Right. Meepiluch has stopped indefinitely (much like the Oddfather, damn you irony gods!), so I am going to take advantange of this character's unique attribute and introduce Ghost to The Albino Scrab. I've been meaning to for a long time, long before Meepiluch.
Name: Ghost
Species: Presumed mudokon from voice.
Gender: Presumed male.
Personality: "I am the center, the hub of all your knowledge. I am the unseen who sees all. What I do not know is unknown by all. I am the truth, the deception, and the signal. I am your fears and your hopes. I am the source. I am the Ghost in the machine."
Those that have “met” Ghost seem to think he’s an okay guy, but are spooked by the mystery that he embodies. He is quite helpful in the information he provides, knowing what he does, but whether or not that information is correct is another matter. It serves his allies well, and therefore serves his own ends nicely. His sense of humour is often unappreciated.
Age: Unknown.
Appearance: No one has ever seen Ghost in person. But his remote-controlled avatar is in the form of a highly modified security orb. Indistinguishable from normal orbs, the Chant Suppressor C-dot-P is a masterpiece of engineering. If the Glukkons knew it existed, they would try anything to get their hands on it (so to speak). A dark metallic orb about 2 feet in diameter, it has a single red, faintly glowing “eye”. Slender, stiff antennas and anti-gravity conduits protrude perpendicular to the orb’s surface. The number of C.Ps in Ghost's possession are unknown.
Equipment: The exact number and nature of C.P’s modifications are unknown. Confirmed reports include:
- The ability to display images on across the eyepiece.
- A speaker that Ghost uses to communicate.
- A small cargo area in the back of the orb
- A variable strength zap: the ruby-red lightning bolt ranges from a harmless, painful jolt used in irritation, distraction, and Ghost’s amusement; to a decidedly lethal bolt of crispy death. Can be employed to kill and cook small animals for his allies dining “pleasure”.
Ghost himself resides in an unknown location, surrounded by the greatest collection of computer and communications technology on Oddworld. He can and does intercept every transmission on Oddworld; the screens arrayed about him display everything from C.P’s vision to CCTV to primetime television.
Occupation: Communications expert, meddler.
Bio: As someone without a past, identity or name, there is very little to say about Ghost. He could be anywhere in the world, have more than one avatar, and be in contact with any number of sapients. His motives in West Shrubton are unknown.
Now for one of my famously descriptive character insertions!
IC/scene setting: West Shrubton and the surrounding forest is a rumour mill. Not in the metaphorical sense, and not quite in the literal sense either. Perhaps it is better described as a source of legend. This, too, makes West Shrubton unique, as it is the source of many new legends, and some profound old ones. Like the old forest spirit, the Albino Scrab. Not to be confused with
actual albino scrabs, of course. This legend is widely known, though only to a select few. Others include the more corporeal urban myth of Big Red, the great scrab of the Mudos Wilderness. Though based on hard fact, the stories have become warped with time. It certainly seems that scrabs are skilled in spawning legends!
Another popular tale is that of the fleech nest in the mines, a unique feature, as such strong social tendancies are rarely displayed by fleeches.
West Shrubton draws many to it, but it remains inexplicably sparse in terms of population. Where the adventure-seekers go to is as big a mystery as those of which attracted them in the first place. And yet, intelligence is all around, if only the observer had the clarity of mind to see it.
One such observer comes now, confident and headstrong, yet showing an unusually large amount of brains. This young explorer has more knowledge than his age should represent, more than even many of the great elders. However, he has much to learn of wisdom. His unique position allows him to experience the lives of others, and prides himelf in being the unofficial, unknown hub of information on Oddworld. But the mysteries of this place intrigues him, much more so than even Monsaic Lines, which keeps its secrets even from this young techspert. he does not know it yet, but he is already entwined with Shrubton's own chain of causality. He will be among its heroes, if he should gain the wisdom to hear the hero's call. He calls himself Ghost, and his shell is drifting through the leaves right now...