Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Speculative biology is simultaneously a science and form of art in which one speculates on the possibilities of life and evolution. What could the world look like if dinosaurs had never gone extinct? What could alien lifeforms look like? What kinds of plants and animals might exist in the far future? These questions and more are tackled by speculative biologists, and the Speculative Evolution welcomes all relevant ideas, inquiries, and world-building projects alike. With a member base comprising users from across the world, our community is the largest and longest-running place of gathering for speculative biologists on the web.

While unregistered users are able to browse the forum on a basic level, registering an account provides additional forum access not visible to guests as well as the ability to join in discussions and contribute yourself! Registration is free and instantaneous.

Join our community today!

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
The Spectacular Journey; Y'all better get ready for a ride.
Topic Started: Jun 15 2012, 02:21 AM (3,303 Views)
Kamidio
Member Avatar
The Game Master of the SSU:NC
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
I honestly thought today was going to be an ordinary day. How wrong I was. First, the stars in the sky faded away, one by one. Then there were the bombing runs in Alabama. Apparently, ghostly Nazi war planes had somehow managed to reanimate for more attacks on the Allies. Not to mention that when I went online to find out what was happening, several news sites were claiming that it wasn't just here. Ghosts, ghosts everywhere. The Mexicans were being attacked by Aztec specters, Northern Ireland was being attacked by undead potato farmers, aliens were being spotted over Washington and Siberia, Neanderthals were seen hunting mammoths in France, and vikings were sinking Somalian pirate ships. There was even an address by our President...

Reagan. All he said while on TV was how he knew this would happen, and how he was right all along. To be fair, the speech was directed at the older generation of War Hawks, and not at the younger generations. I agreed with him. Even if he was a zombie.

But none of that was what I would consider weird, compared to the one thing that did scare me. You know how a problem isn't a problem until it has effects on you? This is one of those situations. See, after looking at all the news websites, I went to my nice little patch of heaven I call my website. It's a nice-sized forum. The members tend to be good people from around the world, and though I would probably joke about it, I honestly wouldn't wish them any serious harm in these crazy times.

But that's what scared me. Not a single soul was online. Not one. None of the mods, not even the guests were online. It was eerie. For a site normally so full to suddenly become a ghost forum, it was just plain wrong. It'd come to my mind that maybe, just maybe, everyone who used the site had been seriously injured, or even killed in all the chaos. My members. My virtual family, could be dead or dying, and I have no way of helping them.

Then, a beacon of hope came to me. As I refreshed the page, there was a new member. But instead of having an italicized name, their name was a deep black, with bold applied to it. There were static-like blocks on either side of the lone letter. It simply read ''M'. I refreshed again. There was something in the shout box now.

'M:You're worried, aren't you?

I replied immediately.

Parasky: Yeah, why wouldn't I be? This is my website, after all. Low traffic would be bad news for me.

'M: I can see right through you. It's not the site you're worried about, it's your members. Your friends.

This guy was officially creepy, but knowing that weirder things have happened today, I decided it wasn't too far of a stretch for some internet weirdo to be able to tell I was lying.

'M: You want to help them, don't you? If you step outside, I can help you save your friends from 'them'.

Parasky: Who's them? Why should I believe you, some crazy person I just met on the internet?

'M: Because deep down, you'll take any chance to save them, out of the basic altruism all you humans show for one another. Inside that head of yours, a little voice is telling you to step outside. And it's growing. You can't stop the voice. Go, step outside and help them.

Parasky: Fine.

I reluctantly decided that if the world was falling apart, then I might as well indulge a crazy person. Getting out of my chair and pushing it in under my desk, I made for the nearest door that lead outside. As I opened it, instead of being greeted by a view of my lawn, I fell into an empty white space. Multicolored lightning shot out of the area where I assumed my computer was in this empty white space, and everything went black as I faded out of consciousness.




When I came to, I was no longer in the vast white void. Instead, all around me was a land right out of a steampunk convention. Most notably, the world no longer looked like it did normally for me. Instead, everything looked like it was painted with oil paints. People had exaggerated physiques, right out of a cartoon. Pulling myself up and dusting my pants clean, I could tell I was on an airship. I also noticed that I seemed to still look like I did when I left, minus some dirt stains that looked air-brushed on.

Looking around, I noticed someone wearing a long, flowing cape with wavy blond hair. His clothes looked like they were made for royalty. I'll admit, the guy looked like a pompous ass. But he, being the cleanest person on this steampunk ship, was clearly in charge. He hadn't noticed me yet, so with the advantage of surprise, I sneaked up behind him, and poked him in the shoulder.

