The metaphase plague

[Aerozord]

Metaphase is name given to a bizaar and deadly illness. To date all those infected die within three years of showing symptoms. The plague appears all over the planet and the way its spread is still unknown. Doctors still haven't determined if it is caused by bacteria or a virus. What is known is how it kills.

The metaphase mutates and alters the human body, often down to the sub-cellular level. Death results when vital systems are destroyed, the body rejects altered organs, or the strain of the altered systems finally causes the body to shut down.

There are those that call the metaphase the divine illness. A small percentage of those infected manifest superhuman abilities. Unfortunately the human body was not designed to accomidate these abilities and before long the strain kills them. Many of those who manifest these odd symptoms, with knowledge of their impending death, they lash out and abuse their powers.

Because of this, and since no one know how it spreads, those infected are often viewed with prejudice and hatred. Some even hunted down like rabid animals.
-----------------

You do not have to be infected by the plague. Nor do you have to stay non-infected if you start out that way. Be aware altering biological systems take time, it takes a few months from showing symptoms before you manifest powers... or die.

Chemicals the metaphase has at its disposal are limited to those the one infected consumes. As for abilities, your limited to what is organically possible. You can produce acid, regenerate, create fire, etc. You also have full access to the human bodies energy supply.

Profile
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Nationality:
Appearance:
Bio:
Likes:
Dislikes:

The rest is only if you have the metaphase.
Time: (how long you have had symptoms)
Symptoms: (how the plague has altered you, your character doesn't nessicarily know)
Powers: (optional, if your character has gained any unique abilities)

I will use mine as an example.
Profile
Name: Jacob Underwind
Age: 16
Gender: male
Nationality: American (of various european decent)
Appearance: He is about 5'7 with an average build. He wears dirty and tattered clothes. On each hand he wears gloves and covering his eyes is a blood red blindfold. His complection is somewhat tanned and his hair is black with a blue tint. Those that look closely can see that his hair has already been altered. He also carries a blindman's cane
Bio: After his family discoved he had the plague he was kicked out and forced to live on his own. Since then he has mostly been relying on the centers that take care of plague victims and avoiding the various people who wish to harm him. Jacob is rather intellegent and often passes his spare time reading.
Likes: Science, reading, being alone and meditation
Dislikes: Crowds, loud noises, smoking, cheese (except pizza)
Time: one year and eight months
Symptoms: Hands, feet, hair and scalp have all turned black and have a blue tint. The plague has used the iron and carbon in his body to convert those areas into an ultra hard substance. His eyes are white, but when exposed to light they quickly turn the same color as his other infected areas.
Powers: Unless constantly moved his hands and feet quickly harden. All of his sensory organs have been super enhanced beyond humans ability to handle. That is why he wears the blindfold, so he can limit sensory information to a level his brain can handle. If it is removed his brain produces a chemical that places him in a trance like state where he reacts purely on instinct. If attacked in this state he will counter attack often with lethal force. The color of his blindfold is to hide the blood stains. He can put it back on, but only if he is left alone. Hence why he hates crowds.

Note: He hates hurting people. Even if attacked he will rarely remove the blindfold. The chemical is also chemically addictive. Over time he will become dependent on the drug. Most likely cause of death will be brain or nerve failure from the drug.

[Inbred Chocobo]

Name: Robert Velvera
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Nationality: American (German mostly with other Euro making up the rest)
Appearance: Robert looks like he hasn't slept in days. His hair is in a mess, his clothes look ragged, and his eyes are blood shot.
Bio: Robert had manifested the disease almost three years ago. He is scared shitless right now, because he knows his time is about to come. He was already living alone when the disease manifested, and as it progressed, he found himself staying awake longer and longer. Nowadays, he does what he wants, and fucks all the bills and stuff. Though in truth, he does wish he could do one last thing for the world before he goes.
Likes: Late night movies, gaming sessions, caffeine
Dislikes: Waiting, warm milk, sleeping.
Time: two years 11 months
Symptoms: The amount of energy Robert's body has been producing is at an extreme rate. His mind is starting to seem half crazy because his body won't let it rest. This has also giving him a pretty big hunger, requiring him to eat every two hours.
Powers: The large amounts of energy at Robert's disposal has giving him quite a few affects. First off is that he heals at phenominal rates, any cuts healing almost instantly. He can move faster than most humans, breaking most records of speed. Lastly, he never tires. Sure his pulse will increase and he will breathe a little heavier, and he will sweat, but in truth it doesn't seem that nessecary anymore. Also, as a side affect of living with this for so long, his muscles have gotten rather resilient, almost never get sore unless a full two days worth of stuff.

