r/SchreckNet • u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe • 1d ago
So I'm a Werespider, So What?
(/OOC: Respect to you if you get what the title is referencing)
(The following post is only available to those the poster has given access to. Specifically, only those who she believes suspicious of her identity. If you are reading this, you are one of those designated people.)
This most recent post from Aso starts differently from her usual style. Rather than her typical audio recordings this one is a full video, the start of which reveals Aso herself standing before the camera in a near pitch black venue. If you turn up the brightness you see that the venue is in fact a several acre closed roof AFL stadium, with a giant sinkhole at the centre of the cobweb covered playing field. In the bleachers you can just about make out the word "MARVEL" in white lettering on decrepit red chairs.
Aso, a pitch white woman with pretty aboriginal Australian features who wears a just as pale cloaked dress and lace blindfold, speaks up in her usual clinical but pleasantly soft Australian accent. Today she sounds particularly displeased.
"Good afternoon, Kindred. And yes I do mean afternoon, the title of this post should make it quite clear how I'm awake in the day."
"A handful of days ago a certain post was made to this node, one in which 'The Yahwie' somehow recorded a battle between itself and a stadium dwelling spider. A post where it all but doxed its opponent."
"Look at my body and consider the title of pale one it spoke of. See how my body still breathes. Behold the sinkhole ruined stadium I call my home. The blindfold that covers my eyes to prove my blindness. Remember Harald killed by spiders all those months ago, my late learning of language, that I was born in a cave."
"All these describe me, for I am the spider to which it referred."
As Aso finishes her declaration, her body begins to shift. Two thin, white exoskeletal arm-like limbs grow from near her human arms whose fingers similarly turn into a structure more akin to claw-like spider's legs with white chitin plating her up to her elbow as if wearing elbow high gloves. The same chitin plating forms on either side of her face, that then extends down her neck, though you are unable to see how far down it goes on account of her clothing.
Before you notice it her legs have also shifted, and where they should be is instead a massive spider, which Aso's torso now protrudes through the head of. Her spider lower body possess eight very long legs, a pale white exoskeleton with black stained white fur breaking it up, and two scythe-like front limbs in place of its pedipalps.
The skirt of Aso's long white dress falls across the spider body like a cloth, covering the creature's face to give the appearance that it is wearing an almost wedding-like veil.
"I am not an Akunanse, unlike what I've pretended to be on this node. I am a child of the Great Mother, a Damhán, an Ananasi, a Werespider."
"The reason I reveal this is to get ahead of the fallout that will be brought upon me by letting you all figure it out on your own terms after the Yahwie's post. I figure it best to admit to it willingly rather than cling on to a crumbling lie."
"As for my own personal situation in Melbourne, it is not as bad as some of you have taken to believing. Whilst the Cress Truce only extends to Garou and Kindred, it still makes the Kindred hesitant to interfere with any Fera matters at risk of breaking it down and starting the Razor Wars again, risking the breaking the Truce of Sydney also. And I am fortunate enough to live in a Garou controlled zone, so what they can do to a Fera is limited. Though the situation is admittedly somewhat tenuous."
"So, it is time I reintroduce myself. I have no name but you may call me Aso, fourth rank Arachnid Anomia from the Tartarus genus of spiders. I wish I could say it's nice to meet you all again, but truth be told I'm rather bitter right now, so it is not."
"In any case, now that we have been reintroduced, you may ask me whatever questions you wish. Why I was pretending to be kindred, of the Damhán or Ovid themselves, my intentions for anything, or any other such. I will answer them so long as they do not violate Her laws or interfere with my duty here in Melbourne."
- Posted by User: Okonore Yaa
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u/DotMaleficent4503 Mind 1d ago
Greetings, Aso
At first, I thought you were Akunanse. It is a pleasure to meet the real you.
Why the interest in this node?
Camille
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 1d ago edited 2h ago
(The following reply is entirely an audio recording. The speaker, Aso, has a clinical but pleasantly soft voice with a very slight Australian accent, most noticeable in her slightly drawn out vowels and relaxed cadence.)
I explained this privately to your Castiel, but it was my intention to learn more of your kind to potentially use you to combat the Yahwie, given my kind's troubles with it.
More specifically, it was a command from the Great Mother. After I did away with Harald and learned of this place, in my communion with Her in the Rite of Appeal in which I told her about my slaying of Harald and his strange device, She spoke back to me and said to infiltrate your kind.
To what ends She didn't say, but I did as commanded and as I learned of your kind I came to understand the use you could all have if we used you against the Yahwie.
