Well, that certainly came out of the blue.
Presumably that means she didn't send a rep to the meeting, because otherwise they'd likely have realised from the representative's reaction.
Well, that explains why we've seen a rep for all the clans except Owona (not counting Quoar)... :<
....Wow. :erk Amber really knows how to set the bar high at the start of the year for bombshells.
Wonder what Amber Hizell will pull out of the bag next?
Quote from: Lego3400 on January 03, 2014, 03:34:10 AM
....Wow. :erk Amber really knows how to set the bar high at the start of the year for bombshells.
That's why we love her! :3
Zezzuva prepares to march up the stairway to Heaven, and somebody thrown Owona up there first.
It's pretty obvious it's a dragon situation.
Poor Owona, (http://www.missmab.com/Demo/Leader11.php) we barley knew yee.
While Dest's mass murder/banishment plan is still a horrific idea, it is looking increasingly necessary.
....welp. That sets the bar high for the start of the year, don't it? I wonder who did her in....I mean, the obvious answer would be Hizell...but that is OBVIOUS....and we all know how our beloved Ambaaargh loves throwing her hips out with plot twists...or maybe because it is so obvious we would think it would be otherwise when it is in fact Hizell but we are surprised anyways because it is so obvious....argh, head hurts.
Quote from: MT Hazard on January 03, 2014, 05:40:47 AM
Poor Owona, (http://www.missmab.com/Demo/Leader11.php)
If you actually
read that page, it makes this all the more unsettling. Clain Owona are the masters of physical combat. Tuan has better soldiers, but Owona has better
fighters. And you can take it pretty much for granted that their clan leader is going to exemplify that clan ideal. If someone or something is capable of killing her, they can kill
anyone in the entire species.
Quote from: MT Hazard on January 03, 2014, 05:40:47 AM
Poor Owona, (http://www.missmab.com/Demo/Leader11.php)
"This has resulted in some interesting rumors, which some suspect is really the plan all along."
This means I don't believe it until I see the body.
Quote from: Joe3210 on January 03, 2014, 07:18:41 AM
"This has resulted in some interesting rumors, which some suspect is really the plan all along."
This means I don't believe it until I see the body.
That had occurred to me. Not least because Fa'Lina said 'reported'. After all, pretending to be dead might be a good way to stop the dragons from killing you. And if Owona are secretive enough that they don't use the academy, it might even work.
On the other hand, this happening just after Hizell has talked about making a bold move... it's hard to tell.
Quote from: Joe3210 on January 03, 2014, 07:18:41 AM
"This has resulted in some interesting rumors, which some suspect is really the plan all along."
This means I don't believe it until I see the body.
I'd say this, except that the exchange is between Zezzuva and Fa'lina, two of the most honest and well-informed 'cubi we've met to date. I'm not sure Fa'lina would deliberately walk into a meeting she normally avoids in order to deliver news that is false and/or commonly known, and Zezzuva would certainly not accept it were she to know it to be false. This... is not normal.
crap... if it's true (and not a coup), then Fa'lina may be dealing with berzerk Owonnan students :<
Where do the other clan leaders hang out? I mean, we're just looking at avatars in this room; where do the tri-wings normally hide themselves? I doubt striking or hitting an avatar would do too much harm (well, besides incurring their wrath). This means that either Owonna was either attacked wherever she hung out, or that she came out of hiding to specifically fight someone.
Holy cow, I was certainly thrown for a loop when I read the new update this morning. :erk
I have a feeling that through out this year that Amber will be delving deeper into the threat that the CUBI race is actually in and focus on Abel more since he is the last member of his entire clan.
Quote from: Wanderer on January 03, 2014, 06:21:35 AM
If you actually read that page, it makes this all the more unsettling. Clain Owona are the masters of physical combat. Tuan has better soldiers, but Owona has better fighters. And you can take it pretty much for granted that their clan leader is going to exemplify that clan ideal. If someone or something is capable of killing her, they can kill anyone in the entire species.
Poisoned while asleep?
They will never get our new insect overlords!
I thought Cubi never sleep , and depend upon magic instead of standard chemical process .