[Astral Harmony]

Name: Caroll Wingshire
Age: 24
Gender: Female
Nationality: Caucasian (German/American)
Appearance: 5' 8" with reddish-brown hair and emerald eyes. She usually wears what she finds comfortable. In this case, it's a white tank top with black denim overalls that Caroll has customized to have four straps rather than two. She wears two straps over her shoulders and two hang uselessly from her pants. Sports sneakers and a digital watch complete her outfit.
Bio: A common mid-Eastern American trying to lead a common American life regardless of wherever she ends up living. Her family used to keep in touch with her until she had her encounter with the Metaphase Plague. Now she's pretty much on her own, doing whatever it takes to live and live comfortably.
Likes: RPGs, the desert, bicycling, chinese food, strong smells
Dislikes: Bad hygiene, humidity, macho men, night clubs, feminazis
Time: 14 1/2 months
Symptoms: A constantly warmer body temperature than normal humans and slightly darker skin due to this. When excited or under stress, her body heat rises further and one can usually see veins of lightning jumping around and across her body. Caroll also has an increased appetite, especially after using her powers.
Powers: Electrokinesis, the ability to manipulate manmade lightning. By disturbing and exciting her mitochondria, Caroll can somehow produce vast amounts of kinetic energy, convert it into electrical energy, and damage targets to which her lightning can jump to.
Note: As expected, her manmade lethal electricity follows the concepts of all lightning. People are safe in cars, trees can catch fire, your hard drive is fuckin' fried, wet stuff is usually striken hardest, rubber and lightning rods should save your ass, yada-yada-yada.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

Damn it AB I was going to use electrokinesis!

Oh well, I've sent a PM to Aerozord asking about whether a character I have in mind is ok, so just waiting to hear back and then I'll post a character sheet.

[dementedmongoose]

Name: Michael Dostoy
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Nationality: Russian
Appearance: Approx 6', 290 lbs, Caucasian, black hair, blood red eyes, very tanned, tends to look angry, even when laughing.
Bio: Michael was born in Moscow, raised in Moscow, and got into gang violence... in Moscow. Though he had a healthy home life, he started committing petty crimes at age nine for a local drug ring, and later got in over his head. By the time he was twelve, he'd committed his first felony, arson, and by sixteen, he was burning things down regularly, and his parents were divorced, and Michael knew his arrest record was to blame. At twenty-two, he developed a very apparent form of metaphase, and found himself running from the very people he'd trusted. Apparently, a metaphase wasn't good for drug business. So Michael hopped the first plane out of Moscow, and found himself in America.
Likes: Fire, being alone, sleep, anything fried, music of any kind
Dislikes: Water, crowds, planes, boats, big cities

Time: two years, six months
Symptoms: Michael doesn't believe that metaphase has affected his outward appearance, but most people find it hard to believe he naturally has red eyes.
Powers: Limited pyrokinesis, Michael's lungs have both enlarged and mutated into chambers, three in each lung. One chamber functions normally, one filters everything but oxygen out, and one holds the deoxygenated air. His lungs can inflate and deflate individually, meaning he can, theoretically, inhale and exhale at the same time. Either way, he can blow out a candle from ten feet away.
Note: This is all best case, and if Michael attempts to control the path of the flame with the pure oxygen he can exhale, eventually, the flame will act like fire on an aerosol can, reach into his lungs, and cause him to explode like a human pipe-bomb.

[Aerozord]

Inbred yours is approved. Though your illness would be a strain on your other organs as well. Your eventual cause of death is organ failure which amounts to death by old age.