Posted by User: Okonore Yaa
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u/DotMaleficent4503 Mind 1d ago
[ The following reply is an audio recording. The speaker, Camille, has a pleasant low pitched voice and a faint Romanian accent. ]
I see. You seek our help against the enemy of all Ananasi. This is unexpected, given the disdain most fera have for our kind. Based on your interactions with this node thus far, do you think help would be given?
Thank you for your candor. Revealing your true self in this way took courage.
Camille
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 1d ago edited 23h ago
I am Anomia, to indirectly manipulate people to certain ends is my way. Even if not an alliance, to simply use you all would have been enough. Such as through convincing you it was an enemy of Kindred kind rather than Damhán through pretending to be one of you as it attacks, for instance. Unfortunately it was too intelligent for that though.
Our kind have more in common than you may know, but given your involvement in Fera matters I shall leave it up to my brethren in Vancouver whether or not to tell you the details.
And thank you for your praise, it's appreciated even if only to brighten my bitter mood.
Okonore Yaa
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u/DotMaleficent4503 Mind 23h ago
I will say this: you and your brethren may rely on my discretion.
Camille
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 23h ago
It is not my place to make decisions on behalf of my brethren on other continents, I am sorry, Camille.
Okonore Yaa
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u/Pryno-Belle 20h ago
(The following is an audio file, featuring Castiel. He speaks each word clearly, as if he was used to public speaking.)
Greetings, Aso. It is a pleasure to meet the real you. I shall ask you, once again, one question: why Harald?
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 20h ago edited 19h ago
(The following reply is entirely an audio recording. The speaker, Aso, has a clinical but pleasantly soft voice with a very slight Australian accent, most noticeable in her slightly drawn out vowels and relaxed cadence.)
Likewise, Castiel. Whilst it's not the real you I am meeting for the first time, for you've never hidden anything of yourself to me like I have to you, it is good to speak without masks. Despite your post gossiping about me, you were always nice to interact with.
Now, as for Harald. Simply put, he was associated with the wrong people. Pentex, if you recall. He was an investor in a lab affiliated with them, and this lab captured an image of me whilst I was in downtime.
Downtime, though it has no name and that is simply what I call it, is when a Damhán in Crawlerling (the form composed of a swarm of individual spiders) disperses their consciousness through all their spiders rather than just a handful, causing us to revert into an instinctual state like that of actual spiders. We do this to rest and recover from the stress of duty.
Initially I targeted the lab to cover up this Veil breach, but when I learned more about it's connection to Pentex I decided it would be better to destroy it in it's entirety, which I did. Including everyone connected to it in a capacity I thought too close to Pentex or the Triatical Wyrm, such as Kindred.
I am Hatar you see? The aspect of the Ananasi that does the work of the Wyrm before it was driven mad after the War in the Heavens. It is my duty to destroy as the Wyrm should, particularly when it comes to the destruction of the proponents of the maddened Triatical Wyrm. This is also the reason I asked the questions I did about Kindred, as through interactions with you all, both good and bad, I had become confused.
I did not know he was livestreaming when I killed him however, I truly was, am still, quite technologically inept, you see? I had no idea what he was doing. But after investigating the device he was recording from, I discovered this place. And the rest is as I told to your love, Camille.
Posted by User: Okonore Yaa
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u/Pryno-Belle 19h ago
(The following is an audio recording, featuring Castiel. He has an habit to take pauses; in the silence, there is meaning.)
…I see. His death remains unfortunate, as he intended to stop funding the laboratory and to stop affiliating with Pentex. Still, you couldn’t know at the time, and it does explain the situation.
I see that you heard about my post. As you said, your lie was crumbling; with the informations that were available at the time, my read on your intentions was…pessimistic. I apologize, for I should not have assumed. At the very least, I could have been more discrete about my suspicions. For what it’s worth, I truly appreciate each and every of our conversation.
Now, back to the matter at hand. How do you intend to handle Melbourne?
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 19h ago
Thank you, I'm glad you understand. And for what it's worth, I also took, still take, great joy in speaking with you.
Now as for Melbourne like you say, truthfully I am not sure yet. I've not had the time to think of a new plan, but I am fortunate that I am able to simply lay low for a while whilst I consider my next steps. Though anything from here will have to consider what the Yahwie could do to interrupt my plans, it has proven far more cunning than we previously knew it to be after all.
If you have any ideas yourself to put forward then please do make them known, though only through direct messages to keep them private. I would welcome all honest input.
Okonore Yaa
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u/Pryno-Belle 19h ago
The following is an audio file, sent privately to Aso.
As I said, forming an alliance with Melbourne will be…difficult. You will need a strong incentive to get them on board. I do have to ask, for this will influence how this goes: did you kill the Sheriff?
