(Note: Trydahk is my replacement name for Tridax, because his name is otherwise way too similar to Teridax’s in terms of spelling.)
Trydahk was a collector who delighted in the bizarre, the eccentric, and the unusual. He liked things that stood out, and he enjoyed keeping track of them; He was infamous for having an unusual ‘collection’ of various antiques and artifacts, with miscellaneous histories and functions tied to them.
These interests manifested in Trydahk’s Rahi creations as well. Trydahk enjoyed creating unusual Rahi, unique for the sake of it- While still being interesting enough to warrant their uniqueness as well. He devised many one-of-a-kind species, and collaborated with Mutran on a couple of projects in the past. Trydahk enjoyed elusive cryptids, and he liked creating Rahi that came in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and other individual differences. His Rahi bred variety amongst their numbers, and it was always a fascinating hobby for Trydahk to catalogue these various breeds and sub-types of Rahi, and even collect a few for his own personal collections in stasis.
Trydahk once devised a species of Rahi with complex patterns, with no pattern ever being quite the same amongst any individual. Then there was a species of butterfly with extravagant wings that came in gorgeus arrays of colors, constantly shimmering with just the slightest differences here or there. Many Rahi had variations amongst their kind, as a result of regional adaptations- If Trydahk’s Rahi could not naturally adapt to their environment, then he would make the occasional adjustment here or there to a group accordingly. He was one of the few Makuta who tolerated Mutran’s habit of altering others’ Rahi without their permission.
He was particularly interested in accidental Rahi and creations not intended within the designs of anyone, as well as Rahi not created by the Makuta; The Protocairns were delightful to him, and despite being sapient, Trydahk had added quite a few Zyglak to his collection. Trydahk was a collector at heart- And a collection needs to be able to last. He was well-versed in the power of Stasis, and his desire to store, preserve, and reliably transport things led to his invention of the Trydahk Pods; Space-warping storage containers that could hold more space on the inside than their outsides would suggest. With his Rahi, while not all of them had a longevity… There were a couple that did, such as a microscopic species of tardigrade that could go into extended periods of hibernation, and then awake centuries later as if nothing had happened. Trydahk also created a species of fish that would bury itself into the mud prior to a drought… The drought would dry up the mud with the fish inside- But when the rains returned, the mud and the fish within would rehydrate, and continue on their business like nothing happened.
Hibernators were amongst Trydahk’s portfolio, with some creatures capable of undergoing unprecedently extended periods of time by generating their personal stasis fields. Trydahk once made an insect that could even survive fossilization… Its cells and components would have the ability to reverse petrification. Others couldn’t recover from this, but they managed to lay microscopic eggs that would survive. Once, a volcano had buried an entire region underneath a layer of ash, and many of the buried victims were a species of Trydahk’s. When the ash was unearthed centuries later, the fossilized remains were left behind; But microscopic eggs still within the pouches of those deceased Rahi remained, and when exposed to water and decent conditions, were able to hatch anew as if nothing happened!
Aside from preservation, Trydahk also dabbled in microscopic Rahi, more than most… He enjoyed testing his limits, creating creatures that were tinier and tinier. He had dominion over Space and was able to warp it to teleport and access other locations, as well as ignore/alter size. Trydahk utilized his specialties well to create microscopic species, and designed a fair amount of Rahi that could adjust their sizes. He once worked with Bitil to create the Protodites, and collaborated with his partner and Antroz to design the prehistoric Kikikori Nui.
Even some of Trydahk’s Rahi displayed his obsessive penchant for collection- Such as a bird Rahi that frequently picked up odd trinkets here or there, and compiled them into its nest. Often times this species would display its collection in order to impress and attract mates. Trydahk had a few primates with a natural curiosity for unusual things, who would steal from passing-by travelers and hold onto these souvenirs with a stubborn might. With Teridax and Kojol, Trydahk had made a few creatures, such as a species of bird, which effectively utilized primitive tools and materials from its environment to access resources.
A few of his creations were masterful escape artists, able to disappear at a moment’s notice, such as by turning invisible and/or camouflaging… While others were incredibly difficult to capture and hold down, such as a species of slipper, elastic eel. Trydahk knew the art of evasion well, and it was a big reason as to why Teridax had entrusted him with overseeing Destral during the Destiny War… Although even his best efforts weren’t good enough, according to Tobduk.
