1 The Beyond Heroes Roleplaying Game Book XIX: The Book of Metahumans Writing and Design: Marco Ferraro The Book of Metahumans Copyright © 2019 Marco Ferraro All Rights Reserved This is meant as an amateur free fan production. Absolutely no money is generated from it. Wizards of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, and their logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the United States and other countries. © 2018 Wizards. All Rights Reserved. Beyond Heroes is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Wizards of the Coast LLC. Contents Foreword 3 Metahuman Biology 3 Genetic Experimentation 4 Lifeforms or property 7 Metahuman Classes 9 Organizations 30 Appendix 1: Unusual Characteristics 47 Appendix 2: Super Advantages 49 Appendix 3: Super Disadvantages 51 2 All forms of Metahumans possess the X- Foreword Gene positioned on the 23rd The Beyond Heroes Role Playing Game chromosome (sexual chromosome). The is based on a heavily revised derivative X-Gene activation leads (via version of the rules system from transcription and translation) to the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd production of an exotic protein. This edition. It also makes extensive use of protein produces chemical signals the optional point buying system as inducing mutations on other genes, presented in the AD&D Player’s Option ending up with mutant organisms, Skills and Powers book. My primary variously empowered. The activated goal was to make this system usable in mutants, once through a mutation or X- any setting, from fantasy to pulp to Mutation, are told to be "mutated", superhero to science fiction. which is also told of mutants who suffer further mutations through Metahumans are an offshoot race of experimentation. Homo Sapiens. Meta powers often (though not always) first manifest For most Metahumans, mutation occurs themselves in the teen-age years. mostly during puberty "in a high proportion or recorded cases", although Metapowers are described in BH3 The activation may occur earlier for some Book of Powers. individuals, such as to the age of ten. Some Metahumans activate at birth or at a very early state of their life, or even before birth, whether due to stress, or 1. Metahuman naturally, for various reasons. Some activated due to fear, hunger and Biology starvation, and emotional traumas. Metahumans are individuals with major genetic modifications present in their Solar radiation has been tied to dramatic DNA at birth. These modifications often rises in Metahuman birth rates. Direct endow the user with super-human radiation on humans (latent powers and abilities. These changes may Metahumans) has been a factor of manifest themselves in physical changes, mutation activation (on both the X and such as wings, fur, or oddly shaped eyes. M Genes). The radiation of parents have Or they may be internal, and the been often presented for being individual may appear human until he or responsible for Metahuman birth. Beta she suddenly begins reading minds or particles and irradiation may as well turning into ice or fire. affect the mutation, possibly turning unborn children into Metahumans when Metahumans, despite their human their pregnant mothers are irradiated, nature, feature many distinctive aspects enhancing Metahuman powers for active in biology, physiology and genetics from Metahumans. Some factors may as well their evolutionary predecessors, but also inhibit and prevent the activation of an within them. They are distinguished X-Gene: from baseline humans (Homo sapiens) by their mutant genes. 3 Mutations have been shown to be really other genus Homo species (Homo variable, "can be benign or malignant", sapiens, Homo inhumanus, Homo from little physical mutations to vast mermanus, etc.), gods (Asgardians) and psionic or reality manipulation other humanoid aliens. capabilities. The physiology of some subjects could also be drastically During their second visit on Earth (one modified. million five hundred thousand BC), the Celestial Alliance experimented on the Children of Metahumans, most often Elven and Human species leading to the have very similar, exact duplicate, or creation of the Dwarven and Gnome advanced versions of one or both species and introducing the X-Gene into parents' powers. Occasionally, the the Human gene pool. resulting offspring can have radically different powers. There are representatives of Metahuman- kind on every continent on earth, Neither of these results are uncommon including the Antarctic. when crossbreeding between Metahumans and Homo sapiens. Familial power similarities are not only passed from parent to child, but can also 2. Genetic be common between siblings in first generation Metahuman families. Though less common, powers can also vary Experimentation widely within first generation Much fewer than half of one percent Metahumans just as with parental power exhibit noticeable physiological changes inheritance. or evolution in the superhuman or paranormal range. On the other hand, It has been stated that second generation that could all change