Morpheus Unbound  |  Supporting Cast  |  Hero System

Cyanide

Background: Eleanor Jace was conceived and began life in 1996. She is literally the creation of Justin Priestly.

Justin Priestly was born in 1946 to the wealthy Priestly family. His family was old money, with branches all throughout Europe. He grew up with the expectation that he would complete college and then have a military career. He studied electronics and electrical engineering in college and when he graduated he joined UNTIL. He had a distinguished career with UNTIL, and during this time married his college sweetheart and ambitiously studied electronics and his own administrative and management skills. In 1976 he retired from UNTIL to help his friend Dr. J.A. Quest found Star Guard International. He retired from active duty with SGI when his wife died of cancer in 1993, but remained on the Board of Directors and kept in contact with his peers.

When a neural disorder began to destroy his body, while leaving his brain intact, Priestly's contacts suggested a radical procedure which was being developed by Cybergrunt, Inc. If the rumors were true, for a truely outrageous sum of money Cybergrunt would transplant Priestly's brain into a life support module, and this module could then be placed in a robot body. Desperate for a cure, Priestly arranged his finances in trust funds for his children and in 1995 left for Eastern Europe to pursue the rumors.

The super-secret, tell-no-one-under-any-circumstances operation was a success and in 1997 Eleanor Jace, 25-year old daughter of Justin Priestly emigrated from her Czech homeland to claim her inheritance and take up life in the United States.

Personality/Motivation: Cyanide is the mind of an adventuresome, socially conscientious 50-year old man in the cybernetic body of a 25-year old woman. Her mind and sense of self-identity are so strong that she never forgets who she is, even as she grows into the new identity she has taken on.

Quotes: "Technology is a wonderful thing. That's one reason I own so much technology stock."
"When they asked me if I wanted the frame to be male or female I decided I'd been a young man once and I was ready for a new challenge."
"Being a woman is harder than it looks."

Powers/Tactics: Cyanide's cybernetic body gives her many powers and tactical options. However, 25 years of military experience have taught her combat is often avoidable and to evaluate a situation before taking rash action.

The robotic body is a living metal chassis covered with a living bioplastic shell which simulates a real human being, thus providing a great disguise. The body also provides her with incredible resistance to harm as well as a number of special abilities including sensors, electronic counter-measures, and weapons. It has one blaster in each arm, and two mounted in the back between the shoulder-blades. The taser shock system is a subdermal weave. The ECMs include built-in toolkits, and passive and active sonic damping. It should be noted that the body is faster than either the organic or the robot brain. Cyanide never uses the body's additional speed.

The computer brain is an advanced experimental neural-net computer, several generations in advance of conventional Earth technology (q.v. Cybergrunt, Inc.). It is capable of learning, although it is not a true artificial intelligence. It's programming is similar to Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics, requiring it to obey it's owner, protect humans and protect itself. It can not run conventional computer programs, but can use it's own computer programming skill to convert conventional code to a code it can use. Cyanide does not know how to program it, but wants to learn, because the computer can be used to upgrade and modify the robot body via the Systems Repair utilities.

Appearance: Cyanide is 6' tall barefoot, and 6'1" in costume. Her costume typically consists of a shiny black bodysuit with flat black knee high boots and gloves. Her mask completely covers her face, but leaves her long brown hair free. When out of costume, she typically wears attractive conservative styles.

Campaign Use: Cyanide is potentially a real powerhouse. However, the character does have extensive non-adventuring demands on her life, including her corporate assets (trust fund). She also has a double secret identity to conceal, and the Priestly family would like to know her secrets (they are not fond of a never-before heard of relative turning up to take charge of their father's assets in his absence).

Creators Notes: Some people might criticize this design as "abusive." While it is true that the total real cost does not reflect the effective active points available, I won't take it personally. Instead, I'll point out that the character is slow, vulnerable to Drains, Transfers, AVLDs, and has no chance of making it through an airport security check. While the character does have many skills, they are lopsided in favor of science and business interests.

