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File: SkeksisQuest1.png (165 KB, 673x892)
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At first you felt nothing, but then all at once you became aware of a soft, slow pulse. It was warm and kept you warm as you drifted through a space you had no words for. This Warmth fed some part of you and in time you became aware of your body. You could barely move at first but in your struggles you found yourself bound within something. Time held no meaning yet you drifted on, feeding, growing and eventually things began to slip through from outside the wall. You had no words for the words but with time they made sense, but mostly you were safe, warm, and later...hungry? The sounds outside quickened and The Warmth began to fade, sapping your own with it.

“IT IS TOO SOON EMPEROR, THE UNBORN ARE NOT READY TO BE SEVERED FROM *BRAWK*”

The sound of something heavy impacting another with the clatter of heavy things causes your walls to shudder.

“You will not dictate to your Emperor, Scientist. The void whispered it's prophecy and it must be now. Perform the maturation cycle. Use as much Prime Essence as needed.”

“Y-y-es Emperor. Prime Essence should allow at least… one viable... Servants, open a conduit to the storage tanks. Cut the other energy feeds. Units 882, 234, 455 begin to-”

High pitch screeching shakes your rapidly cooling shell. Enraged you thrash at the wall. Out, you must get out. The cold is intolerable and you feel fear for the first time since existing. Something begins to warm the wall and the scent of it washes over you just out of reach . It is excruciatingly enticing. You must have it but the wall will not budge. You kick and thrash but no luck. Its cold now, colder than you've ever felt. Your limbs fail you and nothingness seeps into your mind. But, in the deep cold you feel things reaching out to you.

Something low, deep, wrathful reaches offering you power in violet hues.
Another force, lilting, golden, melodious whispers it’s assistance and promises of truth
lastly something grey within you urges to keep fighting, to use the last of itself to push you over the edge but at a cost.

All of them scream at you louder when you consider that excruciatingly close scent just beyond the wall.

“We are losing countless unborn, the Prime Essence is not working. 30%, 40%, 60% lost. More Essence or they will all be lost. Increase the Extraction Constant. Drain ten of the slave vats, now, NOW, MORE! THEY MUST HAVE MORE ESSENCE!”

Choose your path, or perish youngling:

>The Deep Voice
>The Stalwart Song
>The Inner Hunger
>>
>>3815616
Hmm
>the stalwart song
Looks neat, but it’s been so long since I watched The Dark Crystal
>>
> The Inner Hunger
>>
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The Grey Voice.
Fight.
FIGHT.
FIGHT AGAINST THE DYING OF THE LIGHT!
>>
>>3815616
>The Inner Hunger
We won't just drain the Menfling, but the Womanfling and then Childling's too
>>
>The Deep Voice
Let's go
>>
>>3815616
>The Inner Hunger
>>
>>3815616
>The Inner Hunger
>>
The stalwart song
>>
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>>3815616
> 5 for Inner Hunger

You reject the two voices. The Violet hunger curling back into the depths and the Singing gold harrumphs back to singing to itself. This is something you must do yourself. All that warmth you’ve feasted on amounts to a tiny spark. A tiny spark that you coax into a roaring flame. A single gout of inner fire that rushes into your foot as it smashes into the wall and shatters it. Something bends the wrong way inside your leg. Pain, but short lived. It may heal in time.

[ -1 Constitution]
[+1 Willpower]

The cold fluid around you washes out and you tumble forward, weakened and spent. VICTORY! Succulent air sucks into your lungs as you cough out the embryonic fluid of your egg and in a moment you are instantly washed in something pure and delicious. Your body alights with something warmer than warm. It burns brighter than the lights stinging your eyes. It is filling you, strengthening you but still something was burnt in that struggle

Something large and cold appears above you, casting your eyes in shadow as it scoops you up and takes you away. For a moment you hear the two voices. Cheering.

“EMPEROR! I HAVE DONE IT! WE HAVE POSITIVE YIELD. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HUNDREDS OF TRINE! THE DRONES ARE TAKING THEM TO THE NESTS! SOON...”

You are plopped down, enraged to be taken from the life giving drink and dropped into something small and comfortable. The lights are dim but you can smell.... You smell that scent. It is weaker now but moving about. One of them bumps into you and scrambles over you. It is you, but not you? It steps on your head in its fumbling and topples in front of you wriggling. The insult, but moving is so difficult. You feel you should sleep but instead the scent wets your mouth.

>Shove the fumbler away and scream at it. Rude, nasty fumbler. Use the words of the voices you heard and perhaps they will come tend to you and feed you more warmth.

>Rest your eyes. Your body is weak and frail from birth. Take time to slumber and rejuvenate. It is warm and comfortable. Something whispers at the edge of your mind.

>There is a little bit of that delicious warmth inside this fumbler, it would be so easy to reach down and consume it. So easy. You are so hungry.
>>
>>3815699
>EAT
>>
>>3815699
>EAT
We didn't choose Inner Hunger for nothing
We will be a beast of a Skeksis
>>
>>3815699
>There is a little bit of that delicious warmth inside this fumbler, it would be so easy to reach down and consume it. So easy. You are so hungry.
>>
>>3815699
How DARE you step on me!
I don't even know who I am but it is DEFINITELY more important than being STEPPED ON.

STEP ON THEM BACK.
Then EAT THE WARMTH FROM THEIR GUTS.
>>
>>3815699
>take a fuckin nap yo
>>
>>3815730
>Some dude just stepped on us
>Nah let's just ignore it and take a nap
Okay Podling
>>
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>>3815699
> 4 for Feast

The indignity, the absolute disrespect of this fumbling thing. The audacity of it to just lay there and smell so delicious. A word bubbles up from your mind. “MINE” you screech as you step forward and pin your weakened foot against the fumbler’s throat. It screeches back at you “PLEASE”, but they fall on deaf ears. You are so hungry and this mewling thing offends you. There is a sickening crunch and your violence is accented with a gout of warmth that splashes against your beak. It’s there, the warmth the ESSENCE just below the still twitching meat. Its yours and all you have to do is eat. And there, at the edge of your blood haze the deep voice smiles in meancing violet as it seeps into your being while the song drifts away in disgust.

[+2 Strength]
[+2 Dexterity]
[+2 Constitution]

[-2 Charisma]
[+1 Darkening]

As the fumbler thrashes weakly and goes still as you consume it. Large steaming hunks of meat slip down your gullet and fill the void your hatching left. Your arms strain as new muscles grow, your teeth sharpen and the flesh tears away easier with every bite. Even your weakened leg thrums with new vitality. But the hunger inside doesn’t cease. In fact it only gets stronger. This defective hatchmate wasn’t worthy prey. It’s only use was to serve as your appetizer. You crave more, you need more and as your vision sharpens and the scents of the world widen their pallet, you see other hatchlings in your shared nest. Small, trembling, easy prey.

>Continue the feast! These hatchlings are not worthy of remaining. Their essence will further fuel your growth. They cannot stand against you now

>Word sounds tickle your throat. Why spend the energy to hunt them when you could simply command them to bring you the weakest or the tastiest. It is only right they serve the strongest.

>Retire to your nest. You have had your fill and your revenge. What is a feast without a good nap afterwards, yes?

>Write In
>>
>>3815766
>Continue the feast!
Emperor and Scientist didn't think that there wouldn't be a hatchling that was just...
Wrong, did they?
>>
>>3815766
>Word sounds tickle your throat. Why spend the energy to hunt them when you could simply command them to bring you the weakest or the tastiest. It is only right they serve the strongest.
CAW! CAW! GET INTO MY MAW!
>>
>>3815766
>Word sounds tickle your throat. Why spend the energy to hunt them when you could simply command them to bring you the weakest or the tastiest. It is only right they serve the strongest.

We need to eat and inspire fear, might as well be served.
>>
>>3815778
Ditto
ALL SHALL SERVE THE GRAND MOA
>>
>>3815799
>>3815793
>>3815778

Point out the smallest one.
Smile at the nearest.

"Feed them to me. AWK!"
>>
>>3815778
>>3815793
>>3815799
>>3815830

Same
>>
>>3815830
You mean the strongest one, right? We're not interested in appetizers.
>>
>>3815837

Strongest one still brainless if they dont serve their betters.

Want them working for us!
>>
>>3815849
But what if they decide to become our rival?
>>
>>3815858
Then they'll be devoured like the bitch they are
>>
>>3815766

>>Word sounds tickle your throat. Why spend the energy to hunt them when you could simply command them to bring you the weakest or the tastiest. It is only right they serve the strongest.

Let's gather an army
>>
>>3815837
No, it’s like a fine dining experience, there’s multiple courses working towards a delectable dessert.
>>
>>3815858

We'll slow down a little on cannibalism when we're adults.

Maybe.
>>
>>3815886
We’ll just expand our horizons with the other sentients in this land
>>
>>3815899

Gourmand better watch his fat ass.

We are SkekMacro
Mass cultivator.
>>
>>3815912
We're a real culture vulture.
>>
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>>3815766
>Combo Choice- Domination Feast

You could slaughter them all, drink their blood and wear their entrails as trophies, but then who would sing your praises and bring you greater feasts? No, you feel the call to something more. The order of things. You are the alpha and the rest shall serve.

“SERVE! SERVE ME!” You crow, bashing the nearest chick out of its fluffier nest and taking its seat. The blood of your slain brother still steaming on your beak. The flock pips and scuttles closer to you, trilling in supplicating whimpers to your greatness. Still, you are not done feasting. Your mind grasps at the words and after a moment of scrabbling it finds something that feels right.

“YOU! SERVE ME! SERVE ME THAT” you scream, pointing at a particularly scrawny one. It is unfit for your court. Only the best may serve. The weak will only weaken your feast. With a crooked smile the court jumps into action, pinning the runt to the floor and baring its throat for you to easily consume it. Fear and hunger dance in their eyes, hoping not to be next but also to be rewarded maybe with the scraps you leave behind.

The runt struggles in futility against his captors. It spits in your eye. “KILLER” is screeches. It does not show fear as your teeth flash against its beak, drawing blood and rending the tender flesh apart.

[+2 Charisma]
[+2 Intellect]


1/2
>>
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>>3815934

2/2

You swing down to take another bite before something pinches the nape of your neck and lifts you away from your scattering court. Something large with a scent terrifying beyond anything felt in your few meager moments of life. It laughs at you, voice dripping with violet shades of incalculable hunger and death.

“Ahhh. So young and already ruling its own court. Let me see the fruits of SkekTeks labor up close.”

The giant seethes at you. Power radiating from every pore of its body save the glinting silver masking its beak. Long teeth click as something passes between the both of you. Hunger responding to hunger. It holds you close to its maw, so close you can see the claw marks on its teeth.

“I see it found its way into you, Little Emperor. Perhaps you inherited a lions share of my fleshseed and something more… Will you survive the coming trials I wonder. Let this be your first lesson little kin-killer. Nothing you have, nothing you ever will possess, nothing ever gained is done so without its consent. Let nothing stand in your way of claiming what is yours, no matter the cost...because it will take more than that from you.”

The giant drops you into its other hand, leaving you free for the moment but at the mercy of its giant talons. It calls out for SkekTek again.

>You have a singular moment. Leap from its grasp from great height into the cloying throng of your court. They will catch you, if only to be spared your wrath

>Seize upon a single talon and bite. This giant pulses with something tugging at your very soul. If only you had more you could grow faster and become a giant. You only need a single drop of its blood

>Sit still. This giant holds your very life in its claws. Moving would be foolish this high up.

