Basic PodBiomorph [Pod, Anthropomorphic]The Basic Pod is just that: a basic pod, without any particular bells or whistles on it. The pod is designed to fill a multitude of roles, ranging from ship's mechanic to engineer to front desk greeter; pretty much any role that a pod needs to be in, a basic pod can be shoved in that role and expected to perform that role decently. The basic pod is one of the first pods that humanity created, although the history of the pod is lost to time; it's likely that the pod first emerged during the Interplanetary Period and was used as a way to upload robotic staff; many people refer to pods as "dolls" (or whatever the local equivalent is), which has lead many historians to suggest that the first pods were designed as complicated sex dolls that evolved to fill other roles within society. This history is ironic, since basic pods are sexless; they are often deliberately designed to be androgynous, and their silhouettes don't invoke either a male or female figure, but something that is somewhere in between the two. The ego that occupies the pod may have a gender preference, but the pod itself doesn't outwardly display this unless the digital that resides in the cyberbrain has the pod altered to reflect it.
In terms of modifications, the Basic Pod doesn't run a great deal of them. Being a pod, it's grown in pieces and then assembled, but it relies more heavily on cybernetic and nanotech components rather than biological ones. This is both a cost-saving and time-saving measure by the designers, which often has some wondering if it isn't just better to call the Basic Pod a machine that needs to eat. And there's some truth to this, although the accusation of it being a cybershell with painted on skin are overblown. The Basic Pod still bleeds, still respires, and still carries out all the other biological functions that more advanced biomorphs do, it just depends more heavily on cybernetics to make those things happen. Despite the widespread derision often aimed at the basic pod, in many parts of the Verge and Bleed, it's still regarded as superior to some low-end cybershells, like the Case. Also, it has its fans and defenders, who insist that all the shell needs is some work and it can become as valuable as any other - and, given well-made basic pods are the blueprint most other pods work off, there may be truth to this sentiment. Interesting Facts
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Basic Pod 37 points
Advantages
Disadvantages Features Cost |
Appearance (Attractive, human only, -20%) [2]; Basic Biomods [30]; Basic Mesh Inserts [26]; Cortical Stack [6].
Pod Body [-7]; Restricted Diet (Very Common, Pod Food) [-10]; Social Stigma (Pod) [-10]. Sexless; Taboo Traits (Genetic Defects). $25,000 + computer. LC 3. |
Basic Pod VAriants and family
Outside of a handful of highly specialized pods like the Ayah, the Digger, and others - which more commonly exist as androids - in addition to the non-human pods - most pods make extensive use of the Basic Pod as a starting point for their genome. The result is a vast number of different variants and extensions of the family, some with niche uses, others with more broad uses, and a large number of gonzo variants as well. As a result, Basic Pod variants tend to divide into three different categories: General Pods, which are common, mass-produced basic-pod derivatives that use the basic pod as a starting point and then spin off for a practical purpose; Niche Pods, which are exotic spin-offs of the Basic Pod that, while not mass produced, are still produced on a level widespread enough to be common; and Xenosplice Pods, which are Basic Pods that have spliced in alien genetics producing some exceptionally weird off-shoots of the Basic Pod. Note that a Xenosplice pod is not the same thing as a Xenogenic pod; a Xenogenic pod is an extant alien species that is whole-sale turned into a pod with some minor transgenic tweaks. A xenosplice pod simply splices in some alien genetics but is otherwise human-derived.
Basic Android (-18 Points):
Specialist Android (+12 Points): Specialist Pod (+30 points): |
This is a version of the basic pod printed as an android; they are more common in areas where egos are rare but labor shortages still exist. Delete Basic Mesh Inserts [-26], Cortical Stack [-6], Pod Body [+7], Restricted Diet [+10], Sexless [-0], and Social Stigma (Pod) [+10] and add Android Body [-4], Attentive [-4], and Workaholic [-5]. 19 points.
An android version of the Specialist Pod, with all the flexibility included. Functionally, this is an android version of the basic Splicer. Delete Basic Mesh Inserts [-26], Cortical Stack [-6], Pod Body [+7], Restricted Diet [+10], Sexless [-0], and Social Stigma (Pod) [+10] and add DX +1 [20], HT +1 [10], Android Body [-4], Attentive [-4], and Workaholic [-5]. 49 points. Where the basic pod can be thought of as a version of the baseline human engineered as a pod, the Specialist Pod can be thought of as a variant of the Splicer or Exalt; with a modular design intended for flexibility and enhanced capability, the Specialist Pod is often preferred to the Basic Version, even if the basic version is less expensive. Add DX +1 [20] and HT +1 [10]. 67 points. |
Pod Biocores
While Biocores are often cybershells, there's nothing that stops a theoretical Biocore from being a pod and, in fact, a solid, well-made pod is often a popular target for Biocores (although some may ask what the difference between a cybershell with Living Flesh and Synthetic Organs and a pod is; the answer to that is either "not much" or "the pod costs 11 points more"). There are a few clades that are composed of Pod Biocores, so it isn't as rare as one might initially assume.