Amidst Rahi-creating, Trydahk was also a fan of cataloguing various species. He went out of his way to record the variations and different types of Rahi his brethren had made, and was intent on learning of some of Kojol’s mysterious, secret Rahi… Oftentimes he would collect a unique specimen here or there for his own collection. Trydahk would often go on extensive escapades into unknown territory, such as in the Southern Straits, in search of the unusual and bizarre, and the rumored.
Roodaka- Roodaka is the ruthless CEO of Vortixx Industries, having secured a practically permanent position there from a young age after she scaled The Mountain. A cutthroat business-dealer, she helps direct the company’s actions, oversees stocks, and surveys the occasional experiment or investment, providing a personal hand of involvement every now and then. She has done business with just about every major power in all of Xia, and is among the Powers That Be. With an eye for potential, she has led Vortixx Industries to the top of Xia’s arms-manufacturers, and is not just content with her current success either. Roodaka is an opportunist, and will and has back-stabbed others and crushed enemies for the total domination of Vortixx Industries.
She is cold-hearted and ruthless, and believes whole-heartedly in the idea that might makes right. Roodaka has been conditioned both by experience and by others that only the most powerful have the authority to lead; If one cannot prove their merit and mettle, then they are a liability and must be cast out, not to be trusted by neither peers or even themselves. Regularly Roodaka does puzzles and tests her intelligence, reflecting on and questioning her own progress. And despite being a noble, Roodaka despises most other aristocrats like herself, seeing them as pompous, lazy fools who have become atrophied from resting on their laurels. A sharpened wit is the key to victory for Roodaka, and she sees challenges as the ideal whetstone for her mind.
She has no intent of letting herself become weak and arrogant, and seeks to do more with her life and purpose than just a live a pointless, meaningless life of hedonism. For Roodaka, she wants something more; More than what the other rich fools on Xia typically have to offer. She has no intention of living and dying like any other fool, and for that she sees little difference between most of Xia’s upper-crust and its lower-class. Control is all Roodaka cares about, and she prizes the ability to strike fear in one’s minions in order to keep them in line.
Roodaka herself is not necessarily a fighter, and is thus often flanked by a trio of Exo-Toa Lerahk, machines she helped oversee the design and construction of. But even without her bodyguards, Roodaka is not entirely defenseless- She has access to a Rhotuka Gauntlet that allows her to spawn a wheel of energy, one that drastically mutates whatever target it comes into contact with. Roodaka possesses a cruel sense of humor, and has used her Mutation Rhotuka to dispatch enemies of hers, often leaving them to suffer their cursed forms as ruined outcasts of society. Roodaka herself is highly intelligent, able to read and understand others well, and is a master-manipulator and complex schemer.
Sidorak- Known as the ‘Visorak King’ in some sectors of Nynrah, Sidorak was once an esteemed, celebrated war general with a wide collection of medals on his chest to honor him. However, his boldness eventually got him in trouble with one of the Powers That Be; And incensed, the powerful individual had Sidorak exiled to Nynrah as a death-sentence. Stripped of his title, rank, and badges, most would have despaired and left themselves to die in Sidorak’s place- But Sidorak himself continued forging on, making a new path for himself in Nynrah.
He eventually came into contact with a pack of Visorak Spiders, and recognizing that the creatures wanted to be free from their Nynrah Ghost masters to hunt as they pleased, Sidorak offered them freedom. He defeated the Visorak Spiders before letting them know that underneath his command, they could have total freedom and impunity to hunt and kill as they pleased; And having been won over by his strength, the spiders obliged to Sidorak’s offer. Ever since, Sidorak has slowly begun to amass a Visorak Horde of spiders under his command, and has become an enemy of the Nynrah Ghosts for providing their creations an outlet with which to go rogue.
Now, Sidorak frequently roams Nynrah with his packs of Visorak spiders, leading them on hunts for prey. A bold, charismatic commander, he has won the loyalty and respect of his soldiers, and is now adorned with a ‘medal’ made up of webs, gunk, and other unsavory materials that he treasures as a personal token of comradery. Sidorak is a true commander, personally leading his armies into battle and fighting alongside them. He desires to help his Visorak spread and hunt as they please, and this has put him at odds with multiple Vorox Clans.