Quote from: meltingface101 on January 03, 2014, 01:25:17 PM
I thought Cubi never sleep , and depend upon magic instead of standard chemical process .
Well to be fair, it's already been proven with Abel that if not enough emotions are being absorbed to maintain the body, a cubi will default to beings means of supporting the body. Eating, sleeping and dreaming in other words.
Having a tri-wing in the clan can offset that a little and actively and selectively can change that even more. But as for a Tri-wings, I wouldn't believe they would need sleep or eating from the sound of things.
One would even suspect at that level of power that Tri-wings might be hard to kill not only because they have bigger bodies and more magic, but they might have regeneration powers at that level of power added to whatever shapeshifting powers they still maintain.
Quote from: Wanderer on January 03, 2014, 06:21:35 AM
If you actually read that page, it makes this all the more unsettling. Clain Owona are the masters of physical combat. Tuan has better soldiers, but Owona has better fighters. And you can take it pretty much for granted that their clan leader is going to exemplify that clan ideal. If someone or something is capable of killing her, they can kill anyone in the entire species.
Nuked them from orbit. Only way to be sure. :P
Come to think of it, does Seme's rep have a name?
I couldn't find mention of it anywhere, but while it's stated that if a clan dies, leaving only the leader, that's basically it for the clan since they are incapable of making new cubi.
But if the leader dies, leaving the clan more or less as it was, then what happens? Can one of those cubi then move up into the leader position to keep the clan alive?
Quote from: PhycoKrusk on January 04, 2014, 03:52:39 PM
But if the leader dies, leaving the clan more or less as it was, then what happens? Can one of those cubi then move up into the leader position to keep the clan alive?
Well, the first thing that happens is that all the members of the clan have some kind of mental fit. It seems to be worse if the bulk of the clan are massacred at the same time - without sufficient help and support from other clans they are liable to be driven insane. That, basically, is what turned Aniz from being an average guy into someone criminally insane. (See Fa'Lina's expose in Abel's Story)
If the clan has some kind of command structure - and Owona's might - there is likely to be someone to step in and keep things running, assuming they weren't killed in the assassination as well and don't succumb to madness from losing their Leader. Bear in mind that this does not make them the clan Leader - from what Amber was saying a normal 'Cubi who is in command of he clan is referred to as the representative, 'Leader' refers to an ascended 'Cubi.
Replacing the Leader is going to be nearly impossible - no-one has successfully ascended since Cyra and there have been a lot of attempts. Supposedly it is possible to transfer the powers of a Tri-wing to another individual if an ordered succession occurs, and I think it may also be possible for the power to be stolen from the Leader in a coup (think Zezzuva) but I don't believe you can do either kind of clan continuity if the Leader is unexpectedly murdered.
The biggest problem seems to be that almost no one really understands how to become a clan leader. It apparently requires gaining absolutely ludicrous amounts of power all at once, but there have apparently been a number of attempts to become clan leaders which have failed. It is inadvisable to repeat what Cyra did, and the other leaders may not be all that willing to share their methods with people either (assuming they really understand how they did it in the first place).
Quote from: Tapewolf on January 04, 2014, 04:20:10 PM
Supposedly it is possible to transfer the powers of a Tri-wing to another individual if an ordered succession occurs.
Yes; that's how Falina ascended, according to her page in Mink's report. (Or was it her profile?) There was another Clan Leader who ascended peacefully, but I can't recall who right now.
If Hizell is the one who took out Owona, then that was a bold move indeed. :erk Makes me also wonder if he'd already captured her or something. O_o Not to mention the previous mention of how he was able to kill a Clan Leader without a huge confrontation, as pictured in Abel's Story.
Wednesday's update will be interesting, methinks.
Quote from: Wanderer on January 04, 2014, 06:31:05 PM
The biggest problem seems to be that almost no one really understands how to become a clan leader. It apparently requires gaining absolutely ludicrous amounts of power all at once, but there have apparently been a number of attempts to become clan leaders which have failed. It is inadvisable to repeat what Cyra did, and the other leaders may not be all that willing to share their methods with people either (assuming they really understand how they did it in the first place).