>Write in
>>
>>3815938
>Sit still. This giant holds your very life in its claws. Moving would be foolish this high up.
Learn from giant!
>>
>Sit still. This giant holds your very life in its claws. Moving would be foolish this high up.

Aight boys we don't want to offend this lad. It'd be smarter to show our ferocity when it counts
>>
>>3815938
>Study the Hunger. Study the Mask. Climb your way up to the head and look and listen
>>
>>Seize upon a single talon and bite. This giant pulses with something tugging at your very soul. If only you had more you could grow faster and become a giant. You only need a single drop of its blood

EAT IT, EAT IT ALL
>>
>>3815965
>>3815956
>>3815951
>>3815948

>Sit still

BUT

>Copy the words the giant says
>Anything he says
>Say it back!
>We must mimic him, take his techniques

...ask him how we can be as bi-

Wait. No.

How can we be bigger than him?
>>
>>3815974
I disagree. We shouldn't take traits from those that will be under us in time
>>
>>3815974
>"Little Emperor! Have! Possess! Gain! Claiming!"
>>
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>>3815938

>Sit Still but Talk to the Emperor

This giant, this Emperor has noticed you and found you worthy of survival. You seat yourself into his palm as something metallic clanks its way over from somewhere else. The mouth sounds stir again, your warbling catching the giants eye. Staring intently at the gleaming metal and leathery flesh causes something to stir inside you. For a moment you think you can see past the mask at something deeper, something real, something very hungry but in a moment it is gone as the words come to you.

“MINE! WANT! HUNGER! MORE! EMPEROR, LITTLE EMPEROR WANT MORE!”

The giant laughs darkly. It reaches up and gently strokes your neck scruff. The enormous claw deliactly picking through your pin feathers and removing the old sheaths.

“Yes little one. More you shall have. All that you can claw free from this damned existence will be yours. Unless I claim it first. Remember that I am your Emperor and this galaxy is mine to feast upon including you!” The giant ceases his affection and pokes your delicate tummy causing you to chirp in startlement.

“But you will not be ready to challenge me for my seat for a long while yet. Come, enough time has been wasted already. You will wither without accelerated maturation. The Scientist will take you now. Behave, or he will find myriad use for your exotic flesh.”


[+1 Intellect]
[+1 Will]


The Giant hands you over into the waiting hands of something hard and cold. Cupped hands of metal seize you and place you within a small canister filled with some sort of fluid. Before you can fight the metal thing pushes you down into the water and seals the lid. Panicked you inhale the fluid only to find yourself still breathing as two pinpoints of light wash over you making the figure difficult to see. A voice speaks, jarring and artificial.

“Hmpf. This natal unit shows increased levels of aggression, accelerated growth markers and I am registering minor exotic energy. I wonder if the Prime Essence increased the thaumic susceptibility of your matrix. I will have to adjust the maturation chamber to compensate. You, little one, give me pause but you survived this far. Perhaps we may still have a use for you yet. Now sleep. I must tend to the remainder. So many dead. Such a waste of essence. I can only hope...”

The metallic being adjusts something on the outer wall of the canister and a crashing wave of warm sleep pushes your eyes shut. It wouldn’t hurt to sleep. Just a moment. It’s warm here and the taste of your nestmate’s blood is pleasing to the senses.

[SESSION PAUSE]

[Thanks for playing tonight. Skekquest will continue 8PM PST tomorrow]
>>
>>3816048
This is cool op!
>>
>>3816048
This is cool as shit OP. Thanks for running
>>
>>3816048
I WANT TO BE THE BEST
THERE WILL EVER BE
TO EAT ALL THE REST
YEAH THAT SOUNDS GOOD TOO MEEEEHEE

SKEKSISQUEST!
>>
>>3816048
Thanks for running!
>>
>>3816048
I kinda hope we end up being big for a Skeksi
>inb4 serve at the talons of The Magnificent Moa
>>
>>3816048
I am loving this
>>
>>3816048
When's the hunter show up to teach us that the Hunt is eternal?
>>
>>3816048
Don't you go dyin.
>>
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>>3816048

[SESSION RESUME]


You sleep. Fitful dreams come. The song is distant and hesitant but the Hunger is much closer. Time passes in this liminal place where images and dreams crash into paradoxical kaleidoscopes of nothing. Outside this space you can feel your body shifting, growing and solidifying. Something is coming, rushing in but frozen between heart beats. Two strings of light approach your awareness.

The first, a dim gold and hunched from years. It scolds you.

“Quite the cursed birth you are, but you can’t judge a book when its not even fully written yet. Not too late to change your ink little snot. Give up that little taste of power and I’ll show you what it really means to command the world, even throw in a little boon for it. There’s a good pip.”

The second appears behind you, coiling around your neck and threading through your heart. It speaks in sweet feminine wisps of violent tones. It strains to hold back its hungry teeth.

“Little one, you’ve shown such promise, why would you give up your glorious birthright so soon? I can help you feed that nasty little hunger. Yes, be a good skeksis and let me in deeper. I can give gifts too! Let me in and you would deserve to feed for being such a good little helper! C’mon, we don’t have much time left.

As you look down at the two shades reaching out to your heart you can feel a little violet shard wriggle inside your soul as the noise of something irritating bleeds into your dream.

>You consider the shard and how easy it would be to tear it free and give it to the demanding Gold in exchange for...some sort of commanding power?

>The shard pulses again, drawing the violet Hunger ever so slightly nearer. You feel like the hunger would make this shard grow and in return...improve your ability to feed ?

>Lastly the shard pulses a final time, speaking to you directly that it is yours and if you leave it for now it would rest for a time and grow. Perhaps you could look into it later?

Choose Growing One, Time is short
>>
>>3818261
>You consider the shard and how easy it would be to tear it free and give it to the demanding Gold in exchange for...some sort of commanding power?
>>
>>3818261
>Lastly the shard pulses a final time, speaking to you directly that it is yours and if you leave it for now it would rest for a time and grow. Perhaps you could look into it later?
we got the good stuff from hunger, let's not get the bad
>>
>>3818261
>The shard pulses again, drawing the violet Hunger ever so slightly nearer. You feel like the hunger would make this shard grow and in return...improve your ability to feed ?
>>
>The shard pulses again, drawing the violet Hunger ever so slightly nearer. You feel like the hunger would make this shard grow and in return...improve your ability to feed ?

We feast as it is our right
>>
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>>3818261

Hunger, feasting. It feels right Why should you reject this gift. Though you have only been alive for a short time, the memory of rending your nestmate apart and the savory taste of its flesh fills you with ravenous glee. More, you must have more your mind screams at the thing around your neck. Before it can even tighten around you, the mental image of your teeth sink into the violet energy. It screams in ecstasy and bit threaded through your heart twists. Pain sears through your form as the thing worms its way deeper.

The gold voice scoffs as your awareness of it slips away. “Well, I guess I have no use for you youngling. But I will be watching.”

The hunger keeps laughing, cradling your face gently as it ravages your soul. “Yes! So much potential, I’m so proud of you. I wonder when we will meet. I have so much to teach you little one. Ooooh, I know it hurts but its for the best, yes. I remember when I went through this. You’ll be fine, just be careful who you try to eat!”

>[Darkening Evolution Point Spent - Base Mutation Unlocked- Blessing of Hunt]
>Your body is blessed with the trappings of an apex predator. Stronger, Faster, Hardier but your scent reviles even those of your tribe. They can smell the Hunger on you and fear if they will be next

Pain. Lights. Noise. Your eyes flash open and you find yourself stuck in the same tube, but no. Not the same tube. This one is much, much larger. And so are you. You can feel each sinew in your four limbs twist with raw primal strength. Wicked talons grace each finger leaving a single point you feel could puncture even the toughest hides. Mirroring your claws is mouth filled with sharp fangs, each tapering with a sharp edge down their entire length. Its hazy in the tank, the fluid a murky green, but you can see something flashing beyond the wall. A wall that refuses to budge.


>Wait for the tank to open. You can still breathe this murky filth but it is very cramped in this tube. A tube whose function you have no clue on.

>Wretched walls, nothing shall stand in our way. Put this new form to use and break free of this vile cocoon

>Call out, hoping that something beyond the murk will hear you and begin the process. The act of crying for mercy disgusts you, but perhaps it will lure prey.
>>
>>3818438
>Wretched walls, nothing shall stand in our way. Put this new form to use and break free of this vile cocoon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDpmVUEjagg
>>
>>3818438
>Wait for the tank to open. You can still breathe this murky filth but it is very cramped in this tube. A tube whose function you have no clue on.
For OP: your ID is showing when you're voting
>>
>>3818438
>Wretched walls, nothing shall stand in our way. Put this new form to use and break free of this vile cocoon
>>
>>3818451
Ah, my roomate is playing. Shared wifi, shared ID.
>>
>>3818451
That's my bad, not OP but roommate and we share WiFi. I'll vote on my phone to differentiate
>>
>>3818438
>Practice your new strengths. Slowly cut the tube and silently exit this vile cocoon.
>>
>>3818438
>>Wretched walls, nothing shall stand in our way. Put this new form to use and break free of this vile cocoon
>>
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>>3818438

Enough of this place. That blaring alarm is annoying and as you drift closer to the wall you can see things scurrying about. Free! FREE! YOU MUST BE FREE TO EAT. You raise a claw to the wall…

Something flashes in your mind. Numbers? You cannot eat numbers! THE WALL MUST BREAK!


----------------------------------------
Name: Skek-???

[Strength] [+4]
[Dexterity] [+3]
[Constitution] [+2]
[Intellect] [+1]
[Willpower] [+3]
[Charisma] [-3]

[0/1 Darkening] [Unawoken]
[0/0 ???????] [??????]
[60/60] Essence
Hunger - Sated

Mutations-
Blessing of the Hunt- Your body is blessed with the trappings of an apex predator. Stronger, Faster, Hardier but your scent reviles even those of your tribe. They can smell the Hunger on you and fear if they will be next

----------------------------------------

Roll 1d20+Strength to break this flimsy wall!

Also: You need a name? What are you, and what name will your prey whisper in fear and scream in terror?

>Choose your name Skek-????
>>
Rolled 1 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>3818634
Skek-Rast
>>
Rolled 16 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>3818634
Skek-Zar

I hope ones don't override
>>
Rolled 13 (1d20)

>Choose your name Skek-????

>>3818660
Seconded
>>
Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>3818634
Skek-Shrike
>>
>>3818660
Oh you bet they do.
>>
>>3818681
sigh, then my roll is wasted
>>
>>3818690
It happens, but critical fails are always opportunity.
>>
Rolled 3 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>3818634
>Skek-Narr
Bonus points for those who get the reference.
>>
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Rolled 19 (1d20)

Skek-Moa

The Hungering.
>>
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>>3818634


You are SKEK-ZAR. AND THIS WORLD WILL BE YOUR FEAST...just as soon as you get out of these dam cages. You smash your claws against the glass with a sickening crunch, leaving spiderwebs in your wake. The fluid makes movement difficult but your immense strength continues to make progress until you finally breech this chamber. As the fluid drains a piercing alarm shrieks out, drowning out the other alarm in the background. A metallic voice slices through.