Sidorak is a skilled combatant and a brilliant strategist. He wears a breathing apparatus over his lower-face, covering his nose and mouth in order to protect himself from airborne pathogens and other contaminants. On his left arm, he wields the Herding Blade; A powerful artifact that can cast a brilliant crimson light that will summon and herald Sidorak’s armies to himself. As for Sidorak’s right arm, it is cut off at the elbow; Instead, it has a mechanical implant. Hovering slightly beyond this implant is a mechanical tri-claw that can shoot energy-beams from its palm, or Rhotuka that instill loyalty and obedience within targets. Sidorak can launch this cybernetic arm of his forward, latching it onto surfaces before using it as a grapple to pull himself forward with the electro-magnetic connection it has with his implant.
Turaga Dume- Once a lowly errand-boy in the Artidax District, he has since risen to power as a totalitarian dictator controlling most of the region. Dume is strict and harsh, believing in the evils of free will, and desires total control as a means of peace; He has command over the Vahki to enforce his will and the laws that he passes. Local powers frequently ally with Dume, letting him use his Vahki as a replacement for traditional law enforcement, allowing Dume a wide reach over Xia. He is the island’s head of security, and is responsible for cracking down on dissidents and punishing them, as well as brainwashing and encouraging the Xian population to become mindless, obedient workers for all of eternity.
Dume has a stern, tall face, and angular shoulders, constantly walking with his back hunched forward and his arms folded behind him. He wears a clean, dark-red uniform, with a coat, hat, and black boots to match. Dume believes in total discipline over himself, and can be found frequently strutting the halls of a Vahki Hive, allowing zero reprieve in the face of his duties. He oversees all actions and data from his Vahki and frequently collaborates with Xian powers on suppressing riots, unions, and other forms of rebellion.
The Shadowed One- An ancient warlord and the leader/co-founder of the Dark Hunters. The Shadowed One has no known origin nor name; His earliest appearances were as far back as the War of Six Kingdoms, at least. Back then, he led a cruel mercenary organization known as the Dark Hunters alongside his lieutenant and co-founder Ancient. Centuries of success on various missions and assassinations have earned him Xia’s most powerful crime organization. The Shadowed One operates from within the Odina Fortress, having a hand in brutal murders, thefts, and other various crimes as he seeks to consolidate power for himself.
Prideful to a fault, he is a twisted and charismatic individual with a cruel sense of humor. In his quest for power, The Shadowed One has employed researchers and invested others in the creation of unique and dangerous assets for his Dark Hunters. Recently, he has attempted to gather the six fragments of Makuta’s Mask of Life, all of which are inexplicably on Xia, hoping to recreate the world-ending artifact. What exactly he has planned for it is unknown, but knowing him, it certainly can’t be any good.
The Shadowed One can conjure powerful eye-beams that disintegrate and deconstruct anything they touch on the molecular, even atomic, level, granting the warlord the ultimate offense. He wields a staff capable of summoning and creating crystalline formations that he can control and carry through the air as if by telekinesis, and The Shadowed One has used many gems to slaughter enemies or subdue them. In addition to this, he can conjure a Rhotuka; One that temporarily inflicts devastating madness of any sort onto victims. The Shadowed One is a skilled, experienced combatant, and with his skills combined with his powerful abilities, he is an unstoppable opponent.
He possesses one additional, terrifying ability as well; Those foolish enough to challenge The Shadowed One in his own throne room will sometimes find themselves unable to move from their positions upon confronting him, as if their own feet were attached to the floor. By the time his rebels realize this, it is too late- The Shadowed One will unleash his eye-beams, vaporizing them all as they cannot move out of the way. Whatever the nature of this invincible ability, it is the final seal on the apparent unstoppable power of the mercenary-king.
Spiriah- A brilliant and disgracted scientist, Spiriah was once a member of the Nynrah Ghosts. However, his own incompetence and poor handling of the Nynrah Incident, in addition to being somewhat negligent in containing the leak of VISORAK, led to his reputation being tarnished. Even so, he retained membership amongst the Nynrah Ghosts, until a botched experiment involving the Skakdi Clan of Zakaz resulted in them becoming far more dangerous, temperamental, and difficult to control than intended.