"What is it that you want, sailor? Can't you see that I'm busy trying to find a path that will lead us away from the Germans?"

"Germans? What is this, the Second Great War?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. I swear, why did Her Majesty Queen Victoria allow Americans to serve with the Royal Privateers. They're all so dreadfully dull."

"Hey, who ya callin' dumb?"

"You, obviously. Now shoo." The blonde man turned to face me. Now that I could see his face, I could say one thing. He was one of those pretty boys. He had blue eyes and a round face. Kinda like something you'd see in some kind of fantasy. Fitting, considering he was apparently the captain of a steampunk skyship. His oil-painted eyes locked with mine.

"You aren't one of my men. Who the hell are you, how have you boarded my ship mid-flight, and why do you look so blasted bizarre?"

I thought about giving my real name, but I realized that might not be wise, seeing as this was clearly a different world. There was also how I got here. I had no idea, other than 'freaky computer magic'. so I decided to go the quick route.

"I'm bizarre? Look in the mirror, paint boy. By the way, name's Parasky."

The blonde man looked at me pensively. Then, he extended a hand to me in order to initiate the handshake. His expression softened.

"Hello, Parasky. I honestly expected you'd be more, more..."

The man clearly recognized the name. How he did, I was soon to find out.

"Oil painty? From your world?"

"Well, if you put it that way, yes. Shouldn't you be in Kansas?" He paused before a shocked expression took over his features. "How rude of me! You won't recognize me because I never show my face on the forum, but you might recognize the name of this vessel."

I turned to where the blonde man had pointed at a metal plate bolted to the wood in front of the wheel. It was adorned with images of a various sharks. They all had one thing in common. The were mackerel sharks. Lamnidae. In one corner, next to a pair of sharks, the word 'Lamna' was there in stylized text. I looked from the plate to the man, and then back again. I don't know how long I stared, but I know one thing. I knew at least one of my staff was alive.

"Lamna!" I grabbed him and pulled him into a quick man-hug.

"It is odd to hear that name after so long."

I broke the hug.

"What do you mean 'after so long'?"

"Speculative Evolution went down about eight years ago. I never got why, but I just moved on. Eventually the war broke out, and I joined the Royal Privateers. I haven't heard from anyone except Holben, who serves as my second-in-command here on the ship." He snapped his fingers and a clockwork robot came running up to the wheel. "Holben."

"Yes, sir?"

"Tell me what you can about this man."

The robot leaned in, taking me in with its glass-pane eyes.

"He does not seem to be normal. I suggest birth defect."

"Incorrect. This is Parasky. Surely you remember Speculative Evolution?" Lamna took the Holben's hand and put it against mine. I'll admit, Lamna's silk gloves were amazing to feel. Even if it looked like paint. Holben's hand however, was like shaking hands with a bunch of welded metal. As the forced hand shake with Holben broke off, I looked him dead on.

"I knew it. You were a robot the entire time."

Holben shrugged. "It was kind of obvious if you think about it."

And he was right. It was incredibly obvious.

"So you two have never met the others? Ever?"

Lamna shook his head solemnly. "None of them. If you're clearly not from our world, then the others might each come from their own worlds."

Holben picked up on the thought. "It might mean Speculative Evolution was some form of portal. Not sure how or why though."

That piqued my interest. "Wait, if you're from a world in Steampunk World War II, then how the hell do you have internet?"

Lamna shrugged. "I don't know all the details, but I'm sure someone from the old site would've said 'Magic'."

"You mean Fakey?"

"Who?"

"Fakey, you know the goo-"

BOOOOM

"Sir, a German U-Flyer off the port bow!"

Lamna, with quickness I would never have expected, took to the wheel and turned it so fast the ship did a barrel roll. I saw the landscape below for the first time. It was a nearly obliterated London. Air ships were duking it out with what resembled U-boats, if they were made from bronze and brass and spewed black smoke.

"Men! To arms! Give it your best, Her Majesty's safety is riding on our victory! Ready the guns! Prepare to board!"

As Lamna gave out commands rapid fire, each one was being carried out as he named off the next task. I was inspiring to see him commanding his sailors with such efficiency. The guns turned and fired steel harpoons at the U-Flyer, reeling it in and taking out its engine in the process. The sailors all boarded the aerial death machine. Lamna's expression was one of steel. His ocean-like blue eyes seemed to rage, his blonde hair flowing behind him in a ponytail as he donned his tricorne. He was like a conductor, and his sailors where his orchestra. Holben stood in the crow's nest, hooking his hands into some form of giant turret.

