>>72701
Ask him how we can stop the panic. The spiderwebs are expanding slowly and noone is currently in danger. We can eliminate the threat given some time, but if the beetles move now there will most likely be serious losses.

>>72702
"The threat is largely minimal. The rate of encroachment is slow, and before that time, a force shall be mustered to either forcibly eject of annihilate the threat."
"NONONOTHISCANTHAPPENAGAIN

I see, then there is no cause for alarm

ITHURTTOOMUCHTHEFIRSTTIMETOOMUCHITHURTTOOMUCH!!"

....This dual pheromone pattern is confusing, but it seems that Def Leppard can communicate through it. Still, what strange behavior. It is somewhat unnerving.


!!NOTICE:!! The rough and chaotic buzz heard earlier quickly roars to life again very nearby before snuffing out once more!


What should we say/do?

>>72706
Ask if he's okay. Is there more than one beetle here?

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/11/04(Wed)23:34 No. 72709 ID: d1210a
File 125740644425.jpg - (67.52KB , 1024x848 , Styx Appears.jpg )

>>72707
We turn to assess the newcomer, to see which beet-

What is that!?

Some spiked, beastly fly has perched on a stalk nearby, staring at us with....... with strangely set eyes.

Def Leppard does not seem to respond to the presence of the newcomer, instead continuing a frantic tirade of pheromones expressing great anxiety, worry and terror, and a loss so painful it scars the mind.

The newcomer belts out a raucous laugh, a deep, vibrating and warping thing, like a flexing of the body.

...The newcomer also seems to be broadcasting a title for itself of Styx.


What should we say/do?

>>72709
Ask what his role here is.

Agreeing with >>72722

Although I'm a little worried at this point. Telling these beetles about this hasn't exactly generated the response I was looking for. Still, this is a valuable look into our allies Psyche and Performance. Better now than during a worse situation.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/11/05(Thu)00:19 No. 72729 ID: d1210a
File 125740915067.jpg - (553.29KB , 2047x1366 , Styx 1.jpg )

>>72722
"What is your purpose here?"

Styx cackles, it's body writhing in a manner that is vaguely..... off, as it responds.

"Purpose? Kekekekekeke....... Madness. I feel it, taste it, and oh, what a wellspring of woe and broken minds is hear, a cornucopia of insanity. Couldn't leave it alone, no, of course not, who could let such a thing be? It must be nurtured, made to see, the veil torn off. Then the fun begins, kekekekekeke........."

Styx abruptly focuses it's wandering glare on Def Leppard. A strange ripple starts to distort the air.

PERSPECTIVE CHANGED TO: FIRST PERSON: VETERAN DEATH ON SIX LEGS

Even as a bystander to this glare, I can feel it pulling at something deep inside me, like spidery tendrils trying to grasp a piece of my essence, and drag me into oblivion. I see The Merciless with me are looking quite distressed.

But this is nothing compared to Def Leppard. She writhes on the ground, her pheromones chaotic and unintelligible. The ground around her is starting to swirl.

"Now show me, little one, show me where it is, the place sanity cannot reach? Show me your real face, KEKEKEKEKE!"



What should I say/do?

>>72729
Say nothing. Focus on him, think not of yourself.
Climb up to the fly and bite it in the face.

A Valiance! It has to be!

We must be extremely careful about this! Seeing as he in an agent of chaos, we must attempt to distract him. Question him on the following:

Why is he doing that to Def Leppard?
Can he stop doing that?
What IS that?


Also, look for vulnerabilities and ways to exploit them. He's quite mad, obviously, so we'll have to keep on out toes and be aware of any sudden change. Keep the Merciless close. This guy might require a bull rush strategy.

>>72729
The instinctual response of, "Oh fuck, it's in my head," then attacking seems like the best idea; inactivity has proven to lead nearly to bad end grade results in the past, as well.

Eyes on thin, top-heavy stalks seems a bad idea, from a developmental standpoint. Let's show him why.

>>72729

This one appears to be agressing one of his fellows. We, as allies and peace keepers, cannot allow that to occur. And so, we shall do our best to maintain the safety of those under our care. It is our duty! A Warrior of Cydonia holds true to their word! By Scars of Yesterday's name, through KILLER QUEEN's glory, this one shall be detained!

>>72730
Redacting this; I misunderstood something. While the fly is attacking Def Leppard, run over and cut down the stalk he's perched on. Only after he's toppled and distracted should you call on the Merciless to assist you. To be safe, do not stand between the fly and the group of Merciless. Make it so he can't hit all of you at once with his gaze attack.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/11/05(Thu)07:27 No. 72760 ID: d1210a
File 125743484122.jpg - (1.33MB , 3137x2092 , Styx 2.jpg )

>>72732
Clearly this is some sort of Valiance, and this agent of chaos, as it seems to consider itself, is something dangerous.

Questions swirl through my mind about this Styx and what it is doing, but all of them are largely irrelevant: For the moment, Def Leppard is our ally, and it is our duty to defend them until KILLER QUEEN says otherwise.

>>72730
>>72738
>>72736
>>72733
Distracted, detained, delayed, distracted, destroyed... it matters not which end point is reached, so long as Def Leppard is protected from this one.

I order The Merciless to charge Styx, and I swing wide as I follow, to keep myself out of the range of that gaze. There is something....unsettling about it.

As both The Merciless and myself start to swarm up the branch towards Styx, it cakcles again, taking to the sky with it's eclectic, chaotic buzz, it's gaze still directed at Def Leppard.

"....KEKEKEKEKE, What a treat! Ah, and you showed such beautiful madness to your guests! Kekeke..... So, when your friends, your sna,e smiling friends, when they were gone, she couldn't handle it. What is a leader bereft of her people? The sane cannot answer this. And so you retreat, you lie to yourself, to others, to everything that it's okay, things don't hurt so much, because they didn't really happen."

Styx alights on another branch, completely ignoring our attempts to stop it, all while continuing it's communication with the writhing Def Leppard below.

"....Oh, but the little ones reminded you of the truth, they made you remember the terror of the day your sanity cracked..... and now it festers in you, growing larger. You tore the spots out of your back, to forget the pain, but it wasn't enough, was it? Wouldn't it be easier to let go? Why care about things that cause you pain? LET IT GO."

...!? The ground that shifts and swirls about Def Leppard, still trapped under that gaze, now has several distinct lumps raising out of it, converging on Def Leppard as they continue to rise, up and out of the dirt.

Def Leppard is now surrounded by several similar looking beetles' in similar states of decay, all with grievous wounds. They are moved by some outside force as they slowly emerge from the ground and press in ever closer around Def Leppard. Only now, does her struggling cease. As the dead finally touch her, she looks up at Styx, and just as she vanishes under the pile of dead, transmits but one thought.