Biocore Lens (-12 points): The Biocore Pod works a bit different from the biocore cybershell, mostly because pods are different from cybershells. Any pod except a Xenosplice can be turned into a biocore. Delete Pod Body [+4] and add Electrical (Non-skull hit locations only, -10%) [-18], and adjust the cost of Cortical Stack to eight points [+2]. They keep the Basic Mesh Inserts, but lose all the features associated with the Pod Body, including the Cyberbrain meta-trait.
Biocore Lens (-12 points): The Biocore Pod works a bit different from the biocore cybershell, mostly because pods are different from cybershells. Any pod except a Xenosplice can be turned into a biocore. Delete Pod Body [+4] and add Electrical (Non-skull hit locations only, -10%) [-18], and adjust the cost of Cortical Stack to eight points [+2]. They keep the Basic Mesh Inserts, but lose all the features associated with the Pod Body, including the Cyberbrain meta-trait.
General Pods
General Pods are a classification of pod that are just what they say: generally common, largely mass-produced pods that can be found almost everywhere throughout the Verge and Bleed that are derived from the Basic Pod. These pods often fill a number of cultural roles, usually doing a number of jobs in areas where there isn't a great deal of bodies but there is something of a glut of digital labor looking for a body.
Ayah Pod [Pod, Anthropomorphic]
Ayah pods are medical pods, often designed to take care of elderly individuals, those who are infirm, children, or other individuals that may need constant attention for medical reasons. They are found throughout nursing, education, and live-in nurses/au pairs/aids fields. Ayah pods are common enough that they are often not included as a "general" variant of the Basic Pod; they are classified as one of the higher end pods, in part because of their enhance senses, and the fact that they have better and higher standards for construction, given the fields that they work in.
Security Pod [Pod, Anthropomorphic] |
174 Points |
Security Pods are combat-oriented pods. They were originally developed for joint-nation peacekeeping missions and for border/enclave security, and are functionally mass-produced AI operated soldiers. These pods resemble Basic Pods in a number of ways, and are easily confused for them until combat starts, at which point the modifications that make the pod a real solider emerge. While not as strong as cybershell, security pods are still very well equipped, with fast crisis response, implanted nanoweave subdermal armor, a light reinforced skeleton, and accelerated reflexes, along with glandular modifications that make them practically fearless and the ability to insert chips to immediately learn how to use unfamiliar weapons and equipment. They also come with implanted IFF Transponders, and they often run Tactical Network software on their computer systems, allowing them to operate like a well-oiled machine. While a squad of security pods is often little more than potential confetti when confronted with a group of Reapers or a Ghola, corporations and governments still use them for operations where using a cybershell wouldn't be practical or desirable.
Attributes
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers Advantages Perks Disadvantages Features Cost |
ST +1 [10]; HT +1 [10].
HP +3 [6]; Basic Speed +1.00 (Costs Fatigue, 2 FP, -10%) [18]. Appearance (Attractive, human only, -20%) [2]; Basic Biomods [30]; Basic Mesh Inserts [26]; Combat Reflexes [15]; Cortical Stack [6]; DR 12 (Limited; Piercing and Cutting, -20%; Tough Skin, -40%) [24]; DR 10 (Limited, Crushing only, -40%; Tough Skin, -40%) [10]; DR 6 (Tough Skin, -40%) [18]; Modular Abilities (Chip Slots 1 (4), Temporary Disadvantage, Electrical, -20%) [14]; Unfazeable [15]. Accessory (Tiny Computer, IFF transponder) [3]. Pod Body [-7]; Restricted Diet (Very Common, Pod Food) [-10]; Social Stigma (Pod) [-10]. Early Maturation 3; Taboo Traits (Genetic Defects). $174,000 + computer. LC 2. |
Spartan (+59 Points): The Spartan is the android variant of the Security Pod. They have many of the same modifications as the Security Pod, but also feature boosted muscle and bone density, increasing their overall strength. Spartans are often so strong they can wield crewed weapons like rifles. However, all the stress this muscle puts on their heart and support systems reduces their lifespan; this is not necessarily seen as a drawback by the designers. Delete Pod Body [+7], Restricted Diet [+10], and Social Stigma [+10] and add Android Body [-4]; Improve ST to ST +3 [+20] and add Lifting ST +4 [12]; they have the feature Short Lifespan 1 [0]. 233 points.
