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More from rickgriffin
Just some sketches of the snakes from my story (still planning) called Snakes Conquer Earth, more based off of Skysealer's interpretation here http://www.furaffinity.net/view/3116441/ (second image)
The original short story, Sissthra, can be seen here: http://rickgriffin.deviantart.com/a.....79887&qo=2 and http://rickgriffin.deviantart.com/a.....79887&qo=1
They're basically supposed to be invincible.
THINGS THAT CAN KILL THEM:
Energy weapons (very high-energy)
Direct hit from a railgun
A specific kind of poison
???
The problem being that when you're attacking them at a range with things that CAN kill them (nuclear weapons etc) they have their technological defenses
The original short story, Sissthra, can be seen here: http://rickgriffin.deviantart.com/a.....79887&qo=2 and http://rickgriffin.deviantart.com/a.....79887&qo=1
They're basically supposed to be invincible.
THINGS THAT CAN KILL THEM:
Energy weapons (very high-energy)
Direct hit from a railgun
A specific kind of poison
???
The problem being that when you're attacking them at a range with things that CAN kill them (nuclear weapons etc) they have their technological defenses
Category Artwork (Traditional) / General Furry Art
Species Snake / Serpent
Size 681 x 893px
File Size 117.7 kB
Oh my... they are even larger than I remember them! What in the world do they eat to sustain such huge bodies and lifespans? I might need to read the story again.
Nice work on the scale design, especially with how it goes around the head. I always like those that look like platted armor.
Nice work on the scale design, especially with how it goes around the head. I always like those that look like platted armor.
Seconded on all points.
There's something about his size that makes him oddly scary, but at the same time oddly compelling. It's like I'd love to have someone that looked like that as a close friend, but even as a friend it wouldn't take much for him to scare the heck out of me.
There's something about his size that makes him oddly scary, but at the same time oddly compelling. It's like I'd love to have someone that looked like that as a close friend, but even as a friend it wouldn't take much for him to scare the heck out of me.
Gasproof, alright, so they can squeeze their nostrils shut and hold their breath long enough to get away from a traditional gas (IE Mustard gas) without anything more than breaking out in hives. Fireproof, maybe they have fairly tough skin that is fire retardent. Pathogen, perhaps earth doesn't have any viruses that can migrate successfully to their race and they've killed off all of their own already. (As a note, why do they have forked tongues if they have nostrils?)
Define "Bulletproof."
Do you mean they have plates under their skin designed to absorb smaller caliber arms fire? Because certain higher-caliber weapons ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett_XM500 ) will fuck up most of anything imaginable barring some sort of force field that exists purely in the realm of fantasy, and even then, once you get into the extremely small caliber-extremely high velocity coilguns of the near future you have an absolutely miniscule target trying to get through a protective wall meant to cover the entire body, which in this creature's case would be one heck of a large area. Think of it like the first musketballs going through the then-used metal armor.
Enough bullets of any practical caliber will kill anything, especially if aimed at a weak point such as the head or eyes and this creature's sheer size would make it a very easy target for human resistance fighters. With today's weaponry and even if the plates of this thing are as strong as the strongest of today's personal body armor (Unlikely since the plates do not bulge out of the creature's scales) I would estimate that a single human being could kill one with an AK-47 with less than a single magazine worth of ammo in a one-on-one fight, especially if it were close enough to aim properly at the upper torso, and even more likely if a lucky shot got it in the head.
Define "Bulletproof."
Do you mean they have plates under their skin designed to absorb smaller caliber arms fire? Because certain higher-caliber weapons ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett_XM500 ) will fuck up most of anything imaginable barring some sort of force field that exists purely in the realm of fantasy, and even then, once you get into the extremely small caliber-extremely high velocity coilguns of the near future you have an absolutely miniscule target trying to get through a protective wall meant to cover the entire body, which in this creature's case would be one heck of a large area. Think of it like the first musketballs going through the then-used metal armor.
Enough bullets of any practical caliber will kill anything, especially if aimed at a weak point such as the head or eyes and this creature's sheer size would make it a very easy target for human resistance fighters. With today's weaponry and even if the plates of this thing are as strong as the strongest of today's personal body armor (Unlikely since the plates do not bulge out of the creature's scales) I would estimate that a single human being could kill one with an AK-47 with less than a single magazine worth of ammo in a one-on-one fight, especially if it were close enough to aim properly at the upper torso, and even more likely if a lucky shot got it in the head.
Rail and Gauss weapons are similar yet different. Simply put, they're alternate means to accelerate ammunition to absolutely incredible speeds.
I specified coilgun (a kind of gauss rifle) because I see those as much more likely to be developed for infantry use in the near future, and I suppose as a matter of personal taste as I like the things.