"..............The pain can go away?"
"Of course, dear follower of madness. It will protect you, keep you safe from the pain the world brings."

!? Something is happening to Def Leppard and the pile of dead about her! What the......

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/11/05(Thu)07:28 No. 72761 ID: d1210a
File 125743488746.jpg - (79.58KB , 1024x768 , Def Leppard United.jpg )

The pile of dead around Def Leppard turns to ooze, coating and enveloping Def Leppard. But mere moments after this begins, the goo turns opaque, hardening into...... what?

The opaque goo hardens into a carapace, chaotic shambles of markings dotting it's form. Two pits, like the eyes of the abyss, now glare out from this crazed mass of tissue.

And finally, the ooze cracks and breaks, revealing.... an altogether different Def Leppard. Five times her old size, and far more armored, Def Leppard's scent nonetheless is being transmitted from this body, warped as it may be.

"That's right, remember the dead always, keep them close to you, let them keep you safe, strong, free, kekeke."

The new Def Leppard slowly stands.


What should I do?

>>72761

I'm, err, not sure, actually. On the one hand, Styx has ceased being an aggressor, making our earlier stance null. Def Leoppard doesn't even appear injured, no, she seems much stronger. So, D6L would inquire into this strange thing and discover just what on earth this bug did.

But my genre-saviness is saying that we're in for a fight against an evil Def Leoppard...

Well, I figure, stick with the ant side, not like we can justify an attack based off of a hunch alone. "Def Leoppard? Are you quite alright? Styx, what is the meaning of this? What have you done?"

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/11/05(Thu)14:00 No. 72782 ID: d1210a
File 125745843184.jpg - (545.63KB , 1280x1024 , Styx Glare.jpg )

>>72779
Something I do not understand, perhaps cannot comprehend, has just transpired.

But I have a duty to perform, and so I carry on.

"Def Leppard? Are you quite alright? Styx, what is the meaning of this? What have you done?"
The fly cackles as it flits about in the air, it's maniacal glee overpowering.
"KEKEKEKE, Free, free free. I took off the rules, let her see the truth. She lied, to all and self, before. She put on the faces of dead tribe, played out a lie for you, lived in a dream they were still alive. Now, they are with her even in death, and she can be free from all concerns. Free, free to delight in chaos and madness, free or the delusion of rules, laws, order, those lies we tell ourselves. Here, let me share with you it's splendor...."

Styx directs his gaze on us now, and I watch a ripple flow through the air, racing at us at a blistering rate. Before we have a chance to react it is upon us.

The ground starts heaving and an oppressive force envelopes us and.....

My head feels... strange.

Why serve KILLER QUEEN? Why live beholden to another? I should do as I please, free of worry, of restriction.

What? No, no, never, not betrayal! ..Grngh, why is it so hard to think....

But what of what I wish to do? So many things to see, to explore, to kill, to eat, to warp...

...Freedom..... what I want...no, no, I must....

I could die without ever having been free to do what I wish. I want to be free of that which binds me.

...No bindings...that sounds....unh, so distracted.....


What..... matters to me?

>>72782
What worth is a life without duty? Without family? You would give up so much, and gain so little. As a nomad, chances are you would simply die in a fight over a few scraps of food. You would be giving up the opportunity to lead a massive army of ants to glorious victory under the loving eye of KILLER QUEEN, or to die in one magnificent last stand against enemies too numerous to count. Not least of all, remember that even while serving your queen, you have much flexibility in how you carry out your orders.

Long live the QUEEN!

>>72782
Ask yourself, why do you serve? You serve Killer Queen not because you are told to, but because it is what you must do. The very core of your being is based around working for the whole. It is your sworn duty to work for the good of Cydonia. You are a creature of honour. Freedom, to you, is not the release of all bonds, of all duties. Freedom is the ability to carry out your duty simply because it is the right thing to do. Alone, you are but one ant. You may feed freely, you may fight freely, and you may even be victorious, but it cannot last. Your enemies would be too numerous, too strong for a lone ant to deal with. As a part of the whole, you have a fighting chance. As part of the whole, you have the support of others, and likewise they expect you to support them. As part of the whole, you have a reason to be. A goal. A duty. You know what is right. You can die alone, or you can fight together.

Long live the Queen!

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/11/05(Thu)15:02 No. 72800 ID: d1210a
File 125746214021.jpg - (138.04KB , 800x578 , Veteran Death On Six Legs Captures Creature.jpg )

I can't control my body, I can't interpret anything from my senses, and I writhe on the ground, my body seizing as some otherworldly and vast.... THING tries to invade my mind.

>>72789

Do anything you want to do, become truly free.

...No.

What?

No, I will not follow the path of chaotic freedom, of unfettered thought. What worth is a life without duty? Without the colony?

What worth is being bound? So many things you could do without those chains.

Perhaps. But there are things that can only be achieved in a 'bound' world. I could lead armies for our queen, win glory for her name. And though I am bound, I have much freedom already. I have no need of more.

No? NO!? But the sweet embrac-

I have no desire for this maddened, warped freedom you offer. I shall not be swayed from serving KILLER QUEEN

My jaws snap shut as I once more become aware of my surroundings, a pale, wriggling monstrosity from the ground captured in my jaws. As I struggle to make sense of the situation, I realize I feel.... different. Not in mind, but in body, as if my form was more firmly aligned with my way of thinking, more anchored to my identity.

I become aware that Styx still floats in the air, and Def Leppard still stands in her spot. ....Have they not moved, or has so little time passed?


What should I do?

>>72800
Throw the white creature at Styx, knock him out of the air. Then grapple him, and force him to release Def Leppard and the Merciless from his grip of madness.

>>72800
It looks like some form of larva.

A thought: Maybe it is one of Styx's offspring and he/she uses them to control other insects by binding them to the insect in question. A metamorphosis into some twisted progeny of chaos.

Rend it in twain. Check The Merciless and see if they are similarly accosted by these... things. If so, slay the larva. It could as well release them as it has you.

>>72800
If you can disrupt Styx, do so. Also, check around to see if any The Merciless have escaped the mental grasp.

Do you understand now what freedom within the service of the QUEEN is? To be able to do what you want as an individual ant, but what you want more than anything is to serve your colony? That is the path open to you now. Scars was the first to understand it, and that understanding brought great strength. Forge your own path, for the glory of Cydonia.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/11/05(Thu)16:01 No. 72822 ID: d1210a
File 125746566384.jpg - (141.73KB , 800x583 , Veteran Death On Six Legs Freeing The Merciless.jpg )

>>72814
None have escaped, they all writhe under the grasp of this..... Madness. They seem almost submerged within the dirt as it roils around them.