I watched as the sailors who entered the Nazi warship were driven out by men in warsuits that looked like they were made of gears. One of them picked up a sailor and squeezed until his bones were powder, throwing his corpse into his crew mates.

"They've got Panzers! Holben! Open fire!"

Holben nodded resolutely as the giant turret rotated to face the enemy. The sides on the guns read 'Spitfire'. The turrets let out loud crashes of sound as they shot balls of molten slag at the Panzers, welding the metal armor to their own ship, and even their own armor, immobilizing them.

Lamna signaled for more slag to rain down upon the airborne spine of the Wehrmacht. I could hear the pained screams of the Nazis as the heat of the melted metal flowed into their life-support apparatuses, sealing them like anchovies. As the threat was dispatched, the sailors once more laid siege upon the warship, coming back with stolen guns and weapons. The harpoons retracted at an incredibly fast pace, ripping free of the U-Flyer and sending it crashing to the ground. I continued to look at Lamna. If he was doing fine and lived in an entirely different world, then maybe the others were fine too. Still, that 'M guy wouldn't have sent me here if they didn't need saving. My thoughts were broken as Lamna snapped his finger in front of me.


"What?"

"I asked if you would like to join Holben and I in my quarters for dinner."

"Sure. I'd love to."

"Go wash up then. Holben will lead you to the washrooms."

Lamna snapped his fingers before turning back to the wheel, Holben jumping down from the turret and signalling for me to follow.

Today was clearly no ordinary day, but instead, the beginning of the biggest adventure in my life.
Edited by Kamidio, Jun 15 2012, 12:50 PM.
SSU:NC - Finding a new home.
Posted Image
Quotes
WAA
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Replies:
Kamidio
Member Avatar
The Game Master of the SSU:NC
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Banheim is the name of the desert island.

Banheim.
SSU:NC - Finding a new home.
Posted Image
Quotes
WAA
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kamidio
Member Avatar
The Game Master of the SSU:NC
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
NEW FACES, NEW PLACES, MORE MEATSHIELDS, BITCHES!




King Priapus watched over the lands from his throne atop Denphetner Mountain, an active volcano. The constant erupting didn't worry him, but the changes in energy levels on the distant isle of Banheim did. The island was located as far from any land as was physically possible. The land was bizarre. It was always parched, like a dry lake bed, despite being surrounded by water.

This was naturally where he'd sent several of the more dangerous beings. And if the energy levels there were changing, then it would only be a matter of time until the binding spells we're broken.

It was time to renew the seal. With a snap of his fingers, a dragon guard stood at attention.

"Yes, sir?" He gave quick salute with his right wing and awaited whatever his lord needed.

"Vabmojer, I need you to get the Priests of the Sea and Stone. I fear that a great trouble is brewing in Banheim."

"Yes sir! Where shall I find them, sir?"

Priapus produced a scroll from beneath his throne. "Here is a map. I trust you know of Nozitabah out on the Edge of the Sky?" Vabmojer nodded. "Good. Go there first and gather up a party. This quest is too much for one person, even if they are a dragon. Once you've gathered a team, come right back here. Now go!"

Vabmojer grunted as his wings pulled him up into the air. He had some friends in the Sky city of Nozitabah that he knew would be more than happy to help.

---

Back on Banheim.

The boat stayed where it had been for decades, but there was now activity on the ship. The steady clunk of bone on wood was the sign that something unnatural dwelt within the hull.

Nod looked about. Why the hell was he on a desert island? Shouldn't he be at the inn? He scratched his head and figured it'd be best to investigate.

The boat had an odd design. It lacked sails and ropes, and the wood felt like it wasn't what the ship was really built out of. A sickening chill coming from where the captain's quarters would be forced him to turn back to try and find a way off of this island, but as he reached the railing, a skull with hair popped up.

"Hello there!"

"Gah!" Nod punched the skull, sending it flying off of the neck.

"Well now, aren't you rude? I pop up to see just who's stumbled upon my island, and I get my head ripped off."

The skull hopped back up onto the body and cracked itself, despite the clear lack of any living flesh to store the gas needed to make said noise.

"One hundred years can give you such a crick in the neck!" He locked his sockets back onto Nod. "So what have we got here?" He looked Nod over, picking up his arms and doing reflex tests. Once that was finished, he shook his head.

"No no, this simply won't do." With a snap of his bony fingers, petunias sprouted from the arm Nod had been bitten on. "Hmmm. You just can't pull off petunias. Tulips will make those eyes just pop!" Another snap, and the petunias fell out and tulips grew to replace them.

