Bug Mythology

[ArlEammon]

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?393207-*closed*Bugs-Of-Mythology-Deity-game-As-Bugs

In our world. People are Human. There are no other species on Earth, except maybe Dolphins and that's a stretch for at least a couple of reasons, that can be called "People". Not even Hominids can really compete with Human beings to be called another sapient race.

In this world. . . Humans exist, as do sapient Bugs and insects. Humans are generally more advanced. With their gun powder beginning to equal the fire power of 1800's Earth, their armor durable enough to withstand our clawed feet, stingers and mandibles, and us having barely more than the most primitive governments in Earth's distant past, we need to catch up.

We have advantages though. We are physically superior to them. Just as intelligent, even if not educated at all, we have poisons, and our exo skeletons, although not reinforced with artificial armors like the Human's, are always there as a part of our body. If you fight a naked Man in combat he has to be the best of the best not to get so much as nicked, because if our stingers, claws or mandibles don't kill him, the venom or poisons will.

Also, because of our reproductive cycles and ability to live longer than Humans can under primitive conditions, we outnumber the Humans many times over. None of us have any territory nearly half as large as the Yamatai Empire, but when we begin to centralize ourselves and conquer other hives and nests, we will be able to outnumber the Humans in a way that would make it impractical for them to invade.

However, unfortunately for us, the Humans have decided to eradicate us wherever they find us. These Humans now have far superior smelting processes, black smithing and metallurgy, and their Samurai and soldiers have fire arms capable of piercing through our carapaces, and that doesn't even include their cannons. So far, there are countless tribes, hives and nests that have nothing to do with the god's dominion.

We, as the gods of our species, represent the Paragon nature of achievement. We are immortal, and possess supernatural powers, and our far superior in magical ability than anyone on the planet, except for perhaps some unknown creature we have not met. Across the sea, the Northern Island conceivably has it's own god or gods, but we have not met them.

The Humans are finally pouring into our lands, against our numerically inferior neighbors, with their swords capable of slicing clean through acidic blood, their armors resistant against the same and their arrows and guns capable of blasting Hive Queens to death.

[XIII]

Goddess: Isruna. The Pale Goddess; She who knows; Gentle Mistress; Dark Beauty; She who watches.
Name: Lepidoptera (Lepidopterans)
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Domains|Portfolio: The Mind (Psionics), Darkness (Deception), Lepidoptera (Poison)
Appearance:
http://th03.deviantart.net/fs70/300W/i/2012/289/2/9/insect_queen_by_eikoweb-d5i04di.jpgThe people of Isruma are Lepidopterans (Moths, Butterflies and everything in between). Colors and patterns are extremely important part of communication as well as vanity in their secretive society.

-The people are secretive but very social. Drama is the preferred pass-time. They love to play "The Game"
-Think Orlesian politics kind of drama
-Matriarchal Society
-Constructs are mostly spires, monoliths, towers, etc.. Ziggurats are built for worship
-Not unwilling to work with other species, just wary
-Pragmatism is encouraged
-Moral ambiguity - the ends justify the means
-All peoples of the Lepidoptera are capable of flight and so the spires are constructed in such a way that, without wings, one could not navigate them properly. The inside and outside of their spires are usually beautifully decorated with assortments of flowers, for consumption as well as aesthetic
-Bright and vibrant colors/patterns are preferred in all decor. Physical beauty is also very important
-Total herbivores, they consume nectar and sap only.
-Pursuits of the mind of valued above martial pursuits
-Philosophy and poetry highly valued
-Information is power in this society and so the people keep their secrets well guarded while using others as weapons or bribes
-Very political, debates common. Political or Social feuds/underhanded tactics are the main way of gaining power
-Hallucinogenic poisons are produced naturally from the dust forming on their wings. It can be refined for many purposes. This also means the people are resistant to toxins.
-Society works in a caste system
-The power of the mind is considered superior
-Stone is the preferred building material.
-Cold-blooded race
-Psionically active race
For flavor, think of this society heavily based off French society. Apply accents, finery, customs, and all things French!