>>72810
I rend the fleshy creature in my mandibles into a splatter of gore, and quickly begin digging in the ground near one of The Merciless. As I pry her out of the ground, I find another pale and fleshy creature the same as the one I killed attached to her, it's amorphous body starting to ooze over her. I rip the creature off and caste it's carcass aside, and move on to free the others. The corpulent fleshy masses die easily, and I free my escort in short order. However, while they are still alive, they seem dead to the world. For the moment, I am alone.

>>72817
The freedom to choose your chains, to choose the ones that you actually want, that is the only freedom I need. And I choose to follow our god/mother, KILLER QUEEN, till the very moment I die.

I look about, and see that Def Leppard is staring at me with interest, though of what type I cannot be certain. Styx, however, is not so relaxed.

"I offer you release, I offer you freedom, and you reject it? You accept that which binds and restricts you? ....No, I do not accept it. I will MAKE you accept Madness."

The fly, some ten times my size, dives toward me, it's legs held in a strange fashion.


What should I do?

Fling a grub in its face to distract it, avoiding its legs. Attempt to climb upon it and attack its wings.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/11/05(Thu)16:48 No. 72826 ID: d1210a
File 125746851037.jpg - (189.87KB , 600x377 , Madness Spawn The Merciless.jpg )

>>72823
I hurl a gory piece of flesh at Styx, forcing it to focus on the incoming projectile. I leap skyward, hoping to latch onto the mad fly as it passes, but Styx proves to be a surprisingly deft flier, and nimbly dodges my grapple, continuing to the ground. While I am still mid-leap, I see Styx land amongst the now motionless The Merciless.

"Madness should be shared with all... kekeke!"

As I land on the ground once more, I see the strange, pulsing ripple emanate from Styx once more, this time when he is standing right on top of The Merciless.

Perhaps the job was partway done, or perhaps this power grows in strength with proximity. It doesn't really matter.

I watch the 5 The Merciless, their bodies quickly subsumed and encapsulated in the strange fleshy sacks. They grow, warp and shift, and I watch as they are taken by Madness. I watch my failure to keep them safe.

I can feel it. They are no longer part of the colony. They are lost.

And now, as I watch them charge me at Styx's bequest, the accursed fly cackling behind them as it takes off, I know I must kill them, they who have fallen and become the spawn of madness.

....Which may prove difficult, as they are much larger than before, and look much more bestial, more wild. They charge me in a loose line of five, howling for my entrails.


What should I do?

>>72826
Call out to Def Leppard for help. Climb up on a stalk so that they can't rush you all at once.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/11/05(Thu)18:59 No. 72862 ID: d1210a
File 125747635413.jpg - (275.98KB , 1334x932 , Def Leppard United Questioning.jpg )

>>72832
I quickly backpedal to one of the decapitated flower stalks still rooted in the earth, scuttling up as quickly as I can in the hopes of forcing the warped The Merciless to come at me in smaller numbers.

....I am dismayed to note that they seem faster than me in their new state, as well as being comparably sized to me now.
Well, Styx seems to have departed after converting The Merciless, his chaotic buzz fading into the distance.

I hail Def Leppard as the warped The Merciless begin to approach.

"Def Leppard, can you assist me?"

"Hmm? Why should I? You barged on our land, and threatened me into cooperating. Why should our relationship be cordial now?"

....Something is different about Def Leppard's thoughts, something off. ....I wonder if she has been warped in mind as well as body, just as The Merciless have. Still the very fact she converses shows that she still has sapience and is willing to listen.

Speaking of which.... they seem to have caught up with me, and two charge up the stalk at me, and will be upon me in seconds.


What should I do? Should I continue trying to persuade Def Leppard to assist me, or should I focus solely on my assailants?

>>72862
I knew the initial threats would come back to bite us in the ass(gaster?)... You don't seem to have much hope other than getting Def Leppard's assistance, but I'm at a loss as to what to say.

>>72862
"We were trying to protect you and your land for our mutual benefit - our methods may have been crude, but our aim was the same regardless. And we will continue to fight, and hold to our deal with you, if you are willing."

Meanwhile, draw upon your experience from watching the fights to attack the mutated Merciless as they come towards you - hopefully they're now too unintelligent to use strategy. Try throwing them off the stalk if need be, or going for vulnerable spots as they climb.

You should also probably be broadcasting for the other 5 Merciless to come to your aid.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/11/05(Thu)19:49 No. 72886 ID: d1210a
File 125747939133.jpg - (154.54KB , 600x415 , Madness Spawn The Merciless Attacking.jpg )

>>72870
I begin broadcasting a call to arms for any nearby Cydonian, but I have more pressing concerns to deal with.

Such as the twisted mutants that were once The Merciless, now lunging for my face. I parry the first attack, but underestimate the speed and reach of the mutated ants, and the second tries to clamp down on one of my antenna to wrench it off. I recoil instinctively.....

...And find that in my new form, I have much, MUCH more durable antenna, and can exert a great deal more force through them. The attacked antenna slams into the second mutated ant, striking it off of the flower stalk to fall to the ground below.

Before another can fill the hole left by the one I knocked off, I once more engage the remaining warped ant, still contemplating the change in my antenna. Shortly, I thrust an antenna forward, thrusting it into the eyes of the attacking twisted ant, knocking it off of the stalk as well. Hrm, a good bit of force was in that hit. For the moment, I have a brief respite as the lone occupant of the stalk. But I can see the two I knocked down starting to climb once more, the others with them.

!!NOTICE:!! The Veteran Death On SIx Legs has gained the new ability: Pack-A-Punch. He can now freely manipulate his antenna, which are now comparably durable to any given limb, and can be used in combat as well as functioning as limited manipulators.

>>72864
This will be far more easily handled if only I can convince Def Leppard to help me. I once more hail the beetle.
"We were trying to protect you and your land for our mutual benefit - our methods may have been crude, but our aim was the same regardless. And we will continue to fight, and hold to our deal with you, if you are willing."

"You admit to desiring that which is on this land, then. But you claim you will hold to your agreement, and protect me? Prove I should believe you. Prove it by killing your twisted comrades, show your commitment. Do that, and I shall offer no further complaints, and assist you and yours however you wish."

Great. I have no idea if anyone even perceives the distress broadcast I am releasing, and Def Leppard doesn't want to help. I may have to solve this situation myself, then.


How should I approach this? I am still on the stalk, and the mutated ants are climbing to my position above them. Should I fight them here, or move the fight?.

