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EvolutionsVoid — Wraiths


Wraiths
#monster #creature #ghost #bile #bone #specter #wraith
Published: 2024-12-04 23:13:30 +0000 UTC; Views: 13516; Favourites: 121; Downloads: 0
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What leads to someone overdosing? Why would anyone choose to drown themselves in a humor, til their humanity is washed away? To folks leading happy, healthy lives, the fall into addiction seems baffling. They see it as a long term thing, as if those caught in its thralls care only about the end result. Surely these folk want to wind up like this, to have their bodies warped and humors altered. But to others with less than ideal lives, such imbibing isn't about the then but the now. Relief and comfort during hard times, ways to feel good when the whole world feels wrong. True, there are those who get lost in their addiction, falling ever downward. But there are those who don't see a reason to fight it, because they know there isn't anything to come back to.

Black Bile seems like an odd humor to lose yourself in, as it doesn't provide the high or comfort that Blood or Phlegm would. Yet, one forgets that this fluid stores not only information, but memory as well. All around us, people carry shards of the stuff to hold onto precious memories, and pleasant thoughts we wish to relive. With these fragments and some fluid, one can enjoy these moments once more, if only briefly. It is a practice that many see as harmless, just a pleasant reminder. But what happens when those secured memories are the only things one has left? When love is lost or family is gone, the shards may be the only thing we have of them. Those desperate and depressed may cling to these moments, caring only for the past since the present is so rotten. Some memories we hold in longing, but others may be kept as reminders. A reminder of who was lost, or perhaps who was responsible for that pain. These thoughts, good or bad, are kept and held close, imbibed again and again so that it is not forgotten. Those who drown themselves in Black Bile do so because they think there is nothing left for them in this present world. It was the past that made them happy, it was the past they wish to avenge.

Wraiths are what become from a Black Bile overdose, when ancient memories consume those lost in the past. The transformation is a sudden, and horrific, one. The skin and flesh darken and melt, sloughing away into wet clumps of Black Bile. Organs and muscle are lost, til only clean white bone remain. The mass of fluid that comes from the liquefied body congeals into a new shape, a ghostly wet form that will now haunt the land. Hardened fragments of Black Bile shall erupt from various places, creating claws, horns and nasty blades. Congealed tendrils slip out from the dripping mass, used for draining more bile or spewing it for defense and movement. What emerges from this transformation is a dripping, drifting specter whose mind cares only for more Black Bile and unfinished business.

While some overdoses hold onto their humanity and others go more feral, the wraith is an entity that is more like a bone-bile construct. A mind remains, yet it is only focused on one thing: their final purpose. Those who lose themselves in Black Bile hold on dearly to a memory, be it one of past joy or old grudges. Whatever thought they clung to in their final moments will shape what they become. The resulting wraith will be driven by this final desire, seeking one last thing before going back to the great cycle. This has led to two unofficial categories of wraiths: vengeful wraiths and watchful wraiths.

A vengeful wraith is one born from desires for revenge, made of those who clung to hate and anger in their final days. These are people who felt they have been wronged or cheated, and could never forgive this action. So their resulting wraith will obsessed with hunting down the person they believe ruined their lives. Perhaps a bandit who robbed them, or soldier who burned their loved ones. Some wraiths may be right in their ire, and target the exact person responsible for these crimes. Others, however, may simply be targeting the person they honestly believe was the source of their woe. Remember, these beings are born from memory, and memory is a biased thing. No matter if it is deserved or not, those hunted by a vengeful wraith will be besieged by a dark ghost that seeks only to punish and kill. They are cunning, ruthless things, seeking to inflict as much pain and misery as possible before getting their final revenge. Vengeful wraiths will not rest until either they or their target is dead. Once their foe is cut down, if a vengeful wraith does not have anything left to hold onto, it shall simple melt away and finally let death take it.

While vengeful wraiths are vicious beings, the watchful wraiths show a more caring side. These entities are born from thoughts of loved ones and people they wish to protect. Perhaps family they have been separated from, or a lover called to the front lines. Their final moments are ones of yearning, wishing to find and protect these lost souls at all cost. Thus, the watchful wraith that is born from these feelings is one that seeks to save. They will spend their new lives searching for this lost loved one, determined to know what became of them. They want closure, and they want a purpose. If the one they seek has died, they will fade away once they finally get their answer and have nothing else worth living for. But if their target is still alive, then this wraith will devote themselves to helping and protecting them. They shall be a hidden guardian, aiding from the shadows. All they want is for their target to survive, even if it means sacrificing themselves. Those cared for by a watchful wraith may not know it until the day this dark phantom throws itself upon a blade meant for them. And even if they die protecting their love, they shall melt away with a pleased gurgle, knowing they perished for a worthy cause.

