TLDunn213

It was young, not quite full grown, about a year and a half old. Just old enough to be striking out on its own and learning how to use its displacement abilities. Had it been full grown and skilled with its abilities I doubt I could have killed it so easily. I would need to be more careful in the future. As I looked at the body I wondered if the meat had any food value left. The skin was clearly dried out and leathery. I tried stabbing into it with my claws. And was rewarded with a spray of blood as I slashed open its belly. I grabbed the sides of the wound and heaved ripping the body open. The heart, lungs, and so on all looked fresh. I pealed away some more of the skin to look at the meat along the side; also fresh. It looked like it was the shock of being drained more than the draining itself which killed it. I slashed away some more of the skin and then ripped away a strip of flesh about two inches wide by about six long. Then I called the Shadow Fire to my hand and started draining it. Energy flowed into me and the meat started drying out, taking on the look of jerky. I stopped at that point and took a bite. Chewy, not too dry, and not as flavorless as I had feared. Young Slider Beast it seems are good eating. Waste not, want not. And so I took a few minutes removing the guts and tossing them away from the watering hole and deeper into the forest. With that done I climbed a nearby tree and simply held the carcass by the back legs, after slashing the throat, and waited for the rest of the blood to drain out. It didn't take long, as I used a bit of my Shadow Fire to help things along. Once it was no longer dripping blood, I threw it over my shoulders and headed back to the cave. I could then cut it into strips and dry them; some over the fire pit and some with my Shadow Fire. I wanted to compare the results and see if there were any differences worth noting.

As I drew closer to my chosen tree I saw that one of its neighbors had fallen, creating a fair sized basin about half full of water. I hadn't brought anything to carry water in, but it was still worth checking if the water was good. As I was leaning down over the pool to scoop up a handful there came a snarl from above and a Slider Beast leaped down aiming right at me. I lashed out with my Shadow Fire even as I lost my balance and fell into the pool. It was deeper than I'd expected, and hard to get out of due to the rain making everything slippery. Once I was ashore again I looked around, berating myself for not doing so before. As a watering hole like this was an obvious ambush site. The Slider Beast was on the ground, dead. Desiccated in fact, and I felt a new level of vitality flowing through me. Clearly my Shadow Fire had drained its life force as well as its magic. A fast and effective way to feed. Yet I felt repulsed by what I had done, as if it were an unclean, unnatural thing. And at the same time it felt totally natural; even good. As if this was how I was meant to feed. Further proof, as if I needed it, of my dual nature. A past life as a "normal" person, and this new life given to me by my unknown makers. Finding out more about them had just become much more important to me. More important, but, at the moment, no more achievable. So I turned my attention to the body of the creature I had slain.

It was early morning, an hour or so after sunrise, gray and overcast with a light mist of rain and the sent of early autumn in the air. Another skill, this reading of the weather, that felt more like a lifelong habit than programming. As I stepped out of the cave and fully into the damp my body adapted, my scales sliding out from under each other so as to cover my fur. Scales shed water better than fur, which can have a giveaway oder when wet. Had it been cold rather than damp my scales would have moved the other way to give me a more insulating cover of fur on top. As this knowledge came to my mind so too came the awareness that I could mentally override my body's natural reactions if need be. I didn't bother analyzing the matter further, as it was enough to know I could at that point. Even as I was making these discoveries about myself my eyes had been scanning for firewood, food, danger, and any other information that might prove useful. The dead tree a few hundred yards ahead, to the right, was likely to have a good supply of fallen branches under it. Assuming that it wasn't the source of the wood already in the cave. But even then there was a good chance of there being enough left to be worth the trip and where there was deadwood there was also a good chance of finding eatable fungi. Again, a certain feeling that I would know the safe fungi on sight, even though I could find no data file in my mind relating to foraging for food.

With hunger satisfied and no real reason to expect anyone to turn up anytime soon; I opted to go out and explore the wider world. There were a few reasons for doing so. First was a need for more information. I knew nothing about where I was. No maps in my mind or the complex I'd come from. And without such information there was no way to follow the directive to seek the closest active base; assuming any such still existed. So while that directive was a factor, it was a rather weak one. My remaining reasons were a mix of pragmatism and good manners. The food catch here wouldn't last forever, and it's common courtesy to restock a way station after use, if one is able to do so. This felt like an ingrained habit, rather than a programmed directive; Strange. One more item pointing to a past life. Interesting if true, But not something I could do anything about just now. So I set it off to the side in my mind; a puzzle needing further information; and set about exploring. I chose to make firewood my first objective. I wasn't in any great need of it but the needed looking around to find it would fill my mind with a large catch of raw data that I could sort after I returned with both firewood and a successfully completed task.