>>72886
Continue the fight here, it's a great tactical advantage. Focus on one ant at a time with your mandibles while using Pack a Punch to keep others away.

>>72886
They are lost, but if you can defeat them you'll cement this alliance. I think it would be best to stay where you are, since they need to climb up to strike at you and there's not enough room for all of them to fit (is there?) so their numbers don't mean as much. Did the fall look like it did any damage? If so, keep knocking them off, possibly into the others. If not, try to hit them hard and fast before they get good footing at the top. Don't give them a chance to get a shot in.

Alright. We have to focus. The only way to get this done is to trick them somehow. They seem to be under the full sway of something that may or may not be a Valiance, so we have to be careful.

We need to move away from this area. Try and draw them within range of any TMBG's in the area, and if you can find them, order them to help you in the fight. These are mutated Merciless, so while they'll still be a bit harder, you can probably take them.

You just need some allies. The only suggestion I can possibly offer is to find some.

Otherwise, you could try to fight them one on one on the stalk. This is ill-advised, however, seeing as you'd need to go for a side kill.

Interesting spectacle I return to! Very well then! What we fight here is not a battle of strengths, but a battle of will and ideals. Let us prove that ours is all the stronger!

"Very well then! No matter the end, I stand by my ideals! I shall stay true to the course, for I much prefer it over any of your 'freedom', for it sounds a hollow thing. What is your 'freedom' without ideals? Without honor and courage, without companions and allies? I desire no such freedom from these ideals, these notions! To me, your hollow freedom is but a word! But enough! Come, my sisters! I shall put you to rest! But remember, even in your warped forms, you are the progeny of glorious KILLER QUEEN! I would be disappointed were you to be defeated to easily! Come!"

Address the others directly in your respite. You probably know what words swayed them.
"Is this what your freedom is then? If you could do anything you want, you would rather fight your sisters and die in a field, alone and friendless, than be a part of something great, and see the glory of our kind realized?"

Back up the stem, getting as many to follow you up as possible, i.e. not be waiting on the grounnd. Knock one off the flower and dive after it, pierce it and end it before it has a chance to regain its legs, then get to another flower.

>>72888
(The fall caused no discernible damage to the two knocked off earlier.)

>>72887
>>72895
>>72896
My position is advantageous, and with my new skill, I have many more options available to me when clinging to a surface than I normally would. I will face them here.

...Perhaps there is another way. I was able to resist the effects of what Styx did, could The Merciless be renewed, returned to their old minds? The effort must be made. Freedom, that was the lure placed before me, I see no reason to believe it would be different for them. I issue a bold proclamation as they near my position once more. I must try to bring them back, they are my responsibility, it is what one does.

"Is this what your freedom is then? If you could do anything you want, you would rather fight your sisters and die in a field, alone and friendless, than be a part of something great, and see the glory of our kind realized?"

The mutated ants remain unresponsive, continuing to charge me. Perhaps they can no longer understand me: Perhaps they no longer care. .....It seems this must end in violence then. So be it.

...Heh, I was the voice of caution to the battle-hungry Scars Of Yesterday, and look at me now, about to fight my corrupted sisters, and I feel..... excited, tense, exhilarated..... I feel a great tumult of emotions, all gearing me more and more towards that which is coming.

Well, if this must happen, let it be done right.

"Very well then! No matter the end, I stand by my ideals and the will of KILLER QUEEN! Come, my twisted sisters! I shall put you to rest! But know this, even in your warped forms, you are the progeny of glorious KILLER QUEEN! I would be disappointed were you to be defeated too easily! Come!"

As the first of the second wave reaches me, I lock mandibles with it, both of us trying to maneuver within our limited space for better positioning. Or we were, until I employ Pack-A-Punch to batter the head and eyes of my opponent. It flinches back from the assault, and as it does I wrench my head back, tearing it's mandibles from it's face. As it howls in agony, I snip off one of it's legs and smash my antenna into it's eyes, blinding it while robbing it of it's footing. The wounded and pained creature drops off the stalk, falling to the ground below, it's path marked by a fine trail of internal fluids gushing from it's devastated face.

But the remaining four show no signs of wavering, and still rush towards me. It looks they intend to attack me in pairs from hear on, and the stalk is too wide for me to prevent them from doing this.


How should I defend myself/handle my opponents? Or should I attempt to relocate?

>>72936
Scurry up a bit further to see if the stalk gets any thinner. Also look around to see if there are any other tight spaces available to fight in.

How far up the stalk are we? Could we snip the end of it away, dropping ourselves to the ground before cutting the main part of it it down? If we could do that, one or more of them could end up overturned or crushed under the stalk's weight. If they get overturned, we could just crawl on top and end them, if they're crushed, they're gone anyway.

>>72936

Doho, Twisted Sister, that's good. Let's use that terminology, I like it. Alright D6L, let's see... Worst case scenario is that one of the Twisted Sisters gets a hold of you and drags you back, pitting you against all 4 at once. We're going to want to avoid that. Luckily, your Pack-A-Punch should be able to help defend against that kind of maneuver.

Ah, I can't really plan out attacks and that sort of thing though... I'd just say something like, hit them and don't get hit back! So, my battle plan here is, well, to let you guys take care of it! It's in your capable hands now!

>>72961
I have serious doubts about the effectiveness of a plan that hopes on the weight of a flower crushing an ant.

Might try throwing yourself downward at them in an attempt to knock one off with you. Kill it quickly, before the others have a chance to climb back down. Anything to fight one-on-one.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/11/06(Fri)00:10 No. 73011 ID: d1210a
File 12574950381.jpg - (204.18KB , 600x387 , Twisted Sister.jpg )

>>72961
(The stalk is large enough two Twisted Sisters can come at you at once. It is far too wide for a single ant to be able to quickly cut through.)

>>72952
Sadly, the stalk I currently occupy terminates relatively near the ground: I cannot climb any higher. .....Unless I were to climb to the very top and stand at the summit, but doing so would mean the Twisted Sisters could come at me from any side. Although, I would have access to all my limbs for combat purposes again...hm.

>>73006
This is also possible. I am confident I could knock a Twisted Sister to the ground along with me, and I feel myself a capable enough grappler I could assure that the Twisted Sister took the brunt of the impact. However, this would leave the remaining three above me, where they could potentially drop on me. Even if they don't I will have given up my perch.



Which course of action should i take? Should I ascend to the summit of the stalk and fight the Twisted Sisters there, or should I tackle one to the ground and try to finish it before the other three catch up?

>>73011
Ascend to the top.

Punch the fuck out of them! Follow the Way of the Fist! Er... antennae. Whichever.

