Lex Sedet In Vertice: A Supervillain in the DCU CK2 quest

[Negation]

By the way @King crimson what will the wetware computers actually mean for us? I know they're revolutionary but how would we use it?

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Wetware CPU - TV Tropes

Digital processing technology has come a long way from the days of mechanical relays. Transistors, those magical little things that make modern computers tick, have gotten so small we can measure their size in individual atoms — small …

tvtropes.org

Organic Technology - TV Tropes

If a society in Science Fiction isn't either following Technology Levels or magic, then you can rest assured that they're making use of organic technology. Cars, planes, phones, computers, buildings, space ships, weapons (including artillery and …

tvtropes.org

I'm thinking it would open up software and hardware interfacibility with Atlantean and possibly alien bio-tech from civilisations that go with Organic Technology.

Also a digital control to program the Bone Formula if we really work on it.

The possibility of Wetware Bodies may be opened up so AIs that want physical/sexual relationships with organic partners may be possible. As well as digitized minds downloaded into bodies-to-order.

If combined with Nano-tech prehaps safer surgical proceedures to remove tumors &/or develop cures for various forms of Cancer.

 

[King crimson]

By the way @King crimson what will the wetware computers actually mean for us? I know they're revolutionary but how would we use it?

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Wetware computers are the big breakthrough in biotech. The simplest way to use them is merely as an alternate option to traditional computers but the theoretical applications go way further than that. The human brain is arguably a wetware computer and so the big use you can get out of wetware computers is programmable biological constructs. It also potentially makes transferring AI's into biological bodies and vice versa a lot more possible. You're not getting the full applications all at once but wetware computers are the option to take if you want to start mixing computer and robot stuff with biology.

 

[jonasquinn]

Wetware computers are the big breakthrough in biotech. The simplest way to use them is merely as an alternate option to traditional computers but the theoretical applications go way further than that. The human brain is arguably a wetware computer and so the big use you can get out of wetware computers is programmable biological constructs. It also potentially makes transferring AI's into biological bodies and vice versa a lot more possible. You're not getting the full applications all at once but wetware computers are the option to take if you want to start mixing computer and robot stuff with biology.

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Good to know

Though now I'm curious, how would a wetware computer we build compare to what's in the market right now? And will having it have any impact on the Atlantis technology DC?

 

[King crimson]

Good to know

Though now I'm curious, how would a wetware computer we build compare to what's in the market right now? And will having it have any impact on the Atlantis technology DC?

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What you have is going to be a good bit worse than what's on the market. It's going to be about the size of a filing cabinet, will require more support systems (making sure things are the right temperature, keeping it isolated from contaminants etc.) and will be worse in terms of computing and processing capabilities than what's on the market.

That being said it can be improved and you'll immediately gain the option to build a wetware supercomputer that would basically convert an entire floor of LexCorp to its use. On top of that while the wetware computer won't affect the DC to reverse engineer Atlantean technology it will make it easier to integrate those systems into other things (it has a significant effect but arguably a secondary one despite the potency).

That make sense?

 

[jonasquinn]

That make sense?

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It does make sense thank you

Though in saying that I'm not particularly excited about it anymore, it seems worse than conventional computers outside of some very niche uses, mainly AI and Atlantis tech neither of which I think will see widespread use, and requires a whole other action that I imagine will have a much higher DC to improve

Now that I know more about it I'd kinda just rather make our current computers better…

 

[King crimson]

It does make sense thank you

Though in saying that I'm not particularly excited about it anymore, it seems worse than conventional computers outside of some very niche uses, mainly AI and Atlantis tech neither of which I think will see widespread use, and requires a whole other action that I imagine will have a much higher DC to improve

Now that I know more about it I'd kinda just rather make our current computers better…

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I'd like to point out once more that it's "niche uses" includes the creation of and maintenance of organic brains (which is something all humans use) so its got really strong branching off points and developments if you further pursue it as it lets you come at a lot of biology stuff from different angles. Computers can be reprogrammed, upgraded, improved and wiped and if you can do that to human brains with anything even resembling subtlety and nuance then you've got something incredibly powerful.

