You all must've been wondering where I've been, eh? Well look no further than character designing!
Tagging the wifey and creator of Dylan @kikiwooo , bestie @humanthatlikestuff , bestie @gremlinthatdevourscontent .
Here's Kastiya Mas, best known as KM! He's Zhask's son, and is a skilled self-trained archer and alchemist (this one comes from mom).
A little about the smol bean: READMORE
Name: Kastiya Mas
His name means 'Luck of Kastiya'. Kastiya was the planet he was named after. Various interpretations of the name can be found if you asked its inhabitants before the planet blew up, including 'Home', 'Protection', 'Prosperity', and 'Source of Power'. He is Zhask's greatest achievement.
Alias: Green Reaper, pufferfish (and many other nicknames) (by Dylan), son (by Zhask), little one (by Rista)
Age: In the above image, 16.
I have many different designs for him, each featuring a different insect as a base. For his current age as shown, his base is a Malaysian giant click beetle mixed with various other cute beetles I've found.
Occupation: Assassin, Informant, Weaver, Street Performer
He began working for Rista at the young age of nine, soon after he ran away from the Eruditio due to constant bullying on him and his previous caretaker. While he was working for Rista, his current caretaker, he became her informant due to how small and talented he was. She learned his squeaks so their messages were naturally encoded. He also worked to clean the carriage and give Erebus headpats.
As an assassin, he uses his bow and arrows, sometimes using a butterfly knife for close-quarters combat. His victims have never been found, only their eyeballs. He usually takes them home to store and eat.
He has never been caught, and will never be caught. He is unregistered in any database. His victims are on missing persons lists and he beams with pride whenever he sees the notice boards grow. He does not discriminate between men, women, children, either-ors, neither-nors, or animals. He is a threat. Don't bother locking your doors, don't bother with guns or bats. He will find you. He will kill you. And he will devour you raw.
Weaving is more of his hobby than anything. He sells off his handmade clothes for a fair price, affordable even to the poor. He weaves many things, including tapestries, clothes, carpets, and curtains. It's a lucrative business, and he can't help but keep it going.
He is also a street performer when he's not weaving. His voice sounds like a youthful trail mix. He wields a keytar, and his keys are secretly daggers.
Special powers: Implosion and Explosion
First discovered during a board meeting Zhask had with fellow informants, diplomats, and advisors. He was chewing on a salt cookie when his powers arose. He imploded the entire room, crushing anyone unlucky enough to be within the radius and turning their insides out quite gorily, and exploded them back out. There were only three survivors, Zhask, his wife, and baby Kastiya's maid. All of them thankfully on the other side of the table when it happened.
Zhask thought much of his power due to such a risk (after all, such power could kill him) but the moment he started crying and squeaking he just couldn't bear to. He picked him up, dusted off the shrapnel and blood, and gave him a nuzzle. And no more salt. Only sodium supplements.
After some research he learned that this was an ancient power that formed this planet. It was a power held by their ancestors who shaped mountains and rivers and caverns. A special son was born, and he couldn't pass out on this opportunity. There was a reason his name was Kastiya. Initially for honour, now he bore history.
He would not control this power until he turns 17, with Dylan's (his boyfriend) help. It would further be expanded upon by Zhask and completed at the age of 22.
He pulls in carbon based lifeforms and metals. He's like Magneto, if Magento also pulls in people and twists their guts inside out.
Flaws: Lack of outer exoskeletal plating, learned to read at 16 with Dylan's help, learned to count at 15 when his assassination payments felt off.
As a child he used to be a prodigy, having learned to read and count at the very young age of thirty-six months. Sadly, those were Kastiyan numbers and letters, and communication was squeaking so he did roughly in Eruditian schools. He avoided writing, reading, and counting altogether due to trauma-related incidents and he mostly did his work on pattern recognition and memorization. He can talk but he's illiterate until taught.