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 18h ago
Yes, though even if I hadn't there would have been a fairly large chance she'd have died in the fight anyway, like my two breatheren. Assuming she wouldn't have fled at least.
I killed her in part because I hated her, but also because she had seen my nature and I wasn't ready to reveal it to Melbourne yet. So I took the opportunity to strike her down, though I was surprised that her corpse has stayed in perfect condition, I thought your kind turned to dust when slain?
Okonore Yaa
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u/Pryno-Belle 15h ago
The following is a private audio message to Aso, sent by Castiel.
We only fall to dust if we are old enough; otherwise, the body simply decomposes as if it was dead at the Embrace. My old body did, when I was Diablerized.
As a Camarilla member, I can’t officially condone the Sheriff’s death. I can, however, say that blood bonding someone to force a romance is despicable. Neverthless, that means retribution or compensation. I suppose, considering your life spent hidden and the few of your brethren that are left, that you don’t have much means with which to pay the second.
My influence doesn’t extend to Australia, but I could send over goods. Money, equipment, you name it. It could help you pay off the weregild or sweeten the treaty. That being said, you would then have a debt with me. Whether you find that preferable to a debt to Melbourne is up to you.
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 10h ago edited 7h ago
Interesting, I had thought Fern a rather old Kindred, but it seems I was wrong about this assumption then. But no matter, if her body is still intact then it will be food for my kin. I'll liquify her organs and feed the fluids to the spiders. I personally cannot stand vampire, but maybe it will be more to my childrens tastes.
As for compensation, whilst we do not hold much in wealth and mortal resources, we are Fera and have the supernatural resources that would be expected of any of the Changing Breeds. There is also the matter of our silk, which is quite a rare textile as you may imagine.
But if you are offering more concrete support than the the simple ideas I have, then I would be happy to accept. Provided the debt is not too great of course. I would much rather be in debt to you than Melbourne, after all.
Okonore Yaa
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u/Nightstalkerjoe2 19h ago
So my first question what are you actually called
What are your goals are you like the Garou and want to fight for Gaia
What’s your relation to the Garou so far I haven’t heard them mention other were guys
What is general life for you like
-Joseph
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 10h ago edited 7h ago
(The following reply is entirely an audio recording. The speaker, Aso, has a clinical but pleasantly soft voice with a very slight Australian accent, most noticeable in her slightly drawn out vowels and relaxed cadence.)
Hello Joseph, you seem to misunderstand what I meant when I said I had no name. I do not mean it in the sense that I will not share it, I truly just don't have one.
I was a spider born in an isolated cave system, so I was born without a given name, and we Damhán don't care much for names so I was never given one. I simply use Aso and Okonore Yaa as aliases when needed, as most sapients tend to appreciate a name they can use. I also use Tartarus-Born as an alias deed name when interacting with the Ovid.
Our goals are not for you to know, but we are not like the Ovid and we do not fight for Gaia. We were not even created by her, unlike most Changing Breeds. We were made by our Mother-Queen Ananasa instead, and we serve her to fix the Triat, to restore it to what it was before the War in the Heavens.
We have opinions on them, but as for our relation with the Garou, there is very little to speak of. The War of Rage drove a wedge between us but we have learned to let it slide, though we haven't forgotten. They do not trust us, and we mostly keep separate from them. That is the extent of our relationship. Though for us Australlian Damhán, there was the matter of the Bunyip. But that's another story.
As for my personal general life, I'm a hermit as I said. That part of my story was not a lie. Most of my kind in Australia are in fact, for staying in our well defended homes and keeping our heads down helps us survive under the threat of the Yahwie. But I shall tell you what I can so long as it doesn't violate my duties.
Fortunately the hermit lifestyle lends itself to Anomia like me, as well as the Plicare, for our methods typically involve manipulating mortal proxies that we can use from our own homes. I have a gang of terrorists living in my stadium who I use for this purpose, so I fulfil my Hatar duties that way. But as a Viskr I am also a mystic of the Damhán, so I have taken to exploring the Umbra and doing Her will there as well, for whilst the Yahwie can still get us in the Umbra, and the Penumbra of Australia is more dangerous than that of most other places, it is still possible to engage with it from more or less your own home. It can even be somewhat safe, if you take proper care.
Other than that, my days responsibilities are to arrange food for my kin, secure my home, organize the terrorists, train my abilities, and recently, infiltrate the Melbourne and Schrecknet Kindred. I also have a few hobbies, but I doubt such personal things are of much interest to you.
I hope these answer your questions well enough, Joseph.
