SylphBiomorph [Genotype, IDeal Parahuman]The Sylph genotype is a parahuman genotype that is tailor made for good looks and to cater to the needs and wants of creches that seek out children who will be talented in music, modeling, and the like. The Sylph is often seen as an off-shoot of the Splicer, but this isn't wholly true; the Sylph descends from an earlier genetic upgrade that is referred to as an Ishtar or an Siduri and while the Ishtar and the Alpha share a number of things in common, they do not share the same common ancestor, and so the Sylpn is a wholly unique genotype, unlike the Exalt and Olympian. It saw peek use - and massive variation into dozens of clades and variants - during the Utopian Era, and quickly expanded from there, although in the recent years, applications of the genotype have waned.
Designers of the Sylph make heavy use of computer-aided simulations to design features that are both attractive and distinctive, and alter the genome accordingly. Emphasis is placed on symmetry and other features that are believed to universally signify beauty or handsomeness, or are thought to be "timeless." Genes that emphasize health and athleticism, as well as some minor filters in the liver, provide a resilience to disease and adverse metabolic effects, since sickness and disease are generally perceived as unattractive. Lastly, engineers designed perfume glands and altered the metabolism. All of these modifications were made on the baseline Ishtar genotype, which acted as the platform on which engineers built off when they designed the sylph. However, unlike the earlier Ishtar, engineers made no attempt to modify the neurochemistry for competitiveness and ego within the baseline sylph; in fact, no attempt to modify neurochemistry was made at all, since engineers had learned the lesson from the previous attempt with the Ishtar. As a result, the modern sylph is noted for being their appearance - very handsome and beautiful individuals - as well as their overall health and even a trend towards athletics, making it a versatile genotype (certainly more versatile than some give it credit for). Interesting Facts
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Sylph 47 points
Attribute Modifiers
Advantages Perks Features |
DX +1 [20]; HT +1 [10]
Appearance (Very Handsome/Beautiful, humans only, -20%) [9]; Resistant to Disease (+8) [5]. Alcohol Tolerance; Perfume; Sanitized Metabolism [3]. Extended Lifespan; Longevity; Reproductive control, Taboo Traits (Genetic Defects, Mental Instability, Unattractiveness). |
Sylph VAriants and family members
In addition to having a number of different clades, there are a handful of different variants of the Sylph, as well. This list includes the progenitor genotype for the Sylph, the genetic upgrade that is common called the Ishtar, even though that genotype is rarely seen in the wild anymore.
Android Sylph (+26 points)
Cybercore Sylph (+39 Points) Pod Sylph (+29 Points): |
These are sylphs that are produced as androids, often for customer-facing or people-facing jobs. Add Android Body [-4] and Basic Biomods [30].
These are a bioshell version of the Sylph, engineered for digitals who want the Sylph as a biological body. Add Bioshell Body [9] and Basic Biomods [30]. These are pod sylphs. They're among the rarest of pods, since everything they do there is another, cheaper pod that can do it instead. Add Basic Biomods [30], Cortical Stack [6], and Pod Body [-7]. |
Amtoran Sylph [Ideal Parahuman] |
65 Points |
Amtoran Sylphs originated on the planet Amtor, which was a hot and wet Gaian world that many compared to a "Pulp Venus." Terraformed to be covered in vast swamps, the Amtorians were the Sylph clade that developed to live on the world, but they've since spread from there, often to other hot and wet Earth-like worlds (which includes Bluefall). In terms of appearance, Amtorians are elfin and attractive, with fantasy style antennae that emerge from their forehead. They are best adapted to high temperatures, and are comfortable with a temperature range higher than the average baseline sylph, owing to a more efficient sweating system, a near total lack of body hair, and thinner builds with tapered ears that help the dissipate heat more efficiently. They also tend to have a improved circulatory systems to better withstand heat, as well. Amtorans also often have what are called "genetic tattoos", or symbols and designs on the body that are formed by bumps and ridges on their foreheads, arms, and backs, with a unique tattoo for each individual. Contrary to popular belief, the antennae do serve a purpose - they let the Amtorans detect electric fields.