Shaper Pod [Pod, Anthropomorphic] |
71 Points |
Shaper Pods are pods that are designed for stealth infiltration and sneaking; they feature a number of modifications on the Basic Pod that allow them to functionally pretend that they are anyone they want to be, adjusting their looks, their sex, and their bodies to reflect any type of individual or, in some cases, any individual period. This is achieved through a combination cybernetics and what's called polykeritan; a type of sensa-skin based memory bioplastic material that can "remember" a second shape. It's often called "memory tissue." This ability to remember a second shape allows it to switch between two different shapes when it receives certain signals (from the computer that runs on the pod). Publicly available Shapers are often well behind the cutting edge; government quality Shapers lack the Costs Fatigue limitation for the Elastic Skin modification, allowing them to hold a shape indefinitely, for instance, along with a number of other goodies and implants that are only available to governments.
Advantages
Disadvantages Features Cost |
Appearance (Attractive, human only, -20%) [2]; Basic Biomods [30]; Basic Mesh Inserts [26]; Cortical Stack [6]; Elastic Skin (Costs Fatigue, 1 FP, -5%) [19]; Hermaphromorph [5]; Mimicry [10].
Pod Body [-7]; Restricted Diet (Very Common, Pod Food) [-10]; Social Stigma (Pod) [-10]. Early Maturation 3; Taboo Traits (Genetic Defects). $71,000 + computer. LC 2. |
Worker Pod [Pod, anthropomorphic] |
63 Points |
Worker Pods are pods that are designed for cheap labor, and are used for a variety of menial jobs where interaction with humans is necessary. Their is a role that is often filled by the Tianyi in places where androids are in more demand than pods are (or pods that are based off the Tianyi in those situations). However, the suitably generic nature of the Worker Pod means that they tend to be popular, although they take longer to produce than a basic pod. Worker Pods can be found everywhere throughout the Verge and Bleed, and are arguably as common as the Basic Pod itself despite being slightly more expensive to produce. Among the modifications given to an Worker Pod include stronger muscle tissues and bone mass, as well as boosted immune system and improved joints and muscle tissue that allow for more heavy lifting. Worker pods are often further altered based on the need; some given improved dexterity while others are designed to be slightly more attractive. Because of their generic nature, any pod derived from an Exalt, Olympian, Baseline, Splicer, or Tianyi can be said to be a "Worker Pod," even if they don't fall under this template exactly.
Primary Attributes
Advantages Disadvantages Features Cost |
ST +1 [10]; HT +1 [10].
Appearance (Attractive, human only, -20%) [2]; Basic Biomods [30]; Basic Mesh Inserts [26]; Cortical Stack [6]; Lifting ST +2 [6] Pod Body [-7]; Restricted Diet (Very Common, Pod Food) [-10]; Social Stigma (Pod) [-10]. Early Maturation 3; Taboo Traits (Genetic Defects). $63,000 + computer. LC 3. |
Niche and Exotic Pods
Niche Pods are exotic spin-offs of the Basic Pod; they use the Basic Pod as a starting point and then heavily alter it in a uniform way, producing something that is sometimes referred to as a "clade" or a "model". These are not mass-produced in the conventional sense but are still engineered and produced on a level to be common in certain parts of the Verge and Bleed. Since these descend from the Basic Pod, they are all humanoid, which means this category excludes pods like the Ripwing, which isn't a humanoid pod. Similarly, the Chickcharnie isn't included in this category either, since it has a different starting point than the Basic Pod.
Aeriel [Exotic] |
75 Points |
The Aerial is an exotic pod type that also comes in android. The Aerial is a humanoid shell that splices human genes with bat genes and synthetic genetic sequences to produce a human-variant that is capable of surviving in the cold temperatures of Ammonia worlds, which they were designed to explore and perhaps even settle. Their biochemistry is not ammonia-based, however, so they need to bring their own oxygen with them when they go into the wild, although they are capable of storing that oxygen in a modified liver in the event that run out of oxygen in their canister or container that they carry with them.
Superficially, the Aerial looks like a humanoid bat with a long beak-like face. They lack eyes and thus can't see in the electromagnetic spectrum, but since most ammonia planets exist around dim red dwarfs and ammonia life doesn't generate much heat, negating the utility of Infravision, this isn't an issue. Instead, they navigate using sonar. Their wings emerge from their shoulders, and their bodies are covered in thick, rubbery black skin. This is necessary, since the concentrations of ammonia on these worlds can cause skin or eye irritation or, in worse case scenarios, blindness or burns. Finally, the pod type is neuter by design, and often times, the pod has no distinctive male or female silhouette and instead aims for an androgynous one that doesn't call to mind either.