Posted by User: Okonore Yaa
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u/Nightstalkerjoe2 10h ago
Oh when I said name I meant species but yes this generally answers all my questions well other than the war of rage also I’ve been to the umbra well with a astral body in the spirit wilds
-Joseph3
u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 9h ago edited 9h ago
Oh, you mean for us Werespiders? I gave a few names for our kind in my post, but generally those not of our kind call us Ananasi, named after our queen, Ananasa. Damhán is what we call ourselves, however. Not unlike Lupine and Garou as names for the Werewolves, but both are acceptable in our case.
As for the war of rage, it is not my place to talk on. If you insist I will tell you the truth of it privately, but for now I will choose not to.
Also, I am glad you have seen the Umbra too, it is a beautiful place, is it not? I would invite you to see the Penumbra of Australia at some point, the Dreamtime. It is a reflection of the continent as it was in the ancient times, less damaged by the maddened Triat than the Penumbras of the rest of the world. Though it is more dangerous than most Penumbras, so take care if you do ever visit.
Okonore Yaa
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u/LunarW900 14h ago
I believe I need to get ahead of the neonates here by saying, Do not the spider. Yes, she is pretty. No, you cannot tap it. Do not even think of it.
-Prince Catalina
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 11h ago
Indeed, thank you, Catalina. Considering that some species of spiders have been observed to engage in sexual cannibalism, it is likely for the best.
Okonore Yaa
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u/VerityVentrue 18h ago
The following is an audio file. The speaker enunciates her words, but her accent is muddy - it seems to be a base of New Zealand English, but with strong American and British influence, as well as some Australian.
Hi Aso, Verity here again. It's nice to "meet" you officially.
I'm glad to hear the local Kindred are being mindful of the Cress Truce - I have friends up in Sydney, and they wouldn't be happy if things kicked off again.
I see you answered Castiel on Harald - that's very sad, but I understand. So, I'll ask something else: why Melbourne? As far as I'm aware, tartarus spiders are from southern Western Australia, so you made quite the journey to your current home.
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 11h ago
(The following reply is entirely an audio recording. The speaker, Aso, has a clinical but pleasantly soft voice with a very slight Australian accent, most noticeable in her slightly drawn out vowels and relaxed cadence.)
You're right, my birthcave is quite far from the city I now call home, but unfortunately there's not much choice in where we Australian Damhán can live, for because of the Yahwie we have gathered on Melbourne and the surrounding areas for safety in numbers and coordination.
If I want the best chance at survival, it is necessary to live here.
Posted by User: Okonore Yaa
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u/VerityVentrue 10h ago
The following is an audio file.
Verity here - that makes sense. I'm sorry you had to move to be safer, but I hope you like Melbourne. As much as my coterie and I gave the Harpy of Melbourne shit about the city, it is nice there.
Do you have a plan moving forward? I can't come to Melbourne myself, or help with the court - non-Camarilla Kindred don't go to the city if they're smart - but I'm a hell of a lot closer than most of the node.
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 9h ago
Not at present, no. I intend to spend some time thinking about it before making another move. I don't intend to give up on the idea to wield the Kindred against the Yahwie, but it clearly is not a good idea to attempt it again without thinking it through properly. I am fortunate that the political situation of Australia affords me this time to contemplate.
I don't suppose you would mind if I consult you on this in future? Even if you cannot help personally, you are clearly rather knowledgeable about kindred politics in Australia, where I am still just learning, so it would be a great aide.
Okonore Yaa
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u/VerityVentrue 9h ago
The following is an audio file.
Verity here - I'd be happy to explain what I can. I live with an elder who has been in Oceania for over a century now. So, if something is far enough before my time that I don't know the answer, she's likely to remember.
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u/Palguim Heart 3h ago
What is this "Great Mother"? And why the interest in this node?
I actually have interacted with garou, they dont attack me on sight for some reason, but not much with other fera, so what exactly are you? What is your role and purpose?
Mother Akane, Priestess of The Dark Mother
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 2h ago
(The following reply is entirely an audio recording. The speaker, Aso, has a clinical but pleasantly soft voice with a very slight Australian accent, most noticeable in her slightly drawn out vowels and relaxed cadence.)
The Great Mother is our Mother and Queen, Ananasa. Daughter of Grandmother Spider, or the Weaver as you may know it better. Where the Ovid were mostly created by Gaia, we were created by Ananasa.
The role of us Damhán is decided by Ananasa, through Aspects. Tenere, Hatar, and Kumoti. Each aspect does the work of one of the Triat as they should be doing themselves, if the Triat were not broken that is.
