#xenos mount

[wandering-hurrie]

[vespertine-legacy]

Xeno farm last night with the guild went pretty well. We only did three HM 16man runs before folks were tired/needing to go for another raid, but we got the mount on the first go! (Last time we got three drops, but we also did more runs). We also had everyone in voice, including the the three pugs who joined (and who stayed for all three runs), which was unusual, but convenient.

Best part was Suff dying essentially on pull and then quietly saying “don’t… uh. don’t res me,” then Princess clarifying “he’s not wearing any gear.”

[puppetmaster13u]

Thinkin more on the Xeno au and about the family. And mostly about what everyone would be. Like of course they'd start out as chestburster-esque with more flesh-colored exoskeleton that'd be really soft like skin and mostly only a long tail. And then grow into other things, but there's several castes that even basic runners and drones can grow into.

Bruce: Drone -> Warrior -> Praetorian -> Queen (Winged)

Barbara: Drone -> Warrior -> Alpha Warrior

Dick: Runner -> Carrier

Jason: Runner -> Prowler -> Crusher

Cassandra: Runner -> Prowler

Stephanie: Drone -> Warrior -> Praetorian

Tim: Drone -> Warrior -> Praetorian

Harper: Drone -> Warrior

Duke: Drone -> Warrior -> Tusked

Cullen: Runner -> Aquatic

Damian: Drone -> Warrior

Carrie: Drone -> Spitter

Terry: Runner -> Prowler

Mathew: Runner -> Prowler

Random fun facts & rabmbles:

Tusked were, well, tusked xenomorphs specifically bred by yautja to act as forced attack dogs, and the ones we know who were released and escaped were accepted by a queen as her own

Alpha warriors are canon and are slightly larger than other warriors, can command other warriors, and in some cases are more intelligent too. They're almost between warrior and praetorian in ranking.

The praetorian caste is also known as royal guards, because that's what they are in most cases. They protect the nest and eggs and queen, and if the queen dies they may replace the queen.

Canonically there was a comic where Batman fought against a giant crocodile alien (no it didn't come from Killer Croc thankfully lol) that he defeated by bleeding it out until the floor collapsed into lava

The xenomorphs have had a civil war before on their home planet for the Royal Jelly, the black xenomorphs and red xenomorphs both fighting each other for their queen to become the next Queen Mother

Did you know there's further castes beyond the queen? A queen can become a Matriarch, then an Empress, and then a Queen Mother

Crushers are the equivalent of praetorians for the runner castes, and are canonically the most armored outside the queen castes themselves.

There's a theory about the spines on the xenomorphs' backs, where the longer they are the stronger the xenomorph, at least for basic castes. However there's another theory that this is an age thing. Neither is confirmed.

Did you know that xenomorphs have worked with others several different times when they're under threat, especially the queens or young.

Xenomorphs have Eidetic memory, and can even access memories from previous xenomorphs along their bloodline.

Normal xenomorphs can eventually become queens, but a xenomorph can be born as one from a Royal Facehugger, which unlike normal facehuggers have two embryo: a queen and a drone/runner to protect said queen

There have been exotic xenomorphs that are individuals such as the tusked or the winged queens, usually altered genetically or with an incredibly rare host (for example a winged queen has canonically come from a vampire in the comics before)

All xenomorphs are female, save for a single individual created using human dna and other genetic manipulation that was known as the king xenomorph.

Other genetic hybrids have been created as well, the most well known being the Newborn but there have been more balanced ones as well such as Eloise (a vat-grown android-xeno hybrid) which can have abilties of both species

Fun fact: A chestburster will not emerge in someone with leprosy, staying dormant, and other xenomorphs will not attack the people due to them carrying said chestburster.

Yautja hunting parties will hunt hybrids more enthusiastically than normal base xenomorphs for both the challenge and in some cases thinking they're abominations, such as a Predalien (in which case elders are usually the one to hunt them)

However they will also use xenomorphs as mounts, attack dogs, and other such things. For example one yautja rode a xeno-rex in ancient times as a hunting steed.

@phoenixcatch7 I summon thee mutual lol

[definitelynotalpharius]

Crusade finale

---//Inquisitorial report of the Bahara's Hive campaign//---

The assault on Bahara's Hive has proven to be a disaster of immeasurable proportions. The report of Ordo Hereticus agents embedded within the hive have proven to be grossly inaccurate of the situation. There was no cult of the arch enemy within the city walls, despite the vast amount of mutants inherent in this particular Hive's understructure. The arrival of the forces of the plague god are assumed coincidental due to the happenings of Cawl's grander crusade within the Pariah Nexus.

Rest assured, the taint of chaos is being purged both from low orbit and within the field. Our purgation forces are experiencing some minor skirmishes, as friendly fire incidents mount. However, we've received word from the Lord Regent of Imperium Nihilus regarding the banishing of a greater daemon, the daemon prince Mortarion and the traitorous first captain of the XIVth legion Calas Typhon. The astartes forces that participated in the ambush have reported major wounds dealt to the forces of the XIVth legion and the T'au forces used by former agents of His holly Inquisition.

The hive sector that the daemons we're felled in has been purged, with a notable lack of both deathguard and xenos corpses, leading to the assumption that the heretic astartes have fled into the warp, and that the T'au may have retreated to prepare for further assaults.

The Lord Inquisitor that had authorized the use of Xenos armies as a vassal to the Imperial forces has been pronounced Excomunicato Traitoris, and was summarily executed.

May the records account in all balance: The Emperor Protects!

---//Report End//---

[themissinghand]

Hello! If your requests are still open, may i ask for a stanley snyder x reader? (fem, or GN) Where the reader is xeno's sibling? It's ok if not though. Just dont get pressured from the requests :) (also, if i may reccommend a manhwa, I suggest you try to read return of the mount hua sect if you like action and murim (it's rlly good trust me), or omniscient reader's viewpoint if you haven't read it already (my favourite) but if you like romance manhwa's with a medieval setting, either "your majesty please spare me this time" (unlike most romance manhwa's the mc in this one doesn't get over their hatred for the crown prince so quickly and and immediately falls in love with them. she's very conflicted and the emotions she feels are well written and she's not always "girlbossing" her way through. fantasie of a stepmother/stepmothers marchen is also a really good one.

sorry i went on a rant there, but thanks for thaking the time to read this and have a nice day/night!

Dr. Stone: "Who Did This To You?"

Requested by: Anonymous

Note: Hey! Requests are open! Thanks for your patience, I really appreciate it. I love to try and write different things so getting requests is exciting for me. This is a bit different from how I write but hopefully I did it justice. Also, thanks for your manhwa recs, I already finished the novel for ORV (literally my fav) and read the manhwa for Your Majesty Please Spare Me This Time. I read a bit of Stepmother's Marchen and Return of the Mount Hua Sect a while back but haven't caught up with it yet. Definitely down to write something for manhwa!

Summary: In which no one messes with Xeno’s sibling and gets away with it. Or there's tension between siblings and Stanley is just a puppy (or is he?).

Pairing: Stanley Snyder x GN! Reader!

