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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Two more to go.

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

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


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

>>76456

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

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

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

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

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


What should I do?

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

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

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

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

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

No.

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

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

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

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

I will follow the path that Scars still walks.

I will follow the Valiant path.

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

THUNDERSHOCK

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

.....What did I do?

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

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

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


What should I do?

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

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

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

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

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

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

THUNDERSTRUCK

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

No, this is still not enough.

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

Now only one remains.

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

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

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

Hah, I suppose I will find out shortly.

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

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

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

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


What should I do?

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

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

>>77024
"Are you satisfied now?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


What should I say/do?

>>77047
I support the name Battery.

>>77054
I support this support.

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

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

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


What should I do?

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

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

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

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

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

Oh? Interesting news indeed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please choose the next focus of attention:

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

>>77413
I support this.

>>77413
>>77421

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

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

STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND SELECTED

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

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

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

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

What should be fed to the growth, if anything?

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

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

Offer growth Pearl Jam

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

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

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


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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


How should the ants attempt to communicate with the growth?

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

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

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

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

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

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


What should the ants respond with?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

...And name it Pulling Teeth.

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

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

what still needs to happen before time stamp advances?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

>>78824
I'm gonna say Missing Link.

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

>>78824
>>78245
burn crazy hellion

>>78824
The Color One Wears

>The Colors One Wears

>>78824
The Colors One Wears.

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