Of the overdoses possible, the wraiths used to be a rarer occurrence. It takes a lot of Black Bile and hopelessness to generate such a thing, and that used to be scarce. But now that war has gripped the land, and misery is abundant, wraiths have become much more common. So many innocent lives lost to the flames, so many left behind to mourn and weep. The present day is a horrific one, a shadow of the good times that were once here. There are plenty of folk who are broken by this cruelty and loss, and they cling to what little memories remain. And from this, vengeful wraiths are born, haunting the land and hunting those who left their homes in ruin. These specters of hate and anger perfectly show the state of the world, and the torment many go through. Yet, if one looks closely enough, they shall find plenty of watchful wraiths as well. Though they may hide in the shadows, there may actually be more of them than their furious counterparts. Perhaps this is a sign that not all is lost. There are still people who care and hope. Even if cruelty seems commonplace and the world has gone mad, there are still plenty of souls out there who feel that there is still something here worth protecting.

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Comments: 38

CookieKirbyCookieKirby [2026-08-19 16:51:24 +0000 UTC]

Wraiths, vampires, zombies, and ghouls are the only four overdoses of the Humors.

Can the Godly Fluids and the False Humors can have overdoses, too?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

EvolutionsVoidEvolutionsVoid In reply to CookieKirby [2026-08-19 21:22:05 +0000 UTC]

Yep, those are the ones I currently have. For the Godly Fluids, no, as they are toxic to man and too powerful, thus imbibing heavy amounts straight up just leads to death. For the False Humors, I do want to make some, but it is a current work in progress.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

TheGuardianofLightTheGuardianofLight [2025-02-16 18:01:48 +0000 UTC]

An oddly hopeful thing.

Vengeance tied together with self-sacrifice.

Sorry, I got nothing really more poetic at the moment ^^;

👍: 2 ⏩: 1

EvolutionsVoidEvolutionsVoid In reply to TheGuardianofLight [2025-02-16 18:03:31 +0000 UTC]

No worries! Any comments and compliments are always appreciated! And thanks!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

TheGuardianofLightTheGuardianofLight In reply to EvolutionsVoid [2025-02-16 19:35:06 +0000 UTC]

Np.:)

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Sir-HaydrionSir-Haydrion [2025-02-13 00:14:08 +0000 UTC]

And a double feature! 

“Wraiths… Vile things. Pitiable things. Things of decadence and desperation in equal measure. They are the least detestable of the Humor Addict class of mutants, at least in my eyes. Perhaps I hold a degree of respect for their burning dedication to a mission after they transform, or perhaps a degree of remorse that people are somehow tempted by addiction so often that these things could come about in the first place. Do I forgive them? Perhaps somewhat. But that does not excuse the actions they take in their new wretched forms. There’s clearly a mind beneath that tainted Black Bile, a mind that can think… To some extent. Hmph. It’s troublesome. To deal with Wraiths is simple; Divine Magic to strike them down. Do not bother striking them with weapons, they will often phrase through their ghastly forms. Keep your wits about you when you suspect one is near, as they tend to attack from your flank. They do not deal in finesse, they go for lethal quick strikes unless they are after you specifically. How do I know this? Wraiths have come after me before. They were much more challenging than the norm, but they fell all the same to my righteous might. 

Why do I mention the pitiable mutants? Because I am on the hunt. Some heartless curr from the Academy of Veritas Mundus has been experimenting with Wraiths, daring to do so on Sanguine Soil! They have even used Bloodflow’s population to conduct their vile experiments, such was their ceaseless, bottomless cruelty. This cannot go unpunished. While their operation was put to an end, I have come to know of the perpetrator’s name. Saken Merreko and her henchman known as Seka. Yes, the Red Butcher. The very same with a bounty on her head that’d rival those on the heads of Cultist leaders such as The Embodiment of Sin or The Red Fever. The money means nothing to me in comparison for getting vengeance upon those who would dare lay a finger on my people. I had received a new mission as I went on the hunt of my wayward, heretical brother. My team was curious what the Courier Bat delivered, and I explained. Materia was uncertain if this was worth deviating from our path, but Ardenti  wanted to go after “a more flammable target”. She may have a few screws loose, but her enthusiasm is acceptable. It seemed I would have to give up the search for Jerikoh Marr for now. Saken Merreko, I shall be your end. 

I’ll start my search around the neighboring region of Khronik, that area is mostly forests interspersed with bone spires, as well as various lakes of Blood and Yellow Bile. We get some of our Crude Bile from there, as the Yellow Bile Lakes swell up from deep below. The region is rife with danger, but it is perfect for bandit clans to lurk. I’d wager a maverick of a professor would be one to dwell within. It shall also be a good chance to test the Ashen Blades, my new team, against various bandits and cultists which have made Khronik their home. 

Infusia shall be the next area should Khronik fail to bring us closer. That is the region to the East and is a vast expanse of bile lakes and rivers with forests and mangroves, full of hostile fauna. We in the Sanguine Heartlands get most of our Crude Bile from here, as well as sap and amber. It isn’t unlikely that Saken fled here, as she could pick off workers toiling valiantly as the various wells and pumps while being shielded from retaliation by tense flora. 

Lastly, we shall sweep through Pllattellett, the Bloody wetlands west of Bloodstream. Much of our crude blood and plant matter is harvested from Pllattellett’s wetlands, as well as a lot of food in the form of crustaceans and fish. While I’m uncertain what Saken could gain from being there, she may have at least cut through this area and have left a clue to her whereabouts. 

Materia suggests the Dendrian Hair Fields near Bloodflow City, but… I do not care for that area any longer. Perhaps the memories associated with the area makes it hard for me to focus… I’ll send the Ashen Blades in while I stay back, to test their teamwork without me. Yes, that should suffice. 

