In the Beginning…

The story is set on earth, far flung into the future.

A scientist discovers something incredible. They learn how to fuse humans and animals. Dubbed “hybrids” many humans quickly seek out this procedure. Hybrids enjoy an exhilarating life experiencing the features of the animal they chose to fuse with while also maintain many of their best human features. However, it becomes apparent that a small percentage of hybrids exhibit signs of weakness – for example, they experience extreme sensitivities to ordinary materials or sensations. Yet, all such hybrids also possess powerful magic. These hybrids become known as mutants, whereas the hybrids not experiencing these characteristics become known as survivors.

Unfortunately, many humans think that hybrids are abominations and should be destroyed. This backwards thinking spawns a war between humans and hybrids. In the course of the war, humans begin combining animals together into wild, mindless, ferocious beasts that they can somehow control, which become known as fusions. The war has been going on for years without end. Perhaps you can stop it.

Game Play

Game Prep

Every game must have one Degenerate, who designs and guides the other players through the game. The first task of the Degenerate is to imagine an adventure, given the context provided above, for a group of characters. Typical adventures follow a story line where the group is presented with an opportunity or a challenge that they must carry out in order to complete a quest.

In the adventure, the Degenerate can imagine riddles, opportunities and fights that the players must complete in order to finish their quest. All these interactions should involve the various skills, features, spells, and gizmos that they players have.

Creating your character

Use the available character sheets for each player.

Each player must first choose an affinity and then determine what animal they want to be a hybrid of – any real animal is acceptable. Work with your Degenerate to figure out what features you gain from your hybrid.

Next, each player should record in their character sheet their features, stats, armor class, HP, weapons, spells and gizmos based on the affinity they choose and their starting level.

Combat Rules

Combat encounters use a square grid map. Each player can move up to five squares per turn and take one action or move up to 10 squares (and forfeit your action).

As an action, you can attack with a weapon, use a gizmo, cast a spell, activate a feature, or any other activity in keeping with your character’s abilities that the Degenerate approves. When you attack with a weapon, roll a D20 and add your strength or dexterity, whichever is higher. If you beat your enemy’s AC (armor class), then you deal the specified amount of damage, which is subtracted from your enemy’s HP (hit points). If you attack with a spell, roll a D20 and add arcane. Whether or not your spell hits and the damage it does depends on the spell.

If you or your enemy’s HP goes below 1, the character dies unless the attacker specifies that they only want to knock them out, in which case they are unconscious for eight hours after which they will awake with 1 HP.

After a full 8 in game hours of dedicated rest, all your hit points are restored. It’s up the discretion of the Degenerate as to whether smaller periods of rest restore partial hit points.

Initial Play, Gear and Leveling Up

Depending on your player, you may collect spells, gizmos and/or weapons. Survivors cannot choose spells. Mutants cannot choose weapons.

At level 1, all players choose a total of two spells, gizmos or weapons that their affinity allows.

At even numbered levels (ability score increases) you increase an ability score of the player’s choosing by one, up to the ability score max. In addition, you can add an item of your creation subject to the Degenerate’s approval to your character.

Affinity Stats

Survivor affinities

Guardian

Forager

Alchemist

Poet

Mutant affinities

Healer

Oracle

Astral Walker

Geomancer

Affinities

Survivors

Guardian

Intercepting Attack

Intercept an opponents attack that is targeting an ally that is within 1 square of you.. Make a DC 15 (dexterity). If you succeed, subtract 1D6 from opponent's damage. You can do this once per session.

When you reach 11^th level, you can do this twice per session and subtract 2D6 from the damage.

Extra Attack

You surge with energy, allowing you to attack twice instead of just once for this turn. You can do this once per session.

When you reach 13^th level, you can do this twice per session.

Reactive Attack

When an ally fighting the same enemy takes damage from the same opponent you're fighting, you can make an attack at them. You can do this twice per session.

At 15^th level, you can do this three times per session.

Deafening Roar

You emit a roar that strikes terror into your foes. When you use this feature, foes must make a DC 15 (charisma). If they fail, they may not get closer and will not attack. If they succeed nothing happens. You can do this once per session.

At 17^th level, you do this twice per session.

Weapon Growth

Your weapon grows to titanic proportions. Add 1D8 to your damage. You can do this once per session.