I designed the character this way because the mechanics reflect the intended concept: a brain in a high tech life-support unit that can be transplanted from robotic body to robotic body. There may be other, "less abusive," ways to represent this, but with the current rules this is the "cleanest".

Val CHA Cost Roll Notes
0 STR -10 9- 25 kg; 0d6 [0]
20 DEX 30 13- OCV: 7/DCV: 7
5 CON -10 10-
3/6 BODY -14 10-
23 INT 13 14- PER Roll: 14-
23 EGO 26 14- ECV: 8
20 PRE 10 13- PRE Attack: 4d6
0/4 COM -5 9-
0 PD 0
0 ED -1
4 SPD 10
1 REC 0
10 END 0
4 STUN -2

Total Characteristics Cost: 47

Movement Running 0"/0"
Swimming 0"/0"

Powers and Skills:


Martial Arts: Karate (18)
Punch: +2 DCV, 10d6
Kick: -2 OCV, +1 DCV, 12d6
Block: +2 OCV, +2 DCV, Block, Abort
Dodge: +5 DCV, Dodge
Weapon Element: Batons

Disembodied Brain: Shrinking +1, 0 END, Persistent, Always On (20/13)
Psychic Shields: Mental Defense 15 points (10)
Psychic Claws: Ego Attack, 1d6, Reduced by Range (10/8) [1]

Brain Case:
+3 BODY, Not Affect Figured (6/4)
+4 COM (2)
Armor +5 rPD, +3 rED (12)
Life Support (Full) (30)
Power Defense 5 points (5)

Full Conversion Cyborg Body: Vehicle (45)

Running: -6" (0" total) (-12)
Swimming: -2" (0" total) (-2)

UNTIL Skills:
Breakfall 13- (3)
Criminology 14- (3)
KS: Karate 11- (1)
KS: UNTIL 11- (1)
KS: World Politics 14- (2)
Language: English (native) (0)
Language: French (3)
Security Systems 14- (3)
WF: small arms, common melee weapons, grenades (5)

SGI Skills:
Computer Programming 14- (3)
Electronics 12- (5)
KS: Public Figures 14- (2)
KS: SGI 11- (1)
SC: Microcircuitry 14- (2)
SC: Robotics 15- (3)
Scientist (3)

Background Skills:
Contact ×8 (8)
Combat Driving 14- (5)
High Society 13- (3)
International Driver License (1)
KS: Business and Finance 14- (2)
Oratory 13- (3)
PS: Business Administration 14- (3)
PS: Fashion and Style 11- (2)
Passport (1)
SC: Electrical Engineering 14- (2)
Scholar (3)
Skill Levels: +3 Overall (30)
VF: Automobile, Cyborg Bodies (0)
Wealth (10)
Well-connected (3)

Total Powers and Skills Cost: 249


Total Character Cost: 296

Disadvantages: 100+


Age (5)

Distinctive Features:
Disembodied Brain in High Tech Case (20)
Sometimes acts like a man (5)

DNPC: Corporate Interests, NCI, 8- (0)

Hunted by:
Creators, more powerful, NCI, watched, 14- (10)
Enemies of Justin Priestly, as powerful, 8- (10)
Priestly Family, as powerful, limited geography, watched, 8- (3)

Normal Characteristic Maxima (20)

Physical Limitation: Disembodied Brain (25)

Psychological Limitations:
Code Against Killing (Common, Strong) (15)
Protective of Innocents (Common, Strong) (15)
Sometimes feels "cyber-rejection" (Infrequent, Strong) (10)

Rivalry: Priestly Family (5)

Secret ID: Eleanor Jace / Justin Priestly's Brain in cyborg body (15)

SGI Package (3)

UNTIL Package (3)

Experience Spent (47)


Total Disadvantage Points: 296


The Cybernetic Host Body
Value Vehicle Characteristic Cost
40 Strength 30
18 Body 8
1 Size 0
16 Defense 42
20 Dexterity 30
5 Speed 20
20 Comeliness 5

Total Characteristic Cost: 135

Movement Running 14"/56"
Superleap 16"/128" h.