>>73011

How maneuverable are they? You said they were fast, but how is their turn speed?

If it's not good, you want the top. Constantly circle strafe and strike at the neck from the side.

If not? Perhaps we can lure them into a one on one fight at the top? We just need to get them all up there at once and then work at them one by one.

Take these Twisted Sisters down, and you will know a True Name, Death on Six Legs.

I don't see that there would be much of a difference between fighting in the open space on top of a flower vs on the ground, except that the ground plan has likelyhood to reduce the number of attackers in exchange for a brief tactical disadvantage. It seems like a fair trade, because they still have us beat in a fair fight.

Of course the meteor smash might knock more than one off the stem if we time it right, further reducing the danger of them having the drop on us.

>>73176
Well, we can punch with the antennae, what's to say we can't punch even harder with our other limbs? They're actually built for that motion, after all and if our change has made our antennae capable as something to smack people with, well, you get where I'm going with this.

>>73012
I quickly dart up the remaining stalk, reaching the summit shortly. There is room enough for me and naught much else up here, excellent. If I'm quick and alert, I could defend this position fairly capably.

....Or so I initially surmise, until I see the remaining four Twisted Sisters spreading out, to come up at me from all sides. This will be a riskier position to defend, now.

>>73021
As they begin to reach my position, I begin lashing out, viciously striking them with my adapted antenna, dazing them while momentarily halting their progress. But I cannot keep all four off the top with just this.

>>73257
....I have been foolish, to forget what I already had. As a Twisted Sister lunges at my flank, I kick out with a leg, the blow impacting the warped ant in it's gaping maw, causing it distress. As the other Twisted Sisters begin to engage me directly, I start whirling about, a flurry of kicks and antenna strikes, fending off my attackers.

.....But it's not enough. I am not able to cause serious injury in this fashion, not yet. Their bodies are surprisingly springy, and seem to flex with impacts enough to minimize harm to them. How could I work around that?

>>73095
I hate to admit it, but these Twisted Sisters are vastly superior to The Merciless they once were, and may well be the equal of Death On Six Legs. And their talent at abruptly reaching top speed makes them regrettably more mobile than I. I am only able to handle them by virtue of the fact they seem to attack me mindlessly out of insanity, hunger or rage, and have no mind for tactics.

Lure one into an individual fight? Truly, I do not deny feeling confident I could dispatch these aberrations individually, but how to separate one from the rest? They continue to hound me as a group.

>>73176
...There is an option present for singling out one of these Twisted Sisters. And considering how futile it seems to be attempting to engage them all at once and still be able to best them, I decide to commit myself to the path I have devised.

I dodge a snapping bite, and spring forward, bulling into one of the Twisted Sisters, catching it by surprise. But I don't simply tackle it, I continue to rush forward, and abruptly I and the Twisted Sister are plummeting to the earth.

Even with my weight added in, it is unlikely that the fall will be directly damaging.

But then, it doesn't need to be.

As the Twisted Sister hisses in a cry of challenge, I employ Pack-A-Punch, beating the maddened ant in it's gaping maw, crushing and pulping sensitive tissue. The creature tries to real back, just as we reach the ground. I put all my body weight behind a single antenna still jammed in the battered face of the Twisted Sister, and tense myself for the coming impact.

A vibrant, jolting shock runs through my system, but I seem to be much more durable than I was before, not even my antenna pained from the impact.

The Twisted Sister has my antenna impaled straight through it's head, pinning the corpse to the ground. One more down, three left.

I yank my antenna free as I perceive the remaining Twisted Sisters leaping down towards my position. Def Leppard is still looking on as a spectator, and I cannot sense any other ants in the vicinity. I wonder how much more ably my opponents will fight on the ground. The real test of martial skill may be coming, and I must survive, if KILLER QUEEN is to learn of what bizarre events have transpired. I must best those before me.


What should I do?

>>76187
If they are jumping down, they cannot dodge while falling. Meet one as it lands and bite its head off. Then it's 2 versus 1, and we already know you can beat those odds.

>>76188
I brace myself on the ground, hoping to capitalize on my more durable form successively, and use a descending Twisted Sister's momentum against them. As I stand my ground, I see the creatures plummeting towards me, and try to gauge which one shall be the one I shall target. I make my choice.

!? The Twisted Sisters flail their legs, and their decent trajectories shift significantly! The one I targeted slips away, and another barrels into me. I manage to snap my jaws open in its direction before it hits me, but then we are both hurled into a wild tumble across the ground.

Scuffed, scraped and dazed from the impact, I groggily get to my feet, finding one of my mandibles glistening with ichor. It seems I cut a great rent in the Twisted Sister's side, but it is still functional.

Now all three Twisted Sisters are around me, on ground level. They spread out to encircle me, showing some restraint for the first time. They seem to be waiting, but still hungering for my tissue.


What should I do?

Being surrounded is obviously bad, you need to find a way to outmaneuver these beasts. Is your new-found strength capable of launching you from the ground, even a little? Coming at them from above might be just the surprise you need.

>>76189
>Their bodies are surprisingly springy, and seem to flex with impacts enough to minimize harm to them. How could I work around that?
Aaaaand now I am thinking living trampoline.

>>76189
Hm, they have a higher top speed, but what about sprinting? Rush one in front of you (the injured one if possible), jump up and ram every limb available into it, including antennae. The impact should get you some extra air in either a forward or backwards direction. Twist around in the air so that you land facing the rear of one of the Sisters, and attack.

>>76189
If you get the chance or have a choice in the matter, take down the injured one first. It'll go down quicker with its prior injury and thus there will be fewer opponents to deal with.

>>76191
I bound forward as quickly as I can, my forelegs joining my antenna as I assault the nearest Twisted Sister in a flurry of strikes. The creature is battered and unable to respond, but still stands, if barely. The other two are closing in now that my attention is on their peer.

>>76211
Yes, the one I already wounded should be the easiest to fell. Hm. It seems that while it is incredibly easy to attack the twisted sisters with strikes and kicks, their bodies seem very suited to blunt trauma, and suffer little in the way of real damage. Conversely, I was able to rip a large gash in one of the Twisted Sisters rather easily with my mandibles. Of course, trying to fight point-blank face to face against multiple opponents carries it's fair share of risks.

>>76190
....I have an idea. I spring onto the Twisted Sister before me, using my weight to drive the dazed creature into the ground as I leap into the air, aiming to land on the wounded Twisted Sister.

