Lithonia

"Who said only the Gods could create life?" Olepiah , The Demon King

He walked through the caverns he had recently appropriated, glancing wistfully at the shelves lining the walls of this dark place. He traced a clawed digit over the written labels on the countless rows of preserved specimens, lingering over the ones designated as Slivers, for in each floated a very tiny ball of embryonic flesh that would presumably become something much more as a grin cracked over his smooth features as he plucked one particular jar from the shelf. He walked back into his lair, passing many locked doors with horrid wails and desperate cries for release without a glance.. until he reached one particular door. He undid the magicked lock and opened the door to reveal a child, no more than 10 years old. The girl had passed out, presumably having screamed herself hoarse as the demon stepped into the tight confines. He scooped her limp form up and headed off into his lair, disappearing into his laboratory with his catch and with the jar marked "Sliver Queen"..

What began as a young girl has become something so much more; sculpted down to a cellular level by The Demon King, Lithonia became the first and original of a whole species created by Olepiah . He called them Slivers, a name burned into her altered mind as the name of a race she would help create. When she came out of his lab, she was nothing like what she once was. She had broken memories of her family, but those were repressed viciously by the parasitic embryo placed deep within her body. Over the course of a few minutes, her body changed; forever altered by the new species buried within her. First, her fingers atrophied away and fell off her now stubby hand. Shortly thereafter her legs melded together; the bones breaking and reforming into a serpentine nature as the transformations took hold. Her skin hardened, and her stub arms became Mantis-like claws. Her mind squeaked excitedly when she saw the claws were golden in color; before her brain too began to change. It became more primal, instinctual, and far more developed than hers had in her short years. Her mind expanded beyond the realms of man and deep into an ancient past wherein her species originated, in the ancient past and even in an alternate dimension. She understood such distinctions were irrelevant to her now, for she was The Queen; and she could create her race anew on this distant place. As her body finished changing, going from a small 3 foot frame into an 10 foot long serpentine body with twin killing hooked claws designed to both drag herself along and tear the flesh from her prey. She understood that in order to propigate her species, she must find new hosts and new flesh to assimilate into her brood. In her mind, no living being was anything but a means to populate; all but One. She purred as she coiled about and up The Demon Kings chitinous flesh, and he smiled as he held out his hand; wherein she obediently placed her head. He scritched her chin, whispering promises of grandeur into her ear. She thrummed at his words, viewing him as her father; and when he stepped to the cavemouth with a pointing hand, she roared as she slid from his body and scurried out into the Nexus Park. Too propigate. Too Spread. To make Him proud..

She may once of been a girl of ten, but she was nothing like that little child anymore. She was rapacious, she was powerful; and she was hungry. No matter how much she consumed, she still wanted more; but there were a few traits handed down by the original host to this new Sliver Queen. She could be quite sweet, if she felt that was the best way to get close enough to a potential host; she could even make friends without having too assimilate them. But she is The Queen, and her will is Law. She does not react well to being told 'No', nor does she enjoy it when potential hosts try to pry too deeply into her past. Some memories are best left forgotten, and some are no longer there at all. She is an animal now, and its best for folks to remember that.

---Slivers: Wikipedia Entry---

Slivers were an ancient, long extinct species of questionable lineage. No one has ever categorized them with a particular species; as they display characteristics of both reptilian and insectoid species. A few things have been discerned from fossil records and the like found on numerous planets across the Galaxy. Heres what we know...

Slivers are a hivemind species, they all communicate through a means of telepathy with one another and can react to danger faster than any other species with this means of social unity. They also share the unique traits each one possesses with All of their kind. Meaning that if you see one that can fly, they all can. The same is true for the mightiest of soldiers too the gentlest of nest guardians. All knowledge and evolutionary advantages is shared with them all.

As most species reproduce by their own means of copying their own DNA, such is not the case with slivers. They are a parasitic organism that gestates in a host, rapidly altering the genetic makeup of the host to transform them into another Sliver. Each host contributes One characteristic (Regenerative Properties, Super Strength, Keen Intellect, etc..) to the whole; and once that code is assimilated, it cannot be forgotten. This makes slivers very selective of their 'new borns', as repeated gene sequences limit the potential of the species as a whole. As mentioned, they only keep One characteristic of those few that become assimilated; so this does not mean they are limited by species, ONLY by the inherent power gained through the newborns.

Slivers are highly territorial of the lands they occupy, and will quickly and overwhelmingly deal with any invaders through extermination or assimilation.

Not all slivers are created by a sentient species. The only "common" sliver to be found are presumed to be drones, or workers in the hive. They are created from The Sliver Queen, the vastly altered plantlife surrounding their hive, or from a specific sliver that inhereted the ability to replicate.

---More to come as interactions occur---

The Queen was challenged to a game of Magic by Draconus in exchange for him being able to go free; and she lost. However, she now views Draconus quite favorably, respecting his ability to stand his ground. She also met Zaba_ , who allowed The Queen to set up her Nest at her home. Beware anyone who seeks to disturb her nest or her new friends' homes; for they are under the protection of the sliver Horde.

The Queen has managed to create another member of her race, transforming the body of Marie_Draggo into a Sinew Sliver; pictured below.



+Current Sliver Traits+

Flying (They all may spread membranous wings which allow them all to fly)
Muscle (All slivers are stronger than normal thanks to one particularly powerful addition)
Regenerative (All slivers can regenerate their bodies by tapping into the magical energies abound in this place.)
Double Strike (All slivers will strike twice whenever they are attacking. The first strike is lightning fast, but the second is much more predictable; assuming you survive the first.)
Sinew +1 (All Slivers gain an additional point in power and toughness)