Powers and Skills:


Computer Brain: Computer (3)

Laminate Armor: DEF is Hardened (12)

Power Cells: Endurance Reserve, 130 END, 10 REC (23/15)

Hands: Extra Limbs, OIF (5/2)

Legs:
Running +8", ×4 NCM (21)
Superleap +8", ×2 NCM (8)
Jump Jets: Superleap ×4 NCM, Full Phase, Costs END, OIF (10/3) [1]

Weapon Systems, IIF:
Blasters: Energy Blast, 9d6, ×4 (55/31) [4]
Taser Shock: Energy Blast, 2d6, NND (Mental Defense), Damage Shield, No Knockback (25/12) [2]

Eyes, OIF:
Polarized Lenses: Flash Defense 4 Sight (4/2)
IR Sight (5/2)
Zoom Lenses: Telescopic Sight +4 (6/3)
Thermograph: Detect Heat, Range (5/2)

Ears, OIF:
Sonic Damping: Flash Defense 4 Hearing (4/2)
Parabolic Hearing: Telescopic Hearing +2 (3/1)

Sensors, IIF:
+2 all PER Rolls (6/3)
Mutant Scanners: Detect Mutant, Range (5/3)
Recording Equipment: Eidetic Memory (10/6)
Electronic Counter-Measures: +2 Computer Programming, Security Systems, Stealth (6/3)

Radio Antenna, IAF: High Range Radio Hearing, Full Phase (10/4)

Internal Status Monitor: Detect Physical Condition (3/2)

Self-Repair Systems: Regeneration, 1 Body per 5 hours, only if Computer makes Systems Repair roll (10/3)

Molecular Binders, IIF: Clinging at STR (10/6)

Total Equipment Cost: 145

Disadvantages: 100+


Distinctive Features: As a human, looks "too perfect" (5)

Hunted: Creators, more powerful, NCI, watched, 14- (10)

Physical Limitation:
Can be shut down by creators (Infrequent, Total) (15)
Comeliness ablates when Body reduced to ×1/2 or less (Infrequent, Moderate) (10)

Secret ID: No one knows it is a full-conversion cyborg body (15)

Total Disadvantages: 55


Final Vehicle Cost: 225/45

The Neural Net Computer Brain


Value Computer Characteristic Cost
15 Intelligence 5
20 Dexterity 30
3 Speed 0

Total Characteristic Cost: 35

Powers and Skills:


Computer Defaults:
Absolute Time Sense (0)
Eidetic Memory (0)
Lightning Calculator (0)
Speed Reading (0)

Cybergrunt, Inc. Programming:
Combat Pilot 12- (3)
Computer Programming 12- (3)
KS:  Military Vehicles 8- (1)
Language: English (2)
Language:  Russian (2)
Sensors Operation 12- (3)
Systems Operation (used for Systems Repair) 12- (3)
WF:  Blasters, Unarmed Combat (1)

Programs:
Diagnose and Repair Internal Systems (1)
Drive from A to B (A and B must be on Navigation maps) (1)
Fire weapons at designated target (1)
Scan vehicle and display type (1)

Total Software Cost:  25

Disadvantages: 100+


Psychological Limitations:
Cannot Kill (Common, Strong) (15)
Must Obey Owners / Creators (Common, Total) (20)
Preserve Self (Infrequent, Strong) (10)

Total Disadvantages: 45


Final Computer Cost:  15/3

Note: The Computer Default powers and talents are based on notes in Normals Unbound. The authors of that book, and this character, feel that computers would have these powers simply because they are computers. If you, the reader, don't agree, then either remove the powers, or recalculate the character point totals. [Return]


Copyright © 1998-1999, 2001 by Morpheus Unbound. All rights reserved.
Last updated 26 August 2001 by Patric L. Rogers.
Send comments and suggestions to morpheus_unbound@patric.net.