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RenDragonClaw — FFTA Blade Biter

Published: 2007-10-10 05:18:54 +0000 UTC; Views: 3499; Favourites: 27; Downloads: 0
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Description Ivalice Monster Compendium Entry#22

If you were to ask your typical clanner what the toughest monster they ever faced was in terms of endurance and sheer tenacity, most of reply that it was a rock beast. The mineral devouring family of titanic turtles other wise known as Adamantoise. Most of these encounters have been with Toughskins, the youngest and more defensive of the species. As is usually the case with creatures that live for such extended periods of time, Adamantoise continue to evolve and grow as they age, sometimes into radical extremes...

The Blade Biter is one such extreme. Having been hunted to near extinction for the metals that make up most of its form, the Blade Biter became increasingly aggressive and predatory. This resulted in a chaotic, jagged shell formation and an axe like upper beak, as well as a spiked, mace like protrusion on the end of its tail. The creatures diet has taken a turn as well as it will digest both metals and flesh in equal abundance when given the chance. The creatures grow twice as large as their more docile brethren and are aggressive to the point of attacking anything within sight that even resembles a threat.

Due to this increase in flesh intake, they seem to enjoy iron, steel, and materite more than more earthly metals like adamantite and leestone. This has also resulted in the red and violet hues of their scales and shell as the rust prone iron mixes with the blue, crystal like materite. Their eyes are of an eerie, irradescent white from the high amounts of mana running through their body and the high tension they are always under, ready to charge and crush on a moments notice.

Like their younger cousins, Blade Biters are fond of embedding metallic weapons into their shells. It seems that the more weapons a Blade Biter has and the larger those weapons are, the more attractive they are for mating cycles and are proof to rivals on how strong they are. Unlike the lesser Toughskin however, Blade Biters gain a majority of their 'arsenal' not from the strange ritual of sticking the weapon in the ground, tip up, then rolling on top of it, but from the many, brutal battles they fight with clanners. Originally inclined toward self defense, the predatory Blade Biter attacks clans in order to devour and absorb their weaponry as often as driving them out of its territory. In speaking of territory, Blade Biters perfer wide open battle fields over large earthen caverns since it provides them a literal feast of metal on which to dine as well as a few choice weapons for them to embed into their shell. Great swords and large spears are highly sought by the beasts and a Blade Biter that has several of these in its shell is to be feared and given wide berth.

In battle, the Blade Biter is a stampeding juggernaut of spiked shell, thundering legs, and razor edged jaws. Due to its thick scales and armored shell tempered by years of battle, arrows have no effect on the titans. Their sharp edged claws and shell make sure that when a Blade Biter strikes, it not only crushes its foe but minces it as well. Like its younger kin it can also use Resonate to disable those that use metallic weapons. The high number and types of weapons often stuck in its shell make the vibrations it sends forth even more violent, often breaking a weilders hands in the process. Even more feared than that however is the dreaded attack clanners lovingly refer to as 'Munch'. It is this attack through which the Blade Biter earns its name as it literally takes its preys weapon in its jaws and shatters it, after which it consumes it, leaving its bewildered opponent weaponless and demoralized. If all else fails, the Blade Biter has one last attack it can bring to bear. Having changed its mineral composition, it can no longer use the Matra Magic as it once did. Instead of resonating itself with its opponent and switching their life force and mana around as in the case of Matra Magic; Blade Breakers that have been brought close to brink of death use a power known as Limit Glove. The super natural attack takes the all the pain, anger, and negative life force the Blade Biter has accumulated in battle and sends it forth in the form of a massive vortex that ensnares its victim in a grided sphere of light and exsplodes. Devastating whomever has earned its wrath.

The power these titanic behemoths have is such that even their most feared predators, dragons, shy away from fighting a Blade Biter if its in its prime. Most other monsters know better than to tangle with these living fortresses. On the other hand its lesser the kin, the Toughskins, actually gravitate toward them. Thus Blade Biters occasionally become stewards of Adamantoise bales (groups of turtles). Serving as the guardians and patriarches of their less aggressive kin. Blade Biters can often be found trudging through the various deserts, especially the Delia Dunes and thick forests such as Nubswood. Aisen Field is also a common gathering place for Blade Biters as major battles both past and current have been fought on its war torn soil and the scent of ageless and powerful weapons still linger there.

-RenDragonClaw
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Comments: 21

Llealynarisia [2010-05-15 20:55:25 +0000 UTC]

Damn. I didn't even notice the bodies until I started reading the comments, I was too mesmerized by the beast. @_@ The lighting is great, and that eye is creepy. >>;

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RenDragonClaw In reply to Llealynarisia [2010-05-15 22:16:24 +0000 UTC]

Blade Biters are freaking evil lol. They destroy you're weapons, paralyze you if you're holding a blade and then destroy your health when they get desperate. They're tough as nails too which makes fighting then a long and fairly dangerous task for a clan.

