Camo-Sheath and Camoeba

Camo-Sheath

Class:	Symbiont
Hab:	On host's surface
Fre:	Rare; Free-living (below): very rare
Num:	As per hosts
Lair:	100%; sessile on host
Size:	Covers host's surface
Move:	Attached: none
Def:	Tough hide, no vital organs; damage goes to host
Att:	Attached: none, Free-living camoeba: envelop, drain
Int:	Negligible
Spec:	Provides host with camouflage ability
Posns:	None

Camo-Sheath and Camoeba

Camo-sheaths are a class of symbiotic organisms. In common, they sheath their host with a new hide giving exceptional camouflage abilities. In addition to exceptionally subtle color and pattern adaptations, the camouflaging includes moderate texture modifications; it even provides a limited degree of heat signature and sonar reflection obscuring. It is generally assumed that all camo-sheaths are the result of artificial bio-manipulation; assumptions may be wrong.

In its initial state as an independent organism, the camo-sheath is called a camoeba. When it envelops a potential host, the basic camoeoba slides under any coverings, such as clothing, to totally cover the host. In a somewhat viral-like process, the cells of the cameoba integrate themselves with the host's basal skin cells. The result is that the host's skin gains camouflage abilities. Non-living tissues, such as hair and horns, nails and claws, and teeth are not affected. Similarly, despite being on the host's exposed surface, non skin cells, such as eye tissue, are not affected.

Replacing Camoeba

In contrast to the basic camoeba, the replacing camoeba, instead of simply augmenting the host's natural skin, replaces the host's skin, imposing its own textures and qualities. Various sorts of replacement camoeba are referred to by the sort of skin they resemble; their qualities vary appropriately. Cat-skin is thin, supple, and tough. Human (or simian) skin has great tactile sensitivity but is very thin and relatively easily broken. Elephant hide is extremely tough, and so thick that it would impede dexterity if it were not thinner in areas of high flexibility. There are also scale skins, well adapted to desert condition.

Known experiments to hybridize camo-sheaths with Amphi-Skin and Slug-Skin (which SEE) have met with only limited success.

Some lineages of camo-sheathing become mutually dedicated to a particular lineage of host. Such dedicated co-symbionts function as a single organism; that the host's camouflage ability is due to a symbiont ally may not even be realized by anyone save specialized biologists. In these cases, the camo-sheath is transferred to the host's young at birth or shortly thereafter.

Non-dedicated camo-sheaths spend the greater part of their lives attached to a host. Many are able to adapt to a range of similar hosts, being limited only by basic physiology (such as mammals) and size, or, more precisely, surface area. A camo-sheath developed for bonding with Humanoids could bond with any similar sized creature, sentient or brute. If the host is too small, the camo-sheath will never fully mature and so will not reproduce.

Reproduction is done by the camoeba phase of the camo-sheath. If the host dies, the camo-sheath will drain all available vitality (SEE Vampiric regeneration, below) and separate as a newly independent camoeba. If the host was large, the camoeba may split in to two to six smaller camoebae. A smaller host will yield only a single comoeba. Similarly, a severed limb will, as it dies, be drained by its camo-sheathing, which will then detach as a small camoeba.

Specialized facilities may be able to detach a section of camo-sheath from a host with minimal or no damage. This section will form a camoeba suitable for attachment to a new host.

Damage and Detriments From Attachment

The advantages of camo-sheathing are not gained without price. Unfortunately for the new host, just what that price is cannot be known until the camoeba has become attached and transformed in to an integral camo-sheath. Often advantages and disadvantages are linked; whether the camo-sheath is a benefit or a detriment depends on the circumstances, and may be subject to interpretation.

As a general rule, the faster the attachment and transformation procedure, the greater the shock to the physiological systems; the greater the shock, the more numerous and more severe the detrimental features. A crude and rapid replacement, as by a feral camoeba attack, inevitably results in some permanent damage and several detrimental features, which the host may or may not come to consider a fair trade for the benefits of the camo-sheath. If the camoeba-to-camo-sheath transition takes place in a controlled environment where it can be slowed and guided, such as in medical laboratory specially designed for this sensitive procedure, the transformation may have only minimal risk, resulting in minimal permanent damage and only a few detrimental features which rapidly fade.

