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File 125243965266.jpg - (177.06KB , 1600x1200 , Ant Quest Part 2.jpg )
39964 No. 39964 ID: 6164e0

(Started a new thread, old one had gotten big and slow)

I am hungry and weary, and my Honor Guard are equally fatigued and in need of food.

Hrm. I have some Bohemian Rhapsody and T.B. Sheets' carcass in the bank, and access to unlimited free (but not particularly good) food in the guest chambers.


What should I do?
Expand all images
>>
No. 39970 ID: 06fc25

Eat T.B. Sheets. Save the Bohemian Rhapsody for when you challenge THE METAL.
>>
No. 39971 ID: 6164e0

>>39970

I suppose I could, but T.B. Sheets and the 3 units of Bohemian Rhapsody are the only things in the bank. If I eat them, I have nothing to trade at the bazaar.

Hmm..... I wonder....

That warrior, the ex-heavyweight champion, The Big O....

That Valiance he did with his legs. It looked somewhat similar to Aerosmith, just much sharper, more abrupt.

DECENT INTELLIGENCE BONUS

That leg that Metallica took off of him. Could someone eat that to get that Valiance? I still don't understand exactly how that works, but it sounds possible.

Maybe I could ask Metallica if he would trade the leg to me.....

I don't have all that much to offer in trade though.
>>
No. 39974 ID: 6faa8c

>>39971
Offer him a favor he can cash at a later date.
>>
No. 39978 ID: 6164e0

>>39974
The Metal is still somewhere in The Fight Song, but if I stay alert, I should be able to avoid running into him.

'Flash.'

'Yes, Scars of Yesterday?'

'Can you locate Metallica? I wish to speak with him.'

'One moment.'

Flash walks about in aimless circles, his particularly long antenna twitching to and fro.

'It is difficult to be sure with his fluids splashed in the room we were in-'

'You were there too?'

'Of course, I was keeping an eye on The Metal, as ordered.'

'I see. Continue.'

'Certainly. Anyway, I can't be sure, but I think I smell him moving towards the banking area above.'

'I see.'


What should I do?
>>
No. 39979 ID: 6faa8c

>>39978
Head to the banking area, it's been a while. We can trade him Sheet's corpse for that leg, and ask him if it would work.
>>
No. 39982 ID: 5e25cc

Hey, could also ask Metallica about helping to investigate the inside of that spire out in the Crucible when he's feeling better, too. He'd be more than enough backup!
>>
No. 39988 ID: 6164e0

>>39979

I lead my group to the Banking area. We are tired and hungry, but this is something worth investigating while we have the chance.

We arrive in the bank, and I wave away one of the small creatures as it approaches me. I am here to meet Metallica, not to interact with my rather small supply of food.

It isn't long until a rather great commotion is made in one of the larger tunnels leading into the bank area. I can detect pheremone messages being sent, and recognize one.

'-as saying, if honored guest is so injured, this one would suggest resting.'

'Pfaw! Just get me my prize, I want some Bohemian Rhapsody to eat!'

'But honore-'

'JUST GET THE FOOD SQUIRTS.'

Metallica emerges into the chamber, his missing leg, his cracked mandible and his broken shell worn as badges of glory. He is preceded by several of the small creatures that reside in The Fight Song frantically hopping over to one of the hexagons in the wall, leaping back carrying several chunks of Bohemian Rhapsody.

....!? I knew that smell from The Crucible of Valiance was familiar, it was the scent of Bohemian Rhapsody!

Metallica starts tearing into the food brought to him, and seems to relax contentedly after devouring the pieces brought to him.


What should I do?
>>
No. 39989 ID: 6faa8c

>>39988
"Hey, Metallica! that was one hell of a match!"
>>
No. 39995 ID: 5e25cc

As I suspected. Well, that settles it then, a return trip is definitely in order, especially if we can get the big guy to come along. Hell, we could offer to split the take with him, it'd only be fair.
>>
No. 40006 ID: 6164e0

>>39989
He seems to respect those who are straightforward. Very well.

'Hey Metallica, that was a most glorious battle you won! I was honored I could witness such powerful warriors at work.'

Metallica perks up, looking at me with one massive eye. He rumbles with his familiar laughter.

'ZEHAHAHA, it's the little warrior! Good job winnin' yer first two fights, I made a tidy profit bettin' on yer first two bouts. Good victories, and well fought! Hah, too bad The Metal has his sights set on ya.'

He seems to become agitated.

'BAH! Those who could crush him get told to play nice, not to teach The Metal a bit of respect for his fellow fighters. So what if he's a representative of the Empire, what he's doin' is slowly killin' The Fight Song. If new fighters that have fought against the Empire are excluded The Fight Song get more borin', and nothin' interestin' happens. BAH, I want to crush that self righteous hornet!'

It seems Metallica has a particular dislike of The Metal.


What should I do?
>>
No. 40008 ID: 954933

>>40006
Wait, who's telling you to play nice with The Metal?
>>
No. 40010 ID: 6164e0

>>40008

'Wait, who's telling you to play nice with The Metal?'

'Eh? Ah, The Founders of The Collective said that if we treated him the same way we normally treat fighters that do shit like that, that we would get barred from fighting. Sucks, but this is their place.'

'What do you normally do to fighters that act as The Metal does?'

'We eat them.'


What should I do?
>>
No. 40012 ID: 5e25cc

>>40006
"I would imagine you'd get nearly as much satisfaction out of watching someone he considers inferior putting him in his place, right? And if so, I could use your help out in the Crucible later, when you're feeling up to it. I've noticed something out there that might help to even the odds a bit between The Metal and myself, if I could only get to it."
>>
No. 40013 ID: 6faa8c

>>40010
"Why have we not banded together to strike at them decisively?! So many strong fighters, so much Valiance among us... one good blow to them is all it would take!"
>>
No. 40023 ID: 6164e0

>>40013
"Why have we not banded together to strike at them decisively?! So many strong fighters, so much Valiance among us... one good blow to them is all it would take!"

Metallica stops laughing.

'Little warrior, your courage is great, but you don't understand. The Founders.....

Let me tell you a little story. Once before, when I was younger, a group of fighters from the arena, all powerful warriors, demanded that we go to war with the Empire. When word reached them that the Founders refused, the warriors raged, and sought out the Founders to demand that they reconsider.

....Just one of the Founders bothered to show itself. When it continued to refuse, the warriors challenged it. Twenty three brave fighters, every one of them a champion at some point in their careers, fought against it in anger.

They all died, every last one of them, and the founder left their corpses in the food at the guest chamber as a reminder that they are the ones who decide what happens in The Collective.

So we obey their rules, such as they are.'

Metallica looks at me strangely now, like he is looking for something.


What should I do?
>>
No. 40026 ID: 5e25cc

>>40023
Whee, conspiracy fodder.

That aside, ask Metallica if he'd be interested in hitting the Crucible later when he's healed up. Maybe ask him to meet you in your room, and tell him about the BR there, away from potential eavesdroppers.
>>
No. 40027 ID: 6164e0

>>40026
'...Lets put that aside for now. Once you're healed up, would you like to go to the Crucible of Valiance with me and my fellow soldiers of KILLER QUEEN?'

Metallica relaxes again, and regains his cavalier demeanor.

'I told you before, right? I don't like fighting alongside others. Just isn't as fun.'

'Would you at least come meet with me in the guest chambers when you are healed? There is something about The Crucible of Valiance I think you should know.'

'Okay, okay, little warrior. Hah, I'm still hungry. Was there anythin' else, or are we done here?'
>>
No. 40029 ID: 5e25cc

>>40027
Congratulate him again and let the big guy get some rest. Then get T.B. Sheets' carcass out of the bank for your own food and head back to your quarters for some R&R.
>>
No. 40032 ID: 92ab53

>>40029
I thought we were going to see if we could trade for Big O's leg?
>>
No. 40034 ID: 6164e0

>>40032
'I was wondering if you would be willing to part with The Big O's leg.'

'ZEHAHA, I saw you using that Valiance you got from Xephyr. Let me guess, you are wonderin' if maybe eatin' the leg would give you his, right? Well, I can't say it won't work, but I can't say it will, either. Body parts can impart Valiance, but not always.

But if you want it, what would you offer me in return? I mean, that is one hell of a Valiance The Big O has, and this leg is the only chance anyone has of getting it without killin' him.'


What should I say?
>>
No. 40049 ID: ed8d8a

I.. I feel fairly certain that if we were able to identify the scent of BR from the Crucible a the distance we reached, then it's presence is probably not a closely kept secret, and us treating it as some great revelation will make us look silly. For all we know, that is where the supply COMES from.

In the mean time, be honest with Metallica, say we have no idea what things are "worth" around here. This entire concept of a trade economy is new to us.
>>
No. 40059 ID: 6164e0

>>40049

'I... don't really understand the concept of trade much, since before coming here our hive only ran into hostile creatures. We've never had a chance to trade before.'

Metallica looks at me as his laughing subsides.

'...Thats right, isn't it, your colony is all alone out there. Well, I'll be honest, your askin' me to trade somethin' that might give you a high caliber Valiance, the type that even champions find potent. Even Bohemian Rhapsody is less valued than a body with Valiance in it.

....On the other hand, I don't really know if a Valiance that manifests in a specific body part might be attainable by eatin' the body part it manifests in. And I can't really test it, 'cuz I'd have to eat it to check if this works.

Look, if you're willing to gamble that this body part can give you a Valiance, I'll hold onto it for ya. If you bring me either (15 units of Bohemian Rhapsody) or a carcass with a Valiance in it, I'll trade ya. And ta make sure ya understand that I'm cuttin' ya a break, Valiances of this caliber normally are considered to be at least worth (75 units of Bohemian Rhapsody) or more, but since I don't know if it will actually give you the Valiance, I'm cuttin' the value down a good bit. Plus, ya did make me some money when I bet on ya.

I'll leave instructions with the squirts that run the bank that if you bring them either of those, they can exchange it for the limb. Fair? Now unless you have anything else ta say, I'm gonna go find something tasty to eat in the bazaar.'


What should I do?
>>
No. 40067 ID: 92ab53

>>40059
Rest, eat, then back to the crucible of valiance to FUCK SHIT UP!!!
>>
No. 40075 ID: 6164e0

>>40067

I say my farewells to Metallica, who only grunts in response. I lead my group to the guest chambers, and there we gorge ourselves on the food available, and claim a spot to rest, letting our bodies digest the food and recuperate.

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


Some time has passed, and we are no longer weary or hungry.


Should we do anything first, or should we head straight to The Crucible of Valiance?
>>
No. 40092 ID: 5227a0

>>40075
Hit the Crucible. That's gonna be the only way to get Metallica's fee since the Fight Song is out of the question for the moment.
>>
No. 40097 ID: 92ab53

>>40092
Hmm... I can't think of any way to prepare properly for the upcoming battle...
>>
No. 40098 ID: 6faa8c

>>40097
If only we had a few more soldiers...
>>
No. 40101 ID: 5227a0

That's all right, guys, I've got an idea for when the A-team (Scars and company) is on-site that may keep things from becoming too overwhelming. When the big ones burst out of the ground again, head into the tunnels. That'll force the big ones to attack singly, and they should be much easier to dispatch one-on-one (versus a TMBG) or when confronted by a foe with superior maneuverability and smaller size in close quarters (Scars or D6L).
>>
No. 40103 ID: 6164e0
File 125245171996.jpg - (20.76KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Round 2 01.jpg )
40103

>>40092
>>40097
>>40098
(Onwards to the Crucible!)

We are well fed and rested. There is no reason to delay.

I lead my group out of The Collective once more, and follow the path I took before to reach The Crucible of Valiance.

At the moment, we seem to still be far enough away we are not treated as a threat.


How should we proceed?
(Yellow=Scars, Red w/ black outline=TMBG, Dark Red=D6L, Green=Flash)
>>
No. 40105 ID: 6faa8c

>>40103
Approach and stop as soon as they emerge.
>>
No. 40112 ID: 5227a0

>>40103
D6L, mount up. TMBGs, shoulder to shoulder and move forward. Scars on point, keeping your pace equal to the others. Flash, dash in ahead and look 'round, see if you can provoke a couple to come out and play before returning to the group.
>>
No. 40117 ID: 6164e0
File 125245230670.jpg - (25.25KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Round 2 02.jpg )
40117

>>40105
Right, we'll just advance until they com-

OH


Ah



What should we do?
>>
No. 40118 ID: 6faa8c

>>40117
FFFFFFFU-
>>
No. 40125 ID: 5227a0

>>40117
*sigh* This is why I was recommending a probe first. Right, I can still work with this.

Flash and D6L, mount up. Direct your TMBGs side-by-side toward the upper-left tunnel and engage with the four big enemies there. Scars, run in ahead of them directly between the middle two big'uns, if you can get them to turn to follow you, that should leave them open for a free strike from the rest of your crew.
>>
No. 40126 ID: f78140

>>40117
when surrounded, break out as quickly as possible.
in this case, attack both rear flanks. have the TMBGs defend the front under the care of Flash, take one side by yourself, and the D6Ls on the other side.
>>
No. 40128 ID: 6164e0

>>40125
(not sure what 'big'uns' you are referencing. Purple are large termites, brown are regular termites, black is tunnels. Please call things by name so I don't have to guess what you are referencing)
>>
No. 40129 ID: 92ab53

>>40117
Use the Mako's main cannon to blast the Rachni to hell!

Oh wait...

At least your foes are confronting you head on. Rush the enemies from one of the southern holes and slaughter them, then turn to face the other foes. Leave no one standing.
>>
No. 40135 ID: 5227a0

>>40128
Sorry, Bob. Meant the two large termites in the middle of the upper-left formation, the ones closest to the group.
>>
No. 40140 ID: 6164e0
File 125245398748.jpg - (25.28KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Round 2 03.jpg )
40140

>>40125
We rush the nearest of the larger vile creatures, and kill one before they can respond. We have broken the formation of these beasts in the upper left, and should be able to kill a few more without much effort shortly.

....which is good, as all the other larger beasts are working their way towards us.

On a positive note, the smaller and weaker beasts are once again crowding together to defend the entrance to the spire.

It does in fact seem they remember us. But we killed scores of them before, and no colony has infinite numbers. And I can smell it faintly, now that I know what it is: There is Bohemian Rhapsody inside.


What should we do?
(Mounted Flash=Red with green outline, mounted D6L=Dark red, black outline)
>>
No. 40143 ID: 5227a0

>>40140
Scars, see if you can skewer the three large termites that form a vague line south of you with Path of Glory. Mounted ants, gang up on the single large one to the north and pulverize him. That should clear some space out.
>>
No. 40144 ID: 92ab53

>>40140
Scars, turn and attack the southern group of large termites. Have the two mounted units face off the other two groups of large termites, then have Scars flank them, possibly using his rush attack to cut a swath through them.
>>
No. 40145 ID: 6164e0
File 125245494085.jpg - (25.44KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Round 2 04.jpg )
40145

>>40143
>>40144
I see the vile beast lined up before me, like flimsy targets waiting to be knocked down.

It seems they have forgotten what I can do.

I shall remind them.

I open my spiracles wide as I clamp my mandibles shut. They will not stop me.

PATH OF GLORY

I rip great rents in their forms as I blaze past, the vile creatures already in their death throes behind me, stilling quickly.

I am getting more adept with Path of Glory and Aerosmith both, bit by bit.

Flash and Death On Six Legs work together with their mounts, and obliterate the lone vile creature still near them.

The other advancing creatures are nearing us.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40149 ID: 5227a0

>>40145
Path of Glory again, Scars, ignoring the large termite closest to you in favor of hardballing through the next four in line, or even five if you can manage to tweak your path along the way.

Ant calvary, follow up in Scars' wake and hit the one he leaves behind, turning to face the others before they manage a strike at your backs.
>>
No. 40153 ID: 92ab53

>>40145
The fools are lined up in a circle. They think that getting close to you will help them. Show them the error of their ways.

Have the other ants clear the area while you use Aerosmith to boost straight up. Then dive-bomb them with a Stoner Sunshine [1] right in the center of their formation.

(forgot what to roll)
>>
No. 40160 ID: 6164e0
File 125245599188.jpg - (25.82KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Round 2 05.jpg )
40160

>>40153
(D10, for future reference, is STONER SUNSHINE LV1 dice to roll. Beat 3+number of times Lv1 has been used recently)

>>40149
From my new position, I see my foes arranged neatly to be attacked, if I capitalize on it quickly. I have done Aerosmith twice in succession before, it is uncomfortable, but I can endure.

PATH OF GLORY

I slam through three of the beasts before slowing. No, there are still more to kill. Would Metallica stop simply because it was difficult to continue? No, he would push through, achieve his goes no matter what. If I am to have any hope of one day reaching the heights he stands on, I must push myself.

I keep my Spiracles open, and reactivate Aerosmith, heedless of the repercussions.

PATH OF GLORY

...It is a bit difficult to breathe right now, but I am still fully functional.

Death On Six Legs and Flash plow into the mass of vile creatures to my rear left, inspired by me. My Shining Light is glowing stronger as I fight.

...it seems reinforcements have come.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40167 ID: 5227a0

>>40160
Ant calvary, see if you can bull your way down into the nearby tunnel (upper-left). If you're able to do so, then dismount and put yourselves between the two TMBGs.

Scars, if you're able to manage one more Path or Glory, that lineup closing in on your honor guard is ripe for being speared.
>>
No. 40174 ID: 6164e0
File 125245707778.jpg - (25.71KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Round 2 06.jpg )
40174

>>40167
....I still have an opportunity to capitalize on the vile creatures being lined up.

I open my spiracles for a third time, clamping my mandibles together to form a wicked spear.

PATH OF GLORY

Pain.....Fatigue....Discomfort....I can... barely... breathe, and... my body aches... from the abuse I... am heaping on it.

I care not.

Metallica would push through this. I shall too, no matter the challenge.

Flash and Death On Six Legs are able to work their way to the edge of the Tunnel where I am shaking as I recover.

'You don't look too good. Maybe we should pull back.'

Ever watchful, ever dutiful, Death On Six Legs speaks his mind to remind me of my duty: Above all else, to serve KILLER QUEEN. And if I die here, I will have failed her.

But I can go on.

For the moment, no new defenders are coming.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40177 ID: 5227a0

>>40174
Inside. Marching order: TMBG, Scars, Flash, D6L, TMBG.

Scars, take a few moments to recuperate while the big ants and D6L hold off the termites.

Flash, use your tremorsense as advance warning in case any more come toward you from the inside.
>>
No. 40178 ID: 5227a0

>>40177
And by inside, I mean down the tunnel, of course.
>>
No. 40187 ID: 6164e0
File 125245793538.jpg - (23.90KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Spire Outer Tunnels 1.jpg )
40187

I order Flash and Death On Six Legs to dismount, and with a They Might Be Giants in both the front and the rear, we descend into the tunnels.

'Flash.'

'Yes, Scars of Yesterday?'

'What can you tell me about our immediate surroundings? Where are these creatures located beneath ground?'

'I feel several walking around in a chamber below, perhaps fifteen total. I can't feel anything else moving around nearby.'

'I see.'

I am sure of it, I can smell Bohemian Rhapsody more strongly, the scent wafting up and past us.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40192 ID: 5227a0

>>40187
If the termites from up top aren't following you down the tunnel, swap the rear TMBG to the front and use both of the big ants as a barrier while Flash zips into the chamber to see about drawing some of the occupants back toward the group. Scars and D6L, keep an eye toward the rear in case you're followed.
>>
No. 40197 ID: b21e04

Chunky salsa, chunky salsa, chunky salsa!

Guys can we please have him use Stoner Sunshine now? Everyone's been ignoring that ability since we got Aerosmith...
>>
No. 40198 ID: 6164e0
File 125245861533.jpg - (24.25KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Spire Outer Tunnels 2.jpg )
40198

>>40192
Flash seems to have succeeded in drawing their attention.

And the one from the surface that we had not slain seem to be returning underground in pursuit of us.

But I can breathe freely again, and am only slightly fatigued and free of injury, as all of the gore and viscera on me comes from my foes at the moment.

....I still haven't cleaned myself since getting to the collective, and the grime is starting to build up from all the foes I have slain.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40199 ID: 5227a0

>>40197
If the termites are gracious enough to group up tightly first, I don't see why not!
>>
No. 40202 ID: 5227a0

>>40198
Swap one of the TMBGs back to the rear to intercept the ones coming from behind, with D6L supporting it.

Flash, zip back in and run interference, circling 'round the termites in the chamber and nipping at their legs and so on so they'll try all chase after you. Don't stay in one place long enough to take a return blow, however.

Scars, hold back for now, but move to support Flash if it looks like he's going to get tagged by a counterattack.
>>
No. 40208 ID: 6164e0

>>40202
(WARNING: Flash are flimsy, just getting hit once by these things would kill a Flash, in most cases. Proceed Y/N?)
>>
No. 40212 ID: 5227a0

>>40208
Okay, modify that command for Flash to just run circles around them while keeping well out of reach, basically zipping around and being annoying.
>>
No. 40216 ID: 6164e0
File 12524600573.jpg - (24.19KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Spire Outer Tunnels 3.jpg )
40216

I order Flash to try to cluster the termites together before retreating back to our location.

While Flash darts about, luring the termites into new positions, I order Death On Six Legs and one of the They Might Be Giants to defend our rear from any of the vile creatures that may try to approach us.

Shortly Flash darts back, spiracles opened wide to get more air.

The mass of the larger vile creature followed her as a massed cluster, and are poised to smash into us with their press of numbers.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40226 ID: 6faa8c

rolled 9 = 9

>>40216
STONER SUNSHINE, LEVEL .5
>>
No. 40235 ID: ed8d8a

>>40226
Why only .5? Worried about the enclosed space? They are still spread out a little bit.
>>
No. 40245 ID: 6164e0
File 125246238822.jpg - (24.11KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Spire Outer Tunnels 4.jpg )
40245

>>40226
(ROLL SUCCESS)
I remember how potent STONER SUNSHINE was in an enclosed space before. I am hesitant to use it without first getting a better measure of it. After all, I have used the Valiance Aerosmith and the Ability Path of Glory more than I have STONER SUNSHINE.

I play it safe, only swinging a single mandible partly open.

It clicks shut.

There is a flash of light and a loud noise.

STONER SUNSHINE LV[0.5]

The effects..... are somewhat underwhelming. But even so, it kills some of the vile creatures and stuns many of those behind it.

Only an instant has passed.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40247 ID: 6faa8c

rolled 3 = 3

>>40245
TMBGs CHARGE FORTH, after you shoot another level ONE SS.
>>
No. 40248 ID: 6faa8c

>>40247
>3
FUCK
>>
No. 40258 ID: 6164e0
File 125246330684.jpg - (24.26KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Spire Outer Tunnels 5.jpg )
40258

>>40247
(FAILURE, DID NOT BEAT 3)

No. No this is not enough. I need more power.

I swing a mandible wide open.

It swings shut.

There is a blinding flash of light and a tremendous noise.

STONER SUNSHINE LV[1]

...That had a more extreme effect. Most of the clustered vile creatures lay slain, their bodies burst with their innards leaking through the cracks as they curl in death.

I order the two They Might Be Giants to charge forth to break the remaining creatures in the chamber.

Flash seemed to have been hit with some of the reflected wave from STONER SUNSHINE, and is currently dazed.

Death On Six Legs is having trouble holding off our pursuers without help from a They Might Be Giants.

...I feel the Shining Light fade, and my limbs grow heavier. I have lost the ability to use STONER SUNSHINE for the nonce, it seems.



What should we do?

!!NOTICE!! Scars of Yesterday is now Lethargic. He will need food and rest to recover.
!!NOTICE!! Scars of Yesterday no longer possesses the Shining Light Trait. Losing the Lethargic Trait will restore Shining Light.
!!NOTICE!! Scars of Yesterday can no longer use STONER SUNSHINE. It will become usable again once the Lethargic Trait is lost.
>>
No. 40261 ID: 6faa8c

>>40258
Get in among the bodies, have help getting defended by the Giants and OMNOMNOM
>>
No. 40267 ID: 5227a0

>>40258
Path of Glory if you can, Scars, back up through the tunnel to take out three of the termites coming after Death on Six Legs, then both of you attack the remaining one from opposite sides.

TMBGs, form up again at the cavern entrance, keep anything from getting through.
>>
No. 40270 ID: 9891a9

>>40261
An excellent idea, we can take advantage of their slower mobility when they are near a corpse. While Scars eats, the others should be holding the enemy at bay, not trying to kill them.
>>
No. 40271 ID: f78140

>>40258
only one choice now. follow the scent of the Bohemian Rhapsody, without it you have almost no chance of escape.
>>
No. 40284 ID: 6164e0
File 125246467838.jpg - (24.24KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Spire Outer Tunnels 6.jpg )
40284

>>40267
...I may be slowed, my body responding sluggishly, but I can still fight. I must. I promised my beloved queen I would return. What kind of ant would I be if I broke that promise?

I force my spiracles to open again, despite resistance from my weakened body.

I aim myself back up the tunnel, shouting orders as I do for Death On Six Legs to pull Flash back, and for the two They Might Be Giants to pull back and keep the surviving vile creatures from pursuing us from the chamber.

>>40270
I remember the horrid abominations move slowly when forced to pick a path over their dead, and hope that it means They Might Be Giants can outrun them.

It does.

I clamp my mandibles together and set myself, ready to attack the creatures in the tunnel above us.

PATH OF GLORY

The power is lackluster, I barely pierce the first two before losing most of my speed.

This is not enough. I must do more. I wrench my protesting spiracles open once more.

PATH OF GLORY

The... creatures... that followed... us into the tunnel... have died. Breathing... is very difficult.... right now. But there... are no more... near this tunnel.

>>40261
>>40270
(OM NOM NOM vile creatures)

...I start eating of the fallen.... monsters. Their flesh is spongy.... and not particularly appealing... but it is nourishment (I hope).


I am still having.. some trouble breathing. I seem.. to recover more slowly in this.. state.

>>40271
Yes....Bohemian Rhapsody rejuvenates. If.. we can get to it.. I can be restored.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40300 ID: 5227a0

Have the TMBGs remain where the are, with Death on Six legs supporting them as the termites close in. Flash, slip through the ranks and scout the next tunnel down, avoiding combat.
>>
No. 40319 ID: 6164e0
File 125246726958.jpg - (193.54KB , 500x474 , GREAT VILE BEAST.jpg )
40319

>>40300
Flash is not gone long before dashing back, his scent screaming danger.

...It is shortly clear why, as five.... things are hotly pursuing him. They dwarf the larger vile creatures several times over, and their blackened bodies look heavily armored, their jaws strong and sharp.

...But Flash also bring word that these are the last defenders before the tunnel system reaches the innards of the spire, where Flash says the scent of Bohemian Rhapsody was almost overpowering.

Thankfully, in the time Flash was scouting, my breathing difficulties have passed, though my body is still sluggish in its response.



What should we do?
>>
No. 40323 ID: 6faa8c

>>40319
If it's big enough, you can punch INTO it using PoG, then ride it's innards until it dies, eating like a crazy motherfucker.
>>
No. 40324 ID: 6164e0
File 125246748355.jpg - (24.91KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Spire Outer Tunnels 7.jpg )
40324

Current positioning of all combatants.
>>
No. 40330 ID: 06fc25

Have both They Might Be Giants build momentum and barrel headlong into the oncoming horde and generally cause some mayhem. In the mayhem work together with Flash and D6L to take each opponent one by one.

Remember, you may have Valiance but an ant's true strength comes from cooperation between all members of the colony.
>>
No. 40332 ID: 5227a0

Bloody hell. Let 'em come in a little more, then have Flash head back down the tunnel and see if he can snag a piece of BR to bring back. The TMBGs will just have to hold the line as best they can.
>>
No. 40334 ID: 6faa8c

>>40324
Actually, if we stick here, maybe pushe more bodies out in front, we could defend this point until they are all dead.
>>
No. 40337 ID: 6164e0

>>40334
(Stay here, defend)
>>40330
(Go to meet them)

MAKE UP YOUR MINDS JEEZ.

>>40332
(I said that nothing beyond these defenders are between us and entering the spire, not that there are no obstacles between us and the Bohemian Rhapsody somewhere in the spire.)
>>
No. 40338 ID: 6faa8c

>>40337
Changan vote to CHARGE
>>
No. 40343 ID: 6164e0
File 125246869369.jpg - (24.92KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Spire Outer Tunnels 8.jpg )
40343

>>40330
>>40338
(CHARGE)

I order the two They Might Be Giants to charge forward, but the vile creatures have worked their way through the corpse well enough to keep them from advancing, too large to simply be bulled past in such tight concentration.

The two They Might Be Giants do manage to slay another of the vile beasts, though.

Myself, Flash and Death On Six Legs can't reach past the two They Might Be Giants. to fight effectively, only able to squeeze our heads through now and then to snap at the abominations. We could only get past the two They Might Be Giants if they stopped fighting and huddled against the walls of the tunnel.


What should we do?

The monstrous creatures from deeper below are slowly but surely getting closer to us.
>>
No. 40347 ID: 6faa8c

>>40343
Continue the defense. Tell the Giants to focus on killing as much as possible! Once you can PoG again, reliably, we can really sock it to them.

Also, back up into the tunnel slightly.
>>
No. 40350 ID: ed8d8a

>>40347
I say once you can breathe again it is time for another rocket bulldozer into the oncoming big guys.
>>
No. 40352 ID: 6faa8c

>>40350
Problem: Going into the open has five of them at you at once.
>>
No. 40355 ID: 6164e0
File 125247019199.jpg - (25.06KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Spire Outer Tunnels 9.jpg )
40355

>>40347
>>40350
(ONCE YOU CAN BREATH AGAIN)

>>40319
(COULD ALREADY BREATHE AGAIN)

(DOHOHOHOHO)

I order the two They Might Be Giants to open a hole for me as I once more open my spiracles, clamping my mandibles together.

PATH OF GLORY

I tear a gore and slaughter filled path through the vile creatures boxing us into the tunnel, slowing to a crawl as I kill the third.

No. This will not do. There is still one more before me. Just a bit more, just a bit farther.... I push Aerosmith more, irking out a small bit more speed.

PATH OF GLORY

It was...enough. I am only having... some difficulty breathing. It is.. not as bad as before.


What should we do now?
>>
No. 40363 ID: 6faa8c

>>40355
Get back in there behind the Giants before you're torn apart!
>>
No. 40364 ID: 9891a9

>>40363
If the black creatures are faster than the others, possibly use Aerosmith one more time so they can't catch you as you recouperate and reposition for the next attack.
>>
No. 40365 ID: 6164e0
File 125247096348.jpg - (24.93KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Spire Outer Tunnels 10.jpg )
40365

>>40363
It seems the surviving vile creatures have other plans.
>>
No. 40366 ID: d07841

Guys, Scars is lethargic. We really oughta be retreating now.
>>
No. 40369 ID: 6faa8c

>>40365
GODDRAMMIT

RAMMAN SPEED

USE THE BOOST TO GET THROUGH

FUCK FUCK
>>
No. 40373 ID: ed8d8a

>>40365
now see, if you had pushed a TMBG you would have carved a wider path and not be alone over here. :p
>>
No. 40374 ID: 5227a0

>>40365
There IS the other tunnel to the surface available, too...
>>
No. 40375 ID: 6164e0

(....have you forgotten you can issue orders to Scars of Yesterday's companions as well? Because they have been sitting there doing nothing for a while now.)
>>
No. 40382 ID: 5227a0

>>40375
Well then have the TMBGs CRUSH those two termites in the way!

Scars, Path of Glory at the center of the three mega-bugs coming towards you. If you can't penetrate, try to angle the rest of your speed burst toward the other exit tunnel.
>>
No. 40386 ID: 6faa8c

>>40382
>lethargic
>charge right into a crowd of five enemies at least twice our size

NO
>>
No. 40391 ID: 6164e0
File 125247313944.jpg - (24.64KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Spire Outer Tunnels 11.jpg )
40391

>>40382
The two They Might Be Giants tear into the backs of the two creatures blocking my path at Death On Six Legs' orders, and I reunite with the rest of my group.

I admit that since becoming Lethargic, I am not as capable as I was before, but I can keep functioning.

These five monsters are the only things between us and entering the spire, where the Bohemian Rhapsody is.

To leave now, to let all this effort be undone....


I am not sure if I am willing to do so a second time.

By the same token, Death On Six Legs and Flash both look concerned at my current condition. They are obviously worrying about keeping me alive to return to KILLER QUEEN as she requested.


What should I do?
>>
No. 40395 ID: 6faa8c

>>40391
"These are nothing. Remember the Abomination! These are nothing!"
Flash, Do6L, Scars: into the tunnel
TMBG: HOLD YOUR GROUND! GIVE THEM NOTHING!
>>
No. 40410 ID: 6164e0
File 125247496820.jpg - (24.40KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Spire Outer Tunnels 12.jpg )
40410

>>40395
'These vile abominations are nothing! Remember the Mandarinian Empire Warrior that struck Crescent, and we bested that! These will fall to us! PURGE THE UNCLEAN! They Might Be Giants, STAND YOUR GROUND, GIVE THEM NAUGHT BUT PAIN!'

While Death On Six Legs is the only ant besides myself who was alive when the soldier of the Mandarinian Empire struck our home, my resolve, my confidence in our victory moves them.

The vile behemoths smash into the two They Might Be Giants, and force them back with monstrous strength. But their progress abates as we are pushed into the tunnel, and the monsters are unable to enter in any manner other than single file.

For the moment, they are pressed together, stil trying to reach us, but the two They Might Be Giants are durable, and manage to keep the vile behemoths from doing any more than scratching their carapaces in futility.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40413 ID: 6faa8c

>>40410
How you feeling, Scars? Eat some more and take a breather while the enemy struggles hard. We need your massive offensive strikes to win this.

Plan once up to speed: Everyone but the Giants circle around through the other tunnel, then flank the bastards!
>>
No. 40414 ID: 1d375b

Have the Giants grapple them on each side and attempt to lift one up a bit so the rest of you can attack them from below.
>>
No. 40416 ID: 6164e0

>>40413
(Scars of Yesterday has already eaten enough that with rest he will recover. The only thing that can accelerate his recovery is Bohemian Rhapsody)

(I think I am stopping here for tonight. I'll start up again sometime tomorrow around noon, give or take. Keep posting any plans for fighting these giant termites, as strategy is required to beat them. See ya tomorrow.)
>>
No. 40421 ID: d3692f

I'm all for trying to get underneath them and generally mess up those relatively unarmored leg joints.

These things look like they could do some serious damage if they fell on Scars, though, so be careful1!
>>
No. 40478 ID: ed8d8a

>>40410
Back up the tunnel more, force them to come at you single file. Flash is tasked with exploiting the ample space under the legs of both sets of front-line combatant to harass the enemy while the TMBGs keep them occupied. Scars and Do6L slip stealthily out the back and attempt to surprise the rear termite from behind using the other tunnel. (check on what is happening above ground while you are at it)
>>
No. 40521 ID: 6164e0
File 125252614327.jpg - (24.42KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Spire Outer Tunnels 13.jpg )
40521

>>40414
>>40421
(They Might Be Giants, GRAPPLAN TIME)

I order Flash to keep the two They Might Be Giants to keep the creatures held here, and if possible attempt to lift them to expose their undersides. The vile behemoths are heavy, but if they get the right grip, it could be done. Flash is then tasked with harassing the monsters, darting about the two They Might Be Giants to exploit any moment of weakness perceived to cause any harm possible to the monsters.

>>40413
>>40478
(Use other tunnels)

Death On Six Legs and I slip back out the tunnel, and move across the surface to come at the chamber from another path. While above ground, we see that the smallest of the disgusting creatures are still huddled about the ground level entrances to the spire. Mindless abominations, unworthy of being compared to the superior They Might Be Giants.

We sneak down one of the tunnels, and stop just outside of the chamber. For the moment, we seem to be undetected by the abhorrent monsters still in the chamber.

...Hm. They seem to suffer from the same weakness as their fellows, with their carapaces designed to defend against frontal assault.


What should we do?
(orders can be issued to Scars of Yesterday, Flash and Death On Six Legs)
>>
No. 40522 ID: 6faa8c

>>40521
PATH OF GLORY directly into the backside of one while Death takes on another.
>>
No. 40528 ID: ed8d8a

>>40521
Repeating suggestion to back TMBG into the tunnel, encouraging the enemy to string themselves out in a nice straight line facing the same direction in an enclosed space. Alternately, they might split up, which can hardly be seen as a bad thing, though it is less immediately useful.
>>
No. 40537 ID: 6164e0
File 12525278526.jpg - (24.45KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Spire Outer Tunnels 14.jpg )
40537

>>40528
Flash leads the two They Might Be Giants in a slow withdrawal to force the unclean monsters to attack them single file. It works, but the creatures simply start widening the tunnel. They will shortly have room enough to once more engage Flash and the two They Might Be Giants as a group.

>>40522
I order Death On Six Legs to charge the rearmost vile behemoths while I brace myself, snapping my mandibles shut as my spiracles open wide.

PATH OF GLORY

Death On Six Legs is halfway to the creatures as I blast past him, plunging deep into one of the monster's fleshy side. I explode out of the creature as Death On Six Legs catches up to me.

It seems the other monster in the back has re-oriented to us, and is starting to turn.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40541 ID: 6faa8c

>>40537
Quickly, try to run around him to punch through him again!

I guess the plan is to PoG through each one, one at a time.
>>
No. 40544 ID: 6164e0

>>40541
(Punch through who again? Scars of Yesterday killed the one he hit. The other one is about partway turned, will be facing Scars of Yesterday and Death On Six Legs in a few seconds.)
>>
No. 40553 ID: 6faa8c

>>40544
That's the one I meant. >.< The turning guy.
>>
No. 40559 ID: 6164e0
File 125253114898.jpg - (24.45KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Spire Outer Tunnels 15.jpg )
40559

>>40553
No. I will not let this opportunity be used solely to claim one of their number.

DECENT INTELLIGENCE BONUS.

I have an idea. It is equal parts risky and deadly. I follow it.

I open my spiracles wide, and use Aerosmith to dash out far to the unclean monster's side. Before I finish slowing, I reorient myself, clamping my mandibles shut. Before me I see the second of the rear two creature's sides exposed before me. I immediately set out to attack it.

PATH OF GLORY.

I plunge deep into the creature's relatively unarmored flank, ripping massive chunks of gore out of it's side. The beast is slain.

Geh....using....Aerosmith.... and then.... Path of....Glory....in such..... quick....succession.... is difficult......I.....can....barely.....breathe....or move.

....The....monsters.....will soon....have....widened.....the tunnels....enough....to gang......up on...... the others.....


What should we do?
!!NOTICE!! Scars of Yesterday now can use Aerosmith to position himself before immediately using Path of Glory as a followup. However, this rapid fire move is particularly taxing!
>>
No. 40561 ID: 6faa8c

>>40559
Back up further, Giants!
Death, Scars, move forward and flank them from behind! We outnumber them now!
>>
No. 40566 ID: 6164e0

>>40561
(Scars of Yesterday is currently immobilized as he recovers from using this taxing combination of moves while Lethargic. He will not be able to act for a time!)
>>
No. 40572 ID: 6faa8c

>>40566
Crap!
Very well, Flash, Death, move up behind while Giants back up.
>>
No. 40574 ID: f6209b
File 125253187023.jpg - (34.46KB , 300x375 , dig-dug.jpg )
40574

There is only one thing that can be done.

Use the collapsing rock to crush the termites.
>>
No. 40584 ID: 6164e0

>>40572
(...and Flash is currently with the two They Might Be Giants in the tunnel, so he can't attack the giant termites from the rear. I'm sorry if my pictures are a bit crappy, but I think I at least typed up everyone's locations.)
>>
No. 40598 ID: 6faa8c

>>40584
I thought Flash could dart under and through, but I suppose not...
>>
No. 40600 ID: ed8d8a

Do6L go for their rear legs while they are occupied.
>>
No. 40604 ID: 6164e0
File 125253404131.jpg - (24.43KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Spire Outer Tunnels 16.jpg )
40604

>>40572
(TMBG back up)

Flash has the two They Might Be Giants withdraw further as the aborrent beasts continue to expand the tunnel. For the moment, they are still restricted to only fitting in one at a time, but Flash and his two charges will eventually run out of tunnel....

>>40600
(D6L attack back legs)

Death On Six Legs may be here as Scars of Yesterday's honor guard, but that makes him no less a Proud Warrior. He charges forward and attacks one of the giant vile creatures from behind, tearing gouges into its unprotected back and legs. The beast hisses in protest as it begins to turn, slowed by the tight quarters and the dirt surrounding it from its excavation.

I...am starting....to breathe... a bit more...easily.. I can move..again.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40616 ID: d3692f

Press the attack from behind! Kill them while they're occupied with digging!
>>
No. 40623 ID: 6164e0

>>40616
(specifics of how to go about that would be nice. )
>>
No. 40633 ID: 06fc25

Assist the Death on Six Legs in taking down his target. Avoid using your Valiance for now, you need to let your body recuperate. In any case, relying on Valiance too much is a weakness you cannot afford.
>>
No. 40640 ID: 6faa8c

>>40633
This. Good old simple combat for you, Scars, help out Death.
>>
No. 40651 ID: 6164e0
File 125253852468.jpg - (24.41KB , 1143x862 , Crucible of Valiance Spire Outer Tunnels 17.jpg )
40651

>>40616
>>40633
>>40640
I charge forth, my body slowed but still responsive, to assist Death On Six Legs.

He bravely challenged this beast so much larger than he, how could I not help him?

As the vile behemoth raises a leg to stamp on Death On Six Legs, I leap onto the creature, snipping off one of its antenna before crawling over its head and onto it's back.

The monster hisses in outrage as I clamp my mandibles around the leg nearest to my comrade, and pull, worrying at it with my jaws. The joint starts to wear down, and with a pop, the leg is removed.

The creature is partially blinded and missing a leg. It will die by our efforts soon if we keep this up.


Things are not looking so good for Flash and the two They Might Be Giants. The other unclean wretches are continuing to hound them, the one engaging them too well armored to be wounded from the front effectively, and the other is steadily making progress on expanding the tunnel.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40673 ID: 6faa8c

>>40651
Scars: Murder, maim, kill, etc, purge the unclean.

Death: Distract one of the unclean engaging the Giants.

Giants: Focus on murdering the one Death does not attack.
>>
No. 40678 ID: 6164e0
File 125254049848.jpg - (69.32KB , 1000x722 , Wings of Destiny.jpg )
40678

>>40673
(I'll pretend you told Flash to order the two They Might Be Giants, since they have the Mindless Drone Trait, and thus cannot be given orders by posters, but instead must be given orders by other ants.)

I continue to assault the creature I stand on, tearing at it's limbs, it's back, it's neck. I refuse to let this creature live any longer than it must. It is vile, it is abhorrent, it is an abomination.

It must die.

As I continue to rip holes in its back and pull off legs, Death On Six Legs races off to harass the giant creature working to widen the tunnel, and mimics me, leaping on it's back to tear into it's joints. The creature tries to buck him off, but he clings too tightly, and continues to attack. The creature is no longer digging. Excellent.


Flash urges the two They Might Be Giants onward, to continue attacking the beast before them. Their combined efforts finally pay off, as the creature's durable head is finally broken open.

The two They Might Be Giants tear into the beast's corpse, rending open a path back into the chamber.

...!? Something is happening to one of the They Might Be Giants! It sprouts wings, it's legs lengthen, and it starts emitting pheremones of its own!

'I.....will not.....die...here. It is not...my destiny.'

!!NOTICE!! One of the They Might Be Giants has undergone metamorphosis, and become the hero unit Wings Of Destiny! Wings Of Destiny can now be issued commands!


What should we do?
>>
No. 40684 ID: 5227a0

>>40678
New hero unit and only two enemies left, then?

FINISH THEM!

And then take a breather while Flash scouts further in, mindful to avoid being noticed.
>>
No. 40687 ID: 6faa8c

>>40678
Scars: Laugh triumphantly at this awesome turn of events, ANTPILE ON THE FINAL ABOMINATION
>>
No. 40688 ID: 6164e0
File 125254150882.jpg - (190.72KB , 1200x960 , THE QUEEN.jpg )
40688

>>40684

I continue to wound and maim the unclean monster I am engaged with. It slows, and stops as more of it's life fluids leak onto the ground. I have slain the beast, without the need for any Valiance, while slowed by lethargy.

Death On Six Legs demands the complete attention of the monster he rides, and it does not notice Flash, Wings of Destiny and They Might Be Giants surrounding it.

It is pulled apart, ripped to shreds by my honor guard.

For the moment, the chamber is quiet. We enjoy a moment of calm as I send Flash to check what awaits us further below.

Flash is gone for some time before returning.

'There is nothing between us and the spire itself, but right inside the spire is a queen, likely the ruler of this spire, and hundreds of all three types of monsters we have fought here.

In the chamber with the queen and her guards is a sizable portion of Bohemian Rhapsody. It appears to be a food they cultivate and grow for their queen.'

Hmm.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40689 ID: 6faa8c

>>40688
We're going to need a veritable ARMY to handle this...
>>
No. 40691 ID: 5821fc

>>40688
Ask Flash if she'd be able to steal a portion of the BR and bring it back.
>>
No. 40693 ID: 6faa8c

>>40691
I was about to suggest this, actually.

Agree'd.
>>
No. 40702 ID: 6164e0

>>40691
>>40693
'Flash'

'Yes, Scars of Yesterday?'

'Go back in there and grab as much Bohemian Rhapsody as you can carry. Then run back to us as fast as you can. I think we may be leaving in a hurry.'

'...Of course.'

Flash departs down into the tunnels.

.......

Flash returns, carrying a sizable chunk of Bohemian Rhapsody, large enough that Flash is now moving only slightly faster than these vile creatures can.


.....Which is good, since a short distance behind her a wall of the beasts is in hot pursuit.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40703 ID: 5821fc

>>40702
Is it 12 units or more and either way have the second fastest ant take a bit and then run!
>>
No. 40704 ID: 5227a0

>>40702
GO! RUN! GET TO DA CHOPPA! Er...the Collective, I mean.
>>
No. 40707 ID: ed8d8a

Give it to the TMBGs to carry. They are sizable enough that the added weight is unlikely to slow them. (actually, if it is enough that only one of them could carry the full load, then that one should be the non-hero) Tell them to start moving as fast as they are able back to the Collective, and all others work to cover the rear during the escape.
>>
No. 40711 ID: 6164e0

>>40707
(Silly poster, there is only one They Might Be Giants now, the other became Wings of Destiny, and entirely new type of ant)

>>40703
>>40704
(RUN BITCH RUN)

We flee, racing up the tunnel to the outside. As we get some distance from the tunnels all of them start gushing great piles of the unclean monsters, all still dashing after us.

Now that we are in the open, Wings Of Destiny grabs the piece of Bohemian Rhapsody from Flash and takes to the sky. Flash, now unburdened, quickly catches up to the rest of us, and we reach the forest ahead of the living tide of enraged monsters. But they turn back eventually, and we safely escape.

Hmm... this looks to be (12 units of Bohemian Rhapsody)

We are about halfway back to The Collective.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40716 ID: 6faa8c

>>40711
Keep going.
>>
No. 40718 ID: 6164e0
File 125254464996.jpg - (63.34KB , 800x414 , Agrilis Viridis AKA Mr_ Big.jpg )
40718

>>40716

I lead us back towards The Collective.

On the way, there is a beetle waiting. If his golden hue was not indication enough, I can feel Valiance in the beetle. As he sees us, the Beetle moves to bar our path.

'Okay, I'll take that Bohemian Rhapsody you have there.'

I suppose this is to be expected. The Collective's rules only exist inside the main and guest chambers. We are on open ground now, and there is no enforced rules.

'And if we refuse?'

'Look, pipsqueak, maybe you haven't heard of me. I'm Mr. Big, and I take what I want, and eat those who don't listen to me. Understand?'

It was a great deal of effort to attain what we could from The Crucible Of Valiance. But by the same token, we are all tired, and I am far weaker than normal.

What should we do?
>>
No. 40721 ID: 1d375b

We still have numbers on him tired as we are. Plus we have a new flying unit to test out. I say we stand up to the bully.
>>
No. 40724 ID: f21281

>>40718
SWAAAAAAAAAAARM
>>
No. 40725 ID: 6faa8c

>>40718
FUCK YOU SWAAAARM FLASH TAKE THE BR TO THE BANK
>>
No. 40729 ID: 6164e0
File 125254605653.jpg - (58.45KB , 800x414 , FUCK YOU MR BIG.jpg )
40729

>>40721
>>40724
>>40725
(SWARM)

As Wings of Destiny lands beside us, dropping the chunk of Bohemian Rhapsody, I come to a rather firm decision.

'TRY AND TAKE IT!'

We rush forward (sans Flash, who is holding onto the Bohemian Rhapsody once more, to ensure no one tries to capitalize on our fight and take it while we are occupied), taking the beetle by surprise.

I wrench one of it's antenna of before Mr. Big can prepare himself, and Wings Of Destiny alights on his back, worrying at one of his legs. In short order it is gone.

We have surprised the creature, and now Wings Of Destiny, Death On Six Legs, They Might Be Giants and I are all crawling on Mr. Big's body, intent on causing grievous bodily harm. There are no rules protecting him here, and his corpse could pay for The Big O's leg just as easily as Bohemian Rhapsody.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40731 ID: f5cf76

>>40729
Take out all of its legs until it's entirely immobilized!

Scars, go for the eyes.
>>
No. 40732 ID: 6faa8c

>>40729
SLICE HIS THROAT
EAT HIS EYES
STEAL HIS SHO-er...

BERSERK THE FUCK OUT OF HIM.
See if you can have Wings drop Scars from a height to use PoG without Aerosmith.
>>
No. 40735 ID: 6164e0
File 125254695993.jpg - (58.12KB , 800x414 , HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW MR BIG.jpg )
40735

>>40732
(Terminalvelocitysayswhat?)

>>40731
We continue or assault on Mr. Big, unrelenting, unhesitating, merciless.

Then the beetle snaps its shell open and we are thrown off of his back. I suppose I should have seen that coming, Metallica used his shell to great effect both in his fight with me and his championship bout.

>>40732
(EAT HIS EYES)

But I was close to his head, and the quickly opened shell did not send me tumbling as it did my comrades. It slid me onto his head. And I see his eyes, there, undefended, within reach of my mandibles.

I know what must be done.

I tear into the nearest eye, clinging tightly to the beetle's body as Mr. Big frantically tries to buck me off, but I continue feasting on his eye.

It is delicious.

It was delicious.

Mr. Big seems to be regretting confronting us, and seems to be preparing to fly away.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40736 ID: 1d375b

Cripple him so he cant get away!
>>
No. 40737 ID: 6faa8c

>>40735
DESTROY THE OTHER ANTENNA
>>
No. 40740 ID: f5cf76

>>40735
His shell is open. Mobility comes at a cost.

Wings of Destiny, get in there and fuck up his vulnerable wings.
>>
No. 40742 ID: 6164e0
File 125254769848.jpg - (57.59KB , 800x414 , YOU ARE GOING NOWHERE MR BIG.jpg )
40742

>>40736
>>40737
(Cripple him, take his other antenna!)

