nothin says that can't be done too =D i was just reffering to the details on the pool, feel free to flesh em out as much as ya like, personally, mine are likely to be undefined until information can be 'gathered' on them IC :D
also, My CS rough draft, I'm doing a lot of 'experimenting' with the changeling idea here, so i'm interested in critique, or complaints if something is too much, or if there's something i forgot that would be good to add in!
to add a simple note, I tried involving some hints at how different they are from ponies as a 'species', without going through and thoroughly detailing every bit of it yet =D
and holy shit... this post thing says that my CS is over 20,000 characters XD That sounds like a lot, but i have my doubts >.>
Name: Vastu Silpi
Species: Changeling - Manager Strain
Age: 37
Sexuality: Undefinined :P
Appearance:
Vastu is roughly 4'6", putting him a head taller than an average changeling, without his 'armor' he looks lithe and lacks the characteristic holes in his legs, and strangely enough he has black 'fur' instead of chitin. As a 'manager' strain he possesses an abnormally large horn, still pointed, sharpened, and useable as an emergency weapon, but it's mainly an evolution for managing a micro hive of his own, kindof like an antenna. He has a set of 4 sleek insect wings on his back that have a swept back shape.
His mane and tail and both Red, and possess a structure like normal hair, though a bit slick and membranous, and styled to an unusually precise straightness down the right side of his face. His eyes are slitted and with dual ringed irises, each a darker and lighter shade of purple, a color shared by most identifying materials of the hive [non natural armor, the eyes of other changelings, wings, construction.]
His actual 'armor', when shifted into place, has a rear directionally angled design to it, meant to deflect projectiles from the front, with a focus on heavier volume of armor on the front of his body, as well as improved claw extensions on his fore-hooves, and extended armor plates around his horn.
Being that shape shifting is not limited solely to bodily appearance, he does wear any dedicated clothing, instead creating the appearance of something deemed appropriate for a situation.
Abilities:
Protective Chitin Armor: The current evolution of changeling chitinous armor, essentially serving a purpose similar to plate armor while being far lighter, of course it has not yet been tested or updated to deal with the many unknown weapons out in the galaxy, but it serves it's purpose... the design may be updated later after experience inspires an altered path of evolution. It's design makes it mostly useful in melee at present.
As with all changelings since the beginning of 'space work' the armor comes with a secondary protective under-layer made of a muscle tissue like mebrane, mostly only noticeable on the underbelly or in joints where the hardened outer armor is void for the sake of flexibility. This protective layer provides good resistance against blunt impacts, as well as keeps the body under it protected from environmental hazards such as open space or gravitic effects, though some forms of toxic effects may be absorbed anyway due to it's organic nature.
Micro Hive Management Evolution: His extended horn and it's various internal refinements, while still able to manipulate this 'mana' that is stored in his body, and useable as a sharpened stabbing tool, is primarily modified for the management of a micro hive, a maximum of 60 minds, though for the sake of clarity it is often kept below 2 dozen at most. It essentially makes him the central point of a small hive, allowing coordination of the other changelings, though if the horn is damaged enough the link will be severed and those of simpler mind will become disoriented and potentially helpless, while properly sentient members will simply have to resort to less effective methods of acquiring orders. The horn can be regrown, but this takes time, hours to days depending on the quality of the damage.
Shape Shifting: Aside from simply taking a different appearance [which i might mention does 'not' include armored protection], it allows him to 'un-shift' his armor to avoid wearing it constantly, as well as transform limbs into various weaponized or defensive shapes, no guns of course, as well as modifying his physical capabilities to a minor degree, greater changes require alteration of evolution.
Empathic Feeding: Normally a passive and harmless method of sustaining a changeling's existence and supplying mana to power their bodies and spells by feeding on ambient, or not so ambient, emotional energy put off by all living creatures, though it can be force focused on a specific target, organic sentients only, to become disorienting and mentally weakening, with prolonged or close proximity use it can render targets more vulnerable to changeling hypnosis, though contrary to popular belief it cannot prove fatal on it's own.