Warnings: Will contain violence and swearing. Spoilers for the characters, but no plot. For anime watchers, don't search up Xeno or Stanley if you don't want to be spoiled!

Jealousy is a mental cancer.

(Y/N) knows it well, especially since they have such an outstanding older brother named Xeno Houston Wingfield.

Unlike their brother, (Y/N) is a troublemaker, a free spirit, and most importantly, a fighter.

Instead of lab experiments and academic competitions, (Y/N) spends their time in the gym and fights street thugs that bullies the weak.

At first, (Y/N) hated their brother, for Xeno always, always cared more about his science experiments more than them, and had the love and attention from everyone.

Also, he always had his best friend Stanley around him to keep him entertained.

Stanley Synder was chill and abnormally attractive, so much so that every time Stanley greeted them, (Y/N) was blinded by his appearance.

So what if he looks good? He was annoying.

No matter how much (Y/N) avoided Stanley, the man would find them some way somehow, and it was frustrating to have a literal man-puppy follow you around!

So (Y/N) ignored both of them out of spite.

But one day, when (Y/N) heard loud curses and the sound of painful grunts from a suspicious alleyway (that they knew gangs and thugs frequent), they rushed in without a thought.

They assumed that the person getting bullied might be the old lady that sold shoes, or the nerdy student at school, or the little boy who saw something he shouldn’t see.

People who are too nice, too vulnerable, and too trusting of their own good.

However, this wasn’t the typical thug that (Y/N) beat up often, they were men dressed in formal suits with bats and batons in their hands.

“What the fuck are you doing?!”

“Who the fuck is this kid?” The smell of cigarettes drifted into the air.

“Get out of here kid, we’re not looking for a fight. It’s this kid our boss has beef with.”

The person they were beating up were also not what (Y/N) was thinking of at all.

They weren't nice, vulnerable, or naive.

So when the person that (Y/N) saw was their brother, slightly beaten up and wet from water, they felt another type of emotion.

“(Y/N)?!”

Rage.

But (Y/N) didn’t know why.

“What are you doing here, Xeno?!” (Y/N) clutched their hands into fists.

“Hey, you know this kid?”

“Yea, I know him damn well.” In the next instant, (Y/N) kicked a metal bat out of a thug’s hands and used it as a weapon to fight.

Panic and curses filled the air as people yelled out profanities. But (Y/N) was used to this environment, this situation of 1 vs too many.

“Hey kid. We don’t have any business with you. Just with that fake little NASA scientist behind you.”

(Jealousy is a mental cancer)

(Y/N) never back down from a fight.

“Xeno, run.”

“What? There’s a zero percentage chance that you will win, and a very low chance that I’ll escape anyway! It’s more logical that I-”

(Ignorance runs in our blood, Xeno doesn't know (Y/N))

“There’s a hidden shortcut.” (Y/N) whispered, “Ran back and then take a sharp left, there’s a narrow walkway but you’ll fit through. Then you’ll find an apartment door - knock on it and tell the uncle there that I sent you.”

“What?! How can I-”

“Don’t you always take the logical path? Then do it. Stop being so emotional. It’s not like you care anyway.”

((Y/N) couldn’t see it, but Xeno immediately frowned and a bitter expression appeared on his face for a solid second before he turned and ran.)

“Catch him!”

That was their cue.

In the middle of the all-out brawl, (Y/N) maneuvered their way around like a slippery little snake, avoiding thugs with parkour and fighting back like a wild animal. They threw punches that sent people flying and kicks that sent people tumbling to the ground.

“I know you, you’re that troublemaker!” (Y/N) looked up with an arrogant smirk, and wiped the blood off the side of their lips.

“Yea, I know.” (Y/N) dodged the swing of a bat, and kicked one of them in the balls.

Unfortunately, someone grabbed (Y/N) from behind.

“I got you now-” But little did they know, (Y/N) is not one to be captured so easily. By leaning backwards and kicking the incoming fighters, it sent both of them back from the inertia, enough for (Y/N) to break out of the hold and kick all of them to the curb.

With so many taken out, it was quiet enough for them to hear sirens in the background.

“Fuck! I’ll fucking kill you and your brother the next time I see you!” Seeing them run with their tails tucked behind their ass was satisfying.

“Ha, what a joke. There won’t be a next time.” It took everything for (Y/N) to not fall over from fatigue and explain everything to the police, then they provided the police with camera footage and recording so the police could hunt them down.

The police insisted on bringing (Y/N) to the hospital due to the various injuries they got on their body, but (Y/N) instead just said they wanted a ride home. With a little bit of convincing, the police eventually listened and did as they said.

“Another person jealous of Xeno huh? Not surprised.”

"Xeno Houston Wingfield was the one that called for help." (Y/N) didn't say anything to that but simply looked outside the window.

When (Y/N) entered the house, they immediately went to their room, disregarding the worries from Xeno, and their parents.

“Fuck.” A string of curses left their lips as they tried to treat themselves with a first aid kit. It stings like hell and it doesn’t help when they’re extremely tired.

“(Y/N), it’s me. Stanley.”

“Go away.” (Y/N) replied with annoyance, they don’t need Xeno’s pity or get blinded right now.

“It’s just me.” (Y/N) watched the door silently.

“If you don’t open the door, I’ll kick it open.” With Stanley's playful tone, it sounded like something he would do out of spite.

“Fucking- alright. Happy?” Exasperated, (Y/N) opened the door and dragged the annoying prick into their room, before slamming it shut, not caring if Xeno was there at all.

“You look like shit.”

“Thanks Sherlock.” Before (Y/N) could sit back on their bed, a hand reached out and grabbed their arm. With a forceful tug, Stanley spun them around.

“What the fuck-”

Sharp, predator eyes are what shut (Y/N) up.

For the first time in a long time, (Y/N) felt…nervous.

Stanley tilted (Y/N)’s chin up to get a better look at their face and the injuries from the fight. A hiss left their lips, but no words dared to come out when being stared down by those watchful eyes.

(Y/N) was both nervous and confused, just what was happening right now? What happened to the literal man-puppy?

But nothing came out of them in this tense atmosphere.

Stanley gently wipes away the streak of blood by (Y/N)’s mouth without saying anything.

(Y/N)’s heart skips a beat as Stanley finally directly looks them dead in the eye.

Stanley’s voice quiet and tense, their anger barely restrained.

“Who did this to you?”

It took a moment for (Y/N) to collect themselves.

“It’s none of your business.” (Y/N) tries to pry the hand away, but Stanley only tightens his hold.

“Yes it is.”

“Yea?” (Y/N) challenged, glaring at the older man, “And what are you gonna do about it huh?”

For a moment, (Y/N) saw an uncharacteristic violent glint in his eyes, bringing shivers done their spine.

“No one can hurt you and get away with it.”

[lazywriter-artist]

Just some ock doodles

✨⭐️✨⭐️✨⭐️✨⭐️✨

He’s just a polite little man

Baby ock & will! I was working around ages and when ock was initially found (8yr) will was around 27!

