#opportunistic predator soo.

[sootbags]

happy beans win!!! this stupid slop finally won a life series… and by stupid slop i mean IM SO HAPPY FOR YOU JOEL BEANS!

[ratking-pkmn]

From what we see of it in game, would Absol be a feliform carnivore or a caniform carnivore? Or would it be omnivorous? Because I've been writing my Absol OC, Juniper, as being very similar to canids but other places seem to place them as feliforms?

You gave me quite the first question! Absol is a guy who's inspirational origins aren't as obvious as some other quadrupedal mammalian pokemon. More info under the cut so I don't clutter anyone's dash :)

Content Warning: Real life animal bones. Discussion of anatomy in depth. Beware.

LET'S TALK ABOUT ABSOL, HELL YEAH. FULL NERD RAMBLE TIME.

So, this is a bit of a complicated question to sort out. Is Absol a feliform or a caniform? The answer is... Well, neither? Maybe both?

Ultimately pokemon may be inspired by real life animals, but they have an entirely different biological evolutionary tree than ours do- meaning our assumptions about their wild behavior and skeletal systems are all just that: assumptions.

That said we can make observations based off of their anatomy. However, due to these being Pokemon, their skeletons are not available to inspect, neither are their muscles or organs, but I can give it a shot just from eyeballin' em.

So, what's the difference between a Feliform and a Caniform? Well....the answer to that is in the skull, specifically in the anatomy of the bones of the inner ear. On Absol we don't have that information. But there is general traits that can be assigned to both suborders of animals. Let's list a few so we can get it out of the way.

Please remember these are generalizations, so there are some exceptions to these!

(Images credit to Wikimedia Commons)

Caniforms: longer snouts, more teeth, less specialized teeth, non-retractable claws, usually plantigrade, almost always terrestrial. Feliforms: shorter snouts, less teeth, highly specialized teeth, retractable claws, many are arboreal/semi-arboreal, and they're usually digitigrade.

Soo.... What about about Absol?

Well, oh balls, that's a mixed bag.... No problem! Let's use the anatomy to come to our own conclusions. Well its weight of 103 Lbs (47kg) and its height of 3'11" (1.3m) at the tip of its scythe tells us that it is a "medium" sized animal. Very scientific, I know. Medium.

So a medium sized quadrupedal animal that thrives in temperate and cold climates with thick fur and a prominent mane. Parts of its body, specifically the tail and the snout/face, are completely hairless. It has thick, long claws that are unable to be retracted or hidden. It has a large "scythe" which it can use for both offensively and defensively, as it can be used to defend the vulnerable back of the neck area where otherwise the animal would not be able to reach. Its mouth is small, and it has relatively small teeth. This animal is also lithe and slim and has slender legs that would allow it to run well.

How can this be interpreted? Well, let's try this: Due to its size and having developed a defensive horn, it is likely not at the top of the food chain- most big predators don't exactly develop over-the-top extra weapons for fun.

Second thing, what about its diet? Well, I would suggest it's definitely a carnivore. I mean, all animals are omnivores technically, but I would fit Absol into the hypercarnivore tier, with over 95% of its diet being made up of meat. With the size of its claws, it's likely its adept at digging, so it may sample on roots and tubers in a pinch. As for its behavior, due to its size and fur patterns, as for its process of finding food, I'd suggest an opportunist hunter/scavenger.

It can hunt, but generally will avoid doing so if possible. It's much more to try and sniff out an already deceased meal than grapple down one yourself. When it does hunt, it would go for smaller prey animals, rodent-like pokemon, small bird pokemon, and other small mammals. If it happens upon a larger carcass, due to its small mouth it will more than likely use its claws to shred the meat into smaller more manageable bites it can tear off. In personality, I suspect Absol leans heavily into the feliform stereotype; it is solitary and generally quite unfriendly and skittish by nature. Due to its size, it is instinctually hyper-aware of being preyed upon by larger animals, and that includes humans. As for the sounds it makes, it probably sounds a bit like a bobcat or cougar. Growls, hisses, and more horrifically, almost human-like screeching when cornered/threatened. Bobcat noises linky.