Saken Merreko, your days are numbered. I shall bring you, alive or dead, to The Prophet of Profits. I shall be redeemed for my failure in the Northlands! I swear it. ~Ashveil Marr, Hunter of the Cruel.”

Hunting Team: The Ashen Blades

Materia Sagacitas (Black Bile Specialist, uses a Weight of Sin, medium armor, rather blunt and curt despite his intelligence)

Ardenti Desiderio (Yellow Bile Specialist, uses two arm-mounted Yellowfire Throwers as her main weapon, medium armor, a little nutty but otherwise extremely devoted to burning things.)

Noli Nocere (Phlegm Specialist, uses a tranquilizer hand crossbow, light armor, generally a pacifist that heals but can use Aeromancy for support and self defense)

Cruentare Eos’Sicco (Blood Specialist, uses a Lightning Rod spear, medium armor, jittery and quick in most things he does, strongly devoted to the Church and Ashveil) 

Fragor Salvo (Explosive specialist, lacks Humor weaving but is a master with explosives, uses a grenade launcher like device for attack, heavy armor, cheerful and boisterous.)

Frigus Corde (Tears specialist, uses an Ice Scythe, light armor, cold and calculating but has an obsession with freezing opponents and wanting to leave behind these ice sculptures. Essentially a Battle Penitent due to being a Tear mutant, but with all the skills of a Hunter. Controlled via enchanted shackles, which is good since she’s conspiring against Ashveil and the others.)

Mentem Tuam-Purga (Psionic specialist, uses a Psi-Staff and a variety of gadgets, lightly armored, strong mentally but weak physically, a former member of the Emerald Courts who was locked out, is a brain in a jar on a dangerous combat bone frame.) 

Fun fact, most of these names are in reference to various sayings! 

The first four have names referencing sayings. 

Mind over matter

Burning desire

Do no harm

Bleed them dry

(and) 

Frag grenade 

Cold hearted

Clear your mind

@justamonsterfan Take a peeka at this :3

👍: 1 ⏩: 2

EvolutionsVoidEvolutionsVoid In reply to Sir-Haydrion [2025-02-13 23:09:39 +0000 UTC]

Ashveil found himself a new target for now! Pausing on pursuing his brother for a different fiend! And has himself a whole team too to help! What lies in store for him and the infamous Red Butcher? We shall see!

Also I like the inspirations for all their names!

👍: 2 ⏩: 1

justamonsterfanjustamonsterfan In reply to EvolutionsVoid [2025-02-14 20:07:41 +0000 UTC]

hehehehehehe, its gonna get gnarly >:3

👍: 1 ⏩: 1

EvolutionsVoidEvolutionsVoid In reply to justamonsterfan [2025-02-15 13:38:30 +0000 UTC]

Oh boy!

👍: 1 ⏩: 1

justamonsterfanjustamonsterfan In reply to EvolutionsVoid [2025-02-15 14:18:10 +0000 UTC]

"I will cut open your belly, yank out your intestines, and garrote you with your still attached entrails!"-Saken Merreko to Ashveil Marr (don't worry, ash will not die, in spite of his wishes)

👍: 1 ⏩: 0

justamonsterfanjustamonsterfan In reply to Sir-Haydrion [2025-02-13 05:41:39 +0000 UTC]

AWOOOGA lets party! Its gonna be bloody awesome( figuratively and literally). And Seka being called a henchman would be enough to get over 20 dracomaTONS of 'gris headed your way. Love it

👍: 1 ⏩: 0

Sir-HaydrionSir-Haydrion [2025-02-12 23:07:47 +0000 UTC]

Spooky AF! I like how there’s a benevolent variant, it’s refreshing to hear!

… Unfortunately Jerikoh is terrified of them in general. 

“It’s hard to believe, but there are things I’m truly afraid of. Certainly, being forgotten is one of them, or losing my family and friends is on the list, but I’m certain everyone is fearful of those concepts. I’m talking about the more physical things. Lindwyrms are probably on the top of the list after my encounter with one. I still have nightmares every once in a while, and oftentimes they end in a truly horrifying fashion. I was told by Team ObsidianAbyss that once I had broken out into a cold sweat and was hyperventilating during my slumber, and when they tried to stir me I woke up screaming. Most dreams end with me melting into primordial ooze, and I feel every second of it, or I am devoured by their horrid maws and perish in their wretched bowels. Ugh… Even now, I’m shuddering. Thankfully, Lindwyrms are seldom seen, and their cults are not as nightmarish as the former Dragons themselves. But what’s my other fear? Well… I’m sheepish to admit, but it’s ghosts and specters. Spirits refusing to rest, seeking to harm the still living, traveling about unbound by a corporeal form, allowing them to go where they please. Only the magical runes attuned to them can keep them at bay, but it is hard to know when they may appear. Thankfully, I am assured that most ghosts and specters are merely falsities– Stories and such passed around during the night amongst people gathering ‘round a campfire. It’s simple entertainment, for people who like to be frightened! I suppose I don’t see the appeal personally, perhaps because the many horrors I’ve faced cause any fictional beast or killer to pale in comparison, but it’s very popular for others. Speaking of the real horrors I’ve faced, there is one which causes the merely fantastical fictional to cross over to the truly horrifying reality. The Wraith. 