Can’t have the art without hunts being his usual freak self— what does his pookie see in him I will never know 😔

Also have to include Huntsmann’s loyal hunting steed :3

A cross between Krieg’s mount breeds and a backwater world’s carnivorous war horse line, this beast makes a deadly mount for any aspiring to strike fear in the hearts of your squishy bodied enemies!

Ignore the fact I can’t draw horses and just ogle the funny puppy face that wants to eat u

A fun fact is Huntsmann doesn’t really use hounds in his hunts like his father had, huntsman prefers that of his field (aka the people who ride in the hunt?) and so he’s just got this gaggle of crazed blood thirsty zealots who help him as stand in hounds :) very safe and I’m sure no one was ever hurt in a zeal filled piranha frenzy ever over whole gets to purge the heretic

Amazing tags from @qcontinuumumum What can I say chat they just keep winning with these smh

Listen. Sometimes you hear rustling in the woods and jump to conclusions. Ya know?

Stories float around about the regiments ‘cryptid beast’ some say it’s a xenos they keep as a pet, others say it’s some horrid mutant they scooped up, but really it’s just a rowdy toddler the poor men can barely keep in one spot half the time—

[novankenn]

"Jaune Gets A Gun AU - Day 3" Colonial Marines - Various...

Inspired by @howlingday's RU-JA-GUN-CON

The girls were still feeling a little off, like they had forgotten something big. Something related to the goofy knight that had captured all their hearts. But for the life of them all they couldn't put their finger on it, plus there was a sudden distrustful jealousy of Cheerleaders that they couldn't explain. So they just chose to go along with Jaune's suggestion to get some lunch.

As they were moving past the various booths on their way to the Food Court, they passed a very militaristic booth. It instantly reminded Ruby of the Mobile Infantry Recruiting Booth from Day One of the convention. She shivered, knowing that through her inaction she had allowed Jaune to enlist.

????: Jaune? Jaune is that you?

Jaune: Huh? Did someone call my name? That voice. It couldn't be?

????: It is.

Jaune: (Turns to his right) Aunt Ripley? When did you get back?

The girls all turned to their right, following Jaune's lead.

Ripley: Recently, and my, my you have gotten so BIG since the last time I saw you! Come give your Auntie a hug!

The girls watched as Jaune hugged the older woman, a bright smile on his face. When they ended the embrace, Jaune stepped back to stand with the girls.

Ripley: Now, who are these young ladies?

Jaune: Some friends from Beacon. Ruby Rose, team leader of team RWBY.

Ruby: Hi.

Jaune: Pyrrha Nikos, my partner and temamate on JNPR.

Pyrrha: Hello.

Jaune: This is Emerald Sustrai, she's from Haven and a member of team CMEN.

Emerald nods.

Jaune: and a pair of old friends from Ansel. You should remember Tiny Tina.

Ripley: I do. Good to see you again, Tina, and if my memory serves me correctly, you should be Jinx.

Jinx/Tiny Tina: Ms Ripley.

Ripley: So what brings you to this event, Jaune?

Jaune: My friends have talked me into getting a ranged option to round out my arsenal. Right now I'm only using Crocea Mors, so they think I should look at getting a gun.

Ripley: Not a bad idea. So, have you thought about what you want to get?

Jaune: A few people, I know, suggest a shotgun, but I'm still open to other ideas.

Ripley: Well, maybe I can help you. Come with me.

Ripley led the sextet towards the booth she had been at. As they closed the distance, they saw two armoured men, standing behind the display counter.

Jaune: They look a little serious.

Ripley: Hicks and Hudson are good guys, and don't let their appearances fool you (whispers to Jaune) They're big softies.

The girls spread out to look at the display case as Jaune was introduced to his Aunt Ripley's companions.

Ruby: They do have a pretty good selection.

Pyrrha: They all look pretty sturdy and robust.

Tiny Tina: What's this one? Here at the end.

Hudson: That's a M134 Motion Tracker.

Jinx: Motion tracker?

Hudson: Provides a 180 degree sensing hemisphere in the direction the operator is facing, that indicates the presence of anything moving, with distance from the operator. Great for watching for unseen or hidden threats.

Ruby: Is that a M41A with under barrel U1 grenade launcher?

Hicks: (Moving from Ripley and Jaune as they continue to talk.) You have a good eye. I have a feeling you know the specs too.

Pyrrha: She does. What about that big one? Looks like a machine gun.

Hudson: The M56 Smartgun.

Tiny Tina: Smartgun? How is it smart?

Hicks: Mounted on a self stabilizing arm that auto-tracks targets with an infrared target tracking system.

Jinx: So it would be good for someone with, like, NO firearms experience?

Hudson: It would. Takes the guess work out of hitting a target.

Tiny Tina: And this one here, next to the rifle?

Hicks: M240 Incinerator Unit. (Noticing the looks of the girls) It's a flamethrower.

Ruby/Pyrrha: Nope. Too brutal.

Hudson: When you're taking on Xenos... anything goes girlies.

Tiny Tina/Jinx: Xenos?

Hicks: Screen on the side of the booth, next to the armour display.

Girls: What the hell are those?

Hicks: Xenomorphs, or Aliens. Steel like exoskeletons and molecular acid for blood.

The girls all grew wide-eyed. Those things made the grimm look like stuffed animals. Ruby and Pyrrha grew even more concerned, knowing that the last time Jaune visited a booth about a military style unit, he ended up enlisting.

Jaune: So, what do you think? That shotgun looks promising.

Hicks: Solid and true. War Era M37 pump, modified with a short barrel, capable of slam-firing.

Jaune: The pistol looks nice too, but I think I'd go with the shotgun.

Hicks: It's my personal favourite. Like to keep it nearby for ... "close encounters"

Ripley: So, see anything that tickles your fancy, Jaune?

Jaune: I think I'll get the shotgun.

Hudson: Okay, just some paperwork to do and...

Pyrrha/Ruby: NO! (Each girl taking a side and hooking Jaune under his arm pits, and before Jaune could struggle, Tiny Tina and Jinx moved in and lifted him by his legs.)

Hicks/Hudson: (Shouting as they watched a potential customer being hauled off) What are you doing?

Ripley: Put him DOWN NOW!

Hudson: I don't get it? It's only forms to get the proper licences. That's an over reaction, if I ever saw one.

Emerald: I'm sorry, but Jaune already enlisted with the Mobile Infantry. Thank you for your time.

Ripley: HE WHAT NOW?!? JAUNE GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE! YOUR MOTHER IS SO GOING TO HEAR ABOUT THIS YOUNG MAN!

Jaune: (in the distance) I'm sorry?

Hicks: United Federation, those blood suckers always looking for fresh meat for the grinder.

Hudson: Game Over, man. Game Over.

Ripley: (Whipping about to face the two marines) Get hold of Gorman. Tell him personal favour. Find a way to get Jaune out of the that enlistment!

(So I'm giving up on the Bolding of all the speakers. If this you find it is better with the bolding, DM or comment, and I'll edit this, and continue the practice in further posts. Hope you enjoyed.)

