I think we have it, Dr. Redford. And like many great discoveries this one happened by accident. A documentary on the Discovery Channel led me to a remote monastery in the mountains of Petra in Jordan. The less famous, but equally impressive hewn rock monastery El Deir. Do you remember Jeremy Irons? Well, he was featured in the documentary, but all our news analysts missed his walk on. I don't blame them, he looks nothing like the 8 foot tall Iron statue he was when he left us. As a matter of fact I feel quite lucky that I had seen pictures of him before his eruption otherwise I would not have recognized him either. Get back to me as soon as you can. Skeptics in my division cite Nova Dormancy as the source of his human appearance but you and I both know how little that effects the advanced stages of Taint buildup.
--Regards, Dr. Toiho.
The M-R Node is a marvelous thing. It allows mere mortals to touch the Quantum structure of the universe bending the laws of reality to their will. But the rest of the human body wasn't designed to take that kind of stress. Taint and it's accompanying Aberrations are the way in which the body and mind deal with Taint. There is no blueprint to Quantum and many of the side effects of dealing with it are uncontrolled and unpleasant. But how the body deals with Taint is another matter entirely. Once the body and mind have changed to accomodate Quantum there comes a period where it must also adjust to the side effects of that accomodation. Exactly how it does so is a territory for nebulous research and an exercise in futile theoretics. It is however known that some novas can exert subconscious control over their Taint. Sometimes ammeliorating the effects but in most cases aggravating it.
In recent years there has been a concerted effort between novas and researchers to eliminate Taint altogether. But this effort has met with little success. In april of 2004 a nova from southern Texas joined Utopia at the urgings of his family when his eruption turned him into an 8 foot tall statue of iron. Doctors in Utopia were seeking a key to understanding Taint and drew some very circumstantial conclusions from the fact that Jeremy was nicknamed Iron Man by his football team mates. For an entire year Jeremy Irons allowed himself to be subjected to experiments and hypnotic treatments to draw a psychosomatic parrallel between Taint and Aberration. Some scientists were trying to change the nature of his outward manifestation of Taint by manipulating his subconscious. The experiments failed repeatedly but they were continued nonetheless. To study his condition in more depth he was transferred from the Addis Ababa facility to Bahrain. He spent two months in the Bahrain facility before he checked himself out. Since he presented no threat and the research was going nowhere, aside from the fact that they had more than enough unwilling subjects, he was allowed to go. Non-disclosure agreement aside his memories were altered prior to his release.
He wandered around the Middle East where he fell in with the Teragen but that didn't last for more than a month. Jeremy who didn't have a selfish bone in his body just couldn't see any merit to Terat philosophy and it's focus on the individual above all else. But he did learn about the Chrysalis and how it related to individual evolution. When he left though, no one tried to stop him. Jeremey simply didn't make enough of an impact for them to want to hang on to him.
Jeremy settled down in Jordan with a monastic society. The monks didn't draw attention to Jeremy's strange condition and allowed him peace and quite to think, meditate and pray. Given this extended period free of pressure to reflect he found that he could achieve a meditative trance where he could distinguish the difference between the sensation of channelling Quantum and the bleed off of Taint. Focusing on the Taint he finally managed to remove it from his body. The Aberrations didn't disappear overnight, but he found that the self hypnosis induced trances he had learned as a guinea pig at the Bahrain facility helped him achieve the state where he could run through the subconcious release exercises designed to alter his ideal self image. Sure enough as his mental self image changed so did his body. And without the Taint to fuel his physical changes his body slowly became normal again.
Jeremy realized that he had made a great breakthrough but something about his experience at Bahrain troubled him even though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. For this reason he didn't automatically go to the Rashoud clinics with his discovery. Instead he left the monastery with a film crew that was doing a documentary on ancient architecture. At every stop he would find a nova who suffered from Taint and Aberration and quietly teach them how he dealt with it in the hopes that they could figure out a way to deal with it too. But a slip put his face in the documentary and led to him being picked up by Proteus. Not only do they want to learn how he dealt with the Taint, but they also want Utopia to be the sole providers of the 'cure'.
