The Scarlet Star Trilogy

by Ben Galley

  Coyote—Scavenger

  This shade enables a rusher to survive off a fraction of the food intake they normally would.

  Horse

  Increases stamina and top running speed.

  Unfortunately, some rushers can develop hard, hoof-like growths on the soles of the feet.

  Fox

  Gives rushers improved night-vision, however this shade only lasts for a matter of minutes.

  Ram/Rhino—Ironhead

  Rushers have a thicker cranium for short periods. Resulting activities, such as head-butting, can result in extensive brain damage.

  Beaver—Axetooth

  Makes a rusher’s teeth incredibly strong. This shade can turn permanent, if pushed.

  Porcupine

  Gives a rusher black spines on arms and legs.

  Skunk—Stench

  Yet another shade which is as much blessing as curse. It makes the rusher able to emit a putrid stench from their pores. The drawback is the actual power itself.

  Wildcat/Cougar/Lynx

  Rushers experience unstoppable savagery, as well as an increased sensitivity to noise.

  Lion—Loner

  An incredibly strong hunting instinct. With overuse, this shade can cause antisocial and violent tendencies.

  Armadillo—Clinker

  A very hard shade to stomach. Results in armoured skin in most cases, however it can result in thick and unsightly calluses.

  Deer

  Increased awareness of nearby creatures. It can make a rusher skittish and nervous even when not rushing.

  Elephant

  Rushers using this shade can carry huge loads with no trouble. Skin can become greyer with use.

  Honey Badger

  Gives the rusher strength, ferocity, toughness and increased stamina. Major disadvantage is fearlessness.

  Bat

  Hearing becomes incredibly sensitive. For weaker rushers, this can cause temporary deafness or tinnitus.

  Dog—Snuffler

  Sense of smell is increased to outstanding levels.

  Cat

  Sense of balance and agility is heightened. Rushers have been reported to experience furballs.

  Meerkat

  Heightened reactions and sense of danger, verging on the precognitive.

  Panda

  Increased strength and the gift of very strong jaws. Unfortunately, use of this shade can result in a complete loss of libido.

  Degu

  Makes a rusher more sociable, and expands the vocal repertoire. Side-effects may include yellowish brown fur.

  Monkey

  Enhanced climbing skills and reactions. This shade will cause excessive body hair with overuse.

  Tiger

  Gives a rusher faintly striped skin and therefore a camouflage ability. Savage tendencies have also been recorded.

  Rat

  Rushers using this shade are able to withstand poisoning, and consume almost anything without harm. However, this shade can wear off unpredictably, causing trouble if digestion is not quite complete.

  Otter

  Causes a thin webbing to temporarily form between toes. Also gives better vision and hearing underwater. The side-effect is often permanent whiskers.

  Flying Fox

  Incredible hearing, night vision and saggy patches of skin under the arms that can be used for gliding. Sometimes permanent.

  Squirrel/Chipmunk/Mouse—Bucktooth

  This shade heightens the reactions of a rusher. With prolonged use it can cause the two front teeth to grow larger and protrude from the mouth, hence the nickname.

  Ferret/Weasel/Mongoose—Flitter

  Heightened agility and reactions.

  Sloth

  Gives the rusher sharp claws instead of fingernails. Can cause narcolepsy or extreme tiredness.

  Mole—Milkeyes

  Another shade that produces sharp claws in rushers, as well as better night-vision. However, claws can instead manifest in the feet instead of hands, and cataracts from repeated use have also been recorded.

  —Reptiles—

  Known as ‘Scalebleeders’ or ‘Coldbloods’

  Rattlesnake—Whisperskin

  Gifts a rusher with the ability to rattle skin to intimidate enemies. Also makes a rusher’s bite poisonous. The drawback, as with many of the reptile shades, is permanent scales.

  Tortoise/Turtle

  Gives a rusher leathery armour along their back and shoulders.

  Whiptail lizard

  This shade gifts a rusher with increased speed. Overuse can cause muscle strains, atrophy, and even permanent damage.

  Horned lizard

  Rushers have the ability to siphon water out of the air in desert climates. Scales are once again a drawback.

  Thorny devil

  This shade produces multiple, jagged spikes on a rusher’s shoulders, arms and back.

  Gecko

  Rushers using this shade have enhanced climbing abilities thanks to sticky fingers.

  Komodo dragon—Dribblekill

  The Komodo shade gifts a rusher with mildly poisonous saliva which, over a period of time, can debilitate an enemy. Extreme tooth decay has been recorded as a side-effect.

  Asp/Sea snake

  These shades give rushers poisonous fangs, but can cause damage to gums and lips.

  Frilled Lizard

  Gives a rusher an air of intimidation, but can result in scaly skin and dandruff.

  Boa—Wraparound

  Enhanced strength, and slightly longer arms for reaching around enemies. Arthritis is a common side-effect of this shade.

  Bearded dragon

  Rushers grow tough scales instead of skin. Dermatitis has been recorded.

  Cayman/Alligator/Crocodile—Sneakfang

  Rushers become incredibly stealthy. Teeth also become sharper and more numerous. This can cause gum disease as well as scales in lesser rushers.

  Chameleon—Trickskin

  Skin becomes reactive to colour and light, changing to adapt to surroundings. Very difficult shade to master.

  Cobra—Borer

  Rusher’s eyes take on a very intimidating quality which is only increased by staring.

  Snapping turtle/Terrapin

  This shade gives rushers thick leathery skin and stronger teeth than normal.

  Salamander—Char

  Increased resistance to fire and flame. Permanent blackening of the skin can occur.

