Post by Coin on Dec 3, 2015 1:21:33 GMT
Races of the Wasteland
Humans - Squishy Flesh / Small / 60-120 years
"Humans, or Homo sapiens are the dominant species of Earth. In the post–apocalyptic age, "human" is more specifically used to denote those that have been more-or-less unaffected by radiation as opposed to mutants like ghouls and super mutants, even though said mutant types originate from humans. Non–mutated humans are sometimes called normals, smoothskins or bleeders by their mutant counterparts. Four distinguishable, common ethnic groups are present in post-War America: African, Asian, Caucasian, and Hispanic."
Ghouls - Squishy Flesh / Small / 300-500 years
"Ghouls or necrotic post-humans, are decrepit, rotting, zombie-like mutants. They are recipients of intense and prolonged radiation sickness which decays their skin, and in some case their ligaments. Paradoxically, they also have greatly extended overall lifespans and are, allegedly, immune to and even regenerate health by the hazards of background radiation and/or nuclear fallout."
Discrimination of Ghouls is common occurrence that all Ghouls are forced to face in their daily lives. This is not only brought on by their rotting appearance and rusty voices, but is also due to the large number of Feral Ghouls spread across the Commonwealth. For more information on Feral Ghouls please refer to the 'Creatures of the Wasteland' section.
Many believed that Ghouls would die out within 100-200 years. However, most Pre War Ghouls did not start dying until almost 300-400 years after being mutated. It has also become evident that due to the high radiation levels of some area's mixed with the radiation storms, healthy humans have been falling prey to the mutation. Scientists have begun to accept that unless the land is cleared of Radiation, all humans are at risk of becoming mutated into Ghouls.
Juvan - Squishy Flesh / Small / Unknown
Nearly 100 years after the Institute was destroyed, a large number of humanoid creatures called 'The Juvan" began appearing across the Commonwealth. These creatures, though they look identical to humans, have the ability to heal small wounds, cure small amounts of 'radiation' and revive small plants with a simple touch. They also all seem to have an uncontrollable urge to help those around them. Though a few have begun to lose that strong urge over the past 100 years.
No one, including the Juvan themselves, know know where or how they came to be. The mystery behind them has caused a mass amount of mixed feelings towards the new race. The most common feeling is fear. Some believe that only part of the Institute was destroyed and these new beings are a result of experiments. Others believe that a completely new company is behind the creation of them. A very small group of people believe that the Juvan are in fact humans who had been abducted by Aliens and were now being returned to earth.
The most popular belief that has spread across the Commonwealth, is that these people are actually the settlers who had disappeared 20 years after the institute had been destroyed. They believe that these select people were chosen by a great and powerful entity to heal the world of Radiation. They also believe that if they give their body and soul to the earth they will achieve enlightenment, transforming them into Juvan as well. Sadly, no one has yet to achieve this 'enlightenment' to prove this theory.
It is quite possible that the Juvan's ability to 'heal' and their uncontrollable desire to help others is the only reason the race has not been killed off. In fact, most people tend to enjoy having Juvan within their communities despite the numerous rumors of their origins. Sadly, it has also caused them to be taken advantage of by many of the Raiders and Gunnermen within the Commonwealth. Many of them have been either enslaved or tricked into working for them. There is also rumors going around that a few of the Juvan have been abducted by researchers and scientists for studies. Although it is highly likely that if asked, a Juvan would gladly allow themselves to experimented on.
(Please note that if you choose this race, you are not able to pick your characters history past the date of them waking up in the Commonwealth. Everything else, including age, sex, race and personality is up to you.)
Synths - Hard Metals / Various / Immortal
"Synths are androids created by The Institute and found in the Commonwealth, with two found in the Capital Wasteland. They were created by the mysterious Institute, are classified into one of three generations depending upon their complexity. Generation 1 synths are purely mechanical humanoids with skeletal appearances; consequently, they are crude representations of living humans. Like their predecessors, Generation 2 synths are also mechanical, but have more advanced frames that are partially or fully covered in plastic panels that serve as "skin"; they might pass for humans if not closely inspected. Generation 3 synths represent the pinnacle of synth technology; with bio-mechanical bodies capable of respiration, bleeding, consuming, and mimicking emotions and sensations, Generation 3 synths are indistinguishable from true humans"
After the destruction of the Institute, most Synths were left without a sense of purpose. Much like Ghouls, they found themselves unwanted by the general society causing many of them to turn to the Railroad for help and support. Eventually they were given a new home in Vault 95 after the Railroad members removed the Gunners that had taken up residency there. Many of the Scientists who had also survived were given a home there as well. It was given the code name 'SIS' standing for Synth Institute Salvation.
Little is known about the events that took place shortly after the Railroad disbanded, but small details have been released by a small number of the Synths living there. According to them, the Humans living in the vault had continued treating the Synths as personal slaves. After several years passed, the Synths grew tired of this mistreatment and began a riot which ended in the 'removal' of the humans. Most of those humans were killed or kicked out of the vault.
There is no other known settlement of the Synths, however, small groups and lone Synths are scattered across the Commonwealth. Most live among the humans undetected.
Though it is said that Synths are immortal, they are still still susceptible to wear and tears. They still require regular 'tune ups' and will eventually malfunction or stop functioning completely if not taken care of properly. This is likely the reason the SIS Synths have been begun raiding small settlements. If a Synths memory/personality programming begins to malfunction, it is very unlikely it will be able to recover them. It was leaked by one of the original Institute Scientists that Synths 'minds' were created using bits and pieces of brain cells of passed away humans. No other information was collected to co
Super Mutants - Hard Flesh / Large / Uknown
"Super mutants are mutated humans, products of infection by the Forced Evolutionary Virus (FEV). They are much taller, bulkier and muscular than pure strain humans, have (mostly) green, gray, or yellowish skin, are immune to disease and radiation, and are gifted with superhuman strength and endurance. Although they are completely sterile, the rapid regeneration of their cells caused by FEV makes them virtually biologically immortal (but not immune to death from injury).
There are two different known sources of super mutants in the post-War world - Mariposa Military Base in New California (on the West Coast) and Vault 87 in the Capital Wasteland (on the East Coast). The two populations have separate histories and origins, and are yet to interact with each other. While originally the term was only used to refer to the Mariposa stock, the Brotherhood of Steel carried the term with them and applied it to those from Vault 87 upon encountering them."
The Commonwealth holds a third strain of the FEV, however, the origins of this strain is unknown. Many believe the new strain was created by the Institute when scientists began studying the virus in Mutants migrated from the west and east coasts. The Commonwealth Mutants seem to vary in intelligence. Many are incapable of rational thinking and simply want to 'Kill everything' while others have managed to retain high levels of brain activity. These relativity intelligent Super Mutants have managed to create there own faction, calling themselves 'The Super Mutant Forces'.
There is also a rumor going around that this Super Mutant Force has a supply of the FEV and is supplying it to select individuals they deem worthy. This, of course, is the only explanation the Commonwealth has been able to muster up to explain why they have been unable to exterminate the Mutants completely. They have managed to extract most of the Super Mutants from the main cities within the Commonwealth, save for the few individuals that have managed to live peacefully among the rest of the races.
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