 

[jonasquinn]

I'd like to point out once more that it's "niche uses" includes the creation of and maintenance of organic brains (which is something all humans use) so its got really strong branching off points and developments if you further pursue it as it lets you come at a lot of biology stuff from different angles.

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That's fair, I suppose I'm looking at this subvote as an opportunity to improve our computers rather than an way to unlock another whole new field of actions that we may never end up doing

It doesn't help that it doesn't sound like wetware computers will ever be viable en masse and even if it is it would probably be a ridiculously high DC and quickly beaten

 

[Negation]

That's fair, I suppose I'm looking at this subvote as an opportunity to improve our computers rather than an way to unlock another whole new field of actions that we may never end up doing

It doesn't help that it doesn't sound like wetware computers will ever be viable en masse and even if it is it would probably be a ridiculously high DC and quickly beaten

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I treat it as a starting point. If we can integrate it with the Human/Plant hybridization formula and throw it at Pamela, can we just grow and breed ever improving plant based computers instead?

EDIT:-

I'm imagining an integration with the Atlantean Holo-book as well and if done right we can grow a "World Tree Library of Knowledge".

 

[jonasquinn]

I treat it as a starting point. If we can integrate it with the Human/Plant hybridization formula and throw it at Pamela, can we just grow and breed ever improving plant based computers instead?

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That theoretically might work but I imagine it would be a very long term project with extremely high DC's

Ultimately that's kinda my issue with it, we already have so much stuff to do that an option whose main benefit lies in researching it a lot further and unlocking even more things to do is of questionable use over just taking things that make our regular computers and technology better without needing to invest a ton of actions into it

EDIT: Though @King crimson I do have to ask, I know that the barebones, no pun intended, wetware computer is worse that what is on the market but how does it stand up against computers of a similar size?

Basically I suppose what I'm asking is is there realistically any chance they'll ever be as good to regular computers?

 

[King crimson]

EDIT: Though @King crimson I do have to ask, I know that the barebones, no pun intended, wetware computer is worse that what is on the market but how does it stand up against computers of a similar size?

Basically I suppose what I'm asking is is there realistically any chance they'll ever be as good to regular computers?

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General rule of thumb both is that the bigger a computer is the more powerful and better it is for its type. Making a conventional computer the same size as the wetware computer would only increase the disparity in quality. There certainly is a realistic chance they'll be as good as regular computers (and considering that the first mechanical computer constructed in 1946 was about 1,800 feet squared, a brand new type of computer the size of a filing cabinet that is several magnitudes of order better than early mechanical computers is unrealistically good). You just have to put in effort to make the wetware computer better than the mechanical computers people have already invested in making better.

Edit: I didn't think of it initially but wetware computers may end up being cheaper than mechanical/traditional computers. Generally to make a good computer from scratch you need a few thousand dollars worth of components. The cost of the components of the human body comes out at around 500 dollars. A computer is significantly smaller than a human body yet on average contains the same amount of gold. It might be cheaper to make biological computers in the grand scheme of things even if biological computers can't compute as powerful as mechanical ones.

 

[jonasquinn]

General rule of thumb both is that the bigger a computer is the more powerful and better it is for its type. Making a conventional computer the same size as the wetware computer would only increase the disparity in quality. There certainly is a realistic chance they'll be as good as regular computers (and considering that the first mechanical computer constructed in 1946 was about 1,800 feet squared, a brand new type of computer the size of a filing cabinet that is several magnitudes of order better than early mechanical computers is unrealistically good).

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I more meant comparing them to typical computers when they had to be of the same size but thank you

Though I'm also curious based on what you said earlier if they'll ever be able to be the same size as modern computers or if they're always going to be stuck as overly large and clunky

You just have to put in effort to make the wetware computer better than the mechanical computers people have already invested in making better.