I manage to hook a few of my limbs onto the Twisted Sister as I once more leap into the air, carrying the wounded one with me sailing over and past the third Twisted Sister. As we sail through the air, I heave my body into rotation as we begin to descend, putting us both in a wobbling spin. As the ground rushes up to meet us, I hope I time this right.

I slam the Twisted Sister head first straight into the ground, both of our weight twisting and bending it's body as it impacts. With an abrupt snap, the Twisted Sister's head pops off of it's body, a small spurt of gore and ooze drooling from it's body as it's head tumbles away.

Two more to go.

I turn to see the remaining Twisted Sisters have emulated me, and are both airborne, scant moments away from colliding with me. I don't have time to avoid this.

The two Twisted Sisters slam into me, knocking all three of us tumbling in a mad flurry of snapping jaws and moving limbs.


What should I do? Should I try to exit the grappling match, or stay in and try to employ my mandibles, which seem more effective at injuring Twisted Sisters than simple strikes.

>>76456

Get out of this brawl, you're outnumbered. Staying alive is better than killing one and then being killed by the other.

>>76456
i agree we need to get out of that situtation

>>76481
>>76542
I struggle to break free, only to realize that the Twisted Sisters possess eight legs now, their extra legs deceptively emulating antenna. A full sixteen legs and two gaping, fang-filled maws threaten my body, and it is all I can do to keep myself from being overwhelmed.

Thankfully, my mind had already turned to escaping this grapple, and I only suffer a few scratches to my carapace as I pry myself out of the hectic tumble.

Once more, I stand, tense and ready, staring down the two remaining Twisted Sisters. One starts circling to my side, likely to come at me from behind. There are perhaps two body lengths distance between myself and the sisters.


What should I do?

>>76562
Charge toward the stationary sister. Veer off before reaching her and grab her by her middle before forcing her into a turn that angles her other side toward the remaining sister and tearing her in half.

They may be big, but they're not that much heavier than you, they're more susceptible to ripping and tearing and, if we can get her by her blind-side, manipulating her movements should be easy.

>>76589
I charge the Twisted Sister still standing her ground before me, my mandibles opening wide in a challenge to her. I close the distance rapidly, and-

!?The Twisted Sister that was circling around to my side slams into my flank, it's fangs scrabbling against my carapace, seeking purchase. As I react to this assault, the other Twisted Sister lunges for me as well.

I was unprepared this time, and the surprisingly deceptive tactics used against me caught me off guard. I feel no less than half a dozen cracks appear in my carapace as it gets hammered by the assaulting warped ants, and in several places I feel my innards start to seep out.

No.

I can't fall, not this close to the end. I have but two foes left, what kind of warrior would I be, if I were to fall so close to grasping victory?

I watched Scars Of Yesterday fight when he could barely stand, I watched him ignore grievous injuries and fight without pause or reservation, no matter the situation. Could I call myself a Proud Warrior if i could not do the same now?

I welcome the pain, the assault of my foes, if only I can strike them down.

I have decided, then: I shall walk down the path of suffering, of carnage, of war without reservation.

I will follow the path that Scars still walks.

I will follow the Valiant path.

The dozens of golden nodules on my body abruptly flare with light as I am buried under the assault of the Twisted Sisters, and-

THUNDERSHOCK

The air smells sharp, acrid, as if something intangible was burned, and the Twisted Sisters convulse, their body movements hurling them off of me, their movements shaky, erratic.

.....What did I do?

!!NOTICE:!! The Veteran Death On Six Legs has developed the Valiance: Thunderstruck. This Valiance allows an electrical current to be circulated through the bearer's body, shocking anything in direct contact with the bearer.

...No matter. There is time to ponder this later. I have the advantage for the moment, and I would regret not using it.

...I am starting to become fatigued....


What should I do?

>>76749
come at one from the flank and rend its side before it has a chance to recover it's footing.

>>76749
Grab the one closest to you, flip it over onto the other, then stand on top of the pile and Thunderstruck. While biting it.

And then once you are down to one-on-one, use lightning-punch to finish the last one.

(Pretend I titled the first use of Thunderstruck as THUNDERSTRUCK, not THUNDERSHOCK)

>>76768
I rush one of the stunned Twisted Sisters, my body sluggish but still responding to my demands. I slam into the warped ant, ramming it's still twitching form into it's compatriot as I tear into it's side with my mandibles, tearing gory rents in it's torso.

>>76770
I straddle the now intertwined mess of limbs that is my two remaining foes, trying to recall the feeling from before. That..... sense of space, like a quintessence of a personal bubble. Like anything within my field is subject to my will......

THUNDERSTRUCK

Writhing, rippling tendrils, glowing bright and fierce, play across my body, surging forth into those I fight. Once more they jerk and quiver, unable to control their forms.

No, this is still not enough.

I plunge my mandibles deep into the wounds in the flank of the wounded Twisted Sister, and the warped ant shrieks, it's innards boiling, evaporating and splitting it's carapace as I employ Thunderstruck on it's exposed innards. It's legs curl in death.

Now only one remains.

It takes me a moment to regain my focus, as this new talent of mine seems fairly strenuous: By the time I am ready once again, the final Twisted Sister is also recovered, staring me down.

>>76857
I stare at my last foe for a moment, weighing my options.

And then I charge forward, hissing a challenge as I ready my antenna: I wonder, can Pack-A-Punch be combined with Thunderstruck?

Hah, I suppose I will find out shortly.

I ready my antenna, and feel Thunderstruck crackling within them.

As the last Twisted Sister lunges for me, I slam an antenna wreathed in lightning into it's gaping, fanged maw, and am rewarded with an acrid smell wafting from the now convulsing Twisted Sister. I stand at the ready, but in a few short moments, the creature stills in death.

Hm, it seems that Thunderstruck is much more dangerous, if I can bypass a foe's carapace.

All five Twisted Sisters are dead now, and Def Leppard still looks on me with amusement. Styx is nowhere to be seen, and I assume it fled.


What should I do?

>>77008
Ask Def Leppard if she is satisfied, now.

Inquire as to why she has not gone mad like the Twisted Sisters.

>>77024
"Are you satisfied now?"

"Of course. You willingly killed your comrades to defend land that you do not live on. I shall trust your word."

"How is it that you retain your mind after Styx.... altered you?"

"I do not know. Perhaps it is because I have my friends with me now. Perhaps the contentment, the peace I feel from that protects me. Or perhaps there is some other reason. I know not."

...Hmm. Perhaps it was too much to expect Def Leppard to understand the mechanics of what happened, but still, I have few answers to that which transpired.

...Well, Def Leppard seems to be safe and healthy, and the threat is gone. I have the chance to report this information. Further, the occupants of the encroaching webs and Made In Heaven's challenge are still only known to those of us stationed at Carpathian Ridge.

