Latest revision as of 20:21, 25 March 2014

Sample of Amalgam 937

Discovery Summary

Dr. Alexandria Valient MD PHD was assigned to Primus in 1995 for one task, discover what is making mutations in in the Uranium Flats (a.k.a. Burning Sands). Her research into the mutations and the environment around White Sands was concluded in and classified in 2002. Her research indicates the following.

Mutation at Uranium Flats is caused by a host of factors in there. The significant primary factor is that during it's testing facility stage pumped the entire areas background radiation levels to an extreme, that while not normally found on earth in nature, is still habitable. The environment around Uranium Flats is considered to be the upper end benchmark for long term survivability with out protective clothing and devices. This background radiation is in everything. The air, the soil, the sand, the scrub plants, the water. It is so endemic that it could be described as the entire area is infused with radiation.

The second factor is the volume of radiological debris that can be found in areas on site. This debris is a combination of metals and dust that have dangerously high levels of radiation. The metals are typically burnt out ground vehicles and aircraft, though other items have been around long enough to be lethal. The dust however is something of a surprise. There are pools of dust and sand that have a high volume of contaminated metal flake. During the wind storms that occasionally buffet through the canyons, these dust pools can shift dramatically throughout the geography.

The final factor is the synergy of highly classified viral warfare experiments that were preformed at Burning Sands in the 60's and the ancient, naturally occurring but dormant (most of the time) colony of Armillaria ostoyae varientae, an underground fungus that blankets the entire area. The oily secretions of the fungus collect the metal flake dust effectively 'cooking' the oil. If the oil makes it to a hot zone, the oil then comes to a 'boil' and the resulting mixture is Amalgam937.

Dr. Valient discovered and isolated the compound and it's mutagenetic properties by late 1996. By then she had collected a large volume of it for continued study. It took her from then till 2002 discover the natural process of its integration and duplicate in the lab.

In 2002 the Airforce preformed an aerial spray of a fungicide and anitviral cocktail that has theoretically stopped the natural production of Amalgam 937.

Effects of Exposure

Amalgam 937 is primarily toxic. The transformational properties normally occur in less than 1 in 1000 exposures. 15 in 1000 will recover with genetic damage that renders the subject sterile (figure based on male exposure data, all females exposed end up sterile as the genetic content of their eggs is too fragile to survive). 613 in 1000 die within one month of the exposure. 219 in 1000 die within one week following exposure. 151 in 1000 die within one minute of exposure.

Recent evidence seems to suggest that minor mutations are occurring more regularly within the membership of Primus that are stationed there. The current theory is that the anti radiological drugs that are supplied to all personnel are increasing the survival rate, which increases the mutation rate in turn.

Those surviving with minor mutation typically take on traits that include one or more of the following, increased physical hardiness and strength, low light vision, and the ability to channel a biological fire and throw it at targets. This level of mutation also tends to negatively affect some skeletal extremities, includes the collapse of nasal structures, the fusing of phalanges and carpals, thickening dermal tissues (which prohibit hair growth), dermal scarring.

The list of known major mutations is short.

• Gene Damage Gene is an odd case becuase he survived two exposures. His First incarnation was very resilient and very strong, with all the negative traits listed above. The second exposure gave him the addition biological fire, but usable at a much greater strength than normally seen in the irradiates of Uranium Flats.

• (SPOILER)Red Dragon

RPHooks, guide, and OOC bits

My intent when creating Gene Damage, and Amalgam 937 was to put forward a stepping stone for players to build characters that were related in origin in a similar way as Marvels Gamma Accidents.

If you like the idea, then go for it, and please let me know.

Additionally, this trope is in no way Cryptic Cannon, and if such information countering it ever comes to light from Cryptic, the research will be declared debunked or misleading as approprate, and Amalgam Mutates will be responsible for retconning thier history.

My 'vision' of the Amalgam Mutations is that they grant power and strip away humanity with an even hand. Those effected are disfigured in some way. Gene is just a mess, yet his Nemesis Red Dragon is still attractive but absolutely vengeful to a psychotic degree.

Email me in-game if you have any questions or want to work on this with me. @Mangle Paw