"Who the hell are you?" Nod found the antics of this dead man somewhat amusing, but they also confused the hell out him.

"Who the hell am I? Who the hell am I?" The skeleton poked a bony finger at Nod's chest. "I AM- WAKE UP NOD! WAKE UP OR YOU PAY THE BAR BILL!"

He shook and he fell away from the screaming skeleton and into his body.

---

Nod awoke with a searing headache.

"Ugggh."

"There we go, Nod. Welcome back to the world of the waking."

Nod cleared the crust from his eyes and opened them slowly, so as not to blind himself.

"You sure did take your time." Outreciel hung upside-down from the rafters, his legs supporting his weight. It still confused Nod to no end how Outreciel could see with those patches over his eyes. Outreciel swung down and made a perfect landing. "Now come on. We've got to get moving if we want to get to Smytheentrop before nightfall."

Nod grumbled and got out of his bed. Outreciel's voice sounded as loud as gunshots.

"Wonderful. This is going to be one of those hangovers."

Outreciel looked back. "And now you know why I don't drink."

"Shut up or I'll give you a headache worse than mine."

"Nod, Outreciel, both of you. I've got a blade for each of you if you both don't pipe down." Nereus caught up to the side, carrying a large sack of silver powder.

Nod noted that even though silver powder normally could only be smelled from up close, he had no problem smelling it from a few feet away. He just chalked it up to the hangover and kept moving forward. He didn't have time to question things like that.

---

Nozitabah


The great city hovered about the sky, held aloft by a massive sand hurricane. Buildings made of sun-baked marble with spires tipped with great bulbous domes encrusted in gold. At the very center of the desert city was the very thing that kept it alive. An oasis with papyrus plants, crocodiles, hippopotami, and ibides living comfortably around or in the crystal clear waters.

Off around the sides were many streets, filled with vendors and merchants, hanging clotheslines, and playing children.

Of course, within all this merriment, troublemakers lived.

"Stop, thief!" A tall, thin man chased after a small, pale fae, who flitted through the crowd on a set of dragonfly wings. The tall man tripped as a knife embedded itself into the back of his shoe, pinning it to the ground.

"WHOA!"

A shadow jumped from rooftop to roof top and dropped down to grab the fae, swinging about on a pole protruding from the side of a building and vaulting into the air and onto a rooftop. The man sat and looked to the fae.

"So how many loaves did you get, Gall?"

"I got three. Enough for us both." The fae tossed a couple of loaves over to the man, while keeping one to himself. Just as they were about to take their first bite, the clanking of steel armor on marble told them they weren't alone.

"Stop right there, criminal scum."

*Chk-chk*

The two found themselves staring down the twin barrels of a claymore shot gun held by a man in steel armor painted lavender. A mask made of orange stained glass obscured his face.

"Gall."

"Yes, Zan-te?"

"We should run."

"I kinda guessed that."

The two grabbed their stolen goods and bailed, a cloud of shot soaring over their heads nearly giving them haircuts. Zan-te dropped into a wagon full of hay just out of sight and pulled Gall in with him. The clanking of the guard's boots on the ground grew louder and soon faded as they passed by. The two thieves pulled themselves from the hay and went back to enjoying their ill-gotten food.

---



So yeah.

INCREDIBLY EASY TO TELL WHO IS WHO, AIN'T IT?
Edited by Kamidio, Aug 13 2012, 11:45 PM.
SSU:NC - Finding a new home.
Posted Image
Quotes
WAA
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
trex841
Member Avatar
Entity
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
So has my character been shown yet?
F.I.N.D.R Field Incident Logs
A comprehensive list of all organisms, artifacts, and alternative worlds encountered by the foundation team.

At the present time, concepts within are inconsistent and ever shifting.

(And this is just the spec related stuff)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kamidio
Member Avatar
The Game Master of the SSU:NC
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
NOPE.
SSU:NC - Finding a new home.
Posted Image
Quotes
WAA
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
trex841
Member Avatar
Entity
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Alrighty then.
F.I.N.D.R Field Incident Logs
A comprehensive list of all organisms, artifacts, and alternative worlds encountered by the foundation team.

At the present time, concepts within are inconsistent and ever shifting.