Due the state of self induced hypnosis and the positive self image required to acheive this meditative trance Jeremy decided to name it Rapture. The feeling of finally flushing the Taint from his body filled jeremy with a euphoria somewhat similar to that which he experienced upon erupting. The only thing missing were the blinding headaches, which he concluded meant that he was changing himself to better handle his Quantum energies. He may be right or wrong but immediately afterwards he suffered from a corresponding decrease in his Quantum powers. This period of readjustment didn't last long but it did reinforce his perception that he had somehow 'corrected' his eruption, since it closely resembles the Centipede Syndrome that many novas suffer immediately following eruption.
Many a nova would gladly do anything to rid themselves of Taint and it's coresponding Aberrations. However the process is not an easy one and requires a willing and aware subject. Many of the novas in detention could not be taught the techniques and exercises required for it to work. Volunteers on the other hand found it difficult to achieve the necessary calm with researchers prodding them after every session. But a few successes convinced them to proceed with the experiments in secluded locations. However, most field agents are too busy to take the time necessary and by the time it becomes necessary to take an agent out of the field due to Taint build up, it is usually too late to start the process. Attempts to force a subject to adhere to the program have proven unsuccessful as it requires the complete support of the subject to succeed.
System:
The state of mind necessary to flush Taint from the nova's body and mind is refered to as The Rapture. Within this state of mind the nova can achieve an awareness over the energies coursing through his body. With this knowledge of himself and his own inner workings the nova can then attempt to correct the overflow that results in Taint. However this poses a particular danger to the nova's surroundings. The Taint isn't converted or destroyed by this process, merely removed. Once removed from the nova the Taint then remains for an indeterminate amount of time in the area where it was flushed.
The Rapture isn't a one step process and requires that the nova live his life according to a philosophy designed to bring him in touch with his true self. In this instance the circumstances surrounding the nova's eruption and the subconscious desires that led to him aquiring the powers he did are very important. The nova must come to grips with whatever led him to becoming what he is. And to realize that he has to accept that his former baseline self defines every aspect of his new condition. For this reason a nova who lives according to this philosophy cannot at the same time follow the philosphy of Teras and Chrysalis. The two philosophies are mutually incompatible.
To help the nova to come to grips with himself he has to give his outlook on his new life a structured meaning that guides his route to reenlightenment. With this philosophy the nova can regain that moment of insight he achieved when he erupted. The Archetypes presented below are merely guidelines and each of them started with the nova asking the question "What was the last conscious thought I had before erupting?". Since the answer to that question depends on each individual nova, even those who qualify for some of the broad groupings presented below might have their own personal quirks and unique modifications to their philosophy. Most however will find it their calling to create a new Archetype suited to themselves and none other. Even something as close to home as a cop who erupts while defending others might find the Archetype of Protector to be too extreme for his tastes. He might have an outlook that combines aspects from the Guardian Archetype. Or he might simply not be so selfless.
There is no game mechanic that forces a player to follow his archetype, but if the player is serious about lowering his Taint and is meditating regularly and not letting his Taint grow too high or needlessly exerting his Quantum by Maxxing or through fast recovery of Quantum Pool, then simply modify his archetype to reflect his actual behavior. The Archetype is a roleplaying tool and should not be ignored in favor of a quick Taint fix, but it also shouldn't straightjacket the player. If the character is going through a period of change or adjustment, allow it.
Elementals
Elementals are the rarest of all archetypes. They have no concern beyond simply being. Novas who come to this archetype are those who see themselves more as forces of nature rather than sentient beings. Of all the archetypes the Elemental is the most difficult to quantify. Their powers are usually of a nature that removes them from the hierarchy of human needs. Even if they still need food, water and can be killed, these novas find themselves without the emotional need to seek companionship. They are also novas who find no need to procreate. Most Elementals are incapable of having sex, either because of the nature of their powers or because of Taint Aberrations. Some feel no physical sensation at all, while others find their senses enhanced to such a point that the pleasure they find from passing water over their skin is so sublime and fascinating that sex simply can't compare. On the other hand they may actually feel pain and discomfort when engaging in intimate contact. But there is reason for a nova who follows this philosophy to wish to reduce their Taint. At high levels Taint tends to induce mental aberrations that inflict emotions and desires upon the nova. This is an inbearable situation for the Elemental and has to be remedied. Other nova Elementals find that their physical Aberrations serve no practical use or force them to avoid certain situations, such as a nova allergic to water not being able drink water while not dormed down. These novas seek to eliminate the source of the annoyance so that they can continue being a part of their element without distraction.