Resources:
Flowers/Fruits/Nectar/Sap


Base Race: The Kalukisak - Versitile, able to join/oversee almost any caste; Intelligent; The majority; Active psionics of varying degrees; basic colors/patterns of varying nature



Isruna watches her chosen people from her dark spire in the shadow. They'll need... Encouraging if they are to survive. The darkness around her vibrates violently as she goes about the work of gods:

3pts - Create Race - The Nappairuk - Stout, moth-like; Engineers; Usually not overly powerful psionics, but their sturdy minds and bodies bear the weight of stone; darker colors with simpler patterns

6pts - Create Race - The Atanik - Genius Intellect; Leadership Caste; Extremely powerful psionics; Neon colors and complex patterns

2pts - Intermediate Technology - Psionic Mining

2pts - Intermediate Technology - Military Application of Psionic Abilities (weapons, armor, ordinance, fortifications, etc)

1pt - Technology - Alchemy labs - research, development, and refining the naturally occurring hallucinogenic toxins that come from different Lepidopterans. Special interest in areas applicable to interrogation/torture/mind-breaking/truth extraction

5pts - Paragon - The Kirratchaiktitkaa, "Daughter of Isruma: She Who Looks Down On Us" - Always female; Supreme holy leaders; Great philosophers; Extraordinary Psionics; Specific, one-of-a-kind wing pattern for paragons with any range of colors

1pt in reserve

[darklink_shadow]

Melisseia Aristeia awoke from a short hibernation, as she rallyed back her strength after creating her many people. In her slumber her Psionic Link with her people had directed them along a right and goodly path.

But as she stirred, she noticed enemies and allies alike had appeared. Her first point of order was to announce to her people, each and everyone that she was awakened. She glimpsed the thoughts of every mind, and knew all there was that her people could know.

<<The humans would have war, but we have warriors and allies... let each cast do his part. Grow food for the warriors of other tribes, and harvest materials. Prepare to align the other races with our plan for The Greater Good. Minor tribes, godless insects, will have new rulers. Seek out those with the minds capable of withstanding the Hivemind. Join them to us. Grow and expand our influence. When all the world is set to Order, The Greater Good will unite all people into an era of peace and productivity. >>

Her thoughts touched every mind, and she felt the great wheels of progress churn.

[IZ42]

In some dark corner of existence, a figure is seen sitting on a dark tapestry, woven from the silk of countless spiders. The figure pulls a string, and a new light is born in the sky, a star to guide those in the night. But it feels a discord, and sees the strands weaving themselves in a new pattern.
In a whisper that echoes across space, running through the many strands, The Weaver, Maka Asa says <Fate is revealing itself, reweaving the strands it set many years ago. The humans march, and soon there will be war. The outcome remains unseen, as is the nature of Fate. Weave, my spiders, and let the stars guide you.>

I created an OOC Thread Here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?394496-OOC-Bugs-of-Mythology).

[FlameI7]

Name: Locusta
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Domains|Portfolio:
Locust (Consumption) Swarms (Mercenaries) Darkness (Assassins)
Appearance:
https://m1.behance.net/rendition/modules/74017033/disp/ee73be21859d377df37b22af28bf2683.jpg

As The Lord of The Devouring Swarm awakens, he shouts to his people, "Come my people! The humans vow to eradicate us, but we'd like to see them try! Prepare for war! As you do, I'll give you a few gifts...
Create Race(3): Workers. These are the locusts that do the mining, refining, and other labor. In the society, they are respected as being the foundation of the nation. Averagely magic compatible.

Create Race(4): Generals. These are the lawmakers, the smart ones, the generals of the armies. They have an exceeding intelligence, and some may have the ability to control their unending hunger. Very magic compatible. Will often be High Priests.

Create Race(4): Super Soldiers. Don't let the name fool you, the rest of the locusts are fully capable of combat. These ones are just bigger, and tougher than the rest. These are the ones who are most usually sent to be guardians of other races. Not very magic compatible.

Alter Land(1): A massive mineral rich desert, farthest from the humans. It is my understanding that there is an ocean/sea surrounding the humans, and therefore, Locusta makes his desert far from it.

Create Tech(1): Mining. The locusts are capable of mining the metals, fossil fuels, and gems from the abundant land.

Intermediate Tech(2): Super Refining. The Locusts are so familiar with the desert they live in, they are able to semi-magically refine their metals to their purest, most useful form.

Magical Arts(3): Magical Scrying War Tables. Exactly what it sounds like. Only for the use of Generals and Head Priests.

This should leave me with 2 left.

As the Locusts receive their new home, their new leaders, and everything else The Devouring One gave them, they prepare for war, and, more importantly, send offers to the other races. Even one guy to the dragonflies. They come back with a pantheon.

