Café de Nuit

What do you think the marikith are like exactly? In Islands of Terror they look like some clumsy mud golems. In the FoS Zherisia Gazetteer they made them somewhat like the xenomorphs (the creatures in the Aliens franchise). Can anyone give a more accurate description of them, a source of inspiration, or what kind of creature they are based on?

I'd compare them to Aliens, due to their hive nature and the sort of horror I associate with them (which is not a bad thing).

It hasn't been really specified, and I rather like it that way.

Since part of their horror is that they are unknown, anything to keep them unknowable helps to keep them frightening.

I seem to recall one of the authors stating that Aliens inspired the marikiths. Not clear if that extends to their appearance though.

Aliens is definitely the vibe I get from reading IoT. A hive of inhuman creature prowling tight constricted spaces, led by a queen? Sounds right.

Well, I can see the alien vibe.

But generally I think of hive-mind critters in general, considering the horror for humans to be part of a "Collective"

I remember at least once in Animorphs (shut up, I was in the target audience when it first came out) when the heroes were in termite forms and nearly lost their minds to the Termite Queen's influence - I always thought that was a frightening aspect

Marikiths are just so aggressive that I also view them as Alien's though since they have fairly different appearance and abilities for them in some areas they play off as more "alien" than the alien from the movies... Problem is I had to get over the whole 'They make me think of Kif from Futurama...' Thing!

Kif Quote: "Actually my body is composed of several liquid filled bladders..." or such...

I would tend to emphasize more the whole hive mind/inhuman hunting aspects, and only use the infiltration in that blob fashion sparingly until they attack en-mass. Better seal those entrances and exits tight people because I exploit defense weaknesses quite effectively, though I would try to give them time as the Marikiths search for such gaps to enter. I also think I would mix a little more Borg into them in some instances... Gotta play up that whole human acting inhuman quality to the Queens directives in my mind.

I also believe I will require that in the whole powers check thing to turn into a Marikith that the character also have at least been touched by one, or that there is a visit by them that is meant to start the transformation... This makes it more like a disease that targets evil in the soul rather than some out of the blue thing for stealing a pocket watch...

Lastly I would like to mix slight less solid aspects of other creatures more into them sometimes... I give them some slight extend-able tentacle like reach such as a choker or such, they can at times bond together and absorb each other without much of a size increase so as to smuggle more say in a container or in heavy disguise like in Mimic, or perhaps also add an engulf quality to them as well, and finally maybe leader synapse type creatures like Warhammer 40k Tyranids that strengthens the cohesion of the group to the hive mind... Different variants like the difference between worker bees, and soldiers... I have yet to use them in this way but I have been thinking heavily about it...

A winged sterile Marikith queen creature would be quite scary leading others as maybe a hub for her Hive mind ability... Some of the PC's spot the thing in shadows above the building and a few go to investigate. Meanwhile at a masque party the waiters all turn out to be Markiths who have bonded to infiltrate more of their kind in, and they are targeting one person, so they reveal themselves suddenly and try to grasp him from a range and pull him in and engulf him to carry him off. The PC's downstairs have to defend the NPC, while the ones upstairs must battle the Leader Marikith. If those upstairs succeed the ones below lose some sort of insight bonus from their thoughts not being so cohesive, or the queen may choose having lost the element of surprise to retreat to think up another plan...

Thats what I've been thinking of when considering using them anyways

I do believe C.H.U.D. might have inspired the original design...

"C.H.U.D. Huh!?!? This could work if... I can see how... I guess I can kinda... Maybe if... I mean it kinda... It could be good if... How about..." (Sigh...) "Oh who am I kidding... I got nothing..."

Turns around and puts head in hands... But then looks up a little hopeful...

"But they do have some similarities like... Sort of... In that way that... If not for the whole 'looks like a poop monster thing' it... The glowing eyes might... Oh forget it... I TRIED!!!"

Shakes head and walks away...

I'd avoid describing them as anything more than shadows and vague outlines in the black.

