Technological Terror
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
SYMPTOMS & EFFECTS
Swift, painful transformation into a Gorwolf.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
Strengths:
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Lupagen Pathovirus is a weaponized, gene-altering viral contagion of a decidedly pernicious nature. Like many terrible things, it was spawned from the mind of the cyborg terror Helix, though this time, even viler minds are rumored to have had their input.
In its initial stage (hereafter referred to as Strain A), the virus is only compatible with a tiny percentage of most humanoid populations. When introduced to the bloodstream of incompatible subjects (the great majority of extant humanoid life) Strain A remains dormant, having no ill effect whatsoever. Nonetheless, the virus will likely remain in the incompatible subject's tissue for life, potentially posing a threat should their bodily fluids come into contact with a compatible subject by any means.
This extremely limited early viability means that accidental outbreaks of the virus are rare in the extreme. Most often, it emerges as a result of deliberate terrorism. Typically, a Dzara cell will have been dumping the virus into a population center's water supply for days to ensure saturation by the time the first infection occurs.
When introduced into a compatible subject, Strain A slowly but inexorably alters the subject's molecular structure, inflicting a painful and nightmarish transformation. Bones snap and reshape themselves, new hair follicles sprout from the skin, and long, jagged fangs push their way through the jaws.
There is no known cure for Strain A (save a timely blaster bolt to the brain), but as the overlap between genetically compatible victims and those exposed is a necessarily slim one, most are unaware of its existence.
The newly-born lupine mutant is usually hungry, angry, and highly infectious. This patient zero can potentially jump-start a widespread epidemic, as the mature strand found within the wolf's saliva and blood (hereafter referred to as Strain B) is far less selective in its victims. Any near-human lifeform who survives a wound from a such a creature is likely to become one themselves.
Perhaps worst of all, infected victims can occasionally mutate further into larger, even more grotesque forms should they survive long enough. These unusual specimens can tower many times the height of a man and sport a corresponding increase in physical prowess, but are mercifully rare. Nonetheless, these further-evolved individuals should be treated with extreme caution, as they may have any number of unknown and unstudied capabilities.
Short of a treatment involving similarly-invasive molecular reconstruction, there are few practical cures for Strain B. The window to treat an infected subject is slim, as the transformation begins in seconds and can become irreversible in less than a standard minute. In most cases, the best that can be hoped for is a means to halt the transformation long enough to get the victim to a proper hospital.
In the case of either a primary or secondary-strain infection, should the victim fully complete their transformation, it is irreversible. Though infected subjects occasionally display knowledge that their former selves held (such as the keypad combination to a fortified area, or the route back to their former dwelling) the great majority are doomed to an existence as near-mindless, maddened, hostile beasts.
There is little doubt in the mind of even the dullest of virologists that the virus is not natural in origin. What is less clear is why it works the way it does.
The most prominent theory is that primate-derived humanoids (the majority of near-human life) are hardwired to respond with fear towards the profile of a lupine predator. Dangerous canid life forms exist on many, many planets, their names often a byword for danger amongst the humanoids who interact with them.
Thus, the virus' transformation of humanoids into grotesque wolf-like monsters could suggest an element of psychological warfare at play. Most likely, this shows the shadowy hand of the wider Dzara in the works of the Privateers.
Another theory is that the virus is designed, at least in its creators' diseased minds, to expose civilized beings for what they really are. Simple beasts, wearing the trappings of order while being just a few steps away from returning to their true nature.
An uncontrolled outbreak of this virus in a populated area certainly can lead to a breakdown in order. Once-lively places can be transformed in mere hours into blood-soaked abattoirs. Whole cities can be internally sieged, their populations reduced to huddling indoors while the monsters stalk outside in the empty, moonlit streets.
- Intent: To create a viral bioweapon for a future series of threads
- Image Credit: N/A
- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: N/A
- Scientific Name: Cruor Lupogenia
- Abbreviation: LP
- Common Name: Moon Fever, The Change
- Virus Family: Lupogenia
- Origins: Helix Privateering Co, in collaboration with the wider Dzara.
- Other Locations: Possible samples can be found in Dzara-affiliated laboratories or armories of all sorts, most often kept under tight guard.
- Description: A horrific, highly mutagenic viral contagion reminiscent of the ancient Rakghoul Scourge.
- Morphology: When viewed, the virus displays a complex and ever-changing structure. One moment it may mimic a strand of human DNA, the next, resemble a microscopic parasite of impossibly tiny size, then reshaping itself into arcane glyphs that hurt the eye to look upon. In short, it displays no sane, identifiable structure as such, rendering proper study and classification very difficult. It is almost as though the virus knows when it is being viewed, and delights in baffling observers.
- Size: 200nm
- Color: Generally, individual viral objects are colorless, but can flash a deep crimson or purple for unknown reasons.
- Distinctions:
- Incurable past a point.
- Highly mutative and unstable.
- Requires a highly specific patient zero.
- Source: Created by the Dzara.
- Host Species: Any and all forms of human or near-human life.