***WARNING- FAILURE IN MATURATION POD 6- LIFESIGNS ABSENT- BEGINNING AUTOMATIC PURGE- NOTICE SENT TO SKEKTEK PRIME. MESSAGE REPEATS***

That can’t be good. You pause your final strike mid-swing as the bottom of your world drops out and you are unceremoniously flushed away into the dark. Modesty does not permit you to reveal the extent of the screaming and other things released during your drop into the abyss. The pipe you ride twists and turns in the dark, joining others and widening into a torrent of foul refuse and fluids. The harrowing journey lasts far too long and in moments you are flung weightlessly into the air before crashing into a deep, fetid pool.

Barely coherent you flail until your eyes adjust to the darkness and notice a vast reservoir canopied by faintly glowing mass of luminescent tendrils. Thick veins webbing out and stretching into a darkness so impenetrable you cannot discern an end. What you do notice is as nearby shore littered with heaps of refuse, animal bones and possibly some coarse sand. Below your feet you can feel things teeming around you, fearful to draw close. Starting your swim scatters them, along with something larger than you feel comfortable with brushing past you. Four strong arms make quick work of the distance and exhausted you heap yourself upon the stinking shore. Your body is bruised but not broken, though you stink worse than the leavings of your first prey.

[-10 Essence]
[Hunger Level - Peckish]

Resting for a moment to catch your breath you close your eyes, only to moments later feel the gaze of something on you. Opening them you find a curious creature standing off to your side. It matches your height and the girth of its giant claw like pincers match your own four limbs. It remains motionless on too many legs as your scurry into a defensive posture. Violet eyes beneath its helmet like face flash in uneasy recognition and its hide stinks of essence.


>This prey is mighty, though we are injured its flesh will yield to our talons. Seize the opportunity while it stands there

>This is not prey, but it will serve us. Command the beast to take us somewhere other than this rotting cistern
>Ignore the beast and find your own way out. If piping led you here than piping may lead you out. Search inland to for an exit

>Write-in
>>
>>3818757

"Food. FOOD! Show me to FOOD or I shall make you my meal!"

What's wrong with the dark?
It is familiar, no?
It conceals.

We are hurt, but we are not vulnerable. Never. Never weak. Merely in need of a re-adjustment.
>>
>>3818757

>This prey is mighty, though we are injured its flesh will yield to our talons. Seize the opportunity while it stands there
But only if it won't serve us, I like the idea of offering that before we go straight for the kill
>>
>>3818757
>This is not prey, but it will serve us. Command the beast to take us somewhere other than this rotting cistern
>>
>This is not prey, but it will serve us. Command the beast to take us somewhere other than this rotting cistern

If it does not submit it will die
>>
>>3818757
>This prey is mighty, though we are injured its flesh will yield to our talons. Seize the opportunity while it stands there
>>
>>3818757
>>This is not prey, but it will serve us. Command the beast to take us somewhere other than this rotting cistern

If it doesn't then we eat it.
>>
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>>3818757

You could easily tear this beast asunder. The dark is no challenge to you, an odd flexing around your eyes shifts things into a brighter but distorted hue. The heart of the beast, well seven of them thurm in time with little pusles of non-light. Even your hands show the coursing tendrils of color. Looking to the creature you see all its vulnerabilities. Weak spots in the armor near vital points. Blind spots in its vision. A seeping illness deep in its guts, a mass of tissue drawing too much blood. This prey is destined for death, but in the meantime.

[Mutation Unlocked- Dark Vision] Skek-Zar can see perfectly in extremely low light conditions and living beings emit a sort of light highlighting something present in them.


“YOU! CREATURE BRING ME FOOD!”

The bug creature sort of, ducks its head down while raising its claw. It looks to the floor, averting its eyes from your gaze. Its shell shudders as it begins to make an odd noise.

<Food, Master? There is many food, all around. Here in bottom of Hive. Graciously given by Masters. Eat?>

It reaches down and lifts a large pile of the organic waste that is strewn about the shore. A horde of many skittering things flee and the creature spears many of them with a few of its feet. The screaming vermin disappear into the underside of its main body and are silenced with a solid crunch. The beast registers your disgust and shudders as its eyes flare brighter before its head explodes and the decapitated body scuttles into the waters.

In a moment another creature appears back out of the water. This one is much healthier and glows brighter in the dark. The vibrating voice returns but this time louder and feels as if it is coming from all around you.

<Not food fit for the Masters, little ones. Apologies Master. Forgive the ignorance of that defective digit. Our minds were elsewhere, handling the attack. This digit will escort you to the banquet hall, honored Master. Would you accept cleansing from one of my cleaning swarms?>

>Accept the voice’s offer. Be cleansed and escorted
>Accept the voice’s offer of transport but not cleansing
>Reject the voices offer and wander deeper into the Hive.

>Also you may ask the Voice one question (per poster) as you travel.
>>
>>3818872

"...yes. Clean me."

We can't show ourselves to the court for the first time covered in filth. We're a monster but we need to make sure they know we're a monster with our shit together.

>Ask a question

UHHHHHH
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

"...Why am I your master?"
>>
>>3818634
>d20

I hope you guys like crit overrides because we'll be seeing a lot of them from here on out.
>>
>>3818888
Seconded
>>
>>3818888
We're his master because we're one of the lords of the garbage chute from his prospective, but Skek-Zar probably just assumes most things should automatically assume he's their master.
>>
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>>3818894
>>3818892

Notice I asked not how it knows we're are the Master.

Of COURSE Skek-Zar is master. That makes sense. We have just not met this creature.

So Why is important.
>>
>>3818872
>Accept the voice’s offer. Be cleansed and escorted
>Who are you fighting with?
>Remind me why am I your Master?
>>
>>3818892
Thirded
>>
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>>3818872

You accept the offer.

"YES! CLEANSE ME AND BRING ME TO FEAST! YOUR MASTER COMMANDS IT!"

The voice breaks out in to countless chittering voices coming from beneath the waves. The water in the cistern boils as a massive swarm of long things with too many teeth surface and slithers onto the beach. The tidal wave of gashing teeth and spindly feelers crashes into you. You are gently scoured as the swarm conveys your body into the myraid hive tunnels. The voice continues to resonate.

<As you command, Master. We keep no vestments here in the Hive as the Garthim Unity has no need for such things. Accept this humble armor, made from the fallen of our greatest zealots.>

As the swarm picks the final, infinitesimal speck of detritus from your bare flesh it wraps about you leaving behind a custom fitted suit of interlocking plates.

[Clothing Gained- Garthim Zealot Plate +2 to Constitution]

1/2
>>
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>>3818974

2/2

As you ride through the tunnels questions come to mind. Further desiring to reinforce your dominion over this “Unity” you ask.

“SKEKZAR DEMANDS, WHY DO YOU SERVE”


The voice rumbles in humble tones.
<Because you are of the Masters. Those that gave us life, gave us unity, showed us the Truth of Life. You smell of the First Master, the Life Giver. Even if you did not, you are still Master. You are Skeksis and Garthim serve Skeksis.>

The answer pleases you, though the names have little meaning to you. A slight nod of authority is met with a sudden jarring turn as the swarm navigates a difficult series of turns. Looking about you catch glimpses of many creatures. Most like the first bug form, others radiating that purple light in forms similar to the swarm conveying you. For the barest moment you see something golden flit away. Even your powerful vision can not confirm what that it was even real. Another question comes after a long period of scuttling silence.

“WHO DO YOU FIGHT”

The voice titters.

<We fight whom you tell us to Master. This fight, we do not have a name for them. The First Master refers to them as “Species 4459-2765”. They are infidels that oppose the Masters and shall fall underneath our Void Brother’s Claws before the Draining, but they do not fall easily. Mineral Species are often advanced. The Eternal has not drank recently. This engagement will be...protracted.>

Time passes as you recline upon the living carpet. Resting your eyes in the warm dark. It reminds you of the time in the egg, but in time new sounds rouse you. The halls are shuddering and sounds of distant impacts thunder. A small light shines down a long tunnel, provoking you to shift out of using your dark vision. It has been several hours at least but finally you arrive at something inorganic. A hatch of some kind, accompanied with a small panel with the outline of some sort of hand. The swarm sets you gently down in front of this dimly lit hatch and returns to the dark behind you.

<The Unity thanks you, Master for allowing us to serve. We must turn this digit’s attention back to the battle. You shall find the hatch opens to a short hallway that leads to the Banquet Hall. GLORY TO THE SKEKSIS ETERNAL! GLORY TO THE MASTERS! ETERNAL SERVICE FOR ETERNAL FEAST!>

You hiss into the dark at the retreating swarm to reinforce your dominance and dispel any thoughts of fraternity from your questions and turn to the Door.

>Use your massive hand on the panel. Your talons are...significantly larger than the panel’s outline but it should work?

>Pry the hatch open. There are many places to find purchase. It should pry loose from the organic mass holding it.

>Fiddle with the Panel. Perhaps you can use it to learn more about your position.

>Write In
>>
>>3818977
>Pry the hatch open. There are many places to find purchase. It should pry loose from the organic mass holding it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0rL5GcBdlY
>>
>>3818977
>>Pry the hatch open. There are many places to find purchase. It should pry loose from the organic mass holding it.
>>
>>3818977
>Fiddle with the Panel. Perhaps you can use it to learn more about your position.
We are no simple brute, we are the Emperor!
>>
>>3818998
>>3819001
What are you doing muscleheads?
>>
>>3818998
>>3819001

Pry the Hatch open and KEEP THE DOOR AS YOUR PROOF OF VICTORY

>What is that in your hand?

Skek Z: "MINE."
>>
>>3819019

This worked out extremely well, brothers
>>
>>3819019
>>3819029

>KRAAA
>>
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>>3818998

Okay, lets SkekYeet this giant metal hatch impregnated in Garthim hive biomass.
Roll that strength again.
1d20+Strength
>>
Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>3819035
s t r o n k
>>
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>>3819037
Keep rolling, it will determine secondary effects, but Great Job Anon.
>>
Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>3819037
>>3819037

KRAAAAAAAAAAA
TRIAL BY STEEL!

WE. ARE. EVOLVING.

CHECK THE FLEX
>>
Skekchads rise up

we live in a crystal society
>>
Rolled 14 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>3819035
>>
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>>3819052
>WE
>ARE
>ETERNAL
>>
Rolled 1 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>3819035
>>
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>>3819073
Oh fuck
>>
>>3819073
>>3819076
this is why we should cull the masses

hope you're merciful OP
>>
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>>3819076
>>
>>3819076
I assume BO3. Hopefully. Shile BO4 or 5 with crits make a quest schizophrenic and dumb.
>>
>>3819073

SPITHEAD!
>>
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>>3819088
>>3819052


Another barrier. Another hindrance. You are ready this time and this wall will be punished for this insult. To the sides you find two points where the living mass is weakened and your talons slip easily into and around the metal frame. Your other two arms just pierce the metal of the hatch, penetrating the weak alloy with your freshly matured talons. A single heave is all it takes to tear the offense free of the meat with a gout of sparks, mechanical fluids and blood. You cry in victory and rage as this pathetic adversary falls before your indomitable might!

Light pours in from beyond newly made portal and reveals a better lit, yet still dim hexagonal hallway made of smoothed black obsidian. To your left the hallway leads to a set of stairs, carpeted and filled with the cloying scent of meat, arousal and ESSENCE! Your mind is distracted by the enraged sparking noises coming from your right where a curious creature with a large crystal embedded in its head hisses at you. Without thinking you bring your newest trophy to bear and smash the vile thing into a pulp with three strokes. The scent of fresh essence takes command of your maw before your mind and you savor its decadent flesh, taking care to eat around the sharp bits. Its ebbing lifeforce drains into your own from your gullet and the bruises on your body evaporate.