Usually, there will be several severe detrimental aspects inflicted upon the host by a newly attached camo-sheath. Over time, as the camo-sheath and host accustom themselves to one another, the detrimental aspects will mostly be reduced to the level of negligible irritations, or fade entirely. (In game terms, the camo-sheath starts off with many problems that can be "bought off" with experience points.)

A 10-50% temporary loss of hit points, regained at one point per day or per week (depending on how controlled the transformation procedure is) is inevitable under the best of circumstances. Typically, there are another 1-10 temporary problems, which fade in time on their own. Usually there is at least one other problem, a permanent problem feature of the camo-sheath that can never be overcome.

Sensitive or Allergic Camo-Sheaths

Some sages believe that all camo-sheaths have some sensitivity or allergy. More desirable camo-sheaths are allergic only to very rare substances; a camo-sheath with a sensitivity triggered by a very common circumstance may be more trouble than it is worth, depending on the severity of the reaction.

Often, there are several triggers. Multiple uncommon triggers can be as annoying as a single very common trigger. Happily, multiple uncommon or rare triggers may individually be overcome in time as repeated exposure desensitized the camo-sheath (i.e., they can be bought off with experience). Unfortunately, severe shocks may trigger a new uncommon or rare sensitivity.

Obscure triggers include:
Intense ultraviolet light, rarely found outside of plant nurseries
Rare pollens, found in very limited locations during a limited season
Atomized metals
Mercury vapor
Specific sound; bird whistle or crystal shattering

Uncommon triggers include:
High-pitched sounds, uncommon beyond opera houses, sound-system feedback squeals, and bat sonar squeaks
Pollen of a particular sort, not excessively common (such as roses or lotuses)
Fungus spores
Electrical shocks of any sort
Chemical burns (acid or base, such as digestive attacks or chemical weapons)
Fur or feathers of a specific sort; raptor feathers or bear fur
Being damaged for over 90% of hit points
Computer monitor light may be common or rare, depending on the setting

Excessively common triggers include:
Wood or plastic (depending on the setting)
Dander of any sort (fur or feathers)
Pollen in general; any sort will trigger a severe response
Being damaged for over 50% of total "hit-points"

Camo-sheaths with a sensitivity or allergy are quite advantageous most of the time but become a problem when triggered. When subject to its triggering circumstance, a sensitive or allergic camo-sheath undergoes a sort of panic reaction or allergic reaction. The stressed camo-sheath may undergo an episode of any sort of defective behavior, including any of those described below. Just as it has specific triggers, a particular camo-sheath will have a specific reaction. What that reaction might be cannot be known until it is triggered.

Vampiric regeneration

These camo-sheaths are able to regenerate up to 10% of the host's (initial or full) "hit points" each round. This is done by drawing energy form the host. In the best sorts of camo-sheath, the skin is able to regenerate two or even three points for every point it drains, and drains only as much as it requires. Defective varieties drain and gain at a 1:1 ratio. There are records of camo-sheaths which normally have a superior 1:3 drain-to-gain ratio but which, when triggered by an allergic reaction, the drain-to-gain ratio inverse to a deadly, aggressive 3:1. When the victim dies, the draining continues; the panicked camo-sheath can drain up to 50% more energy than the host initially had, leaving a corpse withered to distortion. The camo-sheath is able to supplement its own hit points with those drained to up to five times its normal maximum; excess points are lost after the panic subsides at one point per round. When the host is drained, the camo-sheath detaches and degenerates in to camoeba form; SEE Cloak-And-Drain Camoeba, below.

Spastic Miss-Camouflaging

The camo-sheath ripples with change upon change, randomly trying every texture and pattern it has known. Unfortunately, this unstable display tends to attract the worst sort of attention.

