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View Full Version : Quantum-Locked enemies or "If you blink, you're dead!"



Randel
2009-02-16, 05:06 PM
Just watched the new series Dr. Who episode "Blink" which featured the Weeping Angels (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weeping_Angels#Weeping_Angels).

Basically they are a group of ancient creatures that turn to stone whenever someone looks at them. However, when they aren't seen they can move incredibly fast (even just blinking lets them cross half a room to get you). They cover their eyes to prevent themselves from seeing eachother and potentially getting locked forever. They gain sustenance by sneaking up on people and then sending them to the past to die of old age, getting energy in the process.

This got me thinking: assuming you have a group of monsters that are somehow affected by being observed be people, what sort of stuff can you do with this and what sort of crazy attacks might they have?


Observed Condition (what happens to the monster when you look at them):

Frozen - the creature is frozen in place, often looking like a statue or a wax sculpture. (example: the weeping angels, the weighted companion cube)

Inert - the creature cannot move while being watched. It usually falls to the floor in a heap, like a lifeless doll. (example: the toys in Toy Story)

Vanish - the creature vanishes without a trace, often being banished to another dimension or rendered invisible and intangible (example: a monster under the bed)

Death - the creature dies if it is looked at, often dissolving into dust.

Transform - the creature transforms into something else to blend in with its surroundings often requiring a person to determine "What wasn't here a second ago?"


Vulnerability (how vulnerable is it to being observed):

Human sight only - the creature is only affected by human sight, animals and machines can see it normally. Security recordings or real-time camera systems can allow humans to observe its natural form.

Human awareness - they are affected if a human observes them at this time, a security recording of the creature doesn't affect them but if a security guard is looking at a row of monitors that have cameras looking at them then they are affected as if he was seeing them himself. Some degree of picture quality and proximity may be a condition.

Sight and touch - sight and touch both affect the creature, so you could keep an eye on it and then grab ahold of it to keep it locked.


Offensive power (what it does to you if it catches you):

Maul - it attacks you with tooth and claw.

Vanish - if it sneaks up on you, it can make you disappear without a trace, often sending you to another dimension or time... if you're lucky.

Petrify - if it touches you, it turns you to stone.

Death - if it touches you, you die, often by 'natural causes' (example: death)

Virus - if it catches you, it can turn you into one of its kind.

Eat - if it catches you, it will eat you (example: a grue)


Example creatures:

Darklings - These intelligent humanoids exist peacefully in their underground villages. However, if a human looks at them then their bodies dissolve into dust. After a great deal of diplomacy and negotiation, they have managed to co-exist with humans as long as the Darklings wear full-body coverings that prevent them from being seen. If a piece of their suit comes off, such as a glove, then the exposed part will disintegrate if looked at. Fortunatly, they have extraordinary regenerative properties and can regrow a limb after several days. Naturally, tension exists in even the most peaceful encounters with humans, and some Darklings have sworn to drive humans away from their lands at all cost. Animals and robots seem capable of seeing them safely, and video recordings have been made, but real-time surveillance is dangerous unless there is at least a three-second lag. Darklings have a sort of clairvoyance that lets them see through solid rock or even in pitch dark, they are effectively blind to light and therefore can't read unless its carved into a solid object. Computer monitors don't work for them but they can 'sense' if a human is looking at something which they describe as "A burning wave across the ground and air, forcing the intangible tapestry into crude, solid, and unnatural shapes."


Gomoras - Humans changed by a terrible curse into living statues of salt. They can only move when nobody looks at them, even other Gomoras. If they touch a living person the curse is spread, turning that person into a Gomora as well. As statues of salt, water will dissolve them, slowly eroding away at their features until they are reduced to nothingness (though many believe that this is the only way to end their cursed existance, some are afraid that even being dissolved to salt-water would not be the end... since a Gomora can survive having their entire face, arms, and limbs broken away. They have no way of knowing if a de-limbed torso is still alive but immobile. But headless Gomora can still move around, although they are blind and mercifully don't lock up their fellows). Many have gone insane, living in abandoned tombs where the light doesn't shine and water doesn't dissolve them, some are centuries old, their facial features worn away by the moisture in the air. Even if their face is worn beyond recognition, they can still see the world around them, this has given some a semblance of an existance able to read, write, and draw over the ages while seeing the beuty of the world, but the potential of locking-up their fellows has cause some groups of Gomoras to violently attack their fellows, breaking off their heads so they can't see each other.

No Gomora is capable of speech, though tests have proven that many are still intelligent and capable of hearing and understanding speech even while frozen. Then they can respond by writing a response. Most try to avoid others to avoid getting frozen, though a few have managed to form groups, often clothing themselves with cloaks to make getting frozen less likely. Radical groups of Gomoras have been known to tear off their heads so they can't see, then if a stranger encounters them they try to infect them and do the same.

They can be 'killed' by breaking them up into small pieces or dissolving them in water. Limbs severed from the torso are non-mobile and its suspected that their new 'brain' is somewhere near where the human heart is.



Anyway, has this inspired anything?

Comet
2009-02-17, 06:38 AM
Awesome stuff. I really liked "Blink" and I've also been thinking about implementing a monster like this in my games.
Your text was thorough and had many good ideas, thanks.
My favourite part, however, was this:


Frozen - the creature is frozen in place, often looking like a statue or a wax sculpture. (example: the weeping angels, the weighted companion cube)

I lol'd right there.