Attribute Modifiers
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers Advantages Perks Disadvantages Quirks Features |
DX +1 [20]; HT +2 [20]
FP +1 [3] Appearance (Very Handsome/Beautiful, humans only, -20%) [9]; Detect (Electric Fields; Vague, -50%) [5]; Hard to Kill +1 [2]; Resistant to Disease (+8) [5]; Temperature Tolerance (Hot) 3 [3] Alcohol Tolerance; Perfume; Sanitized Metabolism [3]. Unnatural Features 1 [-1] Temperature Intolerance (Cold) [-1]. Extended Lifespan; Genetic Tattoos; Longevity; Reproductive control, Taboo Traits (Genetic Defects, Mental Instability, Unattractiveness). |
Bluefallen Sylph [Ideal Parahuman] |
85 Points |
The Bluefallen Sylph is a variant of the sylph produced by Hugo Santana Higashi, a design and genetic engineering for Aoi Genomics, a small hypercorp on Bluefall that's heavily involved in the terraforming project and producing genetically engineered life for the planet. The Bluefallen Sylph was designed by Santana Higashi to celebrate the completion of the Terraforming and the construction of Regency City. It's the first genotype designed to be native to Bluefall and it features a number of the same modifications that the Derketo does, while adding a unique Bluefall flourish to it. However, the genotype has a strong allergy to dust (allergies seem to be very common on Bluefall, leading some to wonder if it has to do with the geochemistry and the terraforming). The genotype features a specially designed inner ear that provides them with exceptional balance under the water and in microgravity, along with boosted intelligence and stronger lungs.
Attribute Modifiers
Advantages Perks Quirks Features |
DX +1 [20]; IQ +1 [20]; HT +1 [10]
3D Spatial Sense [10]; Appearance (Very Handsome/Beautiful, humans only, -20%) [9]; Breath-Holding 4 [8]; Resistant to Disease (+8) [5]. Alcohol Tolerance; Perfume; Sanitized Metabolism [3]. Allergy (Dust) [-1]. Extended Lifespan; Longevity; Reproductive control, Taboo Traits (Genetic Defects, Mental Instability, Unattractiveness). |
Derketo Sylph [Ideal PArahuman] |
51 Points |
The Derketo (also sometimes called the Atargatis) genotype is a rare sylph variant that features some of the modifications from the Aquanaut, without actually being a full mixing of the two. In addition to featuring a number of modifications of the Aquanaut, Derketo also feature a soft layer of fishlike scales on their arms, backs, and outer thighs, and their skin tends to have a greenish blue or bluish green coloration, with white hair, while the scales sometimes have a metallic coloration to them. They are most commonly found on water worlds and are usually confused for Aquanauts, despite being different (the fastest way to tell them apart is that they can still have body hair and their fingers and toes are not webbed).
Attribute Modifiers
Advantages Perks Disadvantages Features |
DX+1 [20]; HT +1 [10].
Appearance (Very Handsome/Beautiful, humans only, -20%) [9]; Doesn't Breath (Oxygen Storage x25, -50%) [10]; Nictitating Membrane 1 [1]; Resistant to Disease (+8) [5]; Temperature Tolerance [1]. Alcohol Tolerance; Perfume; Sanitized Metabolism [3]. Unnatural Features 1 [-1]. Extended Lifespan; Longevity; Reproductive Control; Taboo Traits (Genetic Defects, Unattractiveness) |
Ishtar [genetic upgrade] |
20 points |
The Ishtar is the genotype that the Sylph diverged from. The first generation Ishtar was developed at some point during the Interplanetary period and it became a relatively popular genotype at that point, co-existing with the Alpha. Unlike the Sylph, the Ishtar has deliberately modified neurochemistry to boost competitiveness and ego, which lead many to question the utility of designing modified neurochemistry. However, despite this drawback, the genotype was still very popular in its day, and a number of older individuals may still possess it.
Attribute Modifiers
Advantages Perks Disadvantages Quirks Features |
ST -1 [-10]; DX+1 [20]; HT +1 [10].
Appearance (Handsome/Beautiful, humans only, -20%) [7]; Resistant to Disease (+8) [5]. Alcohol Tolerance [1]. Jealousy [-10] or Selfish (12) [-10]; Overconfidence (12) [-5] Imaginative [-1] Taboo Traits (Genetic Defects, Unattractiveness) |
Siduri (+9 points): The Siduri is a second generation Ishtar with many of the issues of the original worked out. It wasn't on the market long enough to capitalize on fixing the problems but it may still turn up in some corners and is a listed genotype. Delete Jealousy or Selfish [+10] and add Proud [-1] and Longevity [0]. It is still a genetic upgrade. 29 points.
Isis [genetic upgrade] |
33 points |
The Isis is likely some offshoot of the Ishtar and as a result, the two are often listed together as the same, although there is a subtle difference between them. The Isis tends have a more flexible psychology and tends to be slightly smarter overall when compared to the standard Ishtar, although many do suffer from the same problems, a consequence of gene sequences that tried to boost competition and ego without ending up like the Ishtar. The Isis is ever rare than the Ishtar and it's likely there are no extant versions, but they do exist in the Verge and Bleed Human Genome Database.
Attribute Modifiers
Advantages Perks Disadvantages Quirks Features |
ST -1 [-10]; IQ+1 [20]; HT +1 [10].