Having already discovered the lack of food in the cooking chamber that left only the guard post, and the world beyond. There was a closed two panel door separating the actual guard post from the living quarters. And when I feed power into the locking mechanism an illusion spell was activated as the door opened. Allowing me to observe the room beyond while hiding the fact that anything had changed from anyone in the chamber beyond. This spell was also in better repair than the ones below, leading me to conclude that guards had remained for sometime after the lower chambers had been abandoned. The outer chamber itself looked like a natural cave and once the doors closed I would have been hard pressed to find them again if I didn't already know exactly where to look. Once that bit of information was imprinted in my memory I turned to exploring the rest of the cave. Someone, likely not my makers, had been using the cave as a camp or way station for sometime. There was a fire pit close to the cave mouth with a pile of sleeping furs a bit further back and off to one side. And against the wall on the other side were an assortment of clay pots and woven baskets. Which, as expected held dried fruits, meats, and other assorted foodstuffs. And, in the case of some jugs to the back, some fermented drink that I didn't like the smell or taste of. So I went back for a couple of containers of water and some cooking pots. And even took one of the spell powered cooking plates from the stove. The spell weave would be worth studying. Then I set up camp in the cave. And had my first meal. I'm not going to bother trying to describe that stew of dried meat and grains. Looking back on it now, it was one of the blandest meals I've evere eaten. But at the time it was the richest most savory mix of flavors I had ever known. The ashes in the fire pit had been cold before I started a new fire with some of the twigs and wood I found behind the food catch. So no one had been here for at least a few days. As to why I chose to camp in the cave with beds close by... All I can say is it felt right. Something about meeting whoever was using this cave on a more even footing. Along with a reflexive desire to keep the hidden complex I'd come from, well, hidden.

I awoke sometime later needing to use the sanitary chamber. Having taken care of the need which awakened me I explored further and discovered that the plumbing for the bathing unit was also functional and that soap, towels, washcloths, and so on were all available. I retrieved what I needed and added some extra energy to the stasis spell holding the rest. Surprisingly it was in much better shape than the ones below had been. I wondered about this as I used the facilities, and about how natural and routine that use seemed. Unless I were being prepared for a covert operation, why include such skills ? There was something about all this that lurked in my mind just beyond reach. I set the problem aside. The needed information would turn up sooner or later; and until then dwelling on it was a waste of energy. And that brought me back to my ongoing problem, food.

I climbed, and climbed. How long I could not say. While I had the words for time; minutes, hours, days, and so on; I had no way of marking their passage. I climbed, rested, and climbed some more. During the third rest I metabolised some of my stored magic. My bodily energies were replenished but the feeling of hunger, the need to truly eat something was unabated; if anything it grew stronger. I wondered about this as I climbed, having nothing else to occupy my mind. It was as if I missed eating. But how could that be ? How could I miss something I had never known ? I had no memories before my awaking on the table, and yet... I knew things; things that one would have little reason to program into a synthoid. Including my intuition about having such knowledge and intuition. My musings were interrupted by my arrival at the top of the stairs. A small alcove with a three person sleeping chamber beyond. Small cooking chamber to one side, sanitary room to the other, and a watch post straight ahead. I checked the cooking chamber first. No food. But several containers of water. I tasted it a then drank deeply. I hadn't known thirst until I tasted the water, but once I did... I can find no words to fully express that experience; you will simply have to imagine as best you can. With thirst slaked I was left with hunger and a need for sleep. And with beds close by a food an unknown...

Having reached the conclusion that I would have to venture forth into the world beyond, I endeavored to equip myself as best I could from what was available. Food, the prime reason for going forth in the first place. Even so I gathered as many of the light crystals as I could find and concentrated their magic into about a dozen crystals. Not really food, but they could serve; and they might be useful in other ways. And thus to tools. Apart from the clothing I was now wearing and the dagger with the missing gem; there wasn't much to find. Test tubes and beakers were not likely to be useful where I was going. I did take one of the chill plates from one of the refrigerators wrapped in a couple of layers of cloth. Wasn't sure what I'd use it for. But if nothing else I could study the spell weave on it, and In a pinch I could "eat" it. Add a blanket from one of the beds, and pack everything in the belt pouch of holding and I was as prepared as I could get under the circumstances. And so, onward and upwards.