AB approved but a few things you should know. You have a limit to how much energy you have and it recovers over time. Clearly when at max your body would begin simply discharging small amounts constantly.

Mongoose I have to check to make sure I am reading yours correctly. Are you saying your body produces these gases to enhance or remove a flame? If you mean your mind can somehow magically alter the air's molecular structure I cannot allow it. However if you can explain to me how it is biologically possible I will allow it.

As an added note powers like AB's and Mongoose's, as well as mine, which can be reduced in their level of use has a unique affect. Using it excellerates the damage it does to your body. If they have seen a doctor they will know this. Remember the three year thing is an estimate. Symptoms dont appear untill months after infection.

[42PETUNIAS]

Name: Bill Smith (Not his real name)
Age:26
Gender: Male
Nationality: Canadian (But lives in the U.S., and has dual citizenship, but only the American is under the name Bill Smith)
Appearance: About 6'3", short brown hair, and dark eyes. Broad-shouldered and in good shape, not a body builder though
Bio: Born in Toronto, but no one knows anything more than that about him until he moved to New York at the age of 17. Not his name, not his family. He moved in with his "Uncle", Jack Smith then. He has been a part of the MetaDeath group since then. MetaDeath is a small mercenary company, one who specializes in the hunting down and killing of metaphase victims who have gained destructive powers. Officially the government considers them (and other groups like them) illegal, but given their secretive ways, the public doesn't know about them, and the american government has done nothing to stop them. If one had access to military financial records, and carefully analyzed them, they would find that the military actually gives financial backing to MetaDeath, but any such accusations would be immediatly denied. Bill is a solo agent, and is very skilled in taking out people alone. He is highly trained, and is very capable with almost every gun in the MetaDeath arsenal.
Likes: Relaxing, reading, rock music.
Dislikes: Anyone with the plague, he considers them abberations of God's will, and if he had a chance he would kill every last one. He has to settle for the ones with superpowers though.

He does not have the disease, so I'll just post his weapons instead.

Weapons: Desert eagle, Combat knife, 2 Flashbang grenades, 1 frag grenade, M4A1 rifle. He also has access to these weapons through MetaDeath, but would need to go and get them, he doesn't keep them in his car: Sniper rifle, Combat shotgun, more grenades, and various others. He has no need of tools like handcuffs, because all Meta's found are killed on the spot, and questions generally aren't asked.

[Tarrin]

Profile
Name: Peter T. Hulaford
Age: 22
Gender: male
Nationality: Scottish
Appearance: 5'10" Pete has a shock of bright red hair and the same bright colored beared covers his face, He is a good looking man and keeps fit in the gym and running. Pete also spots the bluest eyes (a side effect from the plague.
Likes: Watching womans Yoga, B&E, espionage
Dislikes:Snobish people, and people who think that they are better than others.
Time: 2 years 4 months
Symptoms: Pete recieves blinding headaches and viscious nose bleeds.(He asumes these are braid hemorages and that his time is almost up)

Powers: Petes body emits a pherimone that enables him to go unnoticed by other people, Pete and anything he is carring are passed over by anyone near him.
This effectivly renders him Invisible to anyone around him. Cameras and other servalencr equipment will catch his image and if viewed later he will beable to be seen and thus identified.

[42PETUNIAS]

Over 5 years. (this has not been regestered due to Roberts Unique abilities)

I dont understand how invisibility would stretch the time...

Also, it says he was 19 when he got it, and now he's 22. Thats only three years... not twenty...

[Aerozord]

42 your approved, though I do find it odd your genocidle hitman has the same name as my grandpa.

Tarrin, the only way to become invisible is to alter your body on the sub-atomic structure which is beyond the plagues ability. Unless your cells were converted to a form that is transparent like a jellfish, but that would kill you long before your completely invisible.

[edit] 42 he meant because he wasn't seen no one knows someone has lived for five years with the plague so the 'no one has lived beyond 3' isn't applicable.

[Inbred Chocobo]

Also, you might want to change the name of that guy Tarrin. My character is also named Roberts and it might get confusing later.

[42PETUNIAS]

so what's going to happen to Tarrin? is his character going to have to be changed?