Wraiths are brought about by overdosing on the Black Bile Humor. I have heard of overdosing, but never experienced it, perhaps because of my rapid expulsion of the excessive Humors I consume. (I have suffered withdrawals before and I can assure you they aren’t pretty either, but the effect is primarily mental, then physical the longer one goes without.) Yet the stories I’ve heard of overdosing on Black Bile shake me to my core. These sorry souls indulge in reliving happier times to the point their very bodies warp and turn to liquid, sloughing off the bone after blackening. It is instantaneous as I hear, leaving behind naught but polished bones… At least at first, but soon the melted flesh warps and shifts into new horrible forms which give the Wraiths their distinctive appearance. Soon, long sharp claws and horns made of Black Bile crystals burst from the remaining digits or other parts of the remaining ivory which is where their most fierce attribute comes from. These crystals are durable and SHARP, able to skewer and rend in equal measure. Then come the horrible congealed tendrils, allowing for them to manipulate their environment with greater ease, and in some cases even attack. What remains of the once desperate human is something from nightmares most foul, and then the Wraith begins to move… They move with a purpose, an intent most severe, a goal to fulfill before they can pass on. Wrathful Wraiths, also known as Vengeful Wraiths or Revenge Wraiths, are the more dangerous ones. They cling to feelings of resentment, possibly feeling as if they were wronged in life, and they seek to punish the ones responsible. While this may be a cultist who sacrificed their partner, or maybe a soldier who burned their homes to the ground, or maybe even a Priest who exiled them from their homeland, there’s also a chance they don’t have it right– Targeting someone who truly did nothing at all. Regardless of if they’re in the right or wrong, the Wraiths will melt away into polished bone and bubbling Black Bile once they painfully finish the deed, returning to The Great Cycle at long last. 

Vengeful Wraiths are not the only type, however. Benevolence may be why they cling to being, as they feel a sense of regret for not being there for their cherished person any longer, or merely wish to protect the persons in mind from beyond the grave. These ‘Watcher Wraiths’ are often not seen, lurking in shadows and darkness to watch their charges from a distance, not making themselves known until their “targets” are threatened. Then they shall spring into action, unleashing all their wrath against the offending party, before slinking back away into the deep dark. However, they may also be seeking closure, an attempt to uncover the fate of someone precious to them which they were separated from. Most often it is a lover or child whisked off to the front lines. If their precious person has passed on, then the Wraith shall follow suit, melting away into the Great Cycle once more, sated by knowledge either good or bad. 

In either case, a Wraith is a dangerous creature. They are capable of flight, invisibility, brief intangibility, and Black Bile Weaving. They are also quite sensitive to the life force of living beings, so hiding from them is impossible. Wraiths of either type use their crystal growths to slash and stab, skewering the unfortunate foe with terrible efficiency. However, just as often, Vengeful Wraiths will take their time with their targets– Drawing out the deed for as long as possible before landing a killing blow. Watcher Wraiths are typically much less sadistic, trying to block blows meant for their charges and retaliating in kind, usually with the aim to cripple or swiftly kill the attacker. Watcher Wraiths are also less prone to extending their wrath to surrounding beings, while Vengeful Wraiths will kill just about anyone in their path should they dare to even slow them down in their hunt. Wrath Wraiths will unleash only offensive Black Bile Spells, but Watcher Wraiths will prefer defensive ones, though creative Vengeful Wraiths have used battlefield controlling spells to prevent their quarry from escaping. Thankfully, Wraiths almost always work alone, and I’ve never had to fight more than one at once, though I’ve heard tell of an instance where a cruel baron was torn to shreds by a mob of Wraiths who used to be his suffering peasants. Now that’s a horror story. 

I’ve fought Wrathful Wraiths before. About twelve of them to date, though I’ve only killed eleven of them. The twelfth was one who sought to get revenge on a Priest who ordered his exile for the crime of providing medical care to heretics. I just stepped aside and opened the door for him, and the Wraith stopped its slaughter in favor of booking it for that Priest. The screams were haunting, but the Wraith melted away when the deed was done, saving the town from its wrath. Others, though, were those which had begun to attack multiple people. One had killed half a town before I finally put it down, while another was on a tear through a Hospice. Fighting Wraiths is difficult. If you can, fight them outside, which is where they’ll have a disadvantage. Indoors, they can easily blend into darkness, rendering them entirely invisible. They have no honor and will prefer executing foes by skewering them through the spine or neck. Their intangibility is such a pain as well, allowing them to escape retribution for up to five minutes at a time. But once that five minutes is up, they need a few minutes to recover, and that is when they’re vulnerable! However, most Humor spells can strike them while intangible, though you have to know where they are to hit them with most spells. They enjoy combining intangibility with invisibility, but there is something to note. When they move, small bits of black bile will be shed, giving away their general area. They also let out wispy noises when already wounded, so if you strike them once or twice you can track them easier via sound. Don’t use Black Bile against these horrors, it’ll add to their mass at worst or do no damage at best. Try to use bludgeoning damage against them to shatter their bones, as without their bones they will be rendered defenseless and eventually fade away. 