The room beyond the door was larger and far more equipped, a full working lab. Just as long and thoroughly abandoned as I had expected. Whoever my makers were they had left in haste, but not in panic. Everything that had been left behind had been put away neatly. Light Crystals, for example had been taken from their sockets and placed in storage boxes to preserve their magic. I drained several to improve my personal store of magic and placed a few more in the pocket of lab coat I'd found. It wasn't much but the pockets gave me a way to keep a few things with me and still have my hands free. Beyond the lab to the north were sleeping quarters with bathing/sanitary chambers to the left and cooking/dining facilities to the right and an alcove and ascending stairway straight ahead. That it was north was just something I knew with out knowing how I knew it. The sleeping quarters proved a treasure trove. A tunic and hooded cloak of some grayish brown material. (Yes, I used one of the light crystals to look.) A knife that someone had dropped behind one of the beds. There were traces of magic about it that seemed to center around an empty socket in the pommel where a gem might go. I resolved to search for the gem later as I had found a greater treasure. A belt pouch of holding. The spell weave on it was faint and fading but intact. I sat down on one of the beds and carefully probed the weave with my shadow fire. Which turned silver as I reversed the flow and started slowly feeding power into the weave. I would not have been able to build such a weave from scratch even after the time I spent studying this one, But to know one, to recharge, and even fix minor breaks... Yes, these skills I now had. Two treasures in one find, a useful magic item and a new skill. The work also lead me to the first real problem in my new life; hunger. Which lead to discovering the kitchens and their complete lack of food. I sensed that I could sustain myself on magical energies if I had to; but there were only so many magical items down here to drain, and using magic this way was inefficient and wasteful.

I awakened, Alone and in darkness. I waited. Someone will come and tell me my purpose, Give me a mission, a goal, And the tools and information need to carry it out. But no one came. I searched my mind for information, For purpose, For Anything. There were gaps, holes, places where information should go. But thankfully all was not emptiness. I was Grendel 621. An ID tag more than a name. Names would be provided, if needed. Tools; I could see, even in the darkness of the empty room in which I lay. I knew language, The names of things, How things worked. I had a purpose, of sorts. Observe, Learn, Remember, Analyze. My analysis of this told me that it was meant as a sub-directive to be related to an on going mission. If no ongoing mission, Gather useful information, Survive, Return to Base. If Primary Base compromised or abandoned seek closest active base. A purpose. Yes. Not much of one, but enough. I sat up and looked around. The room was a cube about 10 feet on each side. Containing myself, The table I was sitting on, Stale air, and darkness. I got off the table to inspect it better. There were faintly glowing Runes around the edge. A now failing Stasis Spell. Instinctively I reached out with a tongue of Shadow Flame from my hand and drained the last bits of magic from it. A tool I hadn't known I had until then. I looked at my hands. Claw like nails, Sharp, Dangerous, and able to inject a Venom that would grant the subject Fast Healing and pain resistance while also making them very open to my commands. Useful, if there were people around to use it on. At the foot end of the table was a metal plate "Grendel 621". Conformation of existing information. I thought about taking it with me, but realized I had no practical way of carrying it. I lacked clothing or even a utility harness. A lack I had not noticed until now as my scales and fur had been adequate covering in the closed room. A quick examination lead me to the remaining point of interest, The door. A smooth slab of stone with only a faint seam separating it from the wall. Then I found the small rectangle off to one side. I released some of the Magic from the table into it, and was rewarded with a faint grinding noise and slight movement of the door. I applied more power and the door rose about a foot off the floor. As this was enough space to get out I chose to save the little bit of Power I had left and slid under the door. On a last second impulse I grabbed the ID tag from the table, It might be useful for something later.