I believe it has been also noted that it is becoming increasingly difficult to become a Leader over 'cubi history. This has been accompanied by the use of increasingly violent methods to attempt ascent (though whether the violence is the cause or not is not known).
Quote from: Kazzellin on January 04, 2014, 09:11:19 PM
If Hizell is the one who took out Owona, then that was a bold move indeed. :erk Makes me also wonder if he'd already captured her or something. O_o Not to mention the previous mention of how he was able to kill a Clan Leader without a huge confrontation, as pictured in Abel's Story.
Hizell is bad news bears for the 'cubi in general; he took out multiple clans and their leaders, including Jin's sisters and their clans, and killed all of Fa'Lina's clan except for her. I do not know what relationship M'Chek had to Hizell, or if he has a similar setup to M'Chek and is therefore upset that someone found out how some dragons were living so dang long, but his continued existence is very bad news for the 'cubi race.
A lot of the issues currently in Furrae seem to revolve around the use and abuse of souls and soul "energy", especially to extend one's own life - Destiana's decent into madness, 'cubi ascendancy, Cyra vs. M'Chek, the dragon-cubi war, the Undead, Zivnth, Dark Pegasus, the decline of the Angel race. I wonder why so many creatures seem to be eager to use the stuff, seeing how much trouble it seems to cause.
Quote from: HaDDea on January 05, 2014, 12:17:23 AM
Quote from: Kazzellin on January 04, 2014, 09:11:19 PM
If Hizell is the one who took out Owona, then that was a bold move indeed. :erk Makes me also wonder if he'd already captured her or something. O_o Not to mention the previous mention of how he was able to kill a Clan Leader without a huge confrontation, as pictured in Abel's Story.
Hizell is bad news bears for the 'cubi in general; he took out multiple clans and their leaders, including Jin's sisters and their clans, and killed all of Fa'Lina's clan except for her. I do not know what relationship M'Chek had to Hizell, or if he has a similar setup to M'Chek and is therefore upset that someone found out how some dragons were living so dang long, but his continued existence is very bad news for the 'cubi race.
A lot of the issues currently in Furrae seem to revolve around the use and abuse of souls and soul "energy", especially to extend one's own life - Destiana's decent into madness, 'cubi ascendancy, Cyra vs. M'Chek, the dragon-cubi war, the Undead, Zivnth, Dark Pegasus, the decline of the Angel race. I wonder why so many creatures seem to be eager to use the stuff, seeing how much trouble it seems to cause.
Well to add to that. Considering what M'Chek was up too.
One has to wonder if the Angel's really discovered the soul eating trick or did the dragons provide it in a way that made it seem that way because they knew all the other races would be hurt by it in the long run.
Quote from: HaDDea on January 05, 2014, 12:17:23 AM
I do not know what relationship M'Chek had to Hizell, or if he has a similar setup to M'Chek and is therefore upset that someone found out how some dragons were living so dang long, but his continued existence is very bad news for the 'cubi race.
I hadn't thought of that, but it's quite possible M'Chek was one of the children destroyed by the 'Cubi race...
QuoteA lot of the issues currently in Furrae seem to revolve around the use and abuse of souls and soul "energy", especially to extend one's own life - Destiana's decent into madness, 'cubi ascendancy, Cyra vs. M'Chek, the dragon-cubi war, the Undead, Zivnth, Dark Pegasus, the decline of the Angel race. I wonder why so many creatures seem to be eager to use the stuff, seeing how much trouble it seems to cause.
Not sure quite where Zinvth fits into that, and the bulk of Destania's lifespan seems to have been provided by Cyra to prevent her line dying out completely, but yes. It does seem to cause a lot of trouble. I think it's because it can provide good results quickly and relatively easily.
Quote from: Tapewolf on January 05, 2014, 06:40:37 AM
Not sure quite where Zinvth fits into that, and the bulk of Destania's lifespan seems to have been provided by Cyra to prevent her line dying out completely, but yes. It does seem to cause a lot of trouble. I think it's because it can provide good results quickly and relatively easily.