With the Skakdi incident as the final straw, Spiriah was exiled and disgraced from the Nynrah Ghosts. Cast out and bitter, Spiriah quickly found work from The Shadowed One, who was eager to employ his skills. Spiriah happily performed experiments with the intent of furthering the Dark Hunters’ power, proving his intelligence and hidden potential. With Spiriah clearly a viable researcher, The Shadowed One eventually entrusted him with Makuta’s notes, gathered from the Mask Hoarder’s abanoned lab by Dweller. With additional resources straight from Okoto, Spiriah set to work dissecting and discerning the very nature of Life energy itself, eventually implementing his findings into various experiments, many of which became Dark Hunters themselves.
Having turned his life around after his past failures, Spiriah went on to help lead experiments on the Kanohi Dragon alongside Vortixx Industries. However, he disappeared after going on an expedition to Nynrah, hoping to gather resources and intel; Attempts to locate him (or his body) have failed, and the Dark Hunter Tracker has been unable to find anything sufficient enough with which to track down Spiriah. Presumably, he has been killed by the Vorox- Or perhaps by the Nynrah Ghosts, who did not want their academic knowledge to be shared amongst the Dark Hunters, regretting their exile of Spiriah?
The Shadowed One himself in unsure… Regardless, Spiriah was an innovative individual who could’ve unlocked many more forbidden secrets of Life had he not disappeared- Perhaps, with the proper resources, he could’ve even gone on to rival Makuta himself! Not that it mattered, because Makuta, too, has perished…
Trydahk- The leader of the Nynrah Ghosts and its ‘high priest’, Trydahk is considered the most brilliant and esteemed member of the group. His intelligence and work has helped spawn and pioneer multiple Xian inventions, including the lethal VISORAK, or the Zamor Launcher. The space-warping Trydahk Pods are named after the Nynrah Ghost himself, and he desires to unlock the secrets of reality at any cost; No matter how many innocent lives must be sacrificed, or how much destruction he must cause. To him, understanding everything is the only thing that matters, and Knowledge is his peace of mind.
Intriguingly, Trydahk has been around since the very inception of the Nynrah Ghosts, several decades ago. And yet, he does not seem to be any older than he currently is, despite his age back then meaning he should be dead by now. Who knows what experiments he performed on himself to allow this?
Nektann- A brutal Skakdi warlord, Nektann was named after the powerful Xian war-machines that plagued Zakaz alongside other machinations of destruction. An unstoppable brute, Nektann quickly rose to power amongst the Skakdi, challenging other warlords and defeating them in combat. Now, he has practically reunited the Skakdi clans back into one, promising his brethren glory and conquest upon the rest of Zakaz.
Tall and thuggish, Nektann is nevertheless cunning enough to have earned control over the Skakdi. He wields an ornate Crescent Scythe in combat, and is a loud and boisterous individual who will happily partake in carnage. Unsurprisingly, Nektann is seen as ‘undignified’ by other Xians, but he doesn’t let this get to him. He knows the Skakdi are looked down upon as modified ‘freaks’, but he figures that will change when he marches upon Zakaz and becomes one of the Powers That Be.
Nektann frequently rides to combat, leading his armies on mobile war-machines and vehicles. He himself rides a large one equipped with a massive grinder-wheel on the front. Additionally, he has a pet Muaka adorned in spiked armor. He got the beast after buying it off of the Dark Hunters, who themselves got it from Umarak on a whim. Nektann is proud of his exotic pet and likes to boast of its foreign, mysterious origins, but some Xians doubt the validity of his claims- They believe the Muaka is just another manufactured bioweapon, an assertion that greatly angers him.
These biomechanical spiders are considered synonymous with the mutagen they carry in their fangs; VISORAK, short for Virus of Reconstitution and Killing. The Visorak Horde is comprised of multiple packs that serve their creators, the Nynrah Ghosts, but have also proven to be rebellious and strong-willed in the past themselves. Programmed to enjoy hunting, all Visorak spiders have the innate urge to track down prey before paralyzing and injecting them with venom, and finally cocooning their victims to eventually mutate.
Created early in the Nynrah Ghosts’ tenure, the Visorak served multiple purposes as guard-dogs, personal protectors, security, enforcers, etc. Their primary function however was to manually carry out the mutations of VISORAK by injecting various test subjects out in the wild with the virus, and then hauling back the infected to be analyzed by the Nynrah Ghosts. Prior the Nynrah Incident, Visorak spiders would be sent out into packs -usually with a designated squad leader- into what few areas of wilderness existed on Xia.
