Runner's Companion.pdf - Free

Simon Wentworth (order #1132857) 9Zone when the insect spirit menace broke out. Two charismaticleaders arose in Ghoultown: the peaceful Tamir Grey and themore militant Blaine Hammond. Tamir Grey, and the majority ofhis followers, died during Operation: Extermination when AresMacrotechnology unleashed magic-draining bacteria into theContainment Zone that killed most of the Ghoultown enclave.Fomóraig and loup-garou exist in sufficiently few numbers,and typically in such a pitiable state, that they have little social orpolitical impact. Fomóraig in particular are rarely found outsidethe British Isles, and the governments of Great Britain and Tír nanÓg appear to have an unspoken policy of restricting them to theirnative swamps and fens, where they live a primitive existence.Vampires, wendigo, dzoo-noo-qua, goblins, banshees, andnosferatu are the rarest of the Infected, but also the most problematic—dueto their dietary requirements. Most of the world’sgovernments recognize these Infected as a threat to metahumanlife and health, to one extent or another. While a few countriesnow allow legal registration of some forms of vampiric Infected(who are allowed limited freedom in exchange for constant tracking)and some extraterritorial megacorps are rumored to employthese Infected, just as many greet reports of newly-Infected withstrike teams or issue bounties.Their negative social image is reinforced by the tendencyfor many of these Infected to form cabals—particularly wendigoand nosferatu. Rumors suggest that even the Ordo Maximus, aprominent British Hermetic fellowship, has been infiltrated byone such group.Bandersnatchii are a special case, being transformed fromnon-metahumans to begin with, and are generally regarded as dangerousanimals. Sasquatch communication is difficult on the subject,as it often involves extensive metaphors and historical parables.They do not protest the hunting of bandersnatchii, but they rarelyassist either, out of fear of contact with their Infected kin.What Are the Infected?There are many expressions of HMHVV, and more are discoveredor created as the viruses continue to proliferate and mutate—notto mention the possibility of scientists attempting to deliberatelyengineer new versions of HMHVV. The following are a selection ofthe most well-known and documented Infected, and are available asoptions during character creation or infection afterwards.dietary requirementsThe single most disturbing and problematic issuefacing acceptance and integration of the Infected incontemporary society is their dietary requirementof metahuman blood or flesh. Studies suggestthat HMHVV-positive individuals must consumeat least 1 percent of their body weight of appropriatebiomaterial each week or begin to suffer theeffects of malnutrition. This dietary requirementis due to a combination of natural and paranaturalrequirements: the physical digestive systems of theHMHVV infected are specialized or mutated by theirtransformation; vampires and banshees in particularlack most of the symbiotic bacteria that break downfood and must subsist entirely on blood. All Infectedshow a distinct carnivorous preference in their diet.In addition to these physical requirements, thepeculiar Awakened nature of the Infected requiresthe living energies of a metahuman aura in theirfood for optimum health, and sometimes large influxesof mana siphoned directly from the aura of aliving metahuman or other sapient creature; theseare believed to be essential sustenance for the virusitself. Cloned metahuman flesh and blood, includingbioware, can satisfy some of these dietary requirements.Force growing immature clones may providean expensive but viable mid-term answer to the needto segregate HMHVV-positive individuals. Obviouslythe ethics of this option are highly controversial andseveral national bioethics committees have comeout against the practice already.Concerted parascientific research continues toattempt to synthesize a viable substitute for theHMHVV infected to subsist on; the Yakashima corporationin particular has received generous grants fromthe Draco Foundation and Aztechnology towards thedevelopment of a spell that can permanently alteranimal meat to mimic the astral traces of a metahumanaura, but none of the test products are readyfor live-testing.alternative character concepts . . . . . . . . . . .Bandersnatchii(Pesevastus pilosis monerus)These are sasquatch infected with a species of HMHVV II;individuals develop teeth suitable for rending and tearing prey,tatty-looking pelts, longer limbs, and a form of adaptive coloration.They are much more aggressive than sasquatch, but prefer to attackfrom stealth. Bandersnatchii are carnivorous and cannibalistic.Banshees(Homo sapiens nobilis vrykolakas)Elves infected with a species of HMHVV I become banshees.Aside from an exaggerated gauntness and more prominent incisors,they are virtually identical to other elves. They gain a number ofparanormal powers. Some noble elven families in the British Islesconsider Infected relatives as cursed for some karmic debt, an areaRunner’s Companionof ongoing anthropological research. Banshees are hemovores and,like vampires, cannot hold down normal food.Dzoo-Noo-Qua(Homo sapiens ingentis vrykolakas)Dzoo-Noo-Qua are trolls infected with a species of HMHVVI. Their transformation increases their dense dermal bone deposits(in the form of plates, nodules, horns, and spines), commonlygiving dzoo-noo-qua a deformed and asymmetrical appearance,and increases the vascular system in their eyes, giving them aconstant bloodshot look. The powerful paranatural abilities theydevelop make them some of the most physically intimidating ofthe Infected. Dzoo-noo-qua are omnivorous, but prefer raw meat,and are cannibalistic.61