I lunge forward as he begins to take to the sky, and snare his remaining antenna in my jaws. With a vicious jerk, I deprive him of it.

But now he is taking to the air, and none of our party is on him. He is flying sloppily, and can barely stay in the air, but he is slowly but surely gaining altitude.

>>40740
Mobility comes at a price for beetles. And we are not without fliers of our own now.

Wings of Destiny takes off in furious pursuit, and Mr. Big only manages to gain a scant handful of inches in altitude before she slams into his exposed back, crumpling his beating wings with her durable form.

Mr. Big crashes to the ground.

We surround him as he struggles to his feet, only to subside as he finds he cannot balance himself any more. Fear is leaking off of him, and he cringes from our presence.

'Please..... spare me....please.'

I am a hair's breadth away from his wounded head.


What should I do?
>>
No. 40744 ID: ed8d8a

>>40742
"Why?"
>>
No. 40745 ID: 43d730

>>40742
Going to be too softhearted here and say 'If you pull shit like this again, acting without honor, I will find out, and you will wish you had never heard of living.'

Or just kill him, or pump him for information and favors then kill him.
>>
No. 40747 ID: f5cf76

>>40742
Scars, does he have a valiance? If so, finish him. If not, then
>>40744

Find out why he deserves to live, what he has to buy his life.
>>
No. 40751 ID: 6164e0

>>40747
(as mentioned here:
>>40718
Scars of Yesterday can feel Valiance in Mr. Big)
>>
No. 40754 ID: f5cf76

>>40751
Oops, missed that.

In that case, kill him and let Wings of Destiny eat him. Our new hero needs a Valiance! After all, we don't know if the leg will work, this is a sure thing. And we still have the BR to trade for the leg anyway.
>>
No. 40755 ID: 1d375b

Mercy is worth it if the opponent is honorable. Cowards who attempt to steal from others when they are weak don't deserve it. If he cant ransom himself I say finish him off.
>>
No. 40756 ID: 6164e0

>>40744
>>40745
>>40747

'Why?'

'Please, I won't do it again, please, don't kill me, I don't want to die, please...'

He continues his meaningless babbling. He was all bluster. His refusal to accept his fate for having challenged foes stronger than he is sickening.


What should be done?
>>
No. 40757 ID: 6164e0

>>40754
(We have no clue what Valiance Mr. Big has, and some are more useful than others.)
>>
No. 40759 ID: f5cf76

>>40756
Ask him what his Valiance is.

Then kill him.
>>
No. 40765 ID: 6faa8c

>>40759
This.

"Know that in your death, you shall serve KILLER QUEEN. Perhaps that will make it a bit easier."
>>
No. 40769 ID: 6164e0

>>40759

'Tell me what your Valiance is.'

'My-my Valiance? I can breathe underwater, please don't kill me, please.'

'Know that in your death, you shall serve KILLER QUEEN. Perhaps that will make it a bit easier.'

As Mr. Big continues to protest, his pheromones heavy with terror, I dig into his head through the missing eye, consuming his brain. He dies without pomp or ceremony, wailing for mercy until his last. Even Xephyr was not such a coward as this.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40771 ID: 1d375b

Finish him off and save the corpse for now. We can ask someone inside more about his valiance before we decide what to do with it.
>>
No. 40782 ID: 1d375b

Drag the corpse and your new food to the bank and then eat and rest.
>>
No. 40786 ID: 6faa8c

>>40782
No, we do not eat the BR. we trade it.
>>
No. 40787 ID: a0dedb

>>40786
He never said what to eat.

But we need to trade the BR NOW before The Metal challenges us and we have to give up half of it to decline.

Go to the bank and tell them you're doing the trade *immediately*. Put the corpse in there too.
>>
No. 40791 ID: 6164e0

>>40782
We work together to bring both Mr. Big's corpse and the piece of Bohemian Rhapsody to the bank. Only a few stop to stare as we do so. It seems this might be a common practice.

In the bank, one of the small bugs hops over to our party.

'Greetings, honored guest! Would you like to make a deposit?'

'Yes. Please hold on to these for me.'

'Of course, honored guest.'

A small swarm of the identical little creatures hop over, and carry off our spoils.

We are tired, and food would be nice right now. I lead our group over to the guest chambers, and once again we gorge ourselves. I get a few strange looks, coated in gore as I am.

We eat our fill, and once more find a spot to rest and recuperate.

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

Some time has passed.

We are all well fed and well rested now.


What should we do?
!!NOTICE!! Scars of Yesterday is no longer Lethargic.
!!NOTICE!! Scars of Yesterday has regained the Shining Light Trait.
!!NOTICE!! Scars of Yesterday can once again use STONER SUNSHINE.
>>
No. 40793 ID: 6164e0

>>40786
>>40787
(sorry, was already making the most recent update when you made these posts, and I missed them.)
>>
No. 40794 ID: 987386

Give the valiance to the flash accompanying you. Scout that can go underwater.
>>
No. 40796 ID: 1d375b

Can the Metal challenge us only in fight song or any time we are in other parts of the collective?
>>
No. 40798 ID: 6164e0

>>40796
(Look in discussion thread)
>>
No. 40812 ID: 1d375b

Well we could trade the corpse to Metallica for the leg. Sell it at the market for Rhapsody or something else or use it ourselves. Is a fairly situational ability though.
>>
No. 40815 ID: 43d730

>>40791
Watch a few of The Metal's fights.
We need to know more about him.
Maybe send Flash to watch them.
Don't fight anybody until you figure him out.
Track down Metallica and trade him the BR for the leg.
I suspect that Mr. Big's Valiance might come in very handy...
After all, to survive underwater, you'd need something to conserve or create air, and that would mesh very well with Aerosmith and possibly the valiance off the Big O, but giving it to Metallica might let him No Time for longer or indefinitely.

Disregard if it's a shitty breathing tube or water-air conversion.
>>
No. 40817 ID: 6164e0

(As to what to trade in at the bank for the leg, this will be a voting thing. So everyone go ahead and say what you would rather trade in. Alternatively, if you want to go to the bazaar and see what people will offer for a Valiance that lets you breathe underwater, say so. Just be aware that Scars of Yesterday has never haggled before, and doesn't even know what that is. VOTING TIME COMMENCE)
>>
No. 40820 ID: a0dedb

>>40817
Let's see what people will trade before we go voting. We need to know all of our options.
>>
No. 40821 ID: 6164e0

>>40815
(Scars of Yesterday knows nothing about the Valiance other than what Mr. Big told him, so how the Valiance lets it's user breathe underwater is a mystery.)
>>
No. 40827 ID: 06fc25

I support giving Mr. Big to Flash. A scout that can go underwater is invaluable, regardless of the method it is achieved.
>>
No. 40828 ID: 6164e0

>>40794
>>40827
(Psst, no bodies of water have been seen during the entire quest, including the trip to The Collective. I only feel it fair to inform you of this.)
>>
No. 40831 ID: 6faa8c

>>40828
Yeah I say trade the body and a little BR for that leg.
>>
No. 40833 ID: 6164e0

>>40820
(Ok, then to the bazaar first. Voting on what to do can come after that, I guess.)

I take some time to clean myself with the help of my honor guard (Wings of Destiny seems very enthusiastic about cleaning me. Odd.)

I am once again a resplendent golden hue, and I feel noticeably lighter without all the caked on gore and grime.

I head to the bazaar with my honor guard, and upon nearing it am made fully aware of just how hectic it is. There are pheremones EVERYWHERE, thousands of them all intermingling.

I am unsure as to how to proceed.


What should I do?
>>
No. 40835 ID: 5227a0

>>40833
Lurk moar.

No, really. Just wander around and look at things, listen in on others' dealings, that sort of thing. Learn through observation instead of jumping right in.
>>
No. 40836 ID: a0dedb

>>40833
Have Flash be our merchant scout. He's probably better able to tune into all the different conversations.
>>
No. 40839 ID: 6164e0

>>40835

I do not know much of how things work for barter. I wander about with my group, doing our best to try to pick out individual messages in the seething mass of pheromones, and try to learn.

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

DECENT INTELLIGENCE leads to...

I have learned some of what barter entails. Most merchants seem to display samples of their wares, but I have yet to see corpses with Valiance or Bohemian Rhapsody on display, despite smelling messages that indicate transactions involving them are occurring in the bazaar. I suspect that valuable commodities are kept safe in the bank. That makes sense.

When an individual identifies someone trading something they want, they then inquire as to what the owner desires in exchange. Frequently, there is a period where both parties attempt to sway the perceived value and cost of the commodities in their favor.

Additionally, it seems that those who trade in Bohemian Rhapsody and/or Valiances regularly are in the center of the bazaar, but are also considered to be the hardest bargainers, thanks to there being more demand for these commodities than there is supply.

!!NOTICE!!Scars of Yesterday now understands the following concepts: Haggling, Supply and Demand!
!!NOTICE!! Scars of Yesterday has now learned where most of the merchants dealing in Bohemian Rhapsody and Valiances reside!


What should I do?
>>
No. 40845 ID: 43d730

>>40839
Still think you should send a watcher after the Metal.
We must know what he can do, and I'd prefer we not find out what he can do by being on the receiving end of it.
>>
No. 40846 ID: 6164e0

>>40845
Flash has once more been dispatched to The Fight Song to observe The Metal.

I still am unsure what to do in the bazaar, despite having figured out the basics of trade.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40848 ID: 43d730

>>40846
Listen in at the center for the going rates on Valiance and other high-end commodities.
>>
No. 40861 ID: 6164e0

>>40848
...Hm.

It seems that because Valiances are so varied, they can have almost any value. While I have been here, I have detected several transactions of only a couple units of Bohemian Rhapsody for some, and on the other end of the spectrum, there is still haggling occurring over one that is currently being offered for (100 units of Bohemian Rhapsody). The most common value range for Valiances seems to be (10-30 units of Bohemian Rhapsody). There don't seem to be many even attempting to trade anything other than Bohemian Rhapsody and/or other Valiances for Valiance.

Bohemian Rhapsody seems to go for many times its weight in food that is considered to be delicious by both parties (5/10 Quality, give or take), thanks to it rejuvenating and strengthening properties (as well as being phenomenally tasty).

...Hm. It seems intoxicating foods are valued fairly highly, and are sometimes exchanged at a rate of 1:1 for Bohemian Rhapsody if considered of high enough quality.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40863 ID: 6faa8c

>>40861
Didn't we find some CRAZY root? Xom stuff, back home? Man, thaqt would be incredibly awesome here.
>>
No. 40871 ID: 782100

>>40846
Find Metallica
>>
No. 40878 ID: 6164e0

>>40871
I lead my group in an attempt to find the mighty warrior. Strange, it smells like he is here in the bazaar.

Following the scent, we find the titanic warrior, already evidencing new growth on his stub of a leg and missing shell half, fiercely arguing with a trader.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40880 ID: 9891a9

>>40878
See what's being traded if you can, but don't intrude on either of them for the moment. We don't want Metallica to be angry at us if we end up making him lose his train of Haggling thought.
>>
No. 40885 ID: 6164e0

>>40880
I start actively tracking their conversation.

'WHAT?! How can you be out of Honey? THAT'S ALL YOUR HIVE MAKES, YOU'RE HONEYBEES, ITS WHAT YOU DO!'

'But you ate it all-'

'LIES! There is no way I could have eaten all the honey an entire hive can make! There's what, ten thousand of you? And you are tellin' me that ONE BEETLE ate it ALL!?'

'I don't appreciate being called a liar!'

'WELL I DON'T APPRECIATE NOT GETTING TO EAT HONEY!'

....I don't think the bartering is going well....


What should I do?
>>
No. 40886 ID: 06fc25

Keep an eye out for a Valiance appraiser so we can find out what Mr. Big is worth.
>>
No. 40892 ID: 6164e0

>>40886
We are currently in the less expensive parts of the bazaar, and there aren't any merchants who trade in Valiance here.
>>
No. 40914 ID: 6faa8c

>>40885
o lawdy.

Maybe we should move in and try to keep things from escalating to violence?
>>
No. 40934 ID: 6164e0

>>40914
'I KNOW YOU HAVE HONEY JUST TRADE IT ALREADY!'

'I said we don't have any more, and I meant it!'

'I CAN SMELL THE HONEY ON YOU!'

'..Maybe you should leave!'

'WHAT!? I'm yer best customer, AND YA WANT TA REFUSE ME!!'

Metallica looks to be becoming increasingly agitated.

...I would regret it later if Metallica resorted to violence and faced repercussions for it. After all, I someday want to be the one to surpass, kill and consume him.

I step forward, and enter the heated exchange.


....What should I say?
>>
No. 40939 ID: 6faa8c

>>40934
Divert.
Tell him about how you found an XOBOXHUEG stash of BR, and you're willing to trade the info for the leg. :3
>>
No. 40943 ID: 6164e0

>>40939
'Greetings, Metallica.'

The gargantuan beetle turns to face you, still severely agitated.

'WHAT, WHAT, WHAT!? ..Oh, its you. Not now, I'm busy negotiatin' with this LYING BEE WHO WON'T GIVE ME ANY HONEY!'

'I asked you to leave!'

'WHAT WAS THAT!?'

I am losing his attention. I start talking about the first thing that comes to mind.

'Metallica, I found a large cache of Bohemian Rhapsody growing, perhaps-'

'Let me guess, you found it inside one o' the spires in The Crucible o' Valiance.'

He seems to calm a bit.

'Still, I'm impressed ya were able to get deep enough to find it so soon. Hell, I was expectin' it to take a good chunk o' time for ya to get there. Color me surprised.'

...It seems that at least Metallica knew that Bohemian Rhapsody was there. The honeybee merchant seems to have retreated in Metallica's distraction. I am unsure if he even perceived any of the messages involving The Crucible Of Champions.


What should I do?
>>
No. 40949 ID: 782100

>>40943
Praise your honor guard, they were as important to you in getting that far.
>>
No. 40950 ID: 6faa8c

>>40943
Tell him the tale of your amazing seige of the Spire, your theft, and the death of Mr. Big.
>>
No. 40962 ID: 6164e0

>>40949
>>40950

'It was not just my efforts alone that brought us to the queen's lair within one of the spires. My honor guard was instrumental, and I doubt I could have achieved as much alone. Why, one of them even underwent metamorphosis, and become a new type of ant!'

At your words, Death On Six Legs takes the chance to rear up on his hind legs in a show of pride in his own strength, and Wings Of Destiny radiates gratitude for the words of praise. The They Might Be Giants with you stands there, unmoving and uncaring, a Mindless Drone.

'...Right, right, you ants are group creatures, ain't ya? Still, a small group makin' their way in that deep, I imagine ya had to fight a fair few termites.'

'Is that what they are called? Then yes, we slew over a hundred of the beasts as we fought our way through their tunnel systems and into the spire. We managed to steal some of the Bohemian Rhapsody there, but were assaulted by a bandit on our way back.'

'Well, yer here, so I figure ya didn't take kindly to such.'

'His eye and brain were most delicious, but Mr. Big, the beetle that attempted to rob us, died a coward's death, pleading for mercy until the end.'

'Huh. Where have I heard that name before. Mr. Big, Mr. Big... RIGHT, he's harassed mostly ants and other smaller creatures before. If I recall correctly, he had a Valiance o' some sort.'

'He did. We brought his body back to the bank in The Fight Song, along with the Bohemian Rhapsody we plundered.'

'That right? Well, it sounds like ya really went ta work out there. Ya still want ta get that leg? Just bring either Mr. Big's corpse or (15 units of Bohemian Rhapsody) if ya managed to snatch that much to one o' those critters that run The Fight Song, and tell 'em that ya want The Big O's leg. They know I okayed it.'

Metallica turns back to where the honey bee had been, and his antenna droop.

'Haaaaah... guess I gotta find some other bees ta get honey from. Too bad, that one's hive made some tasty stuff.'

Metallica starts to lumber off, his spiracles twitching as he seeks out the scent of someone selling honey.


What should we do?
>>
No. 40965 ID: 9891a9

>>40962
Let's do as he said, and go trade for the leg. My personal vote is to trade Mr Big, since water-breathing doesn't seem like an exceptionally useful valiance.
>>
No. 40966 ID: 6faa8c

>>40965
Agreed!
>>
No. 40969 ID: 43d730

>>40965
Assuming it doesn't alter breath in some manner.
I vote BR instead.
>>
No. 40970 ID: 6faa8c

Is there a Valiance limit, Bob?
>>
No. 40973 ID: 6164e0

>>40965
>>40966
(Trade Mr. Big)

I leave the bazaar, and return to the bank in The Fight Song with my honor guard.

One of the small creatures hops up to me.

'Greetings, honored guest! This one would like to know if honored guest is making a deposit or withdrawal?'

'Actually, I want to trade the beetle corpse I brought in for The Big O's leg Metallica has. He said he okayed it with you.'

'Certainly Honored Guest! This one shall make the transaction and bring the leg to honored guest!'

I shortly have the massive leg of The Big O before me, with its complex and strangely shaped spiracles marking it as what I seek.


What should I do?
>>
No. 40976 ID: 6164e0

>>40970
(Scars of Yesterday is unaware of any limit, and Metallica did have six Valiances when you controlled him.)
>>
No. 40978 ID: f78140

>>40973
devour it. if you gain the Valiance before you finish, offer the rest up to Wings of Destiny: the possibility of more Valiance among the ants of KILLER QUEEN is too good a chance to pass up.
>>
No. 40981 ID: 6faa8c

OMNOMNOM
>>
No. 40984 ID: 6164e0

>>40978
>>40981

(Okay, here's how this works. Someone rolls a d6. If you get 3 or above (would have been 4 or above, but a poster helped find the perfect name for the Valiance, so you get a bonus), congratulations, you get the valiance! Roll a 6 and there is enough left over another ant can try eating it! But roll a 1 or 2, and YOU GET NOTHING. So, whoever feels lucky, roll.)
>>
No. 40988 ID: 6faa8c

rolled 5 = 5

>>40984
fuckfuckfuck here i gooo
>>
No. 40989 ID: 6faa8c

>>40988
WOOOOOOOOOOOO
>>
No. 40994 ID: 6164e0

>>40988
I consume the leg.

As I feast, I feel my legs thickening, and developing some specialized spiracles and new internal organs in my limbs. So it seems the gambit worked. I have copied The Big O's devastating Valiance.

!!NOTICE!! Scars of Yesterday has gained the Valiance Unstoppable Impact! As long as he can place a leg's tarsus (the end part) in direct contact with an object, he can create a powerful blast of air to create a devastating attack!

(Okay, I'm stopping here for tonight, I'll post a little dealie with Scar's response to getting the new Valiance tomorrow, probably in the morning.)
>>
No. 40995 ID: 0c4185

>>40988
SCOOOORREEEEEE!
>>
No. 40998 ID: 06fc25
File 125256648885.gif - (86.19KB , 250x188 , 1227507497665.gif )
40998

>>40988
>>
No. 41164 ID: 6164e0

So. It worked. I have replicated the Valiance that even Metallica was defenseless before. I experimentally wave my altered legs about. Hm, it seem that the carapace on them has been reinforced, and the joints seem more durable and flexible, capable of absorbing significant shock.

In addition to this new Valiance, I have learned much of how to use Aerosmith, even having formed a new ability that employs it offensively, Path of Glory.

I still have (15 units of Bohemian Rhapsody) and T.B. Sheets corpse in the bank, and I am well rested and fed, in as good of condition as I can naturally reach.

....I wonder, with this new Valiance, have I moved one step closer to reaching The Metal, to reaching beyond to Metallica? I have seen that there are many stronger than me, but have I made that group smaller?


What should we do?
>>
No. 41165 ID: f78140

>>41163
It is time to return to KILLER QUEEN. You've been more than successful, having acquired more bohemian rhapsody (as well as located a source), won the corpse of a spirited fighter in glorious battle, and helped bring about Wings of Destiny.
>>
No. 41166 ID: 6164e0

>>41165
Have I learned enough about The Collective? Do I possess enough knowledge for my beloved queen to decide on whether to join or not?

I still know nothing of these Founders Metallica mentioned, other than their apparent strength and unwillingness to go to war with The Mandarinian Empire.

I know nothing about what benefits KILLER QUEEN could gain from joining The Collective, or what is expected of members.

I have learned that the Mandarinian Empire is not barred from entering The Collective, despite the bounty offered for their warriors.

I.... still do not understand much of The Collective.


What should we do?
>>
No. 41168 ID: 06fc25

It's still too soon to leave.

Regarding joining the Collective, is it possible to arrange a meeting with one of the Founders? Barring that, we should find Motorhead and get our answers from him or at least get pointed in the right direction.
>>
No. 41173 ID: 6164e0

>>41168
I haven't seen any sort of ruling group/class in The Collective, but then I have only ventured to areas that Motörhead showed to me during the tour.

...well, that's not entirely true. I suppose those small identical creatures in The Fight Song do seem to govern a great deal of what happens inside the towering mass of The Fight Song.

I can only pick up old scents of Motörhead. Perhaps he is not in The Collective right now? He did say he functions as an envoy for this place.


What should we do?
>>
No. 41206 ID: 1d375b

Lets go ask one of the little guys where we can find more information about the collective. There should be a embassy area around here somewhere.
>>
No. 41212 ID: 6164e0

>>41206
Not sure how to learn more about The Collective, I go to the only established group I know, the strangely identical little creatures running The Fight Song.

I approach the pedastal in the main entrance, and shortly one of the creatures hops over to me.

'Greetings, honored guest! This one would like to know if honored guest is here to bet or fight?'

'Actually, I want to find out more about the collective, and what membership entails. Where do I go for that?'

'This one is to inform all honored guests inquiring on this line to go to the tunnel systems in the main chamber of The Collective, and follow the one with the warmest air down!'

Without further ceremony the small creature hops away to address another creature trying to attract their attention.

Hm. So I have a location now. I could go there now, and learn what I may about The Collective.

On the other hand, I am in The Fight Song, and have forged myself anew. Perhaps now is the time to challenge The Metal.

It is possible Flash has seen him fight, and has some insights on his Valiance.


What should we do?
>>
No. 41215 ID: f78140

>>41212
our first priority is to the queen. gather information about the collective, possibly about the founders.

another thing to consider; see if any of the Metal's defeated and maimed victims are willing to part with their lives and Valiance in exchange for the chance at vengeance.
>>
No. 41223 ID: 6164e0
File 125260907750.jpg - (85.53KB , 480x320 , Guard of The Founders.jpg )
41223

>>41215

Hmm. The Metal is a foe I long to kill and consume in glorious and carnage filled battle, but my first duty is to my queen, and she tasked me with learning of The Collective. It is high time I learned more of it.

I make a mental note to attempt to persuade the maimed and broken fighters that The Metal crippled, to see if they would be willing to part with their lives and Valiances to see The Metal fall. I am unsure of the likelihood of success, but adept enough persuasion might net some positive results.


I lead our group out into the central chamber, and seek out a tunnel with particularly warm air currents. I find it easily, a tunnel that dwarfs all tho others I have seen, wide enough for dozens of beetles Metallica's size to walk side by side through it.

I start down the tunnel, and follow it as it slowly winds downward, the air growing noticeably warmer the farther we travel.

Eventually we make our way to the end of the tunnel, which opens onto a chamber with a great line of water cutting a path through it. There is only a small stone bridge crossing the mighty body of water, and on the far side is a mountain with huge tunnels opening in it.

On the bridge is a creature even larger than The Big O curled up, patiently guarding the bridge.


What should we do?
>>
No. 41225 ID: 6faa8c

>>41223
Greet him:
"Greetings! My name is Scars of Yesterday, and I am here on behalf of the Killer Queen! I seek audience with one of the Founders."
>>
No. 41226 ID: 6164e0
File 125260951338.jpg - (157.82KB , 480x393 , Guard of The Founders in Motion.jpg )
41226

>>41225
I approach the living mountain. I am determined to learn whatever I can for KILLER QUEEN, my sovereign.

'Greetings! My name is Scars of Yesterday, and I am here on behalf of the Killer Queen! I seek audience with one of the Founders.'

The creature spring upright with a speed that defies his incredible stature, and forms but a single message.

'NO.'

...well, that's not what I was hoping for.


What should we do now?
>>
No. 41227 ID: 1d375b

Inform him that the little guys sent you this way. Then ask who you should be talking to if not the founders.
>>
No. 41230 ID: 6164e0

>>41227

'The creatures in The Fight Song told me that this was the place to go to to learn more of The Collective. Was this not correct?'

'IT IS CORRECT. BUT YOU MAY NOT MEET THE FOUNDERS.'

'Then who should I speak to if not the Founders?'

'YOU SHALL SPEAK TO ME.'

It appears that this mammoth is both guard and receptionist. Very well.


What should I ask it?
>>
No. 41239 ID: d3692f

Why did the Founders create the Collective?
>>
No. 41240 ID: 708a16

>>41230
Might as well be polite and ask the GIANT INTERMEDIARY CRAB its name first.
>>
No. 41244 ID: fc832e

Very well then, Guardian. My people have been invited to join the Collective. We should ask what such a business entails. What benefits shall we receive from joining this organization and what obligations will be be expected to fulfill?

We would further like to ask of other organizations in the area. The Founders, the Collective, the Mandarin Empire, as of yet we know of these three groups and our own, and of these three we know little. Knowing more of our surrounding area could do little but help aid us.
>>
No. 41246 ID: 6164e0

>>41239
'Why did the Founders create The Collective?'

'TO ENCOURAGE THE LESSER RACES TO BECOME STRONGER AND FORGE ALLIANCES.'

>>41240
'What title do you go by?'

'I AM SANTANA.'

....I had not noticed it earlier, but I feel Valiance in Santana.


What else should I ask?
>>
No. 41247 ID: 6164e0

>>41244
'Very well then, Santana. My people have been invited to join The Collective. We would know what membership entails. What benefits shall we receive from joining this organization and what obligations will be be expected to fulfill?'

'MEMBERS OF THE COLLECTIVE ARE TO NOT ATTACK OTHER KNOWN MEMBERS OF THE COLLECTIVE SO LONG AS THEY ARE MADE AWARE OF MEMBERSHIP UNDER PAIN OF EXPULSION AND DECLARATION OF WAR. OBLIGATIONS ARE TO PROVIDE TITHES OF RESOURCES TO THE COLLECTIVE ON A REGULAR BASIS.'

'We would further like to ask of other organizations in the area. The Founders, the Collective, the Mandarin Empire, as of yet we know of these three groups and our own, and of these three we know little. Knowing more of our surrounding area could do little but help aid us.'

'I WILL NOT TELL YOU OF THE FOUNDERS, IT IS THEIR WISH TO REMAIN DISCRETE. THE COLLECTIVE IS A COALITION OF ALLIED RACES AND NATIONS THAT MUST ANSWER TO THE FOUNDERS. THE MANDARINIAN EMPIRE IS A MILITARISTIC EXPANSIONIST EMPIRE THAT SEEKS TO CONTINUE GROWING THROUGH WAR AND CARNAGE.'


What else should I ask?
>>
No. 41255 ID: d3692f

How large are the tithes?
>>
No. 41258 ID: fc832e

Then we would ask who else is in the Collective. We have observed the Fight Song, so it would appear that many Valiant Warriors are members, but are there other organized forces like the people of Crescent members?

More information on the policies of the Collective would be useful as well. Would we be expected to go to war against those that attack our allies?
>>
No. 41259 ID: 6164e0

>>41255
'How large are these tithes?'

'ONE THIRD OF ALL FOODS GATHERED. AUDITORS WILL PERIODICALLY ASSESS WHETHER THE AMOUNTS BEING PROVIDED ARE OF THE CORRECT AMOUNT.'

...Hmm. A third of all resources is a hefty sum, but perhaps KILLER QUEEN would find this agreeable for gaining protection from any other members of The Collective.


What else should I ask?
>>
No. 41260 ID: 6164e0

'Would we be expected to go to war against those that attack our allies, should we join?'

'YES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE MANDARINIAN EMPIRE, ANY WHO ATTACKS A MEMBER OF THE COLLECTIVE IS THEN CONSIDERED A THREAT TO BE CRUSHED BY THE COLLECTIVE. THE FOUNDERS WISH NO WAR TO BE MADE AGAINST THE MANDARINIAN EMPIRE, AND WANT NO MORE CONFLICT THAN INDIVIDUAL WARRIORS BEING REWARDED FOR EACH MANDARINIAN WARRIOR SLAIN.'

'Who are members of The Collective?'

'SEVERAL DOZEN BEE, WASP AND HORNET NATIONS, SEVERAL BEETLES HAVE SIGNED ON AS SMALL GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS, AND MANY FLY AND DRAGONFLY SPECIES CLAIM MEMBERSHIP. I AM NOT AWARE OF THE SPECIFICS.'


What else should I ask?
>>
No. 41263 ID: fc832e

"Would one be able to use the facilities here without being a member of the Collective?"

Fellows, I grow increasingly weary of joining this organization.
>>
No. 41265 ID: 6164e0

>>41263
(I don't know why I have been using single quotes this whole time, switching to normal notations for speech.)

"Would one be able to use the facilities here without being a member of the Collective?"

"YES, BUT ONLY ESTABLISHED WARRIOR GUESTS, THOSE WHO HAVE SLAIN AT LEAST ONE MANDARINIAN WARRIOR, ARE ALLOWED ACCESS TO THE FOOD PROVIDED IN THE GUEST CHAMBERS WITHOUT NEEDING TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN EXCHANGE."

Should I ask any more questions, or should we do something else?
>>
No. 41267 ID: fc832e

I've had my questions answered, though of I imagine there are others who have concerns. Barring that, I'd recommend retiring to the guest chambers to discuss the matter of joining these people.

See you fellows in Quest-Dis!
>>
No. 41273 ID: 6164e0

(If anyone has further questions for Santana, now is the time, otherwise post what Scars of Yesterday and co. should go do)
>>
No. 41274 ID: ed8d8a

The only contingency I was not clear on is what happens if a member of the collective escalates conflict with the Mandarinian Empire
>>
No. 41275 ID: 6faa8c

>>41273
"One last question: Can one leave the Collective after joining?"
>>
No. 41278 ID: 6164e0

>>41275

"Can a member leave the collective at a later date?"

"NOT OF THEIR OWN VOLITION. THERE ARE REPERCUSSIONS."

Santana seems unwilling to elaborate on what these repercussions are.

>>41274
"What happens if a member of The Collective starts a war with the Mandarinian Empire?"

"THEY ARE REMOVED FROM THE COLLECTIVE, AND A BOUNTY IS PLACED ON THEM."


What should we do now?
>>
No. 41279 ID: 708a16

>>41278
Any currently outstanding bounties that we might hunt up?
>>
No. 41283 ID: 6164e0

>>41279

"Any currently outstanding bounties?"

"THERE IS A REWARD OF (50 units of Bohemian Rhapsody) OFFERED FOR ERADICATING THE KILLER BEE HIVE TO THE WEST, DEEPER IN THE FOREST. SEVERAL OF THEM HAVE VALIANCE. THERE ARE NO OTHER CURRENTLY OUTSTANDING BOUNTIES OFFERED AT THE MOMENT."


What should we do?
>>
No. 41284 ID: fc832e

Well fellows, I think it's about that time. We've gotten the information we need, but this is a big matter. Do we join the Collective, yes or no. I imagine it'll come down to a vote, like most major things here.

I'm probably jumping the gun a bit, but I have to depart shortly and would like to have my vote in all the same.

Hell no! Forget this Collective! We've done just fine on our own so far and we'll continue to do so! We retain the benefits of the Fight Song all the same. No reason to lash ourselves down with unnecessary rules and regulations, no reason to become subservient to some anonymous entity like the Founders. I'd see us have no part of such a thing! Glory to KILLER QUEEN! Glory to Crescent!

And that said, I bid you adieu. I expect good things in the future, gentlemen.
>>
No. 41287 ID: 6faa8c

>>41284
AGREED VEHEMENTLY.

Seriously, the only major threat to us is the BEEEEES. And those BEEEEEES are in the Collective. Fuck that shit.
>>
No. 41290 ID: 43d730

>>41284
Let's clean out the bank and return to our queen, she needs to hear this.
>>
No. 41291 ID: c91586

>>41284
Agreed. The only advantage to joining the collective was to help with taking out the Mandalorians (or whatever), but now we find out that isn't going to happen, so yes: fuck that shit indeed.
>>
No. 41292 ID: ed8d8a

>>41287
> bees - collective

wait, what? which bees? only bees we have seen are the mandarinian empire and the ones selling honey in the bazaar.
>>
No. 41296 ID: 6164e0

>>41290
(Psst. How do you plan to return? It was a decent length flight to get here, and Wings of Destiny cannot carry everyone and the stuff at the bank. Hm, maybe you could find transportation at the Bazaar.

Also reminder: Currently, The Metal is aware you have killed a warrior of the Mandarinian Empire. Leaving him alone with that information could come back to bite you in the ass. JUST SAYING.)
>>
No. 41307 ID: f78140

>>41296
as scars, we don't get to decide to join or not; that's KILLER QUEEN's call.

i suggest followup on the eat metal's victims thing. if enough agree, watch one of metal's fights, then decide from there, but make a note to fight him sooner rather than later, regardless.
>>
No. 41311 ID: 6164e0

>>41307
(So, to The Fight Song, hunt down crippled fighters who tried to fight The Metal?)
>>
No. 41320 ID: ed8d8a

I wanna know why we keep putting off challenging The Metal anyway. It always seems to be the second or third thing on the todo list, but it never moves up. END HIM.
>>
No. 41324 ID: 6164e0

>>41320

...The Metal has threatened you, kept you from fighting in The Fight Song, and is a part of the same Empire that attacked Crescent.

He must die.

I journey to The Fight Song. I see the crippled individuals that tried to oppose The Metal. Grunge, Punk Rock, New Wave, Techno, The Metal destroyed them all.


Should I challenge The Metal now, or should I talk to the broken warriors first?
>>
No. 41328 ID: ed8d8a

>>41324
Not that I think doing so is a grand idea, but if you must approach these broken souls, tact is your friend. Tell them it is your desire to Destroy The Metal, and ask if there is anything they can offer to help you, to exact some measure of vengeance for their pain.

Under no circumstances should you walk up and go "Hey, can I eat you so I can fight the Metal?" or anything like it.
>>
No. 41329 ID: 43d730

>>41324
Watch one of his fights.
>>
No. 41331 ID: 06fc25

Speak with the broken warriors first. If they have families or dependents perhaps we can offer them sanctuary at Crescent in return.
>>
No. 41338 ID: 6164e0

>>41329
Flash finds me in short order after I arrive, and she informs me that The Metal has not been challenged in my absence. It seems most fighters shy away from The Metal.

>>41327

I do not pity these maimed warriors. They fought, and they lost. The strong get to do as they will with the weak. Nevertheless, they might know something about The Metal that may prove useful. I walk up to them, their attention focused on me. They remember me.

'I intend to challenge The Metal and slay the warrior. I wish to know if you have learned anything of value about The Metal in your fights with him.'

'...The Metal has but one Valiance, but the one is enough. The Metal is durable, almost unbelievably so. Just his wings are as hard as many fighter's carapaces, and his body itself is so fortified that so far none who have fought against the monster could wound The Metal.'
'Once more we recommend that you not challenge The Metal. You will die, just as others have.'

The cowards are broken in spirit as well as body. Still, the warrior we fought in Crescent was already exceptionally well armored, for The Metal to be even more durable....

>>41331
>>41328
(If you want to broach this subject to the crippled warriors, write the proposed dialogue up. It will be hard to convince them, so choose your words wisely.)


What should I say/do?
>>
No. 41355 ID: fc832e

Hmm. Sorry, a brief aside. I can't seem to find the information about what qualifies one to enter the Fight Song. Might it be possible for our friend Wings of Destiny to get a battle in?
>>
No. 41356 ID: 6faa8c

>>41355
Actually... Wings doesn't fall under Metal's dealie, right? She wasn't even around when we killed that abomination.
>>
No. 41359 ID: 6164e0

>>41356
(This is true. Any member of your honor guard could in theory enter The Fight Song. However, seeing as they are all ants without Valiance, they won't have as easy of a time [comperatively] to Scars of Yesterday.)
>>
No. 41360 ID: ed8d8a

>>41320
>>41355

SEE? SEE WHAT I MEAN? There's always one more thing to do before we fight him.
>>
No. 41361 ID: 6faa8c

>>41359
Then Wings shall earn her Valiance!

And we can bet on her!

WOOOOO
>>
No. 41364 ID: 6faa8c

>>41360
Hush you. We all know the Metal is going to be That One Boss, so we need to prepare, extensively.
>>
No. 41371 ID: fc832e

>>41359

Hmm. Then I propose this. Let's say we have our friend Wings of Destiny fight a bit, start real low, let her get a bout or two in and maybe grab a valiance. I wouldn't dare such a thing with the others, since without a heroic quality I don't think they fare much of a chance.

But let's say we had a larger plan in mind. Wings of Destiny battles until The Metal stops her with a challenge. Then we have someone, say Flash, decline the offer, saying something like, "Oh, but mere ants such as we stand no chance against such a mighty warrior. We are but ants, after all, individually weak. Of course, were you to battle us as a whole, you wouldn't stand the slightest chance. No, we shall surrender pre-emptively."

Hopefully, The Metal takes the bait here, wounded by the confidence of these obviously inferior creatures, and accepts a challenge from the entirety of the Crescent retinue. This gives us an improved chance of victory and exposes some of our fellows to incredible adversity, a pre-requisite to gaining Valiance and Heroic status.
>>
No. 41375 ID: 6164e0

>>41361
(Okay, VOTAN TIME: Have Wings of Destiny enter The Fight Song, have Scars of Yesterday try to persuade the crippled fighters to offer up their lives to fight The Metal (Will require dialogue to be written up, or have Scars of Yesterday challenge The Metal.)
>>
No. 41378 ID: 6164e0

>>41371
(The Metal only displays special interest in those that have killed warriors of The Mandarinian Empire, and Scars of Yesterday is the only ant to have done so.)
>>
No. 41379 ID: fc832e

Vote for Wings fighting.

Also, I realize my plan is a bit underhanded, thus why I suggest Flash. I think a scout would be a bit more willing to do such a thing. Mmm. Again, I'm off.
>>
No. 41385 ID: ed8d8a

>>41375
I vote for fighting The Metal next, though with a break for eating some BR first, as it is reported to make one stronger in a nonspecific way. My hope is that by consuming enough, our body will become better able to withstand the strain of our abilities.
>>
No. 41388 ID: 6faa8c

>>41379
Votan for wings
>>
No. 41390 ID: 708a16

Voting for Scars trying to pursuade the crippled fighters. And I've got dialogue written up ahead of time if that option takes the majority.
>>
No. 41404 ID: 6164e0

>>41390
(You know what, go ahead and post that dialogue. After that, Wings of Destiny is going to enter The Fight Song as the majority vote winner)
>>
No. 41409 ID: 708a16

>>41404
(Righto then. I'm not much of a writer by trade, but I tried to at least give it an inspirational feel.)

"Look at you all. Beaten. Broken. Trodden down by a bully of the Empire. Left with nothing, not even your warriors' hearts. Now look at The Metal. A wretched, abominable creature that relies on intimidation, on terror and cruelty to keep others from becoming everything they could be. Not just you, but myself as well. But I refuse to cower under his threats any longer! I will rise up and fight! Not just for myself, but for my entire colony! If you were whole and strong, would you not seek to do the same? Would you not make the least attempt to squash this enforcer of tyranny, if you had the strength, even if it meant your end? I will. And it is because I have that strength that I ask you for yours. All I ask is for what you have already had taken from you in every way but one - your lives. Your shattered, powerless lives. And in return, I can offer you immortality, a means to live on, remembered as part of the one who will once and for all crush The Metal and his dishonorable ways! What else have you to live for? As you are now, you are but shadows of what you were and could have been. But give of yourselves to me, and you may yet go on to be part of something glorious! You can live on, through me, and be heirs to triumph after triumph after triumph! This vengeance is what I can offer you, this and asylum to any you may leave behind, to join my colony and so as well become part of a greater whole in turn. It is such a little thing to give up, when you have nothing left to live for. But if some fire still stirs in your hearts, if some desire to be avenged still burns within, then this is what I ask of you, wounded warriors...do you wish to end your lives pitied and crawling? Or will you choose to fight, one last time, and die standing?"
>>
No. 41413 ID: 6164e0

>>41409

"Look at you all. Beaten. Broken. Trodden down by a bully of the Empire. Left with nothing, not even your warriors' hearts. Now look at The Metal. A wretched, abominable creature that relies on intimidation, on terror and cruelty to keep others from becoming everything they could be. Not just you, but myself as well. But I refuse to cower under his threats any longer! I will rise up and fight! Not just for myself, but for my entire colony! If you were whole and strong, would you not seek to do the same? Would you not make the least attempt to squash this enforcer of tyranny, if you had the strength, even if it meant your end? I will. And it is because I have that strength that I ask you for yours. All I ask is for what you have already had taken from you in every way but one - your lives. Your shattered, powerless lives. And in return, I can offer you immortality, a means to live on, remembered as part of the one who will once and for all crush The Metal and his dishonorable ways! What else have you to live for? As you are now, you are but shadows of what you were and could have been. But give of yourselves to me, and you may yet go on to be part of something glorious! You can live on, through me, and be heirs to triumph after triumph after triumph! This vengeance is what I can offer you, this and asylum to any you may leave behind, to join my colony and so as well become part of a greater whole in turn. It is such a little thing to give up, when you have nothing left to live for. But if some fire still stirs in your hearts, if some desire to be avenged still burns within, then this is what I ask of you, wounded warriors...do you wish to end your lives pitied and crawling? Or will you choose to fight, one last time, and die standing?"

The broken creatures seem taken aback. Techno is particular looks very thoughtful, and New Wave looks uncertain how to respond. Grunge and Punk Rock, however, seem unconvinced.

'We have our lives, and we can eat at the guest chambers. It is not a glorious life, but it suffices. Besides, what makes you think you can beat The Metal? We are in no way the only ones struck down by that warrior. What gives you such confidence that you could win?'


How should I respond?
>>
No. 41419 ID: 6faa8c

Writan now...
>>
No. 41420 ID: 708a16

"He goes about his way unchallenged and unpunished for his actions. This will have made him overconfident, especially when confronted by one whom he considers easy prey. His hubris will be his undoing, for although he may be strong, he is not exempt from acting foolishly, or immune to a wounded pride once his ideas of superiority are broken by a fierce combatant such as myself. He will grow angry that I am not so easily beaten, and that will cause him to become incautious, opening further avenues for my attacks. His broken pride will let me break his body."
>>
No. 41421 ID: 6faa8c

"I am Scars of Yesterday. I will not stop until either he or I am dead. There is no gaurantee of victory, but only a chance, one that grows with your help."
>>
No. 41430 ID: ed8d8a

If all he has is armor, then I have a chance. His armor has made him overconfident, but he is not invincible. I believe I posses a Valiance which can defeat The Metal in the right circumstances, my concern is only that I stay in the fight long enough to get that chance.
>>
No. 41433 ID: 6164e0

>>41420
"He goes about his way unchallenged and unpunished for his actions. This will have made him overconfident, especially when confronted by one whom he considers easy prey. His hubris will be his undoing, for although he may be strong, he is not exempt from acting foolishly, or immune to a wounded pride once his ideas of superiority are broken by a fierce combatant such as myself. He will grow angry that I am not so easily beaten, and that will cause him to become incautious, opening further avenues for my attacks. His broken pride will let me break his body."

Techno seems to be listening with great intensity to my loquacious speech, and New Wave seems less uncertain, more willing to listen to what I have to say. So, it seems that some of them still have a warrior's pride, and would be willing to be sacrificed if it meant the demise of the one that broke them and so many others.

Grunge and Punk Rock, however, seem to cling to their pathetic transient existance, but they are losing confidence.

'And who are you to be so sure you can best The Metal? You are just an ant, no matter how hard you try, you can't beat The Metal.' Their retort has taken on a pitiful whine, as if this belief in The Metal's absolute strength is the only thing keeping them sane.

>>41421
"I am Scars of Yesterday, Hero of Crescent, Champion of KILLER QUEEN. I will not stop until either he or I am dead. There is no gaurantee of victory, but I will drag that monster down to the earth and kill The Metal, no matter the cost."

I know you are supposed to return safely to KILLER QUEEN, she ordered me to do so.

I promised her that I would return.

But The Metal knows of my existance, that I slew a warrior of the Empire. It is not so far fetched to imagine this knowledge, combined with the loss of a warrior in the field of flowers you call home, leading to the Empire finding your queen. I must protect her. I must kill The Metal, before he can become a threat to my queen.

The resolve, the absolute dedication to my goal, moves the broken warriors. They look at me for a long time, saying nothing.

Finally, Grunge looks to his fellows, who all nod, before turning back to me.

"....Then let it be so. I am tired of being looked at with pity and scorn, of being hobbled, so much weaker than I was before. Do with us as you will.'

Punk Rock looks to me, struggling to raise his head with his broken back.

"Just promise us that you'll kill The Metal, please. .....Its all we have left, our hate of that vile fighter."

A promise. So ironic, that I risk breaking my promise to KILLER QUEEN, only to be faced with others who wish me to swear something. No matter. I am commited to this course. I can only hope I survive, and don't dissapoint KILLER QUEEN by dying in this quest of mine.

"I promise that nothing will stop me from killing that monster."

NEGOTIATION SUCCESS! It seems the four broken warriors will let you kill them and eat them when you fight The Metal! They will wait here until such time you challenge The Metal!


What should we do?
>>
No. 41434 ID: 6164e0

>>41430
(sorry, started writing a response before you posted that and missed it.)

>>41433
>I know you are supposed to return safely to KILLER QUEEN, she ordered me to do so.
Should be:
>I know I am supposed to return safely to KILLER QUEEN, she ordered me to do so.
>>
No. 41435 ID: ed8d8a

>>41434
sokay, I knew I was going to be pushing it when I started writing that. You update really fast.

Anyway, nod thankful acknowledgment. I guess the vote was that we were having Wings fight now? We should probably bet on that fight and see what other low level fighters are around right now.
>>
No. 41438 ID: 6164e0

>>41435

I nod my thanks to the crippled warriors, pleased to have been able to remind them of what they were, breaking them free of this existence of weakness and fear.

I step over to my honor guard, and turn towards Wings of Destiny.

'I wish for you to participate in The Fight Song, to try and gain a Valiance of your own. Will you do it?'

Wings of Destiny rapidly folds her wings this way and that, her antenna twitching wildly.

'O-of course! Anything for you... I mean, Of course, Scars of Yesterday. I shall... do as you say!'

....She seems oddly happy I requested this.

No matter. She was once a They Might Be Giants, and still retains the durable body from her earlier form. She should be able to do well.

VIEWPOINT HAS SWITCHED TO WINGS OF DESTINY

Oh, I'm so happy! Scars of yesterday needs me!

I go to one of those little creatures that seem to run this place, hoping to find a fight to make him proud!

'Greetings, honored guest! This on-'

'I wish to fight!' I blurt out, still excited that Scars of Yesterday finally has a task that only I can fulfill.

'Certainly, honored guest! Does honored guest have a Valiance?'

'No, no I don't.'

'Understood, honored guest. These are the opponents available at the moment to challenge.'

Spanish Rose (Prize: 1 unit Bohemian Rhapsody)
Purple Haze (Prize: 2 units Bohemian Rhapsody)
White and Nerdy (Prize: 3 units of Bohemian Rhapsody)
Black Parade (Prize: 5 units of Bohemian Rhapsody)
Hammertime (Prize: 9 units bohemian Rhapsody)
Master Exploder (Prize: 10 units Bohemian Rhapsody)
Detharmonic (Prize: 11 units Bohemian Rhapsody)
The Metal (Prize: 16 units Bohemian Rhapsody)


Umm.... who should I challenge?
>>
No. 41439 ID: 6faa8c

>>41438
Spanish Rose, why not?
>>
No. 41449 ID: 6164e0

>>41439
Oh! Voices in my head?

Ummm.... I don't know if that would impress Scars of Yesterday. And he did say he wants me to try and get a Valiance, and he fought that T.B. Sheets fellow (Scars was so brave!) and he didn't have a Valiance and had a prize higher than Spanish Rose!

Umm.... but if you voices are sure...

Are you sure?
>>
No. 41450 ID: 708a16

>>41449
Well, Scars also has a few extra tricks, remember? Best to start slow, girlie, get a measure of yourself and the quality of the opposition before running headlong into things.
>>
No. 41451 ID: 4cdade

>>41449
You have something to prove. You want to make Scars proud. Go for Purple Haze.
>>
No. 41459 ID: 6164e0

>>41450
Aww... but I really want to impress him. But you are right, I'm not nearly as awesome as Scars of Yesterday is...

>>41451
Oh! That would work, I think!

'Um... I want to fight Purple Haze, please!'

'Certainly, honored guest. This one would like to know if you are fighting for Fun or Food.'

Ohohoh! I remember this! This is whether you get a prize, right? And... um.... Fun fights you can surrender, right? But if you kill your foe before they surrender, you get to eat them anyway!


Okay, voices, which should I do?
>>
No. 41461 ID: 6faa8c

>>41459
Food!
>>
No. 41462 ID: 6164e0

>>41461
Right! That way I can get Bohemian Rhapsody and stuff!

'For food!'

'Certainly, honored guest. This way...'

Okay, I follow the little guy now, right? OK!

(You now have a chance to choose what, if anything, Scars of Yesterday bets on the fight.)
>>
No. 41495 ID: 708a16

>>41462
Just BR that's available as gambling currency, I'm assuming?
>>
No. 41499 ID: 6164e0

>>41495
(Nope. Any food can be bet.)
>>
No. 41501 ID: 6faa8c

>>41462
3 BR.
>>
No. 41503 ID: 708a16

>>41462
Might as well bet T.B. Sheets' carcass too, I suppose, since it's just been sitting there in the bank all this time.
>>
No. 41511 ID: 6164e0
File 125264137817.jpg - (405.66KB , 1095x736 , Purple Haze.jpg )
41511

>>41501
>>41503
(Scars of Yesterday bets 3 units of Bohemian Rhapsody and T.B. Sheets' carcass on Wings of Destiny's fight against Purple Haze. Apparently the odds are 2:1 against her.)

Ok, I followed the little green creature down a tunnel, and I am in a big chamber now, like the ones Scars of Yesterday has fought in.

I guess that one over there is Purple Haze. Umm... she looks my size, give or take.

The little green creature says some words about the fight, but it doesn't matter, since the only important part is that this is to the death.


Um.... okay, voices, what should I do?
>>
No. 41528 ID: 06fc25

Purple Haze suggests some sort of pheromone based valiance. Keep your wits about you.
>>
No. 41530 ID: 6faa8c

>>41511
>2:1 AGAINST

Dohohohoho...

Alright, we need to take stock of him... how manueverable are you in the air, Wings? Take to the sky, out of her reach.
>>
No. 41533 ID: 708a16

>>41511
Take to the air and see if you can knock Haze over with a diving attack.
>>
No. 41538 ID: 6164e0

>>41530
Okay. I can do that.

