Produced by the DN-backed Soft Company 'Alternative Lifestyle Concern', Mycoderm cream is a product aimed mainly at DarkNight Interceptors, Serial Killers, Ex-War World Criminals and other subversive parties who need to spend extended periods of time in the Cannibal Sectors or far under Downtown.
ALC Mycoderm cream comes packaged in small metal tubes similar to any medicinal skin cream. There are two types of cream, 'On' and 'Off'. Tubes of 'On' are drab green in colour, except for a cheerful picture of a winking cartoon mushroom giving a thumbs up. Tubes of 'Off' are drab red in colour, except for a cheerful picture of a winking cartoon mushroom giving a thumbs down.
The 'On' varient of ALC Mycoderm cream consists of a nutrient paste impregnated with millions of engineered fungal spores. When applied to the skin and left undisturbed for 6 hours the spores will permeate the upper layers of the epidermis and begin to propogate. The spores interlace with the cellular structure of the skin, forming (within 72-120 hours) a thick waxy crust which completely replaces the outer layers and inextricably bonds with the deeper basal layer. This fungal coating is flexible enough to allow freedom of movement, and acts as a very efficient protective barrier against pollutants and micro-organisms. It is not, however, very attractive. The Mycoderm layer varies in colour from pallid yellow to rotten purple, and gives the user the distinct appearance of a putrescent corpse.
The 'Off' cream is an engineered enzyme gel used to break down and remove the ALC Mycoderm layer when the subject wishes to return to civilisation. One full tube of cream must be applied once every 24 hours for 5 days. The Mycoderm layer will slough off during this time, although users are advised to take showers 12 and 18 hours after a cream application.
SLA tests conducted on captured ALC Mycoderm cream users have shown the fungal barrier allows the user to operate in highly hazardous environments without a sealed suit and suffer only minor short term detrimental effects. Long term side effects of the treatment remain uncertain.
GAME EFFECTS
- Restrictions
ALC Mycoderm cream was developed specifically for humans. It will not be able to grow at all on Shaktars, Biogenetics or Dark Lament material. (It will grow nicely on feral ebb users lacking death suits, though.) It causes great irritation and distress to Wraith Raiders, and makes no real difference to Advanced Carrien anyway. No one is really sure of the chemical interations involved if Frothers were to try the treatment. (I'll leave amusing side effects up to you.)
- Usage
Once a tube of 'On' ALC Mycoderm cream has been applied it takes 3 to 5 days to form the Mycoderm layer. Once fully grown the layer provides PV1 to every location, non-stackable. (Enough to prevent minor cuts and scratches, basically.) The layer gives the user +6 to phys rolls against exposed contaminants and will grow into wounds to prevent infection. While the Mycoderm layer is in place the user has Rank 10 bad looks and Bad figure, as their flesh appears to be slightly swollen and badly rotten. The Mycoderm layer requires no further maintenance, as it feeds on the users sweat and discarded skin, as well as taking nutrients from water and pollution it comes into contact with.
To remove the Mycoderm layer the user needs to coat all effected areas with a coating of 'Off' ACL Mycoderm cream once every 24 hours, for 3 to 5 days. They then make a Phys check to see if they lose one rank of looks permanently, as with drug addiction, with the only modifier to the roll being -1 per time they have used Mycoderm.
- Game Ideas
'Zombies' (actually Interceptors on a mission) have been sighted emerging from the Cannibal Sectors and are scaring the local populace. (Combine this with any of the other Zombie ideas kicking around on the list recently to further muddy the waters.)
A group of Dept Sanitation workers obtained some Mycoderm 'On' cream without knowing much about it. They used it to give them extra protection from the pollution of the sewers, and watched in horror as the fungus took root in their skin. About 20 of them have fled into the deep sewers to try and survive as best they can, too ashamed to return to their families, too frightened of SLA discovering their use of subversive products. The Ops get a BPN to investigate the disappearances, and they can then either kill the 'monsters' that obviously ate the workers, or discover the true fate of the workers and try to obtain some 'Off' cream.
Or (my personal favourite)
Have the Ops take a long BPN in the Cannibal Sectors/Very Lower Downtown. Hole their environment suits very early on. Offer them Mycoderm. (Without telling them about the side effects, obviously) You'll probably have to promise them a source of 'Off' cream to get them to take it. (Unless you're feeling particularly nasty!) Sit back and enjoy!
- The bit he forgot
COSTALC Mycoderm 'On' Cream - 300 uni per tube
ALC Mycoderm 'Off' Cream - 75 uni per tube
Special Offer ALC Mycoderm 'Down To Business' pack consisting of 1 x 'On' Cream, 5 x 'Off' Cream and plastic applicator - 600 uniALC Mycoderm cream is only available from selected Black Market stockists.