"We"
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-- R0 Providence
In times long forgotten, the ancient hive evolved to use magics. A eusocial bond was forged and evolved along side the insects magical prowess. A mind, hazy at first, began to form. Generation after generation this communal mind eventually became sentient, self aware, and sapient. The insects had no need for a name as they shared one mind, however they refer to themselves in the plural. Thusly, from here on out, the ancient hive mind will be refereed to as it revers to itself: "We."
Table of ContentsBackstoryThe beginning of "We" is hard to parse. A crude form of their mind existed as some of the first life on in the world, but even though it has continuity with the current hive mind, it would be completely unrecognizable. They developed parasitic tenancies long before there was intelligent life to inhabit. There is no record or memory as to how or why they developed the way they did, but they have called the Pantheon mountains home since deep into pre-history, infesting the native fauna, and using whatever body they could get their legs on as a tool and a hive.
Their simple life was shaken many millennia later when they encountered a new kind of host: a species of biped that had came to their mountain with the fruits of their own intelligence. With the infestation of the first of this new species a whole new world was unlocked for "We." This was the first time it connected to a mind that could rival its own. So many new novel concepts, fascinating new knowledge, new techniques, and a unique self aware train of thought. "We" developed a taste for more than flesh that day. It learned to crave knowledge.
And so countless generations passed and an evolutionary and techno-logic arms race developed between "We" and the ancient bipeds. "We" became an adept mimic, and the bipeds learned to cut off their own minds with magic contingency spells. But, eventually, "We" grew bored and exhausted with the never ending struggle. So "We" Slumbered beneath the mountain for a nearly unfathomable amount of time, to emerge into a new world, where "We," and all of the countermeasures intelligent life had developed to stop them, had long been forgotten, |
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Personality
"We" is not some malevolent entity with wicked intentions. "We" is inhuman in its morality. A self-aware parasite and carnivore that has come to terms with its nature and sees no reason to change at this time. It is driven by a simple desire to consume, both meat and knowledge. Though "We" is surprisingly smart, and good at acting the part of human, "We" is ultimately an animal.
Likes
- Learning
- Experiencing Novelty
- Getting Stronger
- Feasting
Dislikes
- Extreme Temperatures
- Starving
Abilities
✦ Infestation and Integration
The core of what "We" is capable of. They are adapted to burrow into flesh and stitch themselves into the nervous systems of those they infest. They become permanently bonded to the host until the host dies, putting the original mind in what is normally a permanent stasis. While in this state the host and "We" are effectively one and the same person, with "We" in control. "We" has access to all the memories and mannerisms of the original host, allowing them to act seamlessly as though they are normal.
✦ Magic Sensitivity
The Hivemind stays connected by way of a magical effect, with each insect that makes up "We" being something of a magic transmitter and receiver. A side effect of this state is "We" can accurately detect magic and even some details as to its nature at close ranges.
✦ Chemical Synthesis
The body is controlled by more than just nerve tissue. "We's" thorax is a rather capable laboratory of hormonal synthesis, able to produce a wide variety of substances. This is primarily just used to regulate the body they have taken, or to override limitations of their host's biology, but it can produce a vast array of chemicals, however it is in very low amounts. If "We" is desperate they can make their bodies produce a lot of acid, or other volatile substances, and use those bodies like missiles with dangerous payloads when crushed.
Skills & Stats
"We's" greatest strength is being able to form a gestalt of knowledge and experience. Even in it's fractured state, it has scraps of knowledge from countless lives, and every person they assimilate allows for more knowledge and expertise to be shared between bodies. In a more practical sense, though they are vulnerable when outside of a host, they can still swarm, fly, and burrow.
✦ General Stats
| ✦ Strengths |
✧ Weaknesses |
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✦ Imperative Strengths
It is the perfect mimic as it uses the hosts original body and memories to slip into the role completely. Only in times of extreme panic or confidence does We let their true nature slip, and they are rarely panicked. They also have access to most skills and abilities of the host body making them versatile and powerful even if found depending on the host. They have also developed countermeasures against healing magic, co-opting it to help them grow and multiply.
✧ Imperative Weaknesses
Any drone outside the body is extremely weak. They are vulnerable to toxins, temperatures, or just being stepped on by sufficiently sturdy boots. It's only in very large numbers such as a swarm are they a physical threat, and thus are completely reliant on deception to get close enough to infest others if they cannot get enough biomass together to swarm.
✦ Psychological Stats ✦
| Charisma | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧ | Kindness | ✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ |
| Patience | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ | Intelligence | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ |
| Confidence | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ | Perception | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧ |
| Discipline | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧ | Psych stamina | ✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧ |
| Courage | ✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ | Caution | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧ |
| Honesty | ✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ | Loyalty | ✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ |
| Maturity | ✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ | Creativity | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧ |
| Cleanliness | ✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ | Work ethic | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ |
✧ Physical Stats ✧
| Physical Strength |
✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧
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Speed |
✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧
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| Magical Strength |
✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧
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Constitution |
✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧
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| Physical Defense |
✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧
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Dexterity |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧
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| Magical Defense |
✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧
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Stamina |
✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧
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Usage Notes
Again, "We" is not evil, but "We" has evolved to see anything not part of itself as a potential future asset, or something to be consumed, literally or metaphorically. I don't think "We" is beyond redemption, but it would be an uphill battle.
If you want to add capabilities to We, a largely unexplored aspect has been drone specialization. Your welcome to play with the concept as I may also come to tinker with it as well. Currently we just have a beefier drone for work outside the body to give it just a tiiiiny bit more resilience. Changes to stats with it though are currently negligible.
Gallery
Diagram of the majority of We's drones. (Art by Sebastian Sire)
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| Drone Body specialized for survival without host. (art by Sebastian Sire) | Original sketch | Early Concept Art by Parry Lost |
Author's Notes
✦ The inspiration for "We" came from a recent nightmare.
Main art done by Sebastians Sire (Warning NSFW Content)
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