I jump into the air as soon as the little green creature leaves, my wings buzzing in the air.

Um... I guess i can maneuver okay, I can go in pretty much any direction, but not as fast as some fliers.

>>41533
Okay!

I get some elevation and dive at Purple Haze.

...Huh? She's opening her shell a bit. What is that powder coming out of her?
>>
No. 41539 ID: 708a16

>>41538
Pull up! Pull up! Evasive action!
>>
No. 41548 ID: 06fc25

Close your spiracles and dive bomb her open shell. She's vulnerable, and a quick decisive win will impress Scars.
>>
No. 41557 ID: 6164e0

>>41539
OH, OH! UM, OKAY!

>>41548
...I do really want to impress Scars of Yesterday..

Um... I'm closing my spiracles for a bit, I don't know how long I can hold my breath.

I smash into Purple Haze's back, jamming her shell closed with the impact.


Um... I need air soon, so what should I do? Some of the powder stuff is in the air around me.
>>
No. 41559 ID: 6faa8c

>>41548
CLOSE DEM SPIRACLES

DO NOT BREATH UNTIL YOU ARE CERTAIN YOU ARE FREE OF THE FUCKING CLOUD.
>>
No. 41565 ID: 708a16

>>41557
Get in a few good thumps and then get airborne again so you're out of the cloud.
>>
No. 41566 ID: 6faa8c

>>41565
Yes, take an antenna with you, if not the whole head.
>>
No. 41569 ID: 6164e0

>>41565
O-okay!

I bite at Purple Haze's head and neck, but her carapace guards the joints too well.


Um... I think I need to breathe soon. Unless you have some specific spot I should attack, I need to get some air.
>>
No. 41572 ID: 6faa8c

>>41569
Flare your wings as hard as you can, blow that stuff away. If that doesn't work, take to the air again.
>>
No. 41576 ID: 6164e0

>>41566
Oh, okay!

I grab one of Purple Haze's antenna in my jaws, and wrench it out. That seemed to hurt her!

Okay, I'm getting airborne again, I need some air.

I'm pretty far away now, it should be safe to breathe, right? I open my spiracles.

Aaah... that's nice.

Huh? the room is spinning some. I'm having some trouble with my balance.

...Oh no! Some of the powder got on me! It isn't much, but I am definitely feeling strange.

...It's getting kinda hard to concentrate.


...What...what should I do, voices? I'm confused.
>>
No. 41579 ID: 6faa8c

>>41576
FFFFFFUCK.

Fine, you used to be a Giants, right? Well, time to put that to use. Take a deep breath and go in again, except this time, go as low as you can and try to flip her over!
>>
No. 41593 ID: 6164e0

>>41579
...Okay!

I try to fly low, but instead I stumble into the ground. Flying is hard right now....

But I stand up, and charge at Purple Haze! I have to show my worth to Scars of Yesterday!

..I am still disoriented, but it's easier to stay focused when I don't have to fly.

I ram Purple Haze, butting heads with her! Hah, she is also having trouble without that antenna!

Okay, I grab her mandibles with my own to keep her from biting me.

Flip her, right? Okay.

I set my legs, digging them in, and heave.

Slowly, slowly, I get her off the ground. Okay, I'm holding her in the air now by her head!


...Um... she's opening her shell again..... What should I do?
>>
No. 41601 ID: 6faa8c

>>41593
ANT SUPLEX

Seriously, Flash those wings, flip over backwards, and slam her into the ground as hard as you can!
>>
No. 41612 ID: 6164e0

>>41601
Okay!

I start my wings buzzing as hard as I can as I wrench my head back, whipping Purple Haze through the air! I let go of the ground while pushing off, and fold my wings shut as I start falling backwards.

With a hefty impact, I slam Purple Haze into the ground as hard as I can, still clinging to her jaws with my own.

Oh! That seemed to have shoved her shell shut again, she couldn't release any more of that powder that makes it hard to balance or think.

...Um, I hit her pretty hard, but she's still moving. We are both upside down, and I am still holding her with my jaws against her own.
What should I do now, voices?
>>
No. 41614 ID: 6faa8c

>>41612
Flip aright as hard as you can, twist off her neck.
>>
No. 41617 ID: 708a16

>>41614
This. RIP AND TEAR
>>
No. 41619 ID: 6164e0

>>41614
Um... I'm not sure how well I can do that with my balance off, but okay!

I start heaving my body in a spin, trying to get upright again.

Oh! My jaws slipped! I'm not holding onto Purple Haze anymore, but at least I'm upright and she's not!


Okay, what should I do now?
>>
No. 41622 ID: 6faa8c

>>41619
rip into her underside!
>>
No. 41646 ID: 6164e0

>>41622
Right! Her belly is exposed!

I leap onto Purple Haze, and jostle her back down midway through her attempt to right herself.

Her head and neck are still well protected by her carapace, but her body isn't!

I tear into her abdomen, ripping out big chunks. I hope I'm impressing Scars of Yesterday!

Oh? She's rocking about pretty vilently to try to through me off, and with my balance off, I don't know if I can resist her.


What should I do?
>>
No. 41662 ID: 6faa8c

>>41646
DON'T LET HER UP!

Take a leg while you're there! maybe two.
>>
No. 41673 ID: 6164e0

>>41662
Alright!

I angle my head to the side and grab a leg.

Hmm... her legs are a lot more durable and hard to pull or cut out. But I manage to get one out after some effort is applied!

...In the process, purple haze slides out from under me.


What should I do?
>>
No. 41682 ID: 708a16

Ram her while she's still off-balance!
>>
No. 41686 ID: 6faa8c

Get on her back IMMEDIATLY. Those spores should never see the light of day ever again.
>>
No. 41690 ID: 6164e0

>>41682
>>41686
Why don't I do both?

I rush over towards Purple Haze, slamming my head into her side.

But I don't stop. I keep sprinting, pushing Purple Haze on her shell as fast as I can. She tries to get up or open her shells, but the bumpy journey and the missing antenna and leg make it too difficult.

I slam her into the wall at full speed, and as she rebounds back towards me I leap onto her, wrapping my long legs around her, pinning her shell shut.

I tear into her belly again, and with her legs and shell pinned, there isn't much she can do.

In short order, I've ripped her abdomen to pieces, and she is dead before me.

I did good right? I impressed Scars of Yesterday, didn't I? I fought as hard as I could!


Okay, what should I do now?
>>
No. 41702 ID: 6faa8c

>>41690
DELICIOUS VALIANCE, YOU MUST EAT IT.
>>
No. 41711 ID: 6164e0

>>41702
Right, Valiance!

I feast on Purple Haze, gorging myself.

....Whats this, I fee some sort of bulges near where my wings meet my body. Is this a Valiance?

!!NOTICE!! Wings of Destiny has gained the Valiance: Purple Haze. This Valiance allows her to produce a powder that upon inhalation causes individuals to have impaired reactions and balance, with the effect growing as more of the powder is inhaled.

Okay, I got a Valiance (I think)!


What should I do now?
(stopping here for the night, will pick up again tomorrow, probably in the morning. Go ahead and post suggestions for Wings Of Destiny while I sleep, though, I'll check them when I get back. Also, as voices in her head, you can attempt to encourage her towards general trains of thought or behavior.)
>>
No. 41911 ID: 6164e0

Okay, I'm going back up the tunnel to the main chamber, that's where the winner is supposed to go, right? I think I did alright, didn't I?

...Oh! Scars of Yesterday is there! Hehe... he looks happy, I hope I made him proud.

A-anyway, I make my way to the pedastal with all the little green creatures on it, and one hops over to me shortly.

"Congratulations, honored guest! You are now listed as a fighter with Valiance, and qualify for certain special events when they appear. This one would like to know if honored guest would like to fight again?"

"U-um, I was wondering where the prize is."

"Your prize for winning the fight is being held in the banks on the levels above."

Oh, right, that's what they did with Scars of Yesterday's prizes, right?

Ah! Speaking of him, he's talking to the little creatures himself now!

"And so, I have won the bet I place, correct?"

"That is correct, honored guest! The additional food has been transferred to your account."

"Very good then."

Oh-oh-oh, did he bet on me? He was that confident I would win? Th-that makes me happy....

Hm? He's looking at me somewhat strangely, why is he-AH, I'm gold! I mean, I'm golden, my body changed color!

.....I'm more like Scars of Yesterday now, eh-he-he!

VIEWPOINT HAS REVERTED TO: SCARS OF YESTERDAY

So. It seems Wings Of Destiny has a Valiance now. Excellent. She shall be of great use to KILLER QUEEN, now that she has changed so. My queen shall be pleased, I think, when I return with her.

....Well. It seems I have accomplished all my goals here in The Collective.

Save one.

The Metal.


What should I do?
>>
No. 41961 ID: 954933

>>41911
Though I know it's very much reliant on genre-savviness and OOC knowledge, I wish we could give Wings a lecture on absolutely not sacrificing herself for Scars, should it come up. :/ I like her.

Anyways, back on track - I liked the previous idea about trying to provoke The Metal into a group fight. How much BR did we win in that bet, anyways?
>>
No. 41975 ID: c68b15

>>41961
We'll just have to do our best to make sure she doesn't get killed when the time comes.


As for killing The Metal... we need to get those Valiances promised by the cripples. Did we ever find out what they are? And will they only let us eat them immediately before fighting? Seems we could use some time to practice with the new powers...
>>
No. 41978 ID: 6164e0

>>41961

I head up to the bank above, and check what my winnings are.

...Hm, it seems I got an additional (3 units of Bohemian Rhapsody) bringing my total to (18 units of Bohemian Rhapsody), and Wings Of Destiny now has (2 units of Bohemian Rhapsody), bringing our collective total to (20 units of Bohemian Rhapsody).

And it seems that I was awarded (10 units of honey) for wagering T.B. Sheets' corpse. Hm. Smells quite nice, actually.


What should I do?
>>
No. 41979 ID: 6164e0

>>41975
(They will let you claim their lives only once you have chosen to fight The Metal. They have some faith in you, but want to be sure you won't just chicken out after eating them.)
>>
No. 41983 ID: 43d730

>>41978
Wasn't Metallica looking for honey earlier?
>>
No. 41985 ID: c68b15

>>41978
I say we let WoD eat some of the BR to make her stronger. Like 5 or so.

Or we could try trading at the bazaar for a Valiance. Our options seem to be dwindling before the boss fight. We could have WoD fight another round.
>>
No. 41989 ID: 6164e0

>>41983
(Indeed he was, and only a few minutes have passed)
>>
No. 42003 ID: 43d730

>>41989
But there is, technically, no reason to give it to him other than to curry favor.
Trade it for BR? Eh.
Wait...
He regenerates.
This probably isn't enough honey, but could we, theoretically, try taking limbs off things and eating them to copy their valiance?
>>
No. 42007 ID: 6164e0

>>42003
(You can attempt to copy Valiances by eating a limb of an existing creature is there is a Valiance localized in the limb. Metallica has none localized in his legs. And I don't think he would like having his appendages ripped off as food.)
>>
No. 42031 ID: 6164e0

(Still need someone to suggest what Scars of Yesterday should do.)
>>
No. 42052 ID: f78140

>>42031
there really is only one choice at this point. it's time to challenge the Metal and eat the 4 broken warriors.
>>
No. 42057 ID: ed8d8a

>>42052
agreed, though I still think eating some BR might help. I AM sort of curious about the quantity of food these ants seem to be capable of holding though.
>>
No. 42058 ID: 6164e0

>>42057
(Post an amount in units that you propose Scars Of Yesterday will consume.)
>>
No. 42060 ID: 954933

>>42058
Let's not eat too much - we don't want Scars going drugged up into this. That seems like a really bad idea, and we haven't eaten enough to build up a tolerance. Let's just eat enough to fill us up and get a mild buzz - 3-5 at most? (Feel free to correct me if I've misremembered the effects of previous meals.)
>>
No. 42070 ID: 9091b9

>>42060
Actually, you kinda have. The narcotic effect only affects his higher level thinking, leaving his fighting ability completely unaffected.

Nevertheless, I think 5 ought to be plenty so long as it's immediately before the fight.
>>
No. 42075 ID: 6164e0
File 125269524534.jpg - (63.08KB , 800x600 , The Metal Stands Before You.jpg )
42075

>>42060
>>42070
I withdraw (5 units of Bohemian Rhapsody), and consume them as preparation for what I am to do. I feel a new-found suppleness in my spiracles, and wonder if I might find more ease in use with Aerosmith. I only feel slightly intoxicated, but it is more a sharpening of focus, a removal of distractions. My mind is filled with the thought of my coming foe, and immense anticipation. I see now why Metallica said this was a true warrior's food, to raise ones tension and tighten the reflexes. I am thankful I chose to do this.

>>42052
It is time.

The Metal shall fall before me.

I will feast upon him to protect KILLER QUEEN.

I walk to the pedestal, attracting the attention of one of the identical tiny creatures.

"Yes, Honored guest? What can this one do for you?"
"I wish to fight The Metal. For Food."

The little creature tilts it's head to the side fractionally, it's antenna waving. Abruptly several other of the creatures hop off, spreading pheromone messages.

"Special Event! Special Event! A new fighter, Scars Of Yesterday, has challenged The Metal to a fight for Food! Come one, come all, see someone challenge The Metal, representative of the Mandarinian Empire!"

The one before me addresses me after the flurry of traveling town criers moves away.

"One moment, while we prepare a larger arena and give guests time to arrive."
"Very well."

So, this is to be a spectacle, a grand event. What a stage to fight on. It shall be glorious, to show the strength of KILLER QUEEN to so many. But first....

But first, the broken warriors' sacrifice. I move over to the spot they occupy, huddled against a wall. They seem..... calm, more at peace then they did before. Perhaps there was still a part of them that thought I might be false, that I was just a flickering mirage of salvation for them. That part has been excised, and they can finally see a world where The Metal is no longer able to maim and terrorize the smaller fighters, and find serenity in that thought.

They each bow their heads to me, exposing their necks to me. I have some measure of respect for them now, now that they have finally decided on what their lives are worth, and so I make it quick, decapitating each one by one with my sharp mandibles. Even as they fall, the only scent radiating out of them is gratitude, a heartfelt thanks for being willing to risk myself for their pride, no matter that I do it for my queen.

I consume them in a solemn moment, eating diligently as crowds of insects start flooding into The Fight Song to come witness my battle.

!!NOTICE!!: Scars of Yesterday has eaten the last vestiges of Valiance in the four fallen warriors, and in so doing, has caused STONER SUNSHINE to be transformed, maturing into the Advanced Valiance: CRY OF THE BRAVE! It's effective range has increased, and CRY OF THE BRAVE LVs[0.5-1] can now be used without fear of Lethargy, and all rolls involved with any use of CRY OF THE BRAVE get a bonus of 1!

I feel...more power in my mandibles, and the sides of my jaws thicken somewhat, the mechanisms that control my mandibles' movement developing, strengthening and improving.

I wear the fallen warriors' sacrifice as a badge of pride as I march back to the pedestal, where the creature that initiated the flurry of activity earlier seem to be waiting for me.

"Honored guest, please follow this one. It is time, and the chamber is ready."

Wings of Destiny, resplendent with her new golden hue, hesitantly steps forward.

"...We'll be cheering for you, as loud as we can."

This thought....gladdens me, but I know not why. My honor guard departs into the sea of audience members to-be.

Well, it is time. I follow the creature into the very chamber I watched Metallica fight The Big O in. In fact, I recognize the lumbering behemoth in the crowd, some honey in his jaws. Excellent, I can show the warrior how much I have improved since last I fought him.

The Metal stands before me now, several times my size and with his iridescent and metallic blue and purple carapace glows eerily in the soft red light of the room. My own body takes on a darker hue, like a blazing fire. It seems that both of us will be exceptionally visible in this fight.

"This one is pleased to welcome honored guests to this special event, Scars of Yesterday versus The Metal! This is a fight for food, so one this one departs, the match will not end until only one of the fighters is still alive! Enjoy the event!"

IT HAS BEGUN

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?
>>
No. 42081 ID: 9091b9

>>42075
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF-

We didn't ask Flash for tips or hints on The Metal's fighting style.
>>
No. 42082 ID: ed8d8a

General strategy: We still have no indication of how fast or agile The Metal might be, so use caution. Test his defenses and reactions by pelting him with low level Cry of the Brave attacks, using Aerosmith to keep out of harm's reach. This will also serve to lull him into a false sense of security about the strength of our attacks. It will make him sloppy.
>>
No. 42083 ID: f78140

>>42081
the metal didn't fight at all while we were here. we got info from the broken warriors that the metal's single valiance is an incredibly thick carapace.
>>
No. 42084 ID: 06fc25

Ha. The New Kids on the Block are about to destroy The Metal.

Stay loose and stay fast. Do not let The Metal's mandibles anywhere near your neck. Use Aerosmith to dart to his side and try to hit one of his Wings with Unstoppable Impact.
>>
No. 42085 ID: 05dfab

This guy doesn't have any weak points.
So outmaneuver him with Aerosmith, get on his back and MAKE a weak point. Lets see if UNSTOPPABLE IMPACT lives up to its name.
>>
No. 42086 ID: 6faa8c

We must remember: Higher level Sto- er, Cries, can and will peirce armor.

Most explosives aren't about harm to the surface of the body anyway, it's the concussive blow turning thier innards to jelly...

Anyway, let him have the first shot. Keep those spiacles wide open so you can aerosmith at the last second, and land on top of him. He can't be hard as metal ALL OVER, after all!
>>
No. 42093 ID: ed8d8a

>>42086
Um, I'm pretty sure the whole idea is that yes, in fact, he can. His wings are harder than most insect shells.
>>
No. 42095 ID: f78140

one strategy to consider is using unstoppable impact to break a hole, and then crying into it.
>>
No. 42096 ID: 6faa8c

>>42093
Hurmph...
Well, getting on his back is usually half of how we win, ha;f the time, anyway.
>>
No. 42098 ID: 6faa8c

>>42095
We'll kill him like the first!

Impact the top of his head LEVEL FIVE CRY into the hole.
>>
No. 42099 ID: 6faa8c

>>42098
er, FOUR.
>>
No. 42100 ID: ed8d8a

>>42098
>>42099
no no, I like that other one better
>>
No. 42102 ID: 708a16

>>42098
Uh, using the max-power version has a chance to kill Scars outright, if I remember properly...
>>
No. 42105 ID: 6faa8c

>>42102
Only if we roll a 1. And with the +1 bonus, we'll only get lethargic.
>>
No. 42108 ID: 6164e0

(I tried to work in everyone's posts, hope it worked)
>>42105
(A roll of 1 using Cry of the Brave Lv[4] will still kill Scars of Yesterday at this point. He would need to become substantially more durable to remove that possibility)

>>42082
I open on of my mandibles open the moment the fight begins as I open my spiracles wide.

I dash forward at The Metal as fast as I can move my legs. The Metal was about to take off, and my sudden charge took him by surprise. The moment I start getting close to the range of his mandibles, I swing my jaw shut.

A brilliant light flashes through the chamber, briefly illuminating it like a brilliant sun, as a defeaning roar eachoes about.

CRY OF THE BRAVE LV[1]

The Metal recoils, his antenna flaring, but his durable carapace seems to have ablated most of the shock wave. He lunges at me as I finish opening my spiracles.

AEROSMITH

I streak through the air like a fiery comet, avoiding his jaws as I blast out of his range.

>>42084
>>42085

No, not enough, I only stunned him, I have to press the attack. My spiracles open wide once more, not protesting as much as they have in the past at such rapid use. I swing my legs akimbo to steady my aim as I prepare to dash into The Metal's flank and attack his wings.

AEROSMITH

I jet forward like a blazing star, darting to the wing nearest me. I alight on it, and without any hesitation I press a leg against it, opening the specialized spiracles on it.

UNSTOPPABLE IMPACT

I am hurled off from The Metal's wing as my leg rebounds firecely, but as I go whirling into the air, I hear a loud cracking noise echoing sharply through the chamber.

I open a few spiracles and use Aerosmith to stabilize myself in the air, and behold The Metal to have been shoved to the ground, the wing I hit peppered in long and thin cracks. But The Metal rights itself and with a furious drone begins to take to the sky. It seems the wing still functions.


I can still breathe easily, what should I do?
>>
No. 42109 ID: 6164e0

Current rules for Cry of the Brave

-If a Cry of the Brave is activated with only one mandible (termed Level 1 or 0.5 if the mandible is only opened partway), it will not cause Scars of Yesterday to become Lethargic.
- If a Cry of the Brave using two mandibles is employed, roll a d10. A roll of five or lower will induce the Lethargic Trait.
-If three mandibles are employed, Scars of Yesterday must roll a d10 and roll five or higher to stay conscious (Scars of Yesterday will still become Lethargic).
-If all four mandibles are employed, Scars of Yesterday must roll a d20 and beat a DC 15 challenge to stay conscious. If he rolls a 1, he dies.
-All rolls now gain a bonus of 1 to the roll, to be included when rolling the dice.
-The power of Cry of the Brave grows the more mandibles employed.
>>
No. 42110 ID: 708a16

>>42108
Batter him with another Cry of the Brave (Level 1) as he's taking off and maybe you can knock him back down. Commence anti-air fire!
>>
No. 42111 ID: 6164e0

>>42110
(too far away to have an effect, would need to get closer with Aerosmith to do this)
>>
No. 42115 ID: 6faa8c

>>42108
Wait for his assault, and dodge at the very last second with Aerosmith, up and over him. While in the air, launch a level 1 Cry down at him, aiming for the wing in particular.
>>
No. 42122 ID: 6164e0

>>42110
I let myself plummet back towards The Metal, using Aerosmith lightly to speed my descent.

As I near The Metal, I swing a mandible wide open.

The Metal surprises me by rotating in the air, and is almost turned to face me in a moment.

The mandible swings shut.

Again, a tiny sun briefly illuminates the cavern, and again a tremendous noise blasts through the area.

CRY OF THE BRAVE LV[1]

The Metal lists to the ground, his already cracked wing wobbling, but he recovers quickly, and rushes at me in a furious cacophony of buzzing.

>>42115
No, I will not be caught. My mind sharpened by the Bohemian Rhapsody, my body growing more used to the incredible acceleration Aerosmith imposes, I pull my spiracles open yet again.

AEROSMITH

Breathing... is getting a.. bit difficult.. but I can.. go on.

I soar through the air, a bundle of light zipping up and above The Metal.

I am above him, and I can see the injured wing.

A mandible clicks open.

It swings shut.

Once more, a blinding light flickers into existence while a furious noise drowns out all other sound for an instant.

CRY OF THE BRAVE LV[1]

Once more the wave hits The Metal in his injured wing, and once more he wobbles in the air.

Hmm...It seems that while he is airborne and his wings are in motion, I can't get close enough to cause any real damage with Cry of the Brave to them.

I am suspended in the air above the Metal, just barely outside of the span of his wings buzzing in the air. I am having some trouble breathing, but not any severe problems.
>>
No. 42126 ID: ed8d8a

Aerosmith into his back and use Unstoppable Impact at the moment of impact. Knock him to the ground and see if you can get a wing. Then it would be time to catch your breath.
>>
No. 42128 ID: 708a16

>>42122
CotB (1) at a point between his wings instead of directly at them, maybe the shockwave will flatten them long enough for you to land on his back.
>>
No. 42131 ID: 6164e0

>>42126
I press on. I can't let The Metal get his rhythm going, he is far too much bigger, stronger and more durable than me, I need to keep him off balance and hit him as much as I can right now.

My spiracles protest as I wrench them open for another Aerosmith.

I angle my body to dive at The Metal, and ready a leg as unto a spear, ready to release Unstoppable Impact the moment I hit it's back.

AEROSMITH

>>42128
As I hurtle downwards at The Metal, I swing a mandible open. Just as I near the bases of his wings, I swing it shut.

CRY OF THE BRAVE

The overwhelming blast of light and sound rocks through the chamber yet again, and I see The Metal's wings warp in the air, forced down and out of my path.

I feel my leg come into contact with his back.

UNSTOPPABLE IMPACT

I am thrown violently back, crashing into the fungus on the ceiling that illuminates the chamber with a soft red glow, my form covering a vast swath of the audience in my shadow.

The Metal was likewise hurled back from the impact, and I see and hear cracks tracing the area of impact, the harsh crackling noise echoing wildly about the chamber. The Metal hits the ground with a tremendous thud, a cloud of smoke rising up to obscure his form.

I entertain no thoughts that I have bested him. His body is absurdly tough, and the speed he recovered at before tell me he will be attempting to fly again shortly.

...I am having....problems.... breathing....now.


What should I do?
>>
No. 42133 ID: a3b36a

Can we do the Machine-gun trick with level 1 Cries without getting lethargic?
>>
No. 42135 ID: 6164e0

>>42133
(If you can find a moment to have The Metal in range and not forcing you to relocate for a long enough time to do it, yes. And it won't be machine gun like, the cadence would be something like 100 beats a second, like 'Another One Bites The Dust')
>>
No. 42138 ID: 6faa8c

Get some air while holding onto the shrooms.
>>
No. 42149 ID: 6164e0

>>42138
Haaaaa......Haaaaaaa........Haaaaaa

Okay, I can breathe normally again.

But sitting up here catching my breath gave The Metal time to also recover, and the cloud of dust is blown away as he takes to the air.

"STRONG ONE. I WILL CRUSH YOU, AS I HAVE CRUSHED COUNTLESS FOES OF THE EMPIRE. YOU WILL BE BROKEN BEFORE ME, AND I WILL FEAST ON YOUR CORPSE."

If I am to make a retort, now is the time, while we are still distant from one another.


What should I say, and what should I do? (particularly effective retorts can be applied as psychological warfare!)
>>
No. 42154 ID: 6faa8c

>>42149
"So sayeth the one who has yet to land a single blow!"

path of glory the crack on his back.
>>
No. 42155 ID: a3b36a

"Before the day of gaining my valiance had passed, I slew one of your precious Empire's abominations, and I have only grown stronger as time has passed! Your kind gains no fear from me! In death, you too shall serve the Killer Queen as your shattered and broken body is consumed! Come, and know the kiss of your demise! In your last breaths, you shall finally reap the fear that you have sown!"
>>
No. 42168 ID: 6164e0

>>42154
"So sayeth the one who has yet to land a single blow!"
>>42155
"Before the day of gaining my valiance had passed, I slew one of your precious Empire's abominations, and I have only grown stronger as time has passed! Your kind inspires no fear in me! In death, you too shall serve the KILLER QUEEN as your shattered and broken body is consumed! Come, and know of your imminent demise! In your last breaths, you shall finally reap the terror and carnage that you have sown! I WILL BREAK YOU!"

The Metal seems confused at my absolute confidence, and seems hesitant.

(INTIMIDATION: MINOR SUCCESS!)

I open my spiracles wide, letting go of the moss and fungus on the ceiling letting out the soft red light while I snap my mandibles shut.

PATH OF GLORY

My body contorted into a spear lancing a path down through the air, the air screaming around me as I hurtle onward, I slip past his beating wings, and my mandibles slam into the crack I made in his back.

There is a tremendously sharp crack of noise piercing through the air, and I have trouble orienting myself as I try to understand what happened.

I am laying on the ground some distance away from the prone form of The Metal, already struggling to stand. I seem to have widened the crack somewhat. Good.

...!? There are also hairline fractures throughout the length of my mandibles! I tense them to assess the damage, and find them in working order, but another impact like that might break them.

In retrospect, I probably shouldn't of tried to break the shell of a creature far larger than me with a Valiance making their body phenomenally resilient with my own smaller, more easily broken form.


What should I do?
>>
No. 42177 ID: 708a16

>>42168
Quick, while he's disoriented, Aerosmith your way onto his back and apply a combination CotB(1) and Unstoppable Impact to the back of his head!
>>
No. 42182 ID: 6164e0

>>42177
I ignore my damaged Mandibles. So long as I do not strike The Metal with them again, I should be fine.

I open my spiracles wide once more, click a mandible open, and raise one of my front legs like a spear.

AEROSMITH

I whiz through the air, straight at the back of The Metal's head as it starts to finish orienting himself.

I swing the mandible shut just as I feel my leg touch the back of The Metal's head.

The room flares with light for a moment as a tumultuous cacophony of noise blankets the area.

CRY OF THE BRAVE LV[1]
UNSTOPPABLE IMPACT

I am hurled backward with great force once more, but this time I am ready.

I use Aerosmith with more precision than I previously was capable of, and stabilize myself while canceling out my momentum.

The Metal now has small network of cracks on the back of his head, and has had his face shoved down into the ground. It looks severely disoriented by what has happened.

I am currently in a state of free fall some few inches behind and above The Metal.


What should I do?
>>
No. 42184 ID: 6faa8c

>>42182
AEROSMITH BACK ONTO HIM, DO IT AGAIN. AND AGAIN. DO NOT STOP UNTIL EITHER YOU ARE TIRED OR HE IS DEAD.
>>
No. 42186 ID: 708a16

>>42184
Damn right! Piledrive that bugger's head until it explodes!
>>
No. 42222 ID: 987386

Not PoG. Get on him and ratta-tat-tat with the rapidfire lvl 1 cries.
>>
No. 42251 ID: d3692f

>>42186
>>42184
I say we call this Operation Ground and Pound.
>>
No. 42255 ID: 6faa8c

I gotta go, folks. See ya'll laters!
>>
No. 42419 ID: f78140

try to unstoppable impact one spot until his armor breaks, and then cry of the brave it. until then, it's just a waste of effort to keep cry of the braving.
>>
No. 42437 ID: 708a16

>>42419
Not if it's a combo attack that delivers a double-thump and keeps him dazed in the process.
>>
No. 42485 ID: 6164e0

>>42184
>>42222
No. Beyond it's phenomenal shell, The Metal is no different from the Mandarinian Warrior we fought before. I can best it, I can kill it, I just need to keep the pressure up, and be thankful I gained something as useful as Unstoppable Impact. And once I open that carapace, I will show it the power of the Brave.

I spread my spiracles wide, and fold myself for flight.

AEROSMITH

As I zip ever closer to crashing against The Metal's abnormally hard shell, I abruptly reverse the direction of Aerosmith, coming to a still landing scant millimeters behind it's cracked head.

A mandible swings open.

A mandible swings shut.

A small sun exists for a brief instant, turning the chamber brilliantly white, while a phenomenal noise cracked through the air.

CRY OF THE BRAVELV[1]

The Metal jerks and twists as the wave goes through it.

No, this is not enough. I swing another mandible wide, yet another slowly following it.

The room flickers and flashes, plunging from night to day again and again as thunder echoes in the chamber like a drumbeat.

CRY OF THE BRAVELV[1]
CRY OF THE BRAVELV[1]
CRY OF THE BRAVELV[1]
CRY OF THE BRAVELV[1]
CRY OF THE BRAVELV[1]
CRY OF THE BRAVELV[1]
CRY OF THE BRAVELV[1]
CRY OF THE BRAVELV[1]

I can see his shell flexing and tensing, but no new cracks appear, this degree of Cry of the Brave unable to pierce it's formidable defenses.

...And I also see that the cracks on my mandibles are spreading. I think I must discontinue this.

>>42186
>>42251

I still have my legs, I can still hurt it, I can break it. I place a leg on the back of it's head, and open my spiracles wide. I will use Aerosmith to cancel out my rebound, and remain at hand to continue hitting The Metal. I can't let up, for I feel that if I cannot keep hitting it with regularity in the same spot, I might not be able to open a hole in it's carapace before my body falls apart from trying to measure up to The Metal. It is just one Valiance, but what a durable one it is!

But I have a hammer to break it.

UNSTOPPABLE IMPACT
AEROSMITH
UNSTOPPABLE IMPACT
AEROSMITH
UNSTOPPABLE IMPACT
AEROSMITH
UNSTOPPABLE IMPACT
AEROSMITH
UNSTOPPABLE IMPACT
AEROSMITH

I drive The Metal's head into the wall with resounding strikes again and again, spreading and multiplying the cracks in it's carapace, causing bits to chip off. I am slowly breaking the wall with The Metal's face as I strike bit by bit. It is working. I can destroy his shield.

I........can't.........breathe.....................
Can't........................do................it...........
One.................more...................hit.

UNSTOPPABLE IMPACT

I am flung across the room, my body limp as I desperately gasp in air. My body will barely respond to me now.

But The Metal is not moving. It is slumped against the wall, it's head buried in the rock.



What should I do? I can only barely manage to move at all at this point.
>>
No. 42493 ID: 9891a9

>>42485
Well, with that combination successful, it seems The Metal is out of commission. Take this time to get your breath back, you've most likely shattered his skull and its contents into bits.
>>
No. 42500 ID: 43d730

>>42485
Don't turn your back on it.
Wait for victory to be declared.
Then go and eat whatever vital bits you can get at, and cut the body into pieces, and THEN you can put it in the bank.
I'm suspicious of that going as well as it did.
Then rest up and assign a guard on it.
Bring some of it back, KQ might be able to replicate it.
>>
No. 42508 ID: 6164e0

!!NOTICE!!Scars of Yesterday has now gained the new ability: Operation Ground and Pound. This ability is a combination of Unstoppable Impact and Aerosmith. This ability allows Unstoppable Impact to be used in rapid succession without being flung away by rebound. However, since the ability uses Aerosmith as well, there is a limit to how long it can be sustained before Scars of Yesterday succumbs to oxygen deprivation.

!!NOTICE!!Scars of Yesterday has learned the new ability Fury of The Storm! This ability is successive use of Cry of the Brave. Be aware that this ability is rough on Scar of Yesterday's mandibles, and any time they are cracked this ability will start to worsen them with extended use.
>>
No. 42518 ID: 6164e0

>>42493
>>42500

.....This is not how I expected this fight to go. And I feel uneasy about The Metal falling so relatively easily.

After I catch my breath and manage to regain my full range of motion, I cautiously step over to investigate the corpse after staring at it warily for a time.

The moment one of my feet brushes against The Metal, it's wing snaps open, catching me like a line of stone across my body. I am slammed away, my body impacting against a stretch of wall not too far from The Metal.

Gnh....that was a good hit. A small amount of my fluids ebb out of my spiracles. It hurts, but I can continue.

The Metal start to move, shakily, sloppily, but it begins to extricate its head from the wall while furiously beating it's wings, preventing me from approaching from my current position.


What should I do?
>>
No. 42526 ID: 43d730

>>42518
Godfuckingdammit.
Hope he doesn't regenerate like a jerkface.
>>
No. 42530 ID: d3692f

I suppose you'll have to wait until he gets his (hopefully) concussed skull out of the wall.

Unless, of course, you can approach from a different position.
>>
No. 42533 ID: 708a16

>>42530
Try stomping on the ground hard enough to use Unstoppable Impact again, maybe you can blast some sand into his wing-joints or something to slow him down enough to approach again.
>>
No. 42546 ID: d3692f

>>42533
Aerosmith could probably be used instead, to produce a controlled stream of dirt as opposed to just a cloud. Do it.
>>
No. 42549 ID: 6164e0

>>42533
Thinking quickly, I place my two front legs against the ground at an oblique angle, and trigger Unstoppable Impact to skim the surface of the arena floor.

I kick up a wave of dust while shoving myself backwards, debris and a few decent sized pebbles going hurtling into The Metal with a terrible clamor. He seems confused as to what this is, and his wings slow for a moment.

It I was behind him, I might be able to use this to get on his back once more.



Hmm. I am currently a middling distance to the back and right of The Metal, still in pain from the wing that struck me, and my mandibles moderately cracked. What should I do?
>>
No. 42614 ID: 1d375b

Then quickly get behind him avoiding those wings and try it out.
>>
No. 42621 ID: ed8d8a

>>42549
From that description, I am not just exactly sure what you just did there.
>>
No. 42631 ID: 708a16

>>42621
Unstoppable Impact got used on the ground to create an effect not unlike that of a claymore mine, sort of. Which we should keep in mind when presented with a multitude of softer targets later...
>>
No. 42635 ID: 6164e0

>>42621
(Scars of Yesterday flattened his front legs out almost parallel to the ground, and triggered Unstoppable Impact in both. This shoved up a large out of debris that pelted The Metal, who slowed in confusion at the attack. Hope that phrases it better.)

>>42631
(This is certainly doable, just be sure to specify how you want Unstoppable impact to be used if you request something like this. The more vague a suggestion is, the less likely I will understand your plan.)

>>42614
I run in an arc to bring me to The Metal's back, but it finally manages to free itself before I can get into position.

The metal stumbles about, clearly having trouble interpreting it's own senses and controlling it's body. However, it's wings keep beating drunkenly, And I do not think I can attack from the side.

As The Metal turns toward me, I wonder if I could streak over it's head with it so disoriented.... I am uncertain as to whether I could succeed.

What should I do?
>>
No. 42637 ID: 708a16

>>42635
Use Aerosmith to blast a cloud of dust up as a smoke screen first and then give it a try, sure.
>>
No. 42660 ID: 6164e0

>>42637
I flare open all of my spiracles, and ready myself to use Aerosmith omnidirectionally to create an obscuring cloud ring that entraps my foe.

AEROSMITH

I have further disoriented and blinded The Metal, now it the time to move.

I re-aim Aerosmith, and leap into the air. I must time this right to get past it's wings.

AEROSMITH


!?GNH!....I was struck by an upright wing as I tried to pass, and while I did manage to grab onto The Metal's back, I hit my left front leg pretty hard. I'm having trouble moving it.
>>
No. 42670 ID: 1d375b

You need to cripple him somehow. Can you use Impact on one of his eyes?
>>
No. 42674 ID: 987386

BREAK THOSE FUCKING WINGS.
>>
No. 42680 ID: 6164e0

>>42674
But how can I manage to get a leg on them while they beat so erratically?

>>42670
This might work, but as it is The Metal is trying to buck me off in an uncoordinated but nevertheless fierce bit of movement. I would have to halt his movement for a time to relocate.


What should I do?
(More info on Cry of the Brave's mechanics posted in discussion)
>>
No. 42685 ID: 1d375b

Daze him with a level 1 Cry. Might give you enough time to position yourself.
>>
No. 42690 ID: 06fc25

>>42680

Attempt psychological warfare again.

Quietly inform him that someday your colony is going to find his queen, tear her wings and stinger off and feed her piece by piece to your own Matriarch. Your warriors will gorge themselves on the fallen abominations and the drones shall feast on the larvae. Ultimately nobody will remember the Mandarinian Empire ever having existed at all.
>>
No. 42691 ID: 6164e0

>>42685
I swing a mandible open as I cling tightly to The Metal's upper back despite it's efforts to unseat me.

The mandible swings shut in a flash of light and roar of sound.

CRY OF THE BRAVE LV[1]

..!?WHAT!? It barely seemed to faze The Metal at all! Is he getting used to my attacks!? This can't be good.....


What should I do? The Metal is still moving too fast for me to get access to it's eyes.
>>
No. 42697 ID: 708a16

>>42691
If you can't stay on his back, see if you can duck under him without being noticed and use Unstoppable Impact to flip him over.
>>
No. 42698 ID: 6164e0

>>42690
"Someday, our colony is going to find your queen, tear her wings and stinger off and feed her piece by piece to our own Matriarch. Our warriors will gorge themselves on the fallen abominations that are you unclean monsters and the drones shall feast on the larvae. Ultimately nobody will remember the Mandarinian Empire ever having existed at all."

(INTIMIDATION: MODERATE SUCCESS!)

.....The Metal did not seem to like that at all. It's movement's have slowed somewhat, and unease coupled with rage pour off the creature. I cannot get to it's head still, but I think I could get a leg free.


What should I do?
>>
No. 42710 ID: 987386

If you can't hit the wings, smash at where they connect.
>>
No. 42724 ID: 6164e0

>>42710
Of course, I already struck The metal betwixt his wings, didn't I? I must endeavor to make the damage more severe.

....exactly how should I attack it?
(please name specific ability/Valiance proposed at whatever level desired [if the one chosen has levels] and any relevant dice roll)
>>
No. 42739 ID: f78140

>>42724
Operation Ground and Pound the wings, if possible.
>>
No. 42741 ID: 987386

Unstoppable impact. It might be too risky to use operation ground & pound, what with those wings still in action. If you can stay absolutely in place, feel free to try.

Any dice needed?
>>
No. 42742 ID: 6164e0

>>42739
(How many times should the move be used? Remember that the more successive uses, the more Aerosmith must be used, and the more that Scars of Yesterday will be deprived of air. DECENT INTELLIGENCE BONUS: Also, since all five uninjured legs are on The Metal, up to five legs can be employed. The more legs used, the greater the impact, but the amount Aerosmith must be used to cancel the rebound increases proportionately. CHOOSE)
>>
No. 42746 ID: 6164e0

>>42741
(Not for use of Unstoppable Impact or Operation Ground and Pound, and Operation Ground and Pound can be used currently. Please phrase your suggestion to conform with >>42742
Please.)
>>
No. 42747 ID: d3692f

Unstoppable Impact once, with 5 legs. Lets do as much damage as possible while we can still stay on top of this guy.
>>
No. 42748 ID: f78140

>>42742
wait, we have 5 legs on the metal? use all 5 legs, but don't bother using aerosmith to do anything more than prevent injury upon landing.
>>
No. 42755 ID: 1d375b

Use 5 and use aerosmith if the first blast does not disable his wings.
>>
No. 42757 ID: 987386

If 1 cracked him, 5 will probably give access to his delicious innards, at least...
>>
No. 42765 ID: 6164e0

>>42747
>>42748
I shall strike The Metal with every bit of force I can muster, all focused on the already existing crack situated between it's wings. I shall use Aerosmith as much as is necessary to prevent me from coming to harm, but not enough to attempt to keep me on it's back. Hopefully the impact will be great enough I will not regret letting myself be removed from The Metal's back after the effort and injury it took to get here.

I lift my injured leg aside as I ready all five remaining legs. This should be rather vicious for both of us, I think.

UNSTOPPABLE IMPACT [X5]
AEROSMITH

Gnh!.... I am still hurtling at the wall. The rebound was too great for one Aerosmith to slow me to safe speeds. I act quickly to prevent myself from being crushed against the wall.

AEROSMITH
...!?
AEROSMITH

I am slowed enough I manage to alight on the ceiling without any further injury, but I feel somewhat winded. I finally have time to observe what the blow did to The Metal.

I am pleased by what I see below me.

The Metal has been shoved into the rock with such force that the ground beneath him has cracked and broken, it's body partially submerged in the rubble. The cracks on it's back have severely worsened, but there has been no breach of it's carapace. This Valiance is ridiculously durable!


What should I do now? I am standing upside down on the ceiling almost directly above The Metal, somewhat winded.
>>
No. 42771 ID: 1d375b

Get back down there and hit him again. Try 3 this time so you dont get so winded.
>>
No. 42773 ID: ed8d8a

>>42771
already getting winded. a short break might be in order, but don't let him struggle out of the rubble if it can be avoided.
>>
No. 42775 ID: 6164e0

>>42771
I let myself drop from the ceiling, conserving my breath by letting gravity bring me down. I am confident I have some time before The Metal is moving again.

!!BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY INTOXICATION BONUS!!

I see The Metal twitch. It is already recovering some degree of motion!

Now warned of danger, I manage to catch The Metal abruptly raising both wings in an attempt to crush me betwixt them before I can land on it's back! Thanks to my drug-induced alertness, I have a split second to act!


What should I do!?
>>
No. 42777 ID: ed8d8a

>>42775
Unstoppable Impact outward at the wings closing to crush you. 2 legs on each side. It will stop their motion and might even finish breaking them. and you can STILL land on him.
>>
No. 42779 ID: 987386

...fuck.

I guess we'll just need to turn him into chunky bug salsa. Overkill time?
>>
No. 42785 ID: 6164e0

>>42777
No, I will not let this foe stop me now.

Acting quickly, decisively and without hesitation or doubt, I spread four of my legs wide (two on each side), interposing them between my body and the rapidly approaching wings while readying them all for Unstoppable Impact!

I feel the my legs make contact with something, and I trigger all four readied legs.

BI-DIRECTIONAL UNSTOPPABLE IMPACT(X4)

The already injured wing shatters, subtly edged shards going flying out, several embedding in the stone wall, and a few unlucky audience members are impaled, some already writhing as death claims them. I can hear Metallica's rumbling laugh, and feel pride to know I entertained, and maybe impressed the powerful warrior with my quick counter (and collateral damage to some of the audience). The other wing is severely cracked but remains intact, nonetheless being repelled to slam into the ground.

Thanks to my quick thinking leading to me equalizing the pressure between my sides, I continue my drop onto The Metal's back after countering his attack, Aerosmith unneeded. Excellent, I have him off guard, and I am free to choose any place to attack!


What shall be my target, and how shall I destroy it!?
>>
No. 42789 ID: 1d375b

If you think you have the breath to stop yourself hit him with another 5 impact in the middle of the cracks on his back. If not try 3 or 4.
>>
No. 42790 ID: 43d730

>>42785
Finish off that other wing, then start to work on the legs.
We may have to reduce him to a limbless mess before he finally shuts up.
>>
No. 42792 ID: 06fc25

>>42785

Use a five legged Unstoppable Impact - two on the remaining wing, and three in his torso. Use the momentum (and an Aerosmith if need be) to land on the wall near one of the broken wing shards. Yank it from the wall, and attempt to fire it at The Metal with another Unstoppable Impact. Let's see how durable The Metal's carapace is against itself.
>>
No. 42796 ID: d3692f

>>42790
>>42789
>>42792

The Metal's legs really haven't posed a threat to us at all during this fight, but the wings have. 2 Impacts to the wing, 3 to the cracked torso.
>>
No. 42799 ID: ed8d8a

>>42785
Remind me, we have been developing cracks on both his head and at the base of his wings? How are they relative to eachother?
This seems like a good moment to end this fight (one way or the other) with a level 4 Cry of the Brave, though I will hold off on rolling till there is consensus.
>>
No. 42801 ID: f78140

rolled 8 + 1 = 9

you have already struck the metal's head 6 times with unstoppable impact. prehaps it is weakened enough for another operation and pound. try to stop before you get too winded. if the armor looks broken enough, go for a cry of the brave lvl 4: nothing worth having is without risk in gaining. even in the small chance such an attempt kills you, we can be assured the metal's death with be for the good of KILLER QUEEN.
>>
No. 42810 ID: d3692f

>>42799
I think the reason we've held off on using high levels of Cry of the Brave so much is that it's such a devastating ability, to both parties. If the Metal does withstand it, we'll be dead. If he doesn't, there's still a chance we'll be dead.

Besides, we can keep this up. And shattering this guy is so much fun, I'm not sure what we'll do after he's dead.
>>
No. 42812 ID: 43d730

>>42796
If we take out his legs and wings, we can slice him up at our leisure.
>>
No. 42813 ID: d3692f

>>42801
Noooo! Wait for a consensus first! D:
>>
No. 42817 ID: f78140

>>42813
i was given to understand if i suggested using it, i was to roll the dice during that suggestion.
if nobody else thinks we should use it, then it'll be pretty obvious by the responses (like it sorta is... :/ ) but i'm only suggesting it for the instance where the metal's armor is already smashed to bits, since we've already pounded the crap out of his head.
>>
No. 42821 ID: 6164e0
File 125273896685.png - (120.19KB , 676x599 , Injury.png )
42821

>>42817
(you used it correctly, and your assumption about whether it gets implemented being based off consensus is also correct. But since there doesn't seem to be such a consensus, not this time.)

>>42790
>>42813
(Oka-)
>>42792
(THIS IS A BRILLIANT PLAN! *golf clap*)

Rather than relocate to attack a more delicate area, I hatch a multi-part plan on the spot, and set it to motion while still ironing out the details. To the bold and decisive go the spoils of war.

I place three legs on The Metal's cracked torso, and two more on the remaining cracked wing while preparing them to use Unstoppable Impact, quickly checking their positioning so the rebound will direct me roughly towards the shards of wing embedded in the wall of the arena.

I trigger all of them at once.

BI-DIRECTIONAL UNSTOPPABLE IMPACT [X5]

The remaining wing shatters, once more sending keenly edged slivers whizing through the air, and more spectators, this time on the opposite side of the arena, are wounded, some killed. Metallica laughs ever harder. Hah, the bloodshed, and the carnage, it stirs my spirit! My Shining Light glows brighter as my battle frenzy deepens, and I become the strongest source of light in the chamber.

Hng!! The impact is severe, and jars me badly. But I must focus, for I am hurtling at the razor edged shards of The Metal's wing in the wall.

AEROSMITH
..!?
AEROSMI-

It was not quite fast enough. Luckily I did not impale myself, but I have a gash along my Alitrunk, and it tweaked one of my spiracles. I won't be as adept with Aerosmith now.

But I reached my target. I grab one of the shards of The Metals wing and yank it out of the wall. Gripping it tightly with two legs to steady my aim, I steady my aim while clinging to the wall, and prepare the two legs gripping the shard to use Unstoppable Impact. I trigger them.

APPLIED UNSTOPPABLE IMPACT [X2]

I am bashed back against the wall, and the gash in my side oozes a bit, but the shard flies straight an true, and jams into The Metal's side. It howls in agony as for the first time in the fight I see some of it's own fluids start to stain the battlefield.

...It doesn't seem that there are any more shards embedded in this part of the wall large enough or shaped properly to be accurately launched as the first, but perhaps on the other wall....


What should I do?
>>
No. 42845 ID: 1d375b

Check the other wall for more shards. If you can get one or two into him you should be able to drive them deeper with your impacts.
>>
No. 42847 ID: 06fc25

Try and scuttle along the wall to the side with more wing shards. Stay above biting height.

Mock him as you pass.

"You take a mortal ant,
And put him in control
Watch him become a god
Watch Abominations heads a'roll"
>>
No. 42876 ID: a3b36a

The way I see it, we have 3 choices.

1: Smash him where he got punctured. Hopefully it'll turn his insides to delicious paste, or widen the hole.
2: Smash him on the side -opposite- where he was punctured. Hopefully it'll make his insides become his outsides, via the hole.
3: Hit him with another shard. Poke another hole to bleed from. However, this is hard on us as well. We'd need to find some way to not lose our insides from our alitrunk wound.

I suppose we could also try a high-power Cry of the Brave, but that might be a last resort. ...and we're not to that point yet.
>>
No. 43018 ID: 6164e0

>>42845
>>42876

I finally made The Metal bleed. I will not ignore such a useful tactic.

I race along the walls, running as fast as I can and staying high, to keep The Metal from reaching me in it's wingless state. Strange, it does not seem to be pursuing me, even after it's obscenely ablative carapace lets him once more largely shrug off the attacks I have heaped on it.

>>42847
...I do not like this sudden stillness in my foe. Perhaps another attempt at psychological warfare is in order.

"You take a tiny ant,
And put him in control
Watch him become a god
Watch your hive queen's head a'roll!"

...I don't like this, The Metal completely ignored what I said, and is still in his original position, moving only to keep oriented on me as I continue on my path to reach the other slivers of The Metal's wing embedded in the wall.