A railgun isn't magical, but it'd be pretty overkill on a creature like this, barring some sort of magic or technobabble forcefield that would be weak to incredibly fast moving projectiles, IE Energy weapons or coil/gauss/railguns, and there was no such equipment specified.
I specified coilgun (a kind of gauss rifle) because I see those as much more likely to be developed for infantry use in the near future, and I suppose as a matter of personal taste as I like the things.
A railgun isn't magical, but it'd be pretty overkill on a creature like this, barring some sort of magic or technobabble forcefield that would be weak to incredibly fast moving projectiles, IE Energy weapons or coil/gauss/railguns, and there was no such equipment specified.
I see someone else here has taken on a Mary Sue.
All I know is that eyes are squishy. Eyes are always squishy.
I also know that a good half of the periodic table is magically designed to screw over anything with a strand of DNA.
Remember, if your normal stuff doesn't work, just get creative!
Or...just hope that the alien race uses the same OS as you do...
All I know is that eyes are squishy. Eyes are always squishy.
I also know that a good half of the periodic table is magically designed to screw over anything with a strand of DNA.
Remember, if your normal stuff doesn't work, just get creative!
Or...just hope that the alien race uses the same OS as you do...
I wouldn't say a mary-sue, per se. But if anyone makes a race that's supposed to be virtually impossible to kill when it's completely nude in a modern/sci fi setting and equipped with someone using modern/sci fi technology or perhaps a little older, red flags should go up, because living creatures are much easier to destroy than most people think.
Of course, this sort of thing can be circumvented by saying they can shrug off weapons of smaller calibers and non-pistol weapons (or just plain firearms in general) are incredibly rare in this version of earth due to governmental actions like Britain's strict gun control or the snakes wiping out all production facilities of firearms, killing anyone who resists quickly and seizing/destroying the rest. Heck, it could make for an interesting story if one got shot in the back of the head with someone's old revolver and if the main character truly sees them as benevolent, defending them until medical help arrives.
Of course, this sort of thing can be circumvented by saying they can shrug off weapons of smaller calibers and non-pistol weapons (or just plain firearms in general) are incredibly rare in this version of earth due to governmental actions like Britain's strict gun control or the snakes wiping out all production facilities of firearms, killing anyone who resists quickly and seizing/destroying the rest. Heck, it could make for an interesting story if one got shot in the back of the head with someone's old revolver and if the main character truly sees them as benevolent, defending them until medical help arrives.
But what I don't understand is when people always assume that organic life has to be structured exactly the same way that organic life on earth is structured.
Its not impossible to have organics be bullet proof, based off that creatures size and depending on muscle composition and structure along with supporting or encasing membranes, it could easily be bullet proof, even against high cal weapons. It may stun or hurt like a bitch for em to be shot by something large cal, but it could easily not penetrate.
Especially in the area of snake or reptile in general, their bodies already employ the ability to divert sharp objects from breaking the skin. The military used that theory, enhanced a bit for the plate armor on our current tanks. Deflect and absorb is the method of bullet proofing them, scales (plates) on a snake could easily do the same thing if large enough and the supporting structure behind it strong enough.
I'm not going to say that "if it comes out of a gun they're invincible" but that as current technology stands, they cannot be damaged by small arms fire. Except MAYBE in the face.
And yes this is sci-fi so they are going to have completely unrealistic force field deflectors besides. The point of this isn't so much that the snakes are impossible to kill (I'm going to have fun trying to come up with new and exciting ways that the human resistance will try, after all) But by and large the invasion is too powerful to resist.
The bulk of the story is what happens AFTER that. It's called "Snakes Conquer Earth" not because they win in the end, but they win in the beginning, and set up the entire setting from that point on.
Its not impossible to have organics be bullet proof, based off that creatures size and depending on muscle composition and structure along with supporting or encasing membranes, it could easily be bullet proof, even against high cal weapons. It may stun or hurt like a bitch for em to be shot by something large cal, but it could easily not penetrate.
Especially in the area of snake or reptile in general, their bodies already employ the ability to divert sharp objects from breaking the skin. The military used that theory, enhanced a bit for the plate armor on our current tanks. Deflect and absorb is the method of bullet proofing them, scales (plates) on a snake could easily do the same thing if large enough and the supporting structure behind it strong enough.
I'm not going to say that "if it comes out of a gun they're invincible" but that as current technology stands, they cannot be damaged by small arms fire. Except MAYBE in the face.
And yes this is sci-fi so they are going to have completely unrealistic force field deflectors besides. The point of this isn't so much that the snakes are impossible to kill (I'm going to have fun trying to come up with new and exciting ways that the human resistance will try, after all) But by and large the invasion is too powerful to resist.