[+10 Essence Gained from Feeding]
[60/60 Essence]

Electricity continues to arc around its shattered and pulped body before jumping down the hallway and landing amongst the rubble you didn’t cause. A lance of pure crystal is embedded in the wall and juts into the hallway. The fleeing electrical charge makes it way to the lance and causes a portion to fall away, revealing many more of your meals Kin. They scream in ozone as a giant arc of electricity forms in front of their collective and with a unified snap they toss the ball of lightning at your blood spattered face.

Something inside you smiles as you grip your door.

[The Hunt Beings]
[Session Pause]

[Thank you for playing! Session Continues Tuesday at 8pm PST]
>>
>>3819117
Well thanks for running, been fun so far!

I can't tell if we're in the castle of the crystal or in some spaceship somewhere.
>>
>>3819117
Fuck i missed it again
>>
>>3819052
>>3819040
SKEKSIS FLEXIS!!
>>
>>3819040
>>3819052
LOOK WAHT I FOUND
>>
>>3822347
Nice!
>>
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>>3819117
[Session Resume]

The lightning attack hurtles towards you, tendrils of plasma cutting thin grooves where they ground out along the wall. While your death comes swiftly, the skittering crystal things sluggishly fall from the aperture of the boarding vessel and pile on the ground like cord-wood. It seems the attack took a lot of the fight out of them, judging by the dim hue of their mineral spire. More worrying is that dim hue is quickly building back up. A matter to attend to later, you have only a moment to act.

>Despite your size and the narrow hallway you should be able to dodge the attack if you time your roll just so to slip between the tendrils

>Your hefty trophy beckons, the door might make a substantial shield, provided you don’t act as the path to ground. You don’t have any idea what the orb will do if hit however

>Perhaps you could bite/eat/control this energy somehow. It feels extremely dangerous to try and your mind has trouble grasping at just how to do it?

>Write in.
----------------------------------------
Name: SkekZar

[Strength] [+4]
[Dexterity] [+3]
[Constitution] [+2]
[Intellect] [+1]
[Willpower] [+3]
[Charisma] [-3]

[0/1 Darkening] [Unawoken]
[0/0 ???????] [??????]
[60/60] Essence
Hunger - Sated

Mutations-
[Blessing of the Hunt] Your body is blessed with the trappings of an apex predator. Stronger, Faster, Hardier but your scent reviles even those of your tribe. They can smell the Hunger on you and fear if they will be next

[Dark Vision] Skek-Zar can see perfectly in extremely low light conditions and living beings emit a sort of light highlighting something present in them.

----------------------------------------
>>
>>3825064
>Throw your shield at it and get out of the way!
Don't be a dummy
>>
>>3825064

>Perhaps you could bite/eat/control this energy somehow. It feels extremely dangerous to try and your mind has trouble grasping at just how to do it?

Tap into the violet light that fuels rage to harness this new power? Call upon it?
>>
>>3825077
Ditto
I finished the series yesterday, holy shit I wasn’t expecting it to be that good. I’m wondering now who our counterpart is going to be?
>>
>>3825064

SKEKZAR IS NO COWARD.

RAISE THE DOOR.

AND WALK.

FORWARD.
>>
>Perhaps you could bite/eat/control this energy somehow. It feels extremely dangerous to try and your mind has trouble grasping at just how to do it?

Darkening time
>>
>>3825077
>>3825124
>>3825129


You regrip the door and position it to block the incoming ball of energy. Maybe you should tank the hit, should you toss the shield, eat it? You will your body to move either way, to get closer to this thing and...

Roll 1d20+Dex

Best of 3, other rolls +2 for 20, -2 for 1s
>>
Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>3825146
Rooolllin
>>
Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>3825146
SkekNar will CONSUME
>>
Rolled 18 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>3825146
>>
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>>3825164
REDEEMED!
>>
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>>3825164
>21


You can see the ball in the air and in a moment you feel something twitch in your mind and the world slows down. The little tendrils hang in the air like small hungry teeth, shifting every so slowly towards your shield. Its going to discharge through the metal and into your body. You’re strong but that much energy would ruin you. You move to open your mouth but the Hunger inside wrenches your jaw shut. This meal will not be savory.

The feelings in your mind agree that this is something to dodge and at this speed of perception it is trivial. There is a gap just to the side and with a great heave of your will you force your limbs to move through this molasses of slowed time. Your arms move glacially slow but compared to the ball of energy you blink out of its way and with another pulse of your triple hearts time resumes.

With a thunderous snap the orb collides with the stairwell behind you, creating a nasty explosion that leaves a charred hole in the stone. The invaders are nearly recharged and have begun to form a battle line with small arcs of violet power jumping between them. You scream a curse at these inferior beings and beat two heavy fists against your door.

The attack is yours

>Launch into the fray with tooth and claw and door. Sunder these creatures and devour them alive. You will suffer no intruder in your territory

>Throw your trophy as an improvised weapon. Two can play this game of volleys. You think you can hit most if not all with a well placed shot.

>Retreat to the banquet hall. These quarters are too cramped and better assault would be had in roomier places.

>Write In

----------
Crystal Invaders
Undamaged - Recharging
>>
>>3825193
>Launch into the fray with tooth and claw and door. Sunder these creatures and devour them alive. You will suffer no intruder in your territory
Break the line!
>>
>Launch into the fray with tooth and claw and door. Sunder these creatures and devour them alive. You will suffer no intruder in your territory

RIP AND TEAR
>>
>>3825193

>Launch into the fray with tooth and claw and door. Sunder these creatures and devour them alive. You will suffer no intruder in your territory

It is time
>>
>>3825193
>TOOTH AND CLAW, TOTEN SIE
>>
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>>3825193

You smile and flex each sinew in your four arms. A deep rumble starts in your throat. Their lives are yours, already you see where to make incisions to best cleave these things apart, where to bite to suck the essence from their stupid crystal skulls and where to savage to cause them to sing in beautiful agony. This is your domain and you will claim their lives for the insult.


Roll 1d20+Strength to rip and tear and feast until it is done
>>
Rolled 15 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>3825230
>>
Rolled 12 (1d20)

>KRAAA
>>
Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>3825230
>>
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>>3825237
>>3825193

>19

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tluwkXgr93Y


You time alive has been short and though you’ve had your ups and literal downs, provided you continue living this moment will remain one of your fondest. The small, pathetic ball of lightning was all these even smaller and more pathetic creatures had in them. Did they know what they might have faced in this little hallway? Did they even have the capacity for imagination? They did know fear. You could smell it on them as you cleared tens of feet of distance in a single leap. Outstretched claws ripped into succulent and yielding flesh. Clamping your maw around one of their electrified pillars was rewarded with the smallest mote of Essence, healing the pathetic damage their charge made on contact. Did they even have weapons? What they did have was numbers.

As fast as you could rend their skulls from their flesh, more came pouring out of the boarding lance, not that you noticed in your wild feasting. The pristine plates of your gifted armor and your neatly scoured scales were again painted in sticky orange blood, pooling in great clotted puddles on the ground. Mid-swipe there came a great thunderous crash from the other side of the lance. Pausing and stepping back the crashes continued until a crack in the ship grew along its surface. With a final crash the tip of the lance shattered and fell away. In that moment the flood of invaders ceased and the remaining prey went limp.

A hulking beast in armor strode through the wash of organic refuse and mineral shards, wielding a large mace that seethed with violet energy. It took stock of your gore spattered armor and chuckled. Leaning on its great club like an idle farmer pausing to rest on his pitchfork and a great, bladed shield in the other. A commanding voice lurches out to you. Smells like Skeksis, but looks strange. He smells like the bug creatures from below. Like Garthim.

“Hrmmg. My Garthim spoke true. One of the younglings. Largest. Here by the hall. You, 624, are done feasting on this refuse. Come, we sit by the Emperor. The Crystal is ready to consume their world. Now. Leave the door. Follow.”

>You comply. This Skeksis smells heavy with the weight of command and more blood than you could ever dream to spill. Even your hunger sense feels wary of it.

>You refuse. None command the great and mighty SkekZar. You are not some number and this door is your trophy!

>You attack. Though your Hunger is wary, your spirit is not. Who is anyone to get in the way of your trophies, kill your prey, command you like some pet. This insult will not stand
>>
>>3825302
>You comply. This Skeksis smells heavy with the weight of command and more blood than you could ever dream to spill. Even your hunger sense feels wary of it.
We will remember this. He'll get what's coming for him, but later.
>>
>>3825302
>You comply. This Skeksis smells heavy with the weight of command and more blood than you could ever dream to spill. Even your hunger sense feels wary of it.
>>
>>3825309
Ditto, one day it shall be eaten
>>
>>3825309
Support lets not kill ourself for this
>>
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>>3825302
1/2

You sniff the air around this new Skeksis, standing almost two heads taller than you. He is brothersister, your instinct tells you but the forced submission and relinquishing of your door scores a permanent oath in your soul. One day, this Skeksis will suffer for this insult. But not today. Your gullet, though sizeable is full to bursting with alien flesh and the prized door is now little more than bent and twisted lump of metal. Hardly worth anything now, but you pluck a small sliver of metal, bend it into a thin loop and then fasten the skull of one of the aliens to a bit of binding leather at your hip.

[Item Gained: Trophy of the First Hunt] A cosmetic reminder of your first hunt and feast. Though the battle easily won, it was won. Let none question your wrath. A strange little skull with fragments of a broken crystal embedded in it.

As the Skeksis nods approvingly at your submission it clicks its tongue twice causing two insectile things attached to the wall to appear from thin air. Slightly shorter than the Skeksis but sleek and nimble. Large crests radiate from their shoulders and emit a strange noise you can barely hear. A casual sniff tells you they smell mostly of Garthim but..something else. Before you can even command your limbs to ready against the creatures the Skeksis walks down the hall away from you.

“Come Zealots. The lost child found. Quickly to the bridge. I hunger.”

The zealots thrum back with their crests.

“Yesss Master Skekung. The Unity reports their capital ships broken and the Crystal fully charged. The portalwrum is standing by.”

SkekUng chortles with glee and slaps a Zealot on the back, mumbling something in that strange thrumming language of the Garthim. He does not pause to glance back at you only tossing back a commanding “Follow, youngling” as he makes his way away from the banquet hall.
>>
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>>3825418
You walk for a while in silence following the strange trio, mumbling curses under your breathe and kicking at the many, many, many corpses strewn about the narrow tunnel. You have to duck under the occasional shattered boarding-lance. Rubbing your trophy skull is surprisingly soothing as you bite back bile from this forced submission until eventually you stop before a flat wall.

Skekung looks back. “Watch, youngling.” And taps the wall at certain locations, each tap bringing up strange patterns in triangular shapes, after the fifth tap he twists a band on his wrist and a small looping circle appears and Skekung steps back.

“The Wurm comes. It will take us to the bridge, or elsewhere on the ship. You will be given your Shipband. It will tell you more. I will not, for now. You smell of an old friend…”

His eyes look past you and into the infinite for a moment before a wet squelching of flesh over your shoulder causes you to spin around in alarm as a massive thing shuffles out of a hidden door and beings devouring the offal lining the hallway.

“Hallstrider, foul thing. Mind they do not eat you in their frenzy to cleanse.”