So..... there's no actually SIMPLE answer to "is it a feliform or a caniform?" oops. But I at least hope this helps ;;

[vampireshaman]

Character Profile: Daejung Kim - The Smiling Demon

viewer discretion advised: this profile contains themes of violence, sadism, murder, sociopathic tendencies and contains imagery of blood and bodily harm, demonic spirits, neck trauma, death.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Full Name: Daejung Kim (김대중)

Birthday: November 14th, 2016

Gender: Male

Age: 18 - 22 (verse dependent)

Aliases: The Smiling Demon, The Yin’s Shadow, The Heavenly Demon

Species: Chiropteran (first male of his species) | Mutant | Human Hybrid (his human blood is dominated by the previous two.) | Cosmic Offspring

Racial Background: Korean, White, Japanese

FAMILY MEMBERS

Parents: Haeseol Kim & Taejun Park

Maternal Grandparents: Saya Otonashi & Steve Rogers

Paternal Grandparents: Yuna Park and Mr. Park

Great Grandparents: Ryu Shirogane / Ming-Ji Kim

Adoptive Maternal Grandparents: Joon-Woo Kim / Soo-Jin Kim

Grand Uncle / Aunt: Yohan Kim / Samantha Simpson

Cousin / Cousin-in-law: John (001) Kim & Margaret Nelson

BACKGROUND

Daejung Kim is a figure surrounded by mystery and terror. Born from a complex lineage tied to ancient forces of balance and chaos, his parents—Haeseol and Taejun—are the reincarnated bodies of Yin and Yang, respectively. From his mother, he inherits the powerful magic of shamanism. From his father, he inherits his unparalleled strength, confident persona and with a fluidity for martial arts. All of this culminates into a deep mastery over Death Qi, an ability only to activate when someone dies in his presence, typically after a martial artist's death. Daejung himself is an amalgamation of these deadly forces, wielding the strengths of both Yin and Yang but having a detached and often ruthless personality.

While his cold demeanor and terrifying power strike fear into everyone around him, Daejung holds a deep, albeit guarded, love for his mother, Haeseol. Despite the darkness of his nature and the cruel path he walks, Haeseol tempered him with love and compassion. She remains his singular source of true affection, the one person who sees beyond his monstrous exterior, and the only one Daejung would go to great lengths to protect. Her love is the only thing that prevents him from descending completely into a void of ruthless detachment.

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Hair: Long, sleek, midnight-black hair that cascades past his shoulders. His hair frames his sharp, angular face, adding to his otherworldly aura.

Eyes: Dark, piercing, with a near-glow of malevolent calm. His gaze is unblinking and hypnotic, a window to the abyss he carries within.

Skin: Pale, almost ethereal in appearance, with subtle traces of blood splatter marking his face and neck, remnants of his violent encounters.

Build: Lean yet muscular, with an imposing yet graceful presence. His movements are fluid, deadly, and calculated—like a predator waiting to strike.

Clothing: Daejung wears traditional dark robes, black and gray layered with a blood-red sash. His attire evokes a sense of ritual and dominance. His clothes are a reflection of his inner darkness, almost as if the red sash absorbs the blood spilled in his path.

PERSONALITY

Ruthless: Coming from a bloodline of shamans, yakuza powerhouses and a taekwondo prodigy (Taejun), Daejung's reputation precedes him. He is unflinchingly ruthless, feared by evil spirits, villains, and ordinary humans alike. People would rather obey him than oppose him. He is quick to dispatch enemies and plays a game with life and death, treating both with calculated disdain.

Clever & Opportunistic: Daejung is highly intelligent, a master tactician who uses his quick wit to manipulate those around him. His opportunistic nature allows him to exploit every situation, playing on the strengths and weaknesses of others to his advantage. He is a master of instigating conflict or provoking reactions that work in his favor.

Sadistic Humor: He has a dark sense of humor that he often employs in battle or tense situations. His sarcastic remarks and mockery unsettle even the bravest of foes, revealing his twisted joy in torment.

