Biotechnologica
Entry A-23 The Apoc-Shark
Frederick Hubbell, Ichthyologist

Before creatures even considered walking on land, the shark has been the master of the sea. Prowling the depths in one form or another for over 400 million years as a terror to all. They needed little help as the predominant predator beneath the waves and yet the Event has blessed them none the less. Most prominent of the new variations is the Apoc-Shark, a mutation of the legendary Great White. Already known as a vicious and relentless predators, apoc-sharks have gained upgrades to most of their established arsenal, and been augmented with a few additions, as if they were needed. As with most of these Event hardened species researchers are trying to piece together information as best we can, but with the added aggression of apoc-sharks, there has been no shortage of attacks to provide reference for study. Once the dead doll like eyes fix their glowing red glare on a target, little hope remains for the subject. (more...)

Setup: Many Apoc have the misguided belief that the L'na give up too easily sometimes. In truth, the L'na have the uncanny ability to choose their battles, often with devastating results. Such is the case with NAU Research Base Zulu. For years this research facility has huddled on the shore of Lake Michigan, using the aquatic boundary as a defensive bulwark. The L'na have known that whenever the NAU captures something "unusual" in the field, the creatures are brought to this base. The L'na have heard all the rumors about the dissections and experimentation done on the strange races that appeared after the Event. Slys-ayr, krieg and even stranger creatures are confined in perpetual "observation" at this base. Since no L'na were ever subject to the medical torture prevalent at this outpost, the spiritual creatures were content to leave the NAU facility alone.

But subtle changes around the base caused some L'na to fear that their race was the next target. Unwilling to let the NAU define the terms of engagement, the L'na descended in the dark of night and obliterated the guards. As an afterthought, the victorious invaders entered the lakeside laboratories, ready to destroy the abominations found within.

Unfortunately for the L'na, they did not find a laboratory overflowing with helpless victims of experimentation. The purpose of Research Base Zulu was not to study the strange post-Event creatures. It was training them to fight for the NAU. These nascent warriors are about to get a baptism of fire.

The L'na now find themselves trapped on a wharf-like structure extending over Lake Michigan. While the L'na have access to both the Gifts of Maoru and the Gifts of Oaze, their opponents are formidable fighters, their natural abilities enhanced by training in Apoc Amplifications and a ready cache of Melee Weapons.

Is the mystic might of the L'na enough to overcome the martial prowess of creatures like the Krieg or Slys-Ayr, who were designed to fight? Will the Loph drag their foes to a watery grave, or will the elemental mastery of the Dawns and Twilights allow them to vanquish the trained aberrations? Play this scenario with your friends and post the results so we all can know who emerged victorious in the unfolding world of Untold: Battle!

Alias: None (Real Name Unknown)
Race: Apoc High-bred
Aspects: Body 4, Mind 3
Sex: Male; Ht: 6' 6"; Wt: 174 lbs.

"That's need-to-know only, kid, and you? You don't need to know."

Character Description/Notes: There is little that is known for certain about Black Op. Indeed, the number of whispered rumors about his background far exceed any truth... and telling the truth from the fiction is almost impossible. Speculation flows that he's not fully human underneath his mask - that an ASEAS research project to create a better breed of super-soldier bore fruit in his existence. There are also those who swear devoutly that he's not just one man, and instead the title of "Black Op" is shared between a team of seasoned agents who use their ability to "be in two places at once" to confuse and terrify the opposition. Some people go so far as to believe that he has stolen magical powers from the L'na, or can even bend the Flux itself to his will.

All of these rumors receive a shrugged "no comment" from the man himself. After all, being the most (in)famous representative of the ASEAS's covert operations division almost demands the cultivation of a special sort of mystique. Assassins can target a man, but there's no killing a legend. As such, the man known only as Black Op apparently spends nearly as much time honing his phenomenal persona as he spends practicing his deadly covert arts. He is seemingly able to switch vocal mannerisms, tactics, combat styles, and even personalities at the drop of a hat - one minute a talkative, debonair phenomenon brazen in his self-confidence... and the next second a silent, stalking psychopath who enjoys his explosives in an entirely unhealthy manner.

It could be all an elaborate act. Or it could be that he's not just one man, and there's no telling where the other "Black Op" representatives are. Or, perhaps, he's actually just that twisted. There's really no telling for sure, and that's the point. Even when he works with partners or attached to a unit, there exists a wall of inscrutability that shields him from the understanding of others and leaves them unable to pin him down. Given that his assignments are often of the most sensitive of natures, and his activities are so commonly disavowed that he might as well be his own political entity, it's not surprising.

Of course, therein lies another rumor - that Black Op isn't actually part of the ASEAS. In quiet conversations away from prying ears, it is suggested that the "prize operative" of ASEAS covert intelligence isn't an official operative at all - he's a free agent, working towards his own ends and hired on a mission-by-mission basis. Even darker mutterings mention that he's been seen fighting against the High-bred in some engagements, for no reason anyone can begin to explain.

Only Black Op himself knows the truth, and he's not talking.

Tactics: The strategies used by Black Op vary by the necessity of the moment, but all are typically equal in their lethality. He can be a quiet "snap the neck" operative when required, but likewise he shows no fear or hesitation in un-slinging a large-caliber weapon and passing out fiery pain. On the contrary, he almost seems to relish the opportunities he gets to ditch the stealth and add to his folkloric achievements with a large, flashy body count.

