Suitable Campaign Age: Any, except Silver  

Adventure Tone: Introspective Macbra Action-Adventure  

Recommended Power Level: Low or Classic 

Content Warning: The following adventure explores exploitive medical practices. 

Overview 

What Chimera’s ultimate goals may be remains a mystery. Nevertheless, they are obsessed with genetic science, and have gained an unhealthy interest in the heroes. They need the blood of heroes for whatever they have in store, and they have a number of tricks up their sleeve to get it. This adventure seed provides a number of scenarios that can be layered into ongoing adventures along with a climax that can be used if Chimera can acquire the genetic material of each character. 

Scenario 1: There Will Be Blood

This is the most direct and aggressive means of collecting the needed genetic material. Chimera will target the heroes, deploying a squad of altered Goblin Drifters while the heroes are at a public event. This works best if Chimera can target the heroes one at a time, or all together after a major public battle. 

The Goblins’ bone spurs have been modified with a mono-molecular proboscis allowing them to siphon blood from a target with any strike. The proboscis can slice through virtually any object and chambers a sample of liquids it collects. 

Resources 

1 Slither Tank 

1 Typical Mob of Goblin Drifters add Advanced and Nutcracker (Defended by Quickness) 

Note: GMs may want to up this to a Major Mob for Classic Power Level heroes. 

The Slither Tank will deploy the Goblins then back off, only attacking to keep people away. The Goblins are not looking to kill the heroes. After striking each hero once, they will break off, returning to the Slither tank. GMs can treat this as a reduction of 3 Stamina after each hero is struck and a Goblin can successfully retreat into the Slither Tank. 

Scenario 2: CSI: Crime Scene Impersonators 

Should the heroes prove to be too dangerous to attack head on, another tactic Chimera may utilize is to use an enhanced Elf Drifter to manipulate one of the CSI techs after a fight to collect the samples they need. 

Elves already possess weaponised pheromones, which they can use to cause harm to any thinking creature. This Drifter has improved control allowing them to mentally control others so long as they can smell their scent. While the Elf can control multiple people at once, they can only issue a single command, acting like a hive mind. So long as they are able to keep a low profile, they will stay on the outskirts of the crime scene, manipulating the CSI tech. 

This scenario works best if the heroes are still on the scene and can pick up on these shenanigans.  Detecting the Elf on the sidelines requires a Sense + Perception roll opposed by their Stealth of 15 + 4d6. 

• Success The hero will notice someone standing a little too close, watching a little too intelty.
• 1 Degree of Success: This person is wearing heavy flesh-toned makeup and  is hiding the iconic upper eyes of a Drifter. 

If spotted, the Drifter will order the tech to throw them the samples, and then order all the police on site to attack the hero (s). In the confusion they will attempt to escape. 

Dark Age Note: In some campaigns, it may be more appropriate to have the police officers attempt to kill themselves, forcing the heroes to try and stop the police from harming themselves. 

Resources 

1 Advanced Elf Drifter add Advanced, Sneak, Cluster, and a Special: Control: Minds with a Value of 16 + 4d6 (Includes Advanced). The Cluster template can be applied to the Pherapne Attack or Control: Minds. 

Police Officers (Typical Mob of Low Powered Patrolmen + Devastator + Brawler + Shooter)  

Basic Rolls 6 + 2d6

Stamina 6

Defense 10 Dice 2 Armor 2 

Offense Handgun 10 Dice 3 Range Medium Damage 8   

Offense Collapsing Baton 10 Dice 3 Range Close Damage 7  

Scenario 3: Not the ‘Skeeters! 

Recognizing how canny those pesky heroes can be, Chimera will attempt to use a genetically engineered mosquito to collect the genetic material they need. The hero stung by the mosquito can make a Dexterity roll against a Very Advanced (30) Target to slap the insect before it can take off with the sample. 

Characters with a Life Science specialty will notice that this is not a normal mosquito. Otherwise an Intelligence + other approotate Talent, Target Expert(20) will reveal this information. 

Scenario 4: A Hero is Gonna Hero 

Note: This scenario is designed for heroes who are known to patrol a specific area, or have some kind of turf they are often found in. 

While on patrol the hero will come across what looks like a mugging or carjacking in the parking lot of a lab or research facility. A trio of Drifters have stolen a tablet from a scientist as they were getting into their car. The Drifters only know that they were ordered to retrieve the tablet. However, the scientist actually is a covert agent for Chimera. When the hero retrieves the tablet, the scientist will trigger a pressure sensor that will cause it to prick their skin and collect a sample. 

If asked, the scientist will state that they are doing sensitive research and the prick is a DNA sampler. A failed match will cause the tablet to wipe itself for security purposes. They do hope they can recover the data, but it’s unlikely after the security measure has triggered. 

Is this a lie? In a sense, almost everything the scientist says is truthful. Heroes can attempt an Expression + Subterfuge roll  against a Target of Very Advanced (30) 

• Failure: There have been some serious advancements in biometric testing.  
• Partial: The security seems a little extreme. 
• Success: The scientist may be hiding something, but it may just be the nature of their work. 
• 1 Degree of Success: There is clearly something going unsaid. 
• 2 Degrees of Success: While they claim the data was wiped, the scientist seems intensely interested in the tablet. 