It should be obvious but don’t try to eat Wraiths you kill. They were humans in the past, you know, plus you’d just be eating what’s essentially raw black bile. It’s best to burn the body to ensure the spirit can pass on and be done with it. In the past, Wraiths were rare, but these days there are more and more… It’s a pity. ~Jerikoh Marr, Ghost Hunter.” 

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EvolutionsVoidEvolutionsVoid In reply to Sir-Haydrion [2025-02-13 23:01:52 +0000 UTC]

Oh, Jerikoh is afraid of ghosts and spirits? Interesting! Makes me wonder what he would think of a certain silvery entity I got in mind. I must use that as motivation to get it drawn! Wraiths can be pretty creepy, especially when you don't know which version they are! Things of bone and bile that cling to the shadows, seeking something in this world. Thankfully they are glass cannons, as you just got to bust up that skeleton to be rid of them. But until then, you got one slippery shadow that has claws, crystals and a massive grudge!

Also makes sense that someone who fights real monsters every day has no care for fictional ones made purely to scare! Already got enough things to be worried about!

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justamonsterfanjustamonsterfan [2025-01-19 17:29:43 +0000 UTC]

" Wraiths, beings born of black-bile and misery, fools who instead of seeking new hope or purpose in the world clung to the past like a sinking ship instead of swimming to shore. The most common two types of Wraith are the Victim-complex enthusiasts being all "tHe WoRlD hAs WrOnGeD mE, tHeY mUsT pAy" and hunting down whatever boogeyman they decided wronged them in life and Creepso Schmeepso stalking the lands looking for their lost loved ones or some crap. Worries are natural phenomena but neither my dear mother or father turned into goopy stalkers when I went missing at sea, or when I disappeared for a year in the Osteo-wastes, to be in such a pathetic woobie mindset is a sign of both personal and communal failure, that they did not cultivate strength in the mind to weather this measly storm . There were theories out there that there could be more types of Wraith than these 2, though there was no proof... until now.

After my return from Draco I went straight to the surgeon HQ of Victoria Cognitationis to see who was the "genius" that wasted my Dracomaton and ruined our reputation to Eitr-ville . Though I did not find who ordered the assault, I still found and dangled Sekir above the Hummongulus pit for a few hours while pissing off the big fellas with blood-lightning, it was amusing seeing the poor fool scream his lungs out, begging me not to drop him but something caught my eye, on my upper right arm, that I was using to keep him from becoming a fluid at the fists of the bulls, was a strange droplet of black-bile that crawled towards him. It was no bigger than a louse egg, yet it was filled with hate and self-righteous fury, MY self-righteous fury and hate. I dropped everything(except for Sekir, just tossed him out the window) and went to my lab. I asked all of the homunculi to bring me both black-bile and all scrolls pertaining to its usages and effects on the body and mind. I didn't care that there was a Lemersis among us, I had bigger fish to fry! For several hours the world around me ceased to exist. Tomes and scrolls and black-bile crystals were all devoured by my hungry mind, half a dozen fish, Primal Legions and some other animals were sacrificed on the anvil of progress , it got so bad I started writing down the Magi-chemical reactions and formulas on walls, it was all making sense. It was not emotion that fueled the transformation, it was tied to both Phlegm and the natural electricity of blood. The purpose of a wraith was based on the most recent and deeply activated neuronal pathways, it was all making sense. Food and rest were no more, I felt like I could for hours on end. The potential for a wraith in its purpose was only limited by its mind. Naturally occurring wraiths are born from obsession, and since the average peasant is concerned with their loved ones and hated ones, that's why an overwhelming majority of them are the big 2. If pushed in the right way, a wraith could do basically anything relentlessly. It was like a superior version of a Bone-bile construct, with mannerisms pre-ingrained into the host before metamorphosis allowing them some adaptability while still needle focused on the task at hand. I needed to test my hypothesis to prove it all. My Father taught me many things on alchemy and one of them was how to transfer memories and feelings from a human to a refined homunculus, like Decker, though he is still the only immortal one. If we can transfer memories from man to lesser life-form, why can't we transfer from man to man? I immediately started scouring our vast libraries on brain-to brain transfer and found several fascinating things and among them was the Phlegm fibers of the Emerald Court used to link up philosophers to have nigh endless debate within the mindscape I had a few from my college years , when I impersonated a high philosopher and made a run with some of their best tech around, I was spammed with philosophical inquiries left. right and center but I did have quite some pretty sweet tech on my hands afterwards. I grabbed the nearest refined homunculus near my lab and injected it with black-bile, programming the humor to repeat the same message over and over and over, after verifying that all that was on the mind of the critter was the command "tend to the crops " I did it to several others till I had about 20 homunculi repeating the same message over and over alongside black-bile crystals that contained all available information on how to tend to crops, then it was hunting time. The next few hours were a blur as I zoomed across the landscape looking for some fresh "samples". Finally I came upon a nigh abandoned village. Only one house had light in it, inside there was one lone woman, 30-ish, cleaning it. Incapacitating her was quite easy as I dragged her backed to VC . First I severed all her nerves, meaning her limbs could not be moved unless I said so. Then I opened her chest , parting ribs and hacking muscles to get to her spleen and heart. Some light vascular reconstruction was needed, so that the organa would receive a maximal amount of blood. Her skull plates were next, exposing her brain, hooked the thing up with the homunculi psionic choir and gave her some healing phlegm to keep her going, soon passing out from exhaustion. When I awoke, hours later, I found her still alive , mumbling like crazy about all the data that was now ingrained into her brain down to the primordial level. Then it was time for stage 2 of the surgery. I cut open her arteries and large veins right near her heart and stitched in there a black-bile pump. In total it took 5 minutes and 37.6 seconds for the overdose to occur naturally ,leading to a shell-shocked wraith being strapped on the surgery table. Quickly I took her outside and released it near the CV owned farmlands. The wraith immediately started doing what it was programmed to do, like a ghostly obsessed farmer, it took care of its crops and hunted pests with borderline religious zeal. In a week, the yield increased exponentially, as even the tiniest details pertaining to food quality were taken in consideration by our new farming-unit. My theory was correct, though the amount of black-bile necessary to cause several adults to overdose artificially was quite large on the humor bill, but you know who needs a whole lot less black-bile to turn into a wraith, and is also quite malleable at the neuronal level? Children, the younger the better. Bonus points if they're orphans too. Nobody will go after me because I stole their precious one, and will contribute to society way more , since studies have shown that children within the current foster care system are more predisposed to behavioral and emotional illnesses, so I am doing everybody a benefit by removing these pests from society and introducing the new superior workforce. Put them to build the largest monuments to the glory of mankind? They don't need to sleep, eat or rest, and won't stop until the project is finished. Want a perfect Assassin? just ingrain false memories of them being personally wronged by whoever you want dead, producing a wrathful Wraith! The sheer political potential that could be achieved with these ones! But where on Earth would I find several hundred orphans to use as materials? Bloodflow city

