Chapter 10-30 Cadre (II)

Chapter 10-30 Cadre (II)

The Stormtree Fulgerhund is assigned a mixed Porter/Breaker designation in most Knots. Though lightly armored and absent numerous defensive and offensive systems present in modern golems, it continues to be a mainstay of both Stormtree forces and Fallwalkers.

Autonomously jocked through the Nether in most cases, the volatile power system connected to twin microfusion reactors is more a feature than a bug. Likewise, the pace at which it can accrue Rend is another layer to its eventual functions.

Striding across the battlefield from lightning bolt to lightning bolt, the Fulgerhund is a fast-assault transport for special operations groups, but more often its interior will be filled with expendable drones and mechs while it continues transmitting information back to the main elements of the Knot.

Other than serving as a Porter, the Fulgerhund can continue serving as a forward operating scout, or can start striking exposed or overextended elements of the opposition's forces. Though it can project electricity out to a limited range, the main method of attack is to shuttle matter across vast distances using lightning as a movement vector.

A final use for the Fulgerhund is as a techno-thaumic improvised explosive. This usually culminates with the golem at Rend Capacity, upon which they will stride in rapid succession until they rupture, and at that point, overload its power system to set off its fusion reactors. The resulting devastation is sometimes called unzipping due to how the lightning interacts with the detonation of a makeshift hydrogen bomb.

-Nether-stream, Arsenal of the Spreading Fracture

10-30

Cadre (II)

DOMAIN OF (LIGHTNING)

CANON: BOLTSTRIDE - THE MASTER OF THIS CANON CAN TRANSMUTE THEIR PHYSICAL MATTER INTO AND THEN TRAVEL AS A BOLT OF LIGHTNING; EACH STRIDE IS LIMITED TO A RADIUS OF FIFTEEN MILES BEFORE THE CANON HAS TO BE REINVOKED

HUBRIS: ATTEMPTING TO STRIDE WHEN WEIGHING IN EXCESS OF ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY TONS WILL RESULT IN THAUMIC BACKLASH

DOMAIN OF (MATTER)

CANON: STORMWREATHED - THE MASTER OF THIS CANON CAN TEMPORARILY CONVERT MATTER INTO A MANTLE OF ELECTRICITY

HUBRIS: IF THE CONVERTED MANTLE IS SUBMERGED, IT WILL RESULT IN THAUMIC BACKLASH

Two canons.

Two hubris.

Countless implications.

For all the fleeing he did through Nu-Scarrowbur, his Galeslither was too vulnerable to interdiction from other spatial Heavens. His Woundshaper, on the other hand, was a little more than lacking when facing threats not of the overly physical variety.

Should the Fulgerhund be added to his current design he was curious as to how fast he could move when binding Boltstride to his already present canon of Haemokinesis.

The Stormwreathed canon was comparatively a lesser prize, but would allow him to trespass the borders between matter and energy, and thus a means of averting from the Striders cleaving light.

RESURRECTION - 71%

Familiar,the Woundshaper said, studying the Fulgerhund as the light-stitched warg drifted before them.In a time before in the times when we were once whole we were of a pantheon. Of this, I speak certain. Now, we are all remade by lesser hands; mongrel bastards to our own lore.

Avo regarded the words of the old god. Will you join with it?The initial posting of this chapter occurred via N0v3l.B11n.

The Woundshaper scoffed. Of course. It would be absurd to abandon growth; purebred is another word for inbred, after all. Come. Come. Let us mantle the hound upon my spire. Let the stuff of storms serve us as mortar to my bricks.

Soulfire needled through the Fulgerhund and drew it into the Woundshaper. Brightness built between them and with their joining did the insides of Avos Frame come alight.

When the smelting was complete, the Woundshaper spread into shape again. Arteries forked free from its structure in surging bolts. The shell of the Heaven, always an alloy of properties, now coursed with dancing arcs of electricity. Static-shrouded fur swayed low from the spire and the full maw of a snarling warg rose where once there were only jaws.

The Woundshaper thrummed with a current of excitement while its Hell grew blurred and strained.

Avo would need to boost the Hell as well. Presently, there remained potential yet for his Heaven.

HEAVEN - WOUNDSHAPER

DOMAIN: (BLOOD/MATTER/BIOLOGY/LUMINOSITY/LIGHTNING)

THAUMIC REQUIREMENTS - 501 THAUM/c

It held a decent mass to it, but he could inject more canons. Much more, if he were to go broad. He had over two thousand and five thaums of available structure left should he balance his Woundshapers Hell. Keeping a gulf of hundred or so thaums between his ontologics and maximum Frame capacity seemed wise.

As things went, the Woundshaper was an instrument of intrusion, destruction, and creation. With the Fulgerhund added, the chemicals of maneuverability and energy have been added to the concoction.

Now he needed more scale and control. More influence. More speed.

Unmaking one of the Sangeists, he drew forth its twin domains and offered that which was blood to the Heaven. He intended to enhance his Canon of Haemokinesis even more.

We are arisen, master, the Woundshaper cackled, as he shifted over to the Galeslither. Already, I sense my current gnosis far vaster than the pebble I was in history. How kind a fate to be enchained to you toward higher apotheosis. How kind a fate

The Galeslither was comparatively a simpler job.