Scenario 5: Doctor Who? 

Note: This scenario is designed for heroes who have public identities. 

The hero receives a call from their doctor saying that they’ve noticed something disturbing from their last check in. The hero needs to come in for blood work. The doctor will tell them that they are happy to explain further in person. 

Suspicious heroes can make an Expression + Subterfuge roll versus a Target of Very Advanced (30).

• Partial: The call feels random.
• Success: The doctor seemed distracted, or tired, and their cadence feels off. 
• 1 Degree of Success: This is not how the doctor speaks, and something is wrong. 

At the appointment, everything goes as normal. However, just as with the Scenario 2, there is an Advanced Elf Drifter, in disguise, using their pheromones to control the staff. Once the hero has given blood, the Drifter will take the sample. 

The same detection roll can be used as in Scenario 2. If spotted, the Elf will jump through a window, onto an awaiting motorcycle, driven by another Drifter. 

Giving Chase (Average Competitive Roll)

Victory Condition: The Drifters escape 

Success Threshold Modifiers:

The Defenders possess a moderate Tactical Advantage (They have an escape plan, and practiced the route.) Reduce the Success Threshold by 1 

Starting Advantage: The Defender has a clear advantage (Souped up motorcycle ready and waiting.) 

Notes: GMs will need to adjust these modifiers and advantages based on the hero (s) present. 

Scenario N: Dealers Choice 

It goes without saying, but we’re going to say it anyway. GMs should consider group specific options that are best suited for the heroes at the table. 

Finale: Drifter 2.0 Launch Party!  

With the samples collected, Chimera will integrate the genetic material into the Drifter project. Of course they will then attack the heroes to test out their new creations’ combat effectiveness. 

Because party dynamics will vary from group to group the following is a base template, along with suggested Drift upgrades. Additional options are based on Power Boons or Advancements the heroes may have possessed. They are called Genetics because the Template should not be added if the power comes from some technological or magical means. 

GMs should add more PC specific Drift types. 

Drifter 2.0 (Classic Mutant Shock troop + Brawler + Shooter + “Drifting” + Advanced + Striker + Tough)

The Drifter 2.0 is almost as tough as a Goblin, and able to strike with deadly ferocity. Even without Drifting, they can post a serious threat to most foes. 

Basic Rolls 12 + 3d6

Stamina 18

Defense Genetic Toughness 18 Dice 4 Armor 6

Offense Concussion Blaster 18 Dice 4 Range Long Damage 12   

Offense Claws 18 Dice 4 Range Close Damage 12 

Drifting: After the first turn of Combat a Drifter may spend 1 turn to become a Goblin or Elf. This transformation requires 1 turn, and heals 3 Stamina. 

Goblin Drift 2.0 (Classic Mutant Shock troop + Brawler + Shooter + “Drifting” + Advanced + Striker + Tough + Armored + Devastator)

Basic Rolls 12 + 3d6

Stamina 18

Defense Calcified Skin Plates 24 Dice 4 Armor 9

Offense Concussion Blaster 18 Dice 4 Range Long Damage 12   

Offense Bone Spurs 24 Dice 5 Range Close Damage 15

Goblin Options: 

• Impervious Genetics: Add the Template Immunite: Non-Super Powered Attacks 
• Boost Devastation Genetics: Add the Template: Devastator  and increase the Damage to Bone Spurs. 

Note: Adding both Templates can make Goblins incredibly dangerous 

Elf Drift 2.0 (Classic Mutant Shock troop + Brawler + Shooter + “Drifting” + Advanced + Striker + Tough + Nutcracker + Maneuver Specialist + Custer)

Basic Rolls 12 + 3d6

Stamina 18

Defense Genetic Toughness 18 Dice 4 Armor 6

Offense Concussion Blaster 18 Dice 4 Range Long Damage 12   

Offense Claws 18 Dice 4 Range Close Damage 12 

Offense Pheromones 18 Dice 4 Range Short or Close Radius Damage 6 Notes Defended by Psyche.  

Offense Pheromone – Lockdown 14 Dice 5 Range Short or Close Radius Damage 7 Notes Stagger – Defended by Psyche.  

Elf Options: 

• Support: Wisdom, Intelligence, or Mental Genetics: Add the Advanced Template 
• Support: Stealth or Disguise Genetics: Add the Sneak Template   
• Meddling Genetics: Add the Crowd Control Template 

Note: Elves are intended to be problem solvers and there’s any number of other Templates that may be viable depending on the source material. 

Chimera will test the troops using a Major Mob of Drifter 2.0. After the first Turn, one group will Drift to Elves, and provide support in Turn 3 for the remaining Typical Mob to Drift to Dwarves. If the heroes put up a stronger defense, this can be broken out or slowed, if it looks like the Elves can’t endure 2 Turns. However, their Pheromone – Lockdown should help to slow down the heroes. 

Where To Go From Here 

Depending on the arc of the campaign, Gene Jackers can serve as a great means to revitalize the Chimera threat. Heroes may want to take the fight to them to destroy the research using their genetic material. Depending on the scale of threat you see Chimera, this might be a research lab, or straight to the Transunification in a suborbital battle for their genetic code.