"Beware the Styx Golems that are sometimes found along the banks and upon the islands of this region." I read. Well, that would explain why Latara was trapped on Skull Island; a spray of water from a Styx Golem would have the same effect as a dip in the Styx itself. And with a spray range of over 60 feet... No, there's more to it than that. She could fly above them, Unless... She's found something. Something important and too heavy or bulky to fly away with. Well, I might as well get some rest. Uncle E A had left a stash of all the supplies needed to open the way to the Styx from the graveyard behind the wayside chapel west of Miskatonic. So all that was left was waiting until after sunset. Well after sunset given what some members of our little group look like. And just that many people heading for a graveyard after dark... Likely to attract a bit of notice. But we are all rather good at skulking about, so, traveling alone should work. I smothered a yawn and lay down on the couch.

Thanks. Once I get past the reflexive "I liked the old one better" reaction, This new layout looks pretty cool.

So, why did things change ? And how do I change my display name back to what it was?

While often described as "cat like" these creatures have enough uncatlike features as to make such a statement almost unhelpful. But one must start somewhere, and the basic body shape is feline in nature. But the noncat features will imeaditly catch your notice thereafter. The pebbely camelion like skin and retractable tentacles sprouting from the shoulders being the most obvious. With the three triangular optic membrane eyes and fern shaped retractable antini "ears" running a close second. As to the question of origin, many blame Wild Magic. But given the optic membrane eyes, antini ears, and especially their displacement, or Sliding, abilities... Although notably different from that of the Morlocks it is similar enough to suggest the use of their DNA. But let's take a look at both abilities. Morlocks have a personal super possion field of about 300 yards usable at will several times per day. The exact range and number of uses varying from individual to individual. Slider Beast on the other hand create a second self which then slides to a new location within a given range, (30 to 50 feet, on average). While bi-located both copies are both "real" and "not real" until the Beast resolves again at one location or the other. While this ability is similar to that of the Displacons, Slider Beast seem unable to breach enclosed spaces with it. A detail for which we can all be quite thankful. The fern like "ears" also point to the creature being designed as they both allow targeting of tentacle strikes against unseen foes and by being retractable afford excellent protection against sound based attacks. The main argument against them being a product of BioMancy is the lack of records of either their creation or planed use. But that is a rather weak argument as they could predate the war or have been an unauthorised side project. And if the lab were later distroyed...

"Rasputin, haven't heard that name in awhile." Gus rumbled. "What ever happened to him anyway ?" "Not sure. Last I heard he was trying something with a Crystal skull and a Tome of Varque. Something about finding a way to use it without getting Possessed. Skull was supposed to act as a trap for the possessing spirit. A good idea in theory. But with a spirit as strong as Varque..." "I'll check with Melkior next time I'm back that way. You know he'd keep tabs on something like that." "For sure. And thanks Gus. Now that we're talking about it I'm wondering what did happen. But, right now we've got an egg to hatch."

"We thank you. We will all be better for a bit of rest. And Latara isn't in immediate danger, just trapped." Yeriko said rising. "Where will you be, if we wake before you ?" "The Reading room is at the far end of this hallway. I'll catch my nap on one of the couches in there once I've got a list made." I said and left the room. So Latara Silvermane had gone exploring along the Stix and ended up trapped. That was a useful hint, as it was likely Skull Island she was stuck on. And I knew which Journals were likely to have stuff about it. Uncle EA had done quite a few ballades about the the battle there that proved to be a turning point in the war. It was even a good bet that Latara had gotten the clues she needed that way; what with her being a Bard as well and SilverFrost being a collector of music. Which made me wonder why the Dragon wasn't flying to his granddaughter's rescue. Especially as her Dracon link to him was the most likely way for her to have called for help in the first place. Oh well, one problem at a time. Find the maps and related notes first. Mostly the notes. If I remembered right the graveyard just south of town would put us on the banks of the Styx just a short ways from the island. The real question was what was keeping Latara trapped there. A Silver Dracon with Bardic Magic and the ability to fly is not easy to trap after all. Hopefully Yeriko knew what we'd be facing and had some ideas about how to deal with it. Now where were Uncle EA's journals...?

