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Vodyanoy morph

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Re-Laborat Re-Laborat's picture
Vodyanoy morph
[u]Panopticon[/u] mentions the Vodyanoy morph (p.131: "Fortean, the exomoon where they’re trying to recreate mythical species, has...raised the bar even further. The chickcharnie and vodyanoy were designed as utilitarian options for neo-avians and neo-cetaceans, respectively.") but includes no rules for it (unlike the whimsical chickcharnie). This would not stand. Fortunately, we have access to Swan's nicely reverse-engineered morph creation rules in the latest copy of [url=http://www.firewall-darkcast.com/theeye]The Eye[/url]. Vodyanoy [Pod Biomorph] A recent Fortean product (p. 94, Gatecrashing), this morph is another creation based upon prehistoric species. It predominantly incorporates genetic remains from [i]Ambulocetus natans[/i] and [i]Rodhocetus balochistanensis[/i], a pair of early amphibious cetacean ancestors, as well as contemporary 'modern' cetacean and hippopotamus genetics. Earlier work into uplifted pigs has also been used, predominantly the gene-sequences utilized for the neo-pig's opposable digits, as the pig is not nearly so differentiated from the hippopotamus (and the hippopotamus from amphibious whale ancestors) as it might appear. The Fortean engineers' goal was to provide a more upright and bipedal transhuman-standard frame whose biology and somatics would remain familiar to neo-cetacean uplifts. Vodyanoy have streamlined, somewhat bullet-shaped heads with eyes mounted far to the sides, permitting a very limited field of binocular vision. Rather than attempt a cortical modification to permit the addition of an olfactory suite, the vodyanoy have the same lack of olfactory awareness common to other neo-cetacean morphs. They stand roughly two meters tall and are thick-bodied, thick-necked bipeds with somewhat short arms and legs. Vodyanoy breathe through a blowhole atop their domed craniums, and their short, paddle-like tails and webbed feet allow them to swim as quickly as most transhumans can run. Several germlines have been derived from different neo-cetacean stock, including dolphins, porpoises and orcas. The coloration of individual vodyanoy's skin reflects their particular germline. Due to the far more limited demand, vodyanoy germlines have not been derived from any of the larger whales. While most users of vodyanoy morphs are more comfortable near water, the pods have been modified with more resilient skin and sweat glands, permitting them to exist even in dry environments. Implants: Basic Biomods, Basic Mesh Inserts, Cortical Stack, Cyberbrain, Echolocation, Enhanced Hearing, Mnemonic Augmentation, Oxygen Reserve, Puppet Sock Movement Rate: Walker (4/20), Swim (4/20) Aptitude Maximum: 25 Durability: 35 Wound Threshold: 7 Advantages: +5 INT, +5 SOM, +5 to one other aptitude of player’s choice, +20 Swimming skill Disadvantages: Vodyanoy lack a sense of smell. CP Cost: 35 Credit Cost: Expensive (minimum 30,000) Vodyanoy, as beneficiaries of the neo-pig germline, may take the 'Weak Grip' negative Trait (p. 148, [u]Panopticon[/u]). (For the curious, it's just a straightforward riff off of the Chickcharnie replacing the prehensile feet with the appropriate modifications from the neo-cetacean morphs and adding an improved swim speed/reduced swim skill.) Enjoy!
DeusX DeusX's picture
Re: Vodyanoy morph
Nice morph, thanks. Wikipedia had this interesting picture of one http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vodyanoy.jpg DX
puke puke's picture
Re: Vodyanoy morph
These are the same blokes from Innsmouth, right? http://www.elfwood.com/~anonova/The-Deep-Ones-Barrister.2530591.html
Re-Laborat Re-Laborat's picture
Re: Vodyanoy morph
Ancient Slavic myth, I think. Although I think of the biomorph (being based on cetacea and cetacea-ancestors) as looking more like a significantly smaller (point of the exercise is compatibility with all that humanocentric equipment/environment after all) [url=http://images.wikia.com/starwars/images/a/a0/Herglic.JPG]SW Herglic.[/url] YMMV.
Arenamontanus Arenamontanus's picture
Re: Vodyanoy morph
There are plenty of good morph ideas in Slavic myth. In Cities of the Edge I introduced the Rusalka, perhaps not so much a morph as an "enhancement": addictive pheromones/bodily fluids.
Extropian
nick012000 nick012000's picture
Re: Vodyanoy morph
Arenamontanus wrote:
There are plenty of good morph ideas in Slavic myth. In Cities of the Edge I introduced the Rusalka, perhaps not so much a morph as an "enhancement": addictive pheromones/bodily fluids.
That one's easy: poison glands that emit the addictive substances into the body fluids in question.

+1 r-Rep , +1 @-rep

Arenamontanus Arenamontanus's picture
Re: Vodyanoy morph
nick012000 wrote:
Arenamontanus wrote:
There are plenty of good morph ideas in Slavic myth. In Cities of the Edge I introduced the Rusalka, perhaps not so much a morph as an "enhancement": addictive pheromones/bodily fluids.
That one's easy: poison glands that emit the addictive substances into the body fluids in question.
Exact. The real fun starts when you start to consider individual drugs and drug resistances; you might be immune to your secretions, but easily addicted to another rusalka's. Makes for a very interesting social life. And then there was that Koschei backup insurance option... some people think that hiding your backup inside an egg in a bioengineered duck in a rabbit-based biosupport unit in an iron cryotank in a trans-neptunian object is a bit of overkill, but you can never be too sure.
Extropian
Re-Laborat Re-Laborat's picture
Re: Vodyanoy morph
Arenamontanus wrote:
And then there was that Koschei backup insurance option... some people think that hiding your backup inside an egg in a bioengineered duck in a rabbit-based biosupport unit in an iron cryotank in a trans-neptunian object is a bit of overkill, but you can never be too sure.
Yep, that got a laugh.