[hoplathemightly]

The sands roiled, a great dune began to rise, spires erupted and a massive form stood. Sand pouring over his body Amplitudo gazed upon this deserted landscape. In a rumbling voice he spoke, Come my children. You are welcome to this land. Make great homes. Build your strength. Protect those who would need your aid. Do not sway from the path. Greatness will rise in this land. Rejoice as I birth brothers and sisters. And be wary of those humans. With a mighty stroke Amplitudo plunged his greatsword into the sands and great mountains rose from the sands. Suddenly he melted into thousands of beetles that began to borrow into the mountains.

Not so far away, in a rich and fertile land Amplitudo's will caused great geysers to erupt, long twisting rivers formed. Lakes filled, and black as night beetles swarmed within the waters that stretched across the grassland.

Amplitudo stood upon his dais and smiled in appreciation.

[Kolechian]

Create Race(5): the Ancient Templars
Intermediate Tech: Blacksmithing (2) - because someone needs to smith these sharp steel fangs that will cut through your father's chitin! And the steel plate hidden inside your chitin, which would protect you from such a bite.
Simple Tech - 'Lance' tactics (1) - the dragonflies are learning to fight in group of 3 to 7 members. There is still little coordination among the lances.
Bless - Ancient Templars (1)
Artifact - Orb of Clairvoyance (3) - is normally stored in the Council of Equal chamber.
Paragon (5) - Nag the Flatwinged - the powerful warrior and a gang leader, a member of the undoubtedly the most powerful gang among the Odonata.

Vritra was sitting at the giant rock, looking over the horizon, still tired and relaxed. The boulder which was protecting the entrance to his cave was rendered into a pile of rubble, and the giant flying creature was resting at the edge of the cliff, looking over the world underneath. The giant pairs of wings were spread over the infertile rock. Vritra looked over the land below, staying quiet and emotionless. He swinged his wings, darting below, heading towards the tall spires of his city. He had a long conversation with the council ahead - and despite he would never consider them disobedient to his will he wanted to make sure they are understanding the scale of problems their species is facing. It was a pain to return to his kins like that, but it would be inappropriate to leave them alone.

His arrival was noticed, but not many Odonata learned about what happened in the council chambers. There were rumours of some of the high ranked deputies not surviving the meeting, but these were probably just rumours. At the end of the day, all Odonata tribes knew about the God's of War return.

[~Corvus~]

Mestis' arrival on this world was not the last; However, it seemed that she had not acted as fast as the others. Nevertheless, she would prove herself useful to this world. Still, she thought wryly, It wasn't going to be easy. As she reached out to the world and spread her consciousness over it, she found some grasslands and fertile areas that would be useful to her erstwhile desires. Seeing what others had done, she had decided that her entire race would be comprised of warriors, much to her own idiom.

She took control of a race of prey-catching creatures, the Mantis, and altered them into suitable creations. Three kinds would do for now, as the fury of her coming was great.

Be free, my children, and roam the expansive grasslands to the Eastern borders. We shall prey upon the visitors that mean us harm.

As the lands she touched grew more fertile, they also grew full of flowers, and with them came mantis that would not only hide in their fields but also grow them to great health.

Deity Name: Mestis
Alignment: TN
Domains|Portfolio:
Mantis | Spines
Hunting | Camouflage
Plants | Cultivation

Races:
Nymphomantis Horticulta | Nymphs
Mantidopopida Vexillum | Stalkers
Lernaeamantis Zergihydra | Hydras


http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs17/f/2007/190/f/b/Black_Mantis_by_Lisi4ka.gif

Mestis (this wasn't planned, but oh well) Also, see the Hydra picture below.
http://cache.desktopnexus.com/thumbnails/501076-bigthumbnail.jpg


Obviously heavy on the hunting aspect, these creatures wouldn't be very tough, but would be deadly hunters, with excellent abilities to hit-and-run.

I also like the idea of something akin to Hydralisks evolving from them later on, growing only vestigial spines and being able to spit them as ranged attacks.

Simple techs: I see these creatures focusing simple techs on crop-growing, maybe even plant-development to the extent of nuturing plants that ensure their abilities to camouflage and hunt. To this end, herbology is a great step.

Intermediate techs: What stands out here is their natural weaponry and abilities: Extraodinary camouflage, spines that can rip through metals.