[dzthenerd490]

Space Marine Chapter: Grey Wolves

Description: The Gray Wolves Chapter hails from the Ark Ship "Storm of Fenrisa" and born from the Space Wolf Legion. Entrusted by the Imperium to kill off high ranking Xenos and Chaos Daemons in hopes of destabilizing their armies as fast as possible. They are then to help hunt down the survivors of the scattered and leaderless enemies and kill them off. The Grey Wolves pride themselves in striking the main target quickly, efficiently, and with enough flair to tell a great story later. they always enjoy talking about their exploits but only to one another, the Grey Wolves know better than to brag about their strengths and talk about their weaknesses to other Space Marines or anyone in the Imperium for that matter.

Tend to treat other members of the Imperium even other Space Marines Chapters form the Space Wolf Legion like strangers. However, treat one another as absolute family that are willing to ride with one another, fight alongside one another, and even sacrifice themselves for each other. Even the Troopers and Naval staff on their Ark Ship is considered family and no Grey Wolf will let a single crew member die or go on a day without a shared laugh. Like most Chapters created from the Space Wolves, they created their very own mead for their Chapter to personally enjoy.

Unique Trait: Grey Wolves are good at intimidating Xeno Beasts especially those bigger than themselves. They can also activate an ability called "Alpha Cry" that causes all beasts around them to bow in submission. This ability even works of Orcs and Goblins though not on Tyranids, it only makes them mad. Regardless, with this ability they can lead an army of beasts into battle to allow them to conquer any enemy with sheer numbers alone, not that a Grey Wolf would need such a tactic given their great power and their Artificial companion.

Arsenal:

Dual Hot Blades - Two Katana like blades made with sharpened Scorching Steel allowing the Grey Wolves with their amazing blade skills to burn and cut through any enemy. Nothing is strong, durable, or even fast enough to escape the wrath of a Grey Wolf so long as they are armed with these blades.

Bolter Rifle - Modified version of the original Bolter Gun made to be able to hold 50 canisters of God Blood with a total of 1,000 bolt shots that can easily make up for its lack of power and ammunition modes. Normally only possesses Incendiary, Cryo, Explosive, Electric, and Armor Piercing frequencies. For the Grey Wolves they also possess the Tracking frequency to ensure no enemy they shoot and survives manages to escape them.

Dual Electro Accelerate Pistols - Small handheld guns that are magnetically charged ensuring the pellets shoot at speeds of Mach 5. The gun holds six canisters each holding 10 magnetic pellets for a total of 60 shots each. Not really enough to dent a Tyranid's shell, leave a lasting mark on Necron armor, or even kill an Orc. But a well-aimed shot can certainly do some damage and lead to an amazing story for the Grey Wolves later.

Artificial Wolf Mount - an Artificial created by the Institue and given to the Grey Wolves to be both a mount and a companion. Made Flesh Steel that is strong enough to resist a Tyranids talons yet is able to move like skin when connected to an artificial nervous system. Given life through two brains one of a Xeno slave and another of a Xeno beast. Both brains are used as processors to allow the Artificial to act as if a real living and breathing wolf and use its mechanisms with precision. Listening devices within the ears allow them to hear even distance sounds the Grey Wolf probably can't. The nose is designed with the most advanced sent identifying technology allowing it to track smells even better than a real wolf could. Is given claws and fangs made form the same Condensed Ceramite as the Space Marine armor ensuring it can scratch and bite even through a Necron exoskeleton. It also possesses a tongue that can scan the biomass and blood of whatever it licks and send the data to Helmet Visor of the Grey Wolf. The perfect mount, bodyguard, and companion of a Grey Wolf.

Deity of Worship: Created form the Space Wolf Legion and thus naturally worships Leman of Freedom and Loyalty. They like to uphold his traditions of having parties after victories and celebrating life but also remembering to be loyal to the Imperium and each other. However shockingly they worship Jaghatai of Adrenaline and Secrecy as well, thinking that he is responsible for their quick and efficient kills.

Recruitment: When more Grey Wolves are needed the "Storm of Fenrisa" will go to a world that either has a church of Leman or Jaghatai. They will have the orphanages owned by the church's collect the orphans and have them sent to the Ark Ship. The newly recruited Applicants will fight one another with practice swords while both the Grey Wolves and the Artificial Wolves watch. They children are to continue fighting for certain periods of time every day until one of the Artificial Wolves starts howling. Afterwards all training will stop and the Applicants will be lined up and presented in front of the Artificial Wolf.

These Artificial Wolves will either be the companions of previous Grey Wolves who have died or newly created ones to replace those that were destroyed along with their masters. They will observe the applicants and review them to see if they have the strength and biology needed to become a Grey Wolf based on all data revolving the chapter. This process tends to be faster with newly made Artificial Wolves as those who had previous masters tends to pick out applicants who had similar traits to their predecessors. If the Artificial Wolf starts cooing and gently rubbing its head on the applicant, they will be selected as a Grey Wolf.

There is a chance that applicants will go on training and thus never be selected. However, this does not mean they will be kicked out as even if they reach adulthood and are never chosen are still offered a place on the Storm of Fenrisa. Weather this be a janitor, navy staff, or even a Trooper Guard. So long as they can handle their alcohol they will never be considered an outcast within the Ark Ship.

Applicants to become Grey Wolves will be escorted to the center of the Ark Ship where they will be placed in the Rebirth Pods. Once they are a Grey Wolf, they will be welcomed by the rest of the ship crew through a party where they will be expected to drink the specialized mead drank only by the Grey Wolves. Those that can handle a whole jug of the mead will be called "Brothers and Sisters". Those that take time to adjust to the mead will be called "Cousins". This isn't meant to be a full-on insult merely a playful nickname though to new recruits it can be quite annoying.

Cation Regarding Chaos:

Khorne of Sacrifice and War - Low Risk, yes, Grey Wolves love to kill for the thrill of it, but they are more tempted to have a good party and a good story rather than to spill blood forever. There will be the occasionally fall but through the millennium the Gray Wolves have found more and more ways to prevent this through comradery and family.

Tzeentch of Corrupting Knowledge and Magic - Immune, Grey Wolves live simple, and joy filled lives, they have no need to ask for more.

Nurgle of Disease and Decay - Low Risk, Grey Wolves do often live in the moment and thus can become stagnant or wish things remain the way they are forever. Nurgle can grant this for a price though most know better than to take on such an offer.

Slaanesh of Pleasure and Pain - Medium Risk, Grey Wolves life freely and chaotically, those that want to know something with a little more excitement, Slaanesh can be quite persuasive.

Malice of Anarchy and Vengeance - Immune, They Gray Wolves already live lives of freedom that no anarchy Malice can provide will satisfy them. Furthermore, a Grey Wolve who dies knows they will be avenged and those that are alive will keep the memory of their fallen brothers and sisters forever.

[retphienix]

Oh hell yeah that feels rewarding as hell to do every single time :D

Specifically- overcoming a challenge by sitting down and thinking on it for a bit until a breakthrough build comes to mind- THAT never gets old :)

Last night I thought that I could probably overcome Eternity Betsy if I threw my entire build out and tried something else. What I didn't think of then, but I did think of first thing today, was what if I tried something I don't think I've ever done a single time in my playtime of Terraria (modded or not).

