I didn't make an announcement for my last chapter, so here's some scrappy Al-ans and some fic critters.
Plus the links for Chapter 8 Self-Sufficiency & Chapter 9 Rush
Warning, tag + rating change. Not for these chapters. But. :3c
its true color obscured by caked mud and dim light, yet you can distinguish its sickness from a distance. Its mandibles slacked and panting with heaving wretched breaths, its limbs weary from life. Only its weight and mental acuity are keeping this thing alive, and a powerful threat.
Hi Cyliph, can you tell something about Ar-Lo, he looks so interesting^^
I'm honored people like him :,)
[Potential small HDBS spoilers]]
Ar-Lo is old. Very old. Old enough to be considered somewhat of an cryptic figure among architects. He remembers a time when architects were not all One. Hundreds of thousands of years old. He was created as one of the first waves of expansion during a time when architects had just transferred to their biomechanical vessels. He's seen generations of vessels rise and fall out of use. One of the first ever born with no real parents or family or heritage.
A blank slate of an individual created to protect a colony world known as Juit-Eh from encroaching conflict (At least- that was the intention, the code recombination and manipulation technology was still new).
More below cut.
Who they were fighting, why, and for what has been lost to time. Ar-Lo himself remembers little of that bygone age and its politics. Its been lost to the network through information surges and wipes. What is known is that approximately 300,000 years ago Ar-Lo was functioning as a gladiator primarily based in Juit-Eh still. The indomitable vessel he used (barely modified-- not designed by him) was a real crowd pleaser to architects and non architects alike. It brought in loads of tourism-- and with it currency to the planet. The practice was considered too brutal by homeworld standards, and the end of his career was the annexation treaty that brought Juit-Eh back in to the protection of Oulinaean forces.
This annexation brought Juitian representation to the Tel Ju council. The representative brought a body guard with him, the most popular (former) gladiator known as Ar-Lo. The biggest 'fuck you' he could manage.
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As it turns out, when you're primarily locked in the innermost sanctum of the most secure piece of architect territory you don't exactly get much valor. Not that Ar-Lo needed it. His pride was his strict loyalist views and sharp mind. He soon enough became versed enough in political talk that he could hold in own in any debate you threw at him. His trained body language and biolights (from years of existing as nothing but a background ornament) served him well in ensuring no other was able to get under his skin. His oratory skills only highlight his trained physical prowess and his rising influence on political matters made those in charge wary of him.
Ar-Lo proved his competency well enough that he was promoted over the course of years to supreme commander of the military. A scary job, and an isolating one. Not that it made a difference, by the time he reached the position anyone in networking distance already had a firewall up. He was already an unpleasant, paranoid, and a violent loyalist.
Though Ar-Lo had plans for every potential physical threat inside and out he was not prepared for the devastating plague that ripped through the architect colonies. Isolation barrier on isolation barrier proved useless, and with no cure in sight the council had to enact their most dire contingency plan. Ar-Lo was one such soul chosen to stay behind.
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Cy fun facts:
Ar-lo was designed as the foil for Robin and Al-an in HDBS, he wasn't suppose to be likeable, but I'm grateful so many people want to know more about him. I cant reveal everything though.
He is brown because he needed to contrast the surrounding landscape, which was primarily green and dark turquoise.
Strange even among architects is that he does not experience dizzyness from vessel swapping no matter the size. Perhaps a remnant of his time as a gladiator, or maybe years of trained neural control.
Ar-lo might hold the record for oldest architect, especially post-kharaa.
His vessel is pretty standard bulky for guardsmen-- but he hasn't always used this vessel.
Before he became a political figure he was actually considered pretty handsome and likeable, like a celebrity. Even though his personality and skill didn't change.
He has never figured out how to properly integrate himself in architect society despite his age. This often leaves him frustrated and the only way he knows to take out that frustration is violence.
Ar-lo is only his current designation
Ar-lo likes art. Not realism, though. He likes art that makes you question things or appreciate the skill of the artist. The piece that represents him most closely is Josef Alber's Homage to the Square: Sentinel
Armor - Oulinaean (homeworld - left) - Jutian house (right)
His thick hide serves as natural armor, anything else is just decorative, shows heritage, or is multitool storage.
Playlist:
PRE-KHARAA
Seether - Words As Weapons
Psychodelic Prn Crumpets - Found God in a Tomato
Radiohead - Nude
Five Finger Death Punch - Remember Everything
Seether - Country Song
System Of A Down - Spiders
Puddle of Mudd - Blurry
POST-KHARAA
Soul Survivor - ORDER
TotalDeadCenter - The Forgotten Soldier
Skaen - Grief, Aftermath
Mother Mother - Sleep Awake
Vessel - Red Sex (Re-Strung)
Vivivivivi - Reduced to Guts
Pogo - Undone <- His theme song!
ouuuugh im rusty and in creative ditch rn, so decided to try painting some scenes of the architect homeworld from my fic
if anyone has requests,,, 🥺
I. AMBASSADOR'S ATRIUM
Standing above the city of Tel Ju is a building at odds with the surrounding windowless landscape. This atrium stands directly before a landing pad that was commonly used back in the hay day. The dome of glass sat like a bubble splintered by grass in the surrounding landscape, and was in fact very controversial during its use.
The glass used was an import from a prestigious colony known as Ios 5, and that alone stirred dissent among upper ranks of homeworld purist who felt this was inadequate. The dome-like construction was likewise a point of contention even for non-purist subscribers of the neobrutalist movement that sought to represent the capital as the scientifically minded brain of the species. Others argued that the glass dome was truly the best way to highlight the stunning foggy peaks Tel Ju is known for.
The atrium was restored no less than 7 times; not because it was destroyed by any great terrorist attack but fragile glass tends to shatter when beside a launch zone that frequently houses supersonic vehicles. In all it brought quite a lot of shame to upper authority even though it served its job well. The building had a diamond like floor plan that housed a console and adjacent rooms gave way to portal arrays to places of interest in the capital. Another room sported fabrication capabilities that accepted a wide range of technologies brought in by visitors. In the end, the atrium was scheduled for destruction halted by [redacted].
Now the shattered glass dome serves as an impromptu greenhouse for the invasive vine known as degual lilies that soak up most of the sparkling light. During sunsets the warm glow bathes any visitors in brilliant tiger stripes brought on by the criss-crossing vines.
The lilies have affected the architecture severely here and many panels threaten to shatter at the faintest touch. It is a testament to its neglect that the slow blooming blue flowers have grown so large.
in animal behavior we called this state of increased engagement with an environment "arousal" but I uhh. am not going to use that in this case.
Bonus: (Warning - suggestive)
im not subscribing completely to the spinal cord theory but i think that an area that is both symbolically and physically the joinery between mind and body, and only really touched in uhhh... certain activities.... might be a bit of a sensitive spot