Due to his lack of an outer exoskeleton, he would be considered disabled by fellow Kastiyans since their definition of disabled is based on environmental survivability and sustainability. KM is more prone to severe injuries, illnesses, and above all, a really bad back.
History:
Hatched from an egg. Molted into a toddler-shaped Kastiyan at 6 months old. Learned to read and count at 1½ years old. Began learning princely duties at 5 years old. Kastiya exploded at 8 years old.
Spent six months in the Eruditio, and ran away from home aftere severe neglect, bullying, abuse, and overall general displeasure. Came to Rista's carriage and worked for her. Worked as a back-and-forth informant until 20 years old.
Killed his previous caretaker after an accident at the age of 16. He was talking with one of KM's victims and left the room. Soon after, KM took the shot. The arrow went in through an open window and he died. His caretaker came in for an item he left behind and saw the scene, reporting it to the authorities immediately. KM swooped in to claim the body unnoticed after he left the scene to call for help.
Returned to his distressed caretaker's home to apologise, but after receiving death threats he killed him with his bare hands. Couldn't bear to eat him, so just left him there.
Molted into juvenile at 13 years old. Began weaving at 13 years old. Began assassinating at 15 years old. Fell in love at 16 with a dolphin prince, Dylan. Met with Zhask at the age of 17. Learned how to count at the age of 15. Learned how to read at 16. Learned how to control power from 17 to 22. Adulthood molt at 21. Laid an egg at 24. Named her Carrie (wifey we'll talk about her later).
Lost his virginity on his 18th birthday. Thanks Dylan!
Armour:
Coloured in such a way for light-based eyestrain and camouflage. Strategic armour wearing protects internal exoskeleton and regulates body temperature. UwU mask claimed as a 'gift' from one of his victims.
Chainmail skirt because he's a femboy. Also owns a pair of pink bunny headphones.
Wing pattern:
Kastiyan Royal Insignia.
Initially a doodle by Zhask in the margins of his schoolwork, he pranked his people on his 34th birthday by announcing the change to the royal insignia. Expecting to reveal the truth that it was a prank by sundown, he was shocked to see the people adopting it, tolerating it, being very accepting of it. So after a hilariously hysterical board meeting it was changed to symbolise Zhask's his power and success.
Happy birthday, dad!
A year later, KM was born, and as soon as he hatched from an egg, he funnily enough had the insignia birthmarked onto his back. An obvious way of saying "PROPERTY OF ZHASK DO NOT TOUCH OR YOU DIE".
After a toddler molt, it appeared on the underside of his wings. In his juvenile molt, it appeared on the outside of his wings, and assisted in Zhask's recognition of him the first time they met. It's as if it knew they would reunite.
Insignia disappeared in adulthood. After an illness leaving him in critical condition (Cordyceps), Zhask had to dissect him and found out that the insignia was inside his body all this time. AS THE ORGAN PLACEMENT.
I SHIT YOU NOT HIS ORGANS WERE ARRANGED EXACTLY LIKE THE INSIGNIA.
To honour his survival and this newfound discovery,he had it succubus/incubus-tattooed onto his lower stomach, courtesy of Alice.
Visualization:
Also visible: The similarities between the design and Zhask's own physical form.
(The X represents the peeny. He's 4 inches long, and maintained that in adulthood.)
Libido: High.
What did you expect? I'm horny as fuck~
If it weren't for his trauma, he'd be a whore instead of an assassin. Let that sink in.
In-game:
Skill 1: Explosive arrows. Damages targets in a small range.
Skill 2: Potions. Like Luo Yi, potions that will be thrown will be shown. One of three in a medium range. Healing, Damage, Stun.
Skill 3: Keytar. KM pulls out his keytar and shoots out his dagger-keys. Has a timer and an attack limit like Yve's ultimate. Medium range.
Ultimate: KM ingests salt (ultimate loading animation like Zhask) and implodes, pulling in all enemies and enemy minions, damaging them and leaving them in an airborne state. Will explode them out in various locations, also dealing damage and leaving them stunned. Ultimate can be used multiple times within 10 seconds, but damage decreases with each usage so make the first implosion count!