Changeling 'goop': All creatures produce waste of some kind... Changeling's, instead of 'wasting' what's left over from eating, create this helpful little substance that can be used for a number of 'sticky' purposes, from construction to attempting to bind a target, even setting traps... about the only thing that it 'doesn't' stick to is chitin, though this may because it has a special magical signature able to repell it.
Personal Mana-tech Construst Type L - Defensive Mode - A System Command that Activates the PMC's Defense mode, Diverting some of it's power from motor functions, sensors, and targeting, slowing most of it's interactive ability in combat, And pumping that extra power into it's shield matrix and armor plating, allowing it to weather intense firepower while sacrificing offensive integrity.
P.M.C. Type L - Precision Mode - Similar to defense mode in that it transfers power from motor functions and the shield matrix, providing the additional power to sensors and targeting software, allowing it to more quickly and accurately scan it's surroundings, calculate precision defensive measures, and analyze the qualities of set targets.
P.M.C. Type L - Offensive Mode - Currently a redundant command because the PMC's Stock weaponry has been removed for diplomatic purposes... But should it be re-equipped, this command converts power from it's shield matrix and sensory equipment, keeping enough for base functionality, then charges it's motor functions, targeting, and weapon systems for improved effectiveness.
Hive Command - as a 'manager strain' Vastu possesses several evolutions that make him the center of a small hive mind, aside from the obvious practiced skills of management, he holds command over roughly 2 dozen changelings, most of which are simple drones created to carry out orders. Naturally he has the ability to manage each of the members of his micro hive at the same time, though each one he is directly interacting with reduces what 'he' can push himself to do. With the force of a hive mind he can technically also impose will onto other hive mind based creatures, provided they aren't being protected by something like himself already.
Note: It is Common to bring a couple of basic drones with him to essentially act as changeling radar, what their senses pick up, he hears about, and being 'blank slates' he is able to take control of them to use for remote interaction instead of putting himself directly in harms way... Think of it like the 'eye in the sky' style of strategy [and yes, I know it can be compared to the collector's hive leader 'taking direction control' XD]
Known Mana Manipulations - Fancy wording for 'spells'
Changeling Fire - A 'special' type of fire, it doesn't burn as hot or as fast as normal fire, but it still 'burns', and can't be put out by normal means like water or other technological extingquisher methods. It continues to burn until either dispelled, his by an anti magic device, or it's creator stops channeling the fire. essentially, a flamethrower shot from his horn that sets fires that keep burning [and draining his energy] until cut off. It can also be tightly focused to a blow torch like flame that has the same effect as a blowtorch, but no real 'range' to it, though it does put off a lot of light and can melt things. Changeling fire also makes a very short lived appearance during shape shifting, making it helpful for breaking some types of binds, surprise, or disrupting some types of holds, though it also tends to wreak havoc on anything one is wearing that isn't specifically able to resist it.
Hypnosis - Simple, Non-sentient, intoxicated, or weakened minds have a high chance of being temporarily made 'obedient' to whatever suggestions are pushed through the spell, but against healthy targets it is more likely to simply be mentally annoying. Can be used to subtly persuade simpler or distracted individuals, but is useless against anyone actually focused.
Telekinesis - A Very simple and natural ability for just about every Equestrian with a horn on their head, allowing them to lift and manipulate things without requiring physical touch, usually fairly limited in ultimate out-put, it can be over-charged to produce more severe effects.
Changeling Barrier - Contrary to the function of a normal barrier, a Changeling barrier has a more 'solid' nature to it's presence rather than magical, it fractures and falls apart easily when struck, but when shattered it also releases a burst of force that can be used for various functions. Aside from being used to defend against a single attack of considerable power, it is also commonly used to break falls from a great height, or as a battering ram when impacting a target.