This is not to say that the man is reckless or inattentive in his judgment, however. Indeed, those who have served alongside him on assignments speak in reverent tones of his ability to quickly assess and compensate for any tactical circumstance. Even with the limited Intel and minimal preparation that typifies the sort of mission calling for Black Op's specific skill-set, he seems able to produce effective plans for engagement and extraction almost at will. This improvisational ability somehow also appears relevant to his combat skills, as the legends of his death-dealing using implements as unorthodox as pencils, bottles of alcohol, and even a man's own clothing would attest.

If anything truly seems to be his "calling card," however, it's his particular fondness for smoke grenades. Sowing confusion, distracting and misdirecting the enemy, or even simply emerging theatrically from a cloud of vapor with guns blazing... such acts are so common that some among the Degenerate Churl have a special name for Black Op. "He Who Comes With Death and Smoke" is famous even amongst his enemies.

Legends:

• Y'know, that man once killed a guy with a toothpick! Give him a wide berth.
• They say The Dreaming secretly wants him dead, and no one knows why.
• I heard from a guy who used to know his superior - he's not a man at all, but a specially-modified Klik they've disguised as one of us.
• Yeah, you know he once survived six months alone in zombie country? Supposedly wound up having to hunt them for food, and now they keep him in that suit 'cause it keeps him from turning into one of 'em.
• One of the grunts who went out with him on a deep-cover jaunt talks in his sleep, and... well, when I was bunked up with that guy all he did was say "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" over and over again. Poor sod.
• Folks say he's a general's son - should be set up for life - but he volunteers for the most dangerous of missions simply for the thrill of it.
• I was sent by one of the briefing rooms when he was on base here, and heard him having a huge argument with someone... but when I walked past, he was the only man in there!
• Y'know, some fellas in the barracks say that Black Op is actually a girl using all those techno-gizmos in her suit to hide it. Can't imagine why...
• I heard he actually comes from the future! He got sent back here to make sure we can rebuild civilization, but can't tell nobody 'cause it'll erase him from existence.

Many who follow Untold, whether through the site or the many events that have occurred in the past months, know that the creators and developers of this game pride themselves on listening to their fans. Well, that is no more apparent than in the just-released deck “Foundational Powers." Last month, Stephen (aka ManyHattedMan) suggested a card called “Bio-Mechanical Conversion Chassis” that would allow other races to use Klik-only Powers. On Tuesday, only one month after the idea was presented, that card was released in the “Foundational Powers” deck.

Now many of you are wondering what else is in the deck, since it cannot possibly contain just one card. Well, the rest of the deck was suggested by Corey (aka Benraven28). He had an idea to collect the foundations for many Powers and abilities in one deck, to be sold separately for those of us that want to create multiple characters. These Powers include “Steam Engine” and “Arc Coils” for the Klik, “Investiture of Maoru” and “Investiture of Oaze” for the L’na, as well as “Basic Commando Training” and “Honed Weapon Master” for the Apoc. These are just a sampling of what this deck offers, however, so make sure to go check it out.

Now, as many of you know, many of these cards come in the Iconic Character decks. What happens, however, if you want to create your OWN character - or, in my case, multiple characters? If that's what you're looking for, you will want this deck! Many die-hard gamers (such as myself) enjoy creating multiple characters; they can then trade them out as desired, use them to build a force for an Untold Battle scenario, or use them as NPCs when GMing a campaign. Myself, I want to have multiple Klik characters available for play depending on which group of friends I’m campaigning with. You can start with the Iconic decks to get some of the basic cards... but now, with the other decks available, you don’t have to!

If you have a favorite race, start with the core race deck. This deck offers a variety of artwork for your chosen race. The UP cost is the same as the iconic race cards, as are the stats on the front, but this allows you to create as many Kliks, L’na, or Apoc as you can handle! If you like all three races, go for one of each deck. Next, you’ll want to get the Basic Aspects deck. This deck provides you the yellow Mind, Body, and Soul Aspect cards that you need to boost your Power cards - and the cards in it start at Level 1 and go all the way up to Level 12. This deck is excellent for helping your character advance, grow, and master Untold levels of power! I would further recommend the “Foundational Powers” deck no matter *what* race is your favorite. It will give you the ability to allow multiple characters to have “Investiture of Oaze”, “Steam Engine”, "Shoulder-Mounted Launcher”, or “Honed Weapon Master” - as well as many other abilities.

Once you have chosen your race, you can now start building your characters. From here, you can decide what kind of Powers you want your characters to have. With the great cross-over ability of Untold, you can create any kind of character you want. If you have a Klik that you want to have lots of heavy combat skills, as well as some heavy machinery to swing around, go for both “Heavy Metal” and “Apoc Amplifications”. Have a High-Bred that was in the wrong place at the wrong time? Give him some cool "Clockwork Components" on top of his “NAU Defender Powers”. Is your Churl extremely spiritual? Give him “Gifts of Maoru” or “Gifts of Oaze” with a couple of “Melee Weapons”. With “Foundational Powers”, the number and variety of characters that you can create are limitless! Give your Klik Tripod some NAU weapons, give your L’na some Klik abilities, or make your Churl magical. Whether you are a GM or a player, in RPG or in Battle, you can make your character truly your own... and then watch as your friends' mouths drop open when you introduce your new creation!