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That's kind of the problem though, as far as I can tell wetware computers will never be competitive because even if we do put in all the work and effort of making one better than a mechanical one I imagine the DC for improving it will be significantly higher than that of a regular one

Which means that while one day we may briefly have a computer better than a normal one all a competitor would have to do is take one or two actions to improve theirs to be better and ir would be a huge undertaking on our part to even keep up with them

 

[King crimson]

I more meant comparing them to typical computers when they had to be of the same size but thank you

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I'll clarify my intent since you seemed to misunderstand it. A basic wetware computer is bigger than a conventional computer currently being sold in quest. A conventional computer the size of a basic wetware computer is better than a conventionally sized conventional computer. Therefore a conventional computer the same size as a basic wetware computer is better by a larger degree.

Granted this is not an inherent thing. Wetware and conventional computers can reach parity at some point.

Though I'm also curious based on what you said earlier if they'll ever be able to be the same size as modern computers or if they're always going to be stuck as overly large and clunky

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All nervous systems can be construed as simple wetware computers. Therefore it stands to reason that someday wetware computers could match that size and complexity. Something like Megaphragma mymaripenne suggests that you'll be able to make wetware computers smaller than 1/5th of a millimeter if you put enough effort into developing it. IRL as far as I know the world's smallest computer is 0.3 millimeters. This means that hypothetically speaking you'll be able to get just as small as a conventional computer.

Wetware computers can find their uses and they can be competitive with conventional computers but if you want to make something that's better at doing what conventional computers do, you're generally better off making a better conventional computer.

 

[Gumiho]

[X] [Plan] Red as Blood and Cold as Ice

 

[jonasquinn]

I'll clarify my intent since you seemed to misunderstand it. A basic wetware computer is bigger than a conventional computer currently being sold in quest. A conventional computer the size of a basic wetware computer is better than a conventionally sized conventional computer. Therefore a conventional computer the same size as a basic wetware computer is better by a larger degree.

Granted this is not an inherent thing. Wetware and conventional computers can reach parity at some point.

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Oh no I understood what you meant I was just clarifying that my initial question was in regards to comparing the basic wetware computer to what would have been its mechanical computer equivalent in age but you inadvertently answered that anyway

All nervous systems can be construed as simple wetware computers. Therefore it stands to reason that someday wetware computers could match that size and complexity. Something like Megaphragma mymaripenne suggests that you'll be able to make wetware computers smaller than 1/5th of a millimeter if you put enough effort into developing it. IRL as far as I know the world's smallest computer is 0.3 millimeters. This means that hypothetically speaking you'll be able to get just as small as a conventional computer.

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That's good to know

Wetware computers can find their uses and they can be competitive with conventional computers but if you want to make something that's better at doing what conventional computers do, you're generally better off making a better conventional computer.

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I'm really torn here, on the one hand I do appreciate how useful the wetware computers could theoretically be but at the same time it's opening up a whole new field of high DC actions that we might never do in order to help with other actions we might never do all while also giving up the opportunity to improve our regular computers at all