At 19^th level, add 2D8 to your damage instead of 1D8.

Alchemist

Make Potion

You can make a simple potion. After the session ends your potion turns into ordinary water This feature takes 30 in-game minutes.

Simple potions:

• Healing potion: the imbiber gain 2D6 hit points.
• Hunger potion: Based on your choice, either creates insatiable hunger for 12 hours (minus 2 on all rolls) or provides as much nutrition as a full meal.
• Sedative potion: the imbiber fall asleep instantly for 5 hours
• Burning skin potion: Causes 1D8 damage when comes into contact with skin. Requires an attack to be used against an enemy.

At 11^th level, you can make a complex potion.

Complex Potions

• Flight potion: For 10 minutes the imbiber can fly.
• Fire aura potion: All creatures (including your allies) within 20 feet of the imbiber who fail a DC15 (dexterity) take 2D8 damage.
• Vitalizing potion: The next time the imbiber make a strength roll, add 1D6.
• Bug attraction potion: When it comes into contact with skin, it attracts a swarm of biting insects, on your next role, subtract 5 due to distraction. This potion requires an attack role.

Prismatic Refraction

You can coat any surface with a material that, when it comes into contact with any amount of sunlight or within 5 feet of artificial light, amplifies the light to create a blinding flash that causes all creatures (including you and your allies) within a 20 ft radius to be blinded for 5 minutes. The material takes 20 minutes to make.

At 13t^h level, creatures are blinded for 10 minutes.

Identify Substance

You can identify liquid and solid substances. Make a DC10 (herbalism). If you succeed you will know what the material of the substance is.

At 15^th level, you can identify what the substance is and also what it was used for. Make a DC15 (herbalism) to identify the substance and what is was used for. If you role a 10-14 you only identify the substance.

Create Poison

You learn to develop potent poisons. You can apply the poison to weapons or to food. This feature takes an in-game hour to make. It deals an extra 2D6 damage.

At 17^th level, it deals an extra 3D6 damage instead of an extra 2D6 damage.

Added effect

When you create a simple or complex potion, it can have two effects, not just one.

At 19^th level, the potion can have three effects, not just two.

Poet

Discomforting Poem

You recite a poem that makes your enemies uncomfortable. On their next role subtract 1D4. You can do this twice per session.

At 11^th level, your poem is so strange, it makes your enemies puke. Instead of subtracting 1D4, subtract 1D8.

Inspiring Poem

You recite a poem that inspires your allies to greatness. Each of your allies adds 1D6 to their next role. You can do this once per session.

At 13^th level, add 1D8 instead of 1D6.

Poem of Silence

You recite a poem so baffling that your enemies are shocked into silence. Your enemies cannot use any form of communication for five minutes. You can do this once per session.

At 15^th level, the silence lasts for an hour.

Last Word

If you are in an argument, use this feature to instantly win the argument. You can do this once per session. This does not effect other players

At 17^th level, you can do this twice per session.

Truth Telling Poem

This convoluted poem meanders so confusingly, it tricks your enemies into giving up their secrets. Your target must tell you one truthful answer to the best of their ability. You can do this once per session.

At 19^th level, you can get two truthful answers and you can do this twice per session.

Forager

Find Materials

With one hour of searching, you can find a common object. The Degenerate determines whether the object you are looking for is available. You can do this whenever you have time.

At 11^th level, you can find less common objects.

Repair Object

With one hour of work time, you can repair a small, simple object if you understand what it does. You can do this whenever you have time.

At 13^th level, you can repair bigger and more complex items.

Sense Abomination

You sense the presence and direction of fusions within 100 feet without knowing their exact location. Make a DC15 (herbalism).

At 15^th level, you can pinpoint their exact location.

Sleight of Hand

You can hide or steal small objects without being noticed even if plain sight. This feature requires a DC15 (dexterity).

At 17^th level, this feature only requires a DC10 (dexterity).

Stealth

You move without being seen or heard for 30 minutes. This feature requires a DC18 (dexterity).

At 19^th level, This feature only requires a DC13 (dexterity).

Mutant

Healer

Heal Wounds

You can heal wounds inflicted upon your allies. This feature requires a DC10 (arcane). If the role succeeds, up to five targets all gain hit points equal to 1D6 plus your arcane score. You can do this four times per session.