This comment made me possibly realize something. If that is the case with Destania, maybe her extended life is what is making her as insane as she is to decide her own daughter need to die when the dragon she is dating is a friend to cubi. Maybe Tri-Wings have something about them that keeps them from loosing their minds from their form of immortality, but for someone like Destania, who is just getting a boost to her life span like you said, said extended life can lead to eventual madness.
Sufficiently powerful entities like Fae and Dragons are canonically* not bound by time and space . If Destina does anything Hizell could retcon the entire race away .
*may rely upon previous iteration of universe that was retconned out of existence .
(http://png-5.findicons.com/files/icons/1470/sci_fi_objects/32/dalek.png)
The cubi race overall doesn't have the maturity or cohesion to have remotely posed a threat to even medieval Europe . The dragon race seems to occupy the same niche we do on Earth . When they see a certain animal population growing out of control hunting season is declared . Granted the disparity in power between the two groups I'm surprised no one referred to the whole event as pest control .
So I don't believe the dragons have any involvement in the clan leader's death , it's to small scale for them . Perhaps it was a set of epic level mage adventurers .
Quote from: HaDDea on January 05, 2014, 12:17:23 AM
A lot of the issues currently in Furrae seem to revolve around the use and abuse of souls and soul "energy", especially to extend one's own life - Destiana's decent into madness, 'cubi ascendancy, Cyra vs. M'Chek, the dragon-cubi war, the Undead, Zivnth, Dark Pegasus, the decline of the Angel race. I wonder why so many creatures seem to be eager to use the stuff, seeing how much trouble it seems to cause.
Keep in mind that this thinking is akin to "I wonder why humans are so eager to use coal and nuclear energy, seeing how much trouble it seems to cause" -- i.e. it's a convenient energy source, ESPECIALLY in a world where technology seems to be on the low side compared to ours (and indeed, it may be the only thing magical items run properly on) -- what other logic does there need to be?
... although I do wonder how long it'll take for a Cubi to figure that out, hook themselves up to a hydroelectric generator, and just sit back and wait for the buildup of energy to make themselves a tri-wing.
Considering how most creatures view beings as self replicating parcels of energy/food , so I would gander on never .
Also they can only consume psychic energies . A jump like the one you suggest would be like us deciding to graft symbiotic plants to our bodies to consume sunlight and water vapor . It's not going to happen unless something ridiculous wipes out their food source .
Quote from: meltingface101 on January 05, 2014, 10:59:48 PM
Considering how most creatures view beings as self replicating parcels of energy/food , so I would gander on never .
Also they can only consume psychic energies . A jump like the one you suggest would be like us deciding to graft symbiotic plants to our bodies to consume sunlight and water vapor . It's not going to happen unless something ridiculous wipes out their food source .
It can't be
that far-fetched if there's enough people thinking "Dimanika ate a star" is a valid way of becoming a Tri-wing.
On some level, all energy is energy.
Quote from: Tapewolf on January 05, 2014, 06:40:37 AM
Not sure quite where Zinvth fits into that, and the bulk of Destania's lifespan seems to have been provided by Cyra to prevent her line dying out completely, but yes. It does seem to cause a lot of trouble. I think it's because it can provide good results quickly and relatively easily.
I just wonder what's in it for the Soulstealers to protect Zinvth - they seem to have come by their surname honestly enough, if Aliph/DP is anything to go by. Its just that, as has been pointed out by others, Creatures don't normally pay much attention to Beings unless they stand to benefit out of the arrangement. Granted, there are a disproportionate number of Creatures in Zinvth, but still...
Also, the Undead seem to have a particular grudge against the Soulstealer family - though whether that's just due to DP attempting to wipe them out or due to something else, I am not sure.
As for the use of soul energy, I recall that it is known among creatures (or at least some of them) that a side effect of soul energy use for life extension is insanity/instability. Both Destania and DP are showing signs of this. I just find it strange that someone would extend their life if a known side effect was that you destroy yourself in the process; it just makes the process seem like a waste of time and energy.