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rampaging-poet [2008-08-02 00:12:49 +0000 UTC]

Wow, that's awesome. While I don't remember fighting one in FFTA, I recently had to defeat one for a sidequest in Grimoire of the Rift. It was tough, even though my party was half again its level. The only sword stuck into its incredibly hard hide was made of a material so strong the smith who requested I obtain said sword was completely unable to alter it in any way.

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RenDragonClaw In reply to rampaging-poet [2008-08-02 00:39:51 +0000 UTC]

The one's in FFTA are usually seen in the wandering clan called 'Tribites' that I think spawns from Tubola Cave on occasion. FFTA2 made Ivalice more like FFXII in regard to characters, races, and monsters. The member of the Great Tortoise family that best fits the Blade Biter's description is the Toughskin; since thats the only one with a sword in its back.

-RenDragonClaw

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rampaging-poet In reply to RenDragonClaw [2008-08-02 04:56:23 +0000 UTC]

Yes, the Blade Biter of FFTA2 was, in fact, a powerful Toughskin named Blade Biter. Still soaked up a lot of damage before it went down though.

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RenDragonClaw In reply to rampaging-poet [2008-08-02 05:28:33 +0000 UTC]

Thats what they do lol. I find magic works best on those things. Its too bad you have to wait several turns now in order to use anything good.

-RenDragonClaw

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MindManipulator [2007-10-16 02:15:59 +0000 UTC]

awesome

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RenDragonClaw In reply to MindManipulator [2007-10-16 03:11:11 +0000 UTC]

Thanks .

-RenDragonClaw

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JacobSpencerKaiju79 [2007-10-11 19:33:03 +0000 UTC]

very nice.

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RenDragonClaw In reply to JacobSpencerKaiju79 [2007-10-11 19:45:40 +0000 UTC]

Thanks .

-RenDragonClaw

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JacobSpencerKaiju79 In reply to RenDragonClaw [2007-10-11 23:37:53 +0000 UTC]

welcome

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razielapprentice [2007-10-11 04:46:13 +0000 UTC]

Damn Ren. That may be one of your best FFTA's, along with the Icedrake. Awesome job.

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RenDragonClaw In reply to razielapprentice [2007-10-11 06:04:41 +0000 UTC]

I guess the background really makes the drawing doesn't it? Thanks .

-RenDragonClaw

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doughAnne [2007-10-10 21:50:56 +0000 UTC]

Wow! This one's got to be my favorite by far! You did a good job on detail as usual, but the coloring is really really nice. Very nice on the lighting and emotion

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RenDragonClaw In reply to doughAnne [2007-10-11 00:31:56 +0000 UTC]

I was picking my brain on how the lighting was going to hit his shell, glad to hear it came out alright. Do you think it could have used more bodies?

-RenDragonClaw

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doughAnne In reply to RenDragonClaw [2007-10-15 15:51:46 +0000 UTC]

it could have used more bodies if you wanted.. but i still think that it is pretty cool

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RenDragonClaw In reply to doughAnne [2007-10-16 03:13:31 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, focuses more on the critter this way. Clans don't come in overwhelming numbers anyway .

-RenDragonCLaw

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doughAnne In reply to RenDragonClaw [2007-10-19 15:29:15 +0000 UTC]

sometimes the clans do team up, though

hey so how have you been lately?

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RenDragonClaw In reply to doughAnne [2007-10-19 17:34:21 +0000 UTC]

Lately? Ill, very ill . Seriously its flu season around here and the cramped 166 bus did not help. You'd think they'd get a bigger bus with so many people getting on this route but nnooo, they use this dinky little bus that gets crammed so full of people you literally can not breath. Other than that the current class schedule has been swell. I get fridays off but have to come in really early and wait all day on tuesdays and thursdays. Was going to finish the Masterberry last night but the power went out due to the freak wind storm we just had. Got it back now so hopefully I'll have it uploaded later today.

We got a new kitty, his name is Tao. He thinks everything in the house is a toy and he loves cue tips. He also doesn't know the meaning of the word 'no' and is the most stubborn and tactless cat I've ever seen. He'll drink the soup out your bowel right as your eating out of it. The only thing he fears is the sound of angry cats and squirt bottles. Other than that he fears nothing and will literally lay in the sink just to get your attention. He is very affectionate and loves to play. He treats my moms dachshund like his best buddy and flips him over as well as chasing him around the house. I think that about covers it .

-RenDragonClaw

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TyrantisTerror [2007-10-10 14:10:06 +0000 UTC]

Snazzy! The monster looks great, and the background really sets the mood very well.

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RenDragonClaw In reply to TyrantisTerror [2007-10-11 00:29:16 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, I tried something I see one of the dark artists around DA using when he puts blood in his works and it turned out okay. Need to get a really good brush to really make it awesome though. Need something that really splatters .

-RenDragonClaw

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