At 11^th level, all targets gain hit points equal to 1D8 plus your arcane.

Destroy Disease

You can heal a single disease afflicting up to 20 creatures of your choice. This feature requires a DC10 (arcane). You can do this two times per session.

At 13^th level, this feature requires a DC5 (arcane).

Heal Material

You can permanently fuse two materials in a way that makes it impossible for them to be separated. This does not make armor stronger. This requires a DC15 (arcane). You can do this once per session.

At 15^th level, you can do this twice per session.

Heal the Earth

You can remove any toxins in the earth, air and water within 400 feet. You can do this twice per session.

At 17^th level, the range becomes one mile.

Create Undead

You can re-animate a corpse into a zombie. The zombie cannot attack, but it can do anything else that an average person can do. You control the zombie, which collapses into a dormant corpse after 12 hours. You can do this once per session.

At 19^th level, the zombie lats for 24 hours.

Oracle

Search for Omens

If you spend 20 minutes searching a given area, the Degenerate will provide a vague clue of what is going to happen next.

At 11^th level, the Degenerate will provide a more specific clue.

Helpful advice

You see a vision that provides a solution to a problem. You add your arcane bonus to a chosen allies next role. You can do this twice per session.

At 13^th level, you can do this four times per session.

Premonition

You can sense the kind of danger that may happen in the next hour. This feature requires a DC10 (arcane). Example of types of danger include: traps, humans, fusions, poison, etc.

At 15^th level, this feature only requires a DC5 (arcane).

Friend or Foe

You can determine if a given creature is a friend or foe. This feature requires a DC15 (arcane).

At 17^th level, this feature requires a DC10 (arcane).

See Past

If you spend 30 minutes in one location, you can see, from a birds eye perspective, the events that transpired in that location during a 1 day range that you specify.

At 19^th level, you can see events in any location, not just the location you are in.

Astral Walker

Shadow Claw

You summon eldritch energies to summon a shadowy claw. The shadow claw can attack dealing 1D8 damage on a hit or do anything else an ordinary hand. The hand is three feet wide. You can place the claw up to 50 feet away. Once placed, you cannot move it. You can use this feature up to 4 times per session.

At 11^th level, you can move the claw within a 50 foot radius.

Fate Shift

You turn your enemy’s missed attack into good luck for you. The next time a enemy misses an attack on you, you can add 1D6 to it. You can do this once per session.

At 13^th level, you can do this feature twice per session.

Blink

For a moment you blink out of existence. If a creature successfully attacks you, you may role a DC15 (arcane). If this check is successful, the attack misses. If this check fails, the attack hits and the use of this feature is wasted. You can do this once per session.

At 15^th level, you can do this twice per session.

Invisibility

For up to five minutes, you can be completely invisible. At any point you can choose to reveal yourself. This feature does not affect any noise you make. You can do this once per session.

At 17^th level, you can remain invisible for up to 30 minutes.

Electromagnetic Pulse

For up to a radius of 100 feet, you disable all electronic devices for 1 hour. You may optionally create a 20 ft radius safety zone centered on yourself in which no electronics are harmed. You can do this once per session.

At 19^th level, the affected radius can be increased to one mile.

Geomancer

Earth Tremor

Within a 20ft radius, you generate a small earth quake. Every creature, including your allies, must make a DC10 (strength). If this check fails, take 1D8 damage. You can do this twice per session.

At 11^th level, creatures who fail the check take 2D8 damage.

Open Earth

In one 5 ft by 5 ft location, within 50 feet of you, a 10 foot deep sink hole opens in the ground. This feature requires a DC15 (arcane). Any creature that falls in takes 2D6 damage and on their next turn may either move or attack, but not both. Only one creature can fit in a hole. You can do this twice per session.

At 13^th level, you can do this four times per session.

Steel Skin

Your skin becomes extremely tough and resilient. You can add 3 to your Armor Class (AC) for up to one minute. You can do this twice per session.

At 15^th level, you may give this feature to another player and it lasts for five minutes.

Mud to Rock

You can convert up 10 cubic feet of mud to rock. This feature requires a DC10 (arcane). You can do this twice per session.

At 17^th level, you can also convert rock to mud.

Eruption

You summon a jet of lava that spurts from the earth capable of covering a 30 ft square area within seconds. Any creature in that zone takes 4D6 damage. You can do this once per session.