It's often assumed that the Ariel is a xenosplice; it's not. The Aerial remains carbon-based and still based heavily on Earth-based genetics, with heavy reliance on cybernetics and nanotechnology to help produce heat. They have a temperature range that runs form -30°F to - 95°F.
Superficially, the Aerial looks like a humanoid bat with a long beak-like face. They lack eyes and thus can't see in the electromagnetic spectrum, but since most ammonia planets exist around dim red dwarfs and ammonia life doesn't generate much heat, negating the utility of Infravision, this isn't an issue. Instead, they navigate using sonar. Their wings emerge from their shoulders, and their bodies are covered in thick, rubbery black skin. This is necessary, since the concentrations of ammonia on these worlds can cause skin or eye irritation or, in worse case scenarios, blindness or burns. Finally, the pod type is neuter by design, and often times, the pod has no distinctive male or female silhouette and instead aims for an androgynous one that doesn't call to mind either.
It's often assumed that the Ariel is a xenosplice; it's not. The Aerial remains carbon-based and still based heavily on Earth-based genetics, with heavy reliance on cybernetics and nanotechnology to help produce heat. They have a temperature range that runs form -30°F to - 95°F.
Attribute Modifiers
Advantages Disadvantages Features Cost |
ST-1 [-10]; HT+2 [20].
Basic Biomods [30]; Basic Mesh inserts [26]; Cortical Stack [6]; Doesn't Breathe (Oxygen Storage, x100) [14]; DR 3 (Flexible, -20%) [12]; Flight (Requires 0.2G or less, -40%; Winged, -25%) [14]; Pressure Tolerance 1 [5]; Scanning Sense (Sonar, Air; Reduced Range x1/5, -20%) [14]; Sealed [15]; Teeth (Sharp Beak) [1]; Temperature Tolerance (Cold) 10 [10]; Vacuum Support [5]. Extended Hearing (Subsonic) [5]. Pod Body [-7]; Blindness [-50]; Restricted Diet (Exotic Nutrients, Common) [-20]; Social Stigma (Pod) [-10]. Thin Frame [-1]. Cold Adapted-Physiology (see text); Sexless; Taboo Traits (Genetic Defects) $174,000. LC 3. |
Android Aerial (-13 Points): An android version of the Aerial, designed to explore and map ammonia worlds. Delete Pod Body [+7], Social Stigma [+10], Basic Mesh Inserts [-26], and add Android Body [-4]. 61 points.
Ammonia-Biochemistry Pod (-55 Points): A first generation aerial that actually methane-based. This is technically a xenosplice, since it incorporates extensive genetics from bacterial analogs based on ammonia biochemistry. They breath free hydrogen liberated from methane molecules, which allows them to breathe in the atmosphere of ammonia worlds. They have a temperature range that runs from -105°F to -150°F. They also react much more slowly than humans, owing to the colder temperatures at which they exist. Adapting to these pods requires specific psychosurgery, so an individual can handle the reduced rate of speed and perception of time. Add Basic Speed -2.00 [-40], Dependency (Hydrogen Gas, Constantly, Mitigator, -60%) [-10]; Fragile (Combustible) [-5], Increased Life Support (Extreme Cold) [-10], and the 0-point feature "Breathes Free Hydrogen instead of Oxygen" [0]. 20 points.
Ammonia-Biochemistry Pod (-55 Points): A first generation aerial that actually methane-based. This is technically a xenosplice, since it incorporates extensive genetics from bacterial analogs based on ammonia biochemistry. They breath free hydrogen liberated from methane molecules, which allows them to breathe in the atmosphere of ammonia worlds. They have a temperature range that runs from -105°F to -150°F. They also react much more slowly than humans, owing to the colder temperatures at which they exist. Adapting to these pods requires specific psychosurgery, so an individual can handle the reduced rate of speed and perception of time. Add Basic Speed -2.00 [-40], Dependency (Hydrogen Gas, Constantly, Mitigator, -60%) [-10]; Fragile (Combustible) [-5], Increased Life Support (Extreme Cold) [-10], and the 0-point feature "Breathes Free Hydrogen instead of Oxygen" [0]. 20 points.
The Illithid Pod is a pod designed for the Illithid Infolife, or a group of emergent infolife that originally emerged from a video game. The pod is intimately associated with the infolife; so much so that anyone who is encountered that has the pod is likely to be an illithid, or a mind-flayer, in person. The design of the pod is intended to replicate the physical design of the enemies within the video game that they originated from: a humanoid creature with a tenticled face and rubbery, mauve skin. As a pod, the Illithid is sexless, so in silhouette they are actually rather androgynous, although they often code themselves male out of habit despite not having a real gender identity.