Dispersing within the wild, the packs would randomly target prey –sometimes a specific species depending on the task of the day- and paralyze them with their Rhotuka spinners. From there, a victim would be injected with VISORAK, before being wrapped up into cocoons and hauled back to one of the Nynrah Ghosts’ laboratories.
Cocooned victims are kept in a separate part of the facility. Sensors keep track of subjects’ life processes, with the cocoons providing an ideal environment for the most drastic of transformations. Some subjects are unable to survive their mutations, dying in the process; Such failures are dragged off by the Visorak spiders and thrown down a chute, to be processed into bio-matter. This fate occasionally applies to Vorox too weak to emerge from their cocoons without help, although some examples are still salvaged for analysis by the Nynrah Ghosts, just in case.
Upon completing a mutation, the transformed victim tears their way out of the cocoon. Sensors and cameras monitoring patients’ activity notify the Nynrah Ghosts, who send down a Visorak pack to surround the cocoon, Rhotuka ready. From the webbing emerges a freshly-mutated, and often hostile, Vorox; Before the creature can fight back, the Visorak paralyze them with their Rhotuka, before dragging the subject to a secure prison cell to be analyzed and studied.
Due to the randomized, drastic nature of VISORAK mutations, many retrieved experiments have yielded fascinating biologies and abilities, many of which have given the Nynrah Ghosts insight into the nature of Life itself. Many bioweapons have been genetically reverse-engineered from Vorox mutations, with the Nynrah Ghosts taking frequent inspiration from the wide variety of organisms that have resulted from VISORAK.
As the main carriers of VISORAK, the biomechanical spiders are the ‘face’ of the mutagen, and meant to unlock the virus’ full potential by consistently infecting and carrying back subjects in a generally-controlled procedure. For a while, the Visorak Horde worked in the wilds, hunting without impunity, although some would continue their task even when given the order to head back home. Aside from the occasional uprising here or there, the Visorak Horde remained obedient.
Some packs with skilled experience on their belt would be assigned with hunting down enemies of the Nynrah Ghosts, sometimes merely to paralyze and retrieve; Other times to mutate as well. However, there have been incidents of targets being mutated despite orders dictating otherwise- Such is the flaw of the innate programming of these creatures, meant to result in highly-intelligent pack hunters that can strategize and cooperate with one another, while also needing to hunt in order to feel satisfied.
When the Nynrah Incident first began, packs of Visorak spiders were sent out to neutralize and contain infected citizens, before transporting them back to the Nynrah Ghosts’ facilities. As cases quickly sky-rocketed, nearly all Visorak packs were sent out onto the field at unprecedented rates, and the ability to keep track of all of them began to wear thin. Inevitably, as with their aforementioned rebelliousness, some Visorak packs got high on the hunting spree; So many Xians, some transformed and others still in the process, were available for them to pursue!
Many of these packs became so immersed in their hunts that some even began to target non-infected Xians, mutating them; Some Vorox were even given a second dosage. The Nynrah Incident was a nightmare for many, but for the Visorak, it was paradise. And with their creators distracted and more permission to hunt than they had ever received in their lives, some packs of Visorak inevitably chose to defect from their masters. Most had never spent so much time beyond the facilities, allowed to rampage, with so much time between orders; They felt the allure of self-determination and couldn’t imagine leaving it behind.
These rogue Visorak contributed even further to the Nynrah Incident, infecting more Xians and leaving their cocoons behind to eventually hatch horrific Vorox. The credibility of their Nynrah Ghost creators was called into question; Many Vahki were sent in to apprehend and control these rogue Visorak, to varying success. A few loyal packs were assigned with bringing back their defecting brethren; But upon encountering them, were quickly convinced to also rebel. Growing packs began to actively seek out loyal groups and induct them into their ranks.
It was a disaster for the Nynrah Ghosts, and it eventually culminated in the district’s complete and total quarantine. As the dust began to settle and the trapped inhabitants of Nynrah adjusted to a new, chaotic lifestyle, many of them would continue to fear the Visorak Horde; Be it those serving the Nynrah Ghosts or operating under their own terms, either possibility was incredibly dangerous.