Bloodflow is a rather large settlement, numbering in the hundreds of thousands of citizens, though most have been called to arms since the war started, and won't return to their families, at least not in that body. All the orphans and street urchins around these parts , if overdosed, would make me so much money, that I could reasonably buy official Church-approved golden Miren, we've been dying to get our hands on that stuff for ages, I'll be revered as a hero in Academy halls for decades if not centuries if I bring it in. I needed to be methodical about it though, if a ten-limbed surgeon started plucking people of the streets, people wouldn't say "Look she's ridding us of our useless ones and giving us the best work-force around!" . Instead it would be Ignorance and paranoia pushing the buttons, meaning they would fear they're next and chase me out of town with spears and halberds. First lure them somewhere dark and safe, then put them to sleep with some phlegm, then pack 'em up in a neat and tidy way, to not look like a body-bag, next on the list: the surgery! The first few raids were quite easy, absconding with around 90 soon-to-be-wraiths, then things got complicated. The institution of Divine hunters has been a thorn in the Academy's side since day 1, and now I get it. I was just relaxing at a pub with Seka going to town on Oliphant ribs, like he never saw food before, then the doors get kicked in and 3 armored hunters march proudly in the establishment , one large and covered in barbed ogre armor, one smaller, with several skulls around her belt and a medium sized younger one with a halberd and a bone-bile prosthetic arm. Neither me nor Seka were in our work clothes, because who lets an antiquary and a surgeon into Bloodflow of all places? Seka was still gobbling up Oliphant ribs at an unholy speed, though he was shooting me nervous glances in between metric cubes of grill sauce. The one with the bone-arm was constantly staring at me, even as the trio dined on a large stew of Louse eggs. My prosthetics were hidden underneath a large cape, to not ring any bells that I was actually the Red Butcher of the academy, though they still clicked if I moved too fast. Even as they talked and laughed , his eyes would still lock onto me, it is said that divine hunters can smell danger from a mile away. Was he onto me? Was he just playing with his food before starting an attack and ruining my get-rich-quick-scheme? I know its silly for a surgeon of the academy to have stress management issues as well as anxiety, but onto the battlefield blood and red miren fuel my blades and ease my nerves. I needed to get out of there ASAP, Seka was now stress-eating, which meant the sounds of him choking on Oliphant ribs meant we were the center of attention. Mr. bone-bile-arm then approached our table. That was it, we were busted, I never leave Academy grounds without an entire arsenal on my person, even in relaxing environments I still had several blades on me, ready to cut him up in less than a second. He started chatting with us, though he seemed more interested in me, something peculiar about him was his speech patterns, He asked if I came around here often, how was the weather and other stuff, weirdly enough there was increased blood circulation in his cheeks as well as nervous tics whenever he talked to me directly. He asked if I'd like to accompany him on a walk; Cue Seka actually choking on his meats, even through a full mouth I understood what he said "I did not get cucked by a refined Homunculus for nothing!" He said that one often. He is like a brother to me, but one thing that really ticks me off is that phrase, I don't know what it means, but surely its not good, that's when we asked for the check and left as quickly as possible. The next night I had Decker to watch our sixes as we made acquisitions of more wraith-workers. 3 divine hunters in the same town as us. One wrong move and we were cooked, gone was our supply, gone would be our funding. Getting the homeless ones was quite easy, as many street urchins turned to being beggars after mommy and daddy were killed in the war or by some bandits. Minimal amounts of Phlegm were needed to put them to sleep to be carted off to our mobile lab. Then I heard the shouting. An Arrimaki priest had shown up to cause some ruckus and the divine hunters were on him, Though there was one thing odd about this one, it was rather large and bulbous, almost as if something was wriggling underneath its membranes, a faint familiar Sulphur smell filled my nose: Arrimaki Toge grenades. It was a suicide bomber, and to rub salt in the wound, it was right near the abandoned warehouse where we set up shop. If that thing went Kabloowey , so would all of our equipment, and reveal every single "sin" I committed and maybe release the laborers before they were ready to be converted into Wraiths. I could kill it instantly and lobotomize the grenades , but for that I would be exposed, The Red Butcher was in Bloodflow to spill blood and take skulls. I decided to kill it, it was swift, quick and efficient, not one erratic syllable left its lips as I carved out both of its lungs , killing it on the spot, just as the cavalry arrived in the form of the 3 hunters. Upon seeing the red butcher in town, things went south.... In short, killed one tore Mr. Bone-bile' fake arm off and made the third one turn tail and run.