.....But perhaps there is something more important to be addressed now. I am clearly no longer a Death On Six Legs

So..... if I am not what I was, who am I now?
(Standard Naming Conventions Apply)


What should I say/do?

>>77047
I support the name Battery.

>>77054
I support this support.

>>77054
>>77079
Battery.....

I am both a source of energy, and capable of battering my opponents. An apt enough name to claim as my own.

!!NOTICE:!! BATTERY, A NEW HERO UNIT, HAS BEEN NAMED!


What should I do?

Now that Def Leppard is of sounder mind, check if the message got through his spazzing out from before.

After that, I'd say report your findings to the local nest.

Perhaps you should consider reporting to the Killer Queen herself to let her know that she has another hero unit at her disposal, and to inform her of the latest developments. This can wait, if you are still needed in the area.

>>77402
"So, you are aware of the spiders, and the encroaching webs?"

"I know. You told me, did you not? So, the spider wishes to hunt here? Know this: should it encroach directly onto these fields rather than just near it, I shall aid you in slaying it.

Oh? Interesting news indeed.

Still I have duties to attend to, news to deliver. I say my goodbyes to Def Leppard, and return to Carpathian ridge.
....sure enough, the scouting The Merciless found no evidence of beetles. Still, at least only the five warped into Twisted Sisters were lost during this event.

I make my way to Sister Hazel and Sister Machine gun, who both perk up with decided interest at my arrival, both still midway through laying their first batches of eggs.

"Oh-ho? I recognize the scent, but not the form: Could the one from earlier have risen to Hero? Did this one claim strength for itself?" Sister Machine gun ponders, a pleased scent on her.
"It would seem so, sister. I wonder, what could have caused this?" Sister Hazel adds, her scent concerned.

"I bear news of some import, it is true, Sisters," I reply, and tell them of Def Leppard's insanity, the arrival of Styx, and the madness it spread to both kin and Def Leppard alike, though oddly only Def Leppard seemed to retain her mind. It takes some time to communicate Styx's abilities, as I only have base guesswork of some sort of bonding parasite the fly controls, but how does that explain Def Leppard being approached by the moving corpses of her dead kin? There are still questions.

What I know relayed, I once more set out for Crescent, to return to the capital of Cydonia and tell our god/queen of what has happened.

And to let them know, queen/maker and her champion alike, that Scars Of Yesterday has a challenger.

!!NOTICE:!! Battery will arrive at Crescent at hour 7.5

!!NOTICE:!! Strings Of Fate Quest completed!

!!NOTICE:!! New quests will be available when Battery reaches Crescent!

!!NOTICE:!! The yellow and black beetle near Crescent and Burn Craze The Hellion's meeting with Scars Of Yesterday has dropped to the ground after shaking the bumble bees futilely attacking it off, and is now making it's way towards Stealin' by foot! It's path is slow and meandering, but it will likely stumble upon it eventually.

!!NOTICE:!! New Quest Gained: The Colors One Wears

Please choose the next focus of attention:

-The Wild Sister:
KILLER QUEEN has agreed to hunt down and kill her sister, Running Wild, in exchange for Crimson Glory's services.

-The Missing Link:
KILLER QUEEN has heard of another sister to the South West in a grand ant nation, as well as realizing that there are gaps in her memories! Learn more about your sisters, mother and past!

-The Colors One Wears:
Investigate the yellow and black spotted giant of a beetle making it's way towards Stealin'!

-The Mandarinian Buzz:
Scars Of Yesterday and retinue meeting with Burn Craze The Hellion, representative of the Mandarinian Empire.

-Stranger in a Strange Land:
Manage the Growth in Stealin' (Repeatable)

-Business as Usual:
Issue orders via KILLER QUEEN to Cydonia as a whole.



The first one to get three (3) votes will be chosen.

I'm a bit epic-fight-ed out. I vote for Stranger in a Strange Land. See if the blob is doing okay. Maybe we can expand its chamber. Maybe add a trapdoor chute from the surface directly into its chamber for tossing it live prey?

>>77413
I support this.

>>77413
>>77421

In the interest of a quick decision and the possibility of some down time, I'll toss in my vote to Stranger In A Strange Land myself.

(Good thing the vote came in so quick, I was about to go to sleep)
>>77413
>>77421
>>77426

STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND SELECTED

Currently, the engorged, brilliantly scarlet spiked collection of gaping maws and tendrils that is the growth is anchoring itself in the chamber it is slowly outgrowing, and giving off considerable heat, all while shrouded in an ominous, dusky mist.

The chamber is collapsible, however the creature will soon be too large for the collapse to cause any damage without more room for falling debris to accelerate, and more earth to draw upon.

Further, the sole entrance to the chamber is also collapsible, although the grow is several orders larger than the tunnel would permit to pass.

The pile of Roots Of Chaos has grown, and now holds some 176 units of food.

What should be fed to the growth, if anything?

What specific safety measures/changes in tunnel design/immediate area should be employed?

If any attempt at communication with it is made, what breed in what numbers (currently only Fat Bottomed Girls and some The Merciless reside in Stealin') should make it, and how closely should they approach?

Offer growth Pearl Jam

>>77429
Do we have any fallen enemies near enough to feed to it?

>>77486
There are no additional fresh corpses besides the remains of ant lions, which the growth has already been fed.

>>77484
Reminder: It was deduced that flesh, from strong opponents, preferably still alive or only recently dead, will result in the growth becoming as warlike as possible. Attempting to feed the growth plant based materials other than Roots Of Chaos and Bohemian Rhapsody may change what the end result of the growth's incubation is.


Proceed with feeding Pearl Jam to growth? And if so, how many units worth?


Any plans for design changes to further secure or augment the test chamber the growth occupies?

>>77515
Enlarge the chamber, and start digging a tunnel towards the surface. Stop just before completing it so that the growth remains hidden but could be fed quickly from above if needed.

>>77515
Is Pearl Jam considered plant based? Granted, we make most of it from plants, but my understanding was that it can be made from any foodstuff we get our hands on, making it's origin irrelevant. It is just Ant Food.
In any event, I certainly want to try feeding it some of the aged stuff if it's quality improves.

>>77515
If we make it too warlike, it might just start killing whatever it sees, friends and foes alike. A bit of plant matter shouldn't hurt it, in any case.

We should definitely look into digging the area around it out to give it more room to grow and us more room to collapse down on top of it should it come to that. Maybe make a hole in the middle of the ceiling to lure enemies towards and just let them, "drop in," as it were, covering it with a leaf or some twigs. Just enough to block it from everything but direct scrutiny.

