Cybernetics and Bionics

Many cultures in the Third Horizon regard the body as holy, a vessel the Icons have blessed with a soul. Thanks to this, many see cybernetic or bionic modification as something bad, or even blasphemous. Extremists on the matter include the Zenithian Hegemony, whose members are obsessed with blood purity, and certain Icon cults such as the Face of Truth on Sadaal.   To many colonists and mercenaries, however, cybernetic prostheses and mods or bionic sculpts could be the difference between life and death. To the Legionnaires, it is even a status symbol to have prosthetic limbs, cybernetic modifications and scars from wound staples. It also makes them look more menacing – an important trait in their line of work. Specific cybernetic implants and bionic sculpts are handled as both equipment and as talents, and they are described in detail in Chapter 4.  

BIO SCULPTING

Just like cybernetics has its place within certain groups in the Horizon, so does bionic sculpting – although bigots and the narrow-minded strongly disagree. Tattoo Alley next to the Ozone Plaza on Coriolis houses several bio sculptors’ shops. Most customers come for small cosmetic sculpts such as eye shadows, longer eye lashes or more accentuated cheek bones, but sometimes also for more controversial things like longer legs, micro hearts or other exotic mods.   Bio-sculpting thrives more openly on the independent station Ahalimm and among the nomads, and even sculpts as absurd as wings, tails and gills can be found out in the fringes of the Kua system – things that would cause riots or even lynchings in the core.  

CYBERNETICS

Cybernetic implants are treated as both talents and gear. They will cost you both XP and birr, and require healing after the procedure. During the healing process, the painful wounds give the PC a -2 to all skill tests. All cybernetics are Ordinary technology. PCs with cybernetic implants will likely look heavier and larger than others, move somewhat mechanically or stand out in some other way. Cybernetics are hard to hide. If the PCs encounter an NPC with cybernetics, it will probably be fairly obvious to them that the person is modified in some way. Some people, such as legionnaires, choose to make their implants extra visible.  

BIONICS

Bionic sculpts are treated as both talents and gear. They will cost you both XP and birr, and require healing after the procedure. During the healing process, the painful wounds give the PC a -2 to all skill tests. All bionics are restricted Advanced technology. Sculpts are subtler than cybernetics. Close observation of a person over time is often required to spot the extraordinary abilities. There are many different sculpts with many different purposes in the Horizon. The sculpts described here have both their talent name and a commercial name listed, given to them by the company or the sculptor.