Recall animation: Gay hand flip.
Trivia:
Has a black cat named Michael. It can stand on two legs.
Has a pair of pink fluffy bunny-eared headphones.
Talks with a hint of a squeak, like Valentino from Hazbin Hotel.
Voice claim: Um. Me. But if I took testosterone (not that I would, I have enough of it).
Singing voice claim: Get Scared lead singer, Brandon Urie (if he tries hard enough), Michael Crawford (on rare occasions).
Adult voice claim: Ru Paul.
Adult singing voice claim: Shit there's a lot of them, he's an expert at mimicry. Notable ones include Stolas from Helluva Boss, Us the Duo (the sexy guy), Will Wood, Simon Curtis.
Kinks: Where do I start.
NOT Kinks: Generally disgusting stuff. Ew.
Preferred kink: Overstimulation.
Lives in a haunted house in the woods. Had to ask Helcurt to keep them away. Uses his assassination money to renovate, albeit discreetly to avoid suspicion.
Favourite food is curry noodles and eggs. Favourite drink is mixed berries.
Self-loathes occasionally.
Slight OCD.
Anemic.
Needs a masseuse every fifteen days.
Birthday: 24th March.
Zodiac: Aries.
Personality: A bitch, but the most loveable bitch you'll ever meet in your life.
I was listening to Karma (VocaCircus) and I was thinking about a sort of animatic type-thing. But not the meme part, just the rest of the song. And so this was born! I'm just so excited about this I just threw out a playlist for it! I've never been able to properly turn an animatic into writing let alone a storyboard so this is a major achievement for me!
TW: character death
---
The air, as always, was cold. Far too cold. Four figures stood amongst opposite ruins of the battlefield, a lost fisherman's village which once held life by the dozens and a frozen peak of ice eroded by time.
Two on one end, two on the other. It would be a fair fight.
"Kaloshta, I can't-" the young beetle shook out. His breath was ragged from the blizzard and his haemolymph frozen as a glacier. A spark of flame amongst the blues and whites of the icy tundra.
"We can, just hold on!" hissed the elder, clutching his staff like a lifeline. He couldn't see anymore, blindly following his other senses despite barely any of them functioning. He picked up his only remaining child's bow, edging it over to the dying youth.
A fair fight but they were quickly losing. Or perhaps, they've already lost.
"Now you've used up all your luck," a voice rang out through the icy plain, like shooting stars in an endless void. The bearer, well-fought yet barely touched, raised her glowing purple hand, aiming it at Zhask. A glow of energy coursed through her palm, forming a cube of explosive power.
"It's time you get what you deserve," came a steady voice accompanying her. A body of ice and snow, so was her voice, sharp as the sword she held tight to her bosom. Her eyes, fixiated on the blue beetle before her with a vengeful fury, hell hath no other.
The elder looked towards his son with shaken eyes, with grief and remorse and worry. All intuitions which had come far too late. What he had provided, what he had sworn to provide, all gone in the blink of an eye. All his fault.
But the younger still stood. "I'm holding out for karma," said he, pointing an accusatory finger at the Astrowarden he so dreaded. A little boy facing the monster under his bed for the first and what may be the last time.
His mandibles clicked. The icicles spread through his body were like lead in his veins and he knew he couldn't get far. But he possessed the heart of his father, a warrior who laughs in the face of death, a conqueror who brought home all his love to be shared. To be kept for safekeeping as odd little trinkets and soft bedtime kisses.
And he stood.
Haemolymph dripped onto the snow.
A bitter taste flooded Zhask's mouth as he looked upon his son's condition. Unsalvageable. Unsaveable. But if this is how they'll go down...
"I'm holding out to watch you burn."
Zhask handed his son the bow and the young Kastiyan notched an arrow. They'll go down together. As father and son. The last remaining Kastiyans forevermore.