I am tired of this nonsense. All of my wraith-workers were put down , my lab raided and I had to go back tot he Academy empty handed. Why can't a surgeon just kidnap a bunch of kids to turn them into mindless slaves for profit these days without hunters ruining my research. I proved my hypothesis, but it will be some time before I make another wraith-worker. For now I'll just study something else and lick my wounds" Saken Merreko, brilliant researcher, rich in dennars, bankrupt in morals

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Sir-HaydrionSir-Haydrion In reply to justamonsterfan [2025-01-28 10:21:06 +0000 UTC]

Wew. Saken is more twisted than ah thought. Targetin orphans... If Jerikoh finds out she and her gang were messin around im Bloodflow he'd be ticked. But Ashveil may be sent after her first if people connect the dots. An academy aligned mad genius running amok in Bloodflow would make the Bloody Wealth Church quite cross!

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justamonsterfanjustamonsterfan In reply to Sir-Haydrion [2025-01-28 17:57:41 +0000 UTC]

requesting permission to use Ashveil in an entry
[in the voice of Dr Serizawa] let them fight!

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justamonsterfanjustamonsterfan In reply to justamonsterfan [2025-02-09 19:00:19 +0000 UTC]

Update:

* Working title: Marr V Merreko: Blood for Blood
*General gist: after meeting the red one, Saki may or may not discover that her little stunt in Bloodflow city has drawn the ire of The Church of Bloody Wealth , having sent Ashveil after her. It will play out like the First Predator movie. Coming not so soon (we have like 4 more entries before that)

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Sir-HaydrionSir-Haydrion In reply to justamonsterfan [2025-02-11 22:18:04 +0000 UTC]

"Blood for Blood" is sick ngl. <3 Did ya see the match between Jerikoh and Ashveil? :3 Might help~

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justamonsterfanjustamonsterfan In reply to Sir-Haydrion [2025-02-12 05:53:39 +0000 UTC]

currently reading it, couldn't finish it, though I look forward to it

EDIT: finished it and holy cow was it awesome! Plenty of ideas for MVM though Saken will pull out a few tricks and traps of her own too

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Sir-HaydrionSir-Haydrion In reply to justamonsterfan [2025-01-28 19:51:16 +0000 UTC]

Go right ahead! ^_^ Zis should be good. If you'd like i can send you his bio so you know what he uses for combat. :3

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justamonsterfanjustamonsterfan In reply to Sir-Haydrion [2025-01-28 20:07:29 +0000 UTC]

Yes, I'd very much like to have access to the full bio of Ashveil Marr. Really understand what makes him tick and should be a bloody good brawl, literally since both are rather adept with blood magic, right? It ain't called the Church of BLOODY wealth for nothing!

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Sir-HaydrionSir-Haydrion In reply to justamonsterfan [2025-01-29 01:30:54 +0000 UTC]

I sent thee a comprehensive note. If you got any further questions, don't be afraid to ask~ :3

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justamonsterfanjustamonsterfan In reply to Sir-Haydrion [2025-02-02 16:44:54 +0000 UTC]

Thine gift is much appreciated. Ever played Elden ring? Cuz this encounter shall be worthy of the glory of the Erd tree







For the 40k equivalent think Carnifex vs Blood Angel, both on all the drugs of the Eversors , Khorne will shed a tear of joy

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Sir-HaydrionSir-Haydrion In reply to justamonsterfan [2025-02-02 20:27:49 +0000 UTC]

Blood for the Blood God vs Death to the enemies of Mankind! >:3

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justamonsterfanjustamonsterfan In reply to Sir-Haydrion [2025-02-03 07:22:56 +0000 UTC]

Why not both?

GOD BLOOD FOR GOD-EMPEROR!

GOLDEN SKULLS FOR THE GOLDEN THRONE!

