Novus

Height: 4 ft. 6 in. to 6 ft.

Weight: 95 lb. to 180 lb.

Environment: Intergalactic

Population: Majority

Role: Creator Species

Base Features (0 FP)

Adaptive (0 FP): Novus are capable of surviving on all but the most hostile worlds, adapting to the environment as they adapt the environment to them. After spending a full rest exposed to any form of radiation or toxin without dying, their body produces compounds tailored to protect their cells. They become immune to the negative effects of those specific toxins or forms of radiation.

In addition, they can survive for up to a year without breathable air, able to withstand uninhabitable atmospheres. However, without breathable air, their functional Kick Ass and Bad Ass are reduced by 1. After a year, they will die of suffocation without an inhabitable atmosphere.

Genetic Constant (0 FP): Novus are immune to evolution or genetic malformation. No matter how they are personally altered, their offspring’s genome will normalize to a base state. This allows them to repopulate from a single genetically distinct individual without degeneration.

Hermaphroditic (0 FP): Beyond a lack of any form of mammary glands, Novus all have the anatomy of humanoid females. However, they in truth have a single sex that fills both the male and female role.

Their reproductive system is exclusionary towards self fertilization. Specialized medicine is required for a single individual to produce offspring, which can be used by lone survivors.

Photosynthetic (0 FP): Novus do not need stellar radiation to remain healthy, but can benefit from the added resource. If more than half of their body is regularly exposed to stellar light for prolonged periods, they will only require half the food they otherwise would. Their need for water is not reduced.

Terraform (0 FP): A Novus carries a heart sized bulb reminiscent of an egg within their body. If fertilized, they spawn this bulb immediately, and their body replaces it after a fortnight. If a bulb remains in their body for a fortnight, it will be spawned involuntarily.

An unfertilized bulb may be planted in any material containing the base elements needed for life, including the soil of an uninhabitable planet. Over the next month, it will take root in the material and grow into a Novus bud, converting base elements into organic matter.

A Novus bud produces enough fruit to support a single Novus and breathable air, enough buds being able to render a planet’s atmosphere inhabitable. If they live exclusively off the fruit, they can remain without breathable air indefinitely. However, they still take penalties. A Novus bud lives for 2d4 years.

If a bulb is fertilized, it must still be planted or die after a month. Once planted, it will take root and grow to the size of a child, before breaking open to release an adolescent Novus. Novus emerge with physical and mental development equivalent to an eight year old, and take twelve years to reach maturity.

Optional Features

Lone Survivor (5 FP): All Novus are exceptionally hard to kill via environmental hazards, but occasionally one spawns with exceptional resilience. Their Bad Ass increases by 1. This cannot increase an Ability Score over 12.

In addition, when making a Bad Ass Check (1d12 + Bad Ass) to resist the effects of toxins, pathogens, hostile environments, starvation or thirst, they may roll twice and use the higher result.

Scholar Mutation (5 FP): The Novus are meant to use tools and technology to dominate their environment. The first of them were engineered for this lifestyle, and this trait still activates in some. Their Smart Ass increases by 1.

In addition, any sensory input that has ever entered their mind is perfectly recorded and can be retrieved and experienced at any time as it was when first received. This makes it impossible for them to forget or lose quality from any experience.

As an action, they can go back to any point in their limitless memory and study the sensory input from that point. While doing this, they can make Checks to study their senses at the time as they would if present at that time and place. This might let them spot details they missed the first time or process information they weren’t paying attention to at the time.

Likewise, they never need to make Checks to remember past events, regardless of possible distractions. This cannot increase Smart Ass over 12.

For 4 additional FP, their Smart Ass increases by 1 again. This additional cost can be payed repeatedly, increasing Smart Ass by 1 each time. This additional cost cannot increase Smart Ass over 12.

For 1 additional FP, when making Checks to find, learn or verify new information, they can add 1d4 to the result. This additional cost can be payed repeatedly, adding another 1d4. The cost increases by 1 FP each time.

Servitor Seed (5 FP): An echo of an ancient pact made and broken by their species’ progenitor, the Novus gains the support of something beyond. They do not need to eat or sleep, but can meditate for an hour to gain the effects of a full rest.

They are not affected by toxins, pathogens or similar ailments. Likewise, they are immune to Features that would rely on biological reactions.

In addition, their body replaces their bulb immediately after it is spawned. As twelve actions, they may spawn an unfertilized bulb. They are always aware of What Is Not Created’s existence and what could be bargained for.

At any time, they can offer themselves up to What Is Not Created, becoming a Chosen One and gaining power in exchange for service. They must have sufficient FP to gain whatever Features they gain from becoming a Chosen One.

For -1 additional FP, any Check made to play on their sexual instincts, such as attempts to arouse or seduce, has its result increased by 1d4.

For -2 additional FP, they are illiterate, being unable to read or write any language of reality.

Labor Mutation (4 FP): The Novus were not made with the intention of surviving without tools and technology. Yet, the need for physical laborers was still present at the dawn of their species. This trait still activates in some, causing the formation of a second set of arms and increased physical skill.

Their Kick Ass increases by 1. This Feature can be taken a second time, providing a third set of arms and increasing their Kick Ass by 1 again. This cannot increase an Ability Score over 12.