After adapting to Nynrah’s downfall and even embracing the situation, the Nynrah Ghosts had their Visorak spiders operate almost entirely within the district. Packs would be sent out to mutate non-infected survivors, or even try injecting already-transformed Vorox with new strains of virus and mutagen. Deadly plagues would be tested upon the various monsters roaming Nynrah, while others would be captured and sent back to the Ghosts for analysis. It was a lifestyle that the Visorak Horde quickly enjoyed.
For the rogue packs, many resisted attempts by the Nynrah Ghosts to recapture them; Such missions were usually carried about by non-Visorak servants, such as the bio-weapon Bruisers, a mechanical Slizer or Exo-Toa, and even a mercenary here or there. Trydahk set a new policy; Either detain and capture rogue spiders, or else kill them entirely so they won’t interfere with field-studies and experiments.
The rogue Visorak continued their hunting sprees as they pleased, often meeting resistance from bands of Vorox; But otherwise they were unhindered, infecting and cocooning the non-mutated and even those who were already Vorox. Many Vorox, unable to handle a second dosage of VISORAK, have entered comas or even died from within their cocoons. Many of these rogue Visorak have also settled for outright killing their prey in wanton massacres.
When the esteemed general Sidorak was banished to Nynrah, he adapted to the fallen district and seized control of a Visorak pack. Earning their respect as a leader and honorary ‘Visorak’, Sidorak was given a commemorative badge, hand-made by his troops to signify his newfound status. From there, Sidorak went on to incorporate other rogue packs into his growing army, using either diplomacy or force. Beneath Sidorak’s command, many rogue Visorak have defected from the Nynrah Ghosts, drawn to the allure of a lifestyle where one can hunt and kill as they please.
Sidorak’s growing horde has gone on campaigns against enemy Vorox clans, as well as the Nynrah Ghosts, sabotaging facilities, creations, and experiments. Clans led by the likes of Malum or Kabrua have come into conflict with the Visorak, who seek to exterminate them and vice-versa. Since Sidorak’s tenure, his rogue Horde has engaged in repeated guerilla warfare against their enemies, and hope to one day topple the Nynrah Ghosts. Doing so would not only establish freedom for all Visorak spiders, but grant the Horde access to the resources needed to create many more of their kind…
When The Shadowed One transported Xia to Okoto, the walls of Nynrah were heavily-damaged by the ensuing quakes, collapsing in multiple areas. Led by Sidorak, many of these rogue Visorak have escaped out onto not only Xia, but Okoto as well.
As of the Xian-Okotan War, Visorak both loyal to the Nynrah Ghosts or Sidorak are now being employed by the Barraki as a brutal asset against their enemies. Under his master Makuta’s command, Sidorak is now leading his Visorak Horde against the Okotan Alliance, working with the Nynrah Ghosts he once fought against; The Nynrah Ghosts themselves are unhappy with Sidorak’s continued reign, and want him brought to justice.
But as an esteemed Brotherhood of Makuta member with continued victories, Sidorak is allowed to operate. And as his successful campaigns have begun to stack up, more Visorak spiders are being made and transferred beneath his command under the Barraki and Makuta’s orders. Even spiders loyal to the Nynrah Ghosts find themselves working alongside these rogue packs, and are now beginning to question their current way of life.
The Nynrah Ghosts are naturally anxious about this, and fear Sidorak will seize control of the entire Visorak Horde from them, converting the spiders into the Brotherhood of Makuta’s army. The Ghosts suspect this of being Makuta’s true intentions, and are considering having Sidorak assassinated; Such treacherous ideas are discussed in secret, and are being cautiously shared with Roodaka, CEO of Vortixx Industries…
In the meantime, the Visorak Horde is greatly enjoying new hunts on the exotic island of Okoto, and find the change of scenery to be a welcome vacation. An entire islands’ worth of new species has been made available for them to hunt, and many Visorak spiders are invading to their hearts’ content. Many others are adapting to a new lifestyle of formalized warfare against the Okotan Alliance and Xian Revolution, but ultimately enjoying this as well.
