Nova
As the 20th century rolled forward, the age of the Inspired quietly slipped into shadow. Science advanced. Wars reshaped the globe. The mythic exploits of Daredevils and Stalwarts faded into hearsay and legend, overwritten by progress and disbelief. The world no longer needed unexplained wonders—it needed answers. Predictability. Control.
But then, in 1998, the impossible returned in the most public way imaginable.
The space station Galatea exploded, and with it came a wave of quantum phenomena that no scientist could fully explain. Across the globe, men and women began to change—spontaneously, dramatically. They weren’t eccentric adventurers or uncanny prodigies. They were gods in human flesh. They could fly, command flame, rewrite DNA, and shatter tanks with a glance.
The media called them Novas.
At first, they were celebrated—symbols of a bright new future. Organizations like Project Utopia stepped in to organize, regulate, and uplift them. Governments adapted. New economies bloomed. It was the beginning of what would be called the Nova Age—a time of promise, transformation, and unchecked potential.
But as the years passed, the cracks formed.
The more powerful a Nova became, the less human they remained. Their bodies changed, their minds drifted. Power brought isolation, and isolation bred disdain. Some sought dominion. Others fled to the stars. And the old heroic veneer began to flake away.
Basic Information
Anatomy
At their core, Novas are baseline humans radically altered by quantum flux. They're not a different species, not born this way (usually), but ordinary people fundamentally reshaped by impossible power. That said, you wouldn't know it to look at them, sometimes. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Mega-Strength/Stamina: Expect increased muscle density, reinforced bones, incredibly efficient cardiovascular systems. They might look like peak human specimens, sculpted and powerful.
Mega-Dexterity: Often leads to finely tuned musculature, enhanced nervous systems, and a leaner, more agile physique.
Mega-Perception: Sensory organs get an upgrade. Eyes might subtly change color or structure, ears become more sensitive, skin reacts to minute atmospheric shifts. These are often internal but can sometimes be visible.
Mega-Intelligence/Wits: These are the least physically obvious. Changes are primarily neurological and cranial, allowing for faster thought or preternatural reflexes. Subtle cranial shifts, but rarely overt.
Biokinesis/Metamorphosis: These are the shapeshifters. They can literally reshape their own flesh and bone, turning into monstrous forms, growing extra limbs, or becoming fluid.
Natural Weapons/Implants: Claws, fangs, hardened skin, integrated weaponry – direct, visible alterations.
Gigantism/Shrinking: Obvious changes in overall size and scale.
Environmental Adaptations: Gills, fur, scales, wings, specialized sensory organs for specific environments.
Every Nova begins as a human.
The changes, from subtle to grotesque, are the quantum energy repurposing or over-engineering that basic human form. Imagine taking a regular engine block and souping it up with impossible, new components.Mega-Attributes Drive Subtle Changes:
Many Novas see their physical alterations come from their Mega-Attributes:Quantum Powers Drive Overt & Wild Changes:
This is where the truly dramatic shifts happen, and Novas achieve truly non-humanoid forms.Taint: The Cosmic Backlash:
This is the most defining aspect of Nova morphology. The raw quantum energy isn't meant for the human body, and the "cost" of wielding such power is Taint.- Subtle Taint: Can manifest as glowing eyes, unusual skin patterns, a faint aura, or an unsettling stillness.
- Moderate Taint: Leads to unnerving deformities, distorted features, visible scarring, unnaturally colored skin, or minor unsettling mutations (e.g., elongated limbs, too many teeth).
- Severe Taint: This is where Novas become monsters. Grossly distorted limbs, cancerous growths, pulsating flesh, gaping mouths, too many eyes, or a fundamental shift away from any humanoid form. Taint is the visible proof they're tearing themselves apart with raw quantum energy.
- Internal vs. External: Many Nova adaptations are internal (dense muscle fiber, super-efficient organs, neural rewiring). Others are external, visible for all to see. The contrast between a Nova who looks perfectly human but can punch through a wall, and one who is a pulsating, multi-limbed horror, is stark.
- Diversity is Key: The big takeaway is that there is no single "Nova look." You have "pretty" Novas who are indistinguishable from supermodels, "perfect" Novas who look like idealized humans, and "monstrous" Novas who are the stuff of nightmares. The unifying factor is that their forms are a direct, often unpredictable, consequence of their unique quantum signature and the Taint they accrue.