Sorry @drake_azathoth but I just don't think the wetware computers are worth it

[X] [Plan] Mechanical Over Wetware
-[] [Inch] Get no improvements to LexCorp tower's defenses but gain a large DC drop of 20 next turn
-[] [SCU] Enable LexCorp to easily access any metahuman awaiting transfer to a prison (5 points)
-[] [SCU] Allow LexCorp to plant spyware in the SCU headquarters (30 points)
-[] [SCU] Create an informal system to allow LexCorp to post "bounties" for certain metahumans (21 points)
-[] [SCU] Replace all vehicles used by the SCU with Kryptonite powered ones where possible (7 points)
-[] [SCU] Enable LexCorp to freely remove any evidence the SCU has from lock-up under the pretext of analysis (2 points)
-[] [Bill] Make it so that only the DOMA can approve of a sponsor in order to be able to legally sponsor a superhero (20 points)
-[] [Bill] Push against giving the president any special powers regarding superhuman sponsorship (20 points)
-[] [Bill] Allow superpowered criminals amnesty for non-heinous crimes if they can find a sponsor willing to draft them as soldiers or superheroes, and pay an indemnity to clear their name to be paid to the victims families (20 points)
-[] [Bill] Make it so that any costumed vigilante who operates without a sponsor is effectively treated as potential murderers and will be arrested on sight (20 points)
-[] [Bill] Push for the Bill to be completed as fast as possible (10 points)
-[] [Bill] Begin taxing superheroes and their merchandizing at a flat rate (6 points)
-[] [Demon] Meet with Talia and Ra's al Ghul to discuss alien invasions, Atlantis and long term alliances
-[] [Richter] Agree to create new combat capable aircraft or drones for General Richter in exchange for a lot of money and her tacit support in getting LexCorp more backing with the US military
-[] [Richter] Provide General Richter with blizzard blanket drones in exchange for General Richter's meteorological data
-[] [Costume] Caitlin Snow
Caitlin's powers necessitate that any costume designed for her use must be built around interacting with her powers. This means that the costume must hold up under extreme cold and that there must be at least one place for her to vent and draw heat from. However with this complication also comes an opportunity to design a costume that Caitlin can make use of and would be easier for her to wear in her day to day life than what she currently has.
--[] [Design] Cold Kryptonite suit (62 points)
The cold kryptonite suit is a compromise between power and comfort. Gauntlets, boots and a chest piece each with a kryptonite based heating system installed in them make up the bulk of costume and provide it with most of its weight. However Caitlin's head, shoulders and fingers are all exposed so that she may freely use her power and draw heat from the environment around her. This suit is essentially equivalent to walking around with multiple bombs strapped to her but one advantage it does have is that Caitlin can modify the energy being put into the kryptonite in her suit enabling her to ratchet up her power to be even more devastating for short periods of time. This costume is one Caitlin would be comfortable wearing and would let her effectively interact with others
-[ ] [Costume] Siobhan McDougal
--[ ] [Design] Skulls, Spikes, Light Armor and Leather (5 points)
This costume is one which appeals more to Siobhan's usual aesthetic. The black leather jacket with silver spikes, motorcycle pants, lace up combat boots and studded black fingerless gloves give this a unique and striking silhouette. The more punk aesthetic naturally pairs well with Siobhan's skull like face as the Silver Banshee and gives her a distinctive style and appeal. It's unlikely to be everyone's favorite design but it's one Siobhan likes and it could find its own invested audience. The additional armored plates subtly woven into the jacket and pants do give this look a bit of defense even if Siobhan's powers would be doing the majority of the heavy lifting in a serious fight.
-[] [35 Points] Reduce the cost of Pharmaceutical Lab
-[] [Comp] Stable simple AI (30 points)
-[] [Comp] Improved machine learning (27 points, can be taken repeatedly)
-[] [Comp] Cloud computing (19 points)
-[] [Comp] DNA spectrography program (17 points)
-[] [Comp] Improved arithmetic logic units (5 points, can be taken repeatedly)
-[] [Bone] Increased blood cell production (28 points)
-[] [Bone] Reduced throat complications (1 point)
-[] [Freeze] More compact grenades (7 points, can be taken repeatedly)
-[] [Freeze] Ease of constructions (3 points, can be taken repeatedly)
-[] [Freeze] Easier to throw grenades (16 points, can be taken repeatedly
-[] [Whale] Agree to not directly attack Tobias Whale's holdings if he agrees to never directly attack LexCorp's holdings
-[] [Brain] Agree to help the Brain gain temporary amnesty and a reduction of sentence for him and the Brotherhood of Evil in exchange for his aid in dealing with an alien invasion.

 

[drake_azathoth]

*Shrugs* I think you're being shortsighted, given we've invested in far less promising technologies pretty much just to pacify heroes but profited well, and as @Negation indicated, plant-animal computers could be especially economical and impressive and we also have the potential to come up with interfaces to control things like the Bone Formula directly. We just have too much invested in biotech and cybernetics not to grab for a technology that lets us leverage previously unconnected fields together.

Still, it's your vote and I wouldn't have made the changes you requested if I thought they were bad.

 

[jonasquinn]

*Shrugs* I think you're being shortsighted, given we've invested in far less promising technologies pretty much just to pacify heroes but profited well, and as @Negation indicated, plant-animal computers could be especially economical and impressive and we also have the potential to come up with interfaces to control things like the Bone Formula directly. We just have too much invested in biotech and cybernetics not to grab for a technology that lets us leverage previously unconnected fields together.

