Argus (RP)

Argus' Attack Form

## Argus

"*\*Nondescript happy glob noises\**"
―Argus to Varman Ashrani**Argus** is a sentient mass of liquid metal created by Varman Ashrani during his takeover of Korriban. Created for the sole purpose of fulfilling Ashrani’s goals, Argus is his most loyal subject and his eyes and ears within the Divine Path. Though the force construct was born with a singular purpose he has gone above and beyond his own limits, developing sentience and an optimistic and playful personality. Argus developed alongside Ashrani’s faction, the Divine Path. While powerful individuals gathered to pledge their loyalty to Ashrani, Argus focused only on growing his own mass and abilities to better serve his master.

Argus’ determination to help and improve led to the creation of several powerful abilities, including his independent Argi helpers and the beginnings of a world spanning hive network, located within the sewers of the capital city and a massive tunnel network that once belonged to several giant Sith slugs.

## Biography

### Creation and the Battle for Ashrani's Tomb

Argus was created during Ashrani's battle with the force ghost version of himself. Ashrani destroyed an Eternal Empire titan and transformed the remains with his staff, turning it into a force construct that he used to attack Sith Apprentice Varon and Darth Darthious. During the battle Ashrani was forced back and had to focus his power elsewhere, essentially killing Argus for a moment, who turned into a monument of harden steel. Upon his eventual victory and takeover of Korriban, Ashrani revived Argus to help him guard the new megacity and to hunt down any enemies remaining on the planet.

### Birth of The Divine Path

After becoming Ashrani's first direct servant and being assigned as a guard for the Korriban megacity, Argus met the rogue skytrooper Four, who he briefly chased through the city before Ashrani dealt with him. During the chase Argus displayed both the ability to split into multiple smaller globs and the ability to fire hardened projectiles. Argus later approached Ashrani to show him the damage done to the city, and also to learn about his own powers. This prompted Ashrani to begin experimenting on Argus, and led to an increase in power for him. From there Argus was directed to seek out stronger materials, starting with the sith armor in Ashrani's old tomb.

Argus successfully found the Sith Armor, consuming it and returning to Ashrani's megacity. Afterward Ashrani sent Argus to one of Korriban’s moons, where he destroyed a mining outpost and consumed a large amount of metal. Upon his return Ashrani had adopted a new Sith apprentice, Varon. Though Argus was originally hostile to Varon, remembering their fight during the Battle for Ashrani’s Tomb, he soon warmed up to the Sith. During this time Argus also began training himself to better utilize his abilities, learning how to create piercing tentacles and rudimentary shields. He also met Iaat, a droid that arrived on Korriban with Varon. Iaat was nice enough to feed him a star fighter and managed to befriend the metallic construct.

Every day after that Iaat sent down another star fighter for Argus to eat, solidifying their bond. Sadly Varon and Iaat had to leave and go to the Corporate Sector, leaving the blob all alone with Ashrani again. After a brief underground adventure where Argus befriended a six legged rodent, a new arrival joined Ashrani’s faction. An unaffiliated Sith named Azure and her bantha Dog sought out Ashrani, wondering what caused the sudden terraforming of Korriban. As she moved through the city Argus was able to use an array of Argi to monitor their movements, though it caused extreme mental stress. Once they joined Ashrani, he implanted Argus with the idea that they were friendly, and he quickly warmed up to them as well.

### The Soulbearers and The Hive

A while after Azure joined The Divine Path, Ashrani was approached by an old knight, seeking to fight and die by the blade. Ashrani defeated him and split his soul into five fragments, binding them to armored husks and creating his Knight Commanders, The Soulbearers. Argus quickly warmed up to the five knights as they were constructs somewhat similar to himself. Using his Argi Argus was able to create weapons for each of them, while keeping an eye on them as well. Around that time Argus also discovered the sewers of Ashrani’s capital city, which he claimed and began to construct an underground hive in. Made of organic metal and filled with combat form Argi, it became a hellscape for any potential intruders.

As Argus collected more mass and began categorizing it be increased the size and power of his hive, installing a central core directly under the main temple building. Argus then reinforced the core with the best materials he had access to, including his very limited stock of beskar. At the same time Ashrani assigned Azure to teach and observe Argus, and she became the first person besides Ashrani to see the core of the hive.