When one avenue of enquiry fails, others must be tried. And so I can now record the missing details of the Displacons. Let's start at the top this time. That gem like thing on the forehead is a chloroplast, or rather a collection of several thousand of them. To feed the Displacon places a ball of damp soil in its mouth and sits in the sunlight for a few hours. Maybe with a water bag dripping on its gill frill if it's going to be working in a dry environment. Except for some nerve fibers leading from the "eyes" the skull is mostly empty space where extra glucose is stored. With tubes leading down to the brains, hearts, and lungs. The creature could be decapitated and survive assuming it could get enough sugar water to eat until the head grew back. A process that could take several weeks. So it would more likely spawn five or six young, which would only take three or four days. This being due in part to already being almost a hive having five or six brains, hearts, livers, and, lung clusters scattered around in its torso. So no single vital spot there either. There is a central corodanating brain, but the others can get along without it. Just as losing the head doesn't totally blind it, as it has secondary " eyes" on the end of its tentacles. Not as good as the main eyes, but good enough. The Displacon also has a rather unusual manner of breathing. Air for the torso is taken in through slits along the sides of the torso which can be closed when operating underwater. The intake is effected by a muscular sack around each lung cluster serving as a lesser diafram with a greater diafram near the top of the neck which both serves to aid in bringing air into the torso and to bring air into the skull for use by the chloroplasts there. If need be the creature can close its nose and side slits and even colaps its gill frill and rely on a gas exchange between the torso and the skull. While able to survive in such a state its ability to take action is greatly reduced. As to why they die and spawn when captured, this is related to their Displacement ability. An adult can displace itself about 30 feet even through solid rock. Assuming no magical barrier and a clear space for the second self to appeare. New spawned Displacons are only about half a foot tall and can only displace about 10 feet, alone. But they can work together to chain slide each one projecting the next 10 feet further on. So working as team they can pass through up to 60 feet of solid rock if need be. It is unclear if adult Displacons can chain slide or not. It is also unclear as to why they work alone unless their prime is killed. As to DNA mixing and reproduction the notes I have are incomplete. While there is reference to such a process there are no details as to how it is accomplished. (Finally found out how to include the image that inspired this.)

This strange race appeared around the same time as the Scorpanocks, but it is less clear who made them, or why. The best guess is that they were intended as scout/sniper support for the Gith rebellion. But the ZarAk make no claim of being the creators. Which leaves the Aqualith as the most likely, but so far this is unconfirmed. It is quite hard to study this race as no live members, as yet, have volunteered. And dead ones are of little use as their internal organs begin breaking down into goo almost imeadeatly after death. While most believe this to be a way by which the Aqualith protect the secrets of their BioMancy; I suspect that it may be a regeneration and/or reproductive mechanism. With one, or more, Displacons rising from the remains. But no one has been able to prove this as any anti-magic warding strong enough to keep them from using their displacement ability prevents the resurrection process and seems to be fatal to any live specimens trapped in this manner after just a few hours. And so far there are no good theories as to why. But enough complaining and on to the information we do have... Starting at the feet we have two clawed toes well suited to grasping stonewalls and the like. Then comes the long foot and backwards knee set up common to the back legs of cats and dogs; but these have several retractable curved spines useful for scaling walls backwards. Which they have been observed to do. From the backwards knee/ankle the legs continue upwards into a "normal" lower leg knee upper leg arrangement as might be found in regular humaniods. The notable diferances being the fin like structures on the upper thighs and of course the exoskeleton which covers the entire creature. The pelvis is quite narrow with the ball and socket of the hip being clearly visible. Barely enough room for waste elimination here giving some creidability to the reserection reproduction theory. The torso is basically humanoid in shape, with six tentacles sprouting from the back and a gill frill structure rising from just above the shoulder blades to about half the hight of the head when deployed and laying almost flat when not in use. The arms, like the legs are long, thin, and boney looking, as are the hands. Which end in long, sharp nail/claws. The tentacles are tiped with a nail/claw structure much like a broad head arrow or spear point. Useful for both combat and climbing. Although the suckers on the tentacles underside are more geared to that purpose. And finialy we come to the head. Flat and elongated with a lower jaw that seperates in the middle like a pair of mandabels. The creature has four optic membrane type eyes, much like those of a Morlock. Then there is the gem like structure in the middle of the broad forehead whose purpose is totally unknown at this point. Best guess is that it is related to their displacement ability which is like that of a Slider Beast as far as can be determined.