Because the pod is is so intimately associated with the Illithid, few individuals seek the pod out to use it. This is in part because illithid are very protective of their image, and in part because they have a negative reputation as callous sociopaths, which is what happens when your species is an emergent AGI that was originally programmed to be villains inside of a highly popular MMORPG that has fallen out of popularity recently. The Illithid infolife were originally villains for an MMORPG that were programmed so that they could learn and adapt to the human players, devising strategies and developing in response to the players. This kicked off a positive feedback loop that eventually lead to the infolife developing intelligence and becoming smarter and more canny than their players. In a sense, they are the ultimate trap hunters. In terms of morph chemistry, the illithid only looks alien. The rubbery skin, webbed fingers, and gills help it breathe and function underwater, although they spend much of their time above the water and interacting with the surface world. Despite looking alien, they don't incorporate any alien genetics (or even genetics that are designed to mimic alien genetics) into their genome. All of their genetic material comes from Telluric, or Earth-based, life. However, they still have a highly unusual biochemistry as a result of being a pod, in addition to the biochemical alterations that happened as a result of making them amphibious. Other alterations done to the basic pod include the addition of the tentacles around the lamprey like mouth, which are prehensile and can be used to manipulate objects and tools. They also have a very different internal structure, with fewer organs and more organs that perform double duty than a conventional pod. This is both to cut down on required space and therefore, time to produce, and to encourage the appearance of the pod as being "alien" and separate from humanity. It's also relatively rare to find one of these with any modifications, given that illithids are highly protective of their appearance, and they take a dim view of those who sleeve in it and alter it. Because of this, the listed value can be as much as four or five times the listed cost. |
Attributes
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers Advantages Disadvantages Features Cost |
ST -1 [-10]; HT +1 [10].
FP +2 [6]. Amphibious [10]; Basic Biomods [30]; Basic Mesh Inserts [26]; Cortical Stack [6]; DR 1 (Flexible, -20%) [4]; Extra Arms (4; Short, -50%; Weak, x1/4, -50%) [8]; Infravision [10]; Unfazeable [15]. Appearance (Monstrous, non-illithids, -20%) [-12]; Pod Body [-7]; Restricted Diet (Very Common, Pod Food) [-10]; Social Stigma (Pod) [-10]. Taboo Traits (Genetic Defects). $76,000 + computer. LC 3. |
Mandrake [Exotic] |
74 Points |
The Mandrake is a pod that's often confused for a xenosplice, like many of these exotic pods that are obviously not human. However, it isn't - although the Mandrake is about as close to a xenosplice pods as one can get without actually incorporating alien genetics into the pod to being with. Resembling upright humanoid flower people with four arms, they have thin, wiry builds covered in green carapace that functions as an exoskeleton. Their heads resemble an open flower with human-like eyes facing forward, with thin fingers on each of their hands. These long fingers give them dexterity to perform specific tasks. As one might guess from looking at it, the Mandrake is a plant-animal hybrid that makes use of a number of flowering plants and other plants from Earth, spliced with some limited insect and human genetics. This wide spectrum of material makes them a true marvel of genetic engineering, and as one might guess, this level of radical engineering isn't necessarily without its flaws. Coordinating the four arms can sometimes be difficulty, resulting in disadvantages like Klutz [-5] or Total Klutz [-15], while issues with glandular integration can sometimes result in the pod manifesting issues like a reduced Basic Speed [-5/level] or Combat Paralysis [-15].
The Mandrake was originally a pod designed to simply see if it was possible to produce a pod like it. However, it has since become popular with certain clades of AGIs who prefer to sleeve into a plant rather than mammal or reptile. It's also sometimes favored by survivalist digitals, who like the option of being able to live off the land.
The Mandrake was originally a pod designed to simply see if it was possible to produce a pod like it. However, it has since become popular with certain clades of AGIs who prefer to sleeve into a plant rather than mammal or reptile. It's also sometimes favored by survivalist digitals, who like the option of being able to live off the land.
Attribute Modifiers
Advantages Perks Disadvantages Features Cost |
ST -1 [-10].