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EvolutionsVoidEvolutionsVoid In reply to justamonsterfan [2025-01-22 00:36:57 +0000 UTC]

Ha! She is quite the character! That drive and obsession so fitting for the Academy! From one project to the next, spurred on by the latest epiphany! The Wraiths do raise a lot of interesting questions about Black Bile and the body, and how one could potentially utilize such a transformation. But why ask questions when you could just abduct a couple dozen test subjects and try it out right here right now? Theoretical is good and all, but sometimes you got to slap something on the dissecting table and start cutting! Her surgical process with the first Wraith worker does hit right on with what Vivisectors do (Though to be fair, the name makes it a tad obvious)! I really got to draw them one day so I can post the lore and the whole deal for those insane fellows!

We shall see what Saken is researching next! Here is hoping that a bunch of holy do-gooders don't spoil the next perfectly reasonable experiment!

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asurnirasurnir [2024-12-21 12:25:31 +0000 UTC]

These overdosed beings, once shunned by the Church, may be revered un this new age.

An bone tablet found within the walls of the Spire Builders.

" The Rituals of Ascension and their uses.

For years, the Church had forced us into a slaved state of our body, which we consumed the primitive humors of Blood and Yellow Bile. And the ignorant Phlegm. The state of Eukrasia.

Noneless, the weakening and inevitable fall of the Church had freed us from these imprefect humors. We are finally free to truly ascend, into the enlightened form of the Eidolon. Vurlgarly called Wraiths.

Thus far, we discovered two kind of Eidolons, unique among our Institution, outisde of the know types. The Builders, those created from our workers. While they are dutifully buildings the Great Spire, they are mortals sadly. Eventually their body will fail, thus their mind will perish. One of our Architects, proposed that we can make them of use, even after death. He proposed that we reunite all the Crystals relating to the construction of the Spire, obeying the foremans and the sermons of the Mother. The result, an Eidolon whose life purpose is the construction of the Spire. As long the Spire isn't finished, the Eidolons can't return to the cycle. An fair price for their wasted life.

The other type, are the Awakened. This of our clergy and scholars. By bathing them within the pool of Black Crystals, filled with our knowlege, lessons and toughts, it emerge the most wondrous being in the world. An Eidolons free from the phsycal shackles, from the pull of earth, free from distractions. Wich means, that they can fly towards the sky, finally capable of reaching our desired goals. Our Clergy agree that this ritual should be performed when we are at the door of Death. While tempting to ascend into this sacred being and finnaly obtain our Answers. We shouldn't private the rest of the world of the means for their enlightening. Soon they will see our message and help in our sacred goal"

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EvolutionsVoidEvolutionsVoid In reply to asurnir [2024-12-21 18:47:43 +0000 UTC]

Oh ho ho this is a cool use of the Wraiths! Ceaseless workers who will not tire or stop until the great task is done! Utilizing their last wishes and obsession to make the perfect builder of Babel, unable to be stopped or corrupted! This is really clever, and I am loving how the Spire Builders are fleshing out!

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asurnirasurnir [2024-12-05 23:30:36 +0000 UTC]

I wonder if these wraiths can posses bone-bile contruct, even limbs. After all, they are made of the bone-bile fuel, playing with the idea of the poltergeist.

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EvolutionsVoidEvolutionsVoid In reply to asurnir [2024-12-06 02:52:48 +0000 UTC]

I could totally see it happening! Wraiths are mostly Black Bile with a bit of bone, and bone-bile constructs are mostly bone with a bit of Black Bile! And with each driven by programming or a single goal, it would make sense that a wraith could overpower the etchings in a construct and puppeteer it, as the wraith is stronger mentally and has its purpose flowing through it very fluids.

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SylizarSylizar [2024-12-05 03:41:03 +0000 UTC]

I don't comment enough here., but I love everything you've been doing as always~! Love the terror and tragedy in the overdose creatures. Also find it slightly humorous that we kinda traded places in a way, with me designing for a naturalistic world and you designing nightmarish critters XD

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EvolutionsVoidEvolutionsVoid In reply to Sylizar [2024-12-05 13:32:19 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! I wanted the overdose creatures to be where first impressions made them out to be scary monstrous creatures, but upon closer inspection, you can see there is more to them. A tragic case of a person broken by the world and looking for an escape, and thus overdoses are pretty much victims in this whole thing.

Ha! Good catch! I didn't even notice! Swapping places to try from each other's plate! I will post some more natural KotWT beasties in time, but right now I am on a roll with FOI!

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SylizarSylizar In reply to EvolutionsVoid [2024-12-05 13:45:28 +0000 UTC]

Classic tragedy!

You sure are! I'm on a roll too, and I'll be in TriZen for a while yet!

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EvolutionsVoidEvolutionsVoid In reply to Sylizar [2024-12-05 14:02:16 +0000 UTC]

Excellent to hear! I look forward to what you come up with!

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Doug84Doug84 [2024-12-04 23:26:44 +0000 UTC]

Awesome designs!!!!

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EvolutionsVoidEvolutionsVoid In reply to Doug84 [2024-12-05 01:39:22 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!

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Doug84Doug84 In reply to EvolutionsVoid [2024-12-06 01:42:00 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome! I alway love seeing someone's fantasy world expand.

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Jordan-AVJordan-AV In reply to Doug84 [2024-12-05 00:36:14 +0000 UTC]

I second this :)

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