(INTIMIDATION: FAILURE)

Now that I think of it, my recent focus on The Metal's wings and back have been the first time since the fight started, really, that I have not been pounding on The Metal's head regularly.


I am almost to the collection of shards stuck in the wall when I finally see The Metal move. It crouches down on it's hind legs while raising up on its middle pair of legs, freeing it's front legs from the ground and holding them akimbo.

....I do not like this.


What should I do?
>>
No. 43072 ID: 708a16

Forget the shards for now, Aerosmith behind him and land another Unstoppable Impact onto the back of his head if you can close in quick enough.
>>
No. 43075 ID: f78140

>>43072
this, but be prepared to dodge whatever it is the metal is doing. until we know what it is, dodging should take priority over attacking
>>
No. 43083 ID: 708a16

>>43075
Agreed. This is too much of an unknown quantity to risk absorbing any further damage.
>>
No. 43092 ID: fc832e

rolled 1 + 1 = 2

This reeks of ill intent. He waited for us to be a far distance away before doing this. It's probably one of two things then, either of which require probably require a charge-up time.

A - A powerful ranged attack. Might even have an explosion radius, another reason he was hesitant to utilize it.

B - A temporary increase of physical power. Kind of like a berserker frenzy.

He's trying to use an unknown ability. I suggest we counter in turn. Aerosmith about, rapid succession, we'll need to dodge and weave if this is some sort of long ranged attack (even then praying that it isn't some ridiculous radius blast). Once past that, we should approach a body part that's been significantly damaged and let loose with a Cry of the Brave, Level 2. I know we've been hesitant to utilize it due to the risks, but I believe this unknown event may justify it's use.

I don't know if one vote is enough, but if it is and this fails, sorry in advance gents. But it's always been my opinion that the best defense is a strong offense.

CRY OF THE BRAVE, LEVEL 2.
>>
No. 43101 ID: f78140

>>43092
i don't think we should use a cry of the brave at this point, especially not from a distance. it's already been made apparent our attempts at such at a closer range have done nothing. i agree we should use one eventually, but probably only after we've gotten through the metal's carapace would it be worth the effort.
>>
No. 43107 ID: 6164e0

>>43072
>>43075
>>43083
(Disregard shards for the moment, Aerosmith closer, try to Unstoppable Impact the back of The Metal's head, but prioritize personal safety over the attack.)

..This is troubling, this change in attitude and posture the The Metal is evidencing seems foreboding. I must understand what it is that is transpiring here.

I open my spiracles wide, shuddering minimally as the wound passing through one of my spiracles trickles with more fluids from the movement.

AEROSMITH

I soar over the arena floor, racing towards a point some few millimeters above The Metal's head in the hopes of once more reaching the already damaged back of it's head. As I blaze like a shooting star ever closer to The Metal, I prepare myself to immediately dodge with Aerosmith should I feel in danger.

....Strange. As I approach, I see The Metal take in a deep breath, and flex his upright legs.

!?GNH!! It takes me a moment to realize I have been thrown to the ground, The Metal having struck me down with a vicious blow. As I groggily try to assess my situation, I perceive The Metal swinging one of it's upright legs down at me like a massive club!

Too disoriented from the blow to use Aerosmith, I throw myself to the side, watching in horror as the other upright leg descend to impale me.

I was careless. I can't use Aerosmith in my dazed state, and I can't dodge fast enough to completely avoid being hit by the rapidly descending leg! I am on my back, my legs in the air from my frantic dodge of the prior attack!


What should I do?
>>
No. 43110 ID: f78140

>>43107
unstoppable impact movie punch the punch!
>>
No. 43111 ID: 6faa8c

>>43107
FUCK.

We only have one shot at this.

unstoppable impact [X5] straight at him. the blast of air might blow him away, giving us a chance to GTFO.
>>
No. 43116 ID: 6164e0

>>43110

I will not fall to The Metal, not so simply as this.

I dart one of my legs forward, hurriedly preparing it to release Unstoppable Impact.

My leg makes contact with the descending limb of The Metal.

UNSTOPPABLE IMPACT!

Both of our legs are rocked back from the impact, but without pause or hesitation, The Metal swings his other front leg down to impale me.

>>43111

I desperately raise all my uninjured legs, and place them betwixt myself and The Metal's descending leg, readying them all to discharge.

I feel pressure against my legs.

UNSTOPPABLE IMPACT [X5]

...There is pain, and confusion, but I become aware I am now airborne, and my back aches tremendously. I seem to have rebounded off of the ground when using such a forceful Unstoppable Impact without anything to cancel the feedback, and have been flung into the air.

I hear cracking noises from my back, and I can feel another leg has been damaged badly by this. I fear my conventional mobility will drop as a result.

As I tumble through the air, I have a chance to view The Metal. Ludicrously, both of it's front legs seem entirely undamaged from the impacts. Still, I got back out of it's range, and get to live a little longer.

What should I do?
>>
No. 43129 ID: 6faa8c

>>43116
Jesus!

It's like those battles in Final Fantasy when you expend everything you've got and the bastard just, keeps, going.
>>
No. 43132 ID: 1d375b

Try to stay away from his front end for the moment. If you can find another wing shard try and shoot it into the largest crack on his back. But watch out he might be able to deflect it if you aim to close to his head.
>>
No. 43134 ID: 6164e0

>>43129
(You guys kept calling it a boss fight, so..... I made it one.)
>>
No. 43137 ID: 6faa8c

>>43134
Understandable.

Also, is there any way to assure, in the event of a death draw, that Wings gets the bodies?
>>
No. 43151 ID: 6164e0

>>43137
(LOLIDUNNO)

>>43132

Well, this change in tactics certainly surprised me, but it is not flawless. He can only move his legs to guard or attack an arc in his front. If I can just get on it's back again...

I wrench my spiracles open, and aim myself at his back.

AEROSMITH

I plummet earthwards, a falling star shining brightly, racing towards The Metal's back.

!?The Metal leaps to the side, and I am abruptly faced with the only the ground before me.


I have a transient moment to act, what should I do?
>>
No. 43152 ID: 43d730

>>43151
GTFAway.
Collect yourself and watch him.
>>
No. 43153 ID: 6faa8c

>>43152
The bastard can't fly! And we kinda can.

We must press this advantage.
>>
No. 43157 ID: 6164e0

>>43152
>>43153
(VOTAN TIME TRIGGERED. POST PREFERRED ACTION, PRESS THE ATTACK OR RETREAT)
>>
No. 43158 ID: f78140

>>43157
victory won't be gained by running away. press the attack. if the shard of his wing is still inside, try to knock it deeper in. if not, go for the head some more.
>>
No. 43163 ID: 9891a9

>>43157
Press the attack. Fortune favours the brave.
>>
No. 43166 ID: 6faa8c

>>43158
unstoppable impact the shard!
>>
No. 43177 ID: 1d375b

A quick jet to the side should land you on his back. Avoid the front and try to drive that shard deeper into his body.
>>
No. 43191 ID: 6164e0

>>43158
>>43163
>>43166
(PRESS THE ATTACK)

It doesn't matter if I have to be more careful around The Metal. Backing away like a coward will accomplish nothing. I must keep hitting The Metal as hard as I can as often as I can, never letting the pressure up, not even for a second.

..?? I smell something. The crowd, they-

"SCARS! SCARS! SCARS! SCARS!"

...I have been slipping for the last few exchanges. Funny, that the spectators of the fight reminded me of what I should be doing.

I am The Hero, Scars of Yesterday, Champion of Killer Queen, Giantslayer, Proud Warrior. AND I WILL NOT LOSE TO SUCH AS THIS! My body shines brighter and brighter, until I become a beacon of golden light, bathing the entire chamber in stark light.
!!SPECIAL EVENT!!: MIND AND BODY AS ONE! SCARS OF YESTERDAY HAS PUSHED SHINING LIGHT TO IT'S MAXIMUM, AND WILL FIGHT AT HIS PEAK!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWsct3ggkLE&feature=related

I will give The Metal the most glorious battle of it's life, and crush it. I will prove the might of KILLER QUEEN. I will prove the might of her champion.

AEROSMITH

The world blurs as I streak towards The Metal, heedless of the danger. So what if it could crush me with but a single well placed blow? I follow the path of carnage, the path of the warrior, without regrets.

The Metal's arms blur, darting for my form.

No. I will not be caught so easily.

AEROSMITH

I throw my body up, up above The Metal and it's deadly arms.

NO, I AM NOT DONE, NOT EVEN CLOSE.

AEROSMITH

I plummet towards The Metal's back. I see it preparing to leap aside. But this time, I am ready, my senses to acute to miss the cues. I alter my path of screaming descent as The Metal leaps aside.

And I accelerate.

AEROSMITH

I can barely breath, but I don't care. This a fight I will fondly reminisce about, be it back at Crescent or in death. I will not flag.

I raise all four functioning legs as I descend at absurd speeds towards The Metal, preparing to strike.

A slender sliver of time exists between my likely fatal impact with The Metal and the now.

I trigger all four legs.

UNSTOPPABLE IMPACT [X4]

The Metal is struck in the back of it's head with tremendous force, it's face driven into a rapidly expanding crater in the rocky arena floor. It's legs spasm from the impact, it's body twitching.

I neutralized my potentially fatal descent with the rebound from this strike, and have landed on The Metal's back.

"SCARS! SCARS! SCARS! SCARS!"

I have the beast, dead to rights, and I can see a crack growing deep and true surrounded by an intricate web-work of cracks in it's head, chips and flakes of carapace drifting from the injury.

I CAN DO IT! THE METAL IS NOT INDESTRUCTIBLE! I CAN BREAK IT! I CAN STRIKE IT DOWN!


WHAT SHALL I DO?
(A pheromone speech can be emitted during this moment, in addition to taking action)
>>
No. 43192 ID: 6faa8c

rolled 8 + 1 = 9

>>43191
"I AM SCARS OF YESTERDAY, SOLDIER OF KILLER QUEEN, RIGHTFUL RULER OF CRESCENT! FOR MY QUEEN, FOR THOSE YOU CRIPPLED, FOR THOSE OPPRESSED BY THE MIGHT OF YOUR EMPIRE, I WILL FIGHT, AND FIGHT, AND FIGHT! EVEN IF YOU ARE UNBREAKABLE, I WILL DESTROY YOU!"

Cries level 3, point-blank, nto the back of his head.
>>
No. 43194 ID: acdc9b

>>43192
I was going to suggest the very same thing.

FINISH HIM!
>>
No. 43201 ID: 6164e0

>>43194
>>43192
(ROLL SUCCESS)
"I AM SCARS OF YESTERDAY, SOLDIER OF KILLER QUEEN, RIGHTFUL RULER OF CRESCENT! FOR MY QUEEN, FOR THOSE YOU CRIPPLED, FOR THOSE OPPRESSED BY THE MIGHT OF YOUR EMPIRE, I WILL FIGHT, AND FIGHT, AND FIGHT! EVEN IF YOU ARE UNBREAKABLE, I WILL DESTROY YOU!"

I swing three of my mandibles wide as The Metal begins to recover.

The audience continues to cheer, roaring my name.

The Metal does not get up in time.

I swing the mandibles shut, a hair's breadth behind the battered and cracked back of it's head.

CRY OF THE BRAVE LV[3]

My own Shining Light's illumination is completely overpowered as the world goes blindingly white, three tiny suns flaring into existence as sound vanishes, the room deathly silent. Nothing can disturb this moment. It is my time of glory.

I see the back of The Metal's head flex, warp, ripple, the cracks proliferating at a staggering rate.

And it happens, it finally happens.

The shell covering The Metal breaks, disintegrating, dissolving into fragments of dust that disperse in the air.

The Metal's movements stop.

My body ceases to shine, my limbs grow heavy, and my wounds and fatigue catch up with me. I can barely stay conscious.

But I did it. I can see the life fluids pouring out of the hole in the back of The Metal's head.

I won.



What should I do?
>>
No. 43202 ID: 6faa8c

>>43201
I'm nit sure if we should eat the body. Something with this much defensive power should really go to the Queen.
>>
No. 43208 ID: 9891a9

>>43202
Agreed, the Metal's corpse should be saved for KILLER QUEEN.
>>
No. 43212 ID: f78140

>>43202
a quick check of part 1 reveals that there was more than 25 units of abomination hornet, and apparently the metal is even bigger (i think that was said... i don't remember) so there are very good odds scars and the honor guard could eat all but 25 units of it, and give that to killer queen.
>>
No. 43216 ID: 6164e0

>>43212
(Valiance goes one to one in the case of death. Getting The Big O's leg to bestow his Valiance on Scars of Yesterday was a rarity that combined luck with happy coincidence. Only one ant can get The Metal's Valiance.)
>>
No. 43217 ID: f78140

>>43216
guess it goes to killer queen then.
>>
No. 43220 ID: 6164e0

(So, what should Scars of Yesterday do now?)
>>
No. 43223 ID: 9891a9

>>43220
(The fight hasn't actually been announced as over yet so I assume we are all waiting.)
>>
No. 43224 ID: 6faa8c

>>43220
Get that shit to the bank. Then we need to see if Metallica feels like hauling our cash and loot back to Crescent.
>>
No. 43232 ID: 6164e0

>>43223
(You removed half of The Metal's head, and the stuff that should be inside it's head is leaking all over the place. Pretty dead.)

>>43224
I stand on shaky legs, walking towards the exit of the arena amidst tumultuous cheering from the crowd. It seems The Metal was not well liked, and my victory has made many happy. Since this was not a title fight like Metallica's, I don't think there is any ceremony expected at the end, so I am free to leave.

I make my way slowly, haltingly up the tunnel, fluids leaking from my body and tracing my path as I stumble along, trying not to hit the walls too often.

I am tired.

As I lose sight of the chamber I fought in, I briefly glimpse scores of the small creatures that seem to run The Fight Song with such efficiency swarm onto The Metal's body, and start dragging it away. I hold no suspicion seeing this, I believe the little creatures are simply bringing it to the bank above, as they did before with T.B. Sheets.

I eventually make my way to the pedestal the little creatures use to communicate with gamblers and fighters, and am quickly approached by one of them.

"This one congratulates honored guest! This victory has earned you access to all forms of special events, and the right to challenge for championship titles in the future! Your winnings and The Metal's carcass are being deposited in the bank as we speak.

I try to be glad at this news, but I am so tired, so battered, my body dull with lethargy.

I see my honor guard making their way through the crowd to my side.

I did not see Metallica leave before I exited the arena, and I do not see him in the crowd now. I imagine he is likely still inside, his departure slowed by his massive size.

I...am desperately, ravenously hungry, in addition to my wounds, my cracked and battered mandibles, my damaged legs and my cracked spines. I could use some food.


What should I do?
>>
No. 43235 ID: 6faa8c

>>43232
omnomnom in the geust room. Have Flash find Metallica and send him there.
>>
No. 43244 ID: acdc9b

Guys, if Killer Queen needs this Valiance, then we have already failed. Let's have Scars, Toxic, or WoD eat The Metal so they can fight better and keep the fight from ever getting to the Queen.

Imagine how badass Scars would be with all his offensive and mobility Valiances, and amazing armor as well.
>>
No. 43249 ID: 6164e0

>>43235
...I am so very hungry.

I rejoin my honor guard, barely hearing the words of praise from them, and start to walk back to the guest chambers. Or, I try to, but my legs buckle, and I start to fall.

Before I can hit the ground Wings Of Destiny has me, wrapping a long leg around me to keep me upright.

"Y-you really look hurt! A-ah, Um!"

She seems very nervous about something, maybe if I wasn't so tired, I could figure it out. But all I can do is irk out a weak pheromone message.

"...Guest....chamber"

Wings Of Destiny, still blabbering frantically, stops the moment I speak.

"Oh! Okay, I'll bring you there!"

I vaguely discern the other members of my honor guard looking startled as Wings Of Destiny takes to the air, carrying my limp form.

Suddenly I am on the ground, with a small pile of food before me, a fidgeting Wings Of Destiny urging me to eat.

Now the food is halfway gone, and I see the rest of my Honor guard. Strange, when did they get here.

Now the pile of food is large again. How did that happen? So hungry....


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

Some time has passed, I know this much.

I feel well fed, and my body once more shines with a golden hue. But cracks still trace my mandibles, and I can tell that my back and legs still remain partly damaged, and the gash on my side has not fully closed yet.

As I stir, I see Wings Of Destiny leap to her feat, rushing to my side. Relief radiates from her as she sees me stand on my own.

I see Metallica's gargantuan form with Flash standing on his jaws, eyes alert. The titan rumbles, his laugh familiar and somewhat comforting to hear.

"ZEHAHAHAHA!! What a fight! Ya did it, ya beat The Metal, good on ya! ZEHAHAHA, what a splash ya have made in The Fight Song! And I made so much bettin' on ya, did ya know the odds were 12:1 against ya in that fight? HAH, I can buy a whole beehive now, and not have to worry about where I'll get honey anymore. ZEHAHAHA, ah, ya've done well, little warrior, and you've grown splendidly."

I doubt that Metallica gets much happier than this.

But I have finished my obligations here in The Collective, have I not? I learned enough to bring KILLER QUEEN word, I bested The Metal, I found a source of Bohemian Rhapsody, KILLER QUEEN now commands another hero, and I have won substantial prizes in The Fight Song.

Perhaps... perhaps it is time to return home.


What should I do?
>>
No. 43253 ID: 6faa8c

>>43249
Ask Metallica if he'd like to take us home.

OH GOD I HOPE SHE'S OKAY
>>
No. 43268 ID: 6164e0

>>43253
"Metallica.."

"Yeah? What is it, little warrior?"

"Can you bring me, my honor guard and our winnings home?"

"Sure! I made a killin' off a ya, why not, ZEHAHAHA! But if yeh want ta bring back more than just yer bodies, I think yer little flier there will need ta carry a bit, but yeah, I think I can get ya, yer Bohemian Rhapsody and The Metal's carcass back ta yer home. ZEHAHA, lets go, time's wasting!"

...I don't really have any choice but to follow the lumbering giant as he urges me onward to the bank.

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

With Metallica there to push us along, it takes very little time to withdraw all but T/B Sheets body and the honey from the bank, collectively leaving us with (31 units of Bohemian Rhapsody) and (80 units of The Metal [first hero ant/KILLER QUEEN to consume from this will gain the Valiance.])

We walk out of The Collective, bringing our goods with us. True, we now could be wayleighed for our valuables, but I doubt many would be foolhardy enough to attack our group.

In short oder everyone and everything is either held by/carried by Metallica or Wings Of Destiny.

We depart back to Crescent, back to KILLER QUEEN

SCARS OF YESTERDAY AND RETINUE ARE IN TRANSIT BACK TO CRESCENT

CONTROL WILL SWITCH BACK TO KILLER QUEEN AT THE NEXT POST, WHICH WILL CONTAIN THE MOST RECENT TIMESTAMP FOR REFERENCE.
>>
No. 43269 ID: 43d730

>>43268
Give him the honey in exchange.
>>
No. 43304 ID: 6164e0

(Putting Ant Quest on pause for a bit, got some stuff to take care of, should be back to normal by Monday at the latest.)
>>
No. 43314 ID: 987386

If we give Scars the Metal's Valiance, it might reduce or eliminate his chance of death with the level 4 Cry of the Brave. We could then try developing higher levels of it, or more rhythms with it, like 3 1 3 1 or repeating 2s.
>>
No. 43353 ID: 06fc25

I'd rather not put all our eggs in one basket by focusing solely on Scars. I like the idea of having Killer Queen eat The Metal and gain his valiance.
>>
No. 43357 ID: 9891a9

>>43314
But it's been stated that the 1 roll would cause his head to explode from the inside out, and The Metal's valiance only protects our outside, as we saw in the fight. Likely, it wouldn't have much impact on Cry of the Brave
>>
No. 43368 ID: 1d375b

At the moment Scars is pretty vulnerable without some sort of regeneration or armor. While it would protect the queen nicely we have a army for that. There will be more hero's and more Valiance's to gain and the queen can evolve on her own. I think Scars deserves this one.
>>
No. 43374 ID: 9891a9

Why not allow Wings of Destiny to eat The Metal? Combined with her already large defensive powers from being a They might Be Giants, she'd be nigh invincible.
>>
No. 43379 ID: 6faa8c

>>43368
I'm changing my vote then, to Scars.
>>
No. 43562 ID: 2cf404

>>43379
I agree, Scars should get the Valiance. If for no other reason than because he EARNED it. The Queen really doesn't need super defensive armor because she won't be on the frontline. If she's under direct attack then everything else has already gone to hell.

Scars has great offensive abilities. He has a good mobility technique. But he really needs defense.



Alternatively, for the roleplay element... it'd be super romantic if he gifted the body to Wings of Destiny~ <3
>>
No. 43662 ID: f78140

i have a crazy idea. namely, we have XOM quality food. i suggest having one ant, possibly a merciless, eat only the roots, never any other food. i suspect it will end horribly, but can't resist the possibilities.
>>
No. 43671 ID: 06fc25

>>43662

I can just imagine an out of the way room in the colony full of horrific failures in the vein of Alien Resurrection.
>>
No. 43681 ID: 2cf404

>>43640
I think this needs a little updating. Toxic and Scars aren't entertaining guests, plus you completely left out Wings of Destiny.
>>
No. 43718 ID: 987386

Are we going to pick up when Scars left or when Scars gets back?

The colony marches on even when he's not around, after all.
>>
No. 43719 ID: 6164e0

>>43681
(ARE YOU HAPPY NOW)

-All ants set to feed themselves whenever they have 30 minutes left before becoming Lethargic.
-Fat Bottomed Girls have continued harvesting Roots of chaos, but the thick exterior the needs to be cut through coupled with the need for the ants to carefully not ingest the food when harvesting slows the harvesting process.

CRESCENT COLONY AGE: 4.0 HOURS

TOTALS:
1 KILLER QUEEN
1 The Hero Scars of Yesterday (Returning at a later date)
1 Toxic
1 Wings of Destiny (Returning at a later date)
6 They Might Be Giants (2 more at hour 5) (1 Returning at a later date)
19 Death on Six Legs (1 Returning at a later date)
65 The Merciless
152 Fat Bottomed Girls
19 Flash (10 more at hour 6) (1 Returning at a later date)
20 Lurkers at the Threshold ('planted')

STATUS:
KILLER QUEEN: Sated (does not need food until hour 5), can produce more eggs in Chamber 4

The Hero Scars of Yesterday: (???), Returning at a later date.

Toxic: Sated (needs 2 units of food in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Idle outside of Crescent.

Wings of Destiny: (???), Returning at a later date.

They Might Be Giants:
-6 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 4

Death on Six Legs:
-19 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Patrolling Crescent

The Merciless:
-25 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Patrolling Crescent (2 mutated)
-24 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Guarding Fat Bottomed Girls gathering Concentrated Nutrients
-16 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 4

Fat Bottomed Girls:
-46 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or become Lethargic), Harvesting Roots of Chaos(1 mutated)
-46 Sated ((will need feeding in 1 hour or become Lethargic), Expanding Crescent
-46 Sated (self-feeding), gathering Concentrated Nutrients
-14 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 4

Flash:
-19 Sated (will need to feed in 1 hour or become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 4

Lurkers at the Threshold:
-20 'planted' about Crescent's surface

FOOD:
5 units of Yellow Flower Leaf (Quality: 1/10)
0 units of Nest Robber Centipede (Quality: 3/10)
175 units of Black Dragonfly (Quality: 3/10)
1,141 units of Concentrated Nutrients (Quality: 4/10)
0 units of Yellow Flower Nectar/Blossoms (Quality: 2/10 Warriors, 4/10 Non-Warriors) Special: Masks Non-Warrior Scent
8 units of Flying Beast Bumblebee (Quality: 5/10) Special: Tastes Like Poison
22 units of Abomination Hornet (Quality: 7/10)
0 units of Bohemian Rhapsody (Quality: 9/10) Special: Instantly removes Lethargy, Strengthens Consumers
75 Units of Roots of Chaos (Quality: XOM/10)
60 units of Dead Ant (Quality Unknown)

Storage:
Chamber 1 current maximum capacity: 300 points (300/300 used)
Chamber 2 current maximum capacity: 500 points (0/550 used)
Chamber 3 current maximum capacity: 375 points (375/375 used)
Chamber 4 current maximum capacity: 600 points (200/650 used)
Chamber 5 current maximum capacity: 175 points (650/650 used)
Chamber 6 current maximum capacity: 600 points (161/325 used)
Chamber 7 current maximum capacity: 600 points (0/500 used)
Stealin' current maximum capacity: 200 points (75/200 used)
(KILLER QUEEN and They Might Be Giants are worth 10 points, The Hero Scars of Yesterday is worth 5 points, Death on Six Legs and Toxic are worth 2 points, Flash, The Merciless and Fat Bottomed Girls are worth 1 point. Food is 1 point per unit of food)

!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN can now attempt to make up to two new strains at a checkpoint.
!!NOTICE!! KILLER QUEEN can now save upgrades for later checkpoints!
!!NOTICE!! KILLER QUEEN is getting better at making new ant strains!
>>
No. 43721 ID: 6164e0

>>43718
(This is picking up the moment Scars left)
>>
No. 43764 ID: 8f7fc7

>>43719
YES VERY MUCH SO

I think we ought to stop harvesting the XOM roots. What's the point? We can't use them for food; it's too dangerous. Let's have them and the idle fat bottoms get to work digging or something.
>>
No. 43766 ID: f78140

>>43764
might want to see if there is any demand for it first: we'd be better off if we have something to trade.
also, that alien ressurection mention only makes me want to feed the merciless a bunch of it.
>>
No. 43772 ID: 632862

>>43719
...I think the chamber capacity numbers are a little off. Not that it really matters.
>>
No. 43922 ID: 6164e0

(Alright, got a bit of time right now for some stuff)

>>43662
>>43671
(Please list which ants of KILLER QUEEN's should start eating exclusively Roots of Chaos, and in what numbers)

ORDERS TO THE COLONY CAN NOW BE ISSUED.

ORDERS?
>>
No. 43932 ID: eeba7d

>>43922
Let's have the fat bottoms harvesting Roots of Chaos go gather concentrated nutrients, have the idle fat bottoms assist with expanding Crescent.

And we need to scout out more. See if we can find some more antlions or centipedes or something. We need to give our warrior ants something to fight so they can grow stronger. Have the Flash ants scout out and report back upon finding anything so we can dispatch Merciless and/or Death on Six Legs to investigate and/or murder the anomaly.

And no feeding anything the roots of chaos... that's just asking for a mutant out of control killer ant rampaging through the nest.
>>
No. 43933 ID: 6faa8c

>>43922
I'd say ten Merciless for now, just to see what happens. LOLXOM
>>
No. 43943 ID: 6164e0

>>43932
How many Flash in what directions?

North: Loud Buzzing
North-East: Buzzing
East: ???
South-East: ???
South: No Buzzing
South-West: No Buzzing
West: ???

>>43933
10 of the 16 idle The Merciless set to consume Roots of Chaos in Stealin', in route.

>>43932
DECENT INTELLIGENCE BONUS
By building a fully collapsible chamber, the experiment could be made easily destroyed in case of a threat to the colony.
>>
No. 43944 ID: 6164e0

(Also, I am going to be posting from other computers today probably, so I think it is time to adopt a trip. And seeing as how I do not know how to do this..... Can someone tell me how one uses trip?)
>>
No. 43945 ID: f98e0b

>>43944

Name##tripcode (tripcode is just any word)
>>
No. 43947 ID: eeba7d

>>43943
South-East: 5
South: 4
South-West: 5
West: 5

Ugh, if we have to do a Xomtastic experiment, then at least build the collapsible room first.

But have the ants try them one at a time so we can get any useful mutations out without having to trap them in with anything dangerous, please? Can we please at least take that precaution?
>>
No. 43949 ID: eeba7d

>>43945
Apparently the number of #s you put in your name equates to the number of !s that show up before the trip code. I only use one #.
>>
No. 43954 ID: 6faa8c

>>43947
Don't see why not.
>>
No. 43963 ID: 64d98f

>>43945
Secure tripcodes are for fags, by the way. Just use one # for a tripcode that won't get you made fun of.

>>43949
With one # it's just a tripcode, with two it's a secure tripcode. Regular tripcodes are easier to guess. Also, the tripcode changes depending on how many you use.
>>
No. 43981 ID: 44ae36

Flash dispatched in the following order:

South-East: 5
South: 4
South-West: 5
West: 5

Thanks to their complex scent trails, even if they die knowledge of what they found will be gained. Should they be dispatched with orders to return upon finding anything of note or continue exploring?

Stealin' was constructed with security in mind, and a small chamber suitable for up to 20 The Merciless/Fat Bottomed Girls to be safely and securely held in is available. This chamber currently has no Roots of Chaos stored in it. How many units of Roots of Chaos should be stored there for when the test subjects arrive? (75 units of Roots of Chaos have been harvested)

-New Standing Orders: Any test subjects will eat Roots of Chaos one at a time, so that in the event of a catastrophic mutation, the chamber will be collapsed with only the one test subject and however many units of Roots of Chaos are inside being destroyed.

Further orders? (there are still idle ants!)
>>
No. 43987 ID: eeba7d

>>43981
Let's put 20 units of Roots of Chaos in the test chamber for now.

The warrior ants will wait for the reports back from the scout ants. Let's have any idle fat bottoms work on continuing expansion of Crescent.
>>
No. 43991 ID: 44ae36

>>43987
20 units of Roots of Chaos placed in collapsible chamber in Stealin' for coming test subjects.

14 Idle Fat Bottomed Girls assigned to expanding Crescent.

Flash given orders to return once finding any discovery of note.

6 The Merciless and 6 They Might Be Giants idle, awaiting findings from Flash scouts.

Are there further orders to issue or should KILLER QUEEN prepare to lay eggs?
>>
No. 44005 ID: 987386

Maybe we should include some larvae in the roots of chaos experiment. Feed various types only it since hatching?
>>
No. 44007 ID: eeba7d

>>43991
None here. Don't know about anybody else.
>>
No. 44008 ID: 44ae36

(Okay then, moving on to KILLER QUEEN egg laying)

KILLER QUEEN can lay up to 100 eggs, what load out should be used?
>>
No. 44011 ID: f78140

65 merciless
3 TMBG
5 FBG
>>
No. 44014 ID: c0af71

>>44011
Works for me.
>>
No. 44176 ID: 6164e0

The following eggs will be lain.

65 merciless
3 TMBG
5 FBG

Time advancement imminent.

(One sec.)
>>
No. 44179 ID: 6164e0
File 125290038547.jpg - (60.19KB , 613x871 , Crescent Hour 4_5.jpg )
44179

-All ants set to feed themselves whenever they have 30 minutes left before becoming Lethargic.
-Fat Bottomed Girls have continued harvesting Roots of chaos, but the thick exterior the needs to be cut through coupled with the need for the ants to carefully not ingest the food when harvesting slows the harvesting process.

CRESCENT COLONY AGE: 4.0 HOURS

TOTALS:
1 KILLER QUEEN
1 The Hero Scars of Yesterday (Returning at a later date)
1 Toxic
1 Wings of Destiny (Returning at a later date)
6 They Might Be Giants (2 more at hour 5, 3 more at hour 5.5) (1 Returning at a later date)
19 Death on Six Legs (1 Returning at a later date)
130 The Merciless
157 Fat Bottomed Girls
19 Flash (10 more at hour 6) (1 Returning at a later date)
20 Lurkers at the Threshold ('planted')

STATUS:
KILLER QUEEN: Sated (does not need food until hour 5), can produce more eggs in Chamber 4

The Hero Scars of Yesterday: (???), Returning at a later date.

Toxic: Sated (needs 2 units of food in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle outside of Crescent.

Wings of Destiny: (???), Returning at a later date.

They Might Be Giants:
-6 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 4

Death on Six Legs:
-19 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Patrolling Crescent

The Merciless:
-25 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Patrolling Crescent (2 mutated)
-24 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Guarding Fat Bottomed Girls gathering Concentrated Nutrients
-9 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Test Subjects of Roots of Chaos
-70 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 4

Fat Bottomed Girls:
-46 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or become Lethargic), Harvesting Roots of Chaos(1 mutated)
-60 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or become Lethargic), Expanding Crescent
-46 Sated (self-feeding), gathering Concentrated Nutrients
-5 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 4

Flash:
-5 Sated (self-feeding), Scouting area
-5 Sated (self-feeding), Scouting area
-5 Sated (self-feeding), Scouting area
-4 Sated (will need to feed in 30 minutes or become Lethargic), Idle in chamber 2

Lurkers at the Threshold:
-20 'planted' about Crescent's surface

FOOD:
5 units of Yellow Flower Leaf (Quality: 1/10)
0 units of Nest Robber Centipede (Quality: 3/10)
175 units of Black Dragonfly (Quality: 3/10)
1,137 units of Concentrated Nutrients (Quality: 4/10)
0 units of Yellow Flower Nectar/Blossoms (Quality: 2/10 Warriors, 4/10 Non-Warriors) Special: Masks Non-Warrior Scent
8 units of Flying Beast Bumblebee (Quality: 5/10) Special: Tastes Like Poison
22 units of Abomination Hornet (Quality: 7/10)
0 units of Bohemian Rhapsody (Quality: 9/10) Special: Instantly removes Lethargy, Strengthens Consumers
75 Units of Roots of Chaos (Quality: XOM/10)
60 units of Dead Ant (Quality Unknown)

Storage:
Chamber 1 current maximum capacity: 300 points (300/300 used)
Chamber 2 current maximum capacity: 500 points (4/550 used)
Chamber 3 current maximum capacity: 375 points (375/375 used)
Chamber 4 current maximum capacity: 600 points (81/650 used)
Chamber 5 current maximum capacity: 175 points (650/650 used)
Chamber 6 current maximum capacity: 600 points (161/325 used)
Chamber 7 current maximum capacity: 600 points (0/500 used)
Chamber 8 current maximum capacity: 600 points (0/300 used)
Chamber 9 current maximum capacity: 600 points (0/275 used)
Chamber 10 current maximum capacity: 600 points (0/475 used)
Stealin' current maximum capacity: 200 points (115/200 used)
Stealin’s Test Chamber maximum capacity: 40 units (10/40 used)
(KILLER QUEEN, Wings of Destiny and They Might Be Giants are worth 10 points, The Hero Scars of Yesterday is worth 5 points, Death on Six Legs and Toxic are worth 2 points, Flash, The Merciless and Fat Bottomed Girls are worth 1 point. Food is 1 point per unit of food)

!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN can now attempt to make up to two new strains at a checkpoint.
!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN can now save upgrades for later checkpoints!
!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN has gotten better at making new ant strains!
!!NOTICE!! Flash scouts sent to the south have encountered a new field with two new flowers unguarded by flying beasts. However, this new field has an occupant, who was able to communicate to the Flash that this field of flowers was hers, that her name was Def Leppard and that the ants should not try to take her food. Image of occupant imminent.
!!NOTICE!! Thanks to increased intelligence, new mining and large scale digging techniques have allowed ants to build larger chambers and dig through harder materials faster than before!
!!NOTICE!! 10 The Merciless have been mutated! 2 melted into the flour, scouring away stone until they had boiled away, 1 has lost his legs and is now incapable of any action but biting and feeding, 1 has started to ooze mucus from it’s antenna that severely lessens it’s senses, 2 have fused together into a multi-ant, but the fusion is only as capable as one ant, 1 ant has grown a blue lump on it’s forehead, but has experience no change in parameters, 2 ants have grown thicker fur on their bodies that seem to conserve heat, but do not impede them, and 1 has split into two new The Merciless.


(Picture of Def Leppard incoming)
>>
No. 44180 ID: 6164e0
File 125290042932.jpg - (172.83KB , 1024x768 , Def Leppard.jpg )
44180

(image of first of two new flowers imminent)
>>
No. 44181 ID: 6164e0
File 125290048038.jpg - (92.61KB , 640x480 , New Flower 1.jpg )
44181

(image of last of two flowers found imminent)
>>
No. 44182 ID: 6164e0
File 125290052517.jpg - (162.93KB , 715x535 , New Flower 2.jpg )
44182

ORDERS CAN NOW BE ISSUED

What are your orders?
>>
No. 44189 ID: 6164e0

(And to prove the prior posts are legit)
>>
No. 44204 ID: 13dac4

>>44179
Are you guys done fucking around with the Roots of Chaos now? Can we move on to something useful? Or shall we keep throwing ants away because lolxom?

All fat bottoms quit harvesting the Roots of Chaos. I don't get how two The Merciless could have been joined since we were testing them one at a time though...

Let's have 57 of our fat bottoms work on harvesting concentrated nutrients, and the other 100 continue expanding rooms 10 and the room below room 5.


As for Def Leppard... I think this would be a good time to send out Toxic as an emissary of the Queen. Poor guy needs a purpose after all. Let's have him find out what this bug is on about, how it could possibly need all the flowers in a field, if it represents more insects than itself, etc. We can evaluate the possibility of attacking it or allying with it once we know more. Send along 10 The Merciless and 2 They Might Be Giants as an honor guard.

Then let's send those 4 Flash out again, only this time to the East.
>>
No. 44211 ID: 6164e0

!!SECRET EVENT FOUND!!
Ant with blue lump on forehead:

What!? Voices in my head? What's going on?
>>
No. 44214 ID: 632862

>>44179
Dear god. Well, might as well feed the legless ant another unit of root to see if he regains mobility via a new mutation.
>>
No. 44215 ID: 13dac4

>>44211
Seriously? Bob? Seriously...?

<sigh> Hello, miss. We're the, um, Tumor of Infinite Psyche, it would seem. We give advice and sometimes humorous reaction pictures.

Let's find out what kind of level of intelligence we're dealing with here. Are you self aware? Do you understand the concept of you as an individual or are you solely an element of the colony?
>>
No. 44217 ID: 632862

>>44211
Oh great, we're risking Time Paradox now if we tell this ant about anything that's currently going on with Scars.
>>
No. 44218 ID: 6faa8c

>>44211
O lawdy

Hello, we are the Mushroom of Infinite Psyche.
>>
No. 44226 ID: 632862

>>44204
I agree that we should try and talk more with Def Leppard. Maybe we could set up a trading system so that we can utilize any special effects these new flowers have.
>>
No. 44231 ID: 6164e0

>>44214
Legless The Merciless set to feed on Roots of chaos again in one hour.

>>44215
>>44218
Ant of Infinite Psyche:

"H-hello? There are multiple thoughts? Not my thoughts? I am The Merciless, just as all my sisters of the same caste are. Self? I exist for KILLER QUEEN, and no other reason. What is self?"

>>44217
"What!? You know of Scars of Yesterday? Are you voices real? ...What is this you claim to know of KILLER QUEEN's champion, The Hero Scars of Yesterday?"

>>44226
"What? What is Def Leppard?"
>>
No. 44235 ID: 13dac4

>>44231
Ugh, he's intercepting our transmissions...!

Merciless, we are advisers of your Queen! And now the time has come that you serve her to the utmost of your ability. We need you to have the Queen eat your head.
>>
No. 44238 ID: 6164e0

>>44235
Ant of Infinite Psyche:

"LIES! KILLER QUEEN, our sovereign and ruler, is supreme! None advise her! The thoughts lie, and tell me to feed myself to KILLER QUEEN! Why would I listen to false thoughts!"
>>
No. 44244 ID: 13dac4

>>44238
Merciless, you will know your place. Before you were but a twinkle of genetic code stored in the KILLER QUEEN we were there with her, we were her! When she turned her mind toward the field and sought a location to call her home, we were there! When the horrific beast threatened her before she had ever laid her first egg, we watched with eager anticipation. When she burrowed into the Crescent at the start of her unstoppable empire, we dug with her.

We are not foreign voices, we ARE the very will of the Queen, and we demand obedience. Yours is not to listen but to obey.
>>
No. 44255 ID: 6164e0

>>44244
"..What? KILLER QUEEN? How can thoughts be KILLER QUEEN? KILLER QUEEN is KILLER QUEEN, and I am The Merciless, not KILLER QUEEN, I can not have her thoughts.

Will of KILLER QUEEN? But thoughts are not a pheromone order from KILLER QUEEN. But thoughts know history of colony? Why?"
>>
No. 44262 ID: 632862

>>44238
It would be wrong to say we *are* KILLER QUEEN, as she has a personality of her own, but we definitely influence her actions. Wait and listen, and you shall see.
>>
No. 44270 ID: 13dac4

((Hey Bob, is it possibly to talk this guy into sentience/hero-ness? Because if so, I'll sit here and writefag with you until he's René Descartes. But if not I'd rather not waste the effort))

>>44255
KILLER QUEEN's mind works in ways you cannot possibly imagine. Until now you (plural) have been touched by her will only externally, through pheromones. But the food you recently ate, the growth on your head, they have allowed you (singular) to hear her very own thoughts inside your head. You are a very rare ant, but you are presently a nuisance. The Queen cannot focus with her mind distracted with discussing this matter with you! Take a look around, see how no orders are being given. The lifeblood of the Crescent, the will of the Queen, they have been halted by your arrogance and disbelief!
>>
No. 44280 ID: 6164e0

>>44270
(Indeed, this ant CAN be talked into being a hero unit by helping her develop and individual personality, and from hear on out, any words intended to go to her should be prefaced with [Ant of Infinite Psyche:]. Anything not prefaced with that will be considered either discussion or orders for KILLER QUEEN and her progeny.)

>>44262
"Part of KILLER QUEEN? There are more parts than the one that gives pheromone orders? I do not know this, the colony does not know this, these thoughts are false."

>>44270
"Me? Different from other The Merciless caste? But we are the same, we are but one of the forms crafted and controlled by KILLER QUEEN, I cannot be different, this is my existence. What? Nuisance to KILLER QUEEN? But how can I be, I did as she ordered, I ate of the Roots of Chaos, I have obeyed her without question, that is my existence, how could I slow her?"
>>
No. 44281 ID: 632862

>>44255
Maybe you should just go talk to the Queen, see what she thinks.
>>
No. 44283 ID: 6faa8c

>>44280
[AoIP]: There is more to the queen than that which gives you orders. We are the part that prepares the orders.
>>
No. 44288 ID: 6164e0

>>44281
"But I have not been ordered to do so by her. You lie, thoughts, if she wished me, I would smell it."

>>44283
"KILLER QUEEN has more parts? Parts that can't be seen? I do not understand, what parts are these?"
>>
No. 44290 ID: 6faa8c

>>44288
[AoIP]: Like the inside, under her carapace and skin, we help Killer Queen make decisions.
>>
No. 44292 ID: 6164e0

>>44290
"But this is not inside our sovereign KILLER QUEEN's carapace, this is inside the colony Stealin'. Who can you be inside KILLER QUEEN here?"
>>
No. 44297 ID: 6faa8c

>>44292
<<Oh god discussing psychology and philosiphy with an ant halp>>
>>
No. 44308 ID: 632862

[AoIP] The way you hear us is like the way she hears us, except she does not realize she hears us. We guide her, not talk to her. What you are experiencing now is different from how this normally works.
>>
No. 44313 ID: 13dac4

>>44280
[Ant of Infinite Psyche]: Alright, it seems we have that cleared up now. You're no longer hindering our operations here. Hold on a moment.

Bob, I'd like to resubmit: >>44204

[Ant of Infinite Psyche]: Okay, sorry about that. Look, we can prove it to you that we are working with/through/for the Queen. I can predict to you her next commands, I can even get her to command you to do stuff. But that's hardly as interesting. Let's talk about you for a moment.

You are absolutely correct that you are one of The Merciless. But you and your sisters are command-able separately, not just as a single unit. Even if you believe you have no individual mind, you do have an individual identity in the tactical sense. You can be ordered to do a task that none of the other Merciless have been ordered to do. Therefore you can't be the exact same thing.

Now let's take this little conversation. You are discussing this with us. This isn't merely considering how best to carry out orders: you are actively thinking about how to respond and pondering our words to you. Your brain is active far more than you give yourself credit for. For instance, I'd like you to prove me wrong. I'd like you to argue with me. Because the irony is, that by arguing with me, you further establish yourself as an entity in this discussion, complete with a position and points to back yourself up. You aren't some mindless will reciting dogma. You are a being, that can think for itself. And we'd like to help you grow that capability if you're willing.
>>
No. 44315 ID: 6164e0

>>44308
"Hear you? I do not hear you, thoughts are in my head, I did not make them, but they are there. Thoughts keep lying, nothing guides KILLER QUEEN but KILLER QUEEN, thoughts aren't KILLER QUEEN, because I am not KILLER QUEEN, and thoughts are in my head, not hers."
>>
No. 44325 ID: 6164e0

Fat Bottomed Girls:
-100 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or become Lethargic), Expanding lower chambers.
-57 Sated (self-feeding), gathering Concentrated Nutrients

4 Flash sent out to the east.

Toxic, 10 The Merciless and 2 They Might Be Giants are heading to contact Def Leppard.

Further Orders before KILLER QUEEN begins laying eggs?

>>44313
"...I am... different? Individual? ....I can be ordered to do something alone, that which does that task is me? I am a specific The Merciless, a single part of the caste, part of the whole but of my own mind, is that it? ..I am that which communicates with you, this is true. ....But I do not know if I can believe you, KILLER QUEEN has issued orders, and you do not comment of them. I cannot trust you."
>>
No. 44327 ID: 632862

>>44315
[AoIP]
You don't hear your thoughts? Do you smell them instead? So far we have told you something that is close to the truth. We are KILLER QUEEN yet we are not. We advise her yet we are part of her. It is hard to explain to you, for we are not ants and do not fully understand how you think. The important thing is, we care about the Colony, and wish for it to prosper. We could even be your friends, if you prove useful.
>>
No. 44331 ID: 6164e0

>>44327
"THOUGHTS NOT ANT-THOUGHTS!? I WILL NOT INTERACT WITH SUCH INFERIOR THOUGHTS. THE ANT FORM IS DIVINE AND BLESSED, NOT-ANT THOUGHTS GO AWAY!"
>>
No. 44332 ID: 13dac4

>>44325
[Ant of Infinite Psyche]: Alright, alright. I respect your concerns. You are perfectly right to not trust us. So let us prove our claims. The Queen will call for you to join her in her chamber.


[Queen]: Call for the ant with the blue lump on its head to join you. Oh, and have the experiment repeated one more time for the ant without any limbs (in other words clear out all other ants, feed it Xomfood, then be ready to collapse test chamber).

[Ant of Infinite Psyche]: She'll also have the limb-less Merciless eat another unit of Roots of Chaos to see if it helps.
>>
No. 44335 ID: 632862

Well, I give up.
>>
No. 44340 ID: 6164e0

>>44332
"What? She will? But-"

Legless The Merciless has a chunk of Roots of Chaos put before her legless form, and the other ants are ordered to evacuate while she eats.

!!NOTICE!!Legless The Merciless has regrown it's legs! The ant appears hungry!

The Merciless with a blue growth on her head is orders to join KILLER QUEEN in chamber 4

"What? But thoughts knew! thoughts knew KILLER QUEEN would order our presence! Why do not-ant thoughts know this? I am confused..."
>>
No. 44350 ID: 13dac4

>>44340 / >>44339
[Ant of Infinite Psyche]: This is very confusing for you. It's a lot to take in. You have served your Queen to the best of your ability to this point, but now your abilities have grown. Do you remember when the other Merciless fought the underground monsters? Do you remember how they came out of the fight changed? Do you remember Scars and how he grew from his fight into something new and better?

Well you've gone through something harrowing of your own right. You consumed the Roots of Chaos and survived the ordeal. You came through it changed, different, better. You are no longer The Merciless, you are no longer "us". You are "I". You can call yourself "me". You can operate on your own without getting orders. Try it. Try heading to another room. Whichever one you prefer.


[Queen]: Tell the ant with the blue growth that she is no longer under any orders and may do as she pleases. Just trust on this one, it'll work out in the end.
>>
No. 44353 ID: 6164e0

>>44350
"No, I must follow KILLER QUEEN's orders, none other, I will not listen to thoughts, I-"

The Merciless with a blue growth in it's forehead is ordered to do as it wishes.

"What? But I don't understand. Why are not-ant thoughts right, why does KILLER QUEEN do as you say KILLER QUEEN will? ...I know I am me, I accept that I am an individual, but I don't know what is going on. What are thoughts?"

!!NOTICE!! The Merciless with a blue growth on it's head is developing an individual personality. This unit is now undergoing a metamorphosis into a hero unit, what will the new hero unit be called (standard naming conventions)?
>>
No. 44360 ID: b565f3

Another Stranger Me, perhaps?
>>
No. 44365 ID: b565f3

>>44360
Or maybe Nexus, too.
>>
No. 44366 ID: 6164e0

(Go ahead and post name suggestions or agree with existing ones, further orders or a nomination for KILLER QUEEN to begin laying eggs if you think it the time, as well as new things to say to the new ant. Will check all posts before starting again tomorrow.)
>>
No. 44398 ID: 632862

How about "Mind Riot"?
>>
No. 44400 ID: 28e9d7

>>44353
[Ant of Infinite Psyche]: Okay, I think I have a way to explain this that will help. You know of The Hero Scars of Yesterday. Scars is a special ant that knows how to think. He gives commands to other ants in combat. He is currently out seeing the world on a mission for the Queen. And when he gets back, he will relay to the Queen all that he has seen and his recommendation to her on what she should do. She cannot see through his eyes, but she trusts his judgement to assess the situation and suggest a course of action.

We are like Scars. We have seen things outside of Crescent, and we give recommendations to the Queen. But Scars still serves the Queen, and he is ant. Similarly, we serve the Queen and are ant. In that way, we are a part of the Queen due to our undying devotion to her and her cause. Just as all her servants and warriors are a part of her. So to say that we 'are' the Queen is not entirely accurate. We only said that because we were confused as to what was going on, just like you were. We wanted to get back to helping the Queen and did not like being separated from her. I'm sorry that it only made you more confused. =(



[Queen]: Have that Merciless that just got its legs back eat something. Concentrated Nutrients unless it feels an urge to eat something else. Have 2 Death on 6 Legs and a They Might Be Giants escort it around Crescent in case there's some surprise in store. Not too close though, in case it blows up or something.


As for AoIP's name, I suggest either Blue (an English pop band) or Eiffel ('I'm blue').
>>
No. 44414 ID: ed8d8a

I'm sure we can come up with a better song for disjointed consciousness and altered perception of reality. It seems like something Pink Floyd would have done, at the very lease.
If it were not 4:30 in the morning, I might give this issue some more thought.
>>
No. 44438 ID: 6164e0

>>44398
>>44400
(....How does Blue Mind Riot sound as a name? Still tentative, but if you like it, say so, and if you think you have a better name, post it. Continue labeling thoughts intended for her as [Ant of Infinite Psyche:])

>>44400
"I know of Scars of Yesterday. Yes, he can issue orders to other ants, he is one of the heroes, the Giantslayer, greatest of KILLER QUEEN's champions, and in her absence he can command us. Of course he can, for KILLER QUEEN, our maker/god, the one who molded us and commands us above all else, cannot see beyond her own area, and sometimes things happen outside of her field of influence. ....You are like that? Your purpose is to command in places where KILLER QUEEN cannot see or issue orders? ....You are ant thoughts after all? That.... that makes sense. You are not KILLER QUEEN, you are part of KILLER QUEEN and part of me? How can that be? I am me, I was me before, where are you? Ant thoughts must come from somewhere? ....Oh!! Are you coming from the blue growth on my head? Is that your body, ant thoughts?"