First, the Nymphs (3 points)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Ant-Mantis.jpg
As hinted by the name, the Nymph strain are the plant-raisers, and are tasked with the cultivation of many different species of plants. They are semi-symbiotic mantises that feed off of the plants they cultivate, pruning the plants of aberrants growths and smaller critters that would elsewise threaten their plants' growths.

Second, the Stalkers (3 points?)
http://digital-art-gallery.com/oid/17/1280x864_4764__Kung_Fu_Mantis_sculpture_creature_f antasy_picture_image_digital_art.jpg
The Stalker strain represents two important functions of the Mantis: First, they serve as hunters for their hive-clusters, bringing back what food is needed beyond what the Nymphs provide. Second, since the dawn of the humanoid threat to the Insect kindgom, the Stalkers serve as scouts and sentries for the Insect kingdom, able to blend into the natural cover of their lands and others. Hunters have superior camouflage that allows them to ambush unsuspecting prey.

Third, and most vicious of the mantis, are the Hydra strain. (5 points?)
http://www.wallpaperhi.com/thumbnails/detail/20120225/video%20games%20zerg%20hydralisk%20monochrome%20ar twork%20starcraft%20ii%20kerrigan%201600x906%20wal lpaper_www.wallpaperhi.com_75.jpg
Hydras are not as large as the one pictured above, but their ferocity is to scale. These mantis can manifest spines capable of being launched at range, taking many creatures off-guard. Their frontal spines are harder than those of the Nymphs and Stalkers: they sacrifice strength-of-limb for carrying or grappling for the horrific power of metal-ripping spines and deadly, vicious teeth. Finally, their bodies can regenerate over time, healing all but the most fatal wounds.



Starting with 20:
1: Alter lands: fertile, grassy land
3: Make Nymphs. The basic Mantis are good at hiding and are excellent at cultivating plants. They cultivate plants that are good at attracting minor insects, birds, and small animals for food.
1: Simple Tech: Agriculture
(15 left)
3: Evolve Stalkers, becoming hunters and scouts. Can hunt game and large animals well. Pose threat to humans if desired.
2: Advanced Tech: Give Mantis Camouflage abilities. This is extraordinary, and applies to all Mantis.
(10 left)
3: Psionics(Telepathy): The Mantis have taken what has been offered from their bee allies--a Hivemind--and taken it to a truly magical ability. All Mantis are linked to the same Hive Mind, though which they can
5: Evolve Hydras. Hydras are the pinnacle of Mantis strains, and are used to defend the hive clusters and take down large animals. Stalkers -Carrying abilities +Armor-piercing spines +Spitting Spines +regeneration.

[ArlEammon]

The Creatures

The strange Mutated Humans began to arrive from across the seas from the East. They weren't Yamatai, and they weren't like any Humans that the people had seen. They were six and a half feet tall on average, and their strength was superior to the Yamatai. Their technology was oddly superior as well, although not as simple and harder to replicate more than simple weapons and the basic necessities that these new people needed. Bugs from the Eastern shores of the main continent attempted to take sanctuary in neighboring Hives and Nests, but soon entire swarms and hives were moving West.

The New Men, as they were known were far more dangerous even than the Yamatai, immediately made themselves nuisances as soon as they landed, but they quickly became a horrifying menace once they established themselves on the Eastern Shores.

[hoplathemightly]

Amplitudo watched from above as the masses of his progeny built their great cities, the Scarabs constructed great underground complexes with the aid of the worms. A new race rose quickly from the Scarabs, a leaner, more intelligent and magically inclined race: the Amphedagas. With the Amphedagas guiding the claws and minds of the Scarabs and the Stags a powerful nation began to form.

The Myx's soon had vast networks of cultured algae and sea grasses, a decent sized fishery. The Amphedagas wasted no time in uniting the two cities into one using canals, ships and waterways; and shortly there after the beetles began developing and implementing their military academies. Peaceful negotiations had been struck with the worms and lotuses, peaceful contact and a hope for unification had been expressed with the bees and spiders as well. The Amphedagas lead a small ambassadorial group to the mantises that had appeared as well.

Then the rumors of the mutated men came, skirmishes and slaughter of the bugs on the eastern shores. The Amphedagas knew it was time to delve into the magics they believed flowed through their very being.

Spending 3 AP to begin researching Abjuration type spells, do you need specifics? I'm working off the assumption that we gain 1 AP each turn.

[XIII]

And then they all died... If anyone is left, I think we should revive this game.