[Aerozord]

yes, this is the reason I did not say it was approved.

Oh and mongoose I read your re-write. Your good, though please say what organs were lowered to make room for the enlarged lungs. Or you will have to have a puffed out chest.

[42PETUNIAS]

Yeah, so when you said my character had the same name as your grandfather, I thought you meant your character's grandfather, so I changed it. I just realized now that you meant your grandfather in real life, so I changed it back.
D'oh

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

Name: Jack Mort
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Nationality: Brittish
Appearance: 5'9, short black hair, unnaturally thin, albino. Looks almost like a walking skeleton, until you see the various growths that cover his body.
Bio: Jack was in prison for murder, until he began to suffer the effects of the metaphase plague. As soon as the first symptoms showed themselves, he was moved to isolation permanently, so as to try and reduce the risk of infection to the GenPop. He was the only prisoner there to have ever contracted the plague and the first innmate in the world to develop powers. Naturally he used them to escape, and is now on the run, trying to live what life he has left as a free man.
Likes: Money, guns, freedom.
Dislikes: Anyone who dissagrees with him.
Time: 2 years, 3 months
Symptoms: Jacks body cells rapidly grow and develop, and his internal organs have started producing all kinds of chemicals, including toxins, nerotoxins, poisons, rapidly solidifying adhesives, lubricants, corrosive acids and even chemicals, that when mixed, become highly flammable. He used to just look like the average caucasion male until the plague began to turn his skin white and his appendages began to lengthen. His hands and feet are now several inches longer than they were. Not only that, but various growths now appear over his body, lumps of flesh that grow at an incredibly rate. His cellular mieosis is accelerated to unnateral levels, allowing new cells to grow back constantly. The tips of his fingers also have tiny holes in them, as well as his wrists where several small glands have also appeared. His incisors too, have lengthened, becoming almost vampiric.
Powers: Due to his mieosis, Jack can rapidly heal many wounds, perhaps even re-grow whole limbs if he ever were to lose one. His body naturally produces all kinds of chemicals, which can be fired from his finger tips, the glands in his wrists or are contained within his vampire-like teeth. Glands have also appeared in his mouth allowing him to spit several of these chemicals from there as well. Acids, toxins, poisons and even several chemicals that combine to form a sort of natural napalm, are produced and can be expelled from his body. He has learned to how to effectively call up the various liquids and has become quite profficient with them all.

[Aerozord]

ok Hawk I can live with that as long as you understand one thing, producing chemicals and being immune to them are two very different things. In other words your own chemicals harm you so you will be in very poor health. You will also need alot of chemicals (pills) to keep yourself alive, not to mention all the nutrients you will be losing constantly. You will develope and immunity eventually but not to acids and certain toxins. Plus they would have already done some damage to various bodily systems. I am just letting you know you will be a hidiously deformed human with physical abilities of a kitten.

Oh and I will say this for everyone, healing and regrowing limbs are two very different things. Healing from a cut simply means cell growth. regrowing a limb involves not only that but your body reconising the nerve has been severed and knows to regenerate the limb. Its a very complex and barely understood biological process. If you want a character that can do that it will have to be about all he/she does. Being able to do that would take alot of alterations.

[Tarrin]

My post has been edited, hope that fits better Aerozord

[42PETUNIAS]

Can people still be considered fit after over two years of the plague? He should probably have mostly wasted away by now...

[Aerozord]

I already stated how the plague kills. The exact reason depends on how it alters you. My character has not had any muscles or vital organs (excluding the brain) damaged since infection. So ignoring his mental condition he is still in good health. Another common symptom of the plague is what is happening to Jacobs hands and feet. Alot of people die because vital organs are turned into inert material.

Tarrin your fine, though remember you go unnoticed. Meaning you draw zero attention to yourself. They will become aware of you if you do anything that would interact with them. Long as you dont do anything to them or something they are aware of (someone would notice an opening door for example) then you are in effect invisible

[edit] one last thing, I want to see him with mental degration. Being more or less ignored by humanity for a few years is bound to weaken your psychological stability. Unless he has something to put focus on, but even then he would have some kind of psychological problem.