While Argus continued to expand the hive a new arrival appeared, the alchemist and sorcerer Seviss Vaa. Vaa began experiments and requested materials from the other members of the Divine Path, prompting Ashrani to upgrade Argus yet again. This time he used sorcery to split several Argi from the network, giving them miniature cores which allowed them to survive independently. With this Argus could accompany the others while they searched, even if they left Korriban.

## Personality and Traits

Argus was created from the broken remains of an Eternal Empire Combat Titan, and was instilled with only the minimum knowledge necessary to fight and kill. After he died as was reconstructed with a more expansive level of intelligence, to the point he can understand galactic basic without much trouble. Argus is a very happy existence, and unquestioningly loyal to Ashrani. He finds the most happiness when complimented by others, and especially when complimented by Ashrani. He has been noted to warble in various tones, which appears to be the limits of his verbal communication. Argus is a very curious creature despite the nature of the people around him, and constantly experiments with his own powers and the world around him.

The individual pieces of Argus known as Argi reflect the personality of their hivemind, with a few differences. Argi often appear to lack intelligence, even compared to the rather dumb Argus. They also interact with each other, high fiving, playing, poking, swimming, etc.

### Relationships

#### Varman Ashrani

Varman Ashrani is Argus' creator and master. Argus is very fond of Ashrani, and treats him with a mix of awe and adoration. Though Argus cannot go against Ashrani's orders, he does not seem to mind in the slightest, happily doing whatever is asked of him. Argus hates disappointing him, he feels like he has failed a friend every time it happens. Ashrani and Argus have a very strong link, mostly because Argus is sustained by the Sith Lord's power. Ashrani can speak into Argus' mind with ease, and is the only person who can entirely understand Argus, easily translating Argus’ incomplete thoughts..

#### Varon

Varon is Ashrani’s first apostle, and someone Argus very nearly killed when they first met, before Varon joined Ashrani’s side. Now Argus views him as a friend, under Ashrani’s orders. As Varon has paid the most attention to his Buddy Argi, Argus generally likes him. Varon wad the first to take a piece of Argus offworld, and their relationship has grown greatly.

#### Iaat

Argus only met Iaat briefly before he had to leave with Varon, and he once held the number 1 spot in Argus’ list of friends. This is partially because he was very friendly, but mostly it is because Iaat sends star fighters and other metal objects for Argus to eat every day, helping him increase his mass. Iaat is sometimes mentally referred to as the “sky metal lord” due to his ability to summon starfighters from the sky.

#### Azure

Azure was Ashrani’s second apostle, and the only one beyond Ashrani who had been able to communicate with the blob directly. Her understanding of telepathy allowed her to share thoughts and ideas with Argus, who absolutely adored talking to her. Once Ashrani assigned her to be Argus’ caretaker and trainer she quickly rose to become one of Argus’ favorite people. After her death at the hands of Varon Argus moved on, as his personality demands. She was once a favorite of his, but now is nothing more than a fond memory.

#### Dog

Dog was Azure’s pet bantha. Though Argus had not interacted with them much, he was able to feed them hay and they were able to relax around a campfire for a while. Dog had interacted with several Argi in the watering hole area in the lower city, which had deepened Argus’ bond with the bantha significantly, before Ashrani ordered him to kill it. The execution was swift and efficient, harboring no ill will or emotion. Argus simply carried out his task.

#### The Soulbearers

As they are also creations of Ashrani Argus views these five favorably, though the fact that they are both five and one confuses him. He has only recently developed opinions of the five as individuals, but he generally views them positively.

#### Seviss Vaa

The Chemist has yet to talk to Argus directly, but Argus respects him because he was able to immediately recognize what Argus was, and that made him happy. Argus often assists Seviss in the lab, carrying equipment and preparing experiments. He has come to trust him quite a bit while watching him work, and respects his knowledge greatly. With the creation of Greg and the Shai-Hulud Argus trusted Seviss enough to reveal his core to him, and make direct contact. Seviss has gained complete trust from the metal blob.