Camouflage - A Field of energy that wraps around it's caster, creating a real-time distortion that projects a perspective based image of the surroundings on optical receptors directed at the caster, rendering them essentially invisible to the naked eye, though other forms of detections can still pick them up, like thermal, and they still make sounds.
engineering stuff - hive mind remote mechs, devices, detonatives.
Equipment:
P.M.C. Type L - Personal Mana-tech Construct, Lunar Type - A Personalized Type Lunar Heavy Combat Mana-tech Construct, or perhaps more comparable to a 'mech' to the Galactic government, though it has been disarmed for diplomatic reasons... It's not very 'friendly' to bring a mech equipped with artillery onto the vessel of a recently encountered species. It still bears advanced sensory, targeting, and mana shielding functionality, though without it's weaponry it has been repurposed as a high level defensive asset, with the no longer used power for weapons being available to charge it's other functions.
It is a heavily armored construct, just Short of Vastu's own height though much bulkier, with moderate speed maintained and an Advanced 'Variable' Tactical Shielding Matrix, which is a device allowing for intimate re-shaping of the shielding energy projected by the matrix, letting it range from the simple bubble shield, to a stronger single directional shield, a 'precision' shield that can be used to physically block a projectile or attack with maximum power but covering only a very small area, or even 'offensively shaped' shielding that can be used for counter-offensive striking... charging head-first into a spikey shield is an unhealthy choice.
Changeling-make Combat Disruption Suit - a Basely protective light powered armor suit with integrated cloak ['literal' cloak, like in the picture], due to changeling natural armor it is not designed with durable protection in mind, instead acting as more of an attached disruptor device, though it does provide heavily armored head protection and filtering system incase of environments inhospitable to changelings. It functions to conceal as many detectable signals from the wearer's body as possible, including heat, emotional leakage, electronic signals, pheromones, and so on, meant to make them as untargetable as possible, and conceal them from radar. It draws on the wearer's natural reserves of mana when active, thus exceedingly prolonged use can have a crippling effect on basic ability, this also allows it to be temporarily 'over-charged' to create a field of disruption around it, screwing up targeting of things inside or passing through the field, while also making it's wearer appear greatly distorted, often compared to having a dozen after-images wobbling around in their vicinity.
Subordinates:
As a 'manager strain' Vastu has a certain number of changeling's under his command, mostly made up of basic drones and a few guards, with just a couple of more advanced individuals able to server other roles. Most of them are likely to never join the group on missions unless something special calls for it, though he does take a couple of drones for 'radar effect'.
5 Basic Drones - Simple Changeling drones, blank slates designed to follow orders and carry out simple tasks, useful mainly for labor, directed directed functions, or emergency defense. They can use a basic changeling barrier, 'goop', flight, and shape shifting. Their chitinous armor is designed to take a great deal of punishment and pressure, or lack there of, and allow them to work in harsh conditions, including negative atmosphere. They are not especially skilled on their own, only reacting on primal survival instinct in a fight, and without a guiding mind they are essentially an empty shell like so many unprogrammed mechs... they could quite simply be compared to an organic version of the 'mechs' of the galactic civilization.
3 'Guard' Changelings - Simply put, A changeling 'individual' who was predisposed to protecting others and took on the evolution of guards, Giving them stronger armor and a more efficient physical structure for enhanced mobility and combat ability. As expectable they can use all of the basic changeling abilities, as well as weaponized shape shifting, possess a thick knowledge of defensive tactics and skills.
1 'Caretaker' Strain - Physically they are not much different from drones, more fragile perhaps, but their genes are optomized for storing a larger ammount of nutrients that can be shared with other changelings, as well as for taking care of whatever is set up for 'residency' to hold the changelings.
