Epox

Evez Epox is Mutt's character for a PBeM game. Consequently, there are some game statistics on this page: each section is laid out according to Twine guidelines[1] with decription first and gamey detail afterwards.

Epox is a shapeshifter who uses its gadget, which it grandly calls the Infinity Box, to disguise itself more effectively. Epox is normally seen in human disguise.

Name: Evez Epox
Age: Uncertain
Template: Sci-Fi Hero (Alien)
Species: Ukite (alien)
'Class': Tradesman
Homeworld: Chirax Gamma
Gender: None, asexual species

1. Appearance

1.1. Human

1.2. Alien

2. Abilities

3. Alien racial abilities

3.1. Mutable

4. Powers

4.1. Hands of Power

4.2. Chameleon Power

4.3. Carapace

4.4. Metamorphosis

5. Weaknesses

5.1. Viral Susceptibility

5.2. Delicious

6. Epox's gadget - the 'Infinity Box'

6.1. Appearance

6.2. Function

6.3. Species templates

6.4. Images of a person

7. Origin Story

1. Appearance

1.1. Human

An unremarkable white American, very average in height, weight and build, somewhat androgynous, but probably a man.

1.2. Alien

Blue-skinned humanoid with delicate frills, wearing a silly-looking hi-tech toga (has no special powers, just pockets, but like any clothing from Epox's homeworld it shapeshifts with Epox).

2. Abilities

Epox can speak and read the dominant language of the setting, but no others of this planet. It has good technical knowledge but very little experience of local technologies. Epox does not need to sleep, but it does spend several hours every day 'meditating' in a cold bath with only its head above water. Epox needs to breathe air; it can only survive under water for short periods.

3. Alien racial abilities

3.1. Mutable

[This is a workaround by the GM to make Evez fit into the game mechanics.]

While most Alien heroes do not have the ability to mutate [as in "develop mutant powers"] like humans do, the Ukite do possess this potential. The microorganisms that the Agedo forcibly implant into Ukite neophytes on occassion has been known to spawn a very specific set of mutation powers within Ukite adults (and Epox happens to be one of these gifted individuals). Unlike mutated humans, mutant Ukite only get four mutation powers.

4. Powers

4.1. Hands of Power

Epox's hands can emit blasts of biokinetic energy. As a side effect of this power, Epox is immune to electrical damage.

The energy attack has a range of 15 meters, plus one meter per Power Score modifier. The energy does 3d6 [plus power score modifier] damage.

4.2. Chameleon Power

A mutagenic enhancement of the natural Ukite ability to change skin color, Epox's mutation allows it to effectively blend into virtually any background.

Its body coloration automatically matches the colors of any background that is within one meter. The effect of this is as if Epox had a 90% Hide in Shadows score. Epox's special alien toga™ changes color with it automatically when it uses this power, but any other Earthling clothing or garments it is wearing will not blend with it.

4.3. Carapace

Using its species' natural shapeshifting powers, Epox can harden its skin into natural armor.

Requires a successful power score check. The effect of activating this power is to provide Epox with a +5 bonus to AC [plus power score modifier], with the bonus being halved if Epox's power score check fails. Epox can maintain its Carapace for a number of rounds equal to its power score modifier.

4.4. Metamorphosis

Ukite are normally able to effect very weak shapeshifting, effectively doing little more than changing their skin colorations, or the forms of their hands to make crude tools. With its mutation, Epox is able to actually shapechange (with a successful Power Score check). To aid it in changing form, Epox carries a small device, the Infinity Box, which stores "blueprints" of various species and individuals.

While in another form, Epox takes on all the physical attributes of that body - including move speed, move method, natural attacks, natural armor class and physical ability scores (if they're better than Epox's base scores).

Epox can keep its assumed form indefinitely, though it automatically reverts to its natural form if it is knocked unconscious.

The Infinity Box can store a number of permanent blueprints equal to the Metamorphosis power score modifier, with two extra temporary memory spaces allocated for additional forms.

5. Weaknesses

5.1. Viral Susceptibility

Epox's mutation due to exposure to the Agedo microorganisms was a natural side effect of its predisposition to viral infection.

Against disease-based attacks, Epox's strained immune system imposes a -5 penalty to save.

5.2. Delicious

While not really a weakness, Epox's flesh does taste delicious to any committed carnivore.

6. Epox's gadget - the 'Infinity Box'

6.1. Appearance

About the size of a pack of playing cards and unmistakably alien in design, which is why Epox carries it slung over its shoulder or round its neck in a little pouch - the sort of small padded case in which you'd expect to find a compact digital camera.

6.2. Function

The Infinity Box stores "blueprints" for Epox's shapeshifting. It can work in two ways: to store either a species template, or an image of a particular person.

6.3. Species templates

Allow Epox to shapeshift into a generic member of that species. (I'm very much thinking polymorph self - average stats for that species, and for injury and other purposes it's a new critter/new body each time.)

6.4. Images of a person

An image of a person includes phsyiology, strength and agility, appearance, voice, scent, etc. It does not include the person's knowledge, training or powers, so Epox would have to act in-character to the best of its knowledge in order to pass successfully as that person.

The stored images are of a person at a particular time and don't update if the person should cut their hair, get injured, etc, unless Epox replaces them with a new image.

One of the images is of Epox's usual human diguise.

7. Origin Story

The Agedo, air-breathers who look something like red shark-crocodiles, live on Chirax Beta. The Ukite, Epox's species, blue frilled folks with very weak shapeshifting power, live on Chirax Gamma.

The two planets orbit Chirax in the same plane and direction, but one faster than the other, with the effect that for about ten years of every fifty the planets are close enough for the Agedo to come and plunder the Ukite. The Ukite taste pretty good, you see, and other than the occasional cull and mass execution for disobedience, they mostly farm themselves. To help the process along, the Agedo implant microorganisms into Ukite children to enhance their flavour and make them even more peaceful and docile.

However... 0.5% of Ukite, rather than incubating the parasites, reabsorb them and gain special powers from them.

Of that 0.5%, about 2% manage to conceal the fact and avoid being executed.

Of that 2%, there has been one known escapee.

The Agedo were not pleased.