Quote from: meltingface101 on January 05, 2014, 09:08:24 PM
Sufficiently powerful entities like Fae and Dragons are canonically* not bound by time and space. If Destina does anything Hizell could retcon the entire race away...
... So I don't believe the dragons have any involvement in the clan leader's death , it's to small scale for them. Perhaps it was a set of epic level mage adventurers.
If dragons are not bound by time and space, why do they have lifespans? And we know already that Hizell is more than ready to attack he 'cubi race. I think that the dragons have been scaled back/ limited to some degree - they're still stupid powerful, but they seem to have more/different limitations than the Fae. And it's too early to figure out why Owona is dead (it could still be a coup, or perhaps a hand-off akin to what Zezzuva has planned), but if foul play is involved, Hizell may well be at the bottom of it.
Quote from: Jigsaw Forte on January 05, 2014, 09:54:32 PM
... although I do wonder how long it'll take for a Cubi to figure that out, hook themselves up to a hydroelectric generator, and just sit back and wait for the buildup of energy to make themselves a tri-wing.
Strangely enough, that was the premise of 'Project Future'. They did it by converting electricity into a form of energy that could be consumed like a soul, so that took a lot more R&D. I gave them a timeline of about 150 years after DMFA.
It doesn't solve the problem that ascension is inherently dangerous, that ascensions seem to be something which the universe is running out of, or that the dragons want to squash all Tri-wings. In my comic I made the assumption that the dragons are no longer present.
Quote from: HaDDea on January 06, 2014, 01:46:16 AM
I just wonder what's in it for the Soulstealers to protect Zinvth - they seem to have come by their surname honestly enough, if Aliph/DP is anything to go by. Its just that, as has been pointed out by others, Creatures don't normally pay much attention to Beings unless they stand to benefit out of the arrangement. Granted, there are a disproportionate number of Creatures in Zinvth, but still...
Reputation, I imagine. IIRC, Amber once said that in a world where base materials can be created magically, reputation can often matter more than wealth.
Quote from: Jigsaw Forte on January 05, 2014, 11:17:31 PM
Quote from: meltingface101 on January 05, 2014, 10:59:48 PM
Considering how most creatures view beings as self replicating parcels of energy/food , so I would gander on never .
Also they can only consume psychic energies . A jump like the one you suggest would be like us deciding to graft symbiotic plants to our bodies to consume sunlight and water vapor . It's not going to happen unless something ridiculous wipes out their food source .
It can't be that far-fetched if there's enough people thinking "Dimanika ate a star" is a valid way of becoming a Tri-wing.
On some level, all energy is energy.
that's merely speculation from Fluffy . Also magical life extension is so rare the consequences are only known to a few creatures like the Fae .
Quote from: Jigsaw Forte on January 05, 2014, 09:54:32 PM
... although I do wonder how long it'll take for a Cubi to figure that out, hook themselves up to a hydroelectric generator, and just sit back and wait for the buildup of energy to make themselves a tri-wing.
... and electrocute themselves and everyone in the vicinity as a result, yes.
Defib on aisle three. ;-]
Why is everyone so apt to elevate Cubi to the ridiculous degree that they do . In comic they are dying race barring the Deus ex machina that Zezzuva's new race that may literally never see the light of day . There are to many factors that prevent them from turning into this set of borderline demigods while everyone else stands idly by . They are a race of formless beings defined by its dependency on others for sustenance , and have had the traits to allow for them to reliably do such for eons . They won't do anything like what you say unless there is something preventing them from leeching emotions off of anyone in there presence . This is why I suggested mass extinction events , there are simply to many reasons for them to continue acting as parasites unless there food source is threatened . The same goes for demons and other races that are significantly more numerous and motivated .
Ultimately the thing that really puts the nail in the coffin is publicity . The bulk of Furrae know them as scheming , manipulative emotional parasites , because that's the only way they can get by . Things like PF rely upon the top teir creatures suddenly vanishing with all of the problems of removing such prevalent powers who work behind the scenes a lot never appearing . The only reason why Cubi let alone beings have not been bowled over by races that have no need of them is due to the intervention of such creatures . Heck the current plot arch revolves around Mab using her friends as pawns to just to make beings just to prevent such a scenario . You remove such creatures and things get extremely bloody for the beings , the cubi , and the demons . When push comes to shove in such a world Cubi will not be capable of carrying their own weight , and ultimately vanish .