- Host Range: Broad
- Viability: Very Limited (Strain A) Very Broad (Strain B)
- Lethality: Non-Lethal
- Severity: Extreme
- Infectivity: High
- Modes of Transmission: Contact, Ingested
- Incubation Period: Seconds to Minutes
- Re-Infection: Readily re-infects its few survivors.
- Vaccine/Cure: If a cure exists, it is most likely held by the Dzara. Cures or treatments created by others may emerge with time.
SYMPTOMS & EFFECTS
Swift, painful transformation into a Gorwolf.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
Strengths:
- Rabid Speed: In either its initial or secondary infectious strain, The Change is exceptionally fast-acting. The victim may have seconds to minutes left.
- An Ounce Of Prevention: There is no known cure for Strain A, save for the death of the victim before the transformation can complete itself.
- Lupine Curse: The virus transforms its victims into ravenous, mindless beasts. These mutant horrors will maim and kill any in their path, with any survivors likely becoming beasts themselves.
- Losing the Lottery: A Pathovirus outbreak requires extremely specific conditions to begin in the first place. Barring very bad luck or deliberate sabotage, outbreaks are rare by nature.
- In The Blood: Strain B must spread by direct fluidic contact with an infected individual, or by imbibing contaminated food/drink, limiting the early rate of transmission.
- Beastly Inclinations: In either case, the virus has no noticeable effect on life forms that greatly depart from the near-human profile.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Lupagen Pathovirus is a weaponized, gene-altering viral contagion of a decidedly pernicious nature. Like many terrible things, it was spawned from the mind of the cyborg terror Helix, though this time, even viler minds are rumored to have had their input.
In its initial stage (hereafter referred to as Strain A), the virus is only compatible with a tiny percentage of most humanoid populations. When introduced to the bloodstream of incompatible subjects (the great majority of extant humanoid life) Strain A remains dormant, having no ill effect whatsoever. Nonetheless, the virus will likely remain in the incompatible subject's tissue for life, potentially posing a threat should their bodily fluids come into contact with a compatible subject by any means.
This extremely limited early viability means that accidental outbreaks of the virus are rare in the extreme. Most often, it emerges as a result of deliberate terrorism. Typically, a Dzara cell will have been dumping the virus into a population center's water supply for days to ensure saturation by the time the first infection occurs.
When introduced into a compatible subject, Strain A slowly but inexorably alters the subject's molecular structure, inflicting a painful and nightmarish transformation. Bones snap and reshape themselves, new hair follicles sprout from the skin, and long, jagged fangs push their way through the jaws.
There is no known cure for Strain A (save a timely blaster bolt to the brain), but as the overlap between genetically compatible victims and those exposed is a necessarily slim one, most are unaware of its existence.
The newly-born lupine mutant is usually hungry, angry, and highly infectious. This patient zero can potentially jump-start a widespread epidemic, as the mature strand found within the wolf's saliva and blood (hereafter referred to as Strain B) is far less selective in its victims. Any near-human lifeform who survives a wound from a such a creature is likely to become one themselves.
Perhaps worst of all, infected victims can occasionally mutate further into larger, even more grotesque forms should they survive long enough. These unusual specimens can tower many times the height of a man and sport a corresponding increase in physical prowess, but are mercifully rare. Nonetheless, these further-evolved individuals should be treated with extreme caution, as they may have any number of unknown and unstudied capabilities.
Short of a treatment involving similarly-invasive molecular reconstruction, there are few practical cures for Strain B. The window to treat an infected subject is slim, as the transformation begins in seconds and can become irreversible in less than a standard minute. In most cases, the best that can be hoped for is a means to halt the transformation long enough to get the victim to a proper hospital.
In the case of either a primary or secondary-strain infection, should the victim fully complete their transformation, it is irreversible. Though infected subjects occasionally display knowledge that their former selves held (such as the keypad combination to a fortified area, or the route back to their former dwelling) the great majority are doomed to an existence as near-mindless, maddened, hostile beasts.
There is little doubt in the mind of even the dullest of virologists that the virus is not natural in origin. What is less clear is why it works the way it does.
The most prominent theory is that primate-derived humanoids (the majority of near-human life) are hardwired to respond with fear towards the profile of a lupine predator. Dangerous canid life forms exist on many, many planets, their names often a byword for danger amongst the humanoids who interact with them.
Thus, the virus' transformation of humanoids into grotesque wolf-like monsters could suggest an element of psychological warfare at play. Most likely, this shows the shadowy hand of the wider Dzara in the works of the Privateers.
Another theory is that the virus is designed, at least in its creators' diseased minds, to expose civilized beings for what they really are. Simple beasts, wearing the trappings of order while being just a few steps away from returning to their true nature.
An uncontrolled outbreak of this virus in a populated area certainly can lead to a breakdown in order. Once-lively places can be transformed in mere hours into blood-soaked abattoirs. Whole cities can be internally sieged, their populations reduced to huddling indoors while the monsters stalk outside in the empty, moonlit streets.
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