The Yondergales, though immensely useful for tasks that required a subtler touch, were easy to paradox by other spatial canons. There seemed to be a vulnerability shared among canons of the demiplanar variety - an incongruence against other geometry or correspondence-altering miracles.

Such a thing needed to be avoided, but he still wanted to keep a Heaven suited toward the clandestine.

To that end, the joining was simple.

The Galeslither chuffed to life once more as Soulfire swept the Shadowcrawler close. An ink-black serpent sank beneath the flesh of the steed as two Heavens were joined. From beside galloping hooves burst the chitinous legs of clambering insects, and from storm-scarred ribs oozed a man of midnight black.

Avo continued working even as the Heaven gasped and awareness flickered awake within it like a candle.

Ah, the Wounshaper said, clicking her nonexistent tongue. The mule awakens. Though mule is no longer a term so apt for you, is it.The head of the centermost horse had turned chimeric, blending into a creature fused between serpent and stallion. The Galeslitheror that which it becamespoke in hushed whispers like its words passed through enshadowed alleys by the midnight breeze. Where where are we what what are these

Still yourself. You wake anew. We are bound for greater and grander things now.I dont understand I was I needed to deliver The patheon tasked me to bring wind and rainThat is the past now, kindred. There are pantheons no more, but a new game has taken its placea new ladder towards ascension.

DOMAIN OF (SHADOW)

CANON: BLACKDIVER - THE MASTER OF THIS DOMAIN CAN COMMAND AND SINK INTO SHADOWS, MANIPULATING IT LIKE A PUDDLE OF WATER; ONLY

Avo wasted no time. He smelted down another Shadowcrawler and added its domains to his current canons.

CANON: BLACKDIVER (III) - THE MASTER OF THIS DOMAIN CAN COMMAND AND SINK INTO SHADOWS, MANIPULATING IT LIKE A PUDDLE OF WATER; ALL SHADOWS TOUCHED BY THE MASTER WITHIN A DIVE PERIOD ARE NOW CONSIDERED TO BE ONTOLOGICALLY UNIFIED, ALLOWING THE MASTER TO SURFACE FROM ANY SHADOW THEY HAVE DESCENDED

HUBRIS: IF ALL SHADOWS CURRENTLY CONTAINING THE MASTER ARE PURGED, IT WILL TRIGGER THAUMIC BACKLASH

Darkness flowed free from the open chasm of the Galeslithers chest. The winds took on an increasingly wet quality. He fed the Heaven with two Domains of Space and let that expand as well.

DOMAIN OF (SPACE)

CANON: ABYSSAL COVE (II) - THE MASTER OF THIS DOMAIN CAN BIND A DEMIPLANE TO A SPECIFIC SHADOW AND USE IT TO STORE ITEMS OF SOLID MATTER; THE SIZE OF THE DEMIPLANE IS 100 FEET DEEP ADDED TO THE DISTANCE THE MASTER CAN TRAVEL WITHIN A SECOND

HUBRIS: LIQUIDS CANNOT BE STORED WITHIN THE COVE OR IT WILL TRIGGER THAUMIC BACKLASH

HEAVEN - [GALESLITHER]

DOMAIN: (AIR/SPACE/SHADOW)

THAUMIC REQUIREMENTS - 430 THAUM/c

Whorling fluids mingled with currents of wind. The Galeslither twisted and turned. Whats happening to me?Growth, the Woundshaper answered. Ascension.

Finally, he unmade the detached Second Circle drifting through his being into its baseline components and applied the procured domain to his current Hell. He manifested no new canons for he didnt see the needthe Halt canon had proven to be one of the best things about the Galeslither.

It proceeded to get much better.

CANON: HALT OF THE PASSING (III) - THE MASTER OF THIS DOMAIN CAN NOW ENCHAIN ALL VISIBLE ACTORS AND OBJECTS TRAVELING THROUGH SPACE WITH STASIS AND DRAIN THEM OF THEIR VECTORS OF MOMENTUM UNTIL THE NECESSARY REND IS BALANCED - THIS CANON IS ABSOLUTE

DAEMON: IF THE POCKET IS OVERFILLED BEFORE IT CAN BURST, THE RESULTING RUPTURE WILL BIRTH AN ANATHEMA OF RUIN TO SERVE AS THE MASTERS ANATHEMA; THE ANATHEMA CANNOT BE SLAIN AND MUST BE STARVED

HELL - [THIRD CIRCLE] - GALESLITHER

DOMAIN: (AIR/ENTROPY)

THAUMIC REQUIREMENTS - 430 THAUM/c

RESURRECTION - 99%

Even with all his improvements, he still had over six hundred thaums left to fill. But time held its own demands. Avo could already feel fingers of eldritch bright prying him away from his Galeslither as he was slowly injected back into reality.

Avo, Draus said. He could see her through the threads of light swallowing him now. When you get back out, get loud. Well find you. Got some ideas about how we can run thishow we might be able to handle Abrel.

He wanted to respond, but his transition came suddenly and without warning.

The Woundshaper laughed. The Galeslither rattled inside him, like a terrified animal trapped in the stables of a sinking ship.

From death they rose, and as light shed itself along his eyes, he found existence around him as flame-touched as the subreality which housed his Soul.