Basic Biomods [30]; Basic Mesh Inserts [26]; Cortical Stack [6]; DR 1 (Tough Skin, -20%) [4]; Doesn't Breathe (Oxygen Absorption, -50%, Temporary Disadvantage, Sessile, -50%) [4]; Doesn't Eat or Drink [10]; Extra Arms (2) [20]; High Manual Dexterity 1 [5]; Ultravision [10]. Deep Sleeper [1]. Dependency (Lie in fertile soil and sunbathe for 8 hours, very common, daily) [-15]; Pod Body [-7]; Social Stigma (Pod) [-10]. Radical transgenic features (see text); Sexless. $74,000 + computer. LC 3. |
SENTIENT SNACKS [EXOTIC] |
-176 Points |
Sentient snacks are just that: synthetic food snacks that have enough of a cheap, disposable computer so they can display a personality, often designed to look like one of the myriad genotypes or unique creatures in the Verge and Bleed. They are popular in some parts of the Verge Consortium. While they look like humanoids (and possibly other living creatures), they do not necessarily taste like humanoids, and in fact can be made in a wide range of flavors. While they don't always come in humanoid shape, they are often sold in humanoid shapes, and as a result are classified as a niche humanoid pod. Precisely why anyone would want to sleeve in the pod is an open question, although humans are notorious for their odd behaviors and weird personality quirks, and it's entirely possible someone out there has attempted to produce a shared hive-mind swarm consisting of nothing but sentient snacks.
Attributes
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers Advantages Perk Disadvantages Features Cost |
ST-7 [-70]; DX-3 [-60].
Basic Move-2 [-10]; SM-6. Doesn’t Breathe (Oxygen Absorption, -25%) [15]; Doesn’t Eat or Drink [10]; Flexibility [5]; High Pain Threshold [10]; Immunity to Disease [10]; Immunity to Metabolic Hazards (Brain-related effects only, -50%) [15]; Injury Tolerance (No Blood; Not immune to blood-borne toxins, -50%) [3]; Injury Tolerance (No Brain, No Neck, No Vitals) [15]; Metabolism Control 6 (Hibernation, Triggered by Cold, -60%) [12]; Reduced Consumption 3 (Air Only, +100%) [12]; Temperature Tolerance 3 [3]. Accessory (Tiny Biodegradable Computer); Sanitized Metabolism. [2] Bioroid Body [-4]; Electrical (Partial, Vitals hit locations only, -30%) [-14]; Invertebrate [-20]; Short Arms [-10]; Terminally Ill (50 hours left; Mitigator, Hibernating, -60%) [-40]; Unhealing (Total) [-30]. Early Maturation increased to level 5; Edible, and available in a range of designs and flavors $5 + enhanced computer if desired. LC 4. |
Animal Crackers (-35 points): A sentient snack shaped like an animal. Add Quadruped [-35]. -211 points.
Originally restricted to the Celestia synthworld, the vrock pod is an unattractive, humanoid vulture with a hunched over posture, two large wings that emerge from the back, and a gait that is somewhere between a stride and a hope under normal Earth gravity. The name for the pod comes from the vulture demons from a variety of different fantasy settings. While the pod is the most common form, there are also android variants, which tend to be cowardly (they prefer "self-preservationist experts") and a bit manipulative. On Celestia, the role of the vrock is to act as a "devil" or "demon" to counterbalance the influence of the Lunar Flyer clade, the Movanic Flyers, who play the role of angels. Vrocks are often found working with tielflings, and clade of humans who engineer themselves to look like devils (the name was adopted from the same source material that the name for the pod-type comes from). In places where fear of a copyright play a role, they're simply referred to as "vulturoids" or "ahool," the latter referencing their mimicry capability while referencing the bird/bad-like demons from Indonesian mythology.
In terms of overall design, there isn't much special about the Vrock. Many assume - incorrectly - that it's connected with the Lunar Flyer, but careful analysis and comparison of the HOX genes has shown that the method for engineering wings is vastly different between the two. In reality, the Vrock is simply an off-shoot of the Basic Pod, and while its design is substantially better than a conventional, run-of-the-mill Basic Pod, it is still a Basic Pod, with a great deal deal of biosculpting and some major modifications done to the muscle structure to support flight. In face, the Vrock (much like the Illithid) is a solid demonstration just how much can be achieved with biosculpting and somatic modifications of the Basic Pod alone, with minimal (but still extensive) germline modifications. Major alterations to the Vrock being with the muscle structure, which has been altered to allow for winged flight in higher gravities, and a modified circulatory and respiratory system to assist in this flight. The vocal cords are likewise altered, to produce a mimicry effect, allowing them to speak with their beak (although the vast majority prefer to use AR messages to communicate rather than speech). Beyond these extensive modifications, literally everything else is biosculpting; the reptilian-vulture like features, the digitigrade posture, the long tail that provides balance in flight; all these extensive transgenic features are the result of extensive and deliberate high-end biosculpting. In fact, the biosculpting on the Vrock is often superior to the actual engineering that goes into it, with their growth vats using a specific and highly detailed design plan that was almost certainly the produce of the God AIs. There are android Vrock as well, but they tend to be more rare. These Vrock often have a strong disposition towards cowardice, with a difficulty feeling empathy towards other creatures, including their own, fellow Vrock. Finally, both the pod and android variants are sexless. |
Attribute Modifiers
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers Advantages Perks Disadvantages Quirk Features Cost |
ST -2 [-20]; DX +1 [20].