If we're going to talk to it, we need a group that's more than five strong and composed of a combination of The Merciless and Fat-Bottomed Girls in equal amounts so they can come to a direct consensus from both the war-like and peaceable members of the colony. Maybe ten, five of each?

>>77539
Yeah, Pearl Jam's pretty good quality, and we want to make this thing slightly mentally well-balanced. I say we give it some of the good stuff.

>>77517
>>77845
All 42 Fat Bottomed Girls currently idle travel to Stealin', and begin work both expanding the chamber while preserving it's ability to be collapsed, as well as digging a concealable tunnel leading skywards. The plan is to keep the tunnel as hidden as possible, to stand up to all but the most determined search.

>>77539
>>77845
>>77852
5 The Merciless travel alongside the Fat Bottomed Girls to Stealion', and they along with 5 of their less martially inclined sisters peal off to bring 5 units of Pearl Jam to the growth, and attempt to communicate with it.

As they near the growth, it seems to smell the Pearl Jam, and redoubles it's emissions of desire for food.


How should the ants attempt to communicate with the growth?

>>77854
Place food within reach of the growth's tendrils and retreat to 125-150% of its reach, just to be safe. While it's eating, so to not risk the topic just going right back to food, ask what, exactly, it is underneath its exterior(warrior, scout, forager, other). If it can be convinced to speak on this matter, things could be handled much easier, foods that it might enjoy more could be found for it, etc.

>>77870
The 5 units of Pearl Jam are placed within reach of the growth, and the ants withdraw to a safe distance while the growth engulfs the food with one of it's strange mouths.

The ants address the growth as it feeds
"What are you? What form are you inclined towards? We wish to know of you."

scents, varied and more than a little jumbled, tell of a powerful warrior, but the image seems to waver from a lithe, fast flier of great size with swift and precise jaws, some monstrously large yet lithe and slender form, with legs like spears and a terrifying fanged maw, or gargantuan, heavily armored flier, carrying a potent poison under it's thick armor.

As to what kind of food it wants, it doesn't really know. It thinks that the next thing it gets fed might finally bring it to completion.

It wonders what it should eat, what it should do once it is fully grown.....


What should the ants respond with?

>>77882
What to eat? The enemies of the nation of Cydonia, of course. You shall fight them as a valiant knight, bringing glory to yourself and your QUEEN.

>>77882
Seems like it might have the right materials to achieve any of those forms it described, but it's a bit of a toss-up as of now. Something's probably missing. Given what it said, it could be the last remaining piece of the puzzle to, "hatching," it.

"How do you believe you could best serve KILLER QUEEN, sibling? What form, of the many you have described, do you feel would allow you to best meet your potential and what do you think you would require, as far as food is concerned, to reach that state?"

>>77890
I think we have the ability to affect that with what we feed it. Personally I like either of the first two, but I don't think we should postpone feeding it to try and get the perfect thing.

>>77884
"What to eat? Those that stand in the way of our homeland of Cydonia, of course. You shall feast on those that fall before the collective might of KILLER QUEEN's empire, and have your fill of carnage, tempered to promote KILLER QUEEN. What other life could there be?"

A flurry of jumbled emotions flow out of the growth, ranging from heartfelt agreement to ambivalence to outright disgust with the idea. Perhaps the creature has multiple possible minds, as well as bodies.

>>77890
"How do you believe you could best serve KILLER QUEEN, sibling? What form, of those you have described do you feel would allow you to best meet your potential, and what do you think you would require, as far as food is concerned, to reach that state?"

A moment of indecision passes, while various modes of thought and wants war for prominence within the growth, before a bold, stark scent takes command.

An image of a warrior with legs like fangs, long and subtly edged, and a swift, flexible form, able to slip in close to eviscerate foes, flits into being. The creature is incredibly large for an ant, some half dozen centimeters in body length with legs every bit as lithe and lengthy. It's mandibles are some many-jointed monstrosities, deft and able to impale anything it can reach. The creature is fast, brutal, a living engine of destruction.

The thoughts proclaim this form, the one it seems to identify with, as the strongest.

No other voices seem capable of wresting control from this one. It's will is strong, there is no doubt.

As to what it needs.... an image appears, of a pile of mandibles, fangs and claws of all sizes being fed to it appears, and the creature finally being complete.


What should we say/do? (should growth manipulation be concluded for the moment?)

>>78153
...We should go this route.

...And name it Pulling Teeth.

Find some mandibles (attached to enemies is fine) and begin a-stabbin'.

>>78153
We must return when we have the bodies of our foes. Their very weapons shall create that which shall destroy yet more untold numbers of them.

what still needs to happen before time stamp advances?

>>78245
Completing all the sidequests, preferably, for MAXIMUM XP.

>>78212
>>78215
!!NOTICE:!! QUEST ACCEPTED: The Fangs That Feast On Gods: A thought of singular hunger for the carnage of combat in the growth has said that with a feast of fangs, claws and mandibles, it could become a juggernaut of destruction. Collect enough fangs, claws and mandibles to present to the growth, and attempt to Name it during it's feeding.

>>78245
>>78380
If another quest (or the timestamp) is desired as focus now, please choose, as Stranger in a Strange Land does not exclude focus on other pursuits.

-The Wild Sister:
KILLER QUEEN has agreed to hunt down and kill her sister, Running Wild, in exchange for Crimson Glory's services.

-The Missing Link:
KILLER QUEEN has heard of another sister to the South West in a grand ant nation, as well as realizing that there are gaps in her memories! Learn more about your sisters, mother and past!

-The Fangs That Feast On Gods:
A thought stronger than the rest in the growth has said that with a feast of fangs, claws and mandibles, it could hatch in a form it prefers. Collect enough fangs, claws and mandibles to present to the growth, and attempt to Name it during it's feeding.

-The Colors One Wears:
Investigate the yellow and black spotted giant of a beetle making it's way towards Stealin'!

-The Mandarinian Buzz:
Scars Of Yesterday and retinue meeting with Burn Craze The Hellion, representative of the Mandarinian Empire.

-Continue Stranger in a Strange Land:
Manage the Growth in Stealin' (Repeatable)

-Business as Usual:
Issue orders via KILLER QUEEN to Cydonia as a whole.



The first one to get three (3) votes will be chosen.

>>78824
I'm gonna say Missing Link.

(Clarification: Business as Usual is how to go directly to a timestamp)

>>78824
>>78245
burn crazy hellion

>>78824
The Color One Wears

>The Colors One Wears

>>78824
The Colors One Wears.

>>78935
>>78959
>>79067
THE COLORS ONE WEARS
CHOSEN