## Skills and Equipment

Argus is a force construct designed to absorb matter. Metals are the easiest thing for him to absorb, and he particularly struggles with organic matter. Anything he absorbs becomes a somewhat metallic, adding to his base mass. His basic form is a featureless silver mass that looks similar to liquid mercury, though its consistency may vary. Argus can control anything he has absorbed up a certain range, where the blobs will revert to their original forms, becoming pieces of hardened metal. The blobs do not necessarily need to be in direct contact with Argus for him to control them, and he has displayed the ability to split off into multiple independent constructs, collectively referred to as Argi. If any Argi pass outside of his range the connection will be severed and they will return to their original form as well. As Argus has complete control of the metal he has absorbed, he can also naturally harden it at will, creating walls, shields, or weapons out of his own flesh. While creating objects was at one point impossible, Ashrani helped Argus achieve true sentience, and since then he has begun constructing more complex shapes, like rudimentary chairs, cubes, balls, etc. He even created weapons like scythes, axes, and long swords for the Soulbearers out of his own Argi. The upper limits of Argus' abilities has not been fully established, as Ashrani has not yet finished upgrading and experimenting. Argus has put in quite a bit of training to improve himself, and has gained great skill with manifesting and striking with tentacles. He can harden the ends of these tentacles to form strong piercing weapons, or flatten them into shield like objects.

### The Hive

With the development of the hive, Argus has become more of an environmental hazard than a direct opponent. With his liquid metal coating a large portion of the inner city sewers, any person within that area is immediately noticed and watched. Anywhere that is directly connected to the hive can be manipulated by Argus, given that he is sitting within the core and not moving independently. While within the core he essentially becomes the hive, sacrificing all independence in exchange for complete control over his domain and a sizable increase in processing power. The hive features numerous tentacles and metal flower buds, each containing a combat form Argi, ready to pounce. The core itself, which sits within a large basin beneath the central temple, is massive, roughly 40ft across and attached to the walls via massive metal support tendrils.

### Argi

Argus has many types of Argi under his control, and many are specialized for specific tasks or missions for the Silver Eye. Here are semi-detailed descriptions of them.

#### Basic Argi

The basic Argi can take many forms, essentially whatever Argus needs. Any unattached piece of Argus that can accomplish tasks semi autonomously can be considered a basic level Argi.

#### Buddy Argi

Argi designed to assist the major faction members of the Divine Path and be adorable companions for them. Though they can fight, they prioritize more plushie-like aspects, being squishy, pliable, and generally adorable.

#### Combat Argi

Combat Argi are designated combat units that operate independently from Argus (that is to say they are not like his manifested tentacles). They can fight on their own and harden like Argus can, though their regeneration is limited and they cannot absorb matter in the way he can.

#### Drone Argi

The simple worker Argi, made of heavy metals and hollow so that materials can be placed inside and moved easily. These drones also handle construction and are mostly seen within the Hive.

#### Untethered Buddy Argi

Untethered Buddy Argi are like normal Buddy Argi except that they are not reliant on the network like all other Argi are. They can survive without a direct connection indefinitely and now serve the faction members better than ever. This feat of sorcery was completed by Ashrani, who created miniature cores within each of them.

### Weaknesses

Currently Argus has sub-human level intelligence, and this can be manipulated by almost anyone. It is easy to misdirect Argus or make him fall into traps. As a being made of pure metal and sustained by the force, Argus is very hard to damage with conventional weaponry. Blaster bolts and lightsabers will damage him, but his sheer durability and ability to regenerate makes him difficult to damage at all. The most immediate solution to this would be overwhelming firepower, essentially shredding him until he can no longer regenerate. Another effective strategy is the use of abilities like force sever, which will effectively kill him temporarily, turning him into a large block of metal. Lower level force severs will only freeze parts of him, like Argi or separated blobs, severing his connection to them and decreasing his ability to regenerate. Electricity is also effective against him and while not directly dangerous, it does cause damage to his hive mind, which can cut off Argi or cause Argus to lose control over his own body, depending on what is targeted and the strength of the lightning. All of these methods can temporarily destroy Argus, but killing him permanently is difficult as Ashrani can revive him without much difficulty. The only permanent way to kill Argus is to destroy Ashrani himself, as Argus’ existence is directly tied to Ashrani’s power.