The bulk of the story is what happens AFTER that. It's called "Snakes Conquer Earth" not because they win in the end, but they win in the beginning, and set up the entire setting from that point on.
Well, you did draw it as organic life on earth appears and we can assume they are carbon based as there is nothing saying otherwise and from what you have described it seems no different. Though you should define "different" as well as I never assumed it was exactly like a large earth snake as the leathery hide of a snake would be extraordinarily poor if they needed to stop bullets, and so that much was obvious from the start.
While you could theoretically have scales on a snake similar to tank armor, this would be extremely heavy to the point of being completely unable to move (on top of a snake of this size requiring a large amount of effort and energy (aka more food) to slither at a slow pace in the first place). Either way, scales as thin and small as these would do nothing against 7.62x39mm rounds, no matter what membrane is behind them. They'd need large, thick scales that more resemble armor, and yes, much more than represented in the picture, which would in turn give a more angular and threatening appearance, so win-win.
It would basically at this point be much easier to just say that they are cyborgs who only appear completely organic, with synthetic organs that process food better than natural ones and whose muscles output more force than natural ones, or that they are genetically engineered for that. Metallic bones could be explained through either way as well as both inner and outer plates for protection.
Either way, an extraterrestrial invasion would look more like Independence Day than Halo, except everything would happen at once in a war that lasts perhaps five minutes before every government on earth is destroyed and remote controlled drones mop up any residual ground forces. Quick, efficient.
While you could theoretically have scales on a snake similar to tank armor, this would be extremely heavy to the point of being completely unable to move (on top of a snake of this size requiring a large amount of effort and energy (aka more food) to slither at a slow pace in the first place). Either way, scales as thin and small as these would do nothing against 7.62x39mm rounds, no matter what membrane is behind them. They'd need large, thick scales that more resemble armor, and yes, much more than represented in the picture, which would in turn give a more angular and threatening appearance, so win-win.
It would basically at this point be much easier to just say that they are cyborgs who only appear completely organic, with synthetic organs that process food better than natural ones and whose muscles output more force than natural ones, or that they are genetically engineered for that. Metallic bones could be explained through either way as well as both inner and outer plates for protection.
Either way, an extraterrestrial invasion would look more like Independence Day than Halo, except everything would happen at once in a war that lasts perhaps five minutes before every government on earth is destroyed and remote controlled drones mop up any residual ground forces. Quick, efficient.
I thought there was a reason armor had been designed in older times which were overlapping metal scales . . . direct force wouldn't pierce it so easily without immense values of strength behind it.
I expected the force-field projectors, since this was science fiction and they are not of this world. Sad to say, it's a very easy cop-out to replace actual armor. However, I suspect that technology may be susceptible to electromagnetic pulse. It'd be interesting to see their version of battle armor in such an event.
Assuming the story takes place close to our current technological level, I am relatively sure only very cutting-edge weaponry or the sort which has not been fully developed beyond application of theory. Railguns, for instance, aren't YET a viable portable weapon from what I know. But there are other more simple methods of killing something . . .
- Hard vacuum; put them in a room they can't break out of fast enough and pump all the air out.
- Air pressure; alternatively, use immense air pressure.
- Drop a rock on it; get a weight heavy enough and drop it on the thing's head until it stops moving.
I suspect the Resistance will win, in the end. We are humans, and we do not suffer oppression well. [Quoting elsewhere: "We poison our air and water to weed out the weak! We set off fission bombs in our only biosphere! We nailed our God to a stick! Don't f**k with the human race!"]
(No, benevolent ruling isn't going to really stop it, it just delays the inevitable. It's good to see someone crafting "benevolent invaders" anyway.)
I expected the force-field projectors, since this was science fiction and they are not of this world. Sad to say, it's a very easy cop-out to replace actual armor. However, I suspect that technology may be susceptible to electromagnetic pulse. It'd be interesting to see their version of battle armor in such an event.
Assuming the story takes place close to our current technological level, I am relatively sure only very cutting-edge weaponry or the sort which has not been fully developed beyond application of theory. Railguns, for instance, aren't YET a viable portable weapon from what I know. But there are other more simple methods of killing something . . .
- Hard vacuum; put them in a room they can't break out of fast enough and pump all the air out.
- Air pressure; alternatively, use immense air pressure.
- Drop a rock on it; get a weight heavy enough and drop it on the thing's head until it stops moving.
I suspect the Resistance will win, in the end. We are humans, and we do not suffer oppression well. [Quoting elsewhere: "We poison our air and water to weed out the weak! We set off fission bombs in our only biosphere! We nailed our God to a stick! Don't f**k with the human race!"]