Still, it's your vote and I wouldn't have made the changes you requested if I thought they were bad.

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That's fair and I completely understand where you're coming from

Like I said it was a tough call for me to make but at the end of the day I think I was more looking to use the subvote to improve what we already have rather than unlock something new

EDIT: On an unrelated note I rewatched some old Teen Titans recently and it made me wonder what characters we might be able to get if we invested in Jump City, obviously the main draws are Raven and Starfire since that's where they should arrive on earth but there's also original villains like Thunder and Lighting, Mumbo and Fixit

Plus Carl and Mad Mod would probably get along well

@King crimson just to check you are mostly using the cartoon version of Teen Titans right?

 

[King crimson]

@King crimson just to check you are mostly using the cartoon version of Teen Titans right?

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Yes and no.

Robin obviously is a complicated example as he's Dick Grayson and Batman's sidekick first and foremost in the DCQU which makes him a weird case. Jinx also very obviously draws incredibly heavily from the Teen Titans show and other characters like Raven and Starfire heavily influenced by the shows depiction of them but we've also got weird cases where Mammoth kept his sister despite being largely similar to the cartoon version of the character. Jericho's way too old to be his cartoon equivalent, Deathstroke and Slade don't really match up one to one, the line up and characterization of both the Doom Patrol and the Brotherhood of Evil don't match up with the cartoons depiction of them. At the same time I use cartoon original characters like Daizo Uehara and Cinderblock pretty unaltered from their cartoon incarnations, placed Malchior in Gemworld and fused characters like Kitten Walker and Puppet King with existing DC comics characters. I'm also willing to use characters who never showed up in the cartoon and make them relevant to a storyline involving them.

Suffice to say I take a lot from the Teen Titans cartoon but I wouldn't consider it to be what I'm "mostly" using enough critical elements don't really match up. There's a very solid amount of inspiration but I wouldn't rely on the cartoon for a one to one guide.

EDIT: On an unrelated note I rewatched some old Teen Titans recently and it made me wonder what characters we might be able to get if we invested in Jump City, obviously the main draws are Raven and Starfire since that's where they should arrive on earth but there's also original villains like Thunder and Lighting, Mumbo and Fixit

Click to shrink...

Thunder and Lightning aren't actually cartoon originals as they're adaptations of Teen Titans with the real names of Gan and Tavis Williams who have been Thunder and Lightning for a while. That being said I like the cartoon versions a lot so they'll be heavily influenced by that depiction of the characters.

Mumbo appears pretty much as he is in the cartoon (ignoring ancillary media that has his hat be what drove him insane and turned his skin blue as that's removed from the characterization) and Fixit is also included as in the cartoon. There are other original villains like Overload, Kardiac, Mother Mae-Eye and more that are in the quest and may or may not be found in or near Jump City.

I can elaborate a bit more on my general ideas on individual villains if you want me to but that's for a separate post.

 

[Zale]

[X] [Plan] Red as Blood and Cold as Ice

Missing a couple days sets you back just a bit. Lots of interesting stuff. This vote just barely etches out Havoc's wetware vote for me, mostly came down to costume stuff. Although the stable simple AI is real tempting with jonas's vote too. Lots of good options around that computer vote.

Some thoughts on topics of discussion I've missed:
Deathstroke: Honestly I think most of the Deathstroke's runs have represented themes around the trauma he has suffered and the fucked up situation with his family decently well. Not the best all the time, but you can at least still see the influence of those themes. Once you get outside Deathstroke's comics, then you start to see larger divergence of the character's original themes.
Maxima: I would just add that if you, as a ruler, are willing to leave your planet for years in the DC galaxy, you don't really care for your people or you have already internally accepted that they are doomed anyways if you don't complete your mission.
Lois: I don't really hate or dislike her at all really. My mind drift's closer to annoyance when thinking of her in the context of the quest. Tbh there is no one I even really dislike. Would take a free chance to kill her though.
Being a super-villain: That is the title of this quest. I will be highly disappointed if we never get to do more obvious super-villainy shenanigans. Most of the quest feels like what if you took an actual ruthless narcissistic genius CEO with antisocial personality disorder from the real world and put him in DC. While effective, not nearly as entertaining as a Brain or Scarecrow super-villain play style is to me personally. But thats something that was chosen back in character creation and can never really be reconciled. However, still fun to be a long term planner that shapes the world of DC from on high while doing crazy super-villain chicanery less often.
Necromancy: That soul manipulation branch is super interesting. Which is a great coincidence since we may have the greatest expert on that style of necromancy sitting right here with us. Also calling on the spirits of the dead is great, so many lost inventions or crazy magics could possibly be recovered that way. Also, are there any legal protections for the spirits of the dead? Bodies I think so, but I sense an unprotected market with spirits.