[Tarrin]

one last thing, I want to see him with mental degration. Being more or less ignored by humanity for a few years is bound to weaken your psychological stability. Unless he has something to put focus on, but even then he would have some kind of psychological problem.

Yeah i also was thinking of that, Hollowman esk degridation, he has his outlets but yeah he talks to himself ....alot lol (i'll play it out well)

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

ok Hawk I can live with that as long as you understand one thing, producing chemicals and being immune to them are two very different things.

Damn, I knew I fogot to mention something!

In other words your own chemicals harm you so you will be in very poor health. You will also need alot of chemicals (pills) to keep yourself alive, not to mention all the nutrients you will be losing constantly.

Ok, pills, might be interesting trying to get hold of them, what with being on the run and everything. I'll have to dig into criminal contacts and other nefarious ways to aquire the amounts I'm going to need I suppose.

You will develope and immunity eventually but not to acids and certain toxins. Plus they would have already done some damage to various bodily systems. I am just letting you know you will be a hidiously deformed human with physical abilities of a kitten.

Well, he's had these powers for over two years so I'm guessing he's pretty immune to most of them by now. Acids of course, being the exception, at least once they are out of his body.

Oh and I will say this for everyone, healing and regrowing limbs are two very different things. Healing from a cut simply means cell growth. regrowing a limb involves not only that but your body reconising the nerve has been severed and knows to regenerate the limb. Its a very complex and barely understood biological process. If you want a character that can do that it will have to be about all he/she does. Being able to do that would take alot of alterations.

Well, I did only say possibly with regards to limb re-growing. Really I just threw that in just in case I ever saw a chance to have a limb severed and see how he would deal with it. I'm assuming the healing factor still stands though?

[Aerozord]

yea healing is fine, but unlike inbreeds yours is more chaotic. Against normal cuts or wounds its not a big deal. But something that should be controlled like the mending of a bone could cause some problems. Also it would leave scars reguardless since it heals quickly and it would be hard to do first aid. Your not really healing as much as your going through new layers of flesh.

Hmm lets see, I think everyone has made the right adjustments to their profiles. I will start the RP soon. Sign-ups will remain open though, but you need approval before you can post. Oh and like all my RPs player deaths are possible. I will do my best to avoid this and make sure there is SOME way to live. Just dont play hero and do something suicidal and you should be fine.

[edit] Here ya go (http://forum.nuklearpower.com/showthread.php?p=479314#post479314)

[musicmage4114]

Name: Garret Jameson
Age: 16
Gender: Male
Nationality: Italian
Appearance: 5'7", slight of build, short brown hair, blue eyes.
Likes: Rain, cold temperatures, food, swimming, having fun.
Dislikes: Warm temperatures, hunters of the infected.
Time: 6 months since symptoms appeared.
Symptoms: Garret's body metabolizes heavy metals in a unique way. When his body purges heavy metals, instead of being excreted, they build up as veins of mineral ore. His arms, legs, and torso are shot through with black veins of obsidian. These extend into his internal organs, making them less able to function. His pancreas, liver, and kidneys are failing, and so takes meds to avoid toxic buildup. His stomach and intestines can't move as much, making him expel solid waste much less often. At the same time, his bladder is unable to expand, causing him to urinate frequently. The only two organs that are unaffected are his lungs, heart, and brain.
Powers: Garret's body has evolved the ability to obtain 100% of the energy stored in glucose. The normal human body can only obtain 30% of the energy stored in the chemical bonds that form glucose. Garret can therefore perform actions of both endurance and spontaneity to a longer or more powerful degree than others. This, however, causes a tremendous excess of heat, and damages his heart and other internal organs each time he "ups the ante," as he refers to it, and sends his cells into overdrive. If he were to ever fully utilize the potential energy in the glucose he absorbs, he would spontaneously combust. His store of glucose is not unlimited, however, and must eat much more than the average person if he is to be able to use his ability for extended periods of time.

Probable cause of death: heart failure.

[Aerozord]

this is a dead RP

[42PETUNIAS]

try checking when the last post was before signing up, don't just go through the list applying to everything, open, dead, or started, without looking first.