The Altered

The Altered, Experiments of a Bygone age.

Lore: In the many years after the disappearance of Hive and the ascendency of the Militaricus as humanities new research initiative, many new plans were made to genetically improve the human genome. Fear griped the entire world and prototypes would not be enough to eradicate the Hive threat once it was found. Along with new weapon tech, Militaricus would begin to experiment with biological manipulation as well as biological engineering.

Their efforts were met with limited success. That success being the Altered.

Initially the project started by trying to genetically modify a grown human male, to make him stronger, faster, smarter, essentially to create a super-solider. After a year of failed experiments, the project was started from scratch. This time, a embryo would be injected with cells taken from various animals. It worked and after several years experiment Ge0 was born, the first of the Altered. It took the subject many more years to develop naturally and as it did so it was tested for intelligence. At an early age it was deadly, almost reptilian in nature, cold and it spent much of its time brooding. But eventually it was deemed intelligent enough to learn and develop human language.

It wasn't pretty, but even at an early age it was a ferocious and effective combat unit. As they say, you cant argue with results...

 

 

Then began phase two of the project. Ge0 would be cloned, be made to heel to Militaricus' command and they would then have an army of battle-ready, obedient killing machines. Countless clones were created, all put into stasis for when the time came to be unleashed upon Hive, but as we know, history took a separate path...

With the Reshaping came the disbanding of the Militaricus, their assets were left to rot in secret laboratories. In a seemingly dumbfounding series of coincidences, the largest storms of the Reshaping would focus above those just those same laboratories and after an entire month of strikes the lightning would tear open the earth, revealing the experiments and in doing so, freeing them. To this day they still remain an oddity in the wasteland, to some a curiosity, to others, a great threat.

Able to live hundreds of years, the Altered are a very strange and diverse race, they all vary in intelligence. This means that it is possible that a players character has lived though the reshaping, or just after. Altered can be anything form average intelligence, to pretty much brick stupid but they are always a fearsome vanguard to any fight. They tend to prefer close combat and are agitated by any charged storms they are present in. It is good to note that feral Altered are one of the many monster races that can be encountered. Altered do not have much in the way of culture, but will try to avoid fighting one of their own if it can be avoided.

Comments: So, with altered these guys are your big smashy tanks and soakers. To be honest these guys started as generic, make you own mutants, but Im reasonable happy with them as a concept. It will be interesting to see an Altered PC interact with other character and on top of that I already have some juicy secrets lined up for anyone whom steps up the the challenge...

Racial Traits

Altered

Scaly Skin: +2 Armour and +2 Toughness

Experiment: -2 Charisma

Ferocious: -1 Parry

Bright Ones

Bright Children, Born of the Storm

Lore: Known by many names, The Bright Ones, Bright Children and The Stormborn, just to name a few. Bright Ones are truly exceptional people and are an example of the potential that the human body, mind and spirit could one day blossom into. But I am getting ahead of myself...

Bright Ones are Humans who though some miracle survived being struck directly by charged storm lightning. Usually this would outright vaporise the individual, but for whatever reason the person is left in a smoking crater. After being struck, the person essentially falls into a deep sleep, with the body on exerting energy to fuel the most basic,necessary bodily functions. In this time the Bright One is vulnerable but over the course of several hour the body changes, they become stronger, Their skin hardens, they also become smarter and deep within their brain a dormant power is unlocks.

Upon awakening, the Bright One must take time to adjust to their new psychology. They now faintly glow and every so often sparks of lightning course across their exposed skin. As a result Bright Ones are covered from neck to toe in arcing lightning burns, it goes to make their appearance, totally unmistakeable.