 

[jonasquinn]

I can elaborate a bit more on my general ideas on individual villains if you want me to but that's for a separate post.

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I think I get the gist but that could be interesting if you feel like doing it

 

[King crimson]

So an update on my schedule for the week. Today I'm going to try to finish the "Helmetless Hoplite fanart" story and potentially get out a little apocryphal statement regarding the composition and characterization of the Teen Titans cartoons original villains (and some of their most memorable non-original ones as well). I think that I'll be closing the vote for this section tomorrow and getting the next update out on either Wednesday or Thursday depending on how long it takes me to update the character sheets as necessary. After that I want to try and sneak in a Last Days of Krypton omake and the last of the purchased Long Halloween omakes before the week closes

Lastly I do want to make an announcement regarding the "Tales of What Could have been" creative writing contest. I've extended the deadline for the contest to October 30th so that more people could win as we only have less than five potential candidates as of now. If there aren't more candidates in the contest, the contest will be scrapped and instead each of the entrants will receive rewards without regard to placing. For people interested in getting involved with the contest one of the potential prizes would have been the opportunity to look in on "alternate timelines" where thread decisions, dice rolls and other such things resulted in different outcomes. Of the available options are the "Wrong Lane" timeline (where Lois Lane ends up working for Lex Luthor while Lucy is Superman's closest ally and love interest), the "Fuck Batman" timeline (where the thread put in the effort and succeeded in adopting all of the Batgirls and making them into Luthors), the "Maximum Supervillain" timeline (where the thread went full mad scientist supervillain instead of businessman), the "Intergang Boss" timeline (where instead of coming into conflict with Intergang, the thread instead diplomatically seized control of them) and the "Wonderful Life" timeline (where instead of Steve Trevor and Director Bones being Diana's gateway into the world of man it was Lex Luthor instead) amongst others. I encourage people to give the contest a shot and try their hand at writing something.

 

[Lord Ultimus]

How many candidates should there be for the contest to not be scrapped?

 

[King crimson]

How many candidates should there be for the contest to not be scrapped?

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I personally feel like five candidates is a reasonable number. Even if the contest does get scrapped the people who do participate will get something no matter what. Keep in mind though that this is authors and not entries as even if there are twenty entries but they're only written by 4 people I'm going to scrap the contest regardless.

 

[Lord Ultimus]

How many candidates do we have right now?

 

[King crimson]

How many candidates do we have right now?

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Last I checked there were only three, Alex Sol, Kir the Wizard and Swedish15.

 

[King crimson]

And now I have completed this piece which is tied to the "Helmetless Hoplite Circe" fanart. I'm not the happiest with it as I could have stretched out the transformation sequence a little bit longer to make the main character's mental alteration a little less abrupt and I do think the outfit could be emphasized a little more but I think the overall story is pretty solid and entertaining and I need to not be a perfectionist with my own writing. It shows a pretty unique side of Circe and the two little twists regarding parts of the outfit in the original image (the spear and the helmet) are pretty neat in my opinion. I'm rather curious as to what people think of the final result of this omake. I think this is a fun short piece that doesn't outstay its welcome even though it could have very quickly devolved into gratuitous gore and body horror and my favorite part of the piece is that it shows the absolute folly of solely relying on moly to defeat Circe while also at the same time making Odysseus more impressive with his feat of defeating and outsmarting Circe. The original twist of the story (where Circe was going to turn the main character into a tortoise in order to grant him a long and prosperous life) was scrapped but I do think that the evolution of the narrative to what it currently is, is a lot more interesting by comparison. Also for people unaware of the term pilium is a type of Roman spear. Circe doesn't actually have a pilium in this story but as the main character is an ancient Roman he incorrectly calls her spear a pilium so the two terms are interchangeable in this story if not in real life. Hope you all enjoy.