Let's actually use a mount lol

So last night my "breakthrough" idea was to try abusing a wizard empowered Spectre enchantment. The idea being that I can avoid dying long enough for the spectre balls to heal me, so I can probably outlast her.

I decided to slap the health regen armor combo on top for some extra wiggle room- I tried using the armor + shiny stone last night with the turtle enchantment to "middling but not good enough" success because for those unaware- part of Eternity mode's rebalance is MEGA nerfing strategies like that lol

In base game (and most mods) you can get some mileage out of using this set + shiny stone and just tanking in place. Eternity makes it so taking damage of any kind MEGA drops your health regen and it sloooooooowly refills to your normal rate.

Maybe you can overcome this rebalance adjustment by abusing like palladium weapons (which get health regen on hit) and slapping the palladium enchantment (same effect) together? But I haven't tested that, in part because using palladium weapons at this point would be a bad idea (and their reach isn't exactly good so their impact on this fight would probably be crap).

ANYWAY.

I slapped on the health regen armors, then I realized that I could probably make a smart accessory slot trade if I crafted the valhalla enchantment and coupled that with the witch mount

The thought being I use the mount as my form of flight, it'll "most likely" be slightly easier to dodge some of the attacks since it's normal flight controls instead of abusing powerful jumps like my normal setup (though in this fight the jumps were performing pretty damn well), but more importantly it'll free up a slot which I can slap Valhalla in to make the mount even more reliable as mobility AND buffing my healing from my potion + the spectre orbs (maybe? I don't actually know but that was part of my thought process).

And the stat buffs- I figured the new slot could be used for a variety of things, but Valhalla would both improve my mobility AND defense AND potentially buff my spectre strategy, so I went with that :)

also it gave me a dash I did not know it did and wish I had noticed because that would have been useful but it's okay lol

It worked- it was MILES easier than last night's attempts. It took 3 tries I think? But it got really close on every try and was mostly me figuring out how I wanted to avoid each attack pattern with the broom instead of my jumps I'm used to.

Sick :D

also I used Terra Blade + xeno staff as main damage stuff, but whatever, mobility and proper accessories were my main build focus

also also I tested if the spectre heal counted for the valhalla enchant "increased healing effect" effect and it does not appear so, worked out anyway :)

[lupinedreaming]

One more weird af David 8 thought before I hit the sack:

I’m sticking this sucker under a cut, but TLDR; what if David went into a xenomorph hive and one decided to get a little frisky with him? 👀

cw: alien fucking, robot fucking, dub-con, rough sex, allusions to breeding kink. (Yes, I know typically I’m not into some of these things but … sometimes you make exceptions and/or learn things about yourself)

oKAY, so what if David decided to sneak into a xenomorph hive and steal some eggs for research and experimentation? And what if he decides to cover himself in xenomorph pheromones so that the hive doesn’t see him as a threat and just recognize him as one of their own?

Well, maybe things are going according to plan for awhile, but what he doesn’t know is that this hive is different than most, because these xenos actually need to copulate to produce eggs. And when he comes in drenched in pheromones, smelling like a receptive member of their species, he quickly attracts an eager, aroused xenomorph, which quickly tackles him to the ground, shoving his face into the dirt, and even with his inhuman strength, he’s not going to be able to get it off.

But, really, he doesn’t particularly want to make it stop. This could be a fascinating experience to learn from. So, he lets the alien do what it wants, which involves very quickly shredding his clothes off and mounting him and mating with him — rough, fast, hard, animalistic. And then suddenly it’s more than experiment, now he’s turned on by the fact that this perfect creature would see him as worth mating with, that it even seems to want to use him to breed, and although he isn’t capable of reproduction, he finds the act of procreation fascinating, even erotic.

And just before it’s all over, the creature bites the back of his neck in its excitement and ecstasy and it hurts, but a pleasurable hurt, and then it comes, and its release is a thick, almost burning substance, and as quickly as it started it’s over, and the creature is leaving him face down in the dirt, clothes shredded, synthetic skin scratched, and covered in alien come. But, despite all that, he’s satisfied and even wishes he’d gotten more.

[wandering-hurrie]

2019 wallpaper-size works (And a ton of character tags. Sorry)

[fictionalafvsmybeloved]

Do these things from XCOM count?

You've got the SHIVs, small autonomous armored vehicles

From the front

From the Side

Human for scale (Hey it's technically protecting them)

Anyway maybe this one doesn't really count? But hey, it's cool and you should look at it.

Though... I guess there is this "thing" from XCOM Apocalypse

Well I can find all of 3 pictures of the Griffon online so I guess I'll do the SHIV...

This isn't a tank but I'll give it a pass this time.

Steal the Alien's technology, reverse engineer it, and then use it to build killer robots to fight off their invasion. Hell Yeah.

So the idea of slapping a machine gun on to a little tracked platform (such as a EOD robot), is not new. There are tons of prototypes, concepts, and even a few models in limited service in various militaries today.

So... Quad-tracks. They aren't practical, they increase complexity, cost, maintenance time, weight, and ground-pressure. All for the negligible benefit of not being completely immobilized if one track is shot-off. They do look kinda cool though. It's pretty fast, and there is an upgrade package that makes it fly.

Being in infantry stand-in going up against plasma weapons means it's only marginally more durable than standard infantry, Until you get the xeno-alloy upgrade package.

Comes standard with a four-barreled gatling gun, a good choice for an unmanned platform that can be later upgraded to a laser or plasma weapon.

It does have what is assumedly a fairly advanced set of optics mounted alongside the weapon, as they should be. It also features a forward-facing hull camera, which has a backup for some reason? Why doesn't the weapon cam have a backup?

It's unmanned, so there's probably some XCOM drone operator sitting in an air conditioned room, sipping on an extra-large soda, piggybacking their signal off of the Skyranger, blasting aliens like they're playing Halo, and all while the guys on the ground are panicking for the seventh time this mission. But it only has one antenna, there should be a spare.

It has a bunch of headlights, a dinky little bumper, and no hooks to lift it up for maintenance.

FINAL SCORES

Credibility: 7/10 - Ready For The A1 Model

Coolness: 6/10 - Forest MultiCam

BONUS: A video a guy playing through the whole of XCOM with only SHIVS

[betabites]

+++ ADEPTA SORORITAS ORDOS ACTIVE IN TROIAS CLUSTER +++

+++ OFFICIO MINISTORUM MEMORANDUM +++ ++ SECURITY CLEARANCE LEVEL BURNT-SIENNA ++

+++ TROIAS CLUSTER ORDO STATUS +++

+ TIMESTAMP: 25.9.14.4.112.M42 +

++++ ADEPTA SORORITAS ++++ ++ MILITANT ORDOS ++

+ ORDER OF OUR LADIES OF THE BLOODY SABATON + Classification: Militant Ordo Minoris, Convent Sanctorum. Military assets: Primus Convents (Mater & Alius Mater) on Briseis & Cressida; major convents on Andromache Prime, Atalanta, & Ilona; minor convents on Hecuba, Aethella, & Laodice. Estimated current strength: 12,000 women under arms, with the ability to muster 40,000 highly trained Frater Militas with the aid of the Troian 147th Foot ("Frater Iconis Legion"). Deviations: Rejects standard doctrine on the use of Penitent Engines and Arco-Flagellants in favor of Repentia and penal units. This unorthodoxy has been APPROVED by order of HER GRACE, MORVENN VAHL, in light of local beliefs of the Eternally Recurrent Sz. Nika, and the stance that the inescapable torture-death of a mote of her incarnation would displease her. Active Concerns: Cluster-wide peace-keeping missions, typically acting in concert with PDFs and Guard as assault units. Occasional alliances with Forlorn Company and Peryton Space Marines. Have made repeated petitions to declare the Noble Sons of Pyrrus Space Marines traitors and heretics; investigations are currently underway.

