Mutantkind in the World of Darkness by the Poet Updated 2011/02/13 His eyes opened involuntarily, as they had for thousands of previous days, but this time it was a little harder than before. The eyelids pressed resolutely open through the green gel that surrounded him in the tank, and he drew his first conscious breath. The gel that he was forced to breathe was so thick that it was dangerous to inhale too quickly, or with too much force. Slowly, gently. In and out. Keep the heartbeat low. Naturally, his heartrate spiked as soon as his eyes focused on the room beyond the tank, the lab in which he was suspended. While the speaker wasn't turned on (and the gel naturally absorbed sound), he couldn't hear the commotion. He could, however, see another tank being smashed from the outside. How was that even possible? Adamantium-laced glass. These tanks were purchased from Crypt, as he understood it. Taken directly from the Department. Short of the Hulk, who could shatter it? The gel in the alternate tank was sloughing off of the naked body of one of his cohabitants. He couldn't make it out through the blur of his own gel, and the tank wall. Why hadn't someone turned on the correct light? He winced, and winced again with the resulting pain in his lungs, when he saw another figure surge forward and collect something from the glass shards on the floor. The figure used whatever it was to slash open the throat and chest of his companion. The slashing figure was fighting using an economical grace that reminded him of... of... The Shade? Was that the name? A larger man. Not formally trained in any fancy martial art, but as deadly in combat as anyone. Still, how did he know the Shade? Hmmm. Memory was a little spotty. Maybe asleep for a long time. He almost vomited, this time with a strange spike of emotion. Fear, perhaps. The figure used the item to destroy another tank, and was stabbing its occupant over and over. Blood. Lots of it. Fear was a little familiar, but not a common emotion. Perfectly rational in view of the circumstances, of course. That was another death. The figure seemed to be growing less graceful, more violent, if that was possible. His next companion was stabbed and sliced and separated with a kick. What form of hatred could this be? Who was the figure here to find? Or kill? Now the figure approached. The item it wielded... a knife! Adamantium knife! Department H? Wakandan? Who? How? The knife entered the gel through the glass, parting it like butter, and the gel collapsed away from his body. It made a noise like a wet towel as it hit the ground. The figure (a man) kicked him in the stomach, and he fell to his knees. "S-s-", he cried, trying to yell, "Stop", but instead he vomited the gel from his stomach. He coughed it from his lungs. On hands and knees. The man grabbed him by something that he couldn't feel, but it pulled him almost upright. Something like... wires attached to his head. The man slashed with that deadly knife, and he ducked, and the knife caught the wires. Two were pulled free, jerking from his head. A few were cut, but many wires held in place. He couldn't tell where the breathing was coming from. Was it him? Or the man? "Stop!" he shouted, and looked the man in the eye. He looked the man in the eye, and the man stopped. His voice wasn't just the voice of the one, it was the voice of the many, and it carried power. Even this man, at least in his current state, could not resist it. The man froze in place, and the colour of those eyes seemed to change. Now, he remembered. Voice of power and all. He sighed, sinking to a sitting position. Perhaps he was in the tank to maintain a state of quiet, and remove memories and thoughts as they came to him, but now a critical bit of wiring was detached. With a second sigh, he pulled the remainder free. Elliot. That's who he was. Son of the Shade, herald of Apocalypse, servant of Sinister. More's the pity for this man. And maybe, the world. ************** The World of Darkness, Werewolf: the Apocalypse, Ascension's Right Hand, and a bunch of other stuff are copyright and trademarks of White Wolf Game Studio and were used without permission. The use of these and other trademarks of White Wolf should not be construed as a challenge to their copyright status or anything else, for that matter. The Poet and this document are in no way affiliated with or endorsed by White Wolf Game Studio. The Poet and this document are in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. Marvel, Logan, Ororo Munroe, Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops, X-Men and a bunch of other stuff are TM and copyright Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc., and are used here without permission. The use of these and other trademarks of Marvel Entertainment Group should not be construed as a challenge to their copyright status or anything else, for that matter. Ideas for the powers in this book were taken from the pages of Marvel comic books, the Marvel Superheroes Roleplaying Game by TSR, the Heroes Unlimited Roleplaying Game from Palladium, and my own twisted brain. Please don't sue me, either of you! Take this as a tribute! Step 1: Creation Attributes: 7/5/3 Abilities: 13/9/5 Powers: 6 Ranks Backgrounds: 5 Willpower: 3 Power Potential: 3 Actual Power Level: 3 Power Charge: initial value equal to Actual Power Level Pick Power/Attribute Categories: Powers The mutant first must pick her primary Power category (Physical, Social, or Mental). Power Ranks in this category are improved at a rate of 6 times the current rating. Power Stunts cost only 3 Experience points for Primary powers. The mutant may then choose one of the two remaining categories as her secondary Power category. Secondary category Powers are improved at a cost of 8 times the current rating. Power Stunts cost 5 Experience points for secondary Powers. The remaining category will be the mutant's tertiary Power category. The mutant may choose one or more powers from it; however, these may not be improved with Experience save to purchase new Power Stunts, which cost a full 7 Experience points a piece. A new Power, if the character gets the opportunity during the game to purchase one, costs 10 points in the primary or secondary Power category, and 15 points in the tertiary Power category. If the mutant's primary Power category is Physical, he may purchase extra health levels, as the Power, with experience points. If the mutant's primary Power category is Mental, he may purchase the Iron Will Power with Experience, even if he did not start the game with it. If the mutant's primary Power category is Social, he may receive one or more points in each expendable advantage at the start of every game session. This includes Willpower and Power Charge, as well as any other advantages bestowed by other Powers (Rage, for example). This will typically be within the range of one to five points each; the Storyteller may assign these, or may ask the player to roll a die and halve the result (rounding up) to get a range of 1-5. Attributes The mutant's primary Power category (Physical, Social, or Mental) is one in which he can exceed the 5-point limit with experience points. Attributes in other categories may exceed 5, but only as an expression of powers. This category need not be the one you chose to spend 7 points on in character creation. The normal maximum score for an Attribute increased in this way is 10. Power Potential and Actual Power Level The Power Potential represents the mutant's maximum potential; how great she may some day become. It is always at least equal to the Actual Power Level, and represents the ultimate limit of Rank that the mutant can achieve in her Powers. This level is set at the end of character creation and can't be improved with Experience; it will not exceed 10. Normal level (to make what Marvel refers to as Alpha-Class) is 5. The Actual Power Level is the current ceiling for the mutant's Power Ranks. This level can be improved with Experience to eventually match the Power Potential. Power Allocation The mutant may start with no more than 4 Powers in any case (exception: see the Alter Ego Power). Mega Attributes and Hyper-Abilities do not count against this limit. Powers bought with Experience do not count against this limit, either. Power Ranks If the Power listing shows only one Rank (like ¥ or ¥¥¥¥) then that is the cost of the Power, and it can never be improved. If the Ranks only go up to a certain point less than 5 (like Rage, which goes to ¥¥¥) it cannot be improved past that point. Note: most Powers are only described to Rank 5 in the text, but can be improved past that point. Power Variations Some Powers have optional variations, which can be purchased with a few extra Freebie points. These variations may also return Freebie points if they weaken the Power. Some listings require that you pick a variation (like the Absorption/Conversion Powers). All of the energy Powers (except Energy Resistance) require that you pick a type of energy from the Energy List.