!!NOTICE!!You have gained limited trust of the ant that can hear you! She will believe most things you tell her that are explained in terms she can understand!

1 idle They Might Be Giants and 2 Death On Six Legs that had been patrolling Crescent are dispatched to guard The Merciless that has regrown its recently lost legs as it feed on some concentrated nutrients. No irregular activity is noted during feeding, and the ant seems sated now.

!!NOTICE!!The Merciless that regrew it's legs is noted to now have golden legs!


Should further orders be issued, or should KILLER QUEEN begin laying eggs to advance time, and if so, what eggs should she lay?
>>
No. 44440 ID: 9456b6

>>44438
Blue Mind Riot. Humorous yet effective. That has my vote.

Hmm, we'll need to have Scars check if this new ant has Valiance. Meanwhile let's send her outside and test his speed, agility, and jumping ability against a normal Merciless.

Other than that, I think we're ready to lay eggs now.


[AoIP]: Now you're getting it! You understand the what, without understanding the how. But the truth is, we don't understand the how either. We can talk to you through the blue thing, but we don't come from the blue growth. Just like how you can sense pheromones through your antennae, even though the pheromones come from other ants. You can hear us through the blue growth, but we don't come from it. After all, we've seen the history of the colony, so we were here before you got the blue thing. If I had to guess, I'd say we are the Queen's will given voice. Just like her pheromones are her orders given scent, we are her thoughts made real, only in a different way.
>>
No. 44442 ID: 6164e0

>>44440
Desired egg loadout?
(Also, NOTICE: I accidentally labeled the last time stamp 4.0 instead of 4.5, so the coming time stamp, 5.0, will be correct. Just informing you all)

>>44440
"Ant thoughts are not in blue growth? ....Yes that must be true, ant thoughts know history of colony, I have not had the growth that long. ....Oh? Ant thoughts are like pheromones? Pheromones that can think? ...And I perceive you with the blue growth? ...Okay, I think I understand that. KILLER QUEEN's will? So thoughts are a part of KILLER QUEEN after all. Hmmm.... Thinking pheromones, part of KILLER QUEEN's will, can be perceived with new growth.. I think that makes sense, you were always there, serving KILLER QUEEN as a part of her, but none of our sovereign's creations could perceive you, until I grew this new organ and became the first besides our ruler/god to recognize your existence? Is that it?

..Um, if only our creator/god and I can perceive these thoughts, does that mean I am different from my caste, and am no longer The Merciless? Then I need a new name to identify myself as an individual due to this, right? ....How does Blue Mind Riot sound, since the blue growth lets me get other thoughts in my head?"

(New ant will be named Blue Mind Riot unless another name is offered and then gets significant support to be chosen in it's stead. Continue prefacing thoughts intended for her with [Ant of Infinite Psyche:] until her name has been finalized.)

Orders?
>>
No. 44444 ID: 6164e0

!!NOTICE!! One of the idle The Merciless is brought to the group containing The Merciless with golden legs, to compare physical abilities. Both ants have comparable speed, traction, jumping ability, strength, etc. It does not seem anything other than the regrown legs are different about this ant. Perhaps more can be learned by letting an ant with Valiance inspect it at some point.
>>
No. 44446 ID: 9456b6

>>44442
Um, yeah... I can't remember what the allotment requirements were for the different castes. Like how many eggs one egg is equivalent to. Do you have a chart you could post as a reminder?


[AoIP]: Yes, that's exactly it! I know it's still a bit confusing, but you have a pretty good handle on it.
>>
No. 44459 ID: 6164e0

>>44446
Flash: 5 eggs worth, take 2 hours to mature
They Might Be Giants: 10 eggs worth, take 1 hour to mature, need five units of food per feeding
All other strains cost 1 egg, take 1 feeding and 30 minutes to mature, and are the following:
Fat Bottomed Girls
The Merciless
Lurkers at the Threshold

What load out should be used?

"..Okay. That makes sense, I think. Should I do anything, or just wait for more orders from KILLER QUEEN herself?"
>>
No. 44461 ID: d320ba

>>44459
We currently have enough of everything, really. But keeping in mind future needs, let's do 5 TMBGs and 10 Flash.

[AoIP]: Hmm, you can wait for more orders from the Queen. Or you could try talking with her if you'd like. She ordered you to do as you choose, so have at it.
>>
No. 44464 ID: 6164e0

>>44461
Egg loadout:

5 They Might Be Giants
10 Flash

"Oh, I do not know if I could talk to our lord/divine being KILLER QUEEN, she is that which controls and creates us. But, if I really should, what should I say to her? Oh? She looks bored, for some reason."

Timestamp imminent
>>
No. 44465 ID: 6164e0
File 12529494386.jpg - (57.00KB , 613x871 , Crescent Hour 5.jpg )
44465

-All ants set to feed themselves whenever they have 30 minutes left before becoming Lethargic.
-Fat Bottomed Girls have continued harvesting Roots of chaos, but the thick exterior the needs to be cut through coupled with the need for the ants to carefully not ingest the food when harvesting slows the harvesting process.

CRESCENT COLONY AGE: 5.0 HOURS
NOTE: Last timestamp was incorrectly listed as the 4.0 hour timestamp instead of the 4.5 hour timestamp. Current timestamp is correct at hour 5.0

TOTALS:
1 KILLER QUEEN
1 The Hero Scars of Yesterday (Returning at a later date)
1 Toxic
1 Wings of Destiny (Returning at a later date)
8 They Might Be Giants (3 more at hour 5.5, 5 more at hour 6) (1 Returning at a later date)
19 Death on Six Legs (1 Returning at a later date)
127 The Merciless
157 Fat Bottomed Girls
19 Flash (10 more at hour 6, 10 more at hour 7) (1 Returning at a later date)
20 Lurkers at the Threshold ('planted')

STATUS:
KILLER QUEEN: Sated (does not need food until hour 5), can produce more eggs in Chamber 4

The Hero Scars of Yesterday: (???), Returning at a later date.

Toxic: Sated (needs 2 units of food in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Traveling to Def Leppard

Wings of Destiny: (???), Returning at a later date.

Blue Mind Riot: Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in chamber 4

They Might Be Giants:
-2 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Traveling to Def Leppard
-4 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 4
-2 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Guarding The Merciless that regenerated it’s legs.

Death on Six Legs:
-17 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Patrolling Crescent
-2 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Guarding The Merciless that regenerated it’s legs.

The Merciless:
-25 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Patrolling Crescent (2 mutated)
-24 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Guarding Fat Bottomed Girls gathering Concentrated Nutrients
-8 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Test Subjects of Roots of Chaos (mutated)
-10 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Traveling to Def Leppard
-60 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 4

Fat Bottomed Girls:
-100 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or become Lethargic), Expanding lower chambers.
-57 Sated (self-feeding), gathering Concentrated Nutrients

Flash:
-5 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or become Lethargic ), Idle in Chamber 4
-5 Sated (self-feeding), Scouting South
-5 Sated (self-feeding), Scouting South-West
-4 Sated (self-feeding), Scouting East

Lurkers at the Threshold:
-20 'planted' about Crescent's surface

FOOD:
5 units of Yellow Flower Leaf (Quality: 1/10)
0 units of Nest Robber Centipede (Quality: 3/10)
175 units of Black Dragonfly (Quality: 3/10)
1,004 units of Concentrated Nutrients (Quality: 4/10)
0 units of Yellow Flower Nectar/Blossoms (Quality: 2/10 Warriors, 4/10 Non-Warriors) Special: Masks Non-Warrior Scent
8 units of Flying Beast Bumblebee (Quality: 5/10) Special: Tastes Like Poison
22 units of Abomination Hornet (Quality: 7/10)
0 units of Bohemian Rhapsody (Quality: 9/10) Special: Instantly removes Lethargy, Strengthens Consumers
75 Units of Roots of Chaos (Quality: XOM/10)
60 units of Dead Ant (Quality Unknown)

Storage:
Chamber 1 current maximum capacity: 300 points (300/300 used)
Chamber 2 current maximum capacity: 500 points (0/550 used)
Chamber 3 current maximum capacity: 375 points (375/375 used)
Chamber 4 current maximum capacity: 600 points (67/650 used)
Chamber 5 current maximum capacity: 175 points (650/650 used)
Chamber 6 current maximum capacity: 600 points (0/325 used)
Chamber 7 current maximum capacity: 500 points (0/500 used)
Chamber 8 current maximum capacity: 300 points (0/300 used)
Chamber 9 current maximum capacity: 275 points (0/275 used)
Chamber 10 current maximum capacity: 725 points (0/725 used)
Chamber 11 current maximum capacity: 600 points (0/600 used)
Stealin' current maximum capacity: 200 points (115/200 used)
Stealin’s Test Chamber maximum capacity: 40 units (10/40 used)
(KILLER QUEEN, Wings of Destiny and They Might Be Giants are worth 10 points, The Hero Scars of Yesterday is worth 5 points, Death on Six Legs and Toxic are worth 2 points, Blue Mind Riot, Flash, The Merciless and Fat Bottomed Girls are worth 1 point. Food is 1 point per unit of food)

!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN can now attempt to make up to two new strains at a checkpoint.
!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN can now save upgrades for later checkpoints!
!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN has gotten better at making new ant strains!
!!NOTICE!! Flash scouts sent to the South-East have returned! They found a new type of plant! Picture imminent. Location of new plant is one hour travel South-East for all non-Flash, except They Might Be Giants, which would take two hours to travel to the location. No inhabitants were observed in the area.
!!NOTICE!! Fat Bottomed Girls sent to gather yellow flower leaves to convert to concentrated nutrients report that their current number of [57] may overgraze the yellow flowers, and recommend their number be cut back to no more than [50] gathering such to keep the material indefinitely harvestable.
!!NOTICE!! Resources are being consumed faster than they are being brought in!
!!NOTICE!! Toxic and the guard unit escorting her have reached Def Leppard’s area. Def Leppard seems to be ignoring them at the moment. Control of Toxic and retinue is now possible, and any things Toxic should say or do should be prefaced with [Toxic:].

ASSESSING UPGRADES EARNED.

New hero unit: Blue Mind Riot gained: 1 upgrade

You have earned: 1 total upgrade.

Please spend upgrade(s) on the following:

Improve Fat Bottomed Girls Strain Lv4. (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES)
Improve The Merciless Strain Lv2.
Improve Flash Strain
Improve They Might Be Giants Strain
Improve Lurkers at the Threshold Strain
Create New Ant Strain
Make Death on Six Legs a normal Strain (makes it upgradeable, lets KILLER QUEEN lay eggs) (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES, d20 rolled, must beat 14)
Create Specialty Strain: Cry of the Brave Ant (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES, d30 rolled, must beat 23)
Create Specialty Strain: Brood Forge Ant (capable of producing any strains KILLER QUEEN can, REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES, d30 rolled, must beat 13)
Create New Ant Strain described by Blue Mind Riot to KILLER QUEEN(quality of new breed and restrictions imposed determined by rolling a d30, the higher the roll the better the results, if choosing this option a voting period will be opened to determine what description Blue Mind Riot will give to KILLER QUEEN)
Upgrade Exoskeletons Lv2.
Upgrade Mandible Quality Lv2.
Upgrade Intelligence Lv3. (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES)
Specialize KILLER QUEEN (choose either attack, defense, harvesting, digging or mobility) (can specialize multiple times, and stack upgrades)
Gift KILLER QUEEN Poison Trait to Blue Mind Riot.
Retain upgrade point for later use.

First upgrade(s) to reach 3 votes will be chosen.

(Picture of new plant incoming)
>>
No. 44466 ID: 6164e0
File 125294950299.jpg - (33.05KB , 360x340 , New Fungus Found.jpg )
44466

ORDERS CAN NOW BE ISSUED

What orders should be made/actions taken?
>>
No. 44469 ID: b565f3

>>44465
Upgrade exoskeletons
>>
No. 44470 ID: d320ba

>>44465
Let's save up the upgrade and use it to get the Brood Forge Ant. With that we can expand at an exponential rate and eventually even take on the Empire!
>>
No. 44471 ID: f78140

>>44466
save upgrade.
>>
No. 44472 ID: 6164e0

>>44469
1 vote for Upgrade Exoskeleton

>>44470
>>44471
2 votes for save upgrade.
>>
No. 44473 ID: 6164e0

Upgrade is set to be stored for use at future timestamps. Any objections?
>>
No. 44478 ID: ed8d8a

nope
>>
No. 44480 ID: 0e51dd

Voting save upgrade.
>>
No. 44512 ID: 6164e0

1 upgrade saved.

Orders can be issued conventionally to ants.
Toxic and her retinue can be controlled directly with any material prefaced with [Toxic:]
Blue Mind Riot can be communicated with by prefacing any material intended for her with [Ant of Infinite Psyche:]
Blue Mind Riot still does not know how to begin a conversation with KILLER QUEEN.


Orders?
>>
No. 44554 ID: f78140

>>44512

have 75 FBG continue to expand lower chambers.
have 57 FBG continue to gather concentrate
send 25 FBG with 5 TMBG and [AoIP] to gather the mushroom thing.

continue the experiement at stealin
continue to scoot aboot using flash

(i'd suggest something for AoIP to say to KQ, but i can't think good right now)
>>
No. 44556 ID: b565f3

>>44554
Reduce the number of harvesters to an even 50 so we don't end up clearcutting the field, as per the notification earlier.
>>
No. 44559 ID: 6164e0

>>44554
There are only four Idle They Might Be Giants, two are with Toxic en route to Def Leppard's area, and two more are guarding the ant that regrew it's legs.

>>44554
>>44556
Number of Fat Bottomed Girls harvesting yellow flower leaves to make Concentrated nutrients reduced to 50
Number of Fat Bottomed Girls expanding lower chambers reduced to 75
32 spare Fat Bottomed girls set to depart with Blue Mind Riot when their They Might Be Giants escort is resolved.

REMINDER: Sending They Might Be Giants with the party will slow their travel speed, making the journey last two hours instead of one. Proceed?


Further orders?
>>
No. 44561 ID: cc6b8c

Oops, I took a nap and now I gotta go to class. I don't have time to type up dialogue for Toxic or Blue Mind Riot.

>>44554
Just in case you decide to go on, I agree with this except reduce the number of FBGs harvesting nutrients to 50. Also, that fungus seems... suspicious. Let's send 30 The Merciless along with the fungus party. They aren't doing anything anyway.

I'll post again as soon as I get a chance (the wi-fi in that lecture hall is really terrible and unreliable).
>>
No. 44562 ID: cc6b8c

>>44559
On second thoughts, no, let's not send TMBG. Send 40 The Merciless along. I had forgotten that TMBGs slow groups down.
>>
No. 44565 ID: f78140

>>44559
send 4 TMBG and the 30 merciless.
yes, it'll slow the party. but it'll give AoIP a chance to make decisions, and consider our suggestions.
>>
No. 44568 ID: 6164e0

>>44565
4 They Might Be Giants, 40 The Merciless, 32 Fat Bottomed Girls, 1 Blue Mind Riot set to make a one hour trip (slowed to two hours by They Might Be Giants) to inspect and possibly harvest the new fungus. Proceed?
>>
No. 44575 ID: ed8d8a

negative. no TMBG. They are for situations where hostilities are inevitable and a need for speed is unlikely.
>>
No. 44576 ID: 3b1b26

[Blue Mind Riot]: It turns out we do have a job for you after all. You're being sent to oversee a scout/gathering expedition. You should take this time to say something to your Queen before you go. Just be honest with her, tell her that it is an honor to serve and that you will do your best. She already knows it, but she never mind hearing an independent ant reaffirm it vocally (er, phenomenally...).

>>44568
I'm really hesitant about sending away almost all of our TMBGs... We need those for defending the colony and they'd slow things down too much. I'm voting 40 Merciless and no TMBGs.


Also, all ants currently guarding the golden-legged ant, resume your previous idle states.


[Toxic]: Approach the bug and call out. "Hail, Def Leppard! I am Toxic, emissary of Killer Queen of Crescent to the north. I come here on a diplomatic mission. Our Queen is always looking for new allies and we would like to get to know you better. Are there others of your kind with you, and if so are you the leader? What do you need all these flowers for and would you be willing to set up trade?"
>>
No. 44593 ID: 6164e0

>>44576
(I believe you might mean Pheromonically, if it even can be conjugated that way [I have no idea], so that is how I will interpret your post)

>>44576 [Blue Mind Riot:]
"Oh! I will be leading a collection of KILLER QUEEN's forces? But why me? ...I suppose it does not matter, I will serve KILLER QUEEN in any way she desires. Oh? Okay, I'll tell KILLER QUEEN that"

Blue Mind Riot, who has been idle in the chamber beside KILLER QUEEN, emits a pheromone scent of her own, to tell her queen of her thoughts.

"Grand sovereign, I would like to take the chance before I leave to say what an honor it is to serve you, and that I will do everything I can to serve as well as I can."

KILLER QUEEN stops sending out pheremones for a moment, her head swinging to consider her tiny daughter. There is a moment of stillness, before KILLER QUEEN responds.

"....It...is good, to have such thoughts brought before me. With Scars of Yesterday still away, and Toxic now dispatched as well, I was not expecting to be communicating so. Still, you have your orders, and time is being wasted."

Without further comment of fanfare, KILLER QUEEN turns from Blue Mind Riot, her mind once again set to running the colony. But if one knew to look for it, there was a little more zest in her messages, and her posture and scent evidenced more happiness than before. Without trying to address her queen any further, Blue Mind Riot departs, to lead a force to these new fungus found.

....................................................................................................................
>>44576 [Toxic:]
Toxic sees before her the spotted beetle that has been ignoring her and her honor guard for some few minutes now, and decides to initiate dialogue with the large beetle, thrice the size of They Might Be Giants. She could never face her queen if she did not do everything she could.

"Hail, Def Leppard! I am Toxic, emissary of KILLER QUEEN of Crescent. I come here on a diplomatic mission. Our queen would like to get to know you better. Are there others of your kind with you, and if so are you the leader? What do you need all these flowers for and would you be willing to set up trade?"

Def Leppard stops her current actions, and stares at Toxic for a time before responding.

"I feed and hunt here with a few others. We have no leader, and no interest in alliances. We wish to be left alone, and this land is ours. There will be no trade, nor passage through our land, under penalty of death for those who ignore this."

...That was rather emphatically negative, and Def Leppard does not look interested in further communication. Toxic is not sure how to continue.

>>44562
>>44575
>>44576
40 The Merciless, 32 Fat Bottomed Girls, 1 Blue Mind Riot set out on a one hour trip to inspect and possibly harvest the new fungus.

6 They Might be Giants, 5 Flash and 20 The Merciless are Idle in Chamber 4.


Orders/actions?
>>
No. 44612 ID: 09315a

>>44593
(Oh, lol. I wasn't sure how to spell it so I let Firefox correct it and thought that was that. Guess I shoulda double checked, heh.)

Well, I think that sets Def Leppard and its kind up as foes to be exterminated. I'm torn though, between having Toxic do it herself to grow stronger and having them wait for Scars and WoD to return so they can handle it with less risk of Toxic getting messily murdered before we even get to use her. Anyone else have any thoughts on the matter?


[Blue Mind Riot]: You made her happy! Way to go! ^_^

You were chosen to lead because you are special, because you can hear us and we can assist you in fulfilling the will of the Queen, even when she is not within range to speak to you in person. It is both a great honor and a heavy responsibility. But I'm sure you're up to the task. Do the Queen proud, and make certain you stay alive so as to continue serving the Queen with your unique abilities.


[Queen]: Have one ant that's hungry try one of the dead ant carcasses. If I recall correctly, we gain upgrade points for finding new food, and we haven't tried that food yet.



Alright guys, we need to discuss this food issue. We are eating more than we're making, and the problem is only going to get worse if we keep making more ants. I think we can alleviate some of the problem by making a second colony once we unlock the Brood Forge Ant. But for now we need to do something. We could waste ants on Xom experiments, but I don't think that's really worth it. We could use the ants in a dangerous attack, some will die but others will grow stronger and depending on the target we may gain something. Hopefully our scouts will return shortly with useful information that can help us address the issue.

Does anyone have any ideas for food gathering? What about that cloaking nectar stuff? And wasn't our plan with Stealin' to pull entire flowers underground, I thought? Why isn't that happening? I can't remember.
>>
No. 44620 ID: 6164e0

>>44612 [Blue Mind Riot]
"I did? I made our god/queen happy? That is good. I am worthy of leading the force because I have your thoughts in my head? I guess that makes sense, thoughts seem to know things. Don't die? I can try."

One of the Death on Six legs patrolling Crescent has tried the dead ants. the food is not particularly appealing, but is entirely edible. QUALITY: 2/10


Orders?
>>
No. 44623 ID: b565f3

>>44612
Think there's any chance Def Leppard might know Metallica?
>>
No. 44628 ID: 6164e0

>>44623
(You could have Toxic ask her.)
>>
No. 44632 ID: b565f3

>>44628
Hah, why the hell not? Go for it then, can't hurt!
>>
No. 44641 ID: 6164e0

>>44632
(If you want Toxic to do something, please preface the suggestion with [Toxic:] Also, if you could at least make a rough outline of the dialogue desired, that would be nice.)
>>
No. 44793 ID: ed8d8a

>>44641
I really can't think of a way to transition directly into this other than "Hay! You are a beetle, do you know this other big beetle? because all beetles know eachother"
A more generally productive and natural question might be to ask what Def Leppard's relationship with the two major powers we know about is. The colony knows the names "Mandarinian Empire" and "Collective" right?

"So you must not be part of the Collective then. Have you turned their emissaries away as well?"
[natural conversation hopefully happens here]
"Do you have trouble protecting your flowers and territory from the yellow beasts of the Mandarinian Empire?"

>>44612
We can subsist on our stores for a while yet, so the food issue is not critical, though we will want to address it. I was going to bring up the original purpose of Stealin' too once attention shifted away from the exploran. The stealth capabilities of the pollen might be helpful in exploring THIS potential food source, depending on how things go now.
>>
No. 44794 ID: ed8d8a

>>44793
eh, pretend I put [Toxic]: in front of those quotes. this convention is going to take some getting used to.
>>
No. 44810 ID: 6164e0

>>44793 [Toxic:]
No, this is not right. I cannot turn away so easily, I must learn more for my queen. I once more address Def Leppard.

"So you are not part of The Collective, I take it?"

"The Collective? Who is that?"

Hmm. A lack of knowledge I did not expect. It seems we were not alone in our lack of understanding about the area's political situation.

"And what of the Mandarinian Empire, do you know of them?"

"Those really big yellow and black fliers with fuzzy harvesters, right? They looked at the flowers here, and didn't find what they want, so they leave us alone. And I expect you to leave us alone as well."

So. These flowers are of no interest to the Mandarinian empire. Further, it seems they do not know about much beyond the immediate area, if they do not know of The Collective. And if they are not part of either, they have no overwhelmingly powerful allies to call on.

Perhaps a change in focus is required. What was that massive beetle's name? The one that claimed to be known far and wide? Ah..

"Do you happen to know a beetle by the name of Metallica?"

Def Leppard stiffens, clinging rigidly to the flower stalk she is inspecting.

"That....that MONSTER killed and ate half of our tribe when we refused it entrance, and consumed from our hunting ground at it's leisure before leaving, fully sated and gorged off of OUR land! ....Why, do you know that abomination?"

Rage and Fear intermingle in Def Leppard's scent as she starts to flare her shell in agitation.

Hmm.... perhaps there is a way to gain access to these fields.




ORDERS?
(Commands for Toxic should be prefaced with [Toxic:], thoughts intended for Blue Mind Riot should be prefaced with [Blue Mind Riot:], and orders for the colony as a whole need no special preface. 6 They Might be Giants, 5 Flash and 20 The Merciless are Idle in Chamber 4. Beyond that, all ants have tasks assigned, so KILLER QUEEN can begin laying eggs at any time, but doing so ends dialogue with Def Leppard and starts Toxic and her retinue on the path home)
>>
No. 44812 ID: 0e1212

>>44810
Alright, it seems we have two choices here. We can say he's our ally and threaten returning with him if they don't comply with our demands. This has the downside that they may attack us immediately. It all depends on if their fear is greater than their rage.

Alternatively we can say he is an enemy of ours and raided our colony as well, threatening to return to the area. This may make them ally with us and establish trade. Or they might just say it's our problem and blow us off.

This seems a lot like a KotOR fork in the road. Light side or dark side, what shall we do?
>>
No. 44824 ID: 632862

>>44812
We could also say we have a working relationship with him and might be able to convince him not to do it again, for a... small fee.
>>
No. 44826 ID: 6164e0

>>44812
>>44824
OPTIONS:
Claim Metallica is an ally, threaten his return if you are not given tribute/food.
Claim Metallica is an enemy, and that we should band together to keep him away.
Claim to know Metallica, and being able to convince him not to return for a tribute.
[Insert other things to say here]


CHOOSE WISELY
>>
No. 44834 ID: ed8d8a

alternately, could go with my actual response, which would be something along the lines of:
Really? He seemed like such a nice fellow when he came to visit us. Though he did seem strong enough to take what he wanted I suppose, so if you offended him with words as harsh as you have met us with, I could believe it. Perhaps you should be more careful how you greet strangers in the future.
>>
No. 44845 ID: 0e1212

>>44834
That doesn't seem like it'd gain us anything better than, 'get off my lawn.'

I'm hesitant to make a threat about Metallica backing us up since he probably won't, so there's no way we can follow through on that. I actually really like >>44824. It's honest and plausible. That has my vote.
>>
No. 44846 ID: 6164e0

>>44834 [Toxic:]

This can be exploited, I know it, I just don't know how to exploit it yet. Perhaps I can soften her up to the idea of trade with some heavier persuasion...

"Really? He seemed like such a nice fellow when he came to visit us, but then, we offered him some food as guests, and he seemed to eat only enough to take the edge off his hunger, not to gorge himself. ...Though he did seem strong enough to take what he wanted I suppose, so if you offended him with words as harsh as you have met us with, I could believe it. Perhaps you should be more careful how you greet strangers in the future, if you want to avoid such events in the future."

Def Leppard glares at me, but her wildly twitching antenna give away her indecision on how to respond to this.

(INTIMIDATION-BASED DIPLOMACY: PARTIAL SUCCESS!)

"....W-watch what you say, this is our land, and our rules. ..!? But you still haven't said what Metallica is to you."

Def Leppard looks a bit more ready to simply order us to leave on pain of violence, but she also seems more afraid, more off-balance. If I choose my next words carefully....

Hmm. I might be able to keep pressing, maybe even break her, before ever committing to a viewpoint on Metallica. Alternatively, I could try to determine which portrayal of our relationship with Metallica would be the most beneficial.

And there is always the ever present option to attempt to cleanse this field of it's inhabitants, to break them, drive them before us and conquer in the name of KILLER QUEEN. But it is somewhat hard to go to negotiation after making that choice.


What should I do?
>>
No. 44856 ID: 0e1212

>>44846
[Toxic]: "Your rules are the very thing that got you into trouble in the first place. The unbending twig stands tall, but in the strong wind it snaps in half. The flower stock is much less rigid and sways with the breeze. But after the harsh wind it returns to its upright position instead of being broken."

"If you continue to follow your rules at the expense of diplomatic relations, you won't be able to withstand the storms of interaction with other races."
>>
No. 44858 ID: 6164e0

>>44856 [Toxic]:
Hrm. Perhaps some analogy, some way of veiling further threats, could further unbalance Def Leppard. I suppose it is worth a shot.

"Your absolute rule, this rejection of the very notion of diplomacy, of trade, of any co-operative effort, that is the very thing that got you into trouble in the first place. The unbending twig stands tall, but in the strong wind it snaps in half. And Metallica was a great storm to clash with your rigid ways. You were broken, and only survived because he took what he wanted, and saw no point in killing you after feeding. The flower stock is much less rigid and sways with the breeze, twisting and bending however is necessary. But after the harsh wind it returns to its upright position instead of being broken. The flower survives the storm, and the diplomatic tribe survives in the face of a greater force by doing what it must to continue to exist, not by blindly shutting out all who come near, in the hope they will not bother you."

I can smell the rage, the blinding rage of Def Leppard growing. But her fear, her uncertainty, those scents grow even faster. This can work, this could be done.

"If you continue to exclude all others, to refuse trade, alliances, to refuse all contact with others at the expense of diplomatic relations, you won't be able to withstand the storms of interaction with other races. And as to what Metallica is to us, he is...."


OPTIONS:
Claim Metallica is an ally, threaten his return if you are not given tribute/food.
Claim Metallica is an enemy, and that we should band together to keep him away.
Claim to know Metallica, and being able to convince him not to return for a tribute.
[Insert other things to say here]


CHOOSE WISELY
>>
No. 44861 ID: ed8d8a

>>44856
holy shit philosopher ant.

...do we have the intelligence for philosopher ants yet?

Anyway
"Oh, I haven't? Metallica came to visit our colony recently, just to look around. One of our warriors challenged him to a friendly sparing match, and they fought to a draw, each impressed with the other's abilities. We parted as friends. I suppose he and his friend were the only insects we have met who did not attack us, and then die, immediately. Besides you of course..."
>>
No. 44866 ID: ed8d8a

>>44861
Rewordan to fit recent conversation!
"...He is our friend. I suppose he and his companion were the only insects we have met who did not attack us, and then die, immediately. Besides you of course...
We met when they came to visit our colony recently, just to look around. One of our warriors challenged him to a friendly sparing match, and they fought to a standstill, each impressed with the other's abilities. It was glorious. We parted as friends."

Have any of our ants told a lie yet? It may not have occurred to them.
(if it isn't obvious, I am going for option 4: "you would rather have us as friends than enemies" and not even have Metallica be a part of the bargain.)
>>
No. 44867 ID: 6164e0

VOTAN TIME:

Go ahead and post what response you would like to see, I'll check what's there tomorrow when I start up, and see what the general consensus is.
>>
No. 44872 ID: 9891a9

>>44866
I'll second Option 4.
>>
No. 44891 ID: 8ad197

>>44866
I can see the benefits of this suggestion. Especially the part about saying that one of our warriors fought him to a standstill.

But veiled threats have been working excellent thus far. I don't think Toxic should lie (option 2) and option 1 isn't veiled or subtle at all.

I don't see any reason we can't combine options 3 and 4. They flow naturally from one to the other. You want us as friends, not enemies, and we might even be able to convince our friend Metallica to leave you alone in the future.


Either way, Option 4 is still a veiled threat and doesn't rely on Metallica going along with anything, so I'm fine with doing just that if you guys want. Voting Option 4.
>>
No. 44901 ID: 6164e0

(Check the discussion thread, the response intended for Def Leppard is there, look it over, see if you think it needs changing or tweaking before it gets posted here.)
>>
No. 44911 ID: 6164e0

>>44866
>>44872 [Toxic:]
"...He is our comrade, our friend, or at least he has been since we met him some while ago. I suppose he and his companion, a golden spider with.. masterful abilities just as Metallica has were the only insects we have met who did not attack us, and then die at the hands of KILLER QUEEN's progeny. Well, obviously besides you of course...
We met when they came to visit our colony recently, seeking out strong tribes to offer membership to a great alliance known as The Collective. One of our warriors challenged Metallica to a friendly sparring match, and they fought to a standstill, no clear victor established, each impressed with the others' abilities. It was glorious. We parted as friends."
>>44891
"....Now that I reflect on it, I imagine our ruler/god could protect you from Metallica. The titanic beetle respects strength, and our hive has access to certain commodities that Metallica seems partial to. So we could offer you sanctuary, protection from any future incursion by Metallica. ....For a price. Our colony is expanding to go to war with another neighbor, and we need new foods, and to learn of more of the area, as we prepare for battle against them. Give us free reign to move through your land, and the right to harvest from your field in amounts that will not overgraze it, and you shalt never have to worry about that mountainous beetle ever devastating your tribe again. Our workers are adept at preventing overgrazing, and your food supply will be under no threat.
Further, you shall retain your privacy, and we shall not bother you or attempt to disturb you in any way, unless of course you wish to communicate with us again, in which case the workers of our colony will bring me or another envoy back to speak with you. And to protect both our interests, a small military base will be established outside your area, to protect both our workers and to attack any invaders of your land, should you desire."

There is a chance I am promising more than I can truly claim to be able to offer as just one more of KILLER QUEEN's progeny, but Metallica seemed reasonable, and Def Leppard seems too distracted to be able to try to negotiate effectively (If she ever could, what with her lack of social graces). I know this is within the power of KILLER QUEEN, and even if she does not like this alliance, we will end with a military force nearby and better estimates of their numbers, so that should she desire us to purge these inferior creatures and claim their land by carnage and slaughter, we shall be better equipped to do so.

Def Leppard stares at me for a long time, a multitude of emotions scenting the air, radiating from her as she considers what was said. But the rage is finally snuffed out, and shortly after all scents but one of weary resignation have vanished.

"You.... you could protect us from Metallica? Could place some of your own here to guard us? And would not overgraze the field? .......I don't really have a choice, do I? .....You shall have your alliance."

She smells not at all happy, but she seems to have finally grasped that her tribe is too small, too weak to simply try and ward off threats with bravado. She must accommodate them, or perish.

(THREAT AND PHILOSOPHY BASED DIPLOMACY: GREAT SUCCESS)
!!NOTICE!! Toxic is becoming more adept at persuasion in multiple fields: Veiled threats, philosophy, pragmatism. She can perform better in social situations!

Hm. I have 10 The Merciless with me, as well as 2 They Might Be Giants. Should I leave any of them here as the start of the military force we shall leave here?


Orders?
>>
No. 44912 ID: 2e9afa

>>44911
Leave the TMBGs behind, along with six of the Merciless. Take the other four along in case you get ambushed by something on the way back.


And now we can finally end the turn!
>>
No. 44913 ID: 6164e0

Desired egg load out for KILLER QUEEN?
>>
No. 44918 ID: ed8d8a

4 Flash (20)
3 They Might Be Giants (30)
20 Fat Bottomed Girls (20)
20 The Merciless (20)
10 Lurkers at the Threshold (10)
(100)
>>
No. 44920 ID: 6164e0

>>44918

The following eggs are going to be lain. Timestamp imminent.
4 Flash
3 They Might Be Giants
20 Fat Bottomed Girls
20 The Merciless
10 Lurkers at the Threshold
>>
No. 44923 ID: 6164e0
File 125303799866.jpg - (52.61KB , 613x871 , Crescent Hour 5_5.jpg )
44923

-All ants set to feed themselves whenever they have 30 minutes left before becoming Lethargic.
-Fat Bottomed Girls have continued harvesting Roots of chaos, but the thick exterior the needs to be cut through coupled with the need for the ants to carefully not ingest the food when harvesting slows the harvesting process.

CRESCENT COLONY AGE: 5.5 HOURS

TOTALS:
1 KILLER QUEEN
1 The Hero Scars of Yesterday (Returning at a later date)
1 Toxic
1 Wings of Destiny (Returning at a later date)
11 They Might Be Giants (5 more at hour 6, 3 more at hour 6.5) (1 Returning at a later date)
19 Death on Six Legs (1 Returning at a later date)
147 The Merciless
177 Fat Bottomed Girls
19 Flash (10 more at hour 6, 10 more at hour 7, 4 more at hour 7.5) (1 Returning at a later date)
320 Lurkers at the Threshold (20 'planted', 10 ‘unplanted’)

STATUS:
KILLER QUEEN: Sated (does not need food until hour 6), can produce more eggs in Chamber 4

The Hero Scars of Yesterday: (???), Returning at a later date.

Toxic: Sated (needs 2 units of food in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in chamber 4

Wings of Destiny: (???), Returning at a later date.

Blue Mind Riot: Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), making 1 hour journey to new fungus (will arrive next timestamp with retinue).

They Might Be Giants:
-2 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Stationed at Def Leppard’s field
-9 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 4

Death on Six Legs:
-19 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Patrolling Crescent

The Merciless:
-25 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Patrolling Crescent (2 mutated)
-24 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Guarding Fat Bottomed Girls gathering Concentrated Nutrients
-1 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in chamber 4 (golden leg mutant)
-6 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Stationed at Def Leppard’s field
-4 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Traveling to Crescent
-40 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), making 1 hour journey to new fungus.
-40 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 4.

Fat Bottomed Girls:
-75 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or become Lethargic), Expanding lower chambers.
-50 Sated (self-feeding), gathering Concentrated Nutrients
-32 Sated (self feeding), making 1 hour journey to new fungus.
-20 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 4

Flash:
-5 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 4
-5 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or become Lethargic), Idle in chamber 4
-5 Sated (self-feeding), Scouting South-West
-4 Sated (self-feeding), Scouting East

Lurkers at the Threshold:
-20 'planted' about Crescent's surface
-10 Idle in chamber 4

Pulsating Sac:
-1 ?????? in Stealin’ test chamber.

FOOD:
5 units of Yellow Flower Leaf (Quality: 1/10)
59 units of Dead Ant (Quality: 2/10)
0 units of Nest Robber Centipede (Quality: 3/10)
175 units of Black Dragonfly (Quality: 3/10)
922 units of Concentrated Nutrients (Quality: 4/10)
0 units of Yellow Flower Nectar/Blossoms (Quality: 2/10 Warriors, 4/10 Non-Warriors) Special: Masks Non-Warrior Scent
8 units of Flying Beast Bumblebee (Quality: 5/10) Special: Tastes Like Poison
22 units of Abomination Hornet (Quality: 7/10)
0 units of Bohemian Rhapsody (Quality: 9/10) Special: Instantly removes Lethargy, Strengthens Consumers
105 Units of Roots of Chaos (Quality: XOM/10)

Storage:
Chamber 1 current maximum capacity: 300 points (300/300 used)
Chamber 2 current maximum capacity: 500 points (0/550 used)
Chamber 3 current maximum capacity: 375 points (375/375 used)
Chamber 4 current maximum capacity: 600 points (19/650 used)
Chamber 5 current maximum capacity: 175 points (650/650 used)
Chamber 6 current maximum capacity: 600 points (0/325 used)
Chamber 7 current maximum capacity: 500 points (0/500 used)
Chamber 8 current maximum capacity: 300 points (0/300 used)
Chamber 9 current maximum capacity: 275 points (0/275 used)
Chamber 10 current maximum capacity: 725 points (0/1125 used)
Chamber 11 current maximum capacity: 600 points (0/900 used)
Stealin' current maximum capacity: 200 points (105/200 used)
Stealin’s Test Chamber maximum capacity: 40 units (10/40 used)
(KILLER QUEEN, Wings of Destiny and They Might Be Giants are worth 10 points, The Hero Scars of Yesterday is worth 5 points, Death on Six Legs and Toxic are worth 2 points, Blue Mind Riot, Flash, The Merciless and Fat Bottomed Girls are worth 1 point. Food is 1 point per unit of food)

!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN can now attempt to make up to two new strains at a checkpoint.
!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN can now save upgrades for later checkpoints!
!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN has gotten better at making new ant strains!
!!REMINDER!! Resources are being consumed faster than they are being brought in!
!!NOTICE!! Flash scouts sent to the West have returned! They found a new field of flowers 1.5 hours distance for normal ants, but it seems that several fliers and spiders are in contention over the area! Pictures of new flowers imminent.
!!NOTICE!! The seven remaining test subjects (excluding the one that regrew it’s legs) are fed Roots of Chaos once more! The combined ant seems to have dissolved into the ground, another has disintegrated, and all the remaining ants acted normally for a short while, then rushed each other, and have now fused into a single pulsating sac! It seems something is happening inside.


Pictures of new flowers, followed by new fliers and new spiders imminent. Please wait until all have been posted.
>>
No. 44924 ID: 6164e0
File 125303802458.jpg - (97.83KB , 375x500 , New Flower 3.jpg )
44924

1/3 new flowers
>>
No. 44925 ID: 6164e0
File 12530380508.jpg - (127.98KB , 500x375 , New Flower 4.jpg )
44925

2/3 new flowers
>>
No. 44926 ID: 6164e0
File 125303810116.jpg - (1.41MB , 2816x2120 , New Flower 5.jpg )
44926

last new flower. Pictures of fliers imminent
>>
No. 44927 ID: 6164e0
File 125303814299.jpg - (98.17KB , 500x500 , New Flier 1.jpg )
44927

1/5 new fliers
>>
No. 44928 ID: 6164e0
File 125303816635.jpg - (104.61KB , 1009x765 , New Flier 2.jpg )
44928

2/5 new fliers
>>
No. 44929 ID: 6164e0
File 125303819325.jpg - (184.89KB , 1280x923 , New Flier 3.jpg )
44929

3/5 new fliers
>>
No. 44930 ID: 6164e0
File 125303822954.jpg - (140.57KB , 1200x800 , New Flier 4.jpg )
44930

4/5 new fliers
>>
No. 44931 ID: 6164e0
File 125303826438.jpg - (194.56KB , 1280x853 , New Flier 5.jpg )
44931

last of new fliers, new spiders imminent
>>
No. 44932 ID: 6164e0
File 125303830495.jpg - (200.76KB , 1024x768 , New Spider 1.jpg )
44932

1/5 new spiders
>>
No. 44933 ID: 6164e0
File 125303832831.jpg - (62.52KB , 830x705 , New Spider 2.jpg )
44933

2/5 new spiders
>>
No. 44934 ID: 6164e0
File 125303837097.jpg - (163.75KB , 735x642 , New Spider 3.jpg )
44934

3/5 new spiders
>>
No. 44935 ID: 6164e0
File 125303839531.jpg - (85.18KB , 884x705 , New Spider 4.jpg )
44935

4/5 new spiders
>>
No. 44936 ID: 6164e0
File 125303843490.jpg - (201.01KB , 1024x768 , New Spider 5.jpg )
44936

Final new spider.

ASSESSING UPGRADES EARNED.

Discovered new food: Dead ant: 1 upgrade

You have earned: 2 total upgrades.

Please spend upgrade(s) on the following:

Improve Fat Bottomed Girls Strain Lv4. (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES)
Improve The Merciless Strain Lv2.
Improve Flash Strain
Improve They Might Be Giants Strain
Improve Lurkers at the Threshold Strain
Create New Ant Strain
Make Death on Six Legs a normal Strain (makes it upgradeable, lets KILLER QUEEN lay eggs) (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES, d20 rolled, must beat 14)
Create Specialty Strain: Cry of the Brave Ant (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES, d30 rolled, must beat 23)
Create Specialty Strain: Brood Forge Ant (capable of producing any strains KILLER QUEEN can, REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES, d30 rolled, must beat 13)
Create New Ant Strain described by Blue Mind Riot to KILLER QUEEN(quality of new breed and restrictions imposed determined by rolling a d30, the higher the roll the better the results, if choosing this option a voting period will be opened to determine what description Blue Mind Riot will give to KILLER QUEEN)
Upgrade Exoskeletons Lv2.
Upgrade Mandible Quality Lv2.
Upgrade Intelligence Lv3. (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES)
Specialize KILLER QUEEN (choose either attack, defense, harvesting, digging or mobility) (can specialize multiple times, and stack upgrades)
Gift KILLER QUEEN Poison Trait to Blue Mind Riot.
Retain upgrade point for later use.

First upgrade(s) to reach 3 votes will be chosen.
>>
No. 44937 ID: f78140

>>44936
brood forge ant.
>>
No. 44938 ID: 202543

Brood Forge Ant
>>
No. 44939 ID: ed8d8a

make Do6L a normal strain
>>
No. 44940 ID: 6faa8c

>>44939
This
>>
No. 44941 ID: 6164e0

>>44937
>>44938
2 Votes for Brood Forge Ant

>>44939
1 vote for making Death On Six Legs a normal strain.
>>
No. 44942 ID: b85a0e

rolled 20 = 20

Brood Forge Ant
>>
No. 44943 ID: 202543

>>44942
Nice.
>>
No. 44944 ID: 6164e0

(Have to cook up one of my specialties, won't be posting for a bit. But Brood Forge Ant won, and was successful thanks to >>44942 and will be of a higher than average quality. Restrictions can be placed on brood forge ants, just like other strains. If you can figure out what restrictions you want by the time I finish cooking, that would be great. Brood forge ants will take a minimum of 1 hour to mature, and need a minimum of 10 units of food. The more food they eat, the more ants they can produce at a time, but also the less mobile they become. Cap of food is 50 units, cap of gestation is 4 hours. You can make up any restrictions you want, I'll look at all proposals when I finish cooking)
>>
No. 44945 ID: 331584

Decreased senses, so that they require some other ants posted around them to guard.
Also maybe lack of an ability to move, requiring other ants to move them.
>>
No. 44946 ID: ed8d8a

>>44944
tempting as it would be to have mini-queens churning out units by the hundred, I think reducing their mobility hampers their effectiveness somewhat. We should ensure that they are no slower than a Giant, so they can move along with a full strike force and help set up in remote locations quickly. By the same token, I don't expect to be producing forges by the truckload, so they seem well suited to restrictions on the laying side.

They might also have some sort of restriction on what sort of units they can lay. At the very least, it seems reasonable that they might not be able to lay additional forges. discuss.
>>
No. 44947 ID: f78140

>>44946
maybe the restriction 'only 1 egg type, as determined on creation' ?
>>
No. 44948 ID: ed8d8a

>>44947
egg types meaning what, individual strains? or broad categories, like soldiers, workers, any small larvae?
>>
No. 44949 ID: 51209b

Phew! Thank goodness you guys got the brood forge ant, considering both the Blue Mind Riot upgrade and the dead ant upgrade were my ideas.

>>44947
No, we can make them set up their own colonies, and for that they'll need to be able to lay different types of eggs. Lurkers, Flash, Merciless, Fat Bottoms, and TMBG are all pretty necessary for a colony. They might be able to get away without Flash, and possibly TMBG... but I'd rather they be able to lay TMBGs.

I highly agree with making them as slow as TMBGs, considering those will likely be their bodyguards. What amount of food will make them as slow as TMBGs, Bob? Whatever it is, let's do that one.
>>
No. 44951 ID: f78140

>>44948
i was thinking strains, but i like your suggestion of broad categories better.
>>
No. 44955 ID: 331584

You do know that if they are immobile the TMBGs could just you know, carry them?
>>
No. 44956 ID: ed8d8a

>>44949
(oh hush. we would have gotten to eating the bodies eventually)
Thinking on it, I like the small egg restriction more and more. All you *absolutely* need for a satellite colony is Fat Bottoms and Merciless, and Lurkers make for nice gravy. It would be inconvenient to have to bus in heavy units, but still doable. And QUEEN still gets to be the important one the empire is based around. If later upgrades to the forge unit could increase the size they can lay, I would call it perfect.

I don't think we get to know how much food is required to get that precise speed level ahead of time, but we can make an educated guess.

>>44955
While this is true, that sort of min maxing feels a bit sleezy
>>
No. 44961 ID: 43d730

Next strain needs to be weak and explode when they die.
>>
No. 44963 ID: fd1292

>>44956
I've been talking with Bob in irc, and the way the other colonies will likely work is that we will set them up, then give them orders, but they will mostly be run by themselves, only interacting with the main colony in times of need (war, or famine, or some special event) or surplus (giving troops or food to the main colony). If we don't help out we risk the colony dying, and if we ask too much from them, we risk them going rogue. So we need to make sure that the Brood Forge ant is as self-sufficient as possible.

And sorry Bob if this is revealing something I shouldn't've. I don't think it's confidential or anything...
>>
No. 44966 ID: 6164e0

>>44963
Not confidential.

This also means that Brood Forge ants CANNOT take the mindless drone trait.

They are already going to have a MAX movement speed of that of They Might Be Giants.

Keeping track of what forges can make what will be difficult if it is just singular strains, but what about Military/Non-military?

Military could make The Merciless, They Might Be Giants, Lurkers At The Threshold, and any more combat oriented ants as they get made.

Non-Military could make Fat Bottomed Girls, Flash, and any non-combat oriented strains.

Neither can make more Brood Forge Ants.


And for setup, I was thinking that once they first start laying eggs, they become immobile. How does that sound as a mild restriction?

How does all that sound? (need to keep cooking, only had a sec right now, keep thinking what restrictions sound good.)
>>
No. 44977 ID: 331584

Yes that is more reasonable.
>>
No. 44984 ID: ed8d8a

>>44963
Aww, so the worrying I did trying to figure out a way to stay in touch with the satellite colonies for issuing orders wasn't needed?

Military and Worker varieties would also be fine, and if they are going to be autonomous colonies, I like the implication that a colony needs at least two leader units in order to function. I still don't know about having the forges be immobile at ANY stage in their life cycle, *especially* if they are supposed to be autonomous. These creatures are descended from the KILLER QUEEN, a matriarch who defends her nest personally if the need arises. They should be able to do the same.
>>
No. 45000 ID: 6164e0

Okay, here are the current proposed rules for the as of yet un-named Brood Forge Ant strain:

-One Brood Forge egg is worth ten eggs (Can be increased by multiples of 10 up to 50 eggs worth to improve quality)
-Brood Forge eggs take two feedings and one hour to mature (can be increased all the way up to 6 feedings and three hours for improved quality)
-Brood Forge ants need 15 units of food per feeding (this can be increased up to 30, to improve quality)
-Brood Forge ants must be designated Military or Non-Military upon creation, and cannot be changed.
-They have a maximum movement speed equal to that of They Might Be Giants (half normal ant speed)
-Once they start laying eggs, their movement speed is lowered by half again, to 1/4 normal ant speed.
-Has no dietary restrictions


Any further tweaks wanted, now would be the time.

Also, will need names for both the Military and Non-Military versions.
>>
No. 45006 ID: 056075

>>45000
Military Strain - Rock
Non-Military Strain - Roll
>>
No. 45014 ID: 6164e0

>>45006
Must be a full song/album/band title.
>>
No. 45015 ID: 43d730

>>45000
Tie Your Mother Down and Calling All Girls.
Military and non-military, respectively.
>>
No. 45023 ID: d51fa7

>>45000
Let's make it worth more eggs. Let's make it worth 50 eggs. We can lay two of them and they'll be awesome. We won't need too many anyway.
>>
No. 45025 ID: ed8d8a

>>45023
agreed
>>
No. 45026 ID: 6164e0

>>45023
Okay, here are the current proposed rules for the as of yet un-named Brood Forge Ant strain:

-One Brood Forge egg is worth 50 eggs (Restriction Maximized)
-Brood Forge eggs take two feedings and one hour to mature (can be increased all the way up to 6 feedings and three hours for improved quality)
-Brood Forge ants need 15 units of food per feeding (this can be increased up to 30, to improve quality)
-Brood Forge ants must be designated Military or Non-Military upon creation, and cannot be changed.
-They have a maximum movement speed equal to that of They Might Be Giants (half normal ant speed)
-Once they start laying eggs, their movement speed is lowered by half again, to 1/4 normal ant speed.
-Has no dietary restrictions

Military Version Name: Bad To The Bone

Non-Military Version Name: Crazy Train

Any further tweaks wanted/different names, last call.
>>
No. 45034 ID: 43d730

>>45026
Save Crazy Train for siegebreakery ants.
>>
No. 45036 ID: ed8d8a

>>45026
names: Sister Hazel and Sister Machine Gun
>>
No. 45050 ID: b85a0e

Military: Can't Stop the Rock
Non-military: Pipeline
>>
No. 45052 ID: 6164e0
File 125305957590.jpg - (935.53KB , 1369x1413 , Sister Machine Gun Sister Hazel.jpg )
45052

>>45036
New Ant Strain Created: Brood Forge Ant!