A convent on Hecuba I is accused of tech-heresy by the Mechanicus. See attached document, CONCERNING THE DISPOSITION OF THE ARCING WRITS OF THE PLASMA CONDUITS. In brief, they are accused of modifying their vehicles to mount plasma weapons, in concert with the Troian 52nd Armour ("Plasma Cavaliers") and their 'suspicious' number of Leman Russ Executioners.

A convent in the Sekhmetarian moons is believed to have succumbed to heresy regarding their depiction of the God-Emperor as some manner of felinid abhuman. They are believed to be joined in corruption by the Troian 7th Foot ("Maidens of the Sacred Las").

++ CIVITAS ORDOS ++

+ ORDER OF THE AERIAL DREADNAUGHTS + +++ NOTABENE The Sisters of the Order of Aerial Dreadnaughts do not operate any dreadnaughts: marine, terrestrial, or aerial. They are so named for the shape of their head-dresses. Cease assigning them to warzones on the fraudulent basis that they are an armoured unit. +++ Classification: Hospitaller. Active Concerns: Medical attachés to the Order of the Bloody Sabaton, and work closely with them in most matters. Their training mission-hospitals on Briseis & Cressida have recently been destroyed by party or parties unknown, and an investigation is currently underway.

+ ORDER OF BLESSED ETERNAL RECURRENCE + Classification: Famulous. Active Concerns: Continually seeking the next incarnation of Sz. Nika, sector patron. Recent sightings of previous incarnations of Sz. Nika have greatly increased their workload, setting aside concerns raised by Forlorn Company Space Marines regarding genetic purity and alleged xenos taint.

+ ORDER OF SAINT SERAPH + Classification: Dialogus. Active Concerns: Serve as cultural translators & liaisons for the ogryn 38th Foot regiment ("Sz. Nika's Crusaders"). Their long isolation in the wastes of Kreusa has all but broken their grasp of Gothic, but they are terrifying warriors who make few demands on the Munitorum.

+ OTHER ORDERS + STATUS UNCHANGED. Refer to previous TROIAS CLUSTER ORDO STATUS document, timestamp 08.11.25.1.952.M41 for details.

[alicre]

Yes I know it's been a while since I last posted about my mount ragous ocs

This is Xeno he's trans and is based on my irl frend

[zmasters]

What is Honor? A Warhammer 40k Short Story

The horned creature that called itself Vera sat silent in her Throne Mechanicum, wires lining her spine between her blood red insect wings and connecting her mind and body to the machine. Bullets bounced off of the void shield of her teal and silver desecrator, Unrepentant Misery. The reaper chainsword swung through waves apron waves of advancing xenos, the spinning chains catching the green skin of a squadron of orks. The laser destructor fired, a red beam of light struck an incoming truck, turning the gunner on its back into red mist. Regardless, the makeshift vehicle charged Unrepentant Misery. With a single stomp, the ork machine was crushed under their titanic heel, dust, blood, and scrap metal filling the air.

"Kill the bastards!" The familiar voice of Astrid echoed in Vera's mind. She ignored it, as it was not directed towards the orks.

A group of light blue astartes, warriors of a Thousand Son's warband, took position behind the scrap metal that was once the truck. A group of avian humanoids charged past them, each mutant carrying a chain sword and firing bolt pistols into the horde of orks. The blue feathers of slain tzaangors scattered across the ground as the group entered melee.

"Filthy mutants." Another voice, Eric, rang in Vera's ears. She tried to ignore it, channeling her anger into the greenskin horde.

Raising Unrepentant Misery's whirling chainsword into the air, multi-colored electricity sparked around the eyes of the knight as Vera chanted in a language that she didn’t entirely understand. The wind around the desecrator changed, the flow redirecting into a torrent warping around Unrepentant Misery. Three missiles that were on target were suddenly caught in the wind and redirected, missing the desecrator.

"More..." Unrepentant Misery growled, vibrating the throne Vera sat on.

"Riders, right." The grizzled voice Wulfrik barked.

Vera's eyes shot right, her glowing eyes nearly turning into her skull. Ten squig riders attempt to flank Unrepentant Misery. The bright red mounts gnashed their teeth, leaving a trail of drool behind them. The raiders fired wildly in the air with their pistols in one hand, the other hand carrying primitive spears. The sensors surrounding Vera detected that these spears were rigged with makeshift explosives. She adjusted her knight's footing, firing round after of round of their shoulder mounted heavy stubber. The riders were cut down to the last man, yet the infamous "WAAGH" war cry of the greenskins drowned out the battle.

"They're coming, Vera."

"Disgusting xenos!"

"Death..."

"Hold the line, my warriors." The last speaker did not come from her Throne. "The relic will be recovered soon."

"Yes commander." Vera softly muttered.

"You were lively before the battle Bloodfly." Another Thousand Son sorcerer laughed. "Ghost catch your tongue?"

"Kill the heretics!" Eric ordered.

"Now's not the time." She gritted through her fangs.

"I'll leave you to your ancestors." The call cut out.

Astrid sighed. "Emperor, protect us."

"Shut up." Vera growled.

"Emperor... Betrayer."

"Full power to ion shields!" Wulfrik ordered, taking temporary control of Unrepentant Misery.

Vera ripped control back. "Don't do that again"

A salvo of missiles landed around Unrepentant Misery's feet. Thankfully, Vera's psychic manipulations managed to redirect any heavy missiles that would've hit the desecrator directly. However, this redirection wasn’t enough to carry the missiles far enough for the dreadblade to be out of range of the explosion.

"You idiot!"

Vera winced in pain. Some of the shrapnel had pierced the void shield, striking and embedding into her knight’s right leg, the cords connecting her into the Throne simulating the shrapnel. Vera instinctively reached down to her right leg, attempting to remove the non-existent shards of metal.

"Focus."

"Dimwitted beast."

"Emperor, we are so sorry."

"Betrayer..."

“Are you ok, Vera?” A binary beep breaking through the insults.

“I’m fine, Master Narvik.” Vera sighed in binary, her eyes catching a forgefiend in the distance. Standing by the hound-like daemon engine was the warpsmith Narvik. He, Vera, and the five astartes surrounding him, his “Rust Hydras,” were the only mercenaries amongst the Thousand Sons, the blue-green hydra sitting on their pauldrons showing their true bloodline.