At 19^th level, the lava covers a 50 ft square area.

Levels

Survivors

Guardian

Forager

Alchemist

Poet

Mutants

Healer

Oracle

Astral Walker

Geomancer

Mutant Sensitivities

All mutants have powerful magic, but also restrictions. If you are a mutant, you must roll to determine your restriction.

Weapons, Gizmos and Spells

Weapons

All weapons can be used on every turn.

Spiked Chain – a 20 foot chain with spikes on each link, with a small handle on the end, that draws your enemy 5 feet closer when you make a hit. Damage: 1D8

Heat Wave Starter – a funnel shaped device that spreads waves of unbearable heat in a cone pattern that is twenty feet wide at the furthest end. Damage: 2D6

Explosives – a foot long stick with a pin that, once removed, will cause an explosion in five seconds, causing damage to anything in a 20 ft circle. Damage: 2D6.

Freeze Bomb – a cold-blue glowing sphere with a pin that, once removed, will activate in five seconds, freezing all creatures (they will lose a turn) within a 20 foot circle who fail a DC13 (dexterity).

Embedded Gauntlet – a small chip permanently embedded in your hand that, when activated, forms a gauntlet (no action required to activate). Damage: 1D8

Sparkle Bomb – a colorful marble, glowing like a disco ball, with a pin that, once removed, will activate in five seconds creating a colorful and sparkly explosion ending with a cute cat doing a dance that will confuse everyone within a 20 foot circle, causing them to dance 10 feet in a random direction.

Animal Attractor – a light, black, sticky throw-able pad with an activation button that, when pressed, attracts animals of all kinds within D6 minutes of activation. Damage: Variable (chosen by Degenerate)

Gizmos

Electric Detector – a tablet shaped device that maps the location of any machine currently using electricity within a 5 mile radius.

Fire Starter – a match that can light and continue producing a flame under any circumstances, even under water, until you choose to put it out.

All Purpose Magnet – a U-shaped magnet that attracts any inorganic, tangible material of your choosing within a 20 foot range.

Far Sight Goggles – a set of goggles allowing you to zoom with great detail up to one mile provided you have line of sight.

Holographic Tablet – a device that, when paired with another Holographic Tablet, can communicate real-time holographic representations of each device operator across any distance.

Retracting Armor – a wide brimmed hat that, when activated (no action required), covers your entire body in armor, giving you a +2 AC.

Slip N Slide – a small hose with a nozzle that produces a liquid covering the ground that either creates a slide allowing allies to travel at great speeds (25 squares each turn) or a slip trap causing your enemies to fall (lose movement on their turn).

Locator Map – a multi-faceted crystal that, when held to light, produces a 3D holographic representation of any part of the world at the moment you use it (excluding sentient creatures), allowing you to zoom in or out.

Spells

Protection Shell – you summon a bubble with a 5 foot diameter around yourself that nothing can penetrate, from inside or outside. The bubble lasts for a minute. You can still squeeze through doorways and openings.

Lightning Strike – you channel lightning into your fingertips and blast it at an enemy, who requires a DC13 (dexterity) to dodge it. If the dodge it they take no damage, otherwise they take 2D6 damage.

Weather Control – you can summon clouds into the sky, mist on the ground, and rain and thunder overhead. You can also disperse and cloud or mist in the air. You cannot strike people with lightning or direct the weather at any individual.

Toxic Swarm – you create a swarm of tiny winged creatures covering 20 feet that lasts 2 minutes and bite everyone within the swarm dealing 2D4 damage.

X-Ray Vision – you can see through any single, solid object within 30 ft for five minutes.

Sticking Hex – you throw down splotches of honey and molasses that hang in the air creating a cube that is 20 ft wide on all sides. All creatures in that cube must make a DC12 (dexterity) or skip their turn twice.

Time Speed Up – you speed up time for yourself and slow down time for everyone else. This allows you to take three turns instead of one, but you cannot insure anyone during this turn.

Bodily Odor – you add a horrific stench to the target of the spell, causes anyone with ten feet to make a DC15 (herbalism) or not be able to move on their next turn.

Illusion Hex – You craft pictures with light and shadow, no bigger than 20 feet tall and wide, which can move but not outside those boundaries. They cannot make sound or touch anything.