Eerie Calm: Daejung is rarely seen flustered or rattled, even in the most chaotic situations. He speaks in a measured, calm tone, even during brutal encounters. This unshakable demeanor unnerves his enemies, who expect more aggression or passion. Instead, they are faced with a calm, almost disinterested sadist.

Value in Loyalty: Though primarily self-serving, Daejung shows genuine care and value to those who demonstrate loyalty and usefulness to him. His allegiance to others is conditional, based on their ability to serve him and advance his goals. Those who prove themselves worthy may find his protection and even a twisted sense of care from him.

Self-Serving: Daejung’s journey is driven by his own desires. He forges his path based on what serves him best, not bound by anyone else’s ideals or expectations. He seeks power not for the sake of power itself, but for the control and freedom it provides him. His actions, while often cruel, are always calculated to expand his own influence.

Twisted Mercy: Despite his violent nature, Daejung’s version of “kindness” is a perverse and twisted thing. He may spare a life, but only when he has drained every ounce of joy or hope from that individual. To him, mercy is nothing more than a delay before their inevitable demise.

Detached Affection: While Daejung is capable of affection, it is often cold, detached, and reserved for those few who prove themselves worthy. He has little room for genuine emotional connections, except with his mother, Haeseol. His feelings toward others are transactional and protective, rarely based on love but on need or usefulness.

Protective of Haeseol: The only person that truly holds his heart is his mother. Haeseol’s love is the only thing that keeps Daejung from succumbing entirely to his darker nature. He is deeply protective of her, seeing her not just as his mother but as a source of balance and compassion in his otherwise chaotic existence. His actions are often motivated by the need to shield her from the consequences of his violent lifestyle, though he hides this devotion under layers of cold indifference.

ABILITIES / POWERS

Death Qi Mastery: Daejung’s abilities come from his lineage—his father, Taejun (Yin), provides him with mastery over Death Qi. He can manipulate the Qi of martial artists after their death, using it to empower himself or manipulate their energy to his advantage. His ability only activates after another martial artist dies, making him a predator who thrives on others’ suffering.

Poisonous Blood: Inherited from his mother, Haeseol, Daejung’s blood is venomous. Anyone who comes into contact with it suffers excruciating pain or even death. This blood can burn flesh and cause agonizing internal injuries. His enemies often underestimate him until they realize the true nature of his power.

Enhanced Strength and Speed: Daejung possesses unnatural physical strength and speed that makes him a terror to face in combat. His reflexes are so sharp and instantaneous that he can tear through even the most powerful foes, moving so quickly that one blink could cause them to miss his next move. His power enables him to fight larger, more robust opponents with ease, as he effortlessly outpaces them with devastating strikes and almost impossible agility. His durability is just as formidable, allowing him to withstand powerful blows that would obliterate a lesser opponent.

Fighting Style: Daejung has mastered multiple martial arts forms but specializes in using Death Qi in tandem with ruthless, calculated strikes. He uses precise, often slow, but devastating moves that break the opponent both physically and mentally. His speed, combined with his fighting technique, allows him to overwhelm his enemies before they even have a chance to react.

Intimidation Aura: His presence alone can overwhelm weaker minds. The combination of his piercing gaze, dark aura, and unyielding confidence often forces others into submission before he even acts. It’s rumored that even evil spirits feel an innate fear of him, sensing his unparalleled control over the balance of life and death.

Spirit Domination: Daejung has the rare ability to overpower and tame even the most malicious spirits. Should he choose to, he can bind them to him, turning them into familiars bound by servitude. These spirits, once tamed, become extensions of his will, serving him in ways that no other mortal or immortal could command. His control over them is absolute, ensuring their loyalty and obedience through sheer force of will.

MORAL ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Evil with hints of Neutrality

Daejung’s moral compass is warped. While he does not seek pure destruction for its own sake, he firmly believes that strength and dominance are the only ways to survive in the world. He views the weak as expendable, seeing them as mere tools to be used or destroyed. His sense of justice is twisted—he upholds no law except that of power, and mercy is only shown when it suits his dark whims.