The four of you watch in morbid fascination as the fat thing wriggles its way down the hall before the wall pings. You turn in time the see the crystal fall away, revealing a gaping maw, ringed with stubby teeth. Wheezing a foul stench, the Skeksis sized mouth stretches to reveal another of your sworn enemy’s kin. A plain door with a brass handle.

Skekung laughs as he steps forward, causing the teeth to retract and provide entry. He turns the handle revealing a spacious and comfortable sitting room, complete with large cushioned seats, strange pipe like things and various edibles, at least they smell edible, strewn about on various trays.

“Well Youngling, are you coming?”

[Session Pause]

[Thanks for playing! Sorry for the delay folks. Next Session will be Friday 8PM PST.]
>>
>>3825420
Thanks for running
>>
>>3825420
God. DAMN THIS IS COOL.

Fuck Doors.

Skekzar appears to be an odd sort. Equal parts brutal to cunning.

Is he Brutally cunning?

Only when absolutely sure he's outmatched.

Cunningly Brutal?

At all. Times.
Nice votes, lads. Let's make a point to remind them of our glorious name next time. That number sickens and demeans us.
>>
I wonder if we'll ever meet the legendary cook, Skeksmex?
>>
just found this quest and I deeply wish I had found it sooner.
>>
>>3825983
>inb4 we meet SkekKek The Lucky
>>
>>3818438
>Your body is blessed with the trappings of an apex predator.
Does that mean we're a Skeksual predator?
>>
>>3829738
Does that make last session's fight a skeksual assualt?
>>
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[Session Resume]

Having chose to follow this SkekUng to somewhere important. His casual and continued condescension still burns in your gut. You are not a number, you are not a child to be ignored! You will have his respect one day...or his head. A memory of a taste plays over your fangs and tongue. The flesh and blood of the weak hatchmate you consumed lingers cloyingly. Soon, again. Skekung thrums in the Garthim speech and his Zealots skitter up the walls and to the ceiling before shifting invisible again.

Skekung takes a heaving sit amongst a pile of cushions that stink of strange incense and Skeksis scents. Tossing aside his mace, he reaches over and takes one of the sealed jars and devours the contents in a single snap of his jaws. Some spiced meat of a fashion. Next he reaches behind him to a small nozzle on the wall and withdraws it, taking a length of canvas tubing. With a mighty pull of his lungs he tokes from the nozzle and expels a cloud of… ESSENCE! The smoke is heavy with it. Your mouth waters and your talons twitch. Skekung laughs.

“Caught the scent have you? Basic essence chemically mixed with various intoxicants of the Scientist’s design. Not as good as prime. Sit, partake with me. Your animosity is refreshing but, no enemy are you. Yet? Come, sit. Eat. Drink. Smoke. Such is your birthright. It will be a moment. The ship is vast. Much vaster than it was before our Victory.”

Skekung gestures to a smaller pile of cushions with its own assortment of sealed treats, smoke nozzle and strange drinks. Looking closer you find other curious things you have no knowledge of but appear to be crafts of various varieties. Colored pigments, half finished weaves and unmolded clay. He sits back and closes his eyes, inhaling deeply of the smoke and thrumming to his Garthim.

>Do you take him up on his offer and smoke with him? The scent of vapor is heavy with essence and other things that make your beak twitch and your tongue heavy

>Do you want to ask any questions? Skekung said he was not here to teach you things but he did not forbid you either

>Do you search the Wurmcar for anything? There is a lot of room here, enough for a hundred of you. Many things stink of age. Perhaps treasure, or maybe danger. The air is heavy with strange scents, some giving you pause.
>>
>>3830368

I kept this tab open all week for this
Hype as skekfuk.
>>
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>>3830368

We are always hungry.
Taste everything.

Whatever is good, keep it.
Smoke deeply. Free essence? It is the life blood.
Drink.DEEP. Battle was won. Now is the time to nourish!

Only one question.
Or a statement.

"Skekzar."

Between bites and quaffs.

"My name is Skekzar. The garthim know it."
>>
>>3830410
Skekporting this
>>
>>3830368
Smoke with him while taking a good look around for anything useful, always keeping a watchful eye for his weak points we can use to our advantage
>>
>>3830410
Food, Drink and Mystery rolls
>>
Rolled 28, 5, 20 = 53 (3d100)

>>3830474
>>
>>3830410
support
>>
>>3830410
Seconded
>>
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>>3830476

Skekshit. These are harsh rolls.
>>
>>3830476
I am skekspicious as to the purpose of these rolls.
>>
>>3830527
>>3830368

With a mighty huff you turn towards the bounty left before you. Four arms make quick work of rummaging around only to find nothing worth anything. The food in the jars is disgusting. Cooked ages ago if at all, preserved in too much salt and entirely lacking in essence. Compared to the wriggling invader flesh holding motes of essence to delight the tongue, this is pure refuse. Not even fit for the cleaning worms the Garthim used to scour the feculence from your hide. Growling you heave a canister of some sort of dried slug across the car and it shatters against the wall with a satisfying crunch. You are even more infuriated when all of the stored drinks are even worse than the meat. Overfermented, tasteless and even rotten. Disgusting. The blood of the most pathetic prey would be better than this filth.

Perhaps there is something else of amusement but a cursory search yields nothing but more decayed decadent implements. Brushes, chains, various sharp implements intended for dining but nothing of any use or amusement to you. What a waste. Give yourself something wriggling and full of fear to slowly tear apart between your jaws. The shuddering of the car topples over what is left of the refreshments and ruin the seat you were about to take. Enraged you find another seat and kick the rack of food and drink as far away as you can. At least the smoke has some Essence in it. Perhaps it will suffice.


1/2
>>
>>3830533
not as skekrumptious as I'd hoped
>>
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>>3830533

1/2

Taking your place among the admittedly comfortable seats you take the smoke-hose and inhale mightily from it. If the offered victuals were sand then this smoke would be a divine feast in comparison. It plays over the palate, vibrating your nose and filling the lungs with a warmth not felt since you slept within your egg. You catch yourself involuntarily grumbling as you smoke and Skekung laughs, talking to you from behind closed eyes.

“Thought you might enjoy that, 689. Can’t always find a good battle to stain the talon and fill your gullet.”

You growl deeply in anger but the words are hard to sound out. The smoke is clearly soporific to some degree.

“Not 689. Skekzar. I am SKEKZAR and I feast. Respect!”

SkekUng opens a single eye and glares for a moment before chortling even harder.

“Good spirit, but you are not Skeksis. Yet. Emperor ordered, Scientist made. New thing. Court must recognize you. Patron must sponsor you, created one. Until… you are 689, SkekZar. Now I sleep. Go play, youngling.”

He closes his eye again, letting his hose drop away and withdraws into his armor like a roosting bird. Outrage flows through your limbs but the smoke is keeping you planted. It would be easy to attack his exposed neck or drive one of the eating utensils into an eye.

>Force your body to attack the sleeping SkekUng. Your limbs feel like heavy weights and your vision blurs with the pleasure the essence fills you with. There is also the question of the Zealots.

>Rest your eyes. Something is calling to you under the haze of the narcotic smoke. It feels like the voice you spoke with before, it feels like Hunger. It beckons, gently

>Try to shake off the effects of the smoke and hunt around the train-car again. Maybe see if you can find the Zealots. They are hidden well, maybe other things are hidden here too. You could swear you hear something rummaging around.
>>
>>3830542
>>Rest your eyes. Something is calling to you under the haze of the narcotic smoke. It feels like the voice you spoke with before, it feels like Hunger. It beckons, gently
>>
>>3830542
>Try to shake off the effects of the smoke and hunt around the train-car again. Maybe see if you can find the Zealots. They are hidden well, maybe other things are hidden here too. You could swear you hear something rummaging around.

SkekUng might have more valuable info, no need to attack him....yet
>>
>>3830542
Hate to make a three way tie, but I'm going to have to go for

>Rest your eyes. Something is calling to you under the haze of the narcotic smoke. It feels like the voice you spoke with before, it feels like Hunger. It beckons, gently

This seems like a good opportunity to have whatever meeting our mysterious patron wants while we're just waiting around.
>>
>>3830547
Oh wait, never mind completely misread this.
>>
>>3830542
SLEEP!?

ZDREAM!?

WE ARE NO HATCHLING
WE ARE SKEKZAR

FORCE YOURSELF UP
FIND SOME MEANS OF PUSHING THAT FAT OAF FROM THE KART
>>
>>3830600
FOOLISH PODLING

WE CANNOT EAT SO WE MUST GET MORE EAT TO EAT MORE

MORE EAT

MORE!
>>
>>3830600
chill bro
>>
>>3830542

>Rest your eyes. Something is calling to you under the haze of the narcotic smoke. It feels like the voice you spoke with before, it feels like Hunger. It beckons, gently

Sleep time
>>
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>>3830612
>>3830608

Simperous.
Supplicant.

Cowering from an enemy is only acceptable if their doom is already in motion.

The food is spoiled.
The smoke is dulling our sense.

At least plot.
At least scheme.

Skekzar is the void of hunger.
That is not something to covet. It is something we must DEMAND be celebrated. Exhalted.

We must shatter those who disparage us.

if you will not let spite make your strong.

At least scrounge the place for a food that doesn't gag. A sustenance to cut through the fog of imbibement.

Rise and grind our enemy: want
To dust.
>>
>>3830542
>Rest your eyes. Something is calling to you under the haze of the narcotic smoke. It feels like the voice you spoke with before, it feels like Hunger. It beckons, gently
>>
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>>3830542
>>3830542

Rage. Infinite and overwhelming rage twists your soul, but the fury is impotent. The Essence combined with strange intoxicants pushes even your mightiest ire aside and buries you into a comfortable haze. You have enough time to use your back arms to build a pillow nest, making a direct attack from anything harder, if only for a moment. SkekUng gives one last snort of amusement.

“Was hoping you would try. Not mindless. Good. Zealots would have cut your tail before you twitched. Maybe you are Skeksis after all. Sleep well, SkekZar. Emperor ordered us to safe all his Children.”

You are already drifting away, but your name on his lips brings some comfort to the rage inside. There is the gentle hum of your violet high that grows into a gentle song as you follow it from consciousness into a dream. There is a forest, it is warm and familiar. You slip and slink between branches as you stalk your prey. A storm is coming, you can taste it on the winds. A dry, angry thing fueled by the same hunger that lives in your gullet. There was a fight with something, a prey conquered but its young escaped, the true prize. You feel stronger, more in tune with the pulse about you. The taste of blood and essence dances in your maw, but the Trophy would be the most succulent.

A new scent on the wind. A female of the prey you hunt. It is rare to smell one of its kind above ground, even rarer is the scent you taste in its wake. It hungers, it sings the same song sung by the Frenzied things. They always make a good hunt. You change directions and begin stalking the female. You could use a decent meal. It is quick, eluding your approaches. Each time you get closer it is suddenly away, or up wind. It is infuriating as you catch glimpses here and there. A pale thing, glowing slightly in the dark. It taunts you, the voice coming from all directions.

“C’mon youngling, you must be a really young one, or this wouldn’t be so hard for you!”

A small rock glances off your skull mask, the spirit wards crying in rage for its soul as the prey giggles as it continues to dart around you.