  Dart frog—Sickskin

  Skin becomes poisonous to the touch. Rushers can develop halitosis with prolonged use.

  Monitor lizard—Raker

  Rusher can grow sharp and long claws. Side-effects can include blisters, ingrown nails, and arthritis.

  Gila monster

  Gives rushers the ability to spit acid for short periods of time.

  Coqui frog—Screech

  Rushers can screech at a piercing volume. Laryngitis is a very common condition associated with this shade.

  Horned toad

  This particular shade bestows the ability to swallow great volumes, and stretch mouth to incredible proportions. Can clause slack jaw.

  Bullfrog

  Increases aggression.

  Toad

  This shade thickens the skin, turning it into leather.

  Newt—Nevercut

  This shade bestows the regeneration ability of a a newt on the rusher.

  —Insects—

  Known as ‘Blackeyes’ or ‘Greenbloods’

  Butterfly—Flutter

  Increases a rusher’s overall physical attractiveness. It is recorded that this shade may shorten lifespans.

  Waterboatman—Placid

  Rushers of this shade can run across water if they are fast enough.

  Honey bee

  Provides an enhanced sense of smell. Overuse can cause depression if the rusher is left alone too long.

  Wasp—Shiv

  Gives the rusher a sharp, slightly poisonous sting that protrudes from the base of the palm. Rushers of th
is shade can develop a nervous disposition.

  Dung Beetle/Ant/Stag beetle—Charger

  Enhanced strength, yet can cause blackening of the eyes, like many other shades in this vein.

  Mantis—Snapper

  Gives a rusher the ability to snap hands together at supersonic speeds, crushing enemies. In extreme cases, rushers also develop jagged fingers. The drawbacks include broken limbs.

  Moth

  A rusher of this shade can shed a fine, choking dust from the skin.

  Glow-worm

  This shade makes skin glow a bright yellow or green. Bleaching of the skin to a pure white or pale yellow can occur with overuse.

  Cicada—Siren

  Sirens can screech at a piercing pitch and volume, momentarily stunning enemies or breaking glass. Snapped vocal chords may occur in lesser rushers.

  Firefly

  This shade causes the skin to glow or flash brightly for a limited time.

  Funnel-web spiders—Silkfingers/Strangler

  Hands produce a sticky, tough silk, which can also provide enhanced climbing abilities. One common drawback is an increased hunger for flies and other insects.

  Trapdoor spider

  Rushers are able to move in incredible, though short-lived, bursts of speed.

  Black Widow spider—The Dead Man

  Causes the rusher’s fingertips to become poisonous. The drawback, even for strong rushers, is permanence, hence this shade’s nickname.

  Goliath spider

  This shade causes the rusher’s body to grow one and a half times larger, and swell with muscle. It can result in dislocated shoulders and joints.

  Centipede/Cockroach—Black Knight

  Gifts a rusher thick, armoured scales along the forearms, back and shoulders. In almost all cases, it causes a blackening of the eyes.

  Stick insect

  This shade causes thinning of the limbs and enhanced sneaking ability.

  Mosquito—Sapper

  Gives a rusher the ability to sap energy from a victim or enemy. This shade should be treated with caution, as it is viciously addictive.

  Leech

  This particular shade can heighten a rusher’s power and ability to rush. The drawback is once again blackened eyes.

  Earthworm

  This gifts rushers with an incredibly sturdy digestive system.

  —Myth—

  The Fae

  Invisibility.

  Minotaur—The Beast

  Increased strength and endurance.

  Centaur

  Enhanced vision.

  Phoenix

  Immunity to fire, and marginally increased life-span.

  Huldra

  Gives a rusher the ability to seduce or coerce people.

  Kelpie/Water Nymph

  Rushers can breathe underwater for short periods of time.

  Dragon

  Impenetrable skin.

  Elf/Wood Nymph

  Rusher becomes extremely light of foot.

  Dwarf

  This shade grants the ability to bend metal and withstand heat.

  Giant

  Increased strength and size.

  Troll/Golem—Stoneskin

  Gives a rusher skin as tough as stone.

  Goblin

  This shade grants a rusher the ability to see in the dark.

  Sphinx

  Rushers have the ability to temporarily transfix and stun enemies with a single look.

  Banshee

  Rushers of this shade can fade the skin and howl in a mesmerising fashion.

  Mockinghawk

  Rushers can change skin and clothing to imitate almost anybody.

  Thunderbird

  This shade electrifies the skin and causes it to crackle.

  Rainbirds

  This shade grants rushers the ability to control and manipulate rain.

  Wisps

  Rushers are able to manipulate fog, mist and smoke.

  Kee-wakw/Draugr

  A very special shade that should be treated with absolute caution. Rushers can use other shades for a limited period of time, emulating a leech. Should it wear off whilst rushing a foreign shade, it can have disastrous consequences.

  Nimerigar

  Rushers can shrink to less than half their size at will.

  Piasa bird

  This shade turns the rusher’s skin colour into a hypnotic, ever-changing rainbow.

  Wampus Cat

  Rushers can growl with intimidating ferocity and volume.

  Mermaid

  A curious shade that allows rushers to understand the minds of fish and aquatic beasts.

  Sleeping Tree/Oracle

  These shades give a rusher visions of truth and the future.

  Chupacabra

  This shade gives certain rushers the ability to steal and empathise another rusher’s powers, replacing their own until finding another victim.

  Lupus

  Turns a rusher into a creature similar to a lupus itself, though decidedly more human.

  Sprite

  Control and manipulation of fire.

  TONMERION WILL RETURN…