There are two types of Brood Forge Ant, and the type must be designated at birth!

The Military version is Sister Machine Gun, the Non-Military version is Sister Hazel!

The following rules govern them:
-One Brood Forge egg is worth 50 eggs
-Brood Forge eggs take two feedings and one hour to mature
-Brood Forge ants need 15 units of food per feeding
-Brood Forge ants must be designated Military or Non-Military upon creation, and cannot be changed thereafter.
-They have a maximum movement speed equal to that of They Might Be Giants (half normal ant speed)
-Once they start laying eggs, their movement speed is lowered by half again, to 1/4 normal ant speed.
-Has no dietary restrictions

These ants can produce up to 80 eggs every thirty minutes!

These ants are very large, and comparably durable to They Might Be Giants!

These ants will operate largely on their own as KILLER QUEEN's nobles, complete with their own wills, however they will still have a predisposition to do as KILLER QUEEN orders and to act in her best interests.

NEW STRAIN CREATED

ORDERS CAN NOW BE ISSUED.
>>
No. 45105 ID: 6164e0
File 125306667818.jpg - (46.45KB , 832x638 , Shitty Map.jpg )
45105

(Here is a shitty map showing roughly what you know of your surroundings.)


Orders?
>>
No. 45118 ID: d3692f

The resource situation is the most urgent. We should start up Stealin's stealin' operations, and start the food coming in faster than it's being eaten. I think we could burrow up inside a flower and hollow it out without the BEEEEEEES noticing until it's all dead.
>>
No. 45137 ID: 6164e0

>>45118
This could be done, and would likely yield large amounts of food. However, it is likely the flower blossoms/nectar would dry out as the plant died, so it would still not give you access to that.

There was a previous suggestion to dig sufficiently to then collapse a flower, pulling the entire thing underground. This would yield even more resources, and would yield yellow flower blossoms/nectar. However, this would be less stealthy, and has a greater risk of attracting unwanted attention.

Further, the establishment of further colonies designed to gather food as their primary goal would take longer to initiate, but would be safest because they could simply extend the area that KILLER QUEEN's progeny harvest leaves to produce Concentrated Nutrients.

There is also the recent acquisition of rights to harvest from Def Leppard's field, which is to the south 30 minutes. And nearby to this field is the start of a small military outpost for KILLER QUEEN, currently comprised of 2 They Might Be Giants and 6 The Merciless, which will not attempt to feed themselves from Def Leppard's field unless ordered to, as the plants located there have not been tested yet.

There is also Blue Mind Riot's party, currently 30 minutes away from the new fungus discovered previously.


Orders?
>>
No. 45196 ID: ed8d8a

>>45137
(I assume from your description that QUEEN knows about the events in Def Leppard's field now. If this is not yet the case, then obviously these orders wait until then)
The garrison on Def Leppard's field will be the destination for the first pair of Sisters, so a contingent should be sent to prepare for their arrival. One of the Merciless should sample the local leaves. I don't expect any surprises there, so probably the Merciless can feed themselves, but TMBGs will need concentrated nutrients. Send the 20 idle Fat Bottoms with a load of concentrated nutrients down there, along with 5 of the idle Lurkers, and 20 of the idle Merciless for escort. Toxic is our only smart ant not currently occupied, so he should probably go to supervise too. Once food has been delivered, digging should begin at a suitable location, and the Lurkers should dig in around the entrance. A second wave of immigrants will escort the Sisters when they are ready, and Toxic can return.
>>
No. 45207 ID: d51fa7

>>45137
Alright, we built Stealin' so it could be collapsed in case it was noticed during the flower abduction, but we can't currently use it because we have to protect the chrysalis until Kerrigan hatches. We'll give that a shot once the timer runs out.

>>45196
I was thinking we should send Toxic along with a retinue over to the spider/wasp war field. She has mad diplomatic skilz and we might be able to befriend a faction and assist them against the other. But that's not urgent, I suppose. I just don't think Toxic is needed at Def Leppard's field.

Also, I think it's too close for another colony. We can set up a small base for our troops to chill when not needed and to store some food there for them, but otherwise it is far too close to warrant the placement of a second colony. Let's just have the Fat Bottoms dig out a small area nearby (between the field and Crescent), then devote a group of Fat Bottoms to hauling concentrated nutrients back to Crescent, dropping off however much the garrison needs. We could put a few Lurkers around the checkpoint, but 30 Merciless and 2 TMBGs oughta be plenty for a garrison.


Let's go ahead and send off 10 Flash to the North-East. It'll be dangerous, but it's still just light buzzing and they might find something.
>>
No. 45211 ID: 6164e0

>>45196
(Toxic is female, all ants but Scars Of Yesterday and Death On Six Legs are female)

One of The Merciless tries one of the leaves of each flower. It seems to taste pretty much the same as the leaves of the Yellow Flowers. The two types of flowers both look more tasty, though....

The Merciless on site at Def Leppard's field set to feed themselves from the field, until such time a base is set up with stockpiled concentrated nutrients.

The Idle 20 Fat Bottomed Girls dispatched to Def Leppard's field with 100 units of Concentrated Nutrients
5 Lurkers At The Threshold and 20 The Merciless are sent with them.

Group ordered to start creating a basic colony upon arrival in 30 minutes.
5 Lurkers sent with group ordered to bury themselves around the entrance to said colony once established.

>>45207
10 Flash dispatched to scout to the North-East

Toxic could be sent to said field, and currently unassigned are 10 The Merciless and 9 They Might Be Giants that could act as guards. Additionally, other ants could be taken off of their active duty to be sent with Toxic, if so desired. Check the most recent timestamp to see what activities non-idle ants are performing if this is desired.

!!NOTICE!! The pulsating sack that was previously the test subjects fed the Roots of Chaos has opened several orifices, and scent wafting out indicate it desires food, but attempts at communication have failed.


Orders?
>>
No. 45217 ID: 6faa8c

>>45211
Feed it.
>>
No. 45218 ID: 6faa8c

>>45211
Feed it.
>>
No. 45221 ID: 632862

>>45211
Feed it, Seymour!
>>
No. 45222 ID: 632862

That is, feed it some Concentrated Nutrients.
>>
No. 45223 ID: ed8d8a

>>45218
Concentrated nutrients, specifically. the bread and butter of any ant.
>>
No. 45224 ID: ed8d8a

>>45222
...although, it would be much more interesting if it rejected all food but XOM roots...
>>
No. 45229 ID: d51fa7

>>45211
Kerrigan demands food! Bring it Abomination Hornet and concentrated nutrients, let it sample both and then feed it whichever one it wants. If it indicates the hornet then feed it as much of that as it can eat. I have a good feeling about this (kinda).


I won't make the decision to dispatch Toxic to the war zone all by myself. I agree that we need to secure our food situation first and foremost, and it sounds like we could really use Scars and WoD to back Toxic up on that one. I vote we wait until they get back from the Fight Song. But keep him at Crescent for now. We don't really need him at the garrison anyway.
>>
No. 45239 ID: 6164e0

>>45217
>>45218
>>45221
>>45222
>>45223
>>45224
>>45229
(FEED IT)

A unit of both Concentrated Nutrients and Abomination are brought to the pulsating sack.

The sack consumes the Concentrated Nutrients first.

........

Then the sack consumes the Abomination piece.

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

The scents coming out of the amorphous lump of tissue have altered! It now seems to be producing a scent requesting higher quality foods!

!!NOTICE!!The strange growth has demonstrated a preference for higher quality foods!
>>
No. 45248 ID: 6faa8c

>>45239
Feed it a peice of the best we have.
>>
No. 45250 ID: a8e076

>>45248
Abomination hornet IS the best we have...
>>
No. 45251 ID: 6faa8c

>>45250
Well fiddleysticks and sugarcanes! >.<
>>
No. 45254 ID: 6164e0

Further orders?
>>
No. 45258 ID: f78140

>>45254
continue to feed it hornet, offer it more Xom Roots as well.

also, since kerrigan doesn't follow the JoJo naming conventions already being enforced, i suggest (again, if you remember yesterday in the IRC) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0L9_s0hLQU

don't send Toxic yet.

has the group sent to bring some of the mushroom back returned yet?
>>
No. 45260 ID: 632862

>>45254
Well, feed it some more of the Abomination stuff then, since we don't have anything better at the moment. Try 5 units first.

Also, you say the Death on Six Legs are male. Were those original Merciless male, or did they change gender by eating that trap bug? Very strange!
>>
No. 45264 ID: 632862

>>45258
If we're going to name the growth anything, it should be called The Thing That Should Not Be. At least until it changes forms again. God I hope it does. We don't need a tumor in our colony.
>>
No. 45275 ID: 6164e0

>>45260
(Eating the ant lion triggered a gender reversal.)

>>45258
>>45260
5 units of Abomination are brought to the growth. It consumes them, and swells slightly.

1 unit of Roots of Chaos is fed to the growth.

!?The growth has gained a vibrant red hue, nearly irridescent!


Orders?
>>
No. 45276 ID: 6faa8c

>>45272
So we have our own Custom Ant. Cool. Feed it ONE live TMBG, for size, and then put it on a diet of Abomination and BR.
>>
No. 45280 ID: f78140

>>45276
no no no! pull back!
we don't want a retard-cannibal.
we need to find it some live foes, like d51fa7 suggests.
>>
No. 45282 ID: 6faa8c

>>45280
New mission: cripple Def (remove sensory organs and limbs) and feed it to our new baby.

This...

Sweet Child of Mine. :3
>>
No. 45285 ID: d51fa7

>>45280
>>45276
Disregard that. Word of god is not meant for the masses.


And don't ever, under any circumstances feed it any ants, ever. EVER. Dead or alive.

Let's feed it the rest of the Abomination, then wait for Scars to get back and feed it Bohemian Rhapsody and The Metal's corpse after the Valiance has been eaten off of it. Or maybe before...
>>
No. 45286 ID: f78140

>>45282
we kinda said we'd only take plants from them. killing off their talker seems more likely to earn us enemies than allies.
maybe we could capture a wounded flier or spider in that field at war. even a dead one that was recently killed could be good.
>>
No. 45293 ID: 6faa8c

>>45286
>>45285
Good points.

Thus, I suggest keeping someone strong in the Fight Song, sending us a stream of dead bodies, one by one.
>>
No. 45294 ID: 6164e0

All 16 remaining units of the Abomination are now being brought to Stealin'. They will arrive at next timestamp.


Further orders?
>>
No. 45298 ID: f78140

>>45294
send 10 flash to see if they can loot one of those bodies i mention >>45286 at the contested area.

also, feed it a little of that stuff that tastes like poison.

uhm. can we suggest loadouts now?
1 sister hazel
1 sister machine gun
>>
No. 45315 ID: 632862

>>45298
I'm thinking feeding the growth poisonous food is a bad idea at the moment. We've only had a good result from feeding Toxic that stuff back when he was already mutated to utilize poison. It'd suck if we wound up killing the thing after all this.
>>
No. 45317 ID: f78140

>>45315
we determined it tasted poisonous before toxic got the mutation. also, didn't killer queen get poison spit from eating it?
>>
No. 45331 ID: 9222ee

>>45317
No, that was from the centipede.

>>45315
Toxic's a girl.

>>45298
That corpse is both old and not of the best quality. I don't think we should feed it to the thing.

>>45293
That plan has way too many variables and not enough assurances. Let's work with what we have nearby. We can start by trying to lure another abomination into fighting solo once Scars gets back. He oughta be able to handle one no problem now, or at least he will if he gets The Metal's Valiance. Either way it'll be a lot easier than last time, and if we feed a crippled one it'll probably be pretty good.

However we should keep looking for better stuff, so let's head out to that war zone. Send Toxic, 10 Merciless, and all 19 Death on 6 Legs. We've got Lurkers and TMBGs here, and she'll definitely need the support in such a dangerous area.
>>
No. 45358 ID: 632862

>>45331
>Toxic is a girl

GRR, PRONOUNS!

Do we really want to antagonize the Empire again? They might not stop attacking so easily if we draw attention to ourselves again. They probably think we're dead, and that the one soldier they lost is just MIA. That spider guy said as much.
>>
No. 45381 ID: 721be5

>>45358
It depends how much we want a good warrior. It's not going to come easy. We need to take risks to earn rewards.


Oh, and we're also going to be feeding Roots of Chaos to the Chrysalis too. Let's move the rest of the Roots of Chaos to the Chrysalis chamber as well.
>>
No. 45401 ID: 6164e0

>>45298
There are no idle flash, currently all of them have been dispatched to scout. The 10 that had been idle are now on their way to the North-East

>>45331
All 19 Death On Six Legs and 10 of the 20 Idle The Merciless are to be sent as an honor guard with Toxic to the field 1.5 hours to the west. Should this be altered or should they proceed? (They will arrive at hour 7)
>>
No. 45425 ID: ed8d8a

>>45401
It seems like 10 and 10 would be enough, and I hate to commit ALL of our elite warriors to the same trip.
>>
No. 45440 ID: 6164e0

>>45381
The test chamber the growth is anchored in only has room for 40 units of food to be stored. The colony possess more Roots of Chaos than can fit in the room.

>>45425
Toxic, 10 Death On Six Legs, and 10 The Merciless are dispatched to the Spider/Wasp field, and will arrive in 1.5 hours, at hour 7. Which side should they attempt to contact first, and which race (reference the pic of which one desired from the previous timestamp)?
>>
No. 45455 ID: f882f8

>>45440
Alright, then let's keep the 16 Abomination and 24 Roots of Chaos there for the time being.

I'm voting siding with the wasps. We could use some flier allies, and spiders are going to be fucking brutal... great for feeding the Chrysalis and giving us a good challenge.
>>
No. 45460 ID: 6164e0

>>45455
Which breed type of wasp do you propose attempting to make contact with?
>>44927
>>44928
>>44929
>>44930
or
>>44931 ?
>>
No. 45465 ID: f882f8

>>45460
I have no clue. I guess the first type seems the least sinister, might be open to diplomacy. I 'unno.
>>
No. 45472 ID: 6164e0

>>45465

Toxic and retinue are to attempt to contact the Wasp side of the conflict, specifically this particular breed. >>44927

Is this acceptable?
>>
No. 45473 ID: f882f8

>>45472
I'd rather we send all 19 Death on Six Legs. Like I said, we still have all the TMBGs at the hive, along with the Lurkers. It's not like we're leaving Crescent unguarded.

But if the general consensus is for half that, then oh well.
>>
No. 45474 ID: 6164e0

>>45473
(Okay, since there is equal support for either sending 10 or all 19 Death On Six Legs with Toxic, first person to weigh in supporting either side decides which approach is used)
>>
No. 45475 ID: ed8d8a

>>45473
TMBGs are stupid and slow. They are not designed to be a viable or balanced force on their own, but to supplement a larger force with some tanking ability. The lurkers are only situationaly useful as well. We need some general purpose fighters.
>>
No. 45476 ID: b85a0e

>>45473
Seconded.
>>
No. 45478 ID: ed8d8a

>>45476
HaHA! just slightly too slow
>>
No. 45483 ID: 6164e0

>>45475
10 The Merciless, 10 Death On Six Legs, and Toxic dispatched with orders to attempt to communicate with >>44927 upon arrival at hour 7.


Further orders?
>>
No. 45509 ID: fe779a

>>45483
Bob, you took the same guy's vote twice: >>45475
>>45425

19 D6Ls is the only one with two real votes: >>45476 >>45473
>>
No. 45511 ID: 632862

>>45483
I wish we had another hero unit available, so we could talk to both sides at once. Get both sides of the story.
>>
No. 45514 ID: f78140

i don't think we should join either side, but i do think we should try to catch a spider for the horrible abomination we're feeding. the hornets etc are basically all fliers, so something to catch them would be good; ie: spiderwebs.
>>
No. 45517 ID: 6164e0

>>45509
(Did not notice that)

All 19 Death On Six Legs were dispatched with Toxic, not just 10.


Are there further orders, or should KILLER QUEEN begin to lay eggs, and if so, what should she lay?
>>
No. 45554 ID: 8b09c5

>ed8d8a
I understand your concerns but we have a huge amount of The Merciless to fill the general soldier role. The TMBGs will be plenty to fill the heavy fighter role but are too slow and we need fast elite forces to accompany Toxic. The D6Ls are perfect and their presence won't make or break Crescent's defenses.

>>45514
That's a good point. I dunno if abilities will be passed on like that but if we can find a spider with a Valiance...

Let's see... we got the scouts going, garrison at Def's field setting up, fungus group proceeding, Toxic's outbound... can't do Xom or Stealin' as of yet...

I can't think of anything else.

For load out let's go with >>45298.
>>
No. 45564 ID: 6164e0

1 Sister Machine Gun and 1 Sister Hazel will be created.

Once they are born, they will act largely on their own, but will still set up their base(s) wherever you order them to.

Time Stamp in a while.
>>
No. 45579 ID: 6164e0
File 125314200019.jpg - (50.75KB , 613x871 , Crescent Hour 6.jpg )
45579

-All ants set to feed themselves whenever they have 30 minutes left before becoming Lethargic.
-Fat Bottomed Girls have continued harvesting Roots of chaos, but the thick exterior the needs to be cut through coupled with the need for the ants to carefully not ingest the food when harvesting slows the harvesting process.

CRESCENT COLONY AGE: 6.0 HOURS

TOTALS:
1 KILLER QUEEN
1 The Hero Scars of Yesterday (Returning at a later date)
1 Toxic
1 Wings of Destiny (Returning at a later date)
16 They Might Be Giants (3 more at hour 6.5) (1 Returning at a later date)
19 Death on Six Legs (1 Returning at a later date)
147 The Merciless
177 Fat Bottomed Girls
19 Flash (10 more at hour 6, 10 more at hour 7, 4 more at hour 7.5) (1 Returning at a later date)
30 Lurkers at the Threshold (25 'planted', 5 ‘unplanted’)

STATUS:
KILLER QUEEN: Sated (does not need food until hour 7), can produce more eggs in Chamber 4

The Hero Scars of Yesterday: (???), Returning at a later date.

Toxic: Sated (self-feeding), Traveling to Spider/Wasp Field

Wings of Destiny: (???), Returning at a later date.

Blue Mind Riot: Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), At New Fungus Location

They Might Be Giants:
-2 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Stationed at Def Leppard’s field
-14 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 4

Death on Six Legs:
-19 Sated (self-feeding), Traveling to Spider/Wasp Field

The Merciless:
-25 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Patrolling Crescent (2 mutated)
-24 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Guarding Fat Bottomed Girls gathering Concentrated Nutrients
-1 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Idle in chamber 4 (golden leg mutant)
-6 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Stationed at Def Leppard’s field
-40 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), At New Fungus Location
-14 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 4.
-10 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Traveling to Spider/Wasp Field
-20 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), at base near Def Leppard’s field.


Fat Bottomed Girls:
-75 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or become Lethargic), Idle in chamber 10.
-50 Sated (self-feeding), gathering Concentrated Nutrients
-32 Sated (self feeding), At New Fungus Location
-20 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or become Lethargic), Idle at Def Leppard’s field

Flash:
-10 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or become Lethargic), Scouting North-East
-5 Sated (self-feeding), Scouting South-West
-4 Sated (self-feeding), Scouting East

Lurkers at the Threshold:
-20 'planted' about Crescent's surface
-5 Idle in chamber 4
-5 ‘planted’ around base at Def Leppard’s field

Pulsating Sac:
-1 ?????? in Stealin’ test chamber.

FOOD:
5 units of Yellow Flower Leaf (Quality: 1/10)
59 units of Dead Ant (Quality: 2/10)
0 units of Nest Robber Centipede (Quality: 3/10)
175 units of Black Dragonfly (Quality: 3/10)
768 units of Concentrated Nutrients (Quality: 4/10)
0 units of Yellow Flower Nectar/Blossoms (Quality: 2/10 Warriors, 4/10 Non-Warriors) Special: Masks Non-Warrior Scent
8 units of Flying Beast Bumblebee (Quality: 5/10) Special: Tastes Like Poison
0 units of Abomination Hornet (Quality: 7/10)
0 units of Bohemian Rhapsody (Quality: 9/10) Special: Instantly removes Lethargy, Strengthens Consumers
125 Units of Roots of Chaos (Quality: XOM/10)

Storage:
Chamber 1 current maximum capacity: 300 points (300/300 used)
Chamber 2 current maximum capacity: 500 points (0/550 used)
Chamber 3 current maximum capacity: 375 points (375/375 used)
Chamber 4 current maximum capacity: 600 points (19/650 used)
Chamber 5 current maximum capacity: 175 points (542/650 used)
Chamber 6 current maximum capacity: 600 points (0/325 used)
Chamber 7 current maximum capacity: 500 points (0/500 used)
Chamber 8 current maximum capacity: 300 points (0/300 used)
Chamber 9 current maximum capacity: 275 points (0/275 used)
Chamber 10 current maximum capacity: 1600 points (0/1600 used)
Chamber 11 current maximum capacity: 900 points (0/900 used)
Stealin' current maximum capacity: 200 points (105/200 used)
Stealin’s Test Chamber maximum capacity: 40 units (10/40 used)
(KILLER QUEEN, Wings of Destiny and They Might Be Giants are worth 10 points, The Hero Scars of Yesterday is worth 5 points, Death on Six Legs and Toxic are worth 2 points, Blue Mind Riot, Flash, The Merciless and Fat Bottomed Girls are worth 1 point. Food is 1 point per unit of food)

!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN can now attempt to make up to two new strains at a checkpoint.
!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN can now save upgrades for later checkpoints!
!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN has gotten better at making new ant strains!
!!REMINDER!! Resources are being consumed faster than they are being brought in!
!!NOTICE!! Flash scouts sent to the South-West have returned! They found a large body of water 2 hours distance to the South-West, and could not cross it.
!!NOTICE!! A basic single chamber base has been constructed at Def Leppard’s field, and the 5 Lurkers At The Threshold there have dug in around it!
!!NOTICE!! All current construction on Crescent has been completed!
>>
No. 45580 ID: 6164e0

Orders?
>>
No. 45581 ID: 6164e0

!!NOTICE!! Blue Mind Riot and her group have arrived at the fungus!
>>
No. 45599 ID: 8b09c5

>>45579
[Blue Mind Riot]: Good, you arrived safely. Now let's be cautious; scout out the area with the Merciless to make sure it's clear of threats. Then have one Merciless and one Fat Bottom Girl taste the fungus to determine food quality. If it is useful, then set the Fat Bottoms to harvesting while the Merciless keep a lookout. Bring as much of it back as possible.


Fat Bottoms at Def Leppard field, analyze field to determine max number of workers could be set to gather food from the field, carry it back to Crescent, then head back to the field without overtaxing the field. Then get to work on that. Store enough food in the garrison to keep the ants their sated.

As long as the 75 Fat Bottoms are idle, let's have them work on expanding Stealin', enlarging the size of the chamber's and increasing the number of them, making sure to construct them in collapsible segments.

Also, I don't know how our amount of Roots of Chaos keeps increasing, since we have no Fat Bottoms set to harvest them, but whoever it is please cut it out so we can use you for something more useful.

Is Chrysalis asking for more food or is it still satisfied?
>>
No. 45634 ID: 6164e0

(need to pause this for the rest of the day, shit came up. Should resume tomorrow morning)
>>
No. 45824 ID: 6164e0

(Since the time when I have to go back up to Santa Cruz is fast approaching, I won't be posting as quickly as previously. Just an FYI)

>>45599 [Blue Mind Riot:]
"Cautious? Okay, but it's hard to smell anything but the fungus, it has a rather sharp scent. And other than the fungus, there doesn't seem to be anything here. But in case their is, I'll have some of The Merciless and Fat Bottomed Girls check the immediate area."
..............
"....Well, seems like it really is deserted here, other than the fungus. Okay, once everyone is back together, I order 1 The Merciless and 1 Fat Bottomed Girl to try the fungus."
..............
"Hm. They seem to find it edible, and almost as tasty as Concentrated Nutrients. After eating nothing but yellow flower leaves for the journey, I admit I could do with something a bit more tasty....Hey thoughts, I had an idea, so let me know if this sounds like it wouldn't work. I think that our group is large enough to just pick up and take a whole fungus back to Crescent, and I see some fungus growing under the shade of an overhanging rock: Maybe we could grow it at home? I don't know if this is a stupid idea or not...."

Fat Bottomed Girls estimate that 25 of their number could be tasked with gathering leaves from Def Leppard's field for Concentrated Nutrients. However, both flowers have not been sampled, so estimates on them have not been made.

!!NOTICE:!! Some of the Fat Bottomed Girls say that since more area covered by the Yellow Flowers tended by the workers of the Mandarinian Empire have been located, up to 100 Fat Bottomed Girls could be set to gathering them without endangering the food supply.

75 Idle Fat Bottomed Girls ready to be ordered to action, once this new information has been recognized.

!!NOTICE:!! Upon checking, no one has been harvesting more Roots of Chaos, yet the amount still seems to slowly grow.

The Chrysalis always hungers. Roots of Chaos and the 16 units of Abomination Hornet are both nearby, ready to be fed to it at this timestamp.


Orders?
>>
No. 45830 ID: ed8d8a

>>45824
>Upon checking, no one has been harvesting more Roots of Chaos, yet the amount still seems to slowly grow.

...Oh I see. That's... interesting. Way to turn a simple logistical oversight into an alarming plot point there Bob. Maybe.. maybe if we plant the scary roots they will grow into new flowers? I hope?

[Blue Mind Riot]: The lack of any insects around to eat such a tasty food source is suspicious. Be cautious. Observe the two who sampled the fungus for strange behavior, and be on the lookout for ambushes. Fan your Merciless out to watch for danger. That said though, the prospect of a food source which could be farmed at the colony is too appealing to pass up, whatever the risk. The wonderful thing about fungus is that you don't need to keep it intact in order to have a viable plant, like you do with flowers. Almost any portion of the fungus, planted in the right conditions, will grow into an entirely new mushroom. Transporting an entire fungus intact will be unwieldy and attract attention, but cutting that fungus into many manageable chunks will work just as well, and be safer.
>>
No. 45833 ID: 6164e0
File 125320788221.jpg - (90.72KB , 480x360 , Squishy Creatures.jpg )
45833

>>45830 [Blue Mind Riot]

"Cut it up, and bring it back in chunks? Okay, I can do that...OH! While we were cutting it open, we found fat red creatures were inside, feeding on it. What should I do, thoughts?"
>>
No. 45843 ID: ed8d8a

>>45833
[Blue Mind Riot]: Oh THERE'S the catch. Stop cutting on the fungus immediately, back away, and put some Merciless between the Fat Bottoms and the new bugs. Are they responding to your intrusion yet, or are they still happily gnawing away?

Two goals here: determine if these red things are intelligent or homicidaly violent, and get back to Crescent with a few decent samples of the fungus to try planting. If you are not already being swarmed, have a few Fat Bottoms grab decent sized chunks and start back toward the Colony immediately. Attempt to establish communication while they are doing that.

If on the other hand they are pouring out of the broken fungus looking for a fight, communication attempts are important, but only withing the context of not dying.
>>
No. 45844 ID: 5a815d

>>45824
Okay, I gotta go soon so this'll be brief and incomplete, sorry.

Set 50 of the previously idle ants to harvesting nutrients instead of working on Stealin'.

Sample the other 2 flowers in Def Leppard's field and make a new estimate if possible. Otherwise have 25 ants gather nutrients and the rest can be split up between the 2 new flowers.


Feed the Chrysalis a ratio of 2 abomination to 1 roots of chaos until it seems sated.
>>
No. 45848 ID: 6faa8c

>>45833
Are dose aphids?

Don't some ants 'domesticate' aphids?
>>
No. 45849 ID: ed8d8a

>>45848
For that matter, don't Def Leppards love to eat aphids?

Dose look like dey might be aphids
>>
No. 45855 ID: 6164e0

>>45849
(You do not know, you could ask Def Leppard once other ants are aware of this discovery)

>>45848
(Yes, those are aphids and yes, some ants do domesticate them)

>>45844
50 of the Idle Fat Bottomed Girls assigned to gather Concentrated Nutrients from yellow flower leaves.

Sampling the two flowers yields interesting results.
This flower >>44181 leads to the temporary growth of bristles on an ant's tarsus after a single feeding, allowing for wider dispersion of weight, but at the cost of slower conventional movement. It is relatively tasty. INTELLIGENCE suggests that sustained feedings on this would likely make the effect permanent.
This Flower>>44182 leads to the ant gaining a significantly harder shell, but they emit more pheromones than usual, and become more visible and noticeable to all nearby creatures. This flower is slightly tastier than concentrated nutrients.

Estimates place the following information before you:
If all parts are harvested with the intent of gathering Concentrated Nutrients, 50 Fat Bottomed Girls could be assigned to gather without impacting the food supply.
conversely, 20 Fat Bottomed Girls could be set to gather the flower pieces, while 25 gather leaves to form Concentrated Nutrients, without endangering the food supply.

>>45843 [Blue Mind Riot:]
"Well, there are a good number of them, but I think that we still outnumber them, and they may outweigh us, but they don't really seem built for combat. Communicate with them? Okay, I'll try..."

I step towards one of the fat red creatures, and transmit some basic greetings pheromones.

"Greetings, from KILLER QUEEN! We did not know you were inhabiting the fungus. What are you?"

...I don't think I do very well as a diplomat without thoughts suggesting what to say....

The creatures don't seem to be responding, and are trundling back into the fungus to keep feeding, I think. What should we do?


Orders?
>>
No. 45863 ID: ed8d8a

>>45855
Set 10 of the Fat Bottoms in Def Leppard's field to gather flower pieces, and the other 10 to continuing expansion of the small outpost there. The second flower especially seems useful. Fed to TMBGs, it would obviously improve their already impressive durability, and because their role in our forces, they are unlikely to be sent on stealthy missions. In fact the higher visibility might improve their function in a tanking role by allowing them to draw more aggro.
Depending on how effective the first flower is, it is conceivable that an already light weight ant which consumed this flower could gain the ability to stand on water without breaking the surface tension, which might in turn allow for further exploration past the watery barrier earlier scouts encountered.

[Blue Mind Riot]: Nah, that was fine diplomacy for what needed to be said there. The implied-but-not-actually-there apology was a nice touch. That appears to be irrelevant though, as these creatures seem unintelligent and non-aggressive. We should investigate further to determine if they are a hive, led by a more intelligent matriarch, or simply a mass of simple creatures living in close proximity. Observe them further, watch for behavior patterns.
>>
No. 45882 ID: 6164e0

>>45863
10 of the Fat Bottomed Girls at Def Leppard's field tasked with gathering flower pieces, the other 10 tasked with continuing to expand the base.

>>45844
The growth has been fed the 16 units of Abomination Hornet and 8 units of Roots of Chaos. It has grown significantly, and now tough, fleshy tendrils are anchoring it across the entire test chamber. Additionally, it's vibrant red hue has further intensified, and it lets of a baleful crimson glow, it's entire from throbbing ominously. Whatever the growth is, clearly this large batch of food has significantly changed it, and a musky smell fil the chamber. The throbbing, glowing chrysalis is still sending out pheromones requesting food, but the demand is no longer quite as urgent.

>>45863 [Blue Mind Riot:]
"Oh, I did alright? That's good. ...The creatures don't seem to communicate with eachother, just swarm onto the fungus and keep feeding, that's it. I don't see any of them that look or act differently. It doesn't seem that they really do much but eat...... What should I do?"


Orders?
>>
No. 45891 ID: 78f329

Okay, let's dispatch the other 25 idle fat bottoms to the Def Leppard field. No one is working on Stealin' now:

20 gather >>44182 flowers at Def Field
25 gather nutrients at Def Field
100 gather nutrients outside Crescent
32 at fungus



We need more food for Chrysalis. Send the 5 Flash that were scouting south-west and returned (although their status wasn't changed) to patrol the area immediately around Crescent in an ever-widening search grid for any ground insects that look dangerous, like spiders, ant lions, or centipedes. We need Scars back before we take on an Abomination.


As for the aphids, the reason real ants use aphids is because they make Concentrated Nutrients from what they eat... but we already have ants that can do that: the fat bottoms. We don't need these things.
>>
No. 45895 ID: 6164e0

>>45891
25 Idle Fat Bottomed Girls dispatched to Def Leppard's field, to convert leaves to Concentrated Nutrients
20 Fat Bottomed Girls at Def Leppard's field set to harvesting flowers (20 is the max that can harvest flowers collectively there, so that means only 10 can harvest each type of flower without overgrazing)

5 Idle Flash sent to scout for fauna that could be fed to the chrysalis


Orders?
>>
No. 45899 ID: 78f329

>>45895
Oh right, my mistake.

[Blue Mind Riot]: Have some of the Merciless try eating the Aphids.
>>
No. 45911 ID: ed8d8a

>>45882
I am worried that continuing this feeding trend is going to create an abomination against all existence. Perhaps we should step back on the XOM for now.
Honestly, I am tempted to feed it more delicious but boring concentrated nutrients in an effort to dilute the crazy and make sure the chrysalis knows what all good little ants eat. Mutagenic compounds, the blood of the fallen, and Bohemian Rhapsody are all sometimes foods.
>>
No. 45913 ID: 78f329

>>45911
We're not going to do that. The results of the Chrysalis will be an excellent warrior as long as we feed it Bohemian Rhapsody, powerful insects (fresh or alive if possible), and Roots of Chaos. If we feed it concentrated nutrients it only plants it'd be a good gatherer or some shit like that. Giving it some of everything is a bad idea because it just means we get a mediocre jack of all trades insect.
>>
No. 45923 ID: 6164e0

>>45899 [Blue Mind Riot:]
"Okay...."

I command several of The Merciless to attack one of the fat creatures. Their powerful mandibles quickyl rend through the creature's soft flesh, and it is shortly devoured by them. The other fat creatures seem to respond adversely to this, huddling closer together inside the fungus.

"Wow, these things are easy to kill, and don't even do anything other than huddle together. The Merciless think they taste pretty good. So, what should we do?"


Orders?
>>
No. 45926 ID: ed8d8a

>>45913
I don't like your tone sir. There was never a decision that we even WANT this thing to be a warrior. We have just been playing it by ear.

Look, I'm just saying, the Roots of Chaos are inherently unpredictable, that's why we built the panic chamber in the first place. I originally brought the idea of giving it more Roots up, to see what happens. Well now we have seen it, and I think it is time to reevaluate. Overdoing XOM roots will produce something which is not even recognizable as Ant, and such a Thing might very well not listen to KILLER QUEEN in the end. I don't know if we have reached that point or not, but the further we are from it, the better shape we will be in.

Even feeding it a straight diet of fallen enemies has a downside. All of our hero ants so far are emissaries of a warrior culture, not mindless killing machines. They have high intelligence and personalities. I'd rather not have this Thing turn into the scary monster we keep chained up in the basement and unleash only in times of greatest need.
>>
No. 45931 ID: ed8d8a

>>45923
[Blue Mind Riot]: Well maybe they will turn out to be useful after all. You can farm creatures almost as easily as you can farm fungus, and this lot seems particularly suited to such a fate. Transporting the entire fungus intact, occupants and all, has become more appealing, and there are currently empty chambers in the lower portion of Crescent which could readily be converted to farming both the fungus and the tasty red creatures. Attempt to bring back enough for a starter colony. Examine the local soil and conditions, see if you can identify what makes it suited to these particular mushrooms. Stuff like moisture in the soil, temperature, and the presence of rotting plant matter. The clay of the lower chambers is unlikely to be perfect without a bit of maintenance from the colony.
>>
No. 45938 ID: 6164e0

>>45931 [Blue Mind Riot:]

"The conditions here? Well, it is a bit warmer here, and the air smells a bit.... strange? I don't know why, thought. The soil doesn't look that good, it is dry and rocky, probably why nothing else is growing here. ....No, wait, I can smell something rotting underground..... a lot of things rotting, actually. So... I guess this fungus just needs to feed on decomposition, and maybe have warm air, or something? I'm not sure, I am only 2 hours old...."


Orders?
>>
No. 45946 ID: c1d4e9

>>45926
Have you not checked the discussion thread lately?


We can plant it outside the colony if we have to. And maybe give it dead ants to feed on. I'm still not convinced this is necessary, but I suppose it couldn't hurt.
>>
No. 45956 ID: ed8d8a

>>45938
[Blue Mind Riot]: Good, good, that is a fine place to start. Warm air is tricky, but possible. It may even be just the heat given off by the slow rot. We have quite a bit of low quality dead insect back at Crescent, with any luck it might be all we need to keep things going. Have your Fat Bottoms attempt to cart off the fungus more or less intact, red creatures and all. Those who do not need to actively help carry it should attempt to carry some of the local soil. A few Merciless should be tasked with herding any red creatures which attempt to leave the mushroom, and the others return to escort duty.
>>
No. 45957 ID: b10848
File 125322507263.jpg - (54.66KB , 1024x768 , Alucard.jpg )
45957

>>45926

>scary monster we keep chained up in the basement and unleash only in times of greatest need

You talk as if there's something wrong with that...
>>
No. 45961 ID: ed8d8a

>>45946
Yes, yes I have. It is why I have an understanding that food affects it's development at all. Strong enemies will result in a strong resultant creature, smart begets smart, etc.
I am extrapolating what that means further, thinking about the etc. part of the equation. Higher quality foods result in a stronger ant in general, if we could come up with a quality 9 flower, I would not hesitate for an instant to feed it to the mass, combat prowess be damned.

>>45957
Okay, if you can promise me we get Alucard and not Gibbering Mouther, I would probably go along with that. :p
>>
No. 45966 ID: c1d4e9

>>45961
Well then it's a good thing this is a democracy, eh? Because a strong resource gatherer would be a waste of everyone's time.
>>
No. 45969 ID: 6164e0

>>45956 [Blue Mind Riot:]
"Oh.... I don't think that there would be more than perhaps one or two ants unneeded to carry the whole fungus back, the plants are rather large, and the feeding/huddling creatures add to the weight. The good news is that they don't seem to care even as we begin uprooting the one we already sampled to bring it back. ...The soil? Okay, I can carry some of that while helping the other two The Merciless not busy helping the Fat Bottomed Girls carry the fungus. ...Okay, we all have stuff to carry now, should we head back then?"


Orders?
>>
No. 45971 ID: ed8d8a

>>45966
Did Bob actually say plants would make it a gatherer? The quote just says he would not be war oriented, which is how both Toxic and Blue Mind Riot are developing recently. Also wonder how a plant that produces tougher carapace fits into the equation.

At this point that democracy thing is sort of moot anyway, because not only do we not HAVE a quality 9 flower, but the two of us are the only ones with definitely expressed opinions. Again.

Honestly I think it's weird how every time there is any disagreement on what to do next, you and I are pretty much the opposing sides.
>>
No. 45975 ID: c1d4e9

>>45971
There are many times I agree with what you've posted. If I see you've got a good handle on things then I leave you to it.

That's why I think we should make Chrysalis a warrior. We already have enough non-combat heroes. And I am all for feeding it the flower that increases its armor once it hatches. Whatever else this thing may be, I doubt it'll be stealthy.

[Blue Mind Riot]: Yup, go ahead and bring it on home. Instruct the ants to carefully put the fungus down if anything attacks your group so the Merciless can fight.
>>
No. 45980 ID: 6164e0

>>45975 [Blue Mind Riot:]

"Okay! I guess it will be about an hour until we get back to Crescent, or something like that."


Further orders before KILLER QUEEN begins laying more eggs?
>>
No. 46015 ID: 1689ab

>>45980
Commense work on Ant Hamlet.
>>
No. 46051 ID: c7c258

>>45980
I can't think of anything else. So here's my suggested egg loadout:

50 Merciless
50 Fat Bottoms
>>
No. 46070 ID: ed8d8a

>>45980
QUEEN move further back into the nest, say chamber 11, for your egg laying. no need to keep using 4 and 5 at this point.

(how do people feel about reopening a passage to the surface from 1 or 3? our hidden side entrances have been our main entrances for a while.)
>>
No. 46186 ID: 6164e0

>>46070
KILLER QUEEN moves back to chamber 11

>>46051
KILLER QUEEN begins laying 50 The Merciless and 50 Fat Bottomed Girls.

Timestamp imminent
>>
No. 46226 ID: 6164e0

-All ants set to feed themselves whenever they have 30 minutes left before becoming Lethargic.

CRESCENT COLONY AGE: 6.5 HOURS

TOTALS:
1 KILLER QUEEN
1 The Hero Scars of Yesterday (Returning at a later date)
1 Toxic
1 Wings of Destiny (Returning at a later date)
1 Blue Mind Riot
19 They Might Be Giants (1 Returning at a later date)
19 Death on Six Legs (1 Returning at a later date)
197 The Merciless
227 Fat Bottomed Girls
29 Flash (10 more at hour 7, 4 more at hour 7.5) (1 Returning at a later date)
320 Lurkers at the Threshold (20 'planted', 10 ‘unplanted’)

STATUS:
KILLER QUEEN: Sated (does not need food until hour 7), can produce more eggs in Chamber 11

The Hero Scars of Yesterday: (???), Returning at a later date.

Toxic: Sated (self-feeding), Traveling to Spider/Wasp Field

Wings of Destiny: (???), Returning at a later date.

Blue Mind Riot: Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), At New Fungus Location

They Might Be Giants:
-2 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Stationed at Def Leppard’s field
-17 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 4

Death on Six Legs:
-19 Sated (self-feeding), Traveling to Spider/Wasp Field

The Merciless:
-25 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Patrolling Crescent (2 mutated)
-24 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Guarding Fat Bottomed Girls gathering Concentrated Nutrients
-1 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in chamber 4 (golden leg mutant)
-40 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Returning with fungus/aphids/soil at hour 7.5
-64 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 11.
-10 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Traveling to Spider/Wasp Field
-26 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Stationed at Def Leppard’s field.


Fat Bottomed Girls:
-100 Sated (self-feeding), gathering Concentrated Nutrients
-32 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Returning with fungus/aphids/soil at hour 7.5
-20 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or become Lethargic), harvesting Flowers at Def Leppard’s field
-25 Sated (self-feeding), gathering Concentrated Nutrients at Def Leppard’s field

Flash:
-10 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or become Lethargic), Scouting North-East
-4 Sated (self-feeding), Scouting for fauna to feed to the growth
-4 Sated (self-feeding), Scouting East
-11 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 11.

Lurkers at the Threshold:
-20 'planted' about Crescent's surface
-5 Idle in chamber 4
-5 ‘planted’ around base at Def Leppard’s field

Pulsating Sac:
-1 ?????? in Stealin’ test chamber.

FOOD:
5 units of Yellow Flower Leaf (Quality: 1/10)
59 units of Dead Ant (Quality: 2/10)
0 units of Nest Robber Centipede (Quality: 3/10)
175 units of Black Dragonfly (Quality: 3/10)
792 units of Concentrated Nutrients (Quality: 4/10)
0 units of Yellow Flower Nectar/Blossoms (Quality: 2/10 Warriors, 4/10 Non-Warriors) Special: Masks Non-Warrior Scent
8 units of Flying Beast Bumblebee (Quality: 5/10) Special: Tastes Like Poison
0 units of Abomination Hornet (Quality: 7/10)
0 units of Bohemian Rhapsody (Quality: 9/10) Special: Instantly removes Lethargy, Strengthens Consumers
131 Units of Roots of Chaos (Quality: XOM/10)

Storage:
Chamber 1 current maximum capacity: 300 points (300/300 used)
Chamber 2 current maximum capacity: 500 points (0/550 used)
Chamber 3 current maximum capacity: 375 points (158/375 used)
Chamber 4 current maximum capacity: 600 points (19/650 used)
Chamber 5 current maximum capacity: 175 points (542/650 used)
Chamber 6 current maximum capacity: 600 points (0/325 used)
Chamber 7 current maximum capacity: 500 points (0/500 used)
Chamber 8 current maximum capacity: 300 points (0/300 used)
Chamber 9 current maximum capacity: 275 points (0/275 used)
Chamber 10 current maximum capacity: 1600 points (300/1600 used)
Chamber 11 current maximum capacity: 900 points (0/900 used)
Stealin' current maximum capacity: 200 points (105/200 used)
Stealin’s Test Chamber maximum capacity: 40 units (10/40 used)
(KILLER QUEEN, Wings of Destiny and They Might Be Giants are worth 10 points, The Hero Scars of Yesterday is worth 5 points, Death on Six Legs and Toxic are worth 2 points, Blue Mind Riot, Flash, The Merciless and Fat Bottomed Girls are worth 1 point. Food is 1 point per unit of food)

!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN can now attempt to make up to two new strains at a checkpoint.
!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN can now save upgrades for later checkpoints!
!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN has gotten better at making new ant strains!
!!NOTICE!! Resources are no longer being consumed faster than they are being brought in!
!!NOTICE!! A two chamber basic colony has been crafted at Def Leppard’s field!
!!NOTICE!! 1 of the Flash sent to scout for fauna has returned, claiming to have found a small group of sand pits, that the Pit monsters seem to dwell in! The path to the location was clearly marked, and is not too distant from Crescent.
!!NOTICE!! a Sister Machine Gun and a Sister Hazel have matured! Give them a destination and basic orders, and they will follow it to the best of their abilities as vassals of KILLER QUEEN, and will eventually be able to be levied for troops or additional resources! A pair Sister Machine Gun and Sister Hazel can be stationed at the same colony!

ASSESSING UPGRADES EARNED.

Found farmable new food: Earthy Fungus: 1 upgrade
Found farmable new food: Fat Red Aphids: 1 upgrade
Found new food: Red Water Flower: 1 upgrade
Found new food: Bright Day Flower: 1 upgrade

You have earned: 4 total upgrades.

Please spend upgrade(s) on the following:

Improve Fat Bottomed Girls Strain Lv4. (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES)
Improve The Merciless Strain Lv2.
Improve Flash Strain
Improve They Might Be Giants Strain
Improve Lurkers at the Threshold Strain
Create New Ant Strain
Make Death on Six Legs a normal Strain (makes it upgradeable, lets KILLER QUEEN lay eggs) (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES, d20 rolled, must beat 14)
Create Specialty Strain: Cry of the Brave Ant (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES, d30 rolled, must beat 23)
Create New Ant Strain described by Blue Mind Riot to KILLER QUEEN(quality of new breed and restrictions imposed determined by rolling a d30, the higher the roll the better the results, if choosing this option a voting period will be opened to determine what description Blue Mind Riot will give to KILLER QUEEN)
Upgrade Exoskeletons Lv2.
Upgrade Mandible Quality Lv2.
Upgrade Intelligence Lv3. (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES)
Specialize KILLER QUEEN (choose either attack, defense, harvesting, digging or mobility) (can specialize multiple times, and stack upgrades)
Gift KILLER QUEEN Poison Trait to Blue Mind Riot.
Retain upgrade point for later use.

First upgrade(s) to reach 3 votes will be chosen.
>>
No. 46227 ID: 60578d

This is perfect. We have just the right number to pull this off.

Let's help all our ants out by doing:
Upgrade Exoskeletons Lv2.
Upgrade Mandible Quality Lv2.
Upgrade Intelligence Lv3.
>>
No. 46229 ID: b10848

>>46227
Seconding this.
>>
No. 46232 ID: 6faa8c

>>46227
Thirding it

Question: Is the upgrade applied to all living ants or only new ones?
>>
No. 46276 ID: 6164e0

(The power of KILLER QUEEN flows through her children, and any upgrades apply to all existing ants, as well as future ants!)
>>46227
>>46229
>>46232
Upgrade Exoskeletons Lv2. CHOSEN
Upgrade Mandible Quality Lv2. CHOSEN
Upgrade Intelligence Lv3. (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES) CHOSEN

!!NOTICE:!! All ants have more durable, denser carapaces, and carapaces can recover from cracks with enough time and food!
!!NOTICE:!! All ants have stronger, sharper mandibles, and can cut through materials with greater ease!
!!NOTICE:!! All ants now possess DECENT INTELLIGENCE, and hero units/KILLER QUEEN have SUBSTANCIAL INTELLIGENCE! Ants can now understand recreation as a concept!


ORDERS CAN NOW BE ISSUED.

ORDERS?
>>
No. 46279 ID: ed8d8a

>>46276
>Ants can now understand recreation as a concept!

Fuck! now that one dude can start with his Hamlet thing.
>>
No. 46286 ID: 60578d

>>46279
Fuck yes!

Now where to start a new colony. Let's see, where's that map...... where's... the....

Dear god this thread is getting long again, Bob. :O
>>
No. 46289 ID: 6164e0

>>46286
(I bet Gnome I could get the thread past 1,000 posts.)

(The Base at Def Leppard's field is sufficiently far enough away that you shouldn't have to worry about it being too close. After all, 30 minutes travel is a good distance when you consider how fast ants that aren't >2mm move.)
>>
No. 46294 ID: 1689ab

START THE HAMLET THING!

I've waited for so long.
>>
No. 46296 ID: 6164e0

>>46294
(Assign ants to the task with a hero unit/KILLER QUEEN to watch over it to craft the concept.)
>>
No. 46303 ID: 1689ab

Unfortunately I'm a bit behind right now and don't really know the current plan.
Would it be fair to say "Assign all ants not otherwise engaged"? I don't know how many of them are going to get called away but I'm assuming having some ants drop the task in order to pick up responsibilities elsewhere isn't too much trouble. That sound reasonable?
Have Killer Queen oversee.
>>
No. 46311 ID: 60578d

>>46289
You should make him type the entire thing out to Blue Mind Riot.


Alright, let's have both Sisters, 6 TMBGs, 5 idle Lurkers, and 14 the Merciless head down to Def Leppard's field to establish a second colony. I'd suggest we make a big deal out of it, but we don't have any hero ants present so oh well. Let's assign everything besides the fat bottoms that are gathering the special flowers to the new colony, as a starting gift.


You guys, it occurs to me that if we were to kill all the insects in Def Leppard's field, we'd get more upgrades, more food, and probably be able to harvest more without overtaxing. I think we oughta get to that once Scars and co. get back.


Let's also dispatch The Merciless to follow the Flash who found the pit monsters. Since you didn't mention how many, send 15 per monster up to a maximum of 60 (take 10 from the ones patrolling Crescent if necessary).


Er, what about the ants we just laid? I didn't see those on the timestamp. When do they mature?
>>
No. 46314 ID: ed8d8a

>>46303
I suppose, in all fairness, it IS a chance to develop QUEEN's personality. God help us all.
>>
No. 46315 ID: 60578d

>>46303
Actually, we only have spare Flash at this time.