>You can stand no insult such as this. You are Hunter, it is Prey. You will claim your prize. Nothing can outrun your speed. Put everything into your movement and catch this wretched thing

>Speed is getting you nowhere, you have a bunch of traps nearby. It is not as satisfying to capture elusive prey like this, but oh the fun you will have later repaying its insults

>There are number of various tools at your belt. Caltrops, gas bombs, poisoned blades. Chasing this creature is not the way. It wants to throw stings, you have a few of your own.

>Write in
>>
>>3830659
>>There are number of various tools at your belt. Caltrops, gas bombs, poisoned blades. Chasing this creature is not the way. It wants to throw stings, you have a few of your own.

we will over come our foes with cunning and intellect.
>>
>>3830659

Lead it into the traps.
Our strength and mind are our weapons.

We shall dominate.
Outwit AND decimate

>>3830670
I will accept you and others using discretion.

I shall play the other part of valor.
Motivating fury.

Let us work in concert.
So we may rise above others in ways never heard of in the song of this universe.
>>
>>3830681
sure
>>
>>3830659
>There are number of various tools at your belt. Caltrops, gas bombs, poisoned blades. Chasing this creature is not the way. It wants to throw stings, you have a few of your own.

Lead it into a trap, then we feast
>>
>>3830659
Chase it into the traps, this creature won't be laughing when we take it's throat.
>>
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>>3830670
>>3830681
>>3830687
>>3830688

Roll 1d20+ Intellect to try and trick this prey into your traps.
Best of 3, after that 20 adds +2 , 1 adds -2


Your Character Sheet.

----------------------------------------
Name: SkekZar

[Strength] [+4]
[Dexterity] [+3]
[Constitution] [+2]
[Intellect] [+1]
[Willpower] [+3]
[Charisma] [-3]

[0/1 Darkening] [Unawoken]
[0/0 ???????] [??????]
[60/60] Essence
Hunger - Sated

Mutations-
[Blessing of the Hunt] Your body is blessed with the trappings of an apex predator. Stronger, Faster, Hardier but your scent reviles even those of your tribe. They can smell the Hunger on you and fear if they will be next

[Dark Vision] Skek-Zar can see perfectly in extremely low light conditions and living beings emit a sort of light highlighting something present in them.

----------------------------------------
>>
Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>3830704
>>
Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>3830704
>>
Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>3830704
>>
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>>3830715
>>3830710
>>3830720
>>
>>3830723
A15 isn't too bad, hopefully it will at least give us a chance to gain some momentum.
>>
Rolled 1 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>3830704
>>
>>3830732
AND THEN THERE'S THIS PODLING
>>
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>>3830732
>"Oops, I did it again!~"
>>
Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>3830704

Even in our dreams.
>>
Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>3830732
>>3830704
Fuck it, I'm a gambling man.
>>
Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>3830704
>>
I really wish the qm would make some damn rules, like how many rolls he actually takes, not letting the same guy roll 30 times.

Sorry I'm enjoying this, I just needed to say it
>>
>>3830756
Sorry, I am doing the standard Best of 3, Crits after the three add or subtract 2. One roll per voter.

Don't be afraid to ask for clarification.
Post incoming.
>>
>>3830715
>>3830715
14+1-2= 13 vs DC15 - Failure

If this creature wants to play games then you should oblige. When you hunted your last prey there were a number of traps set about. Pitfalls, Snares, even a small patch of Gobblers you concealed with a fallen log. It should be easy to chase this thing into one of them. It seems to disappear when you draw in close, so you begin to chase it away from the traps to get the thing to shift somewhere dangerous.

You being a mad dance, each time getting within swiping distance it slips away, but each time your smile grows a little wider. The number of paths to jump to narrows as you move closer and closer to a set of sharpened stakes you have tied to a small sapling. When it jumps next the creature should hit the rope set just so to impale it to the forest floor. You just have to time your next leap. HA!

You spring from your tree, arms out-stretched and blades ready to play with your most recent prey. There it is, a young creature, a third your height with long ears and small wings flitting about on its back. I sits there, perched on your stake trap smiling, its purple eyes fixed in a curious grin.

“Ooh, you almost had me, little one. But you seem to have forgotten the little snare you're currently standing in.”

You don’t remember there being a snare here, but the twang followed by your leg being ripped away from underneath you proves your memory wrong. Stranger still the world inverts as it pulls you up, but you don’t feel upside down. Nor do you feel like yourself. These talons are too worn, your face stings from an ancient scar you never received and this clothing is not yours.

“That’s because this is a dream, silly! My dream, to be precise. I so wanted to talk to one of the little Skeksis that survived. I’m so proud of you and you’ve done so well with my little gift. You snapped up those little nasty rock things so well with your little door.”

1/2
>>
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>>3830769

2/2

The creature walks up to you in the air, the forest dropping away leaving you floating in a purple void. It giggles, kicking around with its arms behind its back. The purple flaring in its eyes.
“I used a little memory I had of one of your parents to draw your spirit here because I wanted to talk some more. It’s almost time to feed again, can’t you feel it! Your nasty parents call it Draining and use such big words for it all. Just so silly. I’m Deet and you are…”

She reaches out to tap your snout. “Ah SkekZar! Such a powerful name. It certainly fits, but careful you don’t choke on too big a meal.” She laughs as the world spins more. “ Now I want you to be a big, strong Skeksis and promise me you won’t tell the others we’ve been talking. They can’t know the ‘Gelfling Darkmother’ still exists.” Saying the title in a mockingly serious tone.

“If the others find out He will get all mad and storm around the ship making a mess and it will make me cross. Worse for you. If you can do that I can give you a little more of my power. Hmm? What do you say? Don’t you want to be friends, I can be a very good friend to you if you help me out. I have so much to teach you about that little Hunger you keep in your soul.”

The strange thing smiles at you with its little hand extended towards you with a smile that is equal parts innocent as it is ravenous.

>Accept Deet’s friendship and expand your power. All you have to do is keep quiet about this little dream. Such a small request for becoming the strongest.

>Reject her offer. This creature is your prey, dream or not you will not be denied.

>Write in.
>>
>>3830766
You do realize that due to how the dice are weighted we're almost guaranteed to get one or more Nat ones in this situation? I'm already a bit leery of d20 best of three but failing a check because of a roll that shouldn't count is a special kind of infuriating.
>>
>>3830774
>Accept Deet’s friendship and expand your power. All you have to do is keep quiet about this little dream. Such a small request for becoming the strongest.

It's not like we know anyone we'd want to tell anyway.
>>
>>3830778
I'll keep that in mind. This is going to be a more narrative quest than a numbers crunch one so don't be too worried. The system has worked well in other quests. We can discuss changes after the session.
>>
>>3830778

Wether or not the roll counts is entirely up to the system at hand. Which is up to the QM.

This way the players who miss the first 3 rolls still have a chance to contribute and the best of 3 system is a bit OP on it's own. So this helps keep the results less stagnant to good or better.

>>3830774

We don't even know what a "friend" is.
What we do know is we don't like being toyed with.

We want power. We NEED it.
In breadth and depth.

>Write in

"I want what you have. Everything. Even the power to look like prey. When the hunter might be eaten."

Snap our jaws

"If you can promise EVERYTHING to Skekzar. Then Skekzar can be anything. Even a friend...whatever that is."
>>
>>3830774
>>Reject her offer. This creature is your prey, dream or not you will not be denied.
>>
>>3830774
>Accept Deet’s friendship and expand your power. All you have to do is keep quiet about this little dream. Such a small request for becoming the strongest.
>>
>>3830774
>>3830793

Supporting
>>
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>>3830774
>>3830774

“YES! POWER! GIVE IT TO ME! ALL OF IT! GIVE IT TO ME AND WILL BE BECOME THE STRONGEST! “

Deet smiles as your body returns to your waking form. Teeth sharpen, scars heal and your limbs thrum with the vigor of youth. The snare holding you place dissolves as Deet laughs.

“Yes! We will be ever so good friends. I can give you everything you’ve ever dreamed of… in time. You’re still so young, all of my power would cook you to a little cinder and melt your brain into podling spew. But keep fighting, keep hunting and keep eating and then Skekzar will be Everything! Now be a good little Skeksis Predator and eat me.”

You already have your teeth around her throat before she finishes. The little creature screams are cut short with another tear of your fangs. Purple blood gouts across your maw as the intoxicating taste of Essence coats your tongue. You raise your talons to continue ripping but Deet, with a laugh explodes into a billowing cloud of smoke that shoots into your mouth and nose. The taste is exquisite, but the more smoke you eat, the more hungry you get. Deeper the Hunger grows, the golden song you once heard becomes a nearly forgotten memory. Deet’s voice echos in your mind, stern but quiet.

“Enjoy the gift, little one. Not a word to the others, SkekZar. Not. A. Word”.

The smoke keeps pouring, more than you can eat. You are coughing now, trying to wave the world of smoke away. The vision is fading now, leading you back to the real world. With a sputter you awake and spit out the smoke nozzle, having fallen asleep with it in your mouth. SkekUng is slapping your back, helping you spit out the smoke. He helps you to your feet as the Zealots drop from the ceiling and take their position behind him. He glances over you and with a grumble gestures with his hand.

“Seems you have changed in your sleep. SkekTek will be interested. Hope it is not mutation failure. Come, we will arrive soon.


1/2
>>
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>>3830877

-----------------------

Darkening Increased to Level 2.
Current Darkening 1/2 - Awoken
[1 mutation point added]

Choose your Evolution

>[Talons of the Hunter] Your claws increase in size, sharpness and durability. Nearly indestructible now these claws can pierce even solid rock without dulling, let along the flesh and sinew of your prey. Not even the walls of this ship can resist your strikes. [+2 Strength, Indestructible Claws can break or cut nearly everything without breaking]

>[True Essence Sense] Your vision has further developed from simple dark-vision to eyes that can see things beyond the simple visual spectrum. Infrared to Ultraviolet a whole new world is open to you. Even hidden beings are exposed as you can see their very essence, their life force pumping through their body… even with your eyes shut. [+2 to intellect, Can see hidden things without a check]

>[Apex Ascension] Your unnatural hunger spurns your body to grow even larger, stronger, faster and hardier. Every aspect of your physical body grows to allow you take on prey much bigger than your already massive size. You now stand over a foot taller than the tallest Skeksis, even putting the early Garthim to shame. At this size the sheer intimidation of your form will command obedience from anyone. [+2 to Strength, +2 to Dexterity, +2 to Constitution, +1 to Charisma]


[Session Pause]

[Thanks for playing tonight. Please get your votes in for SkekZar’s upgrades and I will see you all tomorrow night at 8pm PST! Any comments, criticisms or questions welcome. I will be around to answer throughout the day. ]
>>
>>3830882
>[Apex Ascension] Your unnatural hunger spurns your body to grow even larger, stronger, faster and hardier. Every aspect of your physical body grows to allow you take on prey much bigger than your already massive size. You now stand over a foot taller than the tallest Skeksis, even putting the early Garthim to shame. At this size the sheer intimidation of your form will command obedience from anyone. [+2 to Strength, +2 to Dexterity, +2 to Constitution, +1 to Charisma]

