Creations of Flux, Part VI

Originally published January 27, 1979

Years ago I ran a Promethean: the Created game called Pandora's Tomorrow. As one might expect from the name, I created a large number of Pandorans for the game. In this series I will be sharing some of these failed creations, their history, and some story seeds for their use.

Servants of Flux

The source of many Pandorans is sadly not accidental but deliberate. Like Sibling, these creatures were made by Centimani as experiments, servants, and pets. The following horrors were all created as minions for a powerful Promethean on the path of Flux, the Doctor.

The Arm

Description: Something like a giant's arm crawls out the darkness on a set of stumpy limbs. Fleshy tentacles covered in lamprey like mouths lash about it. The massive hand opens revealing a huge maw. Growling the pale limb staggers forward its sharp teeth clicking in anticipation.

Rank: 2

Lineage: Torch-Born

Mental Attributes: Intelligence 1, Wits 3, Resolve 2

Physical Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 3, Stamina 3

Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation 1, Composure 3

Skills: Athletics 2, Brawl (grapple) 4, Intimidation (growls) 3, Occult 2, Stealth 4, Survival 1
Merits: Fleet of Foot 2, Fast Reflexes 2

Vice: Wrath Willpower: 5
Initiative: 8 Defense: 3 (GMC: 5)
Speed: 15 Health: 8
Pyros (Maximum (Current)/Per Turn): 12 (5)/2
Size: 6

Bestowment: Crucible of Flesh
Transmutations: Fangs 2, Tentacles 2, Flux within the Shadow, Great Stature 2

Notes:

• Bite: pool 9, deals lethal damage (GMC: pool 8, 1 Lethal)
• Grapple: pool 11
• Tentacle: pool 9, deals lethal damage
• Flux within Shadow (cost: 1 Pyros, pool 5) choose one of the following effects:
• Gain +2 stealth as the shadows surround the arm
• Gain +2 bonus to Brawl rolls as the shadows distract an opponent
• Gain a +2 bonus to Intimidate as the shadows increase menacingly

The Thing

Description: Scuttling forward on far too many limbs, this torso's chest cavity opens into a large maw. Long damp blond hair covers its back but its many arms and legs are smeared with blood and slime.

Rank: 2
Lineage: Torch-Born

Mental Attributes: Intelligence 1, Wits 3, Resolve 3
Physical Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 2, Stamina 3
Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation 0, Composure 1

Mental Skills: Occult 2

Physical Skills: Brawl 3, Stealth (water) 2, Survival 2
Social Skills: Animal Ken 3, Intimidate 2
Merits: Defensive Combat (Brawl)

Willpower: 4 Vice: Wrath
Initiative: 3 Defense: 2 (GMC: 5)
Speed: 12 Health: 7
Pyros (Maximum (Current)/Per Turn): (8)/2
Size: 4

Bestowment: Crucible of Flesh
Transmutations: Scurry 1, Demon's Call, Hundred Hands (2 extra arms)

Notes:

• Brawl: pool 7, grapple pool 11
• Crucible of Flesh: 5 dice, dealing up to 3 Lethal damage to something in contact with it.
• Call Swarm: pool 5, summons a 4 yard swarm of leeches, flies, or other vermin

The Crocs

Description: Rumors of crocodiles in the sewers are normally just that: rumors. Certainly any rumors of mutated crocodiles with tentacles instead of legs are just that.

Rank: 1
Lineage: Sebek

Mental Attributes: Intelligence 0, Wits 1, Resolve 2
Physical Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 1, Stamina 3
Social Attributes: Presence 1, Manipulation 0, Composure 1
Skills: Brawl 4, Stealth (water) 2, Survival 1

Willpower: 3 Vice: Gluttony
Initiative: 2 Defense: 1 (Armor 1)
Speed: 14 Health: 8
Pyros (Maximum (Current)/Per Turn): 10 (5)/1
Size: 5

Bestowment: Armor 1, Fangs 2, Sebek's Gift
Transmutations: Man-Like Stature 1, Tentacles 2

Notes:

• The crocs suffer a -1 penalty to Dexterity rolls when not in water
• Bite: pool 9, deals lethal (GMC: pool 8, 1 Lethal)
• Grapple: pool 10, the croc like to grapple an opponent and then drag them under water to drown.

Story Seeds

Lair Guardians: Perhaps the easiest use, the creatures might be guarding the Doctor or one of his past haunts. In this case the creature exist to keep the Created from meeting with the disturbed Promethean or finding what foul knowledge remains at a former lair.

Notably the Arm or the Thing have a modicum of intelligence and might be attempting to replicate his work. While obviously lacking the necessary skills, they could certainly create a horrific tableaux of stitched up body parts.

Retrieval: The Doctor would often send those creations with some intelligence to find and retrieve materials for him. These might include body parts (for corpses or unwilling donors), medical supplies, and "alternative sources of Azoth" (such as other Prometheans). The character might run into one of these horrific press gangs, forced to fight for their freedom or their lives.

Cryptid Sightings: The Doctor vanished several years ago. But his creations did not. Some still lurk in the Great Dismal Swamp. Some say the Doctor's research can be found there: techniques to merge Flux and Azoth, ways to create progeny without spending Azoth, clues to developing unique transmutations. Of course there are many Crocs and worse to defeat to reach his abandoned hut. And is he really dead?