Undying

December 31, 2013 Chris Van Deelen

The Undying are products of intense radiation combined with several strange toxins that were released during the final wars. The original creatures were at one time pure humans and regular humans (see Wisdom from the Wastelands issue 4: New Races) but exposure to the radiation and toxins caused them to mutate.

No. Enc: 1d4 (3d12)
Alignment: Chaotic
Movement: 90’ (30’)
AC: By armour type or 7
HD: 10
Attacks: By weapon type or 3 (bite, claw, claw)
Damage: By weapon type or 1d4/ 1d6 / 1d6
Save: L10
Morale: 10
Hoard Class: I, II, VIII (Feral only), VII, X, XVI (Intelligent Undying)

They are of any typical size or weight for a normal pure human or human and can be either male or female. They all appear as if they are wounded and desiccated corpses, with the wounds all appear to have been caused by toxins or radiation. The skin is dry and cracked, most of the body hair has disappeared, and the flesh is drawn tight over the bones of the creature. Some have eyes that appear milky and dead, while others have blood shot or even clear. Some show patches where the skin has actually melted or rotted away from the muscle or bone, and there are even those who have lost entire limbs.

Oddly enough there are two different versions of this type of undying creatures. The first are the intelligent versions. They have managed to retain their cognitive abilities, although some have lost at least a portion of their intellect and Will Power (due to the damage inflicted by the radiation and toxins) These are the least common types of undying met in the wastes. Most are the by-product of the final wars, survivors who can describe in detail life before the end of the Ancients, the wars and so on.

The second version are the far more common type of undying. These creatures lost everything that made them human - their personality, Intelligence and Will Power due to the exposure to the radiation and toxins that created them. They are simply animals that live only to feed and survive as best as they can.

Both types are only found in the ruins of the Ancients, where the first type always do their best to rebuild their homes and make them as comfortable as they can, living the life that has been taken away during the last wars.

The feral animal versions always live deep underground in the ruins, typically in subways, sewers or other extensive subterranean ruins. They live off whatever they can find, eating everything even though they don’t need food to survive.

The intelligent Undying are typically shunned by most of the inhabitants of the wastes because people fear them. They look like undead and some actively act the part in order to scare people away. There are others however who allow people who wish to consult with them to do so, but they always charge for their knowledge. Some charge exorbitant amounts, while others give away their knowledge for a pittance or for favours.

Due to their very long lives, these creatures have on average five or more fields of expertise. They are very knowledgeable in their fields and as a result can figure out numerous artifacts without having to roll for them. Many are also technicians and able to repair damaged artifacts.

As a result, these types always have access to artifact weapons, armour and equipment and are not above using it to protect themselves from any would be attackers. People attempting to attack an intelligent Undying are usually in for a very unpleasant surprise and typically don’t live long enough to regret it.

The feral Undying haven’t the intellect or the ability to use artifact weapons and armour, and as a result are far easier to deal with. What makes these creatures so dangerous is the fact that they live together in packs and their bites are quite toxic, and quite often pass on the same toxins that created them in the first place.

Any person bitten by a feral Undying has to make a save against poison. This disease will only affect pure humans and mutant humans. Animals who fail treat the disease as class 10 poison.

For those who are affected if they fail the saving throw, they contract a wasting disease. The infected creature has a chance to throw it off (see the rules covering disease in the Mutant Future core book). The major difference is that if the disease kills them, they don’t actually die. Instead they lose their intelligence over a period of weeks until they become little more than animals. As a result, they will begin to live in the same manner as other feral undying. Oddly enough, these creatures still retain some memory and loyalty to former friends and loved ones and they will not attack them.

All human mutants that succumb to the disease lose all their mutations, both physical and mental (except changes such as multiple limbs, natural weapons and the like) and take on the mutations of the Undying instead.

Feral Undying Disease
Save Modifier +0
Infection Duration 4 days
Affected Stats: Int -4, str -2, -4 will
Damage per day 2d4

Symptoms: Loss of body hair, fatigue, difficulty thinking, high thirst and hunger, nausea.

Both types of creature are completely immune to radiation, disease, poisons and all manner of toxins. A small trade-off for the appearance. As a result, these creatures can live in locations that would kill almost all other types of life forms. Members of each type Undying will often gravitate towards these locations in order to live in solitude.

Another side effect is that these creatures do not need to feed, although the feral Undying do so even if they don’t require it. Wasteland scholars believe that the toxins that created them also sustain them.

There have been Undying taken away from the ruins in which they inhabit and it was discovered that they will not die. They appear to have no adverse effects although they do everything in their power to escape and return to the ruins.

No one knows why, not even the Undying themselves.

Finally both the regular undying and the feral undying cannot heal normally. They need radiation in order to heal any damage they have sustained, and it replaces their healing rate. For every class of radiation they are exposed to the Undying heal 1 hit point per 24 hours of exposure. For example, an Undying has sustained wounds in combat and finds a field of class 5 radiation. As long as the Undying stays in this field, it will heal 5 points of damage every 24 hours.

Mutations: Bizarre appearance(d), extended life span, immunity to radiation and all toxins, toxic weapon (disease).

Fallout series