Look! Up in the sky! It's...hey, what the heck *is* that?

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I keep trying to remember where I'd seen this image before, though. Some of Terry Gilliam's animations? An album cover from the sixties or seventies? John Blanche's old art from the Warhammer game? God only knows.

There's a Salvador Dali drawing like that, but it's a regular fish, not a puffer.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

And of course their creator will call them "Hindenburgs".

If the creator is named Hindenberg himself, then the beasts in general would be called "Hindenberg's Spikecloud" or what have you.

I love the idea of them having a poisonous gas cloud breath weapon. Er, if it didn't breathe out the gas cloud, you'd also have the propulsion system.

 

[Gold Roger]

If the creator is named Hindenberg himself, then the beasts in general would be called "Hindenberg's Spikecloud" or what have you.

I love the idea of them having a poisonous gas cloud breath weapon. Er, if it didn't breathe out the gas cloud, you'd also have the propulsion system.

Sorry, I asumed knowledge of the name "Hindenburg" to be common knowledge (in germany it is). Hindenburg himself was a famous prussian general, monarchist and important political figure in germany from WW1 till WW2, who used his influence to destabilize germanies democracy and, failing his actual goals, had the doubtfull honor of providing Hitler with ultimate dictatorship over germany. But more importantly to the current discussion the titanic among Zepplins was named after him. Of course it went down in a fiery catastrophy, bringing the time of Zepplins to an end before it begann.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I know.

But naming a monster a "Hindenberg" seems unlikely, since it doesn't really make sense for an aerial monster as anything other than a joke. (I'm anti-joke name, as a general rule.) If the creator of the creature was named Hindenburg, though ...

 

[Umbran]

But apparently Rolzup intends that they were magically created, so they don't really need a rationale like that.

But we can give one - the spikes are for ramming. If the enemy has non-spiked baloonfish, you may make one designed to pop 'em

 

[babomb]

Of course, the real question is: Why does this thing have spikes in the first place? What is it protecting itself from?

The obvious answer is giant flying sharks, tuna, and dolphins.

 

[Gold Roger]

I know.

But naming a monster a "Hindenberg" seems unlikely, since it doesn't really make sense for an aerial monster as anything other than a joke. (I'm anti-joke name, as a general rule.) If the creator of the creature was named Hindenburg, though ...

Well, an in game rationale would have to be added of course (Maybe there was the legendary pirate Lorend Hindenburg who was able to make any ship he piloted fly)

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

My story...

I think it has the equivalent of baleen inside as very extensive "gills" and it harvests food, mana, etc. and most importantly stores up electricity.

Most lesser creatures find that its electical discharges are more than enough deterrent.

When aroused greatly, it can deflated quickly for a very fast spikey ram that will dissuade a dragon. Even the mightiest dragons find that being stuck to a dangerously plummeting extremely active "lightning cloud" to be very unpleasant.

Bully dragons have been know to taunt their dimwhitted kin into licking the spike cloud on a cold morning (when they are most potent).

 

[Storyteller01]

Right, but my question was "why did it have the spikes in the first place?" Horses have hooves and great speed to escape their enemies. I was trying to hint at a big, dangerous predator that hunts these things for a living. Whizbang mentions rocs (a good point) and dragons (against which the spikes would be no help since dragons have breath weapons). I was trying to get at the "skyborne critters the groundhogs have no idea are up there." But apparently Rolzup intends that they were magically created, so they don't really need a rationale like that.

I still think they should be full of hydrogen, though. Just because.

Has anyone here read the Jovah series? It has a great example as to how else this could be used.

In the society, the head angel has to pick a human female as a consort (the 'angels' were genetically engineered, and crossbreeding was a big no no). At one time in the past, one such angel ticked off his consort, who had a retreat built with large spikes all over the grounds and building. Her hubby couldn't land anywhere without scewering his wings, so he had to humble himself by walking the mile or so into the land to get to the front door.

My point (long winded though it may be): the spikes could be used in roughly the same manner, depending on how densely packed they are. In could prevent sky borne parasites from landing.

Imagine the hay day vultures or similars critters would have with such a creature otherwise. Can't run away, can't defend itself. A vulture's stomach is strong enough to kill near plague level diseases, so it isn't a stretch that they may be immune or gain bonuses against any poisons the puffer blimp/spike-ship might have. Even with this, there are plenty of magic based creatures that would be immune. Magically created or not, it's a threat air sailors have to worry about (a sick/dying ship = a slow/inefficient ship).

PS: They change colors you say? Well, sailors pass messages via flags of various types. Imagine if you could train the buggers to change into particular patterns on command!

 

[Nightfall]

I guess I'm just not seeing the threat here from a large floating fish, in the sky or not. Giant turtles with razor fins, and a shell, different story.