The Tripods

The **Tripods** were a set of nigh-invulnerable vehicles that were used by the Chrophii during their invasion of Earth. They were also called “*Fighting Machines*” as well as being referred to as a “*Thing*” or “*Demon*”. Described as being impossible to take down as well as being very aggressive in their violent subjugation of the planet, humanity was on the risk of being completely wiped out by their assault, with over 3.7 billion deaths being confirmed, and another 400 million being reported as missing. The planet soon became successfully occupied until their defeat by the hands of a deadly bio-weapon, such a kind that was relatively harmless to humans. The remaining Tripods on Earth were then scrapped apart and re-engineered decades later once society began to reform.

## Purpose

During the early stages of the invasion, the Tripods seemingly rose from the shorelines of major cities and areas of militaristic and strategic importance, such as New York and Washington D.C. after a “dense meteor shower” that was spotted in the middle of the sea a couple of hours earlier. With the bulk of these machines originating from the Atlantic Ocean, it is assumed that the majority of them landed there then assumed their flanks, spreading in two massive waves, one headed towards the Americas, and the other towards Europe and Africa. These machines were the main weapons used by the Chrophii during the attack, with no other vehicles being spotted for engaging with aquatic or aerial counterattacks by humanity, although with the all-terrain advantage that the machines have, it is assumed that they can traverse the deepest of oceans with no difficulty, having a speedy trek across the Atlantic in just 2 hours.

The Tripods were heavily varied in their designs based on what exactly they were made for, as three types were spotted and named to distinguish one type from another. All were equipped with at least one headlight for nighttime illumination and at least one heat-ray for defensive capabilities. As revealed at the time of their defeat, all Tripods with the exception of the “Uber” variants are neurologically linked with their pilots, rendering separation by anything other than their own methods as instantaneous death for them. This means that they can be controlled by humans as well, as one curious scientist discovered as he accidentally connected himself with a moderately damaged Scouter and had waltzed around for a few minutes before dying due to asphyxiation (because of the small interior and the artificial gasses produced inside for the intended Chrophiian pilot, which mimics their atmosphere).

## Variants

#### Scouting Tripods

These variants are roughly 50 meters (164 feet) tall, standing on thin, wiry legs that are highly flexible and dexterous. Their heads are very compact and small, with only enough space for one alien pilot. The space inside is also enough to fit a human inside, albeit rather uncomfortably. They are the type seen most commonly and are the kind that encounters humans the most, especially their militarized groups. Armed with an energy shield and two retractable heat rays as well as a Black Smoke dispenser, the machines were described as terrifying juggernauts that trampled any and every resistance that mankind threw its way. Although it is nigh-invulnerable with the shield activated, when deactivated, the machine is very easy to dispatch, with several missile-strikes from a fighter jet being able to bring one down. It has a small horn-like attachment on its rear that makes a low-pitch howl loud enough to be heard for several miles, used for calling other Tripods.

#### Harvester Tripods

These Tripods are around 70 meters (229 feet) tall, having a build that is far more bulky and armored than the Scouters. They appear to have a dome-like head that is at least three times larger than the former variant and is more chrome and reflective in appearance. It is equipped with at least 23 tentacles, seven of which are equipped with a sharp end for impaling humans and/or animals, with the remainder having a smooth, bulb-like end for carrying victims without harming them. It also has an internal compartment that is used for restraining captured people until they are ready to be harvested, having their tissue and blood manufactured for consumption and Red Weed cultivation. They have no heat rays, and are just heavily armored and are equipped with shields. They do have Black Smoke dispensers, although they use them sparingly as their purpose is to capture and manufacture humans for terraformation, only being allowed to use them when under attack. Scouters, usually two, are seen guarding a Harvester at any given time as well.

#### Commander Tripods (Uberpods)

This variant of Tripod is the largest there is, standing at a harrowing 180 meters (620 feet), and are the heaviest and most armored of the bunch. Their heads are rather featureless and reflective in the front, with a slit-like headlight that wraps around the machine to its sides, giving the pilots a greater field of vision, being far brighter (so bright that the intensity of which is enough to blind a person unlucky enough to glare at it) than an average type. The vehicle has thicker, stiffer legs that while prohibits flexible movements such as crouching and elongated strides, has the payoff of being far harder to damage, coated in an armor that is so tough, not even the blasts of another Tripod can damage it. They are equipped with shields, heavy armor and far more powerful heat-rays, capable of melting tanks and aircrafts in seconds as well as vaporizing several meters of ground effortlessly, rendering basements and underground shelters (which if hidden well enough is sufficient to hide against a Scouter or Harvester) absolutely useless. They also have a far deadlier version of Black Smoke which is a tad lighter and harder to dissipate within their arsenal as well. It is described as having acidic properties as well, able to acidify water to lesser extremes as well as melt away flesh and skin upon contact. These variants are the hardest to spot and are very rare to come across, though this is probably more of a blessing than anything.

## Paraphernalia

As a common trend of items used for their defense and offense, all Tripods are equipped with one or more of the following:

##### Heat Ray

The heat ray is the primary weapon of the Tripods, a superheated beam of immense energy and force, about four times hotter than the sun's core, used to vaporize humans and destroy infrastructure. It can either be used in an isolated manner (only able to destroy targets within a very small radius) or widespread (able to destroy miles of targets at a time).

##### Energy Shields

These are the primary defense mechanism for the Tripods, a barrier of dense energy particles that deflect or stop any weapons that touch it. This can be deactivated with enough force although, such as a high-end nuclear weapon.

##### Black Smoke

Black Smoke is the secondary weapon of the Tripods, used to kill entire cities of people in a few hours. This form of gas is a combination of highly concentrated carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and phosgene. The gas is also quite dense , staying near ground-level at all times. Side effects of inhalation are hemorrhaging, hyperventilation, paralysis, skin deterioration, skin decomposition, vomiting and death.

##### Armored Alloy

Made from some unknown alloy, the armor that coats most Tripods is dense enough to resist conventional artillery. Only armor-piercing rounds can scratch them (with the exception of the variant coated on the Uberpods) with larger explosives and bombs being able to destroy it completely, that is, if the shields are/were deactivated beforehand.

## Trivia

The Tripods were highly influenced and inspired by the antagonists of the *War of the Worlds* franchise, with the latter under the same name. However, the alien race that piloted and created them are entirely original, as well as the machines' designs.