Appearance (Handsome/Beautiful, humans only, -20%) [7]; Resistant to Disease (+8) [5]. Alcohol Tolerance [1]. Overconfidence (12) [-5]; and -10 points from Incompetence in any Influence Skill, Odious Personal Habit (Competitive or Self-Obsessed [-5], or some level of Jealousy [-10] and/or Selfish [-5*] Imaginative [-1] Taboo Traits (Genetic Defects, Unattractiveness) |
Labella Sylph [Ideal PArahuman] |
58 Points |
The Labella Sylphs are the sylphs that make up the Labella Clade (see below). They are the product of Labella Clade Engineering, and are known for two things: being paragons of human perfect - their beauty is beyond even the baseline sylph and veers into inhuman - and being incredibly rare. There are only 1,500 Labella sylphs at any given time in the Verge and Bleed (or, that's what the clade maintains; how it has any hard data is unknown but there is a clade-enforced artificial scarcity of Labella, nobody can doubt that), and so as a result, are both fantastically rare and fantastically beautiful. The technology employed in making this type of sylph is poorly understood and almost certainly involves God AI-level engineering, but the Clade also has an expansive network of cool hunters and culture mavens who are on the bleeding edge of what "beautiful" is going to be. In many ways, Labella Sylphs are the trendsetters, with everyone else attempting - and failing - to mimic their beauty and perfection. Given their small number, Labella tend to become famous, with one of the most famous being Isabella Zanetti, the famous fashion maven from Bluefall and former student of Tzevi Oaxaca-Maarten. The design keeps the light, elfin build of the Ishtar, but boosts overall intelligence and creativity in addition to the impressive beauty that the genotype has. The genotype also makes use of intron messages that scramble the DNA, making it extremely difficult if not impossible to sequence properly. The ultravision was added so they could make use of more coloration and see more colors.
Attribute Modifiers
Advantages Perks Quirks Features |
ST -1 [-10]; DX +1 [20]; HT +1 [10]
Appearance (Transcendent, humans only, -20%) [12]; Fit [5]; Resistant to Disease (+8) [5]; Ultravision [10]; Versatile [5] Alcohol Tolerance; Perfume; Sanitized Metabolism [3]. Attentive; Dreamer [-2] Extended Lifespan; Intron Messages; Longevity; Reproductive control, Taboo Traits (Genetic Defects, Mental Instability, Unattractiveness). |
Counterfeit Labella (-20 points): The enforced scarcity of the Labella means that there are always going to be those who attempt to counterfeit it, with varying degrees of success. The engineering that goes into the Labella is beyond what all but the most high-end labs are capable of achieving, and so as a result, most counterfeit Labella end up with some less than desirable traits, especially mentally. While a very talented genehacker and biosculptor can replicate the (current) appearance of the Labella, this doesn't always achieve the Transcendent appearance (and usually winds up with Very Handsome/Beautiful, suggesting there's something else at play), and getting the mental modifications to work together is always problematic. In addition to optionally reducing the appearance by one level [-3], Add -20 points of disadvantages from the following list: Attentive [-1], Bad Temper [-10*], Careful [-1], Dull [-1], Dyslexia [-10], Impulsiveness [-10*], Lecherousness [-15*], Nosy [-1], Overconfidence [-5*], Proud [-1], Responsive [-1], Shyness [-5 to -20], Staid [-1], or Stubbornness [-5]. 38 points.
Nymphs and Dryads [exotic]
While most people are aware that the Nymph and the Dryad are not technically genotypes, not nearly as many are aware that they derive their genetics from the Sylph (although technically, it appears as if they derive their genome from the Ishtar rather then the Sylph; likely because the Ishtar was more widely available at the time - however, they are often said to use Sylphs and so that's the baseline assumption many make). See their respective entries for more information.
Wolfgang [Genetic Upgrade] |
52 points |
The Wolfgang (sometimes called the Amadeus or the Theophilus) is an mix of the Ishtar and the Metanoia that appeared sometime in the Interplanetary Age. There were a number of attempted mixes of different genotypes during this period; the Wolfgang just happens to be the one that survives on file. The most common talent selected with the Wolfgang is Musical Talent (hence the name). Note that while Dyslexia is not mandatory with this template, it's not excluded by the gene fixing either; the neurological modifications required to make the talents work with the rest of the brain interactions result in the disadvantage 9 times out of 10, which likely explains why it was never adopted widespread.
Attribute Modifiers
Advantages Perks Disadvantages Quirks Features |
ST -1 [-10]; IQ+1 [20]; HT +1 [10].
Appearance (Attractive) [2]; Resistant to Disease (+8) [5]; and 15 points of Language Talent [10] and/or any other talent. Alcohol Tolerance [1]. Overconfidence (12) [-5]; and -10 points from Incompetence in any Influence Skill, Odious Personal Habit (Competitive or Self-Obsessed [-5], or some level of Jealousy [-10] and/or Selfish [-5*] Imaginative [-1] Longevity; Taboo Traits (Genetic Defects except Dyslexia, Unattractiveness) |