Or maybe, if the maps they need are here, and I can find them quickly... "How long were you traveling the Styx to get here ?" I ask, hoping Yeriko will catch on to what I'm up to. Sleeping isn't something one can do well on the Styx, and Targon is the one who'll have been most effected, But the big lug would never admit to needing more rest than the others. "Two or three days; I think." Hawk said with a yawn. "Hard to keep track out there." "If you've got somewhere we can bed down for a bit, before we start looking ?" Kain added with a hopeful note in his voice. "There are rooms along this hallway. Used to be servant's quarters. But I've never been much for servants." I said opening a door next to the cupboard. "Make yourselves comfortable, I'll take a quick look at the family history to see who's journals are most likely to be useful, and then catch a nap myself."

Other notes on ChoKa. They have no bones, as such; the boney parts of the head and torso being made of cartilage. The arms and legs are tentacles which branch near their ends to become fingers and toes. These tentacles have a row of suckers along the underside flanked by spiny pads a combination which allows a ChoKa to grip and climb almost anything. By wrapping their arms and legs around a foe they can delivere crushing damage as well as slashing damage from their spiny pads. Which when combined with their bio-shock ability makes them quite formidable in combat. In game terms the spiny pads deal out 1d3 points per slap. The bio-shock is 1d8 electric/stun per hit die/level of the creature. Which can be delivered all at once or doled out in 1d8 burst up to their total hit dice per day. The constrict attack can deal 2d6+2 points of crushing damage each round once the ChoKa has fully grappled a foe. These stats are for a basic ChoKa, That is one that's in the 3 to 4 foot range With 6 to 8 hit dice (D8) ChoKa culture depends on environment. Wild ChoKa living underground tend to form tribal bands. Hunting, foraging, and raiding as circumstances dictate and allow. They are reported to be cannibalistic, raiding the Spawning Pools of other tribes as well as the Pools of Illith/Thulian outpost. These cannibal raids are likely for knowledge rather than food given the genetic memory common to all Thulian kin. It could also be for genetic material in its own right, given that a tribe could have been started by a single ChoKa. Tame ChoKa, that is those who were bonded to someone at a young age, tend to take on the values of whoever they are bonded to. Often remaining a faithful servant or companion for life and often remaining with their bond mate's family and friends should they be the surviving member of the pair.

As noted elsewhere, the ChoKa are an offshoot of the Varna. Specifically they are what happens to Varna tadpoles that are not implanted. The change to a humanoid shape begins at 6 months to 1 year after hatching. And the ChoKa can leave the Spawning pool once it is about a foot long. At this stage the ChoKa must keep its skin moist and can return to the pool even still having the ability to breathe under water through its skin. At this stage the ChoKa's psi abilities are limited to a basic blind sight out to twice its height, and communication of basic needs and emotions. Such as hunger or fear. A person with psi abilities can mind link to ChoKa this young and share sensory input if so desired. Once a ChoKa has reached a size of 3 to 4 feet they gain a body adjustment ability which allows them to give up water breathing in exchange for no longer needing to stay damp. This change takes from 1 to 3 days and is reversible. ChoKa of this size also gain the ability to talk via telapathy and generate a bio-current strong enough to stun an average sized person. The growth rate for ChoKa varies greatly depending on available food and the will of the ChoKa itself. A ChoKa can reach the 3 to 4 foot size range in as little as 3 years and then stay there for 10 to 20. Growth can range from as little as an inch a year to as much as a foot in six months. There seems to be no upper limit on size or age with these creatures although the largest reported specimen to date was just over 8 feet with an age of around 200 years. Unlike other Thulian kin ChoKa seem to undergo no morphosis beyond the tadpole to humanoid one. It was also long believed that they had no means of reproduction, this is however not the case. ChoKa can reproduce by way of their starfish like regenerative abilities. A ChoKa wishing to reproduce will cut off a finger or hand, chop it into tadpole sized bits, and drop them into a spawning pool, along with a goodly bit of their blood. About a pint added to a chopped up hand, which yealds around 4 dozen spawn. The chopped up bits turning into tadpoles in 2 or 3 days; with the hand regrowing in about the same amount of time. It is as yet unknown what percentage of Varna/Thulian larvae are produced by this process or what steps might be taken to adjust that balance.