Since their arrival on Okoto, many Visorak have taken to targeting the mythical Rahi, putting them at odds with the shape-shifting Krahka. Attempts to capture the Kardas Dragon have all resulted in utter failure. As Okoto’s natural landscape is razed and damaged by the Visorak, many of its wildlife have taken to fighting back, putting up more of a fight than most of Xia’s beasts. The success of certain species has varied, with Rock Raptors and their Spiny Stone Ape allies faring well; Others, like the Kikanalo, are suffering devastating losses, whilst creatures such as Sea Skimmers are outright huntingthe Visorak for sport!
The Visorak themselves are also curious regarding their Brotherhood allies; Many are fascinated by the Skull Warriors’ undead, indestructible nature, while others withhold the urge to hunt and mutate animals controlled by the Skull Spiders. The Visorak and Energy Leeches are hostile towards one another, and have gotten into spats in the past, with varying victories on either side. Energy Leeches that have developed into stronger stages tend to handle Visorak with ease, draining their spinners mid-air. The Visorak are both mortified and fascinated by their rivals’ strength, and wish to openly fight with the Energy Leeches despite being less numerous.
Visorak are massive, biomechanical spiders, with each one about the size of a fully-grown adult and more than capable of subduing humans on their own. Armed with an armored carapace and crest on their heads, Visorak have the standard eight legs of spiders, with their front pair acting as forelimbs. Visorak have massive, metallic mandibles with which to attack prey and handle objects; Their venom is injected through a smaller pair of syringe-like fangs.
Built within the abdomen of a Visorak is a Rhotuka launcher. As a result of their manmade status, the Visorak are able to rotate through a variety of Rhotuka powers at will; Their standard Spinner paralyzes prey by shutting down multiple parts of the nervous system, while enabling vital organs to continue functioning. Other abilities include activating the nerves to transmit signals of pure, agonizing pain; Bloating the bodies of victims, causing them to float to the surface of water; Absorbing nutrition and directly transmitting it back to the Visorak; And acid that can melt through even steel.
In addition to this wide variety of abilities, Visorak also possess many other traits as well. They can see in total darkness, and possess enhanced senses to detect prey. Their tracking and hunting abilities are potent, and they’re adapted for long-distance hunts. Visorak have potent camouflaging abilities that make them nearly invisible, and can slow down their life-processes to just short of death, making them hard to detect; This ability also enables Visorak to enter periods of rest and hibernation should sustenance remain scarce.
The armored head of a Visorak can temporarily harden to become resistant to physical harm, enabling the spiders to charge forward like living battle rams. Disturbingly, the Visorak can also perfectly mimic sounds and voices, and will often echo the voices of trusted allies to confuse and disorient enemies, lulling them into a false sense of security or greatly unnerving them; It is not uncommon for a felled Visorak to deter an enemy by begging for its life in the voice of a loved one.
Visorak are able to naturally skate on the surface of water, although they can deactivate this ability to pursue underwater targets. Luckily, they are poor swimmers; If a Visorak wishes to return to the surface, their bodies can synthesize buoyant gases that will cause their bodies to float upwards, before releasing them from the mouth.
A Visorak’s living components consist of protodermal tissue, which is more durable and longer-lasting than regular organic fibers, and yields greater strength. As a result of their protodermis-based bodies, Visorak are immune to their own venom, as well as certain other poisons; Protodermis is more inflexible than flesh and thus resistant to change.
Their green, protodermis-based webs are strong and powerful, thicker and more durable than a typical spider’s. These webs sometimes spew a fog that conceals the surrounding area, obscuring it for ambushes; Visorak often mark their territory with these webs, wrapping up entire areas within them. These webs are sticky and cling, but Visorak are able to climb along them with ease.
Visorak also use their webs for hunting, laying traps for prey, or shooting strands from their mouths or abdomen. A message-system has been incorporated by the Visorak with these webs, with mile-long strands strewn across areas; Visorak can message and signal one another by tapping along these webs in a manner similar to morse code. Nests and hideouts are often sealed with barriers of webbing that are easily torn-apart by Visorak and then replaced, and the Horde’s fortifications can be found containing cocooned victims as a form of morbid hunting trophies.
As a result of their programming, both genetic and technical, the Visorak are highly-aggressive pack hunters. A social species, they tend to organize themselves into groups, often deferring to a leader decided through a contest of strength. Visorak are remorseless, ruthless individuals who want only to hunt as they see fit, mutating or killing all in sight.