1 'Warrior' Strain - Just as it sounds, a Changeling who's evolutionary path optomized it for being dangerous in a fight. Larger than average, tougher, and hard to kill even after seriously injured, it's easily classifiable as a berzerker you just don't want to be in a small place with. This one's official duty is the protection of the 'manager' of this micro hive, or when he is absent, the protection of the hive itself and management of present guards.
1 'Advisor' Strain - A changeling who's evolutions focused on advanced mental faculties, and all the fun little advantages that come along with that... Officially an advisor and resevoir of knowledge for the local manager, but also a secondary authority while the manager is absent or if they become incapacitated.
Personality: As changeling's go, Vastu is generally considerable as an 'advanced individual', reffering to proper individuality and free will, granted, this is a trait that is common in his hive, other hive's Queens and kings may prefer to keep some form of imposed controllability on all of their subjects, but 'Pratyeka's' hive was known for encouraging free will and individuality, and in turn unique developments and evolutionary advancements that are stiffled by enforced control.
Vastu himself, though he truly takes his duties seriously and has quite a sharp mind, is known for 'seeming' to never take anything seriously, making jokes or engaging in behavior not typically accepted in certain situations... Those who know him understand that it's just who he is, some think it's also a way to make other's lower their guard around him, healthy for making relationships with friends and causing enemies to expose vulnerabilities... those who don't... well, you can imagine how that might be taken.
He does in-fact care deeply for others, though there may be occasional hints of his 'elevated status' in the hive creating a bit of an ego, he rarely lets it actually dictate his actions or reactions. He has a sharp mind, an active imagination, and... a cranial evolution to provide advanced tactical awareness through the ability to see through the eyes of other changelings... it's... weird, to say the least, and he is working past some psychological difficulties caused by imposing his presence into the mind of another sentient creature... though he does his best to conceal this and simply appear care-free and harmless.
He tries very hard not to let any hint of it show, even in the hive link, but inside he's going crazy over the stress of his new duty, not only leading a small collection of other changelings, but leading them 'into space' where who knows what can happen!... Hell, if it weren't for the comforting feeling of half a dozen minds mingling around his own he'd have snapped already.
History: In most cases a changeling's 'history' is not a very impressive thing to hear about, in most hives the general story is that they were hatched, fed, grew up along a predefined evolutionary path, and served the hive in a specific role until their body couldn't last any longer.
However, in Vastu's hive, individuality and free will are the grand theme, sure there's still things in place to conscript someling into a specific job if it is something simply vital to the functionality of the hive, but it's so incredibly rare noling gives a worry about it. Most Changeling's in this hive grow up like any normal pony would, albeit considerably faster due to evolutionary differences, they develope as individuals and can 'choose' their paths of evolution as they become better suited to their duties.
In Vastu's case, there was a lot of luck and seemingly 'fate' playing a part in him ending up where he was... He never liked the idea of being in-charge of the lives of others, he had a rare understanding of the value of 'life' despite the unusual re-definition of the term that some changelings live under, and found that having 'lives' in his hooves just worried him to no end... However, he just seemed to frequently end up in positions where he had no morally acceptable choice but to take control of the situation and try to make it end possitively, so when the time came and he truly thought about it, he chose to follow the path of a 'manager strain'.
'Managers' are one step below the branch of royal changelings, with various evolutionary advances meant to prepare them for coordinating dozens of mental signatures at once, a task that pales when compared to the King who does so with 10's of thousands at 'least'... Most 'royal changelings' below the king were a manager, aside from very few 'born' into that stage, at a previous point in their lives and naturally evolved to the next stage when they became properly suited to handling larger groups... Needless to say he doesn't want it to go that far, the whole 'rediculously long life-span' thing would be cool, but he can't imagine having that kind of stress on him on a daily basis, handling a 'dozen' with half of them being blanks is troublesome enough!
And to top it off, something possessed the king to send 'him' as the hive representative for the ship being built to go into deep space... and then word comes that something from deep space has already come 'here' and their going to be sent to meet it, or them, or whatever... he is most assuredly freaking out on the inside.