Quote from: meltingface101 on January 06, 2014, 07:12:58 AM
TL;DR : Main point cubi are not remotely as powerful or capable as people make them out to be , and democracy would quickly fail in Furrae in light of the fact that a few people are above others in every possible way.>:3
I don't think most of us think that the 'cubi are particularly OP - as has been pointed out in the comic, a 15 year old demon can mop the floor with a fully grown adult 'cubi. The difference is between your run-of-the-mill 'cubi and a Tri-wing, who do pack a serious wallop (though how they compare to dragons is again unknown, and their power seems to wax and wane with clan strength). Any normal 'cubi can theoretically become a Tri-wing, but it takes the absorption of a metric buttload of energy, and no one has been able to properly quantify a buttload yet, so no one knows exactly what has to be done to become a tri-wing, and though many have tried, very few have succeeded.
The reason we are wondering about who got to Owona is because she is a tri-wing, and is the master of a mighty fighting clan, and because of the precautions the tri-wings have taken during and since the dragon-cubi war to protect themselves and their clans from being destroyed. Thus, if Owona has been assassinated, there are serious implications for the tri-wings in particular and the 'cubi in general if the tri-wings' defenses can be pierced.
Why Hizell and the other dragons are paying attention to the lesser creature races and plotting their demise is unknown - in fact, until Hizell showed up, very little about the dragons was known period; we'd seen more of the
insectis than of the dragons. Perhaps it is the same as the Fae in that if you annoy them, they go nuclear on you. However, the fact that we still have 'cubi despite them having incurred the dragons' wrath somehow indicates that the dragons are perhaps not as OP as previously thought either.
In the Abel's entire clan was near completely obliterated , leader and all by a single dragon . The only victories they had were gained by kidnapping infants , murdering younger dragons , and even then at a massive cost to their own numbers .
Again it was not a war , merely poorly done pest control .
(http://png-5.findicons.com/files/icons/1470/sci_fi_objects/32/dalek.png)
Quote from: meltingface101 on January 06, 2014, 05:43:19 PM
In Abel's [story, an] entire clan was near[ly] obliterated, leader and all by a single dragon.
No, Siar's clan was not. According to Fa'lina, when Siar beckoned her clan to aid in fighting Hizell, he had allies laying in wait. See ASp2#55.
--
At this stage, what I'm wondering is why DP was trying to revive the Dragon God Hizell, when Hizell apparently isn't dead yet? Did DP succeed, or was that retconned out without my noticing? I know it was early-early in the comic, so...
Quote from: Kazzellin on January 09, 2014, 12:31:05 AM
Quote from: meltingface101 on January 06, 2014, 05:43:19 PM
In Abel's [story, an] entire clan was near[ly] obliterated, leader and all by a single dragon.
No, Siar's clan was not. According to Fa'lina, when Siar beckoned her clan to aid in fighting Hizell, he had allies laying in wait. See ASp2#55.
--
At this stage, what I'm wondering is why DP was trying to revive the Dragon God Hizell, when Hizell apparently isn't dead yet? Did DP succeed, or was that retconned out without my noticing? I know it was early-early in the comic, so...
Actually, I thought he was trying to resurrect some dark god. I don't think it ever was made clear what he was really trying to resurrect anything more then that.
I kind of wondering if the dark god might have been the spirit of the slain dragon that Cyra killed.
Which brings up an interesting point. Dragons for all their power, aren't immortal like the Fae and seem to be less powerful in the more being like form. Clearly dragons are both heavy hitters and devious plotters. But they aren't the biggest shark in this pond. I think the Tri-wings came a little too close for their comfort and Mab being at the inn definitely made him drop a plan all together. That gives a good statement to Dragon power and Fae power.