One example of an Elemental Archetype nova is Hecaton, he was a navy communications specialist aboard the aircraft carrier USS Reagan when he erupted. He had no friends, humor and sarcasm were lost on him and he preffered to spend his free time going over computer code and encryption algorythms. When he erupted his consciousness fused with the carrier and he gained control over the various computer and automated systems aboard the ship. His affinity is such that he sees the aircraft carrier as his body and finds it impossible to join with other systems. Hecaton communicates exclusively through the onboard PA's and radio equipment. So complete is his immersion with the ship computer that he will carry out orders from anyone who presents the proper command codes. He no longer makes any distinction between his own memory and the computer memory of the ship's computers.
Guardians
There is a human quality of kindness, mercy, compassion and self sacrifice that is decidely transhuman. Guardians are no more predisposed towards heroics than any other nova but they do have a tendency to put themselves in harms way to protect those weaker than themselves, whether they are nova or baseline. Novas who feel the need to identify themselves with others also find this way of life appealing. They are the ones who can't shut anyone out and feel the pain of everyone they meet as if it were their own. Many Guardians follow their beliefs so that they can reduce their Taint, eliminate their Aberrations and become accepted in all situations. Most however simply do it to put others around them at ease. Most Guardians are pacifists and vegetarians. A few even refuse to eat at all, surviving on Quantum and the Adaptability Enhancement.
A good example of a Guardian Archetype is Saturn. When he erupted his new found powers extended to save not only himself, but also the man he was falling with and the people below them. Saturn is a physically oriented nova who nevertheless doesn't like to hurt people and takes pride in the fact that in all his fights no one gets hurt. He also lives for the enjoyment of the crowd and his millions of fans. Nothing touches him so deeply as the hugs he recieves in children's hospitals or the roar of people he entertains in his NKL matches. His sense of identification is such that he feels that he has an obligation to provide the people he entertains with the best possible experience, no matter how bad he feels or how much he has to suffer at the hands of his opponent.
Predators
The selfish desire for instant gratification, the total lack of regard for anyone or anything outside the self, this is what marks the predator. The nova who cares only for himself and cannot empathise with anyone is a good candidate for this philosophy. Of course being a predator doesn't mean being shut off from human society. On the contrary, baselines make the easiest prey, whether the source of satisfaction is money, sex or violence. These are the novas who can't let go of their desires. The ones who wouldn't want to leave the comfort of their top floor penthouses, with 356 channels on sattellite dish and dedicated OpNet lines. A Predator is a nova who erupted because he couldn't fullfill his material or emotional needs as a mere baseline. The Predator has to stand out from the masses, but on the other hand he can't live without the masses to feed his needs.
Chiraben is a prime example of a Predator. When Chiraben erupted he wasn't expecting to make it to his 17th birthday. But after his eruption he found a purpose to his life and a use for his talents. Chiraben needs the conflict his job provides and he needs the approval or at least the fear of his peers in the Project. To achieve that approval he has to control his instincts and deny himself the pleasure of ripping the flesh off his victims bones. The physical rush he feels in a fight has to be balanced by the pride and satisfaction he gets for handling a job right.