This desire is innate, a natural part of their programming to create the perfect hunter; But it can also backfire as well. Many Nynrah Ghosts have found their Visorak difficult to handle, as they desire to hunt even when ordered to go home; Due to their respect for powerful authority, the spiders will often contest and question the strength of their creators. They can sense weakness, and will often act upon it.
Visorak will only yield to those they see as strong, possessing rebellious wills. Even without the influence of Sidorak, many chose to defect against the Nynrah Ghosts, while others even plotted to overthrow their creators. To keep them in line, the Nynrah Ghosts have relied on methods of pain, force, and fear. Many packs have chafed greatly beneath the strict control of their masters, and resent them for it.
Despite their hostility, the Visorak are capable of loyalty and respect. As mentioned before, they value strength and powerful leadership; Those who serve under Sidorak do so loyally, valuing the general for his brilliant tactics and comradery with underlings. Sidorak has often personally commended a Visorak and rewarded them for success on the battlefield, and it is beneath his command that many spiders enjoy thrilling hunts on a regular basis.
When left to their own devices, Visorak will sometimes wrestle with one another using their mandibles, to pass the time- They are patient when hunting, but restless otherwise. Sometimes Visorak torture prey with their Rhotuka, acting on their natural love of torment. These attitudes of sadism and respecting power are preconceived notions, programmed into the Visorak to make them both potent hunters and brutal exterminators.
In regards to their minds, Visorak are highly-intelligent creatures, able to strategize and coordinate effectively to hunt, and even anticipate the actions of prey. They possess their own language, referring to themselves as ‘Stealers of Life’ and ‘Poisonous Scourge’ in their tongue. Visorak are borderline-sapient, although they lack much of a discernible ‘culture’ due to their sole interest in hunting, nor are they able to read. Despite this, Visorak can perfectly understand orders and even ‘speak’ by mimicking voices. They are curious creatures, and require stimulation.
Personalities exist and vary somewhat amongst the species, with some more pre-disposed for leadership than others. Visorak can argue and question loyalties, exercise creative problem-solving, and potentially even consider their place in the universe. All feel genuine emotions, from hatred and fear, to thrill, and even respect- They may even be capable of happiness and genuine love. Visorak possess the personal concept of names for one another and themselves, further contributing to the argument for their sapience. They can be instructed to build entire structures by webbing together pieces of debris, and craft complex web-systems across their territory.
While Visorak are undoubtedly creatures with a natural hostility towards all, there are some who consider and even argue for their right to exist as living creatures; However, their manmade status and threat puts this right into question. The Visorak cannot be blamed for their pre-programmed natures, but they nevertheless act upon them; However, it is not like they have ever had access to an environment that would not only allow, but even encourage peace and pacifism.
And despite their general aggression towards outsiders, exceptions have been made not only for individuals but even entire species; The Visorak exist in symbiosis with the bioweapons known as Venom Flyers, with the latter often acting as scouts and air-support for the swarms, in exchange for food ensnared by the spiders. Similarly, ant-like Colony Drones regularly provide Rhotuka spinners containing energy edible to the Visorak- Though it should be noted that the Visorak keep the Colony Drones alive for sustenance, and that their good relations are likely programmed.
Colony Drones are an invention of the Nynrah Ghosts specifically made to feed the Visorak and keep them in line; Sidorak managed to gather many of them to feed his rogue Horde. Visorak can also feed themselves through the draining-power of their Rhotuka, which was programmed as a failsafe should the Colony Drones be compromised- This method does not yield as much nutrition as a Colony Drone’s spinner, however.
Curiously, the Visorak have been observed to spare Silver Chute Spiders, passing over and sparing the arachnids completely; The Nynrah Ghosts have no explanation for this, and are certain this behavior was not programmed. Perhaps it is a fluke in the programming, or maybe the Visorak feel a comradery with these spiders- They also seem to respect the rarer Fikou Nui bioweapon as well. Regular Fikou and other spiders are not nearly as lucky with the Visorak, paradoxically enough.
Amidst the brutal Xian-Okotan conflict and Core War, nobody really has the patience nor resources to test theories of co-existence with the Visorak, and the Horde cares little for the opinions of others. If the war comes to an end, the spiders will likely be exterminated, or else placed into indefinite stasis. For now, the Visorak remain an infamous threat that is both feared and hated by enemies and allies alike.
