Dust Devils

Discussion in 'Approved' started by Yz2, Aug 1, 2022.

  1. Yz2

    Yz2 Galactic Enforcer Staff Member Community Monitor Gold Donator

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    Name: Dust Devils, Zephyr Incarnate
    Description:

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    “Aim for the eye, habibi.”

    Dust Devils are composed of whirling sand, constantly in rotation around a core. Regardless of shape, a Dust Devil has a single ‘eye’ on its body where the core is. Their bodies become less and less defined near the edges, as they don’t have any sort of shell to contain their debris. It’s only kept in shape by the field. They’re able to move the core around, and their AI can perform machine learning and corrections to the field, allowing them to overcome obstacles by flowing around them.

    The ZPEM field generated around the core flows in a specific pattern, creating a closed loop. The sand flows across the body in a singular direction, before looping back to the core like a circulatory system. The most efficient shape is a simple tornado pattern, but that’s boring as fuck, which is why many are given vaguely humanoid or bestial forms.

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    A Dust Devil in a resting state, standing guard over its controller. It can fly into a deadly frenzy as soon as it’s given the order, losing much of its mass in the process.

    When not on the attack, they’re capable of transforming the ZPEM field into one that merely contains the sand within it, saving power as they move themselves around. Their outlines become far more solid when this happens. This is an easy gauge of their current state of agitation, though it should never be taken for granted, as many Dust Devils only attack upon coming into proximity of a trespasser.

    Behavior: Dust Devils are typically used as attack-dogs or guardians. They hunt down foes in small groups, if the former, and many abandoned Devils remain as protectors of ruins or buried treasure. From afar, they can pick up debris and light objects to launch at high-speeds. Up close is where they excel, however. They kill by flowing straight into the space that an enemy occupies, rapidly sandblasting them or choking them.

    A Devil devoid of orders tends to wander aimlessly, and may end up being attracted to existing groups for company. They don’t interact with each other in the wild, but those under the same banner may communicate to each other through their AI cores.

    Tamability: Dust Devils come pre-programmed. Even if they end up lost in the desert, their loyalties remain, typically causing them to be hostile to anyone not associated with their masters. May potentially be tamed if the AI core is modified, or if granted one as a gift.

    Where is it found?: The Djarus layer of the Undercrypt.

    Rarity: Uncommon in Djarus, can most often be found clustered near Sandstorms.

    Diet/Method of gaining nutrients and energy: Autotrophic, their own generators and nanomachines keep them powered.

    Products?: Dust Devils are difficult to harvest from, as the only component of their body is the AI core, and disabling it typically involves destroying the core. Their sand is worthless, unless one has specifically loaded it with valuable materials.

    Reproduction: Like many of the other golems and elementals of the Undercrypt, Dust-Devils are artificial creations that are prevalent enough to be catalogued as an entity. Several groups know how to create them, such as Dune Barons, Sandsmiths of the Eternal Legion, and other figures with long-reaching history.

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    Size: May vary in size, from tiny sprites to colossal humanoids. The largest colonies of them take the form of entire sandstorm fronts, appearing more like living meteorological phenomena than a creature or construct.

    Weight: Dust Devils are easier to describe with mass than weight. They’re able to draw large amounts of sand into them, and as long as it’s circulating within the field, the more mass it has. Their true weight is no more than their AI core, which is typically just large and heavy enough to contain ZPEM apparatus and weak AI software. A particularly large core may hint at a Dust Devil having higher intellect, or being capable of whipping up a truly fearsome amount of sand at once.

    Lifespan: Due to the constant manipulation of grain-solids using their ZPEM fields, Dust Devils consume more energy than their counterparts. Most live up to a century, before dissolving and going inert. They may survive longer through powering down and entering a hibernation, though like all electronics, can end up corrupted and erratic if left in stasis for too long.

    Abilities:
    Due to being composed of grain-like materials moving at high speeds, Dust Devils are able to rapidly abrade surfaces. This is devastating against flesh, and if somebody is fully trapped within one’s field, it’s only a matter of time until their armour degrades enough to let the sand in. This process is similar to Hypersonic Abrasion, but they’re incapable of reaching the same velocities as those specialized devices.

    Dust Devils are able to integrate more than just sand, as long as the mass of the grains are roughly equivalent. If someone were to dump a bag of powdered Rubium into one, for example, it would become far more deadly, but its field would shrink in size due to 100g of Rubium being heavier than 100g of sand . P
    articularly heavy objects cannot be properly integrated, and will be expelled.
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    Using their fields, they’re able to suck in small objects and blast them out of a designated exit point. With this method, they can make flung rocks hurt far more. Battling one in a pebble-strewn field is sure to result in everyone present getting pelted by high-velocity debris.

    Can achieve high speeds and chase down targets. Difficult to outrun, especially for an adventurer burdened by equipment.


    Flaws:
    EMPs cause them to collapse completely. If they were moving at high speeds, their AI core maintains that momentum while shut down, potentially causing them to be flung away. They’re stuck in this state for a turn, which may provide the opportunity to destroy or capture the core.

    Their weak-spot is always visible, though shooting it in motion may not always be easy, and projectiles with low mass or speed behind them may just be redirected by the field.

    Kinetic blasts such as that of an air cannon or telekinesis can blow away large portions of sand. If this happens, they need to reintegrate with nearby debris before they can function at peak efficiency again.

    Plasma or other means of glassing can cause major disruptions in the field. While the cores aren’t prone to overheating, due to being made to put up with the constant heat of the Sleeping Sun, sudden bursts of plasma may entrap the core in a shell of glass, cutting off the field or coating it in molten slag.

    The sand is controlled by generating a field that sucks in material. Individual grains aren’t specifically being controlled. If one has the means to manipulate sand directly, they’d be capable of paralyzing a Dust Devil by holding it still. Dune Barons who have control over sand can capture them rather easily, provided the Devils are of appropriate size.


    Other: When enough Dust Devils come into contact, they may end up getting drawn into each others’ rotational force, and combine into one. This is an uncommon occurrence, but tends to cause a domino effect, resulting in colossal sandstorms entirely consisting of Devils. These living sandstorms are major hazards in certain parts of Djarus, and their physical instability may make it difficult for even their masters to approach and give them new orders.

    ((As these are an Undercrypt creature, but I'm not a loremaster, requesting that one be the person to grade it, or Second the app after to correct potential Lore errors)
     
  2. zecon125

    zecon125 Lizzer Staff Member Moderator Bronze Donator

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    Pass.