HP +2 [4]. Acute Hearing +2 [4]; Acute Vision +2 [4]; Basic Biomods [30]; Basic Mesh Inserts [26]; Claws (Sharp Claws) [5]; Cortical Stack [6]; Flight (Requires Low Gravity, 0.3G, -35%; Winged, -25%) [15]; Infravision [10]; Mimicry [10]; Teeth (Sharp Beak) [1]; Telescopic Vision 2 [5]. Feathers; Scales [2]. Appearance (Monstrous, non-vrock, -20%) [-12]; Pod Body [-7]; Restricted Diet (Very Common, Pod Food) [-10]; Social Stigma (Pod) [-10]. Thin frame [-1]. Sexless; Taboo Traits (Genetic Defects); Tail; Transgenic Features (See text). $79,000 + computer. LC 3. |
Android Vrock (-20 Points): The android version of the vrock. Since they are engineered with a brain, they often have distinctive personalities, but have a number of shared personality traits between them as well. Delete Pod Body [+7], Basic Mesh inserts [-26], and Social Stigma (Pod) [+10] and add Android Body [-4], Cowardice (12) [-5], and Low Empathy [-20]. The keep the sexless trait and often do not develop gender identities, using whatever the default gender identities, adopting whatever pronoun they wish. 59 points.
Xenosplice Pods
The last category of pods are the xenosplice pods. These differ from the xenogenic pods in that xenogenic pods are pods derived wholly from alien lifeforms - the Scurrier and Whiplash being two prominent examples - where as xenosplice pods are pods that incorporate some genetic material from aliens but are otherwise mostly human; specifically, mostly Basic Pod. Since the Basic Pod tends to rely on a great deal of cybernetics to keep it together, these genetics don't always have to play well together (which is fine, since they often don't). Still, even with this, the result is usually a genetic disaster that gets fed into the disassembler so the material can be used elsewhere, but occasionally the designers get lucky and find a functional combination. There aren't many xenosplice pods, since producing them is so difficult; for an example of a xenosplice pod not listed here, look at Ammonia-Biochemistry Aerial, above.
Asfar [Xenosplice] |
87 points |
The Asfar are a type of pod that are designed to survive on the surface of a chlorine planet. While there have been attempts to engineer a human genotype that could achieve something similar, those never pan out; the closest that humanity has is the Venusian Glider genotype, which is an unpopular genotype and doesn't do well when exposed to the heat and radiation of a chlorine world. So humanity took the step of employing pod technology, but mixing it with genetics from lifeforms that developed on these worlds so the pod stands a better chance of survival. Asfar are humanoid, but calling them human is a stretch (even though they descended from Basic Pods). Their hairless skin is smooth and plasticky, with elongated heads and reptilian like hands. They don't have scales, contrary to the popular rumor, although their skin is often a yellowish-orange color with odd patterns that can make it look like they have scales from the distance. While they can survive on chlorine worlds, their engineering enables them to largely withstand almost any type of acid, so they can explore vitriolic worlds in addition to chlorine worlds. Finally, they feature a number of alterations to their respiratory and circulatory system that enables them to not only breath in but survive breathing in chlorine gas. However, this form of specialization makes it impossible to survive without chlorine, so they wear breathing masks. They are also not very tolerant of cold temperature, since they are engineered to handle the high temperatures of a chlorine world.
These androids are not very common, but owing to the large number of chlorine worlds in the Verge Consortium, they are more common there than anywhere else, and are the product of Manticore-Fortean Biotech.
These androids are not very common, but owing to the large number of chlorine worlds in the Verge Consortium, they are more common there than anywhere else, and are the product of Manticore-Fortean Biotech.
Attributes
Advantages Disadvantages Features Cost |
HT+2 [20].