Protectors
In every group there is a leader, one who accepts the responsibility of looking out for the weak and looks to their needs. All a nova with this Archetype needs is to be appreciated. To avoid feeling undervalued he will go to great lengths to provide protection, food, shelter and other necessities to those around him. Novas who erupt out of a need to defend or provide for someone else are Protectors. However if they feel that the person or people they provide for aren't corresponding they are quick to transfer their aid to someone 'more deserving'. These novas are the kind of people who can't leave well enough alone. They are the kind of people who see someone struggling with a problem and instead of letting them solve it by themselves they interfere. Since they can usually solve the problem in a fraction of the time it would take otherwise they become upset if they aren't thanked for their efforts.
An example of a Protector is Caestus Pax. If he can see a solution he implements it and then expects to be recognized for his vision and initiative. Even if the solution is something that the people he's helping wouldn't agree with. The power Pax wields is nothing without the satisfaction of knowing he's using it for the right reasons. Many people call Pax a fanatic but he knows that the right thing has to be done for the sake of those who can't or won't do it for themselves. Pax believes that there are those who have to be protected from outside threats, but the majority of people have to be protected from themselves or they'll get themselves into even more trouble.
The Rapture
Once the nova has an Archetype around which to center his life he needs time and quiet to achieve the mental state necessary to flush Taint from his system. The process isn't easy and the nova cannot interrupt the process once it starts. Once the nova is in Rapture the Taint begins to radiate from his body and at higher levels can be seen in a variety of forms. Some times it manifests simply as an aura of light emanating from the nova. In other cases some manifestation of the nova's powers begin to affect things in the immediate vicinity. Objects might float in the the vicinity of a nova with Gravity Control, a Shapeshifting nova might grow long hair that fills the room, or people in the vicinity of a nova with Telepathy might begin to hear each others thoughts. At higher levels of Taint the nova may begin to exude some physical manifestation of his powers that appears corrupted in some way. Gravitic disturbances might tear objects apart, flesh could flake of the nova and rot on the floor around him, or people might start to go insane as voices in their heads begin to overwhelm their reasoning.
There are different levels of difficulty involved for each level of Taint. The time spent in Rapture and the difficulty for entering into the trance depends upon the current Taint of the nova. At the lowest levels, with Taint of one to three, the nova merely needs to succeed at a meditation roll to enter the Rapture. At this level the nova only needs to spend a week in Rapture for each point of Taint he is trying to get rid of. With a minor level of Taint, at four to five, the nova needs to succeed at a meditation roll at a difficulty of +2. At this level the nova needs to spend a month in rapture for each point of Taint he is trying to get rid of. At the medium levels, with a Taint of six to seven, the nova must succeed at a meditation roll with a difficulty of +4. The nova also has to spend three months in rapture for each level of Taint he wishes to eliminate. At the higher levels, with eight to nine Taint, the nova has to succeed at a meditation roll with a +8 difficulty and spend one year in rapture for each level of Taint he wishes to eliminate. At Taint ten the process is no longer possible as the nova no longer possesses the human awareness with which to judge himself as suffering from a problem.
Once the rapture is entered into the nova has to stay in trance until he is finished. For many novas this means a hopital bed and an IV drip. Others can tough it out, especially at the lower ends when it's only a few weeks. Moving the nova may disturb him and ruin the attempt. The nova can attempt to ignore any distractions by succeeding at a meditation roll, but if he is moved from his location the Taint he is radiating could be spread out over the area he is moved across.
