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Hoplon 3 Dedun

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Description

Hoplon Spec. #3

Code Name: Fearless Leader

Dedun

Creator: Baahir Williams jr., PhD

Territory: Africa, (now limited to Southern Africa due to insurgence)

SIZE:

(height: (shoulder: 35 meters))

(length: (80 meters))

(weight: (45000 tons))

Temperament: Territorial, Stubborn

INTELLIGENCE: High

Combat Style: Animalistic, Coordinated, Weaponized

Terms of Use: Not to be used to resolve human disputes, limited to GC level only.


Abilities:

-Osteokinesis: It was unexpected, but it seems that the serum sample developed contains a common mutation capability. Much like Fafnir before him, Dedun demonstates control of his numerous osteoplasts, allowing intensive control of skeletal anatomy.

Mainly, this ability is used on the legs, claws and jaws, lengthening them to more extreme, capable proportions, allowing for greater piercing power in combat.

A personal favorite of his is done by lengthening the vertebrae in his tail and filing the tip into a curved point. Codenamed 'the manticore,' this is a powerful flexible weapon often used on both opponents and rebellious members of his own pride.

-Power in pride: Dedun is the appointed leader of a pride of similarly mutated lions, humorously dubbed his 'cub-ordinaates,' all who aid him in organized team combat. When in a group, the potential of combat success increases thousandfold, though he hunts alone just as frequently

-Cat-Like Reflexes: Dedun is not purely a lion by genetics, there are several species in the genetics, allowing for climbing ability, some swimming prowess, and a higher metabolic rat than a standard lion. This makes Dedun an all terrain fighter.

Known Weaknesses:

-Low Tolerance: Dedun is a physical fighter, but his skin is neither armored nor retardant to elemental barrages

-Full power is not quite enough: Dedun's combat strength is best classified as 'average.' His real skill lies in his leadership abilities.


Interview with Baahir Williams jr.

I have never been a person to show weakness, nor give reason to make people think it lies in me.

I was born in Ireland, my mother an immigrant from Sudan, and my father an anthropologist that snuck her out of the country when the controversies started to rear their ugly heads again. I was taught much in England, was considered, 'a bright mind' by my instructors, though this earned me my fair share of enmity from my peers, who were willing to do anything to make me look small and themselves big. I endured it, my english brain telling me to conquer and my African pride pushing me to greater strength. I made the top of my classes due to this, making my family, and more importantly myself, proud.

For college, I started in science, Anthropology like my father, and used the chance to take a trip to my mother's homeland. What I saw. . . was not what I would have expected. It sounds stereotypical, the 'trip that changed my life' scenario, but they make that happen in fiction for a reason, you know. It really does happen. I saw the war, the anger, the needless destruction in the name of a force that, though they wielded it, they claimed was bigger than they. I never forgot those days, so much so because those days led me to changing my career from one of studying culture to one of studying the past. My own, all of Africa, all of the world itself, I took pieces of them all. That knowlege, that expertise, that is why the United Nations wished for my handiwork in the process of creating a guardian for mother Africa.

I do not know much of genetics, but I did know what I desired. Africa, as a whole over the past centuries, has struggled with finding a purpose, a 'god' of sorts, to guide it. The days of occupation taught us much, I do not deny that, but they still did great harm to the land and the people. And thus, I needed more than a guardian. I needed a symbol, an icon as old as memory, one that would put us where we see much and yet are able to change little. Then I remembered.

Did you know that in African spiritualism, mainly Egyptian, that lions were considered the children of gods? The term was so rooted in our culture that early Christians used the term to describe their own godson savior in order to help Africans to see what they meant. They did the same to the Celt's with Christmas.

But, that answered little as to what I should do with the idea, but then my own culture gave me a name, a lion god of incense named Dedun. But, I was forewarned that the UN was cautiously optimistic after two subsequent failures, and that if I did not succeed in the venture, that the project would be canned and alternatives be sought after, so I had to be cautious. I would not make the same mistake Dr. Wolfe did, no, I do not plan on that. This beast, I determined, would earn the right to grow, to make his own unity, no matter the squalls, much like the Africa of today.