A G Thing wrote:"C.H.U.D. Huh!?!? This could work if...

The Markith do in fact resemble the CHUD in a few ways. For one, the Markith were originally human beings - in the original, pre-Conjunction domain of Timor any person that used brute force to terrorize others became a Markith. As a result, there would have been Markith that still ran around in the tattered remains of their human clothing - much like the CHUD who still wore the clothes of a "bowery bum".

A lot of the CHUD hunting strategies would work very well with Markith. For example, the scene where the two cops (one of whom is none other than John Goodman) are trapped in a diner and eaten by a pack of Markith. It would certainly be in keeping with the Markith to suddenly emerge from the sewers under the cover of night, surround an isolated building, and devour its occupants.

Also, in CHUD, there is an unusual scene where the leading lady is showering (can you say fan service?) when the drain becomes clogged - she jabs a coat-hanger into the drain to remove the blockage, and is showered in blood. Its kind of implied that she somehow jabbed a CHUD. While its unusual for the CHUD, the Markith were explicitly described as being able to squeeze through pipes. This may in fact be the inspiration for the story from Timor, when the city's drains exploded with blood.

While I like the comparison to Aliens, the Xenomorphs fought to seize new hosts for the facehuggers. In short, they took their prey alive. The Markith fight to kill - which is far more similar to the Cannibalistic Humanoid Under Dwellers.

Jack the Reaper wrote:In Islands of Terror they look like some clumsy mud golems.

Keep in mind they also spent alot of time moving threw sewers and sludge and probably don't shower often. Considering they're predators, they might look alot like their surroundings.

Firstly no offense meant to the movie CHUD in either this or the last post, as there are several "B" movies I like for their flaws and sometimes as hidden gems!!!

Now I know your right ScSotF... I just literally have nothing to contribute further (Besides a lame joke or two!!!) because I have not seen the movie, and while I do agree on some points, with you, it is just so very odd... I guess it is like comparing apples to oranges in that I like Alien/Aliens as I was generally scared of (Forced to Watch!!!) it when I was a child, but I have no understanding of CHUD other than it is supposedly not the best movie by this review.

I so far still prefer the xenomorphs for Marikith myself, but I really could not think of anything to add after reading that review... The CHUD are almost perfect adaptions it seems on most minor physical respects and hunting tactics, and the DP check failure transformation kind of works for this. I also agree that Marikith like the CHUD would 'sometimes' attack and destroy places just to kill people. (Especially John Goodman!)

But the Hive Queen is admittedly an aliens influence with the hive mind aspect, and while they do not use face huggers they can bring their victims to the queen if needed to be transformed. Also as the Queen is humanly intelligent, I figure she is "in it to win it" as they say. I think that they would also use more devious tactics and methods even if they are not the "best of the best" plans when necessary. They won't be bluffing their way into parties but sneaking in and causing horrifying diversions certainly can be something they can do...

They seem to be a mix of both in a lot of ways, so perhaps I need to rent this movie and get a more thorough understanding of our CHUDdly friends as it were, so I can adapt what is good... (Of course by that review it does not sound like a whole lot but there was enough that caught my eye to make me question and have no serious comments!!!)

Still the only reference I have to go by on Marikith is Denizens of Dread so maybe you have a greater insight on them as well?

Enlighten me please!

OOPS I WROTE THAT WRONG SO I HIGHLIGHTED IT IN BOLD TO HOW I FIXED IT... SO VERY SORRY ScSotF

A G Thing wrote: Problem is I had to get over the whole 'They make me think of Kif from Futurama...' Thing!

Kif Quote: "Actually my body is composed of several liquid filled bladders..." or such...

If it helps you get over this, A.G., you should know that this is basically how a sea cucumber's body works. They're boneless critters that crawl up walls or into small crevices like marikith do, and they seem very alien for something native to IRL Earth.

Speaking as a Chinese person I add that sea cucumbers are also delicious.