Speaking of which, send along 6 Flash with the sisters too. They could use some scouts.

But we will have some extra Merciless once the ones we just laid hatch. Unless we need them for something.
>>
No. 46321 ID: 6164e0

>>46311
Okay, just to clear this up, but the way KILLER QUEEN designed the Sister Machine Gun and Sister Hazel strains, they cannot command any of KILLER QUEEN's ants, as part of insurance against their free will becoming a threat to their mother. However, any of their children sent to KILLER QUEEN's side or taken by force and indoctrinated will then also serve KILLER QUEEN instead of their own parents. KILLER QUEEN is the sovereign, the ruler and god of her empire, and she will rule supreme, absolute, and brook no failure on the part of her free-willed daughters.

Although, they do need to be fertilized first, which will kill any male that does it, and only the 19 Death On Six Legs are male. Hmmmm.....


Speaking of her empire, what should KILLER QUEEN's empire, the one destined to eventually destroy all that stands in her way, to drive their enemies before them and enslave or consume all who oppose her?
>>
No. 46328 ID: 0743d8

>>46321
I'll never hear the end of this from ed8d8a.

It seems now that our only chance is to get more Merciless to evolve into D6Ls. Good thing we found those pit monsters.

Alright, then forget sending the Flash along, but let's send the rest along with them to guard them until they get their own operation going, at which point we can call them back. Er... at least let's do that once we get the sisters fertilized. Damn details...


The good news is we now have some idle ants with which to start working on a reproduction of Hamlet. Let's get that shit rolling!
>>
No. 46330 ID: 6164e0

>>46328
Proceed with sacrificing two Death On Six Legs to fertilize the two Sisters?

Please specify which ants in what numbers are to be sent with them to help them set up the base.

And suggest names for KILLER QUEEN's empire.
>>
No. 46331 ID: 6faa8c

>Speaking of her empire, what should KILLER QUEEN's empire, the one destined to eventually destroy all that stands in her way, to drive their enemies before them and enslave or consume all who oppose her?

Cydonia.

And then Scars and the other heroes can be the Queen's Knights.
Knights of Cydonia, if you were so inclined. :3
>>
No. 46333 ID: 9891a9

>>46331
I second this plan.
>>
No. 46346 ID: ed8d8a

>>46328
I don't see what I'm supposed to be upset about. Everything seems fine here. We agree for once.

And hey, one more reason for my lobby to make Do6L a normal strain.

>>46331
I um... third it? since it was mine in the first place :p
>>
No. 46352 ID: 6164e0

>>46331
>>46333
>>46346

The Empire of Cydonia, ruled by KILLER QUEEN and her champions, the Knights of Cydonia, is taking it's first steps towards controlling the land.

Proceed with sacrificing two Death On Six Legs to fertilize the two Sisters?

Please specify which ants in what numbers are to be sent with them to help them set up the base.
>>
No. 46390 ID: ed8d8a

>>46352
Proceed with sacrifice. Be sure to play up the honor that it is to help start a new colony.

Send 14 of the idle Merciless, 7 TMBG, 1 Flash for messenger duty, and the remaining 5 Lurkers along with the Sisters. (watch me make numbers round) All units currently deployed at outpost *except* Fat Bottoms harvesting flowers will be absorbed into the new colony. It will have 25 FBGs, 40 Merciless, 9 TMBG, 1 flash and 10 Lurkers.

Also set remaining 50 Merciless idle in chamber 11 to investigate Ant Lion pits, and allow golden leg mutant to resume active duty guarding Fat Bottoms.
>>
No. 46423 ID: 1a0ab0

>>46352
Um, which D6Ls would we be sacrificing?
>>
No. 46438 ID: 632862

>>46423
What do you mean? They're all the same, aren't they?

...oh hell, all of them are traveling to the spider/wasp field at the moment.
>>
No. 46442 ID: 1a0ab0

>>46438
And circle gets the square.

Also, ed8d8a, your post >>46390 mirrors mine >>46311 and is just as wrong because of >>46321. Except for the part about the Merciless investigating the ant lions which I also said in >>46311.

Are you guys not paying attention or something?
>>
No. 46448 ID: ed8d8a

>>46442
Actually I just sorta figured Bob missed yours or was ignoring you or something. It has happened before.

It doesn't actually matter WHEN the Sisters are fertilized, before or after reaching the new colony. We are expecting to have Do6L available shortly. What's the problem here?
>>
No. 46449 ID: 1a0ab0

>>46447
Oh, well, okay.

I guess we can always send them out before they've been fertilized... although then we'd have to send the D6Ls after them. The problem is that we aren't expecting any D6Ls shortly. I'm really hoping that the Merciless will evolve to D6L when they fight the ant lions, but that isn't assured. It might have been a one time thing.
>>
No. 46672 ID: 6164e0

There are a total of 64 Idle The Merciless that could be dispatched to the location where more sand pits have been found nearby. How many should be sent, and should any They Might Be Giants be sent with them as heavy support?

Since there are no males present to fertilize the new Sisters, they are currently idle inside Crescent, awaiting the presence of males to render them capable of laying eggs and thus being able to start up a colony at Def Leppard's field.
>>
No. 46825 ID: ed8d8a

>>46672
Is this thing on? Once more.
Send 14 Merciless, 7 TMBG, 1 Flash and 5 Lurkers along with the Sisters to the new colony. Send remaining 50 Merciless to investigate reported Ant Lion pits. Hell, send 5 Flash with them too, in case they need to run messages back in a hurry for some reason.

We can fertilize the Sisters later, and in the mean time they will be doing more good supervising the new colony than standing around in the lobby. If all else fails we can MAKE a drone strain for this purpose.
>>
No. 46839 ID: 6164e0

>>46825
50 The Merciless and 5 Flash sent to seek out the sand pits identified earlier. They shall arrive at hour 7.

14 The Merciless, 5 Lurkers At The Threshold, 7 They Might Be Giants and 1 Flash are readied to be dispatched to Def Leppard's base along with the two unfertilized Sisters. Are there any general orders that KILLER QUEEN should give to the two before they depart, to direct the general goals of their colony once it starts up?
>>
No. 46846 ID: ed8d8a

>>46839
Don't overharvest the flowers, explore further to the east on the lookout for additional food sources. Observe what you can of Def Leppard and her people, what they eat and how they behave, but do not upset them. Report back home for any diplomatic communication or large scale aggression which may occur, and send complete status reports every couple hours.
>>
No. 46854 ID: 1689ab

>send complete status reports every couple hours.
This should probably be every half hour, I think, on account of the status screen.
>>
No. 46863 ID: 6164e0

>>46854
(Seeing as how the base will be 30 minutes away, updates every 30 minutes would be a significant drain on resources to achieve)

>>46846

KILLER QUEEN stands before her first free-willed children, the first two Sisters, and conveys her will before sending them on their way with their escort.

"You shall journey to a recently established colony near Def Leppard's field, and take command. Once males are available, some shall be sent to you to fertilize you two, so that you may begin your work in earnest. In the meantime, get used to your new surroundings while my other offspring are there to protect you. Don't over-harvest the flowers, and explore further to the east on the lookout for additional food sources. Observe what you can of Def Leppard and her people, what they eat and how they behave, but do not upset them or aggress them needlessly. Report back home for any diplomatic communication or large scale aggression which may occur, and send complete status reports every couple hours. Do your duty to strengthen the Empire of Cydonia."

The two sisters bow their heads at the commands from their mother/ruler/god, but the Sister Machine Gun seems to have ideas of her own to proffer forth.

"Divine Queen Mother, if I may, once we have learned enough about Def Leppard and her kind, of their numbers and abilities, and I have birthed enough warriors that we could slaughter them all in glorious battle, would we have your blessing to do so?"

There is fire and war in Sister Machine Gun's core. A spark of carnage to guide her way. It is good to know her newest progeny are not cowardly by design.


How should KILLER QUEEN respond?
>>
No. 46918 ID: ed8d8a

>>46863
"The time may come when I give you leave to do just that. They may also prove to be of use to us alive. That is one thing we seek to learn from your observations. We have seen enemies, and we have seen allies, the wise ruler must learn to tell the difference."
>>
No. 46961 ID: 8eabc1

>>46863
"Your desire for battle is glorious indeed. I would have you test yourself against fire and pincer to prove your mettle, but remember: in all things you serve Cydonia. Slaughter the beetles if it would strengthen my cause, not for mere wanton violence. Harvest all those you kill, and bring any crippled survivors here for the Chrysalis."

"But you do have my blessing, and may the fight be glorious and the songs of its heroes sung throughout the land for months to come!"
>>
No. 46968 ID: ed8d8a

>>46961
...Durandal, you ARE Sister Machine Gun.
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, naming yourself after a sword and all.
>>
No. 46973 ID: 632862

>>46968
Or it's a Marathon reference.
(It's probably that)
>>
No. 46974 ID: 8eabc1
File 125334259665.png - (5.49KB , 100x100 , Durandalavatar100.png )
46974

>>46968
Actually I identify more with the AI, but the point's the same and I appreciate the compliment.

But look, we need smart bugs to make Chrysalis smarter. Def Leppard and any sentient bugs qualify. Plus we'll be able to harvest more from the flowers without worrying about overtaxing them since the beetles won't be eating from them. Plus we'll gain another upgrade from the new food type. And Def Leppard and co. aren't really allies anyway, they're just begrudgingly accepting our presence. It's win-win-win all around, and there's no reason not to. The Merciless evolved into D6Ls by testing their strength against dangerous foes, let's let Sister Machine Gun. Not to mention we want her to be happy serving us so she doesn't even think about betraying Cydonia. I really can't think of a single reason not to let her.
>>
No. 46977 ID: ed8d8a

>>46974
Actually, I was gonna bring this up a while ago. We have no precedent to indicate that eating individuals with names gives upgrades. We have not even been given a quality indication on any named insect we eat, and the implication I get is that individuals are too unique to qualify as potential food sources.

The relationship with Def Leppard's kin is still new, and it is entirely possible that a real relationship can be developed with them. We have already come a long way from their xenophobic first impression, lets not just throw that out for the sake of our little science experiment. If we need smart food to feed the baby, I recommend drawing from the wasp/spider wars. That expedition will likely be finished before we could mount a full strike on Def Leppard anyway.

Also remember that Def Leppard's field was the easiest and least desirable of the three locations in our starting area. I doubt they will prove to be stronger combatants than the ant lions and hornets we have available here. They might provide intelligence, but at the cost of strength.
>>
No. 46982 ID: 632862

Don't forget that ALL our ants now have Decent Intelligence, so as long as we avoid somehow giving the Unknown Creation the Mindless Drone trait, we've got nothing to worry about there.

Also there's no way that one of the Sisters would betray Cydonia. They are independent but as loyal as all ants. The only reason to give permission in advance for Sister Machine Gun to strike at will is if we already plan on wiping out the Leppard colony.

I don't think we should. I mean, the Collective is giving out bounties for people who kill the Mandarinians, what do you think would happen if we started being dicks too?
>>
No. 46983 ID: 1ceffa

>>46977
I wasn't implying that we'd get a new food type for every beetle eaten based on its name. But presumably Def Leppard's group are all the same beetle and if we gather their corpses they will be a limited food source, like the Dead Ants are. So that's at least one upgrade.

We went from xenophobic to xenophobic and afraid. We haven't gained any ground in our diplomatic relations. And, to look at it from the opposite point of view, what could they provide us that we couldn't just sieze for ourselves in the future? And more easily, I might add, as we won't have to avoid stepping on their toes or working around them and their demands.

And as for the Chrysalis, you're the one who wanted it to be smart... I thought I'd offer a way to balance out the combat ability with intelligence. I'm fine with not feeding any beetles to it, but that only removes one reason for. It doesn't introduce a reason against.
>>
No. 46984 ID: 1ceffa

>>46982
Word of God: the colonies can betray Cydonia if we don't treat them right. I'm not saying that'll happen just because we say no to this request. But the ant is displaying initiative, let's reward it, give it a goal to work towards.

And I'm almost certain Def Leppard doesn't have representation in the Collective. They'd never find out, and if they did, they wouldn't care.
>>
No. 46990 ID: 1ceffa

>>46984
Bah, I'm getting tired. I forgot to mention why I'm certain Def Leppard doesn't have representation in the Collective: because she told Toxic that Metallica killed half of her people.

If an official envoy for the collective can slaughter these beetles, we needn't fear reprisal for finishing off the other half.
>>
No. 46998 ID: 6faa8c

I'm for killing off Def and thems.
>>
No. 47087 ID: ed8d8a

>>46983
>But presumably Def Leppard's group are all the same beetle and if we gather their corpses they will be a limited food source.
But dead ants are NOT a limited food source. We can reasonably expect to find more of those all the time. I am saying it is possible each beetle will be different, and so as a whole will not be a food source. I do understand where you are coming from, and I agree it might work, but then again it might not. I am just saying I think it could go either way.

>that only removes one reason for. It doesn't introduce a reason against.
>Also remember that Def Leppard's field was the easiest and least desirable of the three locations in our starting area. I doubt they will prove to be stronger combatants than the ant lions and hornets we have available here.
My response predates your concern.

>>46984
There are two leaders in a colony. One of them is going to be aggressive and violent, the other is not. This should mean striking a balance in how the colony ends up behaving. We shouldn't just give one of them permission to run the place however she wants without the consent of the other. This is the sort of question which will be what the Sisters have to work together to decide when they are truly autonomous.

All my speech was requesting is restraint for now, and leaving the possibility for genocide open at a later date. I was hoping that would be good enough middle ground.
>>
No. 47121 ID: 66ec45

>>47087
Yeah, it's not a given but there's a chance. And if we could get another upgrade we could look into making a new breed of ant for fertilizing the Brood Forges.

Well... one of the sisters is in charge of the 'civilian' ants and the other in charge of the 'army' ants, as it were. I doubt Sister Hazel has any input on military matters, just like I doubt Sister Machine Gun cares how many rooms their new colony has. Saying that one is interested in violence and the other isn't is not so much establishing that there's a difference in viewpoints so much as it is pointing out the specific areas of focus and interest that each ant holds. I do agree that the ants should work together though, and a 'middle ground' answer is acceptable... but your proposed answer seems much closer to 'well maybe but probably not.' I'd prefer a 'yeah, go ahead' answer though, as would How Do I Shot Trip.
>>
No. 47135 ID: 632862

>>46990
They had no idea what the Collective WAS. Besides, Metallica killed half of them. We would be killing all of them. Maybe we should wait until we find out why the Mandarinians have a bounty before becoming genocidal pricks, eh?
>>
No. 47141 ID: 66ec45

>>47135
We'd be killing the same amount, and we aren't even part of the Collective. If the appointed envoy of the Collective can go about committing huge acts of violence then it's obviously permissible behavior.

As seen here >>41247 they only care if you attack a race that's in the Collective. Metallica is one of the people who extends invitations to the Collective to races that are deemed worthy. Def Leppard and co. were not deemed worthy.

We aren't going to get a bounty on our heads for killing them. That doesn't fit in with anything we've seen in this quest. Sheesh.
>>
No. 47158 ID: 632862

>>47141
What? That's not what that says at all! It says that members of the Collective may not attack other members of the Collective. It does not mention permitted behavior of those NOT of the Collective. In fact you might say that the reason Metallica got away with his behavior was BECAUSE he was a representative of the Collective. Also there's a big difference between killing 5 of a race when there's 10 of them, and killing 5 of a race when there's 5 of them. It's called genocide instead of mass murder.
Oh by the way, it does say that the Mandarinians are a "militaristic expansionist empire that seeks to continue growing through war and carnage". Hey, that's exactly what killing all of the Leppards would be!
So let's not do that and get a fucking bounty, okay?
>>
No. 47172 ID: ed8d8a

>>47121
There is no issue that is purely military or purely civilian. (I really want a word besides civilian to use though. it just doesn't seem right for ants) Repercussions of any decision affect the colony as a whole. This is the case in any ruling body. The Secretary of Agriculture has valid points to make about going to war with China. The Sister Machine Gun cares about the hive layout and size because it has strategic implications.

>>47158
first paragraph is kind of a weak argument, but I fully agree with the spirit of the second.
>>
No. 47178 ID: ed8d8a

I suppose I should add, I don't have a problem with being expansionist, but I think it would be better if we made friends as well as enemies along the way. Clearly our long term goals should include the destruction of the Mandarinian Empire, and figuring out what is really going on in the highest levels of the Collective may eventually lead to a need to end them as well. Thinking we can accomplish that purely on the strength of our ants is a bit narcissistic.
>>
No. 47192 ID: b8a1ab

>>47158
Are you kidding me? The Collective isn't a bunch of nannies. They aren't watching over the playground to make sure everyone behaves. Insects kill each other for food. It happens all the time. We aren't going to became the Yard's Most Wanted because we kill some insects. That's fucking retarded. Quit wasting my time by making me even address it. Bring up an actual valid argument next time, like ed8d8a.

>>47172
I do like the idea of having Hazel weigh in on the issue to see what she thinks.

>>47178
I completely agree with looking for allies. I was the one who suggested we try and see if Def Leppard was suitable for allying with >>44204. But it's time we realize that she's not a useful ally. She doesn't want trade or anything to do with us. I will not suggest we kill every race we come across. No way. I enjoy diplomacy and appreciate useful alliances. But this one isn't useful and it doesn't need to be continued.
>>
No. 47194 ID: 6faa8c

>>47178
Why not start our own sort of Collective? Starting with Def, I mean. Certainly we'll run into others who got shit on by them, and we can build up our empire out of what they hurt. Eventually, we'll be strong enough to give the Collective a big middle finger and openly go to war with the Empire.
>>
No. 47209 ID: ed8d8a

>>47194
This is what I would like to do, certainly. Being able to point to even one race we can peacefully coexist with should help us convince others to join, and every race we get to join us is going to be weaker than the whole they join in to. That's how coalitions work. If we approach a stronger group and ask them to work under our banner, we are going to get laughed all the way back to start, and rightly so.

And it's not like Def Leppard is weak and useless, she is thrice the size of a TMBG and has a hard shell. We just outnumber her kind like a hundred to one.
>>
No. 47226 ID: b8a1ab

>>47209
Go ahead and ask. And when she reiterates for the umpteenth time that she wishes to be left alone, then can we move on to something useful?
>>
No. 47235 ID: d1210a

>>46977
>>46982
>>47135
(Against)

>>46961
>>46998
(For)

(Against wins)
...Fire in her belly does not mean her preference for carnage makes for wise decisions. Such an attack might come in time, but for the moment there are too many unknowns. Def Leppard and her ilk will live..... for now.

"The time may come when I give you leave to do just that. They may also prove to be of use to us alive. That is one thing we seek to learn from your observations. We have seen enemies, and we have seen allies, I will be sure of where Def Leppard and her kin stand before I decide whether they should be destroyed and consumed to fuel my empire."

Sister Machine Gun does not seem exceptionally happy with the verdict, but she accepts it. Sister Hazel seems more enthused with it, as without the need to fuel a war she will be free to focus on making the colony grow uninhibited. The two turn to depart, and it is at that moment KILLER QUEEN realizes that the colony/military base will need a name, as the first vassal colony within her new created empire of Cydonia.

Hmm..... what should it be called?
>>
No. 47244 ID: b8a1ab

>>47235
You've taken the votes of one person twice... again:
>>46982 >>47135
>632862

Although at this point I really don't care anymore. This is like trying to climb a mountain with weights around your arms.
>>
No. 47249 ID: 43d730

>>47235
Higher Ground.
>>
No. 47252 ID: f78140

>>47244
given your current bullshit pissy attitude, i'm voting against you. so now it's 3 v 2 again.

cut the histrionics, and i might actually read before i vote next time.
>>
No. 47265 ID: d1210a

>>47244
(come on, you guys left a big old wall of responses for me, and making sure different people posting as Suggestion are from different sources is something I screw up sometimes. I do what I can, and as >>47252 voted, it still is 3/2. Let's move on.)

>>47249
Higher Ground has been proposed as a name for the colony near Def Leppard's field. Should this be used, or do other people have differing ideas?


(I just moved in, and will be going to three separate Keggers tonight, so.... you guys have time to figure out what name you want.)
>>
No. 47266 ID: b8a1ab

>>47252
I don't care. You fuckers can have your pussy pacifist ants. I'm quite done with this shit.
>>
No. 47378 ID: b10848
File 125339472852.jpg - (39.36KB , 450x338 , oh you.jpg )
47378

Shall we keep the squabbling to a minimum inside the quest thread proper? And to contribute to progress, I'll even drop a couple suggestions.

The Echoing Green
Carpathian Ridge
>>
No. 47701 ID: 33bb8b

>>47265
I tried so hard to come up with a Def Leppard song that would be a good colony name, but alas. Nothing sounded right.
>>
No. 48315 ID: d1210a

The Sister Hazel and the Sister Machine Gun, along with their escorts, head to the newly christened Carpathian Ridge, the fort near Def Leppard's field.

!!NOTICE!! The growth seems to be indication that it hungers more strongly now!!


Action?
>>
No. 48445 ID: ed8d8a

>>48315
See how it feels about eating the poison? bumblebee corpse.
>>
No. 48794 ID: d1210a

>>48445
The 8 units of Flying Beast Bumblebee are brought before the chrysalis, and fed to one of it's gaping maws.

The creature seems to be less demanding of food.... for now.

!!NOTICE!! The 50 The Merciless and 5 Flash have encountered the sand pits earlier than expected!

CONTROL HAS SWITCHED TO 50 THE MERCILESS AND 5 FLASH.


ORDERS?
>>
No. 48798 ID: ed8d8a

>>48794
Find pebble, roll it down the side of one of the pits. Checking for occupant.
>>
No. 48912 ID: d1210a
File 125357206814.jpg - (60.11KB , 545x370 , Pits Area.jpg )
48912

>>48798
one of The Merciless pushes a small pebble into one of the pits, starting a tiny cascade of loose soil and rocks. A pair of jaws surface for a brief moment, trying to tear the rock asunder, before subsiding.

There are several of the pits, and a scent in the air the same as that of the giant Scars of Yesterday slew.

50 The Merciless
5 Flash

Orders?
>>
No. 48919 ID: f78140

>>48912
Bait them using the Flash, swarm their exposed parts as Merciless.
As in, have a Flash go into the pit, and avoid the doodlebug's attack, then while it's still exposed, have the Merciless attack it's exposed parts.

Alternatively, bait them using pebbles.
>>
No. 48931 ID: 43d730

>>48912
Fill in the tops.
Dig in from the sides, tear them to bits without ever touching the jaws.
>>
No. 49019 ID: b10848

>>48931
This
>>
No. 49030 ID: ed8d8a

>>48931

Hrmm, clever. if only we had brought the Fat Bottoms. Merciless trying to dig will take all day.

Ah well, if these are the same creatures we encountered before, we should be okay. The Merciless are stronger than last time.

>>48919
Operation bait and switch go! 1 Flash and 10 Merciless to a hole. Watch out for additional surprises, but no quarter shall be given. Fight till they or you are dead.
>>
No. 49363 ID: d1210a

>>48931
>>49019
>>49030
(The holes would need dedicated diggers to be able to alter so in any appreciable time frame)

>>48919
>>49030
Five of the pits are picked out, and the small swarm splits into five groups, each group containing 1 Flash and 10 The Merciless. The rough plan seems to be to have Flash charge in first, and use their agility and speed to avoid the surfacing pit monsters, and The Merciless will then charge in and attack the now exposed creature from all directions, which was determined fairly effective in the prior encounter with these creatures.

!!NOTICE:!! As the ants prepare for their tactical assault, the wind changes direction, and the ants can no longer smell the scent of a giant around the area.


Should the attack proceed as planned?
>>
No. 49376 ID: ed8d8a

>>49363
Watch the skies, especially in the direction the wind was formerly coming from, but I don't see how to do much else at this point. Hopefully the now stronger Merciless will be able to use their Fearless Unity to dispatch the 5 tasty pit creatures simultaneously and eat of their flesh before the giant can do anything. You said that due to their quality, Flash are comparable in combat ability to Merciless, correct? May as well give them some combat experience as well.
>>
No. 50198 ID: d1210a

>>49376
(Press on)

There are risks to this venture, but the potential gains are too great to be cautious. Death On Six Legs are powerful ants, and with their caste being the only male caste KILLER QUEEN can command currently, any chance to increase their numbers is precious.

Heedless of the potential dangers, the ants, split into five groups of 10 The Merciless and 1 Flash begin their assault, doing their best to stay mindful of the change in the wind.

The attack works with surprising efficiency.

At each of the five targeted pits, a lone Flash charges forth, hurtling towards the bottom. As the sand rumbles and shifts, the nimble ants dodge the rapidly emerging jaws reaching for their forms, and continue onward with their momentum.

The very moment that any of the Pit Monster Ant Lions start to surface, the encircling The Merciless charge, their Fearless Unity allowing them to act without hesitation or concern for their lives.

Just as the battle proper is joined on all fronts here, a noise is heard. While no ant present here has heard it before, it is something known to KILLER QUEEN and knowledge she gifts to all her progeny upon creation: Giants. The droning noise is heard softly, but growing louder with ever passing instant. It is doubtful the source of the noise is headed anywhere but to the sand pits.

!!NOTICE:!! Noises in the air lead ants to believe that even though they cannot smell them, Flying Giant Dragonflies are en route.



Should the ants fight conservatively to minimize losses, or should they focus on achieving victory as expeditiously as possible, heedless of danger? Alternatively, should they withdraw?
>>
No. 50202 ID: f78140

>>50198
speedy yet decisive victory. the value of the doodlebug meat is too great to be ignored, and the risks just make it that much more worth the efforts.
>>
No. 50214 ID: d1210a

>>50202
The monsters that occupy these pits are known, and the bounty their flesh brings too great to risk not having achieved some measure of success before the parents show up.

This will be brutal, but swift.

Body parts and ichor are flung about, and a terrible carnage is brought about. The ants do not retreat, do not hesitate, they swarm forward, even when ripped in twain struggling to rend the flesh of these monsters but one more time before their life fades away.

It does not take long for the five targeted monsters to fall, along with 20 ants, 19 The Merciless and 1 Flash who unwittingly charged into another sand pit when escaping the first.

31 The Merciless and 9 Flash are now battered, but around them are the fallen forms of 5 Sand Pit Monsters (50 units worth) and 20 ants. Over the course of the fighting, the droning sound of Giants has grown noticeably louder, and their scent can once more be detected.


What should be done?
>>
No. 50232 ID: f78140

>>50214
feast, the rewards of victory. additionally Do6L are likely to be needed in fending off the inevitable threat which will be arriving.
>>
No. 50233 ID: 43d730

>>50214
Can we drag the living ants and the doodlebugs back into the pits?
If not, leg it like a mofo.
>>
No. 50238 ID: ed8d8a

>>50233
Actually, this is an interesting point. There should be a small chamber of sorts in the center of the pits, where the beasts came from. Do the Merciless have sufficient digging capability to get themselves and their prizes through the lose sand into these holes in a timely manner?
>>
No. 50296 ID: d1210a

>>50238
RISKY VENTURE PLOTTED

If desired, ants can attempt to make their way back into the tunnels the pit monsters came from, dragging their prey and dead along with them. If successful, it might let the ants completely escape detection with their prizes. If unsuccessful, it may leave the ants vulnerably exposed midway into the tunnels!

If the Risky Venture is desired, roll a d6. Then, write whatever particular things you think the ants should do to more effectively collect, move and disguise themselves and their prizes. Depending on the what is suggested, your roll may be given a bonus (or bonuses) for creativity/planning. Roll must be 5 or above (with bonus(es)) to succeed. Rolling a 6 will make the event particularly rewarding. Rolling a 1 will make the failure particularly bad.
>>
No. 50381 ID: 9891a9

>>50296
Merciless, eat enough to become Do6Ls immediately. While they do, the 4 remaining Flashes should dump as many of the dead ant bodies around and in one/two of the pits as they can, allowing us to use the other four/three to hide in with the rest of the Sand Pit Monster remains.
>>
No. 50385 ID: ed8d8a

>>50381
I have my doubts about the eating thing, I think eating now would waste precious time. They can eat once they are hidden with the bodies.

>>50296
A Flash running a quick loop around the lip of each ring should be sufficient to dislodge a few grains of sand and knock the dead ants and severed body parts to the bottom of the pits for easy collection. That is what the pit is designed to do after all.
(It appears there were 5 flash originally, not 10, so that means 4 left, and one will need to do two holes)

Care need not be taken in stowing the dead ant chunks. They are low value food, we just need to get them out of sight. Stuff them in the sand wherever it is convenient, and if we have time later we can try to find them again. Only the beasts' bodies and the victorious ants need to be worked into the holes. Leave the doodlebugs with mandibles facing up and partially exposed, as they were in life.
>>
No. 50440 ID: d1210a

If you want to do this, roll the d6 with your suggestions, or if you already posted, reference your suggestion with the post that rolls.
>>
No. 50441 ID: ed8d8a

>>50440
Hehe, Bob gets impatient to get this show on the road.

I was gonna discuss, but I probably want to do that too much. in the interest of brevity:
>>50385
>>
No. 50443 ID: ed8d8a

rolled 4 = 4

>>50440
Hehe, Bob gets impatient to get this show on the road.

I was gonna discuss, but I probably want to do that too much. in the interest of brevity:
>>50385

[And now with less dicefail!]
>>
No. 50546 ID: d1210a

>>50443

POST CHOSEN:
>>50385
BONUS: 1

ROLL: 4 +1 BONUS = 5

SUCCESS

The tactic to have Flash cause a small earth-slide inside each pit after the pit monsters were dragged down, coupled with the decision to pragmatically stuff the disabled/deceased ants wherever was most discreet, irrelevant of conditions, allowed ants to compensate for their less than ideal digging abilities sans Fat Bottomed Girls.

A droning buzz is heard outside, and all go quiet as they wait, tensing for the potential flurry of activity that may be needed.

.......

But the droning sound of the giants above wanes, and in short order is gone once more, along with their scent. So it seems the gambit paid off.

!!NEW QUEST ABILITY GAINED:!! RISKY VENTURE! By proposing a high stakes course of action and titling it a Risky Venture, a Risky Venture can be initiated! Such actions, if successful, can greatly enhance your current situation. This ability can be used in first person with a hero unit as well. For further clarification, ask about Risky Ventures in the discussion thread.


Action?
>>
No. 50768 ID: ed8d8a

>>50546
To the victors go the spoils. Every surviving ant in the raid gets to eat a chunk of the slain creatures, including the Flash, who have never tried such food before, and without who's brave efforts the raid would have been in trouble.

Once the warriors have eaten, they should bring the remains back to the colony. The other pit creatures can live, for now.
>>
No. 50786 ID: d1210a

>>50768
The ants feast in the absence of the giants, consuming the flesh of the fallen sand pit monsters in a frenzied swarm.

The surviving 31 The Merciless undergo metamorphosis into Death On Six Legs, becoming bigger, stronger and more durable.

...the 4 Flash, however, do not change in any way.

INTELLIGENCE BONUS: Perhaps certain foods can cause specific strains to advance and mature, like sand pit monsters make The Merciless become Death On Six Legs.

You control:
31 Death On Six Legs
4 Flash

You carry:
15 units of Sand Pit Monster, 10 units of which is a whole, fresh corpse.
20 units of dead ants

Should the journey back to Crescent begin, or should they attempt to harvest more sand pit monsters?
>>
No. 50814 ID: 632862

>>50786
Return with the spoils. Further expeditions will likely require higher numbers. It'd be nice to see if we can take on the giants, too.
>>
No. 50839 ID: ed8d8a

Hey, can we get a relative quality level on the pit monsters? We ate the last samples so fast they never made it onto the tasty foods list.

Further query: could feeding some of the carcass to KILLER QUEEN improve her understanding of what it takes to make a Death on Six Legs, and give us a better chance on that upgrade roll?
>>
No. 51063 ID: d1210a
File 125392269034.jpg - (262.54KB , 1152x864 , New Feeder.jpg )
51063

>>50839
Quality Assessment: 3/10 (SPECIAL: Makes The Merciless become Death On Six Legs. Upgrade for establishment of this as a semi-renewable food imminent.)

(As to whether feeding it to KILLER QUEEN is a good idea or not, I can't say anything)

>>50814
The surviving 31 Death On Six Legs and the 4 Flash with them work their way back towards the colony, and will return with the spoils (ant bodies as well) at hour 7.

!!NOTICE:!! Some Fat Bottomed Girls spotted a new creature feeding on the yellow flowers, and the flying furred beasts seem to afford it some level of personal space!

(The creature is as wide yet significantly longer than the flying furred beasts, yet is slimmer and somewhat shorter than the Mandarinian Warriors, for reference.)
>>
No. 51124 ID: d1210a

Shall further orders be issued this time stamp, or shall KILLER QUEEN begin laying eggs, and if so, what load out? (Reminder, the two Sisters are still unfertilized, and no action has been taken about the new flier.)
>>
No. 51370 ID: 9cf2fa

LET ME IN YOUR ROOM
>>
No. 51472 ID: 613875

>>51124

It is shiny and golden, which improves the chances that it is both abnormally strong and intelligent. We have no heroes present at the colony, so attempting to bring it down in straight combat is probably out of the question. We could spare a Fat Bottom to attempt communication though. Approach it in greeting, see if it responds.
>>
No. 51581 ID: d1210a

>>51472
As of yet, the creature has not noticed any of the ants, thanks to them only harvesting leaves from lower on the flowers. If communication is desired with the creature, it is advised to use a hero unit/KILLER QUEEN in any attempt to parlay, as non-hero unit ants are not experienced at thinking and acting on their own, and might suffer in a diplomatic setting.


Orders?
>>
No. 51797 ID: d1210a
File 125400157812.jpg - (95.59KB , 1024x683 , New Feeder 2.jpg )
51797

!!NOTICE!! Another new creature has been found to feed on the yellow flowers! This creature is not afforded a wide berth, and indeed the flying furred beasts seem to attempt to ward it off, but are unable to cause the creature any harm, and it continues feeding, ignoring their attempts.



Should Further orders be issued, or should KILLER QUEEN begin laying eggs, and if so, what load out should be used?
>>
No. 52422 ID: 613875

Killer Queen does not currently have enough escorts available to attempt communication in person. I can't think of anything clever, so if the new creatures seem uninterested, I guess we ignore them too for the moment.

50 Merciless
50 Fat Bottomed Girls
>>
No. 52663 ID: 6faa8c

>>52422
agreed
>>
No. 52665 ID: 6faa8c

>>52422
agreed
>>
No. 52803 ID: d1210a

>>52422
50 The Merciless and 50 Fat Bottomed Girls to be crafted.

!!NOTICE!! The moment the new Death On Six Legs entered the colony with the freshly dead sand pit monster and ants, the pulsating growth released a renewed request for food. It seems to desire the freshly dead after the stale corpses it has fed on.

Should any action be taken, or should the time stamp advance?
>>
No. 52804 ID: 632862

>>52803
Feed THE THING 5 units of sand pit monster.
>>
No. 52874 ID: 613875

>>52803
Feed it the whole corpse.

I like the idea of giving the other 5 units to the queen to see if it makes it so she can lay death on 6 legs.
>>
No. 52881 ID: 6faa8c

>>52874
But don't these cause Gender Reversal?
>>
No. 52885 ID: 613875

>>52881
D:

Well it didn't do anything to the Flash.
>>
No. 53025 ID: d1210a

>>52804
5 units of Sand Pit Ant Lion are fed to the pulsating growth.

Sharp protrusions sprout out of the chrysalis, enshrouding the still gaping maws dotting it's exterior. A dim, musky and ominous mist starts to build up in the test chamber, surrounding and obscuring the growth.

Time Stamp imminent.
>>
No. 53049 ID: d1210a

-All ants set to feed themselves whenever they have 30 minutes left before becoming Lethargic.

CRESCENT COLONY AGE: 7.0 HOURS

TOTALS:
1 KILLER QUEEN
1 The Hero Scars of Yesterday
1 Toxic
1 Wings of Destiny
1 Blue Mind Riot
20 They Might Be Giants
51 Death on Six Legs
197 The Merciless
277 Fat Bottomed Girls
40 Flash (4 more at hour 7.5)
30 Lurkers at the Threshold (30 'planted')

STATUS:
KILLER QUEEN: Sated (does not need food until hour 8), can produce more eggs in Chamber 11

The Hero Scars of Yesterday: Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Idle outside Crescent w/ Metallica

Toxic: Sated (self-feeding), At Spider/Wasp Field

Wings of Destiny: Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Idle outside Crescent w/ Metallica

Blue Mind Riot: Sated (self-feeding), Returning with fungus/aphids/soil at hour 7.5


They Might Be Giants:
-9 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Stationed at Def Leppard’s field
-11 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 4

Death on Six Legs:
-19 Sated (self-feeding), At Spider/Wasp Field
-32 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Idle outside Crescent

The Merciless:
-25 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Patrolling Crescent (2 mutated)
-24 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Guarding Fat Bottomed Girls gathering Concentrated Nutrients
-1 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in chamber 4 (golden leg mutant)
-40 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Returning with fungus/aphids/soil at hour 7.5
-10 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or will become Lethargic), Traveling to Spider/Wasp Field
-40 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Stationed at Def Leppard’s field.
-50 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in chamber 11


Fat Bottomed Girls:
-100 Sated (self-feeding), gathering Concentrated Nutrients
-32 Sated (will need feeding in 1.5 hours or will become Lethargic), Returning with fungus/aphids/soil at hour 7.5
-20 Sated (will need feeding in 1 hour or become Lethargic), harvesting Flowers at Def Leppard’s field
-25 Sated (self-feeding), gathering Concentrated Nutrients at Def Leppard’s field
-50 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in chamber 11

Flash:
-10 Sated (self-feeding), Scouting North-East
-2 Sated (self-feeding), Scouting for fauna to feed to the growth
-4 Sated (self-feeding), Scouting East
-5 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle in Chamber 11.
-1 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Stationed at Def Leppard’s field.
-7 Sated (will need feeding in 2 hours or will become Lethargic), Idle outside Crescent

Lurkers at the Threshold:
-20 'planted' about Crescent's surface
-5 stationed at Def Leppard’s field
-5 ‘planted’ around base at Def Leppard’s field

Pulsating Sac:
-1 ?????? in Stealin’ test chamber.

FOOD:
5 units of Yellow Flower Leaf (Quality: 1/10)
79 units of Dead Ant (Quality: 2/10)
0 units of Nest Robber Centipede (Quality: 3/10)
175 units of Black Dragonfly (Quality: 3/10)
10 units of Sand Pit Ant Lion (Quality: 3/10) Special: causes The Merciless to transform into Death On Six Legs
864 units of Concentrated Nutrients (Quality: 4/10)
0 units of Yellow Flower Nectar/Blossoms (Quality: 2/10 Warriors, 4/10 Non-Warriors) Special: Masks Non-Warrior Scent
0 units of Flying Beast Bumblebee (Quality: 5/10) Special: Tastes Like Poison
0 units of Abomination Hornet (Quality: 7/10)
0 units of Bohemian Rhapsody (Quality: 9/10) Special: Instantly removes Lethargy, Strengthens Consumers
148 Units of Roots of Chaos (Quality: XOM/10)

Storage:
Chamber 1 current maximum capacity: 300 points (300/300 used)
Chamber 2 current maximum capacity: 500 points (0/550 used)
Chamber 3 current maximum capacity: 375 points (8/375 used)
Chamber 4 current maximum capacity: 600 points (0/650 used)
Chamber 5 current maximum capacity: 175 points (542/650 used)
Chamber 6 current maximum capacity: 600 points (0/325 used)
Chamber 7 current maximum capacity: 500 points (0/500 used)
Chamber 8 current maximum capacity: 300 points (0/300 used)
Chamber 9 current maximum capacity: 275 points (0/275 used)
Chamber 10 current maximum capacity: 1600 points (300/1600 used)
Chamber 11 current maximum capacity: 900 points (0/900 used)
Stealin' current maximum capacity: 200 points (105/200 used)
Stealin’s Test Chamber maximum capacity: 40 units (10/40 used)
(KILLER QUEEN, Wings of Destiny and They Might Be Giants are worth 10 points, The Hero Scars of Yesterday is worth 5 points, Death on Six Legs and Toxic are worth 2 points, Blue Mind Riot, Flash, The Merciless and Fat Bottomed Girls are worth 1 point. Food is 1 point per unit of food)

!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN can now attempt to make up to two new strains at a checkpoint.
!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN can now save upgrades for later checkpoints!
!!REMINDER!! KILLER QUEEN has gotten better at making new ant strains!
!!NOTICE!! 2 of the Flash sent to scout for fauna have returned! One found another small collection of Sand Pits, another found a strange field with pale threads spread about, and sveral dead or imprisoned creatures bound to the webs, some crying out for help.
!!NOTICE!! Scars of Yesterday, his honor guard, the food brought back and Metallica have returned and are outside Crescent!
!!NOTICE!! Toxic and her group have reached the contested field populated with spiders and wasps!
!!NOTICE!! Red Water Flower and Bright Day Flower are being stockpiled at Carpathian Ridge. Requests can be sent for tithes of supplies from them, but remember that demanding too much from them might cause resentment, and potentially rebellious tendencies.
!!REMINDER!! Sister Hazel and Sister Machine Gun still need to be fertilized.

ASSESSING UPGRADES EARNED.

New hero unit Wings Of Destiny: 1 upgrade
Scars Of Yesterday kept his promise: 1 upgrade
Scars of Yesterday defeated The Metal: 1 upgrade
New food found: Sand Pit Ant Lion: 1 upgrade
Successful Risky Venture: 1 upgrade

You have earned: 5 total upgrades.

Please spend upgrade(s) on the following:

Improve Fat Bottomed Girls Strain Lv4. (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES)
Improve The Merciless Strain Lv2.
Improve Flash Strain
Improve They Might Be Giants Strain
Improve Lurkers at the Threshold Strain
Create New Ant Strain
Make Death on Six Legs a normal Strain (makes it upgradeable, lets KILLER QUEEN lay eggs) (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES, d20 rolled, must beat 14)
Create Specialty Strain: Cry of the Brave Ant (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES, d30 rolled, must beat 23)
Create New Ant Strain described by Blue Mind Riot to KILLER QUEEN(quality of new breed and restrictions imposed determined by rolling a d30, the higher the roll the better the results, if choosing this option a voting period will be opened to determine what description Blue Mind Riot will give to KILLER QUEEN)
Upgrade Exoskeletons Lv3. (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES)
Upgrade Mandible Quality Lv3. (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES)
Upgrade Intelligence Lv4. (REQUIRES 3 UPGRADES)
Specialize KILLER QUEEN (choose either attack, defense, harvesting, digging or mobility) (can specialize multiple times, and stack upgrades)
Gift KILLER QUEEN Poison Trait to a hero unit (specify the one desired).
Retain upgrade point for later use.

First upgrade(s) to reach 3 votes will be chosen.
>>
No. 53063 ID: 613875

>>53049

upgrade Flash
upgrade TMBG
specialize QUEEN: attack
save upgrade x2

Scars! Yaaaaay! Queen go up to meet them.
>>
No. 53077 ID: f78140

>>53049
upgrade flash
create ant described by blue mind riot: (bullet ant: suicide attack, armor cracker head, fast larval, short lifespan)
upgrade intelligence
>>
No. 53082 ID: d1210a

>>53063
>>53077

Improve Fat Bottomed Girls Strain Lv4. (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES)
Improve The Merciless Strain Lv2.
Improve Flash Strain [2]
Improve They Might Be Giants Strain [1]
Improve Lurkers at the Threshold Strain
Create New Ant Strain
Make Death on Six Legs a normal Strain (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES)
Create Specialty Strain: Cry of the Brave Ant (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES)
Create New Ant Strain described by Blue Mind Riot to KILLER QUEEN(quality of new breed and restrictions imposed determined by rolling a d30, the higher the roll the better the results, if choosing this option a voting period will be opened to determine what description Blue Mind Riot will give to KILLER QUEEN) [1]
Upgrade Exoskeletons Lv3. (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES)
Upgrade Mandible Quality Lv3. (REQUIRES 2 UPGRADES)
Upgrade Intelligence Lv4. (REQUIRES 3 UPGRADES)[1]
Specialize KILLER QUEEN (attack) [1]
Gift KILLER QUEEN Poison Trait to a hero unit (specify the one desired).
Retain upgrade point for later use. [1/1/0/0/0]
>>
No. 53209 ID: b7aed8

Improve The Merciless Strain
Improve Flash Strain
Improve They Might Be Giants Strain
Specialize KILLER QUEEN (Attack and defense)
>>
No. 53212 ID: af3e6d

Improve Flash
Improve Merciless
Improve Intelligence
>>
No. 53220 ID: 4f3277

Intelligence++
Flash++
Merciless++
>>
No. 53228 ID: 782100

Upgrade Intelligence
Upgrade Mandibles
>>
No. 53232 ID: f89977

I think it might be a good idea by now to make D6L a regular strain.
>>
No. 53244 ID: af3e6d

>>53232
Sorry dude, the mob has spoken. We feel it imperative that all ants, not just heroes, are smart enough to appreciate ant-Hamlet. Also Flash.
>>
No. 53245 ID: 4f3277

Man... Ant Hamlet is way better than regular Hamlet.
>>
No. 53256 ID: af3e6d

Of course, ant-Hamlet would have an ending where the Queen lives and conquers. It wouldn't be right any other way.
>>
No. 53257 ID: 613875

>>53232

I actually agree, that's why I was saving the upgrades till after I convince people to feed the pit monster to the Queen, in hopes of improving the odds.
>>
No. 53265 ID: d1210a

Improve The Merciless Strain Lv2. [CHOSEN]
Improve Flash Strain [3] [CHOSEN]
Upgrade Intelligence Lv4. (REQUIRES 3 UPGRADES)[3] [CHOSEN]
5 points allocated.

-The Merciless are now larger, and more aggressive! Their combat abilities have improved!
-Flash have matured, and become even faster! Their legs can cling safely to more materials, and they can walk across thickened liquids safely now (Water is still uncrossable)
-Ants have become smarter! Ants can now understand primitive tool use and construction, understand the concept of keeping livestock to feed off of, and as long as 5 ants without the Mindless Drone Trait or more are gathered in an area, they can collectively achieve similar intelligence to a hero, and act as envoys in their stead.

ALL UPGRADES POINTS HAVE BEEN SPENT.

(From now on, any suggestions given will be treated as orders for the Empire of Cydonia, and any instructions prefaced with the name of a given hero unit (KILLER QUEEN can also be controlled in this manner) will be directed to that individual Knight of Cydonia, and actions through their perspective will be first person. Any questions, ask in discussion.)


ORDERS CAN NOW BE ISSUED
ORDERS?
>>
No. 53311 ID: 3741ea

Comission 5 ants not otherwise engaged to begin writing the complete works of Ant-Shakespear.
Also, simple tools? Perfect. Begin construction of some gears. We'll have this whole "flood the world with lava" thing done before the day is out, mark my words.
>>
No. 53335 ID: d1210a

>>53311
(Ant-Shakespeare? You can do theater, but you would have to come up with some rough play ideas, and get them started along before they could do their first masterpieces. After all, they don't know what makes it good yet, since they have never done it. But fear not, you can get them there, with dedicated attention placed on theater and the arts, perhaps based on their own history, within KILLER QUEEN's demesne!)

(And how do you suggest they build gears, lacking tools, metals, and indeed opposable manipulators? Maybe something a little more basic, more simply constructed?)
>>
No. 53409 ID: ed8d8a

>>53311
Dangit, I leave you kids alone for ONE WEEKEND and the Hamlet plot takes over.

>>53335
Hey, these are ants. Opposable manipulators come in both mouth and leg varieties.

Still probably better start with the basics of simple machines. Ramps they already understand, lets see if we can uncover the basic principles of the lever next.

And damn, go put together a welcoming committee already. QUEEN, take entourage up to greet Metallica and Scars, meet Wings of Destiny.
>>
No. 53556 ID: d1210a
File 125425887692.jpg - (287.22KB , 1600x1200 , Welcome Back Scars.jpg )
53556

>>53409

KILLER QUEEN has all ants in the vicinity stop working for a moment, and gather above ground. Her champion, her first knight, her defender, Scars Of Yesterday has returned. He kept his promise.

She feels.... something more than a simple acknowledgment that he did indeed abide by her order to return. What is it? This feeling? So.... at ease, so content to know he is safe...Scars came back....

And so it was that Metallica, his shell still broken and healing, a leg still too short, Scars Of Yesterday with his cracked mandibles, spikes and and mangled legs, the new member of the Knights of Cydonia Wings of Destiny, and the rest of the honor guard and supplies were met by hundreds of ants, pouring out to welcome the return of the giant slayer, the first hero, Scars Of Yesterday, one of two brilliant golden shapes dwarfed by the massive crimson and sable beetle beside them.

KILLER QUEEN and Scars Of Yesterday meet again, along with the new hero Wings Of Destiny.

What should be said or done during the reunion?

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

Some of The Merciless and Fat Bottomed Girls, on the edge of the massive swarm welcoming back their returning comrades, become somewhat bored at their distant positions, and turn their attention to a size-able rock stuck in the ground. They try to move it, but it is simply too heavy for them.

Well that isn't a good start, but now they are determined: Before they have to go back to work, they have to move this rock!

They also notice that there is another, significantly smaller rock nearby, and with some effort it can be moved about.

What else should they look for while bored and trying to move the big rock?
>>
No. 53569 ID: 71ec2f

>>53556
Clearly they should pray to the divine matron that is KILLER QUEEN to provide them with a miracle in the form of a stick, thereby simultaniously inventing ANT RELIGION and SIMPLE LEVERAGE.
>>
No. 53570 ID: 6faa8c

>>53569
Invent FIRST MACHINE: THE LEVER!
>>
No. 53599 ID: ed8d8a

>>53556
So far as I know, KILLER QUEEN has just been running around calling things Cydonia and Knights in her head. This would be a good opportunity to make a formal announcement, and officially bestow the title of Knight on Scars of Yesterday as the first protector of the empire.

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

Dig under rock, attempt to lift from below. Note that this works slightly better than pushing from the side, but is still not enough. Find stick, wedge it under rock, and lift on other end of stick. Ants understand a wedge, it is like a ramp that you can move. This wedge lifting system works better still, but it only moves a short distance, and an ant can only lift so far before he needs to let go and move to a different spot. By working at a team with other ants in this endeavor, progress lifting can be made. However, it takes more and more ants to hold the stick up the closer they get to the large rock, and soon they don't have enough to do it on their own strength. Placing a small rock under the stick in place of the supporting ants works better. Many ants can lift the stick, a few can move the little rock forward, and then the many ants can let go and move to a new position to lift further. Eventually the small rock is very close to the big rock, the big rock is halfway moved, and the far end of the stick is quite high in the air, but no further progress can be made with this wedging method. Now comes the moment of epiphany, when the ants realize that all they have to do to make the short end of the stick go up more is to make the long end of the stick go down instead.
>>
No. 53717 ID: d1210a

>>53599
(Hm, yes KILLER QUEEN could indeed do this. But she still has not heard her returning champions words, to hear of what he has seen and done, and what he has learned for her of The Collective, or what this giant corpse he brings back is, or the source of the massive pile of Bohemian Rhapsody, or why he and Metallica are wounded, or why there is an ant before her she has never seen before. Perhaps that stuff might take precedence.)
..............................................................................................................