While I have spoken of the Varna elsewhere I want to take the time to cover them in more detail here and briefly touch on the ChoKa; which I will deal with more fully later. The Varna, as noted elsewhere, are created from modified Thulian larvae to serve as spies and assassins. That is only partly true now that the Varna are trying to become a free people in their own right. An effort which is likely futile, as will be seen as we look at the different types of Varna a the success rate of the Morphoses process. The claim is 75% success, which is only true if you only count death as failure. A quick look at type one Varna shows the true range of the Morphoses process which can include mind fusions and low levels of intelligence as well as domination by the host/victim. And all type ones are a partial failure due to the lack of ability to exit the Husk and act independently as was originally intended. Admittedly a minor limitation and one that can in many cases be corrected by time and/or taking a few simple actions. Type two Varna are basically what was originally intended. I say basically, because of the type ones that gain the type two abilities of independent action and spawning (which is a new ability/aberration) without losing the flaws noted for type ones. In general type twos don't have these flaws if the Morphoses process proceeded to the type two form straightaway. This is of course hard to confirm given that type ones can become type twos simply as a function of time. Type threes may or may not count as a failure depending on how you view them and the type fours they can become. The notable thing about type threes is that while type twos can leave their Husk type threes must do so and thereafter exist as an independent entity. Clearly limiting their usefulness as spies and assassins, but when viewed as a stage in a life cycle... Type fours, just to round out the list, are basically just adult Thulians that took a different vector to adulthood. I say basically because larvae spawned from these type fours has a 50/50 chance of being Varna rather than Thulian. Resulting in Varna if implanted and becoming ChoKa rather than Cephlarac if allowed to follow a non implant life path. More on the ChoKa vector later. But first a look at the spawning options of type twos and above. Type twos can devour the brains of additional victims creating extra Husk that they can use and even share with other Varna. Which isn't spawning as such but is worth noting. And while other methods of Husk creation seem likely and rather obvious upon reflection they are rather beside the point here. The Spore infect method of spawning is an ability the Varna have given themselves as part of their bid for independence. Varna with this ability are able to injecte spores into a victim which cause the Varna Morphoses. This can be done asexually by a single Varna or sexualy by two, or more, Varna infecting the same Host/Victim. Asexually tends to yeald more type ones while sexual tends to yeald evolvers. That is Varna that will go on to the later types. The other spawning option is the laying of eggs also a sexual or asexual process with sexual yielding more Thulian larvae. And finally a note on ChoKa. ChoKa are what happens to unimplanted Varna larvae. They leave the spawning pool at about 12 inches in height with a roughly humanoid form. Looking basically like the choker monster from the D&D books but able to change color and they keep growing to at least human size. More details on the ChoKa in their own entry later.

Footnotes. Both Garm and Tanis have Spell training. With him it's just the basics every non-com is required to take. Tanis, on the other paw, given her background and love of learning... She'll likely go for research mage training when she's old enough. And odds are she's got a few nonstandard spells in her tome already.

As promised. Assuming you ever find time to read it. Garm is a wolf type Wylding. Which is almost a given, what with him being in the Gray Guard and all. Not that they don't have a few non-wolf members, but still. Anyway he's a gruff grizzled veteran who looks about 30 and is closer to 50. Which isn't all that amazing for a Wylding. He's seen his share of combat and taken a turn at training new recruits. Something you have to do to move up the ranks. And now that he's at a comfortable pay grade he's quite willing to take the less exciting jobs. Which you can't really give to cubs anyway. They get bored and stop paying enough attention and end up getting volunteered for the unpleasant messy bits like bleeding and dying, Which totally gets in the way of enjoying the fun bits, like drinking and gambling. Tanis is a cat type Wylding as you would expect from someone in Bast's Elite. She's in her late 20s and looks it. The whole slow aging thing is only now starting to take effect with her. She started training as an assassin but found herself fascinated by the brewing of poisons and their antidotes to the point of taking extra healer training. All assassins take some, for obvious reasons. She took enough to qualifie for full healer training but discovered that while she loved the lore and could learn it quickly, her real love was just learning. So on to scout and spy training. It's rumored that she's pulling bodyguard work as part of a project to find ways to train new recruits in dealing with boreing duites. Garm's aproch of sneaking up on lax guard trainees and shaving the fur off their necks while explaining the importance of staying alert, While effective. Isn't the sort of thing that can be built into regular training.

You are one of us In this fact I fully trust You see us even tho we Shroud And pick us out from the crowd You see us when we are not there And tho we're strange, You do not care You talk with those less seen than air And you can also disappear One of us you must surely be Else you'd not so clearly see The things they say cannot be Next line: Will you come with us and be set free ?