(And this is just the spec related stuff)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
dialforthedevil
Member Avatar
Frumentarii Administrator

Im not in it either T-rex, in Fakey's stories I normally turn up with Seascorp near the end :)
Please come visit A Scientfic Fantasy http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/3433014/1/

ALSO!!! JOIN THE NEW RPG SITE!!! FOR ALL MEMBERS!!! IM GOING TO RUN MA GLOBAL SIMULATORS THERE!!! http://s4.zetaboards.com/jasonguppy/index/

Join the Campaign to save minotaurs from extinction!!! (include this in your signature to show your support!)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kamidio
Member Avatar
The Game Master of the SSU:NC
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Well prepare for your world view to get flip-turned upside down.
SSU:NC - Finding a new home.
Posted Image
Quotes
WAA
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Scrublord
Member Avatar
Father Pellegrini
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Am I going to be in this?
My Projects:
The Neozoic Redux
Valhalla--Take Three!
The Big One



Deviantart Account: http://elsqiubbonator.deviantart.com

In the end, the best advice I could give you would be to do your project in a way that feels natural to you, rather than trying to imitate some geek with a laptop in Colorado.
--Heteromorph
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kamidio
Member Avatar
The Game Master of the SSU:NC
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Considering your recent disappearances, no.

This is for people who have been posting regularly enough for me to grow close to. People that have drifted or have gone into a state of limbo won't be in this.

For example, Sliver isn't showing up because he left.
SSU:NC - Finding a new home.
Posted Image
Quotes
WAA
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Zerraspace
Member Avatar
UD Needs You!
 *  *  *  *  *
Fakey
 
This is for people who have been posting regularly enough for me to grow close to. People that have drifted or have gone into a state of limbo won't be in this.


I do not post frequently enough (at least, in the topics you visit) to qualify for this, do I?
Have you got what it takes to beat back hostile alien forces and vicious Space Mafia agents to defend liberty and justice for citizens across the galaxy? Join Universal Defense NOW (for more information, please enlist)!

Quote:
 
That is how we first set foot on the planet we have come to know as Zainter, the world that would change our lives forever.
- Remake of Zainter
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kamidio
Member Avatar
The Game Master of the SSU:NC
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Pop quiz. What's the name of the guy in the lavender armor?
SSU:NC - Finding a new home.
Posted Image
Quotes
WAA
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Zerraspace
Member Avatar
UD Needs You!
 *  *  *  *  *
I was just confirming my suspicions with my usual obliviousness: I thought the man in armor was chasing Gall and Zan-te, not that Zan-te was the man in armor. That being said, I did wonder about the helmeted guard, and the name of one so handsomely dubbed Zan-te... :r

Does my avatar really look lavender? I'd tried to encrust it red.
Edited by Zerraspace, Aug 14 2012, 02:41 PM.
Have you got what it takes to beat back hostile alien forces and vicious Space Mafia agents to defend liberty and justice for citizens across the galaxy? Join Universal Defense NOW (for more information, please enlist)!

Quote:
 
That is how we first set foot on the planet we have come to know as Zainter, the world that would change our lives forever.
- Remake of Zainter
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kamidio
Member Avatar
The Game Master of the SSU:NC
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
No. The man in lavender armor was chasing them. Said armored guard is named Zainter.

Zan-te is Uru, and Gall is Cold.

Yes, it does look lavender. Here's Twilight Sparkle for a color reference.

Posted Image
SSU:NC - Finding a new home.
Posted Image
Quotes
WAA
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Zerraspace
Member Avatar
UD Needs You!
 *  *  *  *  *
You never actually said the guard's name, so when I saw Zan-te, I thought that was a play on Zainter. At least I get to a badass one-liner, even if that is a departure from my vocal personality here on the forum... :D

Here's hoping I get to be part of the team. If Gall, Zan-te and I get in, this could cause some interesting team dynamics, given that I'd once been chasing them - unless I'm not chasing them for stealing bread...

Fakey
 
Yes, it does look lavender.


The original was red, but the color was so mangled by my scanner that I had to fade it, and I guess the original impression stuck. Not that it matters; here it is, in case you're curious:
Attached to this post:
Attachments: Z_Picture_001.jpg (125.91 KB)
Have you got what it takes to beat back hostile alien forces and vicious Space Mafia agents to defend liberty and justice for citizens across the galaxy? Join Universal Defense NOW (for more information, please enlist)!

Quote:
 
That is how we first set foot on the planet we have come to know as Zainter, the world that would change our lives forever.
- Remake of Zainter
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kamidio
Member Avatar
The Game Master of the SSU:NC
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
It was bread.
SSU:NC - Finding a new home.
Posted Image
Quotes
WAA
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Café Cosmique · Next Topic »
Add Reply