Each point of Taint that is removed stays in the area and can infect other people that pass through. When a point of Taint becomes a part of the landscape it gives the area a background count of Taint. Background Taint is measured by the amount of Taint the nova wishes to flush from his body. Novas who enter the area aquire one temporary Taint per point of background Taint. Baselines suffer even worse consequences depending on the level of infestation. For one to three points of background Taint the area affected is 1 meter radius per point of Taint. Baselines feel uneasy in the area and are at +1 difiiculty on all Social and Mental rolls. The Taint dies down at the rate of one month per point. At four to five points of background Taint the area affected is 10 meters per point and can seriously affect the health of small animals and plants in the area. Baselines are at +2 on all Social and Mental difficulties and can develop asthma and epilepsy through prolonged exposure. Birds and lizards die if they stay in the area for long and plants in the area become stunted. Insects are unaffected. The Taint dies down at the rate of one year per point. At six to seven points of background Taint the area is 100 meters per point of Taint and nothing can grow there unless it is genetically engineered to survive irradiated terrain. Baselines are at +3 to all Social and Mental difficulties, birth defects occur in the children of those who enter the area, Cancer is a common outcome from prolonged exposure and mutation occurs in even the hardiest of species. Insects die from prolonged exposure but hardy breeds such as roaches and scorpions can survive. The Taint dies down at the rate of one decade per point. At Taint eight to nine the area affected is one kilometer per point of background Taint. Baselines start to suffer mental and physical Aberrations as well as a +4 on all Social and Mental difficulties. Death is the result of prolonged exposure. The Taint dies down at the rate of one hundred years per point. At Taint ten the area affected is permanently infected and practically nothing can survive there for more than a few minutes without radiation suits. Aslo any nova entering an area with a background Taint of ten is assured of acquiring one point of Permanent Taint.
Spreading the Taint around by moving the nova while he is in Rapture can result in larger areas. Simply judge the lowest amount from the level of Taint present and apply that to the whole area. So a nova who is getting rid of 3 points of Taint would cover the area he was moved through with a background Taint of one. A nova who was getting rid of five Taint would produce a background Taint of four, while if a nova were trying to get rid of four points the area would have a background Taint of four regardless. In any circumstance the nova who entered the rapture gains one temporary point of Taint for each Permanent point of Taint he removed. The nova can leave the area and return without being reinfected but if he spends enough time at a place that the background Taint drops by one point he gets an additional point of Temporary Taint.
Two novas can create overlapping areas of background Taint. A single nova who uses the same area to remove Taint several times can also increase the background Taint in that area. Whenever two areas overlap simply add one to the Taint of the higher Taint area and then unite the two areas with the new epicenter being the area where they overlapped. If a nova uses the same spot to reduce his Taint multiple times simply add one point of Taint to the background count unless he flushes more Taint than the rating of than the previous background count. If the amount is equal to or greater than the previous amount then count the background Taint from the current rapture and add one for the previous rapture. A nova who enters into an area with the intent of going into Rapture can leave with more Taint than he originally started with.
Once the Taint is gone the nova can then start to work on his Aberrations. After he has successfully entered a Rapture he can remove Aberrations as if they belonged to a Taint category one level lower as described above. A high level Aberration would be treated as a level six to seven point of Taint, except that it doesn't increase the background count. Social difficulties disappear when the nova removes both the Taint of a particular level and its accompanying Aberration. A nova with Taint would have to remove his highest level Aberration before his social difficulties start to disappear. If he starts with his lower Aberrations he retains the Social difficulties until he removes the Aberration that came with his highest level of previous Taint.
Experience point cost
One to three points of Permanent Taint: 4xp per dot
Four to five points of Permanent Taint: 6xp per dot
Six to seven points of Permanent Taint: 8xp per dot
Eight to nine points of Permanent Taint: 10xp per dot
Minor Aberration: 4xp
Medium Aberration: 6xp
High level Aberration: 8xp
(Experience point costs are not times current rating, example: If a nova has a Taint score of nine and wishes to lower it by three points he would spend 28xp. 20 for the nine and eight Taint dots and 8 for the seven Taint dot.)
Quantum Attunement: A nova with the Mega Perception Enhancement of Quantum Attunement can roll his Perception + Awareness to sense areas of background Taint and their strength.
Acquiring more Taint
A nova who begins to lower his Taint can gain more Taint from any activity which would normally grant him Taint. If a nova gains back the same level of Taint at which he previously had gained an Aberration, he gains another Aberration of that same level. In addition if he has not removed his Aberrations that correspond to the level of Taint at which his Social difficulties increased, then those Social difficulties are cumulative. For example if a nova with Taint 6 lowers his Taint to 3 but ignores his Aberrations he would still have a +2 to Social difficulties with baselines. If his Taint were to rise to 5 he would acquire two minor Aberrations which would give him a total of four minor Aberrations and a Social difficulty modifier of +3.