(No, benevolent ruling isn't going to really stop it, it just delays the inevitable. It's good to see someone crafting "benevolent invaders" anyway.)
Things being susceptible to EMPs also assumes electronics built similarly to our own. I like to think that there are a lot more ways of developing tech systems that we haven't even approached yet--they would come with their own issues too, but it would require that we understand them first.
The only real chance that the humans have is getting aid from the snakes' enemies, the mongooses. (Yeah I know, space gerbils and all, but complaining about using motifs for story purposes is, in my opinion, stupid)
However, a lot of this setting is supposed to run in the face of certain alien invasion motifs:
1) the human race wins by virtue of being the underdogs and us. This has to assume that the aliens are not just as good at their problem-solving.
2) The aliens are not on a kill-them-all spree. They do give the humans quarter, and by doing so it does not back the humans into a corner. A lot of them give up the idea of resistance (though not all).
3) The aliens' idea of order always has evil ulterior motives (especially in the 50s sci-fi movies where they were a stand-in for evil communists). The snakes' are not perfect by any means, and there are plenty of them that have the wrong motives, but it doesn't destroy the fabric of human life.
I have not seen very many alien invasion stories where at least one of the above was not a given, which is why I wanted to see where it went if the humans were actually unable to win, BUT instead of the inevitable "wiped out or enslaved" they get to keep on living. How do they handle this? Even if the snakes are willing to give tech, education and a lot of other benefits for free, why do the humans rebel still? (It's sort of a case of "What have the Romans ever done for us?" and we know where THAT leads)
So the humans then become a vassal state under an empire--and we know from history that vassal states don't overthrow the empire just because they really, really want to, or even because some of them want to. At some level, maybe in a few generations, it just becomes a part of life.
The only real chance that the humans have is getting aid from the snakes' enemies, the mongooses. (Yeah I know, space gerbils and all, but complaining about using motifs for story purposes is, in my opinion, stupid)
However, a lot of this setting is supposed to run in the face of certain alien invasion motifs:
1) the human race wins by virtue of being the underdogs and us. This has to assume that the aliens are not just as good at their problem-solving.
2) The aliens are not on a kill-them-all spree. They do give the humans quarter, and by doing so it does not back the humans into a corner. A lot of them give up the idea of resistance (though not all).
3) The aliens' idea of order always has evil ulterior motives (especially in the 50s sci-fi movies where they were a stand-in for evil communists). The snakes' are not perfect by any means, and there are plenty of them that have the wrong motives, but it doesn't destroy the fabric of human life.
I have not seen very many alien invasion stories where at least one of the above was not a given, which is why I wanted to see where it went if the humans were actually unable to win, BUT instead of the inevitable "wiped out or enslaved" they get to keep on living. How do they handle this? Even if the snakes are willing to give tech, education and a lot of other benefits for free, why do the humans rebel still? (It's sort of a case of "What have the Romans ever done for us?" and we know where THAT leads)
So the humans then become a vassal state under an empire--and we know from history that vassal states don't overthrow the empire just because they really, really want to, or even because some of them want to. At some level, maybe in a few generations, it just becomes a part of life.
I think we're going to disagree here, mostly because I don't think humanity would permit it . . . and still remain what we know now as "humanity". I don't know if that makes sense, but I know there are lots of little cultures of people who would take up arms against even a benevolent ruler who dropped in and asserted total power. And it's very likely from there to evolve into a revenge-spiral of sorts.
I don't know, I think it's in the essence of what we are to be contrary to outside interference in "our own affairs". Even when facing overwhelming force.
Then again, I am a a non-professional writer who does not indulge in science-fiction. I don't know enough to even approach verisimilitude when it comes to technology, so I stick with magic and such. :) These are my opinions, even if they might read as "humans are teh best evar!" to some . . . and a direction I'd approach from when writing such a story.
I don't know, I think it's in the essence of what we are to be contrary to outside interference in "our own affairs". Even when facing overwhelming force.
Then again, I am a a non-professional writer who does not indulge in science-fiction. I don't know enough to even approach verisimilitude when it comes to technology, so I stick with magic and such. :) These are my opinions, even if they might read as "humans are teh best evar!" to some . . . and a direction I'd approach from when writing such a story.
I've always loved the way 
severuscoil designs his nagas with the hood splaying to merge behind the shoulders. but your design is equally appealing. I never thought it would make sense to have it go beyond the shoulders to the front. but here I see it and it makes perfect sense.
severuscoil designs his nagas with the hood splaying to merge behind the shoulders. but your design is equally appealing. I never thought it would make sense to have it go beyond the shoulders to the front. but here I see it and it makes perfect sense. 
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