The TKs

## **The True Kind of Velora**

### **The Myth of Takai Riphius and his Disciples**

*Founded in Ancient Nitron, by the wielder of the Staff of Kazar, Takai Riphius, the True Kind(Originally known as "the Disciples of Riphius") were a band of rebels who allied themselves, after being chosen by Riphius, in order to fight against the Tyranny of a ruthless dictator known across Nitron as "The Ruler". As Riphius led his disciples, and all who'd banded with them, they overthrew "The Ruler" and managed to free Nitron.*

--as Veloran Mythology tells.

### **The Age of the True Kind**

In the Modern Era, the True Kind(shortened to "The TKs") were a group of heroes who defended the Veloran Continent from foes such as Skul, Phazer, and other villains.

The earliest series in the EC Universe, The TKs predates all other series, as the initial ideas/concepts were created in the Mid-90s. Originally a turtle-type character, designed loosely after a "Koopa Troopa" from the Super Mario universe--the turtle sported a pair of diamond(eventually triangle)-shaped eyes, a ripped denim jacket and matching cut-off shorts. His weapon of choice, a typical 90's kids toy: a Super Soaker(squirt gun). This character soon became RIPSTER. A redesign sometime later, giving him a sideways/backwards baseball cap, a normal shirt/shorts look, with a peace symbol on the shirt, and a pair of rollerblades for transportation.

To go along with Ripster, a friend/cohort was created---similar in look, but with normal eyes(sometimes drawn with bloodshot eyes), same cap/shorts/shirt combo, but with a Yin-Yang for a symbol and a skateboard for his mode of getting-around. His name, Blaster.

As the series evolved, the cast grew to include a more lizard-like friend and fighter, with spiky hair and an "X" for a symbol to go alongside his long lizardy tail, X-Ray was created. To round it out the fourth, and final team member was an electrified counterpart, with a cape, and a big lightning bolt on his shirt(with or without it being wrapped in a circle), Lightning(the eventually dubbed Elemental), joined the first round of The TKs(though TKs at the time included periods between the letters, and an apostrophe to pluralize the group **"The T.K.'s"**).

The TKs began in some early comics and sketches, and a somewhat early canon was established. The group, led by Ripster, fought against villains such as a skeleton-humanoid known as SKUL. Skul's minions included Phazer(w/ a "Z"), and an endless army of miniature minions later dubbed "Do-Dos". To aide the TKs, they had a royal and regal friend and ally, King Titus.

The first 4 or 5 years of the TKs original comic books and drawings were either lost or thrown away by the series creator(a young S.A. Nathe). But the basic story continued in the triumphant return for the TKs in the second OFFICIAL EC Brand series(then called "Flame Comics"-brand)--CAMOFLAGE. Soon after joining up with the Metalloid Hero, Ripster and Blaster ventured into the return of The TKs to their own series.

## The Original TK Series

As Ripster and Blaster returned to Velora, they soon found their home land had been ravaged by the darkness of a Dralarian scientist, Fesk. Claiming to be a native of Nitron, he had originally sworn his allegiance to King Titus, the ruler of Velora--and last in a long line of Veloran kings. Fesk, in secret, had been concocting a chemical weapon, and soon changed his name to "NITROUS OXIDE". All of this had been done out of revenge, as Fesk's father, Baltor, had been killed a decade earlier by Titus.

While Nitrous Oxide overran most of the Royal City(Velora's capitol) and the surrounding cities of Nitir, Bestal and Carete, the TKs own compound, which was just north of Mescre Lake, was spared. As Ripster and Blaster arrived, they found the minions of their greatest nemesis--SKUL--had taken over. X-Ray had been captured and held prisoner, but soon after freeing their friend, he proved his loyalty to Skul, betraying the TKs. As battle ensued, the fourth TK, Lightning arrived, and helped fight off the betraying X-Ray and the minions of Skul.

As time progress, and another old TK arrived at the compound, Dantre the Craxian, and eventually a surprising recruit--Iceflame the Elemental(Windfire's Brother). Soon King Titus arrived at the Compound, seeking help from Ripster and his friends. They set to take back the Royal City and defeating the darkness of Nitrous Oxide, but soon after the TKs became infected by the gases, and the four(excluding Iceflame who had returned to Kater), were saved by the last Veloran guard, Zaylon, as well as Titus' own daughter, Sazra.

As Ripster and Lightning recovered, King Titus was captured by Nitrous' minions, including Zaylon's own father Tasvar. Using his dark chemicals, Nitrous was corrupted and was soon sent to destroy the TKs. Soon after stopping the brainwashed King, Ripster and Lightning left to take on and stop Nitrous at his Citadel. During the battle, Ripster and Lightning got into a heated argument over Ripster's command, and Lightning expressed his anger over the "split" between them and the "other TKs"(including Lightning's own brother, "Spincycle"). Lightning left Ripster on his own, which led to a final confrontation--and Ripster nearly dying when the Citadel imploded.

Nitrous, seeing the dazed and confused Veloran, took advantage and began to corrupt Ripster into the Dark-Fused being known as "X-BOMB". Ordering his new assassin to destroy the TKs, X-Bomb went after Blaster and Lightning at the compound, when suddenly the once-split faction of the TKs arrived, and stopped X-Bomb long enough until Lightning "SHOCKED" him, and once again Ripster was back. It was during this time that one of their former enemies, Shapeshifter the Duploid, switched sides and became a TK as well, in order to defeat Skul.

It wasn't long until the TKs' oldest foe returned, this time spouting that he was the embodiment of the T'Roan Spirit God of Elements. This time, there was the full force of the TKs--including Spincycle, Grabber, Skyrunner, Lerax, Howlizard, Crag and Syrox. They were able to subdue Skul, but soon after dissension in the ranks broke out. The group led for years by Skyrunner, believed King Titus was responsible for the death of their lost friend and Captain, Talon. It turned out Syrox, who in the years since the split had become a Mercenary, only to be freed when Drone #0001/Warper killed Arcad, hadn't been loyal as he'd once been. Selling out Talon and his friends. Syrox betrayed the TKs, but soon Talon returned and aided in the eventual take down of not only the traitor, but Skul and his minions.

In one final showdown, after learning from King Titus' discovery in the Royal Library, Ripster soon discovered that He himself was destined to become Takai Riphius, the original TK. As Skul returned for one last battle, Ripster, now imbued with the energy and power of his true form as "The Chosen One", was sent through Void to a battle with Skul. It was during this battle that Skul revealed he had stolen the Staff of Kazar, and had also "stolen" the energy of Elemus(see previous paragraph). Ripster, using his trademark Chains, managed to nearly take down Skul, but when Dantre showed up out of a Void portal, he aided Ripster in launching the Staff of Kazar towards the open portal. Skul dove after it, but Dantre then opened a second portal, sucking Skul in, and giving Ripster the chance to grab the Staff of Kazar and disappear into the original portal.

## The Chosen One

Ripster's arrival in Ancient Nitron was the beginning of the TK leader's true destiny. Arriving and being instantly attacked by a Nitronian shuttle, he fled into an ally and soon was met by Talmium and Alxian. Ripster not knowing where he was, was shocked to find out he was in Nitron, millennia before his own Birth in the Veloran village of Rivee.