Bestiary

Humans

Human Fighter

Statistics

• Hit Points: 25
• Armor Class: 16
• Speed: 6

• Dexterity: 4
• Strength: 3
• Herbalism: 1
• Arcane: 0
• Charisma: 2

Attacks

Thunderous short sword. Damage: 1D8. If this attack hits, the target must make a DC14 (herbalism) or take an extra 1D6 damage.

Human Scientist

Statistics

• Hit Points: 10
• Armor Class: 10
• Speed: 3

• Dexterity: 2

• Strength: 0
• Herbalism: 3
• Arcane: 0
• Charisma: 1

Attacks

Laser Orb that shoots a laser up to 30 feet. Damage: 1D4.

Human Missionary

Statistics

• Hit Points: 30
• Armor Class: 11
• Speed: 6

• Dexterity: 3

• Strength: 1
• Herbalism: 1
• Arcane: 0
• Charisma: 4

Attacks

Smoke bomb: a small black sphere with a pin that, once removed, will activate in five seconds, emitting blinding smoke causing all creatures in a twenty foot sphere from being able to see anything. The smoke disperses in three minutes. Additionally the human missionary can move 3 squares beyond their normal movement.

Human Spy

Statistics

• Hit Points: 35
• Armor Class: 14
• Speed: 7

• Dexterity: 3

• Strength: 3
• Herbalism: 0
• Arcane: 0
• Charisma: 3

Attacks

Martial arts: A human spy’s body is their weapon thanks to their advanced training, they can use a variety of punches and kicks to do 2D6 damage.

Human Leader

Statistics

• Hit Points: 20
• Armor Class: 15
• Speed: 5

• Dexterity: 3

• Strength: 2
• Herbalism: 1
• Arcane: 1
• Charisma: 4

Attacks

Command: On a human leader’s turn, they can command every human within 20ft square to attack.

Fusions

Hawktopus

Hawktopi have wings, body and head of a hawk, with eight 2 feet long octopus tentacles instead of hawk legs. They are commonly used on extraction missions to either steal items from enemy parties or air lift humans from dangerous situations, thanks to the stickiness of the suctions on their tentacles.

Statistics

• Hit Points: 5
• Armor Class: 12
• Speed: 13 (flying), 1 (walking)

• Dexterity: 4
• Strength: 3
• Herbalism: 0
• Arcane: 0
• Charisma: 0

Attacks

None.

Racoonatuna

Racoonatuna is an aquatic raccoon evolved with the spiteful aggression of a raccoon and the razor sharp teeth, scales and fins of a tuna. These water breathing creatures patrol rivers in packs of five and will quickly die when deprived of water.

Statistics

• Hit Points: 20
• Armor Class: 15
• Speed: 7 (swimming)

• Dexterity: 4
• Strength: 2
• Herbalism: 0
• Arcane: 0
• Charisma: 0

Attacks

Bite. Damage: 1D4.

Wison

Wison have the head of a wolf (with bison horns), the stealth of a wolf, the size and body of a bison.

Statistics

• Hit Points: 30
• Armor Class: 17
• Speed: 6

• Dexterity: 2
• Strength: 4
• Herbalism: 0
• Arcane: 0
• Charisma: 1

Attacks

Charge. The Wison moves a distance of three in a straight doing damage to all creatures in its path. Damage: 1D8.

Bite: Damage: 1D6

Ratrana

Ratrana are terrifying combinations of rats and piranhas. They live on land, but can burrow through any material, including rock, at fast speeds. The usually travel in groups of about 20 and attack hybrids in caves or other underground spaces.

Statistics

• Hit Points: 7
• Armor Class: 14
• Speed: 5 (above ground), 15 (when burrowing)

• Dexterity: 4
• Strength: 2
• Herbalism: 0
• Arcane: 0
• Charisma: 0

Attacks

Bite: Damage: 1D6

Rhinasahorse

A Rhinasahorse has the body of a horse, the jumping ability of a hare, and the horn and aggression of a rhino. These creatures typically serve as mounts for humans.

Statistics

• Hit Points: 14
• Armor Class: 15
• Speed: 20

• Dexterity: 4
• Strength: 4
• Herbalism: 0
• Arcane: 0
• Charisma: 1

Attacks

Horn attack: Damage: 1D8