angels Homo sapiens pterylae     Racial Modifiers +1 Body +1 Strength -1 Quickness (+2 airborne) +1 Charisma (-1 if undergoing a dropping molt) -1 Willpower Notes Movement x4 (air) Movement rate x2 (ground)

a n e w m e t a h u m a n r a c e f o r s h a d o w r u n b a s e d u p o n t h e n o v e l b y d a v i d s o s n o w s k i

Comments

Angels possess the ability of flight and the non-Attribute modifying bonuses of synthacardium and bone-lacing biotechnology. Angels must consume much larger quanities of food than normal and also emit a powerful electomagnetic field called the Halo Effect. Angels must also deal with the physical limitations of 6" long wings and must alter their lifestyles accordingly.

 

Identification

Angels appear as normal homo sapiens sapiens, the only notable exception being pair of feathered wings that extend from the shoulder-blades up past the top of the head and down to the backs of the knees. Plumage ranges from glossy black to chalk white. Mottled plumage is sometimes evident in young specimens but is less common and usually lightens or darkens with age. Pterylae are much heavier than sapiens , due not only to their wings but also because of their reinforced skeletal structure and iron-rich, wire-like muscle fibers. Physiogamy includes a highly-specialized ligature, an absence of the appendix and hypertrophism of the pineal gland and upper-body musculature. The cardiovascular system is also similarly augmented.

 

Habitat

In urban areas, Angels prefer to nest in buildings with high ceilings and exposed rafters. Old buildings and warehouses (called Aviaries), often with roof access for launches and landings, are common dwellings. Because of the Halo Effect and subsequent anti-Angelic legislation, many Angels have opted to live in more rural Angelic communes called Coops.

 

 

Habits

Angels are active during the day and the night but prefer to stay indoors during inclement weather. Angels tend to live in small groups (see Habitat) or alone. Life expectancy is unknown, presumably 80 years or more. Breeding season is unrestricted. Gestation is 270 days. Due to the accelerated metabolism of Angels, food sources must be high in calcium, magnesium and iron (dietary supplements may be used) and suggested caloric intake is doubled during and following the first signs of Angelism.

 

Flight

Angels possess the ability of flight and have a movement factor of x4 and +2 to their Quickness when airborne (a higher center of gravity and loss of sensation in the lower extremeties contribute to their ungainliness while grounded). Fledglings are often taught to fly by older, more experienced Angels but even lone Angels are "hatched" with the instinct of flight and will eventually learn with enough practice. Angels are capable of sustained flight for several hours (depending on physical fitness and preparation) and also of hovering in place for up to a half hour (again, depending on the strength stamina of the Angelic). Despite the ability of ground launches, most Angels prefer to launch from a high perch in order to prevent the inevitable swell of dust and debris that accompanies flapping wings.

 

When going on extended flights, Angels often wear protective goggles, ear plugs and warm, non-restrictive clothing to fend of the effects of wind and cold temperatures. Most also carry water and salt tablets for electrolyte balancing, cough drops for dry mouth and antacids to combat indigestion caused by swallowing air. Flying in inclement weather is not advised; the wings, although resistant to moisture, can become too saturated to stay airborne and cold weather will cause ice-crystals to form on the feathers which can lead to cracking and bleeding wings.

 

Young

Angelic newborns are usually born premature and underweight; twins have never been reported. Due to their birth weight and other anatomical complications with both mother and child, infants must be delivered through a Cesarean section and viable infants are usually placed into intensive care upon delivery. Wings are present at birth but stunted and featherless. Down appears within the first week and the wings are fully plumed at approximately 5 months. Infant Angels often climb and dive off of objects, using their wings to glide, and should be tethered to avoid injury.

 

 

Viral Angelism (Human Wing Growth Syndrome)

Human Angeloproficiency Virus (HAV strains I, II and III) is spread through the blood. Semen, saliva and other bodily secretions show minimal amounts of the virus and have been determined not to be viable vectors for HAV. Once infected, the carrier will begin to suffer from a highly-increased metabolism and an increased appetite for highly unusual items. Other early symptoms of infection include nausea, irregular or arrested menstruation and sensitivity to sensory input.

 

Stage two of Human Wing Growth Sundrome (HWGS) includes a higher than normal body temperature and inflamed, irritated tissue on either side of the spine that soon swells and hardens into dorsal ridges that emerge from between the scapulae. At stage three, the carrier must consume incredible quanities of food, especially iron-rich foods like beef liver or dietary supplements. The soon-to-be-Angelic's mental health at this point is slightly abnormal; strange dreams and cravings begin to occur with greater frequency and the carrier may even have hallucinations and fantasies about flying, cannibalism and dying.

 

Stage three of HWGS is a green crust that begins at the fingernails and toenails (effectively fusing them together) and spreads across the epidermis over the course of a week. By this stage the carrier will be all but helpless and will spend the next month encased in a greenish chrysalis until he or she awakens and breaks free with a pair of fully-formed wings. Clumsiness and disorientation while walking is common, as will the feeling that the Angelic's new wings are "alive." Many Angels actually relate to their wings as sentient beings that act independently of the bearer's will.

 

Magic, Awakening and Angelism

As of this writing there has been no report of other Metahuman types (nobilis, ingentis, etc.) infected with Angelism or ability in Hermetic or Shamanic applications. A small percentage of Angels possess an active astral form but as this number is virtually identical to the percentage of astrally adept non-magi, this statistic is inconclusive.