The ants are determined now, and recruit others around them to the effort. A few more limbs to aid the effort couldn't hurt, right? And besides, the way they understand it, moving such an enormous rock would be a handy trick, and a worthy show of power on this reunion.

They set to digging out a side with a fervor, trying to gain a better position to move the rock. They heave at the beastly rock, but it is not enough.

>>53569

"Oh woe are we, in our moment of shame, unable to do that which we sought!"
"Fear not dear sister! I truly believe that KILLER QUEEN will make us succeed!"
"Of course! After all, she is our ruler, our maker, our queen, our god!"
"Surely, with her grand power, she could aid us!"
AND LO, BEHOLD THAT THE QUESTING ANTS DID INDEED FIND A STICK
"Oh, KILLER QUEEN has aided us!"
"Truly, we are blessed to have such a divine queen!"
"Oh, if only there were some way to thank her for her glorious help in our moment of need.."
Another of the questing ants interjects.
"Come on, the welcoming won't last forever, lets get this done quickly!

!!NOTICE:!! Ants understand drama and can now make theatrically inclined recounts of past events! Theater will now be easier to start!
!!NOTICE:!! Ants have begun to worship KILLER QUEEN! May she deem you useful and loyal!

>>53599

The newly found stick is wedged into the ground beneath the rock, and the ants strain, heaving upwards on the stick. After some experimentation, they find it easiest to lift from the end of the stick, as far from the rock as possible.

And the rock moves! It starts to creep out of the ground. But now the ants have already lifted the stick as high as they can.

...Perhaps they could move forward, and push the stick up from closer... but how to do this without dropping it? ...perhaps the ants farthest from the rock could let go and get closer before attempting to assist us again?

...It works, for a time. But eventually the angle is so steep the newly moved ants can't get it to start lifting. Hmmm.....

Perhaps that small rock they found could be used? The recently moved ants let go, and dash off to retrieve the small rock. Shortly they return, roughly pushing and rolling the rock until it is firmly wedged against the elevated stick. The still straining ants let go for a moment, to re-assess their position. Hm. Maybe if they all repositioned and got ready to heave at the same time, they could still move it more?

The ants all brace themselves against the stick, and with a furious heave, force it higher still. Two more times, they manage to irk just a bit more height out of the stick, but finally they can move it no higher, the rock still standing tall and defiant, if somewhat tilted.

This helped them move the rock more than they could have without the stick, but it is still not enough. How to solve this dilemma....

Hmm... that stick is still wedged in there real deep underneath the rock, despite it's increase in angle.

.....In fact, it looks like it reaches halfway across the span of the rock.

....If they could get that end of the stick to move up, the rock would fall over and be moved!

Well, sticks don't bend much. And the other end is up there.

So, if we wanted this end of the stick to go up....

That end will have to go down!

Quickly the ants climb the stick, and march out to the end. The ground is perhaps three body lengths below them, four at the most. A few ants tightly grip the end of the stick, while those behind them crawl over and down them, securely gripping them in turn. In short order a column of ants connects the sky and the ground, the lowest ants spread out gripping the ground in a mass.

The pillar contracts.

The near end of the stick descends.

The rock, no, the massive boulder is moved, and falls with a tremendous thump.

It was moved, when no other efforts of ours could move it!

!!NOTICE:!! The ants understand levers!


What should be said/done by KILLER QUEEN/Scars Of Yesterday/Wings Of Destiny as they all meet?
>>
No. 54152 ID: ed8d8a

>>53717
ah, right, fair enough. Hmm, conversation between our own characters eh? this looks like a job for masturbatory dialog! An outline of the conversation I guess.

Queen: Welcome travelers back, thank Metallica.
Scars: respectfully greet queen. Introduce Wings.
Wings: look cute. greet queen.
Queen: marvel at the flying giant.
Scars: offer Queen your spoils.
Wings: continue looking cute.
Queen: have workers move food inside.
Scars: explain what you have learned about eating valiances, and your new abilities.
Wings: explain your own abilities.
Queen: be suitably impressed. ask about Collective
Scars: talk about Collective and BR source. short timeskip if needed.
Wings: Tell how brave Scars was, yada yada.
Queen: Formally knight Scars of Yesterday. Speech.

Metallica may feel like interjecting at any time, in which case a response may become necessary. How do you want to do this Bob? It's a lot of dialog for anyone to write all at once.
>>
No. 54571 ID: d1210a

>>54152
(MASTURBATORY DIALOGUE ACTIVATE)

KILLER QUEEN, at the front of a great swarm of all of her children that were nearby, stands before Scars Of Yesterday and his comrades. There is a great multitude of thoughts running through her head, but for now, only one thought truly needs to be voiced.

"Welcome home, my champion. I see you kept your promise. And thank you, Metallica, for providing transport to them."
"Bah, don't need ta thank me, I did it because I wanted to, not because I had to."

Scars Of Yesterday and his group don't seem particularly bothered by the rough diction of Metallica. Perhaps it was not simple rudeness, but just the way Metallica is to all, and no offense is meant. Either way, Scars Of Yesterday bows his head before his queen, his antenna brushing the ground in genuflection.

"Honored God/Queen, I return with spoils and knowledge, and the happy news that you now have another hero to serve you, the former They Might Be Giants, now Wings Of Destiny."
Scars indicates the other golden ant beside him, her resplendant wings creating a prismatic pattern on the ground beneath her. In spite of this majestic appearance, her response.... is not quite so noble. She seemed to have been busy staring at Scars Of Yesterday, and was not quite prepared for introductions.
"W-what-OH, um, I-I'm honored to... meet you." Wings Of Destiny transmits, her body radiating embarrassment.
"She is... overly enthusiastic at times, but her capabilities are not meager. She will be a valuable addition to the colony" Scars offers.

While she wilts at the start of his comment, she recovers completely, absolutely radiating contentment when he praises her usefulness.

KILLER QUEEN looks at this newly reshaped ant. She should feel happy that she has another warrior to lay claim to, and one that can fly, no less! And she does, she does indeed.

But beneath that, there is a feeling of irritation. She cannot identify the source, but it is there, nonetheless. Still, this is a grand event, and now is not the time to get distracted by such.

"So, one of my progeny can fly now, excellent."
"..My Queen, I brought back some spoils of combat, a sizable amount of Bohemian Rhapsody, and a fallen warrior of the Mandarinian Empire, slain by my efforts in your name, with a powerful defensive Valiance. I offer these prizes as gifts to you, beloved ruler/god."

As the attending audience of ants leap into action hauling the goods into the colony, Scars Of Yesterday communicates once more.
"Also, an amendment, I think, must be made, for Wings Of Destiny is not the only one who can take to the skies."
"What do you speak of?"
Scars Of Yesterday proudly lifts his head, and flares the spiracles on his side, letting a strong current of air be stirred up.
"There are Valiances that let one do remarkable things, and I consumed a false warrior named Xephyr, who held a secret to flight without wings.... of a sort. I cannot fly enormous distances, but the skies are not barred to me."
"False warrior? Why would such even challenge you?"
"I suppose I challenged the false warrior myself. There is a place called The Fight Song within The Collective, which lets any warrior choose to fight, for glory, food and power. I gained two new Valiances there, in addition to refining my original Valiance to a higher level. I spread word of the strength, power and glory that is you, our beloved queen/maker, while feasting on those I felled."
"And it seems this was not an easy task, seeing your battered state. I take it you found some daunting foes?"
"None I could not crush, my queen."
"That is well, then. And what of The Collective? What have you learned of them? Or how you came to possess that pile of Bohemian Rhapsody, or the brilliantly hued corpse with the Valiance.... tell me what you have seen and done."
"Of course, KILLER QUEEN, our ruler/creator."

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

"So. The Collective demands a third of all resources, in exchange for membership, and the implicit protection it provides, yet denies members the right to go to war against The Mandarinian Empire. By the same token, any member of the The Collective, if attacked, will have the whole of The Collective fall on the aggressor. Tell, me, why do these Founders refuse open warfare with The Mandarinian Empire, And what purpose doe this alliance, The Collective, even serve? This strikes me as strange."
"I... do not know, my queen."
"You and your honor guard, you spent time among them, gathered knowledge, experiences. What do you think might be the reason for this?"


How should Scars Of Yesterday/Wings Of Destiny/Flash/Death On Six Legs respond?
>>
No. 54578 ID: 6faa8c

>>54571
"I believe the reason behind the Collective not wanting to oppose the Empire is simple: One of the Empire founded the Collective itself. Secretly, of course. In this way, the Collective is their very tool, a wall against aggressors, and indeed turns those who would go to war against them away."
>>
No. 54658 ID: b7aed8

>>54578
Exactly what I've been thinking! A extensive front for the regulation and monitoring of potential challengers, done right in the open but in such a fashion that almost no evidence points to the Empire's involvement. Yet it fosters just enough hope through its protection/retaliation measures that outright rebellion on a wide scale never has the chance to blossom.
>>
No. 54662 ID: 6faa8c

"Even further, I speculate the First Founder is the master of this Empire."
Tell her the story of the group that tried to oppose the Founders.
"Someday, my Queen... We will have to root out this deceptive foe, or we must go to war with the Collective itself."
>>
No. 54901 ID: ed8d8a

>>54578
Wow, that possibility hadn't even occurred to me. It does explain a lot, but not why the founder was so much stronger than all the rebellious champions combined. I was thinking the founders are more along the lines of badgers or something. Large, burrowing, termite eating mammal, with motivations we still do not have enough information to guess at.
>>
No. 54907 ID: 632862

What? The Collective gives out a bounty to people who kill Mandarinians. How would that makes sense if they were secretly allies?

If it were a Cunning Plan to lure out their enemies, you'd think they would've attacked Crescent by now. Especially once Scars was away.
>>
No. 55214 ID: d1210a

>>54578
>>54658
Scars Of Yesterday looks at KILLER QUEEN, and shares his thoughts.

"I believe the reason behind the Collective not wanting to oppose the Empire is simple: One of the Empire founded the Collective itself. Secretly, of course. In this way, the Collective is their very tool, a wall against aggressors, and indeed turns those who would go to war against them away. Further, the defense given to members of The Collective in the form of their pact of mutual protection would likely make it harder for other empires to rise, as most of the weaker, more easily consumed entities will already have joined."
>>54662
"Even further, I speculate that the First Founder is the master of the Mandarinian Empire as well."

>>54901
Death On Six Legs chimes in at this point.
"I can't really wrap my head around what Metallica told us, about a single Founder slaughtering a group of champions, past and present from The Fight Song."

The titanic Metallica shifts his weighty head, and points a menacing mandible at the Death On Six Legs as he interjects.
"OY. Ya sayin' I'm tryin' ta trick ya?"
The wicked jaw dwarfs Death On Six Legs many times over, but all those who went on the quest to The Collective seem to take it in stride, and so KILLER QUEEN presumes the threat to simply be part of the beetle's nature.

"No. I simply cannot fathom a member of the Mandarinian Empire being so strong, to such a point that one of them could best so many talented warriors. I propose that The Founders are some sort of incredible species, massive in stature in strength, and due to this strength, they can command The Collective as they see fit."

"Pfaw. Yer right on that, they're strong, no mistake. As to whether their actually part o' the Empire.... well, lets say ya aren't the first ta come ta that conclusion. But since they don't meet with anyone and that Santana ain't exactly helpful when ya ask questions, no one knows fer sure. A few try to sneak past Santana to meet The Founders, but.... well, say what ya will of'm, but that Santana can fight, and doesn't take trespassing kindly."

>>54907
Flash takes a moment to share her own thoughts.
"I just don't see The Mandarinian Empire paying bounties to those that kill their warriors. But, I fear I cannot come up with a better explanation than Scars'."

Wings Of Destiny, literally buzzing with enthusiasm as her wings tremble from excitement, offers her own idea.
"OH! OHOHOH!! I have an idea~! Maybe The Founders are really strong, but can't beat the Empire! ....Oh, but then why would they forbid The Collective from engaging them in open warfare?"


Which idea should KILLER QUEEN believe about The Founders, or should she discard this line of inquiry until more evidence can be found, and move on to a new topic during the welcoming home of Scars and company, and if so, which topic?
>>
No. 55217 ID: 6faa8c

We need more evidence, damnit. This is like trying to inravel a government conspiracy from a photo of the white house...
>>
No. 55257 ID: 782100

>>55214
Well, since Santana is a crab, I figured that so were The Founders. They would be powerful enough to rip apart the whole empire, but they would be limited in range because of their aquatic nature. I'm not even sure that Scars or KILLER QUEEN can even understand the concept of 'aquatic'.
>>
No. 55261 ID: ed8d8a

>>55217
Agreed. Anything further we do at this point is going to be based on pure speculation. Perhaps if we could find someone who actually witnessed the last rebellion, we could question them. Or possibly one of the groups with a bounty on them knows something more.

In the mean time, we just have to move on with what we do know. The Collective may be appealing to weaker creatures, but so far its benefit to KILLER QUEEN's interests is doubtful at best. We shall remain independent, but don't burn any bridges until we are stronger. At the very least, we don't want Metallica mad at us. He's a pretty cool dude, and has an official Collective job.
>>
No. 55262 ID: 6faa8c

Mr. Big had a valiance that let him breathe underwater, but I see your point. So:

>the founders are VERY powerful.

>the founders do not seek direct confrontation against the Empire.

>the founders have a bounty on the Empire's soldiers

The last two points are easy to resolve: Paper trail. They can keep track of the assholes running around and slaying their men in a rebellious La Resistance manner if they hand out candy.
>>
No. 55334 ID: b7aed8

>>55262
And The Metal being allowed to basically asshole around without consequence fits rather nicely into the conspiracy theory, too.
>>
No. 55391 ID: fd6933

The Collective has to be either a front for the Mandarinians or a vassal state. Either way, the bounty throws people off the trail and discourages large-scale dissent, while only costing them their weakest and least popular warriors.
you can be sure that a group that was basing its whole income on the bounty would be taken down, but Scars just isn't important enough yet.
>>
No. 55418 ID: ed8d8a

Man, you guys really ARE conspiracy nuts. One sorta workable theory with a few holes, and all you can talk about is how much sense it makes and it's the only explanation for everything.

How about the alternate theory of "We don't want a large scale war. It goes against our everybody-gets-along model. But the guys are douchebags, so we have a bounty on them just like the other groups we don't like. So as long as you don't get them ALL riled up, it's okay." I'm pretty sure that would make it the same general distinction as limited war vs total war. And just because limited war turns out to be a terrible idea in practice, it doesn't mean folks won't try it anyway.
>>
No. 55488 ID: d1210a

>>55217
>>55261
>>55418
Thoughts whirl through KILLER QUEEN's head of possibilities and far reaching plots, and realizes she simply does not have access to enough information to be sure about any assumption right now.

"...Enough. There is clearly a vital piecwe of knowledge here, but we have no means to be sure of ourselves yet; for the nonce, we shall have to table the notion, until we learn more. So, The Collective.... Hmm. Membership could be useful, under the assumption The Founders are not allied with The Mandarinian Empire, with the implicit safety, and the bounty option had no voiced limit, over time we could become adept at simply mass bounty collection. On the other hand, if they are associated with The Empire, membership would be disastrous, and the requiored tithe is.... unpleasant to shoulder. Hmm..."


How should KILLER QUEEN decide on membership in The Collective, and what should she say beyond that during this event?
>>
No. 55498 ID: 6faa8c

>>55488
We will not join them. We shall be strong on our own.
>>
No. 55525 ID: 1689ab

Take shit from no one. Go in alone. Do not join.
>>
No. 55534 ID: ed8d8a

>>55488
She could like, ask Metallica for his opinion I guess.

Mostly I think we should be striving to continue as we are for the time being. Existing on the edge of the Collective, participating in its events, but neither beholden to it nor under its protection. That seems to have been an acceptable status, from what we have been told. Or at least it should be if we are still undecided, which I suppose we technically are, even if current plan is no.
>>
No. 55547 ID: 1d375b

Do not join for now but do not openly refuse membership at the moment. Leave the option open until the last minute just incase.
>>
No. 55587 ID: d1210a

>>55498
>>55525
>>55534
>>55547
(Don't join, but don't burn bridges)

"...I do not think my empire of Cydonia shall be joining The Collective for the present."
"Cydonia, my queen?"
"...That's right, you are not aware. I have gained the ability to craft surrogate queens, and have decided to start my own empire, that of Cydonia. On that thought... bow thine head, Champion of mine, Scars Of Yesterday."

Ever faithful to his queen, Scars Of Yesterday bows his head without hesitation. He feels KILLER QUEEN's antenna whispering across his head as she exudes a forceful, carrying proclamation.

"For his valiant and ever steadfast service to me, I name Scars Of Yesterday as the first Knight of Cydonia, my champion, my general, my protector. Rise, Scars Of Yesterday, Knight of Cydonia, Champion of KILLER QUEEN."

Pride wafting from his from, Scars of Yesterday rises.

"I shall serve with my every being for you, O queen/god. your enemies will be fodder before us, slaughtered and consumed in your name."


What else should be said/done during the event?
>>
No. 55876 ID: ed8d8a

>>55587
Let see before we wrap this up, we could knight Wings while we are at it, use the ceremony atmosphere to send off a group of the new Do6L to the Sisters, and tell Metallica he is welcome back, not just as an ambassador, but as a friend of Cydonia. Oh! hey, we should probably talk to Metallica about Def Leppard's field before this is all over and he leaves too. Ask him what he remembers about the beetles in the field east of here, and tell him that the field is now under our protection, so he should talk to us if for some reason he wants to eat those flowers again.

Send, oh, say 5 Death on Six Legs off to the other colony, so they can have a few elite warriors after the mating process. Also send them with a few Fat Bottoms laden with concentrated nutrients and some Merciless as an escort. Deliver the nutrients to help the colony get a stockpile of food going, and pick up a load of both special flower varieties to bring back. This will also do for their first status report, so they need not send their own messenger at this time.
>>
No. 55966 ID: 1689ab

Annoint Scars with some kind of royal jelly or some paint or something as a badge of honor. All of our people know about our heros, but in the future, maybe the other colonies might not. It's best to get an official marking system in place now so it becomes ceremony later.
>>
No. 56154 ID: d1210a

>>55966
(Scars Of Yesterday is one of only two golden hued ants in Cydonia, with a distinctive row of brilliant scarlet spikes forming a crest tracking from his forehead across his back and down his abdomen. Additionally, he has strangely shaped double mandibles, and thicker than normal lower legs. Additionally, the only Knights of Cydonia are golden ants with Valiance. That could be made a requisite to be a Knight. Either way, the ants have access to no known dies, or staining agents other than that they could gain from a freshly slain corpse.)

5 of the total 51 Death On Six Legs are dispatched to Carpathian Ridge, with two set to fertilize the Sisters there, and the three others to remain there for the moment. They will arrive in hour 7.5

>>55876
For some reason, KILLER QUEEN's irritation grows as she articulates her next thought, and still she knows not why.

"Wings Of Destiny, bow thine head."
"W-wha-OH!"
Distracted in some format or other, it takes Wings Of Destiny a moment to orient herself appropriately. KILLER QUEEN grows more agitated.

"...For your acquisition of a Valiance, aid rendered to Scars Of Yesterday, and for displaying the strength of Cydonia to all around, I bestow upon you a knighthood, marking you a Knight of Cydonia."
"Um, thank you, KILLER QUEEN," Wings Of Destiny awkwardly articulates, and seems ashamed at her inability to communicate formally in this setting.

Her agitation strangely lessened, KILLER QUEEN turns to address the lumbering giant, Metallica.
"And you, warrior Metallica..."
"Eh? Whatcha want?"
"It seems you have been something of a comrade to Scars Of Yesterday."
"ZEHAHA, I suppose so! The little warrior has talent, and not a drop o' fear in the whole o' 'im."
"Well, then I extend a standing invitation and welcome anywhere within the empire of Cydonia, as a show of thanks."

Metallica seems quite taken aback.

"...Ya are? ....Will ya give me food when I come? I really liked that goo from before, better than most honeys, and have to admit I would like to eat more... rather badly."


How should KILLER QUEEN respond? And in the response, should an offer be made for food, please specify how much food Metallica is allowed to have, and whether he should be told where the food comes from.
>>
No. 56236 ID: 33bb8b

>>56154
Honestly, our nutrients are not any more alarming than where honey comes from. If Metallica is cool with that, he should be okay with concentrated nutrients. Regurgitated, partially digested plant matter, this is basically ant honey we are talking about.

This is a point where Scars should step up with some advice. He has seen a free market in action, and even knows that Metallica is willing to use his Bohemian Rhapsody resources to acquire honey. He should suggest an arrangement here if Metallica would like to enjoy our food on a regular basis. To the QUEEN of course. It would be improper to be so presumptuous as to make such decisions FOR her.
>>
No. 56349 ID: d1210a

>>56236
Still standing across from KILLER QUEEN, Scars Of Yesterday releases a pheromone message (encrypted so only Cydonians can interpret it, thanks to ADVANCED INTELLIGENCE)

"My Queen, Metallica has access to a large supply of foods, Bohemian Rhapsody and Valiances among them, and demonstrated a fondness for honey in The Collective. If he finds our Concentrated Nutrients of fine taste, having sampled those in The Collective, then our nutrients might be a desirable trade good. And we could offer it not only to Metallica, but to others as well, to gain more goods that we need."

Hmm... This would prove useful, to have access to foods possessed by the massive beetle, in exchange for an easily produced commodity.

"We would be willing to feed you as much as you desire of it, in exchange for goods or services."
"Well, I figured it wouldn't be free, but yer sayin' you'll trade it with me? As much as I want?"
"Well, keep in mind that our hive is still small, and will need some time to produce the nutrients in large numbers."
"Fine by me. I don't have anythin' with me to trade anyway. Think I could have a small snack o' ...... what did ya call this stuff?"


How should KILLER QUEEN respond? (And what goods name should be given to Concentrated Nutrients?)
>>
No. 56355 ID: 6faa8c

Toy Food?

(lemondemon song)
>>
No. 56380 ID: 6faa8c

>>56355
"Honored Metallica, we are tentatively naming it Toy Food. Please, feel free to sample a small amount to determine if you'd like to trade for it."
>>
No. 56430 ID: 33bb8b

at first I was like:
Ambrosia?
Jellybricks?
Malajube?
Freezepop?
Sweet Dreams?

But then I was all Pearl Jam? Oh fuck yes PEARL JAM!
>>
No. 56560 ID: 6faa8c

CHANGEING MY SUGGESTION TO PEARL JAM, THANK YOU
>>
No. 56589 ID: d1210a
File 125462292427.jpg - (52.99KB , 800x534 , Fat Bottomed Girl.jpg )
56589

>>56560
>>56430
>>56380
"We call it Pearl Jam, and of course you may have a sample now. You did return my champion to me."

KILLER QUEEN orders several of the Fat Bottomed Girls to bring forth some of the newly named Pearl Jam. Shortly 25 units are brought forth before Metallica.

Metallica lustily tears into the sample, consuming it with glee. It is gone in a few long moments, small patches of his mandibles still shining with jam.

"Ahh.... mmmmmm. ? ....Ya know, I think this is even tastier than last time. And yer little workers, they look a bit different too. Still, even more delicious than I remember. Oh-ho, I think I will be returning for some of that...."
KILLER QUEEN interjects as Metallica's eyes glaze over, thinking about delicious jam and honey.
"While we are on the subject of food, Do you know of a small field of flowers to the south, with orange beetles within?"
"...Wha? Ah them. Yeah, I do."
"They have decided to let us share the use of the field with us, and we shall have small amounts of those flowers to offer in trade as well. However, I ask that you not simply return there and consume as you will, at least for the nonce."
"...Bah, fair enough. Yer offerin' me some good trade, I'll live with it. So, starting to learn more about your surroundins, eh? Word o' advice then: Up north, there's a patch of very green forest. There are some very valuable foods there, I'll not deny it, but neither the Mandarinian Empire nor The Collective can lay claim to that forest. There are... monsters there, make no mistake. ...Well, I have to get going, I got another job with that little sissy Motörhead pretty soon."

Metallica, ever apathetic towards formalities, spreads his massive wings, and gets takes off, scattering dusty cyclones for a scant moment.

!!NOTICE:!! Fat Bottomed Girls have been altered enough from their upgrades that they look significantly different, with a distinctive jade abdomen to hold Pearl Jam.
!!NOTICE:!! Pearl Jam is now a specialty material, and can be made normally, or be aged within the Fat Bottomed Girls for extended periods. Aging like this requires immobilizing the ant by making them hold the maximum amount of Pearl Jam, which is 35 units each. Any ants that start and stop aging at the same time and in the same chamber will produce similar Pearl Jam.


Both Scars and Wings have been knighted, and Metallica has left. Should anything more be done at the reunion, or should the ants re-disperse to their original orders, with the returning ants being issued new orders?
>>
No. 56596 ID: 6faa8c

>>56589
Nothing more needs doing.

Damnit, Metallica. Now I want to send Scars to explore the forest.
>>
No. 56598 ID: 9891a9

>>56589
Let's return to our duties, but start making some Aged Pearl Jam immediately. We should also think about what Metallica said, the monsters we could harvest along with the food make heading to the forest a lucrative venture. I think we ought to send out a few Flash to scout the area before we raid it.
>>
No. 56613 ID: d1210a

>>56598
!!NOTICE:!! Now that you think about it, you sent some Flash to the Northeast, towards an area believed to not have Mandarinian Warriors in it. Which makes the lack of contact with the Flash sent north-east rather disturbing.

How many Fat Bottomed Girls should age Pearl Jam, and in what kind of chamber: Shallow, Middle, or Deep chamber?

>>56596
The reunion is dispersed. The vital functions were carried out, there is no need for further fanfare. All workers go back to their duties.

Currently, the following ants are Idle:

Outside Crescent
Scars Of Yesterday
Wings Of Destiny
27 Death On Six Legs
7 Flash

At Spider/Wasp Field
Toxic
19 Death On Six Legs
10 The Merciless

In Crescent
11 They Might Be Giants
51 The Merciless (1 mutated)
50 Fat Bottomed Girls



What should be done?
(Remember, orders issued to a specific hero should be prefaced with the hero's name in brackets)
>>
No. 56641 ID: 632862

>>56613
Send 3 Flash and 20 Merciless to the northeast to investigate the lost scouts. Instruct the Flash to flee from battle and return if anything attacks. Their first priority is to inform Crescent of what kind of danger lurks there. The Merciless on the other hand, are expected to lay down their lives to allow this critical information to reach the queen. Keep the foes busy so that the Flash can get away. If they emerge victorious, so much the better.
>>
No. 56811 ID: 9891a9

>>56613
Lets have 30 Fat Bottomed Girls assigned to the Aging process, 10 per depth level. Perhaps the small change in altitude would have an effect on the outcome.
>>
No. 56858 ID: 33bb8b

>>56811
clearly the deeper cellars are better for wine I mean jam aging.
>>
No. 56997 ID: d1210a

>>56641
3 Flash and 20 The Merciless sent to the northeast, with orders for flash to flee back to Crescent at the first sign of combat, and The Merciless will spend their lives to insure the Flash succeed in their escape.

(Reminder, a full 10 Flash were sent northeast, with orders to return at any discovery.)

>>56811
At 35 units of Pearl Jam for each of the proposed 30 Fat Bottomed Girls, that would be 1,050 units of Pearl Jam, more than you currently have available in storage.


What orders should be issued?

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

I crouch beneath a leaf, observing what I can of the more dense flora around me. The 19 Death On Six Legs with us are our strongest fighters here, and beyond them, there is just myself and 10 The Merciless. Some of the creatures reported as being present here are larger then this entire group, so I feel somewhat justified to be cautious in how I approach this area.

I don't see any spiders currently, but I am still on the edge of the field. I see a scant few wasps above, but none seem willing to land on the ground, leading me to believe there are more parties present here than immediately apparent.

I can smell a great many scents, but cannot tell more than that a clearing, roughly in the middle of this field, seems to smell the most strongly. However, I see no clear path to it, and surmise I would have to make my way through the denser foliage around it, which leads me to some reluctance.


What should I do?
>>
No. 57938 ID: ed8d8a

>>56997
Queen: Have a group of Fat Bottoms consume the remaining leaf supply, dragonfly carcass, and dead ants to convert to Pearl Jam (it does work on any food product, right? I don't think we have tried concentrated nutrients made of dead critters yet, we should test that.)

Toxic: Send a Merciless up a nearby plant to scout the area. Have the others spread out, wary of ambushes. Some of the local spiders may be lying in traps similar to the ant lion sand pits. If the scout sees nothing of further interest from the higher vantage point, begin slowly traveling around the outskirts of the area's perimeter. If the center clearing doesn't feel right, you should trust your feelings. There is no sense charging headlong into danger just yet, we are still here to asses at this point.
>>
No. 58045 ID: d1210a

>>57938
259 collective units of dead ants, leaves and dragonfly are converted to Pearl Jam, and along with 21 units of existing Pearl Jam, are then held by 8 Fat Bottomed Girls. How many of the total 8 should be left to age the Pearl Jam at each of the three depth levels, Shallow, Middle, and Deep?


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

...No, I am no brave combatant like Scars, to boldly charge into uncertain troubles just to test my strength. I send one of The Merciless up a plant stalk, to better assess what is hidden in our surroundings.

Some time passes, and The Merciless returns.

"Toxic, I saw several shapes moving rapidly in the clearing ahead of us, but if there are further creatures hidden near us, I did not perceive them."
"Understood."

Hmm.... I am still skeptical. If we had some of our Flash sisters with us, I would feel more at ease with their superior detection abilities at our disposal.

...Well, I may not be quite so brave as Scars, but I have a duty to perform here, and I can't do anything if we wait on the edge of the field forever.

I cautiously lead our forces into the foliage, myself and the Death On Six Legs forming a core that The Merciless patrol about as we travel.

After traveling for some time into the field, several of the Death On Six Legs let out a scent of caution, and are quickly followed by the rest of their number.

"What is the matter?"
"We smell another party nearby, a rather large one."

Well, there are several places to hide: A small thicket of leaves, a wrinkle in the ground that could obscure us, or we could climb some of the flower stalks here to hide above. Alternatively, we could wait and attempt to communicate with this unknown party.


What should I do?
>>
No. 58140 ID: ffdecc

>>58045
We should hide in the leaves. Given the area, the unknown party is probably either fliers or spiders, and if it's fliers, both the flower stalks and the wrinkle in the ground would be far too visible from the air.
>>
No. 58233 ID: d1210a
File 125478602167.jpg - (195.71KB , 1024x768 , Passing Creature.jpg )
58233

>>58140
I lead my unit to silently abide within the shallow and densely shaded leaves, away from prying eyes from above.

Shortly thereafter, the source of the new scent becomes apparent: An enormous creature, delicately picking its way forward, it's mandibles dry washing the air. I do not think it sees us yet, but there is no guarantee it won't find us here. Conversely, we could try to contact it, it might not bee implicitly violent.

The Creature is some distance to our north. In that direction is mostly sparse ground cover. From our position, small patches of leaves cover the area to the south-east, and there is a large cave to the west. The creature seems to be heading roughly south/south-east, and will probably come near us.


What should I do?

What Orders should be issued at Crescent to the remaining idle ants?
>>
No. 58301 ID: ed8d8a

>>58233
(huh.. chan ate my last suggestion. I wanted to be above the obviously land based creature. Oh well.)

Toxic: Scars may be brave, but that does not mean he blindly charges in to every challenge. A brave warrior may still pause to learn what he can of the danger before rushing headlong into it. And above all, you must trust your warrior's instincts.

Hiding does not prevent you from communicating, it only postpones it, and lets you do so without tipping your hand, so you can do it on your own terms. You and you alone should step out of hiding a short distance from the others and fill the air with greetings. Make sure your escort remains absolutely still, in case the creature can sense ground vibrations, like the Flash can. If it turns hostile, the others are to swarm out of hiding.
>>
No. 58303 ID: 43d730

>>58233
SOLPUGID
FUCK FUCK FUCK
It's going to be seventy different kinds of vicious, probably.
I would suggest an all-out attack if I didn't have a horror of that entire genus.
>>
No. 58391 ID: d1210a

>>58301
(talk)
>>58303
(maybe attack)

!!REMINDER:!! Toxic was originally slated to attempt to contact the wasp side of the conflict, and as such, any action now requires group consensus. Go ahead an post you preferred action, even if another poster has already stated it, for voting purposes.

!!REMINDER:!! Wings Of Destiny can fly, and thanks to that, could likely be dispatched to nearly any currently known location within this time-stamp. Additionally, she can carry a load up to her own body weight.


What should be done? (reminder: Orders for specific heroes should be prefaced with the hero's name in brackets)
>>
No. 58435 ID: 6faa8c

Toxic is our poison bug, right? With the stinger? Hurm.

Diplomance it first.
>>
No. 58436 ID: 6faa8c

Scars eat the Metal.
Then have Wings airlift you to Toxic. there's fightan to be done!
>>
No. 58444 ID: 1d375b

Yeah lets beef up scars before going to far.
>>
No. 58467 ID: b7aed8

Thought we were gonna have Killer Queen eat The Metal? Near-impenetrable leader unit and all that, which'd prolly be handy if anything ever comes after the main nest. Or just to get her some more personal combat time in.
>>
No. 58471 ID: 6faa8c

>>58467
as others said, if the Queen needs that, we've already fucked up.
>>
No. 58590 ID: ed8d8a

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

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

>>58391
>!!REMINDER:!! sent to talk to wasps.
We decided on that? man I don't remember it at all. I thought we were going to take a look at both sides. Oh well. Even if we are here to make enemies, the distraction based ambush is not a terrible place to start, and he might surprise us and be all friendly.
>>
No. 58712 ID: d1210a

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

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

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

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

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


Orders?
>>
No. 58714 ID: 42a1a0

>>58712
Give The Metal's corpse to Scars.
>>
No. 58757 ID: ed8d8a

>>58714
He returns!

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


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


In any event, there were several things which were on hold until Scars returned. I don't want to send him off again right away. If we are going to reinforce Toxic's party, Wings and maybe some additional Flash and/or Do6L might have to do. Still not clear on how much she can carry. Scars should go attempt to make contact with these clearly formidable creatures feeding from the flowers before they fly off again.
>>
No. 58797 ID: d1210a

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

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

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

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

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

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

Or at least, there were such foes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Orders?
>>
No. 58808 ID: 632862

>>58797
Status on PULSATING GROWTH?
>>
No. 58863 ID: ed8d8a

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

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

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

so much going on concurrently >_< I think I liked the one thing at a time approach better.
>>
No. 59001 ID: d1210a
File 125487079325.jpg - (102.31KB , 1152x864 , Wasp Near Crescent.jpg )
59001

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

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

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

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


What should be done?
>>
No. 60345 ID: ed8d8a

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

Scars: You and some of your more agile forces should climb the surrounding plants (I suspect TMBGs may be incapable of such feats) and attempt to contact the creature from there. Or am I misunderstanding the distance between flowers?
Have the rest stay on the ground with the Giants. If the creature turns hostile, your priority will be to get it to the ground so the heavies can lay into it. Otherwise, ask if it hunts the Mandarinians, and that is why they leave it alone, if it is part of the Collective, a Fight Song participant, etc. Do not mention that Crescent is nearby.
>>
No. 60348 ID: 427807

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

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

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

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

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

Because there is no way we can take on the empire right now.
>>
No. 60997 ID: d1210a

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

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

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

...Perhaps discretion is called for.

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

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


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


....how should the ants act? (Toxic and her group are still hiding from the giant spider, There are two known Sand Pit Monster [Ant Lion] nests that still contain inhabitants, there is a mass of pale threads containing bound corpses and imprisoned insects nearby, Scars Of Yesterday detected two potential Valiances within Crescent, the mutated The Merciless is still idle, and Blue Mind Riot will be returning with the fungus and aphids next timestamp.)
>>
No. 61001 ID: 6faa8c

>>60997
Feed the Growth half of The Metal.

Flash: Greet the creature. Run at first sign of aggresion.
>>
No. 61006 ID: 378cac

>>61001
This. Also have Killer Queen eat some of The Metal too, maybe there's still enough punch left in the carcass to give her the Valiance as well.
>>
No. 61007 ID: ed8d8a

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

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

As for Toxic, I still think he should step out of hiding a short distance from the others and fill the air with greetings to overpower the scent of other ants, and make sure the others stay still, in case the creature can sense ground vibrations. If it turns hostile, the others are to swarm out of hiding.
>>
No. 61674 ID: d1210a

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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


How should the Flash Respond?

>>61007 [Toxic:]

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


What should I do?
>>
No. 61725 ID: 632862

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

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

I don't have any ideas for Toxic.
>>
No. 61739 ID: ed8d8a

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

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

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

--------
Toxic: Fuggin knew it. Feels vibrations like a Flash. Well, cover is blown now, it knows something is in the area, so if you don't want it to find your entire group, they need to stay PERFECTLY STILL, and you need to distract it with communication attempts and draw it closer.
>>
No. 61774 ID: 9891a9

>>61674
Let's follow the scent, The Metal isn't going anywhere.
>>
No. 62010 ID: a3b36a

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

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

Have those ants shown the Queen their lever trick yet? Or regaled her with the tale of discovery? Or a combination of the two?
>>
No. 62137 ID: d1210a

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

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

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


How should the ants respond?

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

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


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

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

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

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


What should I do?
>>
No. 62277 ID: 632862

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

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

Toxic should ask for a response, I'm thinking, and prepare for a possible attack.
>>
No. 62496 ID: ed8d8a

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


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

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

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

Scars: you are fastest besides the Flash. Dash to the colony, prepare a contingent to collapse a section of Stealin inward if we can get the wasp to land above it. Flash should be able to detect the vibrations from inside and give the signal to strike.
>>
No. 63112 ID: d1210a
File 12552824258.jpg - (648.07KB , 960x960 , KILLER QUEEN Flight Restored.jpg )
63112

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

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

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

"Bow thine head, progeny of mine."

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

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

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

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


What should KILLER QUEEN do?

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

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

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


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


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


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

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


What should be done/said?
>>
No. 63220 ID: ed8d8a

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

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

Queen: um, just keep doing your thing I guess. Continue tracking the scent.
>>
No. 63491 ID: d1210a
File 125537404785.jpg - (121.28KB , 800x534 , Burn Crazy The Hellion Is HUGE.jpg )
63491

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

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

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


What should the ants say/do?

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

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

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


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

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

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

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


What should I do?

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

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


Orders?
>>
No. 64705 ID: 954933

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

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

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

Also going to throw a post in Discussion about the quest as it stands - bit of feedback, just don't want to clog up the thread.
>>
No. 64863 ID: d1210a

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

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


What ants should she summon, and how shall she use them to find the scent's source? Remember, only KILLER QUEEN can perceive the scent, and nothing is known about the source of the scent.
>>
No. 64869 ID: 82167e

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

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

We should probably at least have our D6Ls ready for whatever, if this thing happens to be an enemy. Keep them with us.
>>
No. 64878 ID: d1210a

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

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

That can be handled.

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

....
...?

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

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


What should KILLER QUEEN do?
>>
No. 64882 ID: 43d730

>>64878
Flood the room with minions, do sweeping searches, plug the entrance with yourself and whatever minions are needed.
>>
No. 64886 ID: d1210a

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

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

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

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

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

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


What should KILLER QUEEN do?
>>
No. 64889 ID: ed8d8a

>>64886
Physically block the chamber entrance, with TMBG or better yet soil. Spread the Flash around the outside walls straining every sense to detect movement. Everyone but QUEEN should stay still as she enters the room to look around herself.
>>
No. 64896 ID: d1210a

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

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

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

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


What should KILLER QUEEN do?
>>
No. 64915 ID: 632862

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

This is kinda weird though. If it's an ant, it's defying the Queen by running away.
>>
No. 64924 ID: 1d375b

Maybe its something crawling in the earth around the chamber walls? Or could be something that can cloak itself.
>>
No. 64928 ID: d1210a

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

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

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


What should KILLER QUEEN do?
>>
No. 64940 ID: 1d375b

Have the ants link up in a chain and sweep the room.
>>
No. 64941 ID: a1ac99

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

It's either that or it's hanging from the ceiling and very, very small.
>>
No. 64944 ID: d1210a

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

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

...So far, nothing has been found.


Should KILLER QUEEN continue sweeping the room, or do something else?
>>
No. 64948 ID: 1d375b

Have the rest keep sweeping the room while you try and talk to whatever might be here.
>>
No. 64951 ID: 632862

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

If it still results in no discoveries, then reopen the room. Block the exit with one or more ants until the air is vented, so that tracking with scent can be done once more.
>>
No. 64952 ID: 7ef24d

Fan dirt through the area via sustained wingbeats, if something's camo'd in there and hiding on the wall/ceiling or whatever, the pattern of the dust falling should give it away.
>>
No. 64957 ID: 1d375b

Forgot we have wings now that's a good idea.
>>
No. 64968 ID: d1210a

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

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

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

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

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


What should KILLER QUEEN do now?
>>
No. 64972 ID: 632862

>>64968
Okay, it seems the scent-bearing ant has blended in with the Queen's entourage. Open up the room, Queen exits and waits in the next chamber right at the entrance to it. Have each ant come through individually; the Queen will inspect each one in turn until the scent reveals itself.
>>
No. 64978 ID: 1d375b

Should also give us a chance to air out the room.
>>
No. 64980 ID: 82167e

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

Wow, this fucker is tricky. I half wonder if it's burrowing through the walls or something.
>>
No. 64988 ID: a1ac99

>>64980
A burrower was my initial thought too. Should we just start digging, tear the room apart and be done with it? Seems like the quickest route, but my question is why would it stay near this room after running away from us for so long if it could burrow?
>>
No. 64993 ID: d1210a

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

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

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

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

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


What should KILLER QUEEN do?
>>
No. 64995 ID: 632862

>>64993
Order the ant back inside until the smell abates some. It'll just give a false positive at this point.
>>
No. 64996 ID: 1d375b

Keep everyone where they are move down the hallway and start venting the hallway with your wings. You might be able to disperse the smell enough to discover the source.
>>
No. 65009 ID: d1210a
File 125558117569.jpg - (88.42KB , 800x549 , Ant In Chamber.jpg )
65009

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

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

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

What should KILLER QUEEN do?
>>
No. 65017 ID: ed8d8a

Man, I just wanna have Wings of Destiny come in and gas the whole room. All this crowd control would be easier if everybody else was knocked out.
>>
No. 65019 ID: 632862

>>65009
Well... I guess... Make another exit tunnel, instructing a few Merciless to stand where it emerges, and not to allow anything to exit it. Then continue to vent it via wing power, and after the smell stops continue the individual inspection strategy.
>>
No. 65034 ID: d1210a

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

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

What should KILLER QUEEN do?
>>
No. 65035 ID: 1d375b

Lets try gassing the room first. Maybe the haze will have some effect.
>>
No. 65095 ID: 954933

>>65034
Gas the crap out of the room and use it as an opportunity to get inexplicably cranky at Wings of Destiny a bit for not being the perfect subservient ant.
>>
No. 65149 ID: d1210a
File 125564218391.jpg - (100.49KB , 800x550 , Ant Pleading.jpg )
65149

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

......

......

......

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

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


What should KILLER QUEEN do?
>>
No. 65150 ID: 43d730

>>65149
Evacuate everyone but the TMBGs to block the door, Wings and KQ.
I'm assuming KQ isn't as affected, the TMBGs will serve to block the doorway even if they die (the effort wasted is regrettable, but catching an invisible intruder is more important) and Wings is presumably immune to the effects?
In any case, have KQ and Wings search the room.
>>
No. 65155 ID: d1210a

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

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

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

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


What should KILLER QUEEN do?
>>
No. 65164 ID: 632862

Remove all the nonmoving ants from the chamber to one with fresh air so they can be identified as smelly or not. As more slump over, continue the process with them.
>>
No. 65167 ID: d1210a

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

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

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

.....

.....

.....

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

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

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


What should KILLER QUEEN do?
>>
No. 65170 ID: 1d375b

Unless you are about to have piles of dead ants everywhere we should keep going. Keep a eye on the ants still standing. If one of them is the source then they might be sturdier than the rest.
>>
No. 65173 ID: 632862

>>65167
Cut to the chase. Inspect the loudmouthed one.
>>
No. 65176 ID: b56c26

>>65173
>>65167
i agree with this
>>
No. 65184 ID: b56c26

>>65173
>>65167
i agree with this
>>
No. 65238 ID: 82167e

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

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

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

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

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

Anyways. THAT FLASH IS A SPY. Or something. Make sure you block the hell out of its escape as you confront it. This thing is tricky as hell to be able to blend in like it does, and it already understands the hive dynamics enough.
>>
No. 65282 ID: d1210a
File 125571128814.jpg - (95.99KB , 800x551 , Ant Suspected 1.jpg )
65282

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

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

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

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

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


KILLER QUEEN get ready to address the accused ant. What should she say?
>>
No. 65283 ID: 43d730

>>65282
Just glare and keep pumping.
>>
No. 65304 ID: 954933

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

No nonsense, no chance for bullshit. Look menacing. "Explain yourself."
>>
No. 65326 ID: d1210a
File 125572090696.jpg - (65.39KB , 479x600 , Ant Suspected 2.jpg )
65326

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

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

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

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

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

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


What should KILLER QUEEN do/say?
>>
No. 65332 ID: 43d730

>>65326
You doubt that I would know my children?
Who are you, what are you, and how did you fool my offspring?
>>
No. 65337 ID: 1d375b

Explain that how we discovered it should be obvious by now. Ask it more about its colony and why its all alone sneaking around our nest.
>>
No. 65356 ID: 632862

>>65326
"You smell... delicious. Tell me why I shouldn't eat you, strange ant."
>>
No. 65422 ID: 0d6c6a

it isn't an ant. Eat it
>>
No. 65511 ID: d1210a

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

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

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

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

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


What should KILLER QUEEN say/do?
>>
No. 65528 ID: ed8d8a

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

Wings: Now is your chance to show KILLER QUEEN that you are an asset. Despite your uncertainty and awkwardness around her, you are a champion of the Fight Song. You are smarter and more powerful than any of your sisters. Bull rush the intruder, like Metallica would.
>>
No. 65533 ID: 632862

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

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

Still, casualties would be enevitable, and both D6L and TMBG are difficult to replace. Perhaps an arrangement can be met. We could employ him. In exchange for food, he can work as a scout for us.
>>
No. 65543 ID: 1d375b

If you wanted food and answers you should have come to us openly. Stealing from someone and threatening them in there home is not a way to make friends. Stand down or die.
>>
No. 65751 ID: d1210a
File 125582457072.png - (16.98KB , 832x638 , Invader Status.png )
65751

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

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

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

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

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


What should KILLER QUEEN say/do? (refer to picture for rough placement of ants)
>>
No. 65752 ID: d1210a

>>65751
(And Death On Six Legs are the bright red dots)
>>
No. 65764 ID: 1d375b

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

After telling him that ask what Wings sees when she looks at this ant.
>>
No. 65771 ID: 632862

>>65751
Tell him you first figured out which ant he was by noting that there were too many Flash present. Then a closer examination revealed his true form. Also, his smell was detected after eating of a special corpse. Now, get him to answer our question.
>>
No. 65778 ID: 33bb8b

>>65764
Yeah, pretty much. "I can smell you, I can see you, I can hear you. What else can there be to perception? Your form is similar to my brood, and your scent pervades the colony with a density that makes you hard to pinpoint, but always I perceive your presence. Here you stand, and I simply know that you are not mine. Are you yourself aware of how your skill functions?"
>>
No. 65809 ID: d1210a
File 125583042470.jpg - (35.09KB , 800x533 , Ant Suspected 4.jpg )
65809

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


How should KILLER QUEEN respond?
>>
No. 65819 ID: 1d375b

At the moment we plan on building our forces and learning more about our surroundings before directly dealing with the empire. They do know we exist so we will stay hidden as best we can for now.
>>
No. 65822 ID: 33bb8b

>>65809
Destroying the Mandarinian Empire is a stepping stone along our path, not goal itself. Current plan, subject to change as we learn more about the world: Build up a power base by expanding our holdings, gathering information and resources wherever they can be found, and collecting allies to integrate into our own budding empire. They are formidable, but we have proven that we can stand against them, especially when they underestimate us, so we will not let them know our full strength until we find a place to strike.
>>
No. 65831 ID: d1210a
File 125583337696.jpg - (36.49KB , 800x534 , Ant Suspected 5.jpg )
65831

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

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

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


How should KILLER QUEEN respond?
>>
No. 65835 ID: 632862

>>65831
She could not think for herself. All other ants with special abilities were able to do so. She had gained her legs from eating of the strange roots of the yellow flowers, and there was no indication that she would continue to develop in any way. Knowing what you say now, perhaps it was rash in eating her... but now, her budding power serves her Queen directly.
>>
No. 65838 ID: d1210a

>>65835
(and what question should she ask back? Or should she take another action?)
>>
No. 65840 ID: a1ac99

"You say specialized and mention another daughter of my mother's, one, "Running Wild." I am left to assume that your colony is gone. Were you of her colony or were you vanquished by it?"
>>
No. 65849 ID: d1210a
File 125583610558.jpg - (186.37KB , 800x563 , Death On Six Legs Listening.jpg )
65849

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

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

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

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


How should KILLER QUEEN answer Wings Of Destiny?

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

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

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

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

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


How should KILLER QUEEN respond?
>>
No. 65865 ID: 632862

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

Before we accept this agreement, ask how Running Wild managed this feat, and why she did it in the first place.
>>
No. 65868 ID: 6faa8c

>>65849
Eh. Depends on if we can get the alliance of our sister. If every one of your siblings produces a nest like our own and we can ally, holy shit no.
>>
No. 65872 ID: 33bb8b

>>65849

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

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

(in before these are the mindless ants to the southwest)
>>
No. 65877 ID: a1ac99

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

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

Then attempting to get the secrets of masking pheromones out of this ant as pay for its protection in the interim.
>>
No. 65922 ID: d1210a

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

"Insufficient."

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

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

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

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

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


How should KILLER QUEEN respond?
(This will be done by general consensus, so post whatever views/thoughts you have on the choice, but please only vote once.)
>>
No. 65931 ID: 632862

>>65922
I say we accept this proposal. Its stealing from the colony seems less offensive after hearing their story. Also the collapsed ants can be taken to another room once we move... and tactically moving to another room might actually be better for us. More TMBG would have to be used to block entrances, and unless the Purple Haze is unusually crippling for this ant they won't much of an advantage.
>>
No. 65952 ID: 1d375b

I think its worth it to get as much info as possible out of this guy. We can decide to ally or eat him later. Also will give us a chance to equip our giants with tinfoil hats.
>>
No. 66147 ID: 28b933

>>65952
Agreed.
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