But what truly makes the Bright ones special is their power. Bright Ones have the ability, to channel and create lightning, however to control it fully they must master their own emotions. Newly born's will be confused and are more likely to make rash decisions, be boastful and arrogant and think they are unbeatable. Where as the older Bright Masters tend to be wise, never making a decision without thought. When a Bright One reaches

Bright Ones can utilise powerful abilities and their skin is able to resist some of the climate and radiation damage unlike other races but still do have drawbacks. For instance, Bright Ones are actually extremely sensitive to light, some are even partially blind, so it is also characteristic to see them in goggles or helmets. They are also Not as hardy as some of the other races and may not hold up as well as a tank. Finally due to having to constantly battle with their emotions Bright Ones can be indecisive and in many cases struggle to find any in the wasteland that are willing to help and/or trust them.

Comments: Ah, my favourite, since I had the idea for Aftershock, these guys were one of my first creations. I love psykers and psionics but just didn't fell like it really fit my world, of course Bright Ones were a natural evolution. In terms of game mechanics I imagine a Bright One to play like a glass cannon mage, but I do have ideas in the event that people want to build a close combat character too. Either way im looking forward to see what player think and where they may take their characters.
  
Racial Traits

Bright One

Reshaped: Start with Bright Ability

Overcharged: + 5 Power Points

Deadly but Fragile: -1 Toughness

Weak Eyes: Must Wear Eye-wear or else suffers -2 to all actions that require sight

Surface Human (Exposed Human)

Surface Humans

Lore: Surface humans have lived though a cold and cruel history. The descendants of those whom managed to beat all odds and survive the Reshaping. As such they are natural born survivalists and will instinctively know more around of their surroundings. They also more informed of places and world events than their space bound counterparts.

   

They additionally tend to be more perceptive and better physically able than Ark Humans, but are of course not as intelligent, or at least well versed in technology. Their prowess is said to come not only from the years of turmoil and hardship suffered, but also from them constant exposure to the constant Charge Storms.

(Charge storms will be described later on but in basic terms, the energy produced in a charged lightning strike causes small amounts of biological radiation of sorts. Over time it can alter a humans abilities, be it an upgrade to the sharpness of their senses or increasing their reactions.)

Surface Humans can come from anywhere over the globe and tend to be sociable. Out in the wastes its a kill or be killed lifestyle, so most believe it is best to stick together.

Comments: Where as Ark Humans will be a build it how you like, Surface humans will be focused more on combat, survival and charisma skills. They know the world around them and may see others as naive. Surface Humans may tend to be more reserved in their decisions, always thinking about practical outcomes and the consequences of their actions. I think these guys will be pretty fun to role-play, they will be the guys who've got your back, and whom of course will hopefully pass those pesky notice rolls.

 Racial Traits

Surface Human

Trust your Instincts (Edge): +2 to Perception

Moulded by a harsh world: +1 Toughness and start with a D6 in Survival

Survival First: Cannot raise Technology or Computers beyond a D6

Ark Human (Pure Human)

Ark Human (Pure Human)

Lore: Ark Humans, as the name suggests, were either born on the Ark or were put into cryogenic stasis just before the Great Storm. They are the closet physiologically to modern day humans than any other race in Aftershock. These Humans will be naturally inquisitive and intelligent, but may not be at strong or as agile as their surface dweller counterparts. Ark Humans will always have lived their early lives (or first few unfrozen years) on the Ark, however this does not mean that they HAVE to take the Ark as their Current Major faction. (I will talk about Factions later so don't worry about this part for now)

By whatever divine purpose they have found their way to the surface and tend to treat the world around them as a puzzle, or an experiment. They see it as something that can be fixed and are usually very hopeful. Their downfall however it that they can struggle with setting themselves limits and more often than not can overstep social and moral boundaries to achieve their goals.

Comments: Ark humans will most likely be your bog standard Savage World humans. It makes the most sense due to their background and the starting perks that Savage Worlds humans receive also make sense. People on the Ark can be trained to do all manner of different skills. I see this race as being very versatile and a staple choice for any would be wanderer. 

 Racial Traits

Ark Human

Intense Training: Gain +2 In a skill of your choosing

I Come From Science!: Starts with a D6 In Technology

Inventor, Not a Fighter: Cannot Raise Melee Above a D6