with scientists Metahumans could be mightier than monkeying around with genetic their parents, as they possess often the manipulation and engineering. Improved addition of their parents' powers. humans who can live longer, healthier Though a union including at least one lives and the idea of being able to Metahuman parent will often produce a eliminate many diseases, to retard or Metahuman offspring, human offspring stop the aging process, and to be able to can occur:. In very rare instances, a child reverse senility are all things worth of two Metahumans can evolutionarily striving toward. However, science looks regress and be born Homo sapiens to go way beyond such basic concerns. without an X-Gene. Already improving soldiers on a genetic level is being researched by various Some Metahuamns have alien legacy governments. One can go even beyond and it is sometimes stated that this this with bodies genetically manipulated genetic particularity may be involved in the apparition of the X-Gene in babies. Metahumans have been shown to successfully crossbreed with several 4 to perform certain types of work or to There are a dozen major areas of look exotic, or to have aspects and genetic engineering involved in abilities of animals, as well as multiple creating new life forms. Some of the bodies through cloning, etc. The most notable include the following: possibilities are nearly endless. Chimera Genetics, an advanced and The entire process of natural mutation frightening aspect of genetic and evolution has been yanked out of the engineering that takes and merges the hands of slow moving evolution and genetic structure of two or more thrown forward at a reckless pace by (usually 4-8), completely different science. Thanks to advances in bio- animals. technologies, humankind is in the process of jumping millions of years on Named after the mythical Greek the evolutionary scale, and going in monster with the head of a lion , the directions nature would never have body and legs of a goat and the tail of a taken. crocodile, this area of genetics, can , in theory, create an animal or human Genetic engineering, molecular biology, chimera - i.e. , a humanoid with the embryo engineering, cloning, cross- basic body of a human and, say, the species fertilization and a host of other head and retractable claws of a lion, areas under the mantle of medical and and the tail and swimming abilities of a scientific research are creating new life crocodile. In short, a composite forms that blur the line between human creature (supposedly) with the best and other. Mutants, clones, chimeras and traits of two, three or more different a range of unclassified life forms are species of animals. All combinations spilling out of the laboratories and into that are impossible in nature. the streets and lives of ordinary people. Cloning, the replication of an animal or The troubling matter is that while the human body for the purpose of creating first are born from a test tube in a sterile an independent, living life form, laboratory, many genetic mutants can usually starting from infancy (though mate and reproduce, continuing to breed techniques for fast growing and the new life forms that may, indeed, threaten creation of fully mature, adult clone modern society, if not humankind itself. experiments are underway). This is the starting point for most of it. Cross-Species Fertilization, a more Naturally occurring mutations aside, it is sophisticated version of breeding the biotech industry that has spearheaded techniques similar to those used in the rush into genetic manipulation, breeding specific traits in livestock and cloning, mutation and the creation of plants. In theory, this process could be new, viable and intelligent life forms done on a genetic level to enable an before society, the world governments animal (cow, pig, chimpanzee, etc.) to and people knew what to do with them. give birth to a human and vice versa , as well as breed in completely alien 5 traits to an unrelated species, i.e. a Micro-Genetic Biology, typically mouse (or human) with gills, or a half genetic engineering involving man-half tiger, and so on. microbes, bacteria and other simple organisms, but applies to humans in the Embryonics, the manipulation of the battle against certain diseases, fetus to instill specific, desired physical including genetically inherited diseases, and mental traits, talents and abilities, as deformity and weaknesses. well as the elimination of hereditary genetic diseases before birth. Similar to Molecular Biology, or techno-eugenics aspects of molecular biology but is an area of genetic engineering that specializing in the manipulation of the specializes in the manipulation of the unborn fetus and the use of fetal genetic structure on a molecular level. tissue/stem cells to grow, change and Altering, tweaking and implanting manipulate the fetus. genes to create "designer" bodies with specific talents and physical, Genetic Engineering, typically involves intellectual, and emotional traits "built" genetic manipulation and augmentation.