromones, I could protect you from my sister. I would not go out of my way to destroy another of my mother's line but, should she invade upon my territory and refuse to ally with me, I shall crush her without question."

"Preposterous, I would never be associated with or aid an ally of hers. But....I will tell you of Running Wild and her sack of my home, if you let us move to another room, away from that powder your daughter spread about. ...I will not, however, reveal myself, or relinquish control of your drones. I have not forgotten that without such a veil and assistance, I am a far smaller threat to you and yours, and I will not abandon a position of strength in such an uncertain position. Until such time you answer my last question decisively, I will remain hidden and retain command of your ...less mentally acute children. If this is unacceptable, then that, I think, would be the end of this moment of communication."

...it is fairly likely that if KILLER QUEEN does not accept this proposal, that this will come to violence. And to be honest, the invader still exudes a delicious scent, one that seems to have changed somewhat, grown.... richer. KILLER QUEEN would not object to eating it. ....But the knowledge and assistance this ant could offer is not to be underestimated.


How should KILLER QUEEN respond?
(This will be done by general consensus, so post whatever views/thoughts you have on the choice, but please only vote once.)

>>65922
I say we accept this proposal. Its stealing from the colony seems less offensive after hearing their story. Also the collapsed ants can be taken to another room once we move... and tactically moving to another room might actually be better for us. More TMBG would have to be used to block entrances, and unless the Purple Haze is unusually crippling for this ant they won't much of an advantage.

I think its worth it to get as much info as possible out of this guy. We can decide to ally or eat him later. Also will give us a chance to equip our giants with tinfoil hats.

>>65952
Agreed.