 

The Halo Effect (Angelic Field Syndrome)

The wire-like muscles fibers and magnetized heart muscle of the Angelic physiogamy generate a powerful electomagnetic field that adversely affects electronic equipment and other EMF-sensitive apparatus. The field is so strong that Angels are able to magnetically adhere small metal objects to their chests through their skin. Although this presents many obstacles to Angels in this modern age, small advances in AFS-negating technology (armband-mounted "anti-static" generating boxes) have helped the situation somewhat. Still, most Angels decry technology and eschew gas-lit homes and more Victorian ammenties in their Aviaries.

 

Cybernetics are virtually useless to Angels (although implanted AVS boxes allow minor modifications) and all unshielded electronics and cybernetics will suffer from the damaging electromagnetic field that extends in a one meter radius around the Angel. Angels possess highly sophsticated lymphic, cardiovascular and myoskeltal systems; cybernetic and bio-modification of these systems is ill-advised. On account of their highly magnetic aura, Angels are unable to interface with the Matrix or utilize any kind of neural modification (datajacks, chipjacks, skillwires, wired reflexes or interface rigs) even with anti-static boxes. Cyberoptics and audio, filtration sytems, chemical alterations, dermal armor and other similar modifications are possible but cost double the normal amount.

 

Recently, anti-Angelism laws have been passed in most metropoliton areas to prohibit Angels from entering areas where sensitive electronic or cybernetic equipment might be in use. This measure is being fought by various pro-Angelic Rights groups, citing developments in anti-AVS technology and EMF shielding.

 

 

Molting

Angels shed their feathers in a two-week long process called molting. Similar to molting in birds, Angels go through this shedding process every year (on average). There are two types of molting: the first is called dropping and involves large patchs of plumage literally dropping out. The resultant naked wing has a decidedly unattractive appearance. The other type (called thinning) is a gradual shedding of plumage where each wing loses an even number of feathers all year around in a regular pattern. This gradual process avoids the "plucked" appearance of dropping. Angels are either droppers or thinners and this is believed to be hereditary (50% base chance of being a dropper or a thinner).

 

 

Post-Angelic Stress Disorder

Unfortunately, the physical and mental trauma of the Change (as it is called) is too much for some Fledgelings. Suicide is commonplace (especially in urban centers) and pre-Change deaths from malnutrition and stress on the heart are still being reported (although this number continues to drop annually as more information on pre-Change care comes to light). Angels often feel cursed with their wings, thinking themselves as "unworthy" or other times freakish. Feelings of paranoia and persecution (sometimes warranted) are also common and can be difficult to deal with. Several Angelism support groups have been founded recently to deal with these issues.

 

Mobilism

A far more dangerous threat than pre-Change trauma or post-Change stress disorders is Mobilism; a form of discrimination that stems from (and breeds) hatred, fear and jealousy amongst Angels and the non-winged alike. Three major types of Mobilism have been documented:

 

Mobilism as a form of discrimination and bigotry is common, even among Metahumans (although Elfs seem to display overt Mobilism the least). Angels are a favorite target of the Humanis Policlub and other so-called anti-Metahuman supremecy groups.

 

Vampirism is the term used for the biting and bloodletting of carriers of HAV as a means of contracting the virus (which, incidentally is only contagious during the dorsal ridging stage). Many assaults and even deaths amongst Angels can be attributed to vampire-related attacks. One Vampire actually feigned infection by injecting his back muscles with saline and silicone in order to gain entry into a Angelic compound. Once inside, the Vampire murdered a woman residing at the Coop while undergoing the Change.

 

Militant Angelism is a form of pro-Angelic violence directed to the non-winged (or Pedestrian, as they are called). Militants see themselves as real Angels sent by God to carry out His wishes on Earth and often take upon "angelic" names much like the Elf Separatists of the Tir. Militants await "Armageddon," the time of Reckoning when the armies of God and Satan engage in the Final Battle. Many Militant Angels see the other Metahumans as agents of the Devil and treat them accordingly.

 

 

Penguinism

Less than .05% of Angels suffer from Penguinism, being hatched with wings but not the specialized musculature or nervous system to make them work. In effect, the Penguin's body doesn't even recognize his wings as existing (this can lead to Hansen's Disease-like injuries if the wing is damaged in any way). This condition also causes the body's internal gyroscope to malfunction, forcing the disoriented Penguin to crawl around on all fours. Walking is possible, but not without excruciating levels of concentration. Amputation is prohibited due to possibilities that Penguinism is a lengthy, but temporary condition and because if the wing was amputated, the patient would most likely bleed to death from the surgery due to the wings' the intricate vascular system.

Author's Note

All information in this piece directly inspired by the novel Rapture by David Sosnowski and is meant only as entertainment and not a challenge to Mr. Sosnowski or Villard/Random House Publishing. This material has been written for use with the Shadowrun RPG but may be used in other game settings as well. Shadowrun just seemed to fit thematically with the concepts in Rapture. Although Rapture laid most of the groundwork, I still had to define several unknowns concerning Angel physiology and psychology.

 

Email from David Sosnowski, author of Rapture

"[My agent] forwarded your e-mail to me and I checked out the Rapture-based descriptions you've posted. And all I can say is, "Wow!" I'm extremely impressed and flattered; I really enjoyed reading through the write-up and elaborations..."

 

"When I was writing Rapture, I actually went through several drafts and generated lots of notes concerning elements that aren't in the version that got published. For example, there was a bit in the original about how tobacco companies started aggressively marketing toward Angels, based upon the premise that no detail studies had been done to see if cigarettes caused cancer in Angels (arguing that all bets were off, due to the substantial changes in the Angels' physiology). The first Angel-targetted brand was called -- of course -- Holy Smokes."