Basic Biomods [19]; Basic Mesh Inserts [26]; Cortical Stack [6]; Doesn't Breathe (Chlorine Storage, x100) [14]; DR 3 (Corrosion Only, -40%) [9]; Night Vision 9 [9]; Pressure Tolerance 1 [5]; Radiation Tolerance 10 [15]; Sealed (Acid Resistant, +40%) [21]; Temperature Tolerance (Hot) 10 [10]. Dependency (Chlorine Gas, Constantly, Mitigator, -60%) [-10]; Radical Pod Body [-12]; Restricted Diet (Exotic Nutrients, Common) [-20]; Social Stigma (Pod) [-10] Temperature Intolerance (HT-1 to resist temperature effects at 45°F or below) [-1]. Chlorine-adapted physiology (see text); Sexless. |
Pythons are a specific type of xenosplice pod engineered by the Arcanodynamics division of Nouvel Humain, On the surface, the Python looks no different from a normal human pod; indeed, some Pythons are designed so well they don't look any different from a normal person. However, the Pythons includes a number of sequences from an alien species formally called Antecessor astermemorans, a star-fish like species that is adapted to living in the hard vacuum of space. They are often described as large "bone flowers" that float in the void, connected to one another through flickering lights that dance across the surface. They are colonial organisms, similar to a Portuguese Man-O-War, with each member being a specialized and sometimes genetically distinct organism that works with other specialized and sometimes genetically distinct organisms to produce a creature that, while scientists have not been able to ascertain with any degree of certainty, may be as intelligent as a pre-uplifted chimpanzee, if not an actual early human. However, humanity has not figured out a way to interact with these floating bone-flowers in space in order to know for sure; in fact, their entire life cycle remains a mystery. It's known that these bone flower/starfish live for a very long time, with individuals tagged in one system showing up centuries later; colonies of the species have been observed working together to try and maneuver a hydrogen iceberg into a position so they can catch a ride out of the system and travel to a new system; they've also been observed using themselves as a solar sails, which is one of the reasons why so many people assume that they're at least as intelligent as a pre-uplift chimpanzee. Each colony can probably live for north of 500 years, although this is probably far too conservative an estimation to be accurate if some reports from those sleeved in this pod are accurate.
The most unique thing that this species does is that it records all of the experiences that it has, all of the thoughts that it has, and all of the "knowledge" that it has on specialized organelles that also function as gametes, meaning that each reproductive cell (or what's suspected to be a reproductive cell) also contains the sum total of all the knowledge of that individual. Thanks to vertical transfer of genes, it's also possible for different colonies to vertically transfer knowledge as well, and the species may even be able to pick and choose what experiences they want to keep form other members of their species. This trick is not neurological; it's reproductive; however, their neurology - or what passes for it - is capable of reading this data stored in their reproductive glands. What evolutionary pressures lead to this adaptation is anyone's guess - some reports from those sleeved in the pod are that the trait isn't evolved at all but was engineered into the species - but engineers of the Python pod were able to pull off this same trick using a highly modified human reproductive system. While this trick works for all sexes, female pods outweigh male ones, since the female reproductive system - which includes a whole womb - is larger and therefore better accommodated to house the data from these aliens and their computerized reproductive organs. Much of the Pod's GI tract and neighboring organs have also been modified as well with the genetic material, which means that when the pod gets a "gut feeling," it's quite possibly the alien genetic material recalling an experience and then feeding that data to the cyberbrain and the neurological system so the pod can process it. Given how different the A. astermemorans' "nervous system" is compared to humans, though, these visions don't always parse normally and they can sometimes be extremely traumatic for the individual in question. Individuals in the pods also report extremely strange dreams, and the modified GI tract and neighboring organs mean that they often have highly restrictive diets even by pod standards, since their GI tract won't be able to digest anything else. However, the interactions between the alien genetic memory and the human nervous system (with plenty of cybernetic intermediaries) leads to a number of weird situations, where an individual may just simply know how to use a tool without actually knowing how to use it, or they may simply be able to recall a fact without knowing where they got it from. |
Attributes
Advantages Disadvantages Quirks Features |
IQ +1 [20].
Appearance (Attractive, human only, -20%) [2]; Basic Biomods [30]; Basic Mesh Inserts [26]; Cortical Stack [6]; Intuition [15]; Racial Memory (Passive) [15]; Wild Talent 2 (Focused, IQ-skills, -20%; Unreliable, 8, -40%) [16] Flashbacks (Mild) [-5]; Insomniac [-10]; Radical Pod Body [-12]; Restricted Diet (Common, Pod Food) [-20]; Social Stigma (Pod) [-10]. Sensitive Stomach [-1]. Taboo Traits (Genetic Defects). |
Python Android (-18 Points): A first generation android that is designed around the Python implant. These are fantastically rare and the number of active ones in the Verge and Bleed can likely be counted on two hands. Delete Radical Pod Body [+17] and Basic Mesh Inserts [-26] and add Radical Android Body [-9]. 54 points.
Python Bioshell (-6 Points): Modeled after the first generation Python Android and even more rare is the Python Bioshell, which is currently experimental. Delete Radical Pod Body [+17] and Basic Mesh Inserts [-26] and add Radical Bioshell Body [3]. -6 points.
Python Bioshell (-6 Points): Modeled after the first generation Python Android and even more rare is the Python Bioshell, which is currently experimental. Delete Radical Pod Body [+17] and Basic Mesh Inserts [-26] and add Radical Bioshell Body [3]. -6 points.