There is a strange neutrality to him in moments of calm where he appears more indifferent to human suffering than actively malicious, but in the end, his actions always come from a place of power and control.

SIGNATURE TRAITS:

The Smile: His smile is both a weapon and a mask. It's often a twisted mockery of compassion, and it hints at his sadistic enjoyment of the suffering around him. His enemies find themselves rattled by his grin, knowing it signals something far darker to come.

Chilling Composure: Even in the heat of battle, he maintains a calm, eerie composure. It’s this calm that truly unnerves his opponents, as they know they face someone who has no fear, no remorse, and no limits.

Master of Manipulation: Daejung is incredibly observant and opportunistic. He knows how to manipulate others, whether by provoking them, instigating conflict, or playing on their strengths and weaknesses. He can turn allies into enemies or manipulate adversaries into doing his bidding with skillful words and actions.

Daejung’s journey is one of self-serving power and dominance. As someone born of the dual forces of Yin and Yang, he is driven by an insatiable desire to understand and control the forces that govern life and death. His interactions with others are a constant power play—he sees most as either beneath him or as stepping stones to further his understanding of his power. However, beneath his cruel exterior, there lies a mind constantly searching for answers, driven by a thirst for knowledge that could unravel the very fabric of reality.

Despite his evil nature, Daejung is a fascinating figure, caught between his monstrous side and the curiosity that makes him more complex than the typical villain. His journey may not be one of redemption, but it is a path toward understanding the deeper, darker forces within him and the world at large. And should he succeed, he will forge his own path—dominating both spirits and mortals alike in his quest for ultimate control. But, through it all, it is his love for Haeseol, his mother, that remains the one constant in his ever-changing world.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTER NOTES:

Recessive Gene Activation

Daejung possesses a rare recessive mutant gene inherited from his Japanese great-grandfather, Ryu Shirogane, though it skipped his maternal grandfather, Joon-Woo Kim. This gene only activates under extreme conditions, turning his sclera jet black while his irises blaze a vivid crimson. Combined with his chiropteran DNA, this transformation is a sign of his maximum potential being unleashed, occurring only when he’s under extreme stress or has committed to total violence.

Chiropteran Berserk State

When pushed into his berserk state, his demeanor shifts radically—his movements become feral, almost beastlike, and his senses heighten to a razor-sharp focus. His knuckles audibly crack as he prepares to strike, and a savage bloodlust radiates from him, making him appear less human and more like a bloodthirsty predator. In this state, Daejung becomes highly reactive to threats, responding with unrestrained brutality. This state may even take over if he’s on the brink of death, serving as his body’s last line of defense.

Triggers for Transformation

His transformation is triggered by moments of unfiltered rage, immense murderous intent, or when he reaches the threshold of his own mortality. This gene, combined with his chiropteran nature, makes him highly dangerous, almost unstoppable, during these episodes. The blackened sclera and red irises signal to his opponents—and sometimes even to himself—that he’s crossed into a state of pure, uncontained wrath.

Enhanced Durability and Bloodlust in Berserk Mode

When in this state, his tolerance for pain and injury spikes considerably, allowing him to endure wounds that would typically be debilitating. This resilience only adds to his menace, as he becomes more inclined toward relentless, vicious attacks. His bloodlust is intense, driving him to seek out and destroy his opponent fully, with no intention of holding back or showing mercy.

Aura of Fear

Those around him, both enemies and allies, instinctively sense his shift into berserk mode. It’s as if his very presence grows darker, heavy with an aura of intimidation that creates an overwhelming sense of dread. This serves as both a warning and an intimidation tactic, as Daejung’s appearance alone—black sclera, glowing crimson eyes, and his thirst for blood—renders him a nightmarish figure.

Controlled Threat

While Daejung usually keeps a tight rein on this side of himself, his berserk state represents the full extent of his capabilities when he has no intention of holding back. The transformation is rare, but when it happens, his control over his own actions lessens, and he may only vaguely remember the details of what he did during that time. This makes him both a powerful ally and a potentially uncontrollable threat in extreme circumstances.