Monsters on Distant Shores
Quintus Cluntius Malchus
Quintus was a resolute and pious man. He'd learned all of the gods and goddesses of the world and sought to pay tribute to them as only was proper as a man of Rome. However at the same time Quintus was ambitious. His family was low on funds and it was unlikely that their rivals would let up anytime soon. As such in order to save his family Quintus was forced to embark on a risky and dangerous mission.

He'd hired a crew he could barely trust and set sail for Aeaea in order to find the legendary Circe and gain her help in saving his family. It wasn't an easy voyage and the journey was fraught with peril but eventually he made it to Circe's home. The island was teeming with wild boars, leopards and all manners of beast that Quintus had never seen before. And so he came before the goddess and prepared to beg his case and to earn her favor in order to save his family.

Circe's splendor nearly overwhelmed him when he first laid eyes on her, for she was for more beautiful and enchanting than any mortal woman but Quintus had a task to complete and so he focused ever onwards. He asked the goddess to grant him a boon that would enable him to ensure his family flourished. The goddess appeared to weigh his offer before ultimately making her decision.

Circe agreed to grant his request but before she could do so she required him to burn all the moly he could find, in order to ensure that her magic could work at full potency. Quintus naturally agreed to this deal and he and his men set off on a voyage that would take them years to accomplish. He spent nearly half a decade travelling the breadth and depth of the known world, burning and destroying any trace of moly that he could find. Now after five long years he could finally return and claim his prize. His family would be saved and the goddess Circe would grant his request. As the island came into view Quintus couldn't help but smile.

As he disembarked from his ship, it suddenly came into relief just how many men he had lost on his quest. Travelling the world destroying all sources of moly did not make you many friends and it certainly didn't help keep people loyal to your cause. Mutinies had abounded and Quintus had been forced to fight numerous individuals. Still the core of his main had remained intact and though he was forced to rely on just a skeleton crew to keep things working he still managed to get things done. His journey was almost at an end.

As Quintus trudged up towards the building in which the goddess Circe resided, he passed numerous beasts that all balefully glared at him but didn't act. Quintus was safe and he was confident in knowing that the goddess protected him even now. He made his way past the defenses and slowly arrived before the goddess herself.

Circe was as radiant and resplendent as only a goddess could be. More beautiful and regal than any mortal woman could be and at the same time all the more terrifying for it. Atop her brow rested a crown with curled horns like that of a ram that made her long hair all the more notable in its appearance. The purple and gold armored tunic she wore, that seemed to be covering a more traditional armor immediately threw into sharp relief that this was not a normal woman. In one hand she had a long golden pilium and in the other she held a golden helmet in the spartan style which was adorned with a bright red plume. As Quintus got on one knee and waited for the goddess to acknowledge the completion of his mission he noticed a large boar move towards the goddess.

"Leave me Melegros" The goddess lazily drawled her regal bearing making what should have been a rude uncouth dismissal feel almost tantalizing and enticing as though this was some form of intimacy "And take your helmet with you"

The boar quickly grabbed the helmet and trotted off out of sight. Quintus remained silent not wanting to draw any of Circe's ire.

"So have you completed your task?" the goddess asked as she shifted her bearing flowing forward like water as she stepped closer to Quintus, her inhuman majesty almost unbearably enticing and distracting "You've come to seek your rightful reward?"

"I've burned down all the moly I could find whilst travelling the known world for many years" Quintus proclaimed, not letting his unease slip into his voice. The gods were capricious after all and though they were great, treating them as though they owed you something was not a good way to get things done. It would only result in tragedy if he angered Circe now.

"Tell me Quintus, do you think yourself smarter than a goddess? Did you honestly believe you could trick me and lie to me?" Circe smugly stated grinning menacingly all the while. Quintus felt terror grow within him. He had come too far for things to go wrong now and worst of all he had no idea what Circe was talking about.