It was the Astrowarden who struck first. Her barrier could only last so long, but they struck the space between the two hearts, shattering all bond and chain between them. Zhask was swept aside, as Kastiya deftly dodged and loosened his arrow.
It hit Aurora square on the shoulder, a chilling scream erupting from her lips as the venom took its hold. She fell, clutching her shoulder as Yve came to her aid. It wasn't potent, but it was a terrible pain to endure for a long while yet.
A sharp icicle shot out of her palm. It bounced off cliff and crag, but it wasn't half noticed before it met its mark.
It was intended for only one, the forlorn beast. But it missed, shattering the void wall carved by Yve and plunging itself deep into the wrong Kastiyan. And before the smooth shiny purple shards, before the cold of the Northern Vale, before the mercy of fate, was the poor young boy who'd lost his dear father at such a young age.
A faint whistle and a fulfilling life flashed before Kastiya's eyes.
He couldn't hear, couldn't see or feel. All he could was taste, and he tasted the fresh flowers of spring. He tasted the geraniums in his garden, the smooth black pebbles of the nearby beach. He tasted blood, his blood, and the snow he drifted into.
For illusory hours he must have watched the visions play out through his taste and taste alone. The soft woodwork of Rista's travelling coach, the tender kisses from Dylan every night, the night markets and sunrises. One by one playing, reminding him of things he wouldn't remember in eternity.
As he dreamt, the walls around him shattered. Footfalls treaded through the snow in a desperate attempt to reach the only thing they'll ever care for. Sharp broken claws grasp the back of the young beetle's head, lifting it up from the cold into a much warmer touch.
Knees crashed onto the snow, bloodied and cold. Disbelieving breaths choked the fire out of its bearer, as he gazed upon the one thing he swore to protect forever, now immortalised in eternal sleep. The cold numbed all emotion but desperation, desperation to keep this final fledgeling of love aflight.
A glittering flash caught his eye and his mandibles clicked. No. Not his son. Not the little boy he raised a prince of gold and glory. Not the little boy of arrows of flame. Not his little boy, no.
Not his little boy, no.
Please, not his little boy, his only boy, please no.
Instinct took over and his shoulder covered to block the oncoming ice spike.
The projectile makes contact. Ice seeps quickly through both their bodies, freezing the duo in an eternal embrace of protection and love. The ice covers spiracles and antennae alike, breath was nonexistent.
But if the last thing he sees is the only love his life will permit him, then it's a worthy death.
---
A father and son, immortalised in an eternal sculpture of ice and crystal. A memoriam of the horrors of war. Two tombstones, carved of obsidian and sapphire.
All this bought by a wealthy male of antiquities from a royal kingdom beneath the waves, grieving a lost love. Perhaps this is a way for him to cope, to grieve. Perhaps this is obsession. Perhaps this is respect. Aurora had no use for them, thus he took them to the only place they'd ever called home.
His hand grasps the eternally cold claws of the only true love he's ever had in the shadow of the dark oak clearing. He tries not to weep, for this was long foreseen. Zhask would lose, and he'd take down everything with him.
He just wishes it wasn't his Kastiya too.
He lights a simple match. The glow reminds him of the bright orange his love used to flaunt. The red reminds him of the father figure he saw in the king. The matchstick, the dark oak.
With a short breath, he recites the last of his cremation rites.
He tosses the match into the trees, the dry grass quickly set ablaze by the mere kindle. The bark and leaves set alight as the ice sculpture melts. Little by little their bodies are uncovered, colour faded from the sun and the shine. But to Dylan, all is perfect.
Within the burning embers, he picks the bodies from the ice and carefully lays them in their joined grave. But not before he gives one final kiss to his long-dead love. He swears those cold lips never have changed, but deep down he knows they have.
Eyes brimming with tears, mainly from grief and partly from smoke, he buries the duo side by side. Simple tombstones were set up as he sits down amongst the dried grass.