Increased Metabolism

Maintaining a dermal organ capable of such wide camouflage changes increases the amount of food the host must eat. In 80% of camo-sheaths, the increase is a negligible 10%. In 10% of camo-sheaths, the amount of food the host must eat each day doubles. In 10% the requirement triples. Periods of increased camouflage activity result in increased hunger; it is recommended that snacks be kept close at all times. Extended periods of stressful camouflage fluctuation without snacks may result in a blackout, similar to a diabetic undergoing an extreme drop in blood sugar.

Dermal Insensitivity

In some cases, the nerves never regenerate through the new skin. This results in a deadening of tactile sensitivity. A host with deadened nerve endings cannot sense touch, and so must rely upon sight or other senses. The dermal insensitive individual will not know if he is touched lightly from behind (although a strong blow will move the whole body and so be sensed by the organs of balance), and may accidentally crush items being grasped if startled. Heat and cold become mysteries.

Dermal Hypersensitivity

The nerves integrate the new skin but the ends are continually frayed by the process of camouflaging. The host will be overly sensitive, feeling gentle contact as rough and rough contact as pain. Actual injury causes great pain; severe chaffing could cause a blackout, and will certainly distract; distracted individuals perform all tasks at reduced ability. Naturally, the more the camouflage ability is used, the more raw the nerves become. Soothing skin lotions and relaxing baths as well as simple rest are recommended to calm the nerves. The dermal hypersensitive individual may become addicted to exceptionally soft - and expensive - clothing and lotions.

Sloughing

In some cases, the camouflaging is stressful to the poorly adapted camo-sheath. Overstressed camo-sheathing sloughs off in ragged strips of dead hide. Happily, replacement skin regenerates just as quickly, filing in from below. The shed shreds may leave a trail, and may attract scavenging beasts; they certainly pose a challenge to housekeeping. Sloughing is often accompanied by an increased metabolism or by a subtle vitality drain (such as a minor hit point reduction), either permanent or triggered when the camouflage ability is used.

Health or Constitution Loss

This is typically a 10 to 50% temporary loss. If the loss is the result of an allergic reaction, the points are regained at one per day. If the result of initial camo-sheath bonding, points lost during a smooth transformation may be regained at one per week while those lost during a rough transformation are regained at one point per month.

Chaos Cancer

Extremely excessive camouflage shifting has occasionally been known to result in chaos cancer. More commonly found in shape-shifters, this is a condition where the cells no longer know what form they should take. The result is dissolution.

Cloak-And-Drain Camoeba

Class:	Amorphous Colloid
Hab:	Any
Fre:	Very rare
Num:	By previous host(s); 3-18
Lair:	80%
Size:	Highly plastic; one to five square yards, 5-10 lbs.
Move:	Ripples like manta ray
Def:	Tough hide, absorbs most blows, no vital organs
Att:	Envelop, minor squeezing, major vitality drain
Int:	Minimal; driven by instinct
Spec:	Superior camouflage ability
Posns:	None

This is a defective - and aggressive - variety of feral camoeba that does not seek to bond with a new host. The cloak-and-drain swarms over its victim, wrapping it completely. The cloak-and-drain uses its camouflage ability to disappear in plain sight; enveloping the victim means that sound is smothered. The cloak-and-drain uses modification of the increased metabolism defect and hyper-draining vampiric regeneration to extract vitality from its victim; any damage done to the camoeba is regenerated by extracting 20% of the victim's "hit points" per round.

Cloak-and-drains are found wherever suitable prey may be found, often in the vicinity of former camo-sheath hosts, laboratories, or medical facilities. They make great use of their superior camouflage ability and so almost always launch surprise strikes.

Smother Skins

Some cloak-and-drain colonies are feral mutants escaped from skin cloning facilities such as supply high-tech hospitals. Others result from primitive torture chambers where victims are skinned alive; the great trauma, such as might give rise to a ghost, in this case grants the skin an independent life. In these cases, the camouflage ability is a secondary adaptation or mutation, or may not be present at all. SEE Animal Skin Rugs.

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Apr 4, 2006