"I humbly apologize great Circe but I have never attempted to deceive you. If I have failed it is not due to arrogantly believing myself to be able to outwit you, but rather due to my own inability to match you" Quintus desperately reflected.

Circe appeared to pause at this pursing her lips for a bit before she smiled.

"You are an amusing fool and a useful one at that. A man who knows his place beneath me and is willing to serve is still useful to me. Rejoice Quintus for you shall still be given the opportunity to earn your hearts desire whilst in my service." Circe sultrily proclaimed "Now would you mind joining me for a walk in my garden so I may reveal to you where you've fallen short?"

Quintus only had one possible response to this question.

"Of course my lady. I live to serve you and I will not waste this opportunity to make up for my failures and properly earn your favor" Quintus declared. Circe smiled a monstrous queenly smile and beckoned him to follow her.

They walked into Circe's garden where an endless assortment of beasts lounged, glaring at the two of them in abject helpless anger. Circe then brought him over to a fountain whose waters ran clear as a mirror. The goddess waved her hand over the fountain and suddenly Quintus saw the waters ripple and display that his men had hidden away moly to use on themselves so that they could extort the goddess much like Odysseus once had.

"You understand what I am asking of you?" Circe taunted with an aura of cold detached amusement. Quintus nodded his head. He would pay this price to save his family. Circe's grin widened as she savored her victory and the air shimmered around them.

Circe's magic promptly transported the two of them to the beach where his men swiftly gathered around them, eyes agog at being able to see the beautiful goddess.

"Quintus!" His second in command cheerfully stated unaware or uncaring of what he'd forced Quintus to do "I take it you've managed to get the witch to agree to your deal? Me and the boys had a few requests of our own we'd like to make"

"How droll" Circe bluntly stated as Quintus steadied himself and promised not to weep for the men he'd trusted with his life for many years "A fool hears a story and he thinks himself clever for copying a better man"

"I might not be Odysseus but so long as I have moly, like the great hero of the past I am immune to your magics!" Quintus' second in command boldly declared, unaware that these were to be his last word.

In an instant Circe almost casually whirled around her pilium and launched it into the man with enough force to pierce him full through and send him hurtling onto the beach. Circe promptly used magic to create another pilium which she lazily twirled before grinning beatifically.

"I don't need use magic on you to kill you" she stated, utterly secure in her own power "After all you're no Odysseus"

The other men of Quintus' crew all began yelling and readying themselves for combat drawing their weapons. Circe remained dryly amused as Quintus readied himself for the order he knew was coming.

"Kill them all Quintus and redeem yourself for your failure" She commanded imperiously. Quintus drew his sword and prepared himself for the butchery of men he had trusted with his life and grown close to. As the battle raged on and Quintus continued to bury his feelings in order to do what needed to be done, it slowly grew easier and easier to massacre them.

He grew stronger and faster and more powerful than he ever had before. He killed and killed and killed and killed and as he completed his transformation into a boar-like bestial monster, Quintus no longer found himself bogged down by hesitation of mercy or compassion. He had to do as his goddess commanded for he was naught but her loyal servant.

With the dirty work done Quintus promptly reported back to Circe for she was the one in charge. He didn't bother to look at his transformed visage for that didn't matter, all that mattered was doing as Circe commanded.

"You're a good deal more useful than your predecessor was, Melegros never could fully devote himself to his superior" Circe calmly spoke truth. Quintus didn't need to comment for it wasn't his place to comment on such matters.

"I'll let you collect your family so that they too can serve me. They'll be able to survive and prosper as promised. I won't throw away such useful bestiamorphs" Circe gloriously informed Quintus of his new mission for which he felt ever so grateful "And then you can all serve me and fulfill the tasks which I need you to do"

Quintus promptly grunted in assent, unable to properly speak anymore, not that it bothered him for now his only purpose was to serve the goddess. Quintus promptly prepared himself to return home to collect the rest of his family.

Circe grinned as she handed him the pilium with which he would use to slay her enemies now and forevermore.