This please. Thanks for running
>>
>>3830882
>[Apex Ascension] Your unnatural hunger spurns your body to grow even larger, stronger, faster and hardier. Every aspect of your physical body grows to allow you take on prey much bigger than your already massive size. You now stand over a foot taller than the tallest Skeksis, even putting the early Garthim to shame. At this size the sheer intimidation of your form will command obedience from anyone. [+2 to Strength, +2 to Dexterity, +2 to Constitution, +1 to Charisma]
Thanks for running! You're doing great so far!
>>
>>3830882
>[Apex Ascension] Your unnatural hunger spurns your body to grow even larger, stronger, faster and hardier. Every aspect of your physical body grows to allow you take on prey much bigger than your already massive size. You now stand over a foot taller than the tallest Skeksis, even putting the early Garthim to shame. At this size the sheer intimidation of your form will command obedience from anyone. [+2 to Strength, +2 to Dexterity, +2 to Constitution, +1 to Charisma]
>>
>>3830882
>[True Essence Sense] Your vision has further developed from simple dark-vision to eyes that can see things beyond the simple visual spectrum. Infrared to Ultraviolet a whole new world is open to you. Even hidden beings are exposed as you can see their very essence, their life force pumping through their body… even with your eyes shut. [+2 to intellect, Can see hidden things without a check]
Nothing will stay hidden from us nothing will get away from our cunning i do not trust this smokeling and scientist created us something so great we will make ourself better
>>
>>3830882
>>[True Essence Sense] Your vision has further developed from simple dark-vision to eyes that can see things beyond the simple visual spectrum. Infrared to Ultraviolet a whole new world is open to you. Even hidden beings are exposed as you can see their very essence, their life force pumping through their body… even with your eyes shut. [+2 to intellect, Can see hidden things without a check]


>"me big me eat all, durr" votes
>>
>>3830882
>>[Apex Ascension] Your unnatural hunger spurns your body to grow even larger, stronger, faster and hardier. Every aspect of your physical body grows to allow you take on prey much bigger than your already massive size. You now stand over a foot taller than the tallest Skeksis, even putting the early Garthim to shame. At this size the sheer intimidation of your form will command obedience from anyone. [+2 to Strength, +2 to Dexterity, +2 to Constitution, +1 to Charisma]
>>
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>>3831289
>>3831081
>>3831071
>>3830914
>>3830899
>>3830889

It is I.

The hunger.

And I say there should BE no sacrifice of our mind for our body.

Brothers of Battle I offer a solution.

[Apex Ascention]

But, Let us...forget the Dexterity.

>Strength+2
>Con +2
>+1 Charisma

but

>+2 Int

Even without the essence vision. Increasing our tactically is exactly what we should want.

Be huge.
Be FED.
Always have a plan.

The stupid will move as if we are a brute.
They will be...predictable.

Easy prey.

The smart shall move unknowing wether our next move will be of savagery or cunning!

They will always be wrong.
Let is always be BOTH,

>>3830882
Thanks for running.
I need to see more Skektech and Cool living quarters. You pick awesome art.
>>
>>3830882
>[True Essence Sense] Your vision has further developed from simple dark-vision to eyes that can see things beyond the simple visual spectrum. Infrared to Ultraviolet a whole new world is open to you. Even hidden beings are exposed as you can see their very essence, their life force pumping through their body… even with your eyes shut. [+2 to intellect, Can see hidden things without a check]

In time, our body will grow, our claws will be tested but for now no prey will escape our sight, the stealthiest predators and smallest creatures will be laid bare to us.
>>
>>3830882
>>[Apex Ascension] Your unnatural hunger spurns your body to grow even larger, stronger, faster and hardier. Every aspect of your physical body grows to allow you take on prey much bigger than your already massive size. You now stand over a foot taller than the tallest Skeksis, even putting the early Garthim to shame. At this size the sheer intimidation of your form will command obedience from anyone. [+2 to Strength, +2 to Dexterity, +2 to Constitution, +1 to Charisma]
>>
>>3830882
Query:

If we were to look at an enemy with our Essence Sense, could we see the areas of their body where their essence concentrates? It definitely helps to know where to aim.
>>
>>3831302
Agree Our fall in the Dreams was the darklings ability to hide and its hidden nature what we dont know can only harm us.
the power of a hunters body but not the ability to track and plan is just another prey a simple dumb food beast more so in this age where tech is so important.
The only thing that separates us from beasts is our smarts and tools.and to rule a court would not the power to see what they try to lie and hide from us? There schemes and plans never trust them.
And the ability to track and see there weakness will make us the hunter.
>>3831298
Its more palatable
The most important thing to be a true hunter and above beasts is our smarts the power to plan.
>>3831354
We did earlier skeksis we saw the weak point in the garthim and those crystal prey with this mutation will make us even better at finding the weak points and knowing many more things i desire the power to find this traps and prey and more nothing will be hidden from us nothing will play around or hide from us like the gelfling
>>
>>3831365
That seems like it would be great for some cunning brutality as we could stun an enemy and feast on their vitality quiet easily.
>>
>>3831354
So to clarify the chocies

Claws make it so whenever there is a choice to cut or tear into something its an automatic success and a hit in battle will cause greater injury or damage normally impenetrable armor.

The vision upgrade makes it so 'spot hidden' checks automatically pass and hidden things are pointed out. Invisible targets are seen and small details are highlighted that you would miss casually. Your vision already highlights things about a targets body.

The body upgrade just makes you Skekchad. Bigger, faster, tougher. Combined with the scent of death you are a scary fucker which will drive peoples opinion of you, for better or worse.
>>
>>3831440
My next question would be how hidden are we talking. Can we see things that are invisible? Hidden by mundane means? Even past walls or other solid obstructions?
>>
>>3831458
Line of sight and a little beyond, futther for the presence of essence and other things but more would be telling. Its not superman xray vision but you can spot a gelfling 50m off in the dark clear as day. Hidden also means little, important details. Kind if like Witcher Vision.
>>
>>3831458
I really want to know how conceptual it is
For magic stuff And if we can see there live/soul in them i think its possible to notice tells on lies not perfectly but better then nothing
>>
>>3831547
I am really liking this sure the other is a straight up upgrade making us a total chadbeast but this power would make us a real hunter and being able to see ultra violet we can write invisible text
>>
>>3830882
>[Apex Ascension]

I was going to vote for talons, but no-one else seems interested in them.
>>
>>3831547
Well that's really fucking good. Honestly having detective vision up 24/27 will open up a whole new world of perception to us, not to mention the other entire world of perception we would unlock with ultraviolet sight. Definitely much better than growing a bit sooner than normal.
>>
>>3831651
And if it's really as good as Witcher Vision we could see stuff like tracks in the dirt, scratches on walls, and all kinds of other clues alongside the telescopic essence scanning ultraviolet truesight.
>>
>>3830882
>[True Essence Sense] Your vision has further developed from simple dark-vision to eyes that can see things beyond the simple visual spectrum. Infrared to Ultraviolet a whole new world is open to you. Even hidden beings are exposed as you can see their very essence, their life force pumping through their body… even with your eyes shut. [+2 to intellect, Can see hidden things without a check]

This one please.
>>
Personnaly, I'd have gone for +Int option too, but I think that we need to get rid of negative stats like -3(!) Charisma first. And the fact that it comes with doubling down on our strengths is a plus too.
>>
>>3832424
Fuck me and my poor grammar
>>
>>3832430
I definitely understand that viewpoint, and I think that a lot of the time stats get ignored in favor of shiny abilities but I think Essence Sense is just too big of a boon to pass up, it opens up a ton of opportunities and the int is just icing on the cake. I'm also a big fan of enhanced perception from a role-playing standpoint.
>>
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>>3830882
[Session Resume]

>Apex Ascension Chosen

You arise from your fabric cocoon and with a smile, your tongue playing over your beak, finding the keratin plate replaced with a blunted blade of solid bone. You look down at SkekUng. You. Look. Down. Standing over a head taller now and twice as wide, you can barely bring your massive second arms around to pat him back. You have shed the fuzz along your shoulders leaving nothing but strong, leathery flesh hardened into scales.It is fortunate the armor of the Zealots stretches to fit your frame without compromising its protection You can hear your hearts thundering from the vision, though the taste of defeat mingles with the blood of the Darkmother. SkekUng’s mouth twists into an unfriendly smile and his Zealots draw in just a hair closer. He stiffens and speaks in a far more formal tone.

“The Court waits. You will enter and not speak until spoken too, 689. I will not stop them if you insult. Now. We go. I enter first.”

SkekUng moves past you to the door, opening the portal to the writing worm jaws beyond. The train creature has stopped before a small foyer before a set of heavy wooden doors. They stink with age but from the cracks wafts the smell of Essence and blood. Skeksis blood. The Hunger inside you twists and writhes with anticipation. Skekung steps forward to the door and places his hand upon the handle while his Garthim shift invisible and scuttle up the walls and out of sight.

>Again this insult, you will not let this one go unanswered. Shove SkekUng aside and kick open the doors. Proclaiming your name and demanding to see the Emperor.

>Follow SkekUng’s poorly worded advice and follow behind. Do not bow your head in shame, though you will need to duck under the doorframe.

>Write In


Current Stats
Your Character Sheet.

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Name: SkekZar

[Strength] [+6]
[Dexterity] [+5]
[Constitution] [+4]
[Intellect] [+1]
[Willpower] [+3]
[Charisma] [-2]

[0/2 Darkening] [Awoken]
[0/0 ???????] [??????]
[60/60] Essence
Hunger - Sated

Mutations-
[Blessing of the Hunt] Your body is blessed with the trappings of an apex predator. Stronger, Faster, Hardier but your scent reviles even those of your tribe. They can smell the Hunger on you and fear if they will be next

[Dark Vision] Skek-Zar can see perfectly in extremely low light conditions and living beings emit a sort of light highlighting something present in them.

>[Apex Ascension] Your unnatural hunger spurns your body to grow even larger, stronger, faster and hardier. Every aspect of your physical body grows to allow you take on prey much bigger than your already massive size. You now stand over a foot taller than the tallest Skeksis, even putting the early Garthim to shame. At this size the sheer intimidation of your form will command obedience from anyone. [+2 to Strength, +2 to Dexterity, +2 to Constitution, +1 to Charisma]
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>>3833086
>Again this insult, you will not let this one go unanswered.

But instead of kicking down the door we walk beside him as an equal, a better, show them we mean business and aren't here to be fucked with
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>>3833086
>>Follow SkekUng’s poorly worded advice and follow behind. Do not bow your head in shame, though you will need to duck under the doorframe.
>>
>>3833086
>Follow SkekUng’s poorly worded advice and follow behind. Do not bow your head in shame, though you will need to duck under the doorframe.

We shouldn't insult the court before becoming a part of it
>>
>>3833086

Follow him for now.
Let him speak out our arrival.

Tell them our name ourselves.

The emperor has met us already. Sees himself in us.

Prove him right to see it.

Skekung goes first.
We tell them our true name.
>>
>>3833086
>Follow SkekUng’s poorly worded advice and follow behind. Do not bow your head in shame, though you will need to duck under the doorframe.
>>
>>3833086
>>Again this insult, you will not let this one go unanswered. Shove SkekUng aside and kick open the doors. Proclaiming your name and demanding to see the Emperor.
>>
>>3833222
nevermind change to

>Follow SkekUng’s poorly worded advice and follow behind. Do not bow your head in shame, though you will need to duck under the doorframe.
>>
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>>3833086
Deciding to wait for your strike you let SkekUng lead. Traps are always sprung on the leader and its easier to kill from behind. Besides, you tower over SkekUng and to anyone that did not know, it would appear that he is your herald. And herald he does, or tries to as his meaty hand fumbles the small door handle. He curses then simply kicks the door in, shouting.

“YOU SPITHEADS LOCKED THE DOOR AGAIN. YOU BETTER NOT BE EATING THE LAST OF THE WRIGGLERS.”