And so I ordered several lionesses to be brought in and to give birth to genetically altered cubs in my laboratory. My geneticists introduced pieces of most known african felines in the mix, making healthy 'mutt cats' that were full of energy and empty of insecurity.

The mothers held claim to their own rooms, but the cubs were all let into a communal area, where they would simply. . . live, and survive. It was a process I was deemed crazy for believing in, but I saw the long term wisdom being something that would pay off. Besides, the best monster is one that was not born to be one.

The lion that became my Dedun was a small runt, much like I'm sure you expected. He was small and frail, but his spirit shone. He would stand up to anyone or anything, despite the fact that he was a cub that would not have lasted in the wild on his own.

The cubs grew older, but the little would be Dedun wouldn't change. Then one day an older cub that began growing a mane tried to use force to dominate the other cubs, but Dedun stood his ground, fighting within an inch of his life, until I saw the action that convinced me of him being the one. In a flash, he bit down on the back of the bigger lions neck and held on for dear life, enduring shaking and clawing until tiring the bully out. I remember the smile escaping my face, as I ordered the geneticists to prepare the main serum for injection.

Dedun was compliant, surprisingly. When we took him to the area, he did not flee from me, nor did he attack me. I'm pretty sure he knew I was rewarding him for his early victory. Haha, imagine that, a young mutant lion, not grown enough to kill me on his own, knowing I had been watching him. It surprises me still, how the beast sees me as a father of sorts, though it is well founded.

The serum's effects were slow, but the start was indeed something of a sight. A few days after dropping him back in, the lion he defeated came back into the communal to teach the young cub a lesson, only to have him walk away with a bleeding hole in his back caused by a blade like tail tip.

From there, his growth was slow.As the mane grew, his hormones did as well and thus he had to be separated, his only guests being myself and another male to keep caged company. Dedun loved my arrivals for some reason, and was reluctant to see me go. This amazed me, for I had reacted next to not at all to him when he was young. But, I digress, that is not the point of this.

Dedun, much like Fafnir, grew to adult size suddenly. What was a lion the size of a hang glider grew into a lion longer than a football field, and much more powerful. He was strong and capable, though the idea of fieldwork for him was difficult. No recent monster sightings had happened in Africa since the Secretary bird in Kenya months before, and as powerful and obedient, (much to the UN council's pleasure) the lion was, I was not going to heed their advice and have him fight Fafnir. That dragon is pure power and not to be used for something trivial. Then I heard an interesting radio signal coming from Ivory Coast, an old acquaintance of Africa had been sighted, a Secretary Bird. . .



(note: Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd a lion monster. I know, I know, lions =cliche+been done too much+predictable. But, I like to think that I hit the nail on the head for this one. First of all, the name and lion fact are both legit. Dedun (Day-doo-wun, when spoken properly) is also the first 'success' the UN Hoplon project has had after a rogue scientist turned demon and a dragon that wants to listen to you as much as he doesn't want to eat you. Dedun, on the other hand, is something that a scientist would do if Africa were to have a guardian monster created. Think about it, these scientists may be smart, but they aren't monster nerds and therefore will do cliche things without thought. A lion just worked, and I'm glad he came out the way he did, for fur is not easy to texture. Plus, I had to add some interesting traits, such as manticore parts and a real genetic wonder-horse.

The other lions, don't worry, they get mutated too later from a more watered-down serum, so they aren't as powerful. But a pride on your side can add a lot to your combat possibilities, which he makes full use of. Plus, I used the bone control again. All of the DNA serum's '1st batch' is carrying this ability, it just effects different creatures differently. Fafnir used it to fly, Dedun to stab and make his bite marks bigger. Later additions will get a lot wonkier but still, Dedun is something of a leader to the Hoplon program, usually the first one on the scene in a big crisis. He's a physical fighter, but he's tough.

Now, as for the last part, well I trust you to wait and see. . .
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MasterFubix300's avatar
I'd like Dedun fight with Norzzug... XD