“We’ll get our relic soon kid.” He said, a torrent of flame firing from one of his tendrils, engulfing an unlucky group of grots. “Don’t push yourself.”

“I won’t boss.” She smiled, a single gleam of happiness in this battlefield. “We still have our project to do together.”

"Reinforcements!" One member of the warband interrupted, before catching an ork slug to the helmet.

Vera's eyes returned to the battlefield. A portion of the greentide had redirected its attention to something in the distance.

"We push!" A tzaangor champion growled over the vox.

"No!" A sorcerer in cyan and gold terminator armor rebuked, his voice raspy and deep. "We should bolster our defenses. All we need is the relic."

"We don't know if they are friends or foes." A mortal priestess suggested. "Did our Lord call for aid?”

Vera leaned forward, squinting towards where the "reinforcements" were.

A red blur danced through the sea of orks, greenskins flying through the air from explosion and claw swipes. The blur momentarily stopped, allowing her to see the banner hanging between the legs of the machine. A skull laid over a cog, the symbol of the adeptus mechanicus, confirming what she thought.

"Knight!" She roared over the vox, firing at the mechanical warrior. "Imperial knight!"

A pack of smaller red armigers raced through the ork horde, crushing the xenos under their feet as the scout knights charged towards the warband.

"Focus all fire on the knights!" A sorcerer terminator coughed. Five helbrutes counter charged into the armigers, in hopes of slowing them down. All firearms and explosives were directed towards the knights as the cultists retreated behind cover. The forgefiend slowly approached the flanks, firing the two shoulder mounted electroplasma cannons into the Imperials as the mouth cannon sparked from damage. Narvik focused his attention on repairs as his Rust Hydras provided covering fire. The chainsword carrying tzaangors and chaos spawn charged after the helbrutes, cleaning up the orks left in their wake.

"Betrayer..." Unrepentant Misery rumbled. "Betrayer..."

As the Imperial Knight, a knight warden, armed with a thunderstrike gauntlet and a chaincannon, approached, Vera got a better view of the knight. While the banner between the knight's legs was that of the mechanicus, the crest sitting on the right of the red and black mask held a different symbol. A two-headed dragon. The symbol of House Zweidrach.

"By the Emperor."

"Don't do it Vera."

"Let her finally put you out of your misery."

"Betrayer..."

Vera nearly lept from her metal Throne, rage shattering whatever sense of calm she had left. "Lucella..." She growled, her blood red insect wings fluttered and her serpentine tail slithering in anticipation.

“Vera!” Narvik yelled. “Don’t do it!”

"Betrayer..." Unrepentant Misery's thirst for blood infected Vera, drowning out her master’s call for caution. She echoed her knight, the two roaring, "BETRAYER!"

Unrepentant Misery charged into the fray like a rabid animal, its flailing metal limbs slicing and crushing ork and cultist alike.

“The beast returns.” Lucella’s hearty laugh invaded Vera’s ears.

“You… betrayed us…”

The knight desecrator swung its chain blade at the Imperial knight, a squadron of orks being caught and eviscerated in the upward swing. Lucella’s knight grabbed Unrepentant Misery’s arm with its gauntlet, stopping the sword swing right before the whirling blade would have hit its shoulder.

“I betrayed you?” She laughed. “Your brother was the heretic!”

“Let her kill you, Vera.” Astrid calmly said. “She will end your suffering.”

“This is your last chance to restore your family’s honor.” Eric added.

“Shut up.” Vera hissed.

“Sounds like you ancestors agree with me, beast. Come, let me put you out of your misery.”

With a shove, the two knights disengaged. The blood and limbs of stepped on orks flew as Vera aimed her laser destructor, Lucella readying her chaincannon in return.

“Let her finish the job.”

“Ignore her and the spirits!” Narvik grunted as he crushed an ork’s skull with his hammer. “I need you to live!”

Lucella was quicker on the draw, a torrent of bullets breaking through Unrepentant Misery’s void shield and into its torso.

Vera howled in pain as the legs of her knight buckled. She fired the destructor, the sudden stumble causing the weapon to miss its target. Instead of hitting the mask of the knight warden, the laser instead broke through its void shield and struck its shoulder.

“Your piloting is disgraceful your brother’s memory!” Lucella roared into the vox speaker as the arm wielding the chaincannon sparked.

“You have no right to speak of him!” Vera hissed back, spitting blood onto the control console. “You betrayed him!”

“You will see him soon, if you stop.”

Lucella’s mocking laugh filled Vera’s ears. Rage filled her body as she sliced into the warden. Lucella’s laughter quickly morphed into painful wails as she felt the chains of the desecrator’s sword carved into her stomach.

She mindlessly fired her chaincannon as her gauntlet struck and swiped at Unrepentant Misery. Lucella was able to grip the top of the desecrator’s mask, Vera in turn feeling a strong grip on one of her horns. Lucella’s knight managed to overwhelm Vera’s, shoving her to the ground.

“Honorless bitch.” She spat. “Just like your bloody brother.”

Vera gritted her fangs. “Sven was honorable.”

“The bastard lied to the inquisition, betrayed the Imperium and the Emperor, killed multiple guardsmen and other knights, and broke off out fucking engagement!” She threw Unrepentant Misery to the ground before stepping onto it’s mask. “All for a spoiled little mutant how can’t even defend itself. Sven was the most dishonorable person I have ever met…”

“Maybe, other than you.”

With a click from the auto-loader, Lucella opened fire into Unrepentant Misery. With every bullet, Vera felt every wound alongside the spirits within Unrepentant Misery.

“She is right.”

“End this suffering.”

“Dying now is the only way to restore your honor.”

“Don’t insult your brother’s memory anymore.”

“Just die, it will be over for all of us soon.”

“We’ve… been… betrayed…”

Vera’s breath slowed. The voices, her ancestors, they were all right. Letting this suffering continue, staining her family’s name with every breath, letting a great knight of the God-Emperor fall into the pull of Chaos, dishonorable. Vera was dishonor made manifest, and the only way to have a shred of honor now is to let it end.

Vera awoke inside a familiar room, sitting on a familiar bed.

“Can you tell me another story?” A voice asked. Poking out from under the blanket was the head of a little girl. Her grin was filled with sharp teeth, and two tiny horns surfaced from the sea of blonde hair. “I want to hear about the great hero Sven and Unrepentant Bravery.”

“Sorry kid.” Vera said, petting the child between the horns. “It’s past your bedtime.”

“But I’m not… not” she yawned. “I’m not tired.”

“Fine Vera, one more. Let me tell you the tale of how our heroes met an angel named Celestine. You’d like her. She has wings too.”

The scene faded, and Vera was transported to a different bed. She was getting dressed. Watching her from the bed was a familiar blond woman.

“Why didn’t you tell me you had a younger sister?” Lucella asked.

Vera sighed. “Well she’s… different I want to say.”

“What do you mean?”

“Vera’s smart, strong, and her tests show that she’s an expert tactician. She’d be a great knight.”

“But?”

“She’s… She’s a mutant.”