Quote from: joshofspam on January 09, 2014, 05:29:20 AM
Actually, I thought he was trying to resurrect some dark god. I don't think it ever was made clear what he was really trying to resurrect anything more then that.
I kind of wondering if the dark god might have been the spirit of the slain dragon that Cyra killed.
Which brings up an interesting point. Dragons for all their power, aren't immortal like the Fae and seem to be less powerful in the more being like form. Clearly dragons are both heavy hitters and devious plotters. But they aren't the biggest shark in this pond. I think the Tri-wings came a little too close for their comfort and Mab being at the inn definitely made him drop a plan all together. That gives a good statement to Dragon power and Fae power.
That's something I've been thinking on for some time.
Dragons and Fae are obviously the two tippy-top most of the top-tier creatures in Furrae, but that in no way makes them equal. Dragons are leagues more powerful than anything beneath them on the ladder, but Fae are each and every one of them Omniscient, Omnipotent and Immortal and the only limitations on their powers are the ones they place upon themselves for their own inscrutable reasons.
Some time in the past, the Angels' birth-rates dropped dramatically, and they're now dying. Cyra slew M'chek and uncovered his soul-siphon scheme in the process of becoming Tri-Wing, now it's been noted that it's become manifestly more difficult to ascend to Tri-Wing status.
I think the Dragons are working on a plan to ascend to a level of parity with the Fae, M'Chek's soul-shenanigans were part of that plan, and the sudden difficulty in Tri-Wing ascension is part of some heavy duty Curse magic laid on by the Dragons which (along with the open warfare) was intended to punish the Cubi for spoiling the Dragon's plans... My guess is the Angels stumbled upon a similar plan and their reduced birth-rates are the Dragons spanking them for that as well.
So the clan leader for the clan with an affinity for 'Rage', whose members are infamous for being the fiercest warriors in all of Cubi-dom, and the only controlling factor on them, just got assassinated.
Hmmm... on the one hand, now you have a whole clan of, basically, berserkers with advanced natural weapon shapeshifting tactics plowing a bloody swath through whatever is between them and what they perceive to be the perpetrator.
On the other hand, sting a bull by his nose, and you can lead him around by it. There's a reason why armies tend to be victorious over mobs, no matter how skilled, ferocious, and personally badass the individuals in that mob might be. And the easiest way to defeat an opponent is to make them stop thinking in a fight and take advantage of their lack of unpredictability.
I'll be honest, if I was wanting to take down the Cubi race in its entirety, this is just the sort of move I'd make. Under Odwala, the clan is a serious thread. Now, they're a bunch of berzerking individuals who can be singled out and taken down with relative ease, assuming you use clever tactics (i.e. assassination, sniping, dirty tricks...).
Going after Taun would also be a high priority, but it is highly likely that Taun has a second in command capable of keeping things disciplined if she gets whacked, so the damage for the short term would ultimately be less. However, I'd also see Clan Taun as a greater threat overall due to their discipline. But hitting the warriors and taking them out means the disciplined soldiers no longer have the shock troops necessary to disorganize an opponent force, and makes taking them out at least somewhat easier.
I see here a pattern of 'extermination of the entire cubi species'. This has a far wider ranging dimension that we are only inadvertently touching at the moment.
Quote from: Prroul on January 12, 2014, 06:02:10 PM
Going after Taun would also be a high priority, but it is highly likely that Taun has a second in command capable of keeping things disciplined if she gets whacked, so the damage for the short term would ultimately be less.
From what I've heard, the day-to-day running of the clan is done through a group of commanders or somesuch that she trusts - I would assume they have a chain of command. Taun herself mostly sticks to the long-range planning.
Quote from: Prroul on January 12, 2014, 06:02:10 PM
So the clan leader for the clan with an affinity for 'Rage', whose members are infamous for being the fiercest warriors in all of Cubi-dom, and the only controlling factor on them, just got assassinated.
Hmmm... on the one hand, now you have a whole clan of, basically, berserkers with advanced natural weapon shapeshifting tactics plowing a bloody swath through whatever is between them and what they perceive to be the perpetrator.