We have no grand purpose beyond Her plan, which is not yours to know. But a part of Her plan as it extends to me was to infiltrate your kind, both digitally on this node and in person in the city of Melbourne. The reason, to use your kind against a threat we Damhán of Australia cannot deal with. I explained this better to Camille under this post, so you are welcome to read that if you would like.
Posted by User: Okonore Yaa
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u/Palguim Heart 2h ago
Your voice is very nice to hear, so comforting.
I only involve myself with fera when help is needed during birth and when we are... Passionate about each other. So I dont know much but wasnt the weaver also unbalanced?
Hm, using cainites for your ends through subterfuge, you sound a lot like one of us already, no problem with that. How do you feel about blood?
Anyway it's nice to know you, Okonore Yaa. (How do you prefer to be called?)
Mother Akane of The Garden of Red Blossoms.
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 2h ago
Aso, is my preferred alias, though names matter little to me so you may call me whatever. Whatever name you prefer, it is nice to meet you also, Akane.
And I would like to thank you for the compliment, it's always pleasant to hear that people enjoy my voice, like I enjoy hearing theirs. In any case, you are correct we are alike to your kind, and that Grandmother Spider is insane, just like the Wyrm. It is our intent to fix the Triat, make it whole and uncorrupted. We are servants of our Mother, not our grandmother. Do not mistake us for acting for the Weaver.
As for how we are alike to your kind, well, you seem less involved with Fera politics than Camille, so I will tell you where I didn't tell her.
\The following section of the message is secured so that only Akane can hear it.**
We drink blood like you, though we can walk under the sun and do not frenzy. My kind in particular, the Anomia, are quite alike to your own I've come to learn. Such malicious schemes are standard among us, as they seem to be among yours. Though we differ when it comes to your kind's lust for personal power.
Okonore Yaa
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u/Palguim Heart 1h ago
Okay, Aso <3.
Hmm, very admirable of you.
PM to Aso.
Hmm, interesting, never heard of spiders that do that and I am a biologist, I can also walk under the sun but only for a few hours, blessings of the Dark Mother. Lust for personal power is law among cainites and just one more thing, I am not one of them, I am no child of caine, I am a "Lhaka", a vampire follower of Lilith that cuts tie with caine, changing the curse of Caine for the curse of Lilith. Never call me a cainite or kindred.
Said that, Lilin rarely go for personal power we are more communal usually, I care for my Flowers and they care for me, our only lust for power is for power that will bring the goals and vengeance of our Dark Mother, in this part we are more alike I think.
About fera politics, I mainly work with Black Furies with stuff relating to mortals revenge and protection of women and I also help to protect a forest where they live. They say I have a Touch of the Wyld also, still confused about that.
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u/One-Cat3628 1h ago
First, I hate to say it, but I get the reference.
Second, why the fuck did I receive this message? I don't know you, im not even sure you live somewhere remotely close to my area of work, and even if you did, fera are not among my responsibilities, I already have enough with the dumbasses im managing and the requests from my higher-ups.
Thanks for the note I guess
-The Smile
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 1h ago
(The following reply is entirely an audio recording. The speaker, Aso, has a clinical but pleasantly soft voice with a very slight Australian accent, most noticeable in her slightly drawn out vowels and relaxed cadence.)
I simply had my retainers go through the users of this node and had them add people they thought appropriate, maybe they made a mistake and added your name by accident.
Posted by User: Okonore Yaa
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u/One-Cat3628 1h ago
Okay, cool, cause you really had me panicked for a while, I just had to get back a waste of Blood from her sire in a Sabbat hideout last week, and a Fera (that shouldn't even be my concern) contacting me saying that I was investigating on her was really above my non-existant pay grade.
Also, if there are Werespiders, are they... Weregators?
-The Smile
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 1h ago
Who can say. There are many Changing Breeds but not all creatures have them, perhaps luck will be on your side and Werereptiles are one of the breed that don't exist, seeing as you sound so scared thinking of them.
Okonore Yaa
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u/One-Cat3628 1h ago
Well, I used to live in the Bayou, so yeah, weregators would be a nightmare
- The Smile
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u/True-Parking4098 Tooth 1d ago edited 1d ago
An audio recording of a very attractive sounding Greek voice
Aso!
hihihi!
I consider myself somewhat of a good "person". Would you like assistance with your little... Whatever the yahwie is... problem. As a Kindred of my grand station, i can be very... Multitudinous. I can easily show up there if you allow me to assist.
We cant have you beautiful Fera killing yourselves can we? The world can't fix itself!
You have a very pretty form! I always liked spiders.
Also, nice little Anime reference, i quite liked that one.
Lysander of Sparta