Her vision blurred. Vera was back in the cockpit of Unrepentant Misery, or Unrepentant Bravery. Standing in front of her was Lucella's knight, alongside two armigers and a small army of guardsmen. "Why are you doing this Lucella?" Vera asked.

"I'm sorry Sven, but you and your family shelters a creature of chaos. Do the honorable thing, and let us pass."

"You call this honor?" Vera demanded, her brother's voice coming through her mouth. "You're the ones going to KILL a little girl just because she looks a little different!"

"Step aside Sven." Luccella gritted through her teeth. "The inquisitor demanded her capture, and the inquisition are the voice of the Emperor."

"I don't care what the Emperor has to say! YOU ARE TRYING TO KILL MY SISTER!"

"It's the honorable thing to do." One of the armiger's voices broke into vox.

Rage filled Vera's being. The throne she sat on rumbled within the cockpit. A quiet growl breezed past her ears. "Betrayer..."

"If protecting my sister is the dishonorable thing to do, than I don't give a fuck about honor!"

Vera's sight blurred again. She felt sleepy, her eyes struggling to stay open. Someone was carrying her, the servant's breath heavy and strained. "Go back to sleep young Vera." They said, trying to keep an upbeat voice.

"W-what's happening?"

"You're going on a vacation." Sven's voice softly wheezed.

"Where are we going?" She yawned.

He took a deep breath. "I'm not going with you."

Vera's eyes slowly opened. She was greeted by the sight of her brother. He was struggling to stand up, blood drenching his clothes. He gripped his chest, blood leaking between his fingers.

"Sven?"

"Everything will be ok, Vera. You and Bravery will be visiting some friends of mine, and they will keep you safe."

"Vera..." A deep voice echoed from above her. She looked up, seeing the damaged Unrepentant Bravery being transported into a ship. "I will protect you... from the betrayer..."

"When will I see you again?"

Sven was silent for a few seconds. "It will be a while. I can't promise you when, but we will see each other again."

"Ok Sven." Vera yawned. "I’ll miss you.”

"I’ll miss you too Vera. I'll see you someday."

As Vera is carried into the ship, she heard Sven say one more thing. "We'll see each other soon, Lucella."

"We'll see each other soon, Lucella."

Vera returned back to the battlefield. Unrepentant Misery, having lost its sword arm, stood over Lucella's kneeling knight. Vera's eye glowed bright blue, Unrepentant Misery's glowing alongside it. She saw through the knight warden's mask, seeing Lucella within the cockpit. She was tired, bleeding and crying. "Sven?" She asked.

"I still care about you." Vera's voice echoed alongside a familiar voice. "But I won't let anyone hurt my sister."

"Vera! We got the relic!" Narvik’s voice echoed through the vox, breaking Vera from her trance. "We're retreating."

"Y-Yes Master. I'll be there soon."

"Where are you going!" Lucella tearfully roared. "Kill me! Let me see Sven again!"

Unrepentant Misery turned away from Lucella. "I won't kill you. You don't deserve the honor."

Vera approached the warband's ship, entering the open hangar. The chaotic ship disappeared into the twilight sky, leaving Lucella alone in the body filled battle field.

Narvik raced to Unrepentant Misery as it collapsed to the ground. He broke open the hatch to the damaged knight, ripping the bloodstained Vera from the Throne.

“Are you ok Bloodfly?” Narvik asked, picking up the limp mutant. He held a vow to her brother, and he wasn’t about to fail his favorite agent.

“I’m good, dad.” Vera weakly joked, her positive mood slowly returning. “Did we get the thing?”

“We have the relic.” Narvik smiled. “We’ll get paid soon, and we’ll complete our project as soon as you’re at full strength.

As Narvik sat Vera to his shoulders, one of his havocs carried over their promised prize, a light purple orb.

“Hello Lord Narvik and Lady Vera.” The orb beeped, the binary code going over the heads of the rubric marines. “I am Cyla, and thank you for granting me a new body.”

It wasn't until midnight until someone contacted Lucella. "What happened?" The inquisitor's rage-filled voice demanded her to answer.

Lucella sat on top of her warden, looking over the ruins. Orks corpses as far as the eye could see, the wrecks of her fellow knights overlooking the green sea of bodies like monoliths. "We lost."

"What do you mean we lost?"

"I'm the only one that's left, and my knight needs repairs."

"This whole operation was your plan. This failure is enough to get you executed."

"I just need my knight repaired, and I'll finish what we started."

"No. I see now that you are not suited for this mission. You will be reassigned to a different mission, one more suited for your skill set, and a new more suitable agent will be assigned in your stay."

My lord, may I-"

"No!" They interrupted. "You will be tasked with a duty suitable for you. If you want to keep whatever honor you have left, you will follow my orders!"

Lucella took a deep breath. "I don't give a fuck about honor."

[thesixthcavalier]

Just finished the annual Alien and Aliens rewatch, usually would do it closer to Halloween but DBD's Alien release got me eager. And once again it's simply stunning how perfectly the movies meld into one another, and how excellently they hold up. The first movie does such a great job of building tension with simple scenes that, in a lot of movies today would just be cut out entirely. Whole extended scenes of characters just walking around a room or down a corridor, arguments between characters, just small things that really build the tension and sense of foreboding. And it does a great job of hiding the Xeno, because obviously the effects were not perfect. The couple of times we see the Xeno full on, on an average television screen today, you can clearly tell it's a guy in a rubbery suit. But you only get that twice in the whole movie, once it's the briefest flash of the creature in the vents and then the scene cuts away, and then at the very end. The rest of the time it's shadows, sharp movements, bits and pieces, and it does such a great job of putting together the idea of this terrifying, stealth killer that is picking apart this crew piece by piece with no real recourse.

Likewise, Aliens is one of the few sequels I can think of that really just says "More is more!" and does it flawlessly. A bigger, badder threat being dealt with by a bigger, badder crew and it's basically the same outcome. It's not as much of a horror movie obviously, but it still does a fantastic job of mounting tension and fear with the trackers and the way the characters respond. You spend about half the movie just getting to know what Ripley is dealing with, how the various characters are going into this, and seeing a bunch of marines who are loaded up to kill whatever they find and treating this like it's going to be a walk in the park, and when shit hits the fan they do respond to it, but between bad leadership and being ambushed, they don't win. It's a pretty fantastic show of scaling up the threat without making it lose it's potency in terms of the terror and the shock.

And again, the effects are so well done. We get to see more of the Xenos obviously, and while they're still not perfect, the lighting and the action is done in such a way that artfully conceals that rather than simply trying to make every scene a thousand cut mess. The Queen looks frightening and imposing, though I think anyone whose seen the movies a couple times can agree that her fight with Ripley in the mech has a couple moments where it looks just a tad silly. But the point is that doesn't detract from the overall excitement and pure adrenaline that is everything else coming together properly.

Every year I watch these movies and Over the Garden Wall as sort of my Halloween season setter, and in all three cases I notice little things that I didn't before, or have new thoughts. I could honestly talk on and on about all of them and all the fun themes and character arcs. But I won't, at least not right now. I know no one will read this, it's just me shouting into the void. And thank god for that, I love being able to shout into the void.