On the other hand, sting a bull by his nose, and you can lead him around by it. There's a reason why armies tend to be victorious over mobs, no matter how skilled, ferocious, and personally badass the individuals in that mob might be. And the easiest way to defeat an opponent is to make them stop thinking in a fight and take advantage of their lack of unpredictability.
I'll be honest, if I was wanting to take down the Cubi race in its entirety, this is just the sort of move I'd make. Under Odwala, the clan is a serious thread. Now, they're a bunch of berzerking individuals who can be singled out and taken down with relative ease, assuming you use clever tactics (i.e. assassination, sniping, dirty tricks...).
Going after Taun would also be a high priority, but it is highly likely that Taun has a second in command capable of keeping things disciplined if she gets whacked, so the damage for the short term would ultimately be less. However, I'd also see Clan Taun as a greater threat overall due to their discipline. But hitting the warriors and taking them out means the disciplined soldiers no longer have the shock troops necessary to disorganize an opponent force, and makes taking them out at least somewhat easier.
I see here a pattern of 'extermination of the entire cubi species'. This has a far wider ranging dimension that we are only inadvertently touching at the moment.
perhaps... but keep in mind we do not know the nature of Owona's passing. Fa'lina merely said that she had been reported 'slain', not murdered - there is a chance that this may have been an intentional move similar to that of Zezzuva's.
it does seem that the use of an extant tri-wing's power, whether by force or with the leader's consent is a viable and highly successful way of passing on tri-wing status.
Quote from: Les on January 10, 2014, 01:48:53 AM
Quote from: joshofspam on January 09, 2014, 05:29:20 AM
Actually, I thought he was trying to resurrect some dark god. I don't think it ever was made clear what he was really trying to resurrect anything more then that.
I kind of wondering if the dark god might have been the spirit of the slain dragon that Cyra killed.
Which brings up an interesting point. Dragons for all their power, aren't immortal like the Fae and seem to be less powerful in the more being like form. Clearly dragons are both heavy hitters and devious plotters. But they aren't the biggest shark in this pond. I think the Tri-wings came a little too close for their comfort and Mab being at the inn definitely made him drop a plan all together. That gives a good statement to Dragon power and Fae power.
That's something I've been thinking on for some time.
Dragons and Fae are obviously the two tippy-top most of the top-tier creatures in Furrae, but that in no way makes them equal. Dragons are leagues more powerful than anything beneath them on the ladder, but Fae are each and every one of them Omniscient, Omnipotent and Immortal and the only limitations on their powers are the ones they place upon themselves for their own inscrutable reasons.
Some time in the past, the Angels' birth-rates dropped dramatically, and they're now dying. Cyra slew M'chek and uncovered his soul-siphon scheme in the process of becoming Tri-Wing, now it's been noted that it's become manifestly more difficult to ascend to Tri-Wing status.
I think the Dragons are working on a plan to ascend to a level of parity with the Fae, M'Chek's soul-shenanigans were part of that plan, and the sudden difficulty in Tri-Wing ascension is part of some heavy duty Curse magic laid on by the Dragons which (along with the open warfare) was intended to punish the Cubi for spoiling the Dragon's plans... My guess is the Angels stumbled upon a similar plan and their reduced birth-rates are the Dragons spanking them for that as well.
I do definitely think that the dragon's attack on the Angels and the 'Cubi is based on this - but i am not so sure that the curse on angel fertility/tri-wing capability is necessarily from the dragons, but from the use of soul energy itself. There was a letter from Zezzuva (don't know where to link) that seemed to indicate that there was a cost to using soul energy in that it has a corrupting nature on the one using it due to the nature of what happens to the soul when ripped from its original body. It may be that the use of being and creature souls as an energy source, whether intentionally or unintentionally, may have unknown 'poisoning' effects on all creature races, even the dragons.
I think its in this thread
http://tapewolf.wildernessguardians.com/stuff/ZezzuvaLetter300.pdf (http://tapewolf.wildernessguardians.com/stuff/ZezzuvaLetter300.pdf)
here are the others as well
http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,8656.0.html (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,8656.0.html)