A chours of tittering crows echo back as a smoke billows out from the door and a lilting voice, feminine in tenor answers.

“No, No, you bug loving dearie, we saved a plate just for you because you’re the only one that eats the nasty things. C’mon we’ve been waiting for you and and child. We have the other two!”

Skekung spares a glance back at you. “Remember what I said. And don’t accept SkekEkt’s offer. Not even the Scientist could help you if you do.”

The smoke has dissipated, revealing a rather small room with a semi-circle of a table piled high with mouth-watering creatures that kick and screaming and gibber. Even the vegetables scream as a horde of Skeksis of varying appearance and vestment gorge themselves. In the center is a much larger chair, throne like and raised above the other places. Upon it sits the Emperor, as you barely recall from your birth-feast. Grand and imperial, he reclines, quietly inspecting his stave. Waves of Hunger ebb from the crystal lodged in the crook and makes your stomach turn. The soft voice sings out again, a very orantely dressed Skeksis with too many frills, an obscene shock of red hair and strange pigmentation about its face points past SkekUng.

“Now SkekUng, bring in the child we’ve heard so much about already. SkekTek wouldn’t shut up about all his readings and data. Come in dear. Please.”


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>>3833325

SkekUng walks forward and motions for you to follow. You oblige, taking time to shift your bulk through the door frame. As you clear the smog and stand at your full height the crowd goes still, some even gasping.

“Skeksis, I bring the wayward child. Plucked from the Garthim Hive and washed in the blood of the infidels. This is Six-” You cut SkekUng off with a deep rumbling hiss and step forward, standing next to him.

“I. AM NO NUMBER. I AM SKEK-ZAR AND I AM THE STRONGEST.”

The court pauses for a moment before breaking into raucous laughter. Even the emperor on his throne, chortles heavily before waving his staff at those seated.

“I see we have an honored Skeksis before our court. It has chosen a name and proclaimed itself. Very well, youngling. I supposed it would do to introduce the court to the Scientist’s latest attempt. Come now, let us not be rude to the Great and Terrible Skek-Zar. SkekOk, the royal titles.”

A skesis, nearly as tall as SkekUng stands and adjusts a set of lenses on his beak before withdrawing a long scroll from its sleeve.

“The Court is Joined in full. All Skeksis are in attendance. SkekSo, Emperor and Ruler of All.” The Emperor reclines, smiling.

“SkekZok, High Priest and Ritual Master” A hunched Skeksis, draped in robes, chains and strange metal canisters that emit a cloying smoke stands, bows and then returns to his curiously empty plate.

“SkekTek, The Scientist. A statue of metal in the shape of a skeksis standing to the side of the table, tilts its head while glowing eyes shift about in odd directions.

“SkekOk, Scrollkeeper and Recorder. Myself.”

“SkekEkt, Ornamentalist and Grand Hedonist” The blue faced Skeksis stands, curtseys and sits back down, giving you a look that makes you feel uneasy.

“SkekUng, The Garthim Master and General.” SkekUng looks to you and back to the court giving only the briefest of huffs.

The Emperor again stirs, waving his staff dismissively.

“So tell us, 689, largest of SkekTek’s abominations, why we should allow you have a title and a place at this table when you should be down with your two other bastard creations watching why we have ruled the Galaxy for thousands of Trine. Answer me, lab rat, or I will send you back down into the feculent Garthim waste pool where you were birthed.

The court erupts in laughter, though uneasy as your form tenses under the withering, casual assault from your Emperor. There is something in his words, the tinge of the Hunger. A pale shade of the Dark Mothers but its there, curling, tempting you.

Well SkekZar. Your Emperor Commands. Proclaim yourself and justify your existence.

>Write in
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>>3833336

"They had to be fed."

Stand tall.

"I ate them."

Eye them all. They might be next.

"They had to be birthed. Then tank nourished."

Roll your arms. This gift of dark power apparent.

"I broke my way free. Then killed our enemies."

Snap our jaw.

"I live by my HUNGER FOR LIFE. FED BY DEATH!"

SCREAM IT.

"I FEEL NOTHING MORE THAN THIS. NOTHING MORE. THERE CAN BE -RIGHT- GREATER THAN THIS!"

Look to our emperor. I suspect our father...

"I crave. Therefore I am."

Wipe the drool off.

"What could possibly be more Skeksis than that?"
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>>3833336
>Boast about your unquestionable potential - none of other hatchlings have shown such promise before. Our physique, our unrelenting nature and our mere appearance speak for themselves.
>Have any other hatchlings have had to fight? Have any of them have shown such tenacity?
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>>3833377
Hahahaha, that's great man
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>>3833377
I am loving it and you live on the edge of phone death so you get my support
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>>3833377

You stand tall. Proud. Your body a living temple of physical perfection, shaming their corpulent and soft bodies. Are these really your betters? Today, you will remind them what it is to be mighty.

"THE HATCHLINGS WERE WEAK, AND FOR THAT I CONSUMED THEM." Your mouth salivates as your lick your chops with a tongue far too large for your mouth.

"THE OTHERS HAD TO BE NURSED, GROWN. I SHATTERED THE FALSE WOMB." Punctuating your birthright by slamming your fists into the floor, cracking the smooth black stone and drawing a gasp from the Court.

“THEN I FEASTED UPON OUR ENEMIES. CONSUMED THEIR ESSENCE WHILE THEY SCREAMED! I LIVE ON THEIR DEATH! THERE IS NOTHING GREATER IN THIS LIFE!”

You leap upon the table before the emperor. Kicking away the pathetic meal he ignores and staring into his stoic eye.

“I CRAVE. I CONSUME. I. AM. SKEKSIS.”

There is silence in the Court, the other Skeksis looking between you and the Emperor for an eternity. Something...unseen grazes your heart and passes between you and the Emperor. For a moment you think you see the Emperor's form flicker, causing your Hunger to knot itself in alarm, but before you can even consider the feeling, it is gone and the Emperor laughs.


“AHA! Well said. Perhaps the Scientist did get it right after all.” He looks past you at SkekUng. “The Garthim were correct. It does smell like SkekMal did, the dead fool. Talks like it too.” The emperor returns your gaze. “Skek-Zar the Ravener. I grant you Title. Wear it well, but care not to lose it. I cannot allow you a seat at this Court as unproven as you are, but I shall honor you your title and to stand with us as we drain this miserable rock. Then you will join the other two Hatchlings.. Find a patron to sponsor you and maybe you will find a seat here.” He draws his staff an inch from your face and draws close, whispering in your ear.

“Know this, progeny. You are one of the only three survivors out of thousands of failures. We wasted hundreds of worlds worth of Prime Essence to create you, do not disappoint me remember my warning. I know she spoke to you, now watch what I have created.”

He sits back and waves towards the far wall as the Scientist hobbles forward. Covered in layers and layers of metal and tubes, hissing strangely as it walks forward and gestures. The far wall pulls away revealing space beyond. There is a planet, encrusted in towering crystals, crackling with violet energy. Shattered crystals and bleeding lumps drift in orbit. There are few crystal ships, venting atmosphere and listing as giant, living tumors lash their hulls with boarding tubules and organic missiles.

1/2
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>>3833696

A robotic voice crackles forth. “The Crystal is aligned and ready for Mass Draining. Garthim fleets report all capital ships have been destroyed or consumed. The Eternal has sustained minimal damage. The slave-thinkers rejected leaving a Shackle and drawing tribute. The biomass is advanced and the Prime Essence is mature. Ritual Master, attend your duty.

The Ritual Master stands, walks to the center of the room and...shifts. Its skeksis form drops away, melting like soft wax for a moment before the scent of Hunger fills the room. The court is humming some dark tune you barely understand. The form of the Ritual Master grows into a towering figure, taller than you. Its face becomes a flat triangle with the hint of a face molded into the faceplate. Its skeletal arms draw forth various implements of ritual and he steps forward into nothingness.

Suddenly it appears on the prow of the ship, grand and imperial with outstretched arms. The chanting continues as the prow of The Eternal opens up, plate after plate pull back, like a sneering mouth as a purple crystal extends forth. The Ritual Master cries.

“CRYSTAL OF THRA! YOUR MASTERS COMMAND! DRAIN THIS LESSER WORLD! BE FED AND FEED YOUR MASTERS ETERNAL! IN THE NAME OF THE SKEKSIS! IN THE NAME THE EMPEROR. PERISH FOR THE MASTERS OF ETERNITY AND FEED LIFE EVERLASTING.”

There is silence. No sound carries in the emptiness of space. The Crystal shudders for a moment before a bright lance of energy vomits forth and strikes the planet. In a moment the energy arcing around the world pauses and is then violently ripped back into the crystal. The crystal continues its attack, burning away the planet’s atmosphere, then its surface and then splitting it entirely in two. There is a scream from nowhere that rips through everything as a crust and mantle are devoured by the crystal. Impossible amounts of matter just disappears.

2/3
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>>3833701

Suddenly, inside the Court a small dias rises and in the center is a tiny decanter, no larger than your pinky. A small tube to the side emites a pure violet liquid. You have smelled this liquid before, during the hatching. The Scientist floats over, noticing now that his legs do not move.

“6.462 miliTharks of Prime Essence was collected. A good harvest.” He takes a tiny eye-dropper and measures out an irresistible single drop and places one a single square of cloth. He prepares one dose for each Skeksis here in the court, and with a nod from the Emperor, prepares one for you.”
The Scientist gives the paper to each Skeksis. The Ritual Master reappears in his base form and takes two sheets and hands one to you.

“SkekZar, The Ravener. Welcome to Life. Take this Essence, in memory of the Fallen and in Victory over Death. We are Eternal. In the Emperor’s name. Eternal.”

Everyone consumes their blot of Prime Essence and screams in ecstacy. Slamming the table and tossing food. Rapture washes over the face of the Emperor. You hear Deet’s voice in your ear. “Its really that good. Eat up, little one. You’re a growing Skeksis!” You cannot hold back, so sweet is the aroma. The blotter melts on your tongue and the world melts away in a haze of pleasure. Someone is laughing. That someone is you.

Hail SkekZar, The Ravener. You are born this day, and may you be Eternal.

[End of Chapter 1]

[Sorry for the delay. A lot of exposition in this one, but congratulations! You have a title, but aren’t a full Skeksis yet. What does the future hold for SkekChad the Hungering! Thank you for playing so far! We’ll start Chapter 2 on Tuesday. As always, any comments questions welcome. The thread is auto-saging so we’ll start a fresh one then.
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>>3833701
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcMz3aAZDv4

[Forgot the tunes. Happy Planet Cracking]
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>>3833703
>>3833706
Hell yeah.

Definitely keeping an eye on this quest, it's pretty damn good so far.
>>
Definitely loving this so far, and looking forward to seeing what comes next!

Some ambience which I think suits the whole sci-fi skeksis theme rather well (Crystalhammer 40k as it were)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mBXrjDjIUAOrkHTgrYao7sAt-W-OV2nMk
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>>3833703

In a word.

Sick.

In an image.

>Pic related

We're tripping nuts off of SAPIENT LIFE SOUL JUICE!

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH NOTICE ME EMPEROR SO I CAN EAT YOU WITH EYE CONTACT.

ALL
HAIL
SKEKZAR!
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>>3833703
You should probably archive this... But I'll do the first thread for you!

buuuut looks like I was beaten to the punch

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3815616/
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>>3839901
New thread for anyone still checking here.



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