Deep Dive Sneak Peek: Aisha Carver

This week's sample character is the spurned and forgotten genius behind the technology that makes the Dark Matter Fellowship (a Standing 2 conspiracy) possible.

As always, this is a first draft. There will be changes.

Aisha Carver

Quote: “I can make you something to do that, yeah. You’ll need to get me everything on this list of electronic components.”

Background: Following her Divergence, Aisha wanted nothing more than to return to the fellowship and take her place in history as the inventor of the dark matter scanner and the one who has made all the fellowship’s discoveries possible. As this has begun to seem increasingly unlikely, she set out to create a competing laboratory in her rented home a mile from the university. She no longer has access to the money provided by the fellowship, however, so she has been forced to resort to theft. Because this is not within her normal skillset, however, she often sells her services as a gadgeteer to other Remade in exchange for materials she needs (in addition to whatever her customers’ special gadgets might require).

Appearance: Aisha is a Black woman in her early 30s. She wears her hair in shoulder-length dreadlocks.

Roleplaying Hints: Aisha is brilliant but also a tough negotiator. She doesn’t bring up the Dark Matter Fellowship in conversation, but she’ll complain about it at length if someone else broaches the topic. If scientific topics come up, she becomes animated but quickly loses most audiences as she falls into veritable technobabble

Origin: Epimorph

Clade: Coactive

Attributes: Intelligence 4 (6), Wits 2, Resolve 2; Strength 2, Dexterity 1, Stamina 3; Presence 2, Manipulation 2, Composure 3

Mental Skills: Academics 2, Computers 1, Crafts 2 (Hypertech), Investigation 2, Science 4 (Physics)

Physical Skills: Athletics 1, Larceny 1, Stealth 1, Survival 1

Social Skills: Animal Ken 1, Empathy 2, Persuasion 2 (Negotiation), Socialize 1, Subterfuge 1

Merits: Area of Expertise (Science – Physics), Genius Gadgeteer 3**

Willpower: 5

Stability: 6

Conviction: 3

Loyalty: 2

Aspiration: Acquire a part needed to build a dark matter scanner

Initiative: 5

Defense: 2

Speed: 8

Health: 8

Size: 5

Acclimation: 0

Adaptations: Consume, Living Conduit, Talented

Form: Self-Made (Prototype 6)

Persistent Scars: Alternate Persona* (Beast Mastery, Fate’s Agent, Otherworldly Connection; Aware Persona, Perfect Recall, Superior Persona) 3, Nameless (Superhuman Intelligence, Otherworldly Connection; Anonymity) 3

Variations: Shadow Command 1 (Alternate Persona; Mental), Superhuman Intelligence (Scar-free Magnitude; Nameless; Social) 3, Emulate (Alternate Persona; Mental) 1, Fate’s Agent (Alternate Persona; Spirits; Mental) 1, Otherworldly Connection (Nameless; Spirits; Social) 2

* Aisha is the host of a scientific-minded DME that is as interested in studying the world of ordinary matter as Aisha is in studying dark matter – although she doesn’t yet realize that its motives include sizing it up for potential conquest. In addition to enhancing her already brilliant mind, it wields a power of its own when it is in command of her body. It can’t force her to use Consume to enhance its Variations, but she may use her Adaptations to do so.

** See Genius Gadgeteer Merit below.

Acquainted: +1 Intelligence, +1 Wits; +1 Crafts, +1 Science, +1 Larceny, +1 Stealth, +1 Persuasion; Superhuman Intelligence (Nameless; Social) 5, Nameless (Superhuman Intelligence) 5

Personal: +1 Manipulation; +1 Crafts, +1 Larceny, +1 Persuasion; Otherworldly Connection 3, Genius Gadgeteer 5, Area of Expertise (Persuasion – Negotiation)

Obsessive: +1 Wits; +1 Academics, +1 Stealth, +1 Subterfuge; Carapace 1, Gigantic 1; Alternate Persona (Carapace, Gigantic, Beast Mastery, Fate’s Agent, Otherworldly Connection; Aware Persona; Cross Purposes, Superior Persona; Mental) 5

New Variation-Specific Merit: Genius Gadgeteer (• to •••••)

Prerequisite: Superhuman Intelligence, Crafts ••, Science ••

The Deviant can create experimental devices that function as temporary Prototypes. This requires at least an hour in a well-equipped workshop, four hours in a typical workshop, and eight hours if the character is reduced to scrounging for tools and supplies. Choose a Variation with a Magnitude no greater than the Deviant’s Magnitude of Superhuman Intelligence and a Controlled Scar with an equal Magnitude – but no greater than the dots he has in this Merit. The Remade produces a temporary Prototype with this Variation and Scar that can be activated by any character as an action and lasts until the end of the scene. This Prototype retains its potency until the first time it is used.

When the Deviant creates a Prototype, reduce the Magnitude of his Superhuman Intelligence by the Magnitude of the Prototype’s Variation Magnitude until the beginning of the next chapter.