Character Showcase: Scarab

Ah, Scarab. I don't even remember how I thought him up. Why a Kabutops, one of the least known Pokemon out there? I knew nothing about Pokemon before the role-play I joined, so how did I figure out what this character would be?

Perhaps I should explain what he was created for. He was the first character I had in the amazing, epic forum role-play "Rise of the Shadows". The entire 820 page (and possibly growing, though it is ending) role-play is based off the idea of the Dusk. Human scientists created the Dusk virus as a way to prevent uprisings, a sort of super force. The virus could be injected into Pokemon and spread through wounds, so any war with uninfected Pokemon inevitably lead to more being infected. The virus itself had only a few symptoms; the skin, scales or fur of a Pokemon would turn black; and their mind would be infested with murderous Voices. Often the Voices drove the victim to madness, taking over their mind completely and transforming them into savage killers.

The world I created Scarab for was experiencing a mass uprising of the Dusk, which had escaped the labs and were running around in a frenzy. Leaderless, I could see that they wouldn't do well. So I created a leader. Scarab drove them, creating plans of attack instead of simply sending a swarm. He sharpened the Dusk weapon to a deadly edge. The Virus evolved as well with the change, training the Dusk to follow their leader's words.

Scarab suffered for his position, too. Far beyond being targeted by Dawn (a rebel group of uninfected Pokemon), Scarab's mind was decaying. All that kept him independent from the scheming Voices was his bond to Hands, a Noctowl that acted as his sister. With her around, his mind kept itself strong. They protected each other with their lives.

This, however, came to an end. Hands was captured by the Dawn, and the Voices took over in Scarab's moment of weakness. He forgot about Hands as a friend, knowing her only as a pest. He left his army during a disastrous battle, pursuing a new goal - strength. Dr. Insins, a human scientist who had helped create the Dusk virus, was there to help. He strengthened the Virus, giving it the capability to evolve Pokemon beyond their past limit. Buzzard, a Charizard that I will showcase later, evolved into a Charidon first. A second injection moved him up to a Charaptor, and then lastly a Charrosaurus. Soon the entire Dusk army, consisting of hundreds of Pokemon, was evolved.

As Terenas Menethil II said, though, no king rules forever. A mass cure was sent out by the Dawn. Many of the Dusk ignored it, surviving on loyalty to Scarab - until he was cured, too. With this, the Voices that drove him faded... and there was no mind to take over. His death shattered the Dusk.

Scarab would not have been what he was without the Dusk virus. His natural personality was that of a calm, quiet, humble and intelligent Kabutops that avoided leadership. The Virus drew out his hidden ambitions, though, and he became cool, calculating, ambitious beyond words and cold to anyone he didn't have complete trust in. He formed the Dusk as he never would have been able to, changing them from savage, mindless killers to thoughtful, determined revolutionaries. They had a goal under his leadership. And with his fall, so fell their goal, and everything they had fought for.

Rest in peace, Scarab.

(Next Showcase will be Buzzard)