Reduction Virus - Setting Primer

Primer for the Reduction Virus Setting, along with Interdimensional and Dollman Primers.

SETTING PRIMER – REDUCTION VIRUS

In the year 2146, humanity experienced its first unexplained cases of the Anomalous Viral Reducer (commonly known as AVR or the R-Virus), a viral agent of then-unknown origin that quickly reduced the size of its victims, leaving them a fraction of their previous size over the course of mere hours.

Over the next three years the R-Virus spread through the population, spawning many variants which resulted in differing heights and physiologies among its victims. Most females proved to be immune, becoming asymptomatic R-Virus carriers known as the Unaffected but all surviving males, and a few females, joined the growing population of the Reduced. Some ‘fortunate’ enough to catch variants that left them at less diminished sizes or with physiologies granting a degree of resistance to being crushed at the expense of a more malleable body. Others struggling to survive where inattention could lead to death. Many victims simply disappeared in those early years, never to be seen again.

As the outbreak spread, societies were strained to the point of collapse in many instances, a rising death toll among the Reduced requiring radical changes to ensure their protection. The 2151 arrival of the diminutive Vixmites, interdimensional invaders with their eyes fixed on Earth, and the true source of the R-Virus, pushed humanity to its breaking point. After more than a decade of war, and with over half of the population dead, the Vixmites were forced back through their portals in 2163 and humanity, bleeding but unbowed, reformed under the leadership of the United Terran Coalition.

By the year 2189, the younger generations have never known a world where everyone lived at the same scale. Unaffected, Tinies, and Micros are now intermingled, within reason. Dollmen and Mants can work and live together. Even the towering Titans and the diminutive Nanos are accommodated. Their world is not perfect, and many risks remain, but they are surviving, even thriving, all the same.

Note: The R-Virus setting is one in which the Reduced are legally treated as human beings, and hold the rights associated with such. This does not mean that equality is assured in all instances, nor does it prevent misfortune through accident or misadventure, or from the actions of those holding truly malicious intent. It does, however, mean that Reduced are generally not at risk of being enslaved, tortured or disposed of an on a societal scale, as this is not something the UTC itself would tolerate.


TYPES OF TERRANS

Unaffected (Females)

Average Height Range: 140 to 192 Centimetres

Population (circa 2189): 1,936,877,765

Tiny Dollmen (Males)

Average Height Range: 6.33 to 8.75 Centimetres

Population (circa 2189): 1,018,310,665

Tiny Dollmen (Females)

Average Height Range: 5.83 to 8 Centimetres

Population (circa 2189): 156,904,571

Micro Mants (Males)

Average Height Range: 2.64 to 3.65 Millimetres

Population (circa 2189): 132,322,855

Micro Dollmen (Males)

Average Height Range: 2.64 to 3.65 Millimetres

Population (circa 2189): 30,330,700

Tiny Mants (Males)

Average Height Range: 6.33 to 8.75 Centimetres

Population (circa 2189): 15,694,641

Nanos (Males)

Average Height Range: 0.11 to 0.15 Millimetres

Population (circa 2189): 1,917,723

Micro Dollmen (Females)

Average Height Range: 2.43 to 3.33 Millimetres

Population (circa 2189): 277,819

Titans (Females)

Average Height Range: 33.6 to 46.1 Meters

Population (circa 2189): 156,075

TOTAL POPULATION: 3,292,792,814


INTERDIMENSIONAL PRIMER

[In addition to the goings on of Earth (or Terra-Prime) the R-Virus setting also includes an additional component of interdimensional travel, allowing for additional worlds and peoples to be explored.]

Reverse-engineered technology has allowed humanity, now calling themselves the Terrans, to travel to and explore new dimensions. Most of them are empty of life, utilised for their resources and land, but others are home to different versions of humanity, abducted long ago by an unknown force, and each displaying unique social and physical differences, often including their own size discrepancies.

Some of these interdimensional humans have been friends and allies of the UTC, with members of these races potentially found even on Terra-Prime. Others are hostile or otherwise dangerous to Terran society, their worlds quarantined and subject to either travel restrictions or full travel bans.

There are other mysteries and threats in the multiverse as well, whether it be the elusive Vixmites, or the strange entity known as The Outsider, which claims responsibility for the human diaspora.


DOLLMAN PHYSIOLOGY PRIMER

In the R-Virus setting Dollmen exhibit many of the typical characteristics associated with tiny humans in other settings where the shrunken individuals behave in a gum-like manner upon being exposed to sufficient force (as opposed to simply being killed). Nevertheless, there are some complexities in the R-Virus setting when it comes to the physiology of individuals, which this primer may assist with.

As part of the general measures taken to protect Reduced in UTC society, any Reduced over the age of sixteen may apply to be tested against a number of physiological traits (as set out below) and will be assessed against those traits with a score between 1 and 9, with 5 being the average score. In some instances this testing may also be mandatory for certain jobs or to access certain locations.

TESTED PHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS

Strength (Str): Nearly all Dollmen are proportionally stronger than Unaffected or Mants, with their strength assisting them to escape from dangerous situations and to navigate structures and objects constructed for Unaffected. In the strength scale, 1 represents proportionally equivalent strength to an Unaffected, with each subsequent integer representing a multiplier equivalent to that integer. A stronger Dollman is also faster and can generally be expected to have better agility and reactions. While useful for a Dollman, a high strength score does not necessarily assist in not being squashed.

Durability (Dur): Dollmen do not automatically squish when exposed to any force but rather squish once their durability threshold is exceeded, representing the point at which they would otherwise suffer significant physical trauma. As with the strength scale, 1 on the durability scale represents proportionally equivalent durability to an Unaffected, with further integers presenting a durability multiplier equivalent to that integer (multiplication of the amount of force needed to squish them). Where a Dollman’s strength score matches or exceeds their durability score, the Dollman will be capable of triggering their own compressibility/malleability through applying their own force.

Compressibility (Com): Once a Dollman’s durability threshold is exceeded their body will compact in response to the force, allowing the Dollman to survive by converting their physical structure into a gum-like substance that can be compacted without causing any permanent harm to the Dollman. If force is applied disproportionally then the Dollman’s body can spread out to dissipate the force, but if force is applied equally from all directions the Dollman’s body will be forced to compress into a smaller volume, increasing its density. Not all Dollman are able to be compressed to the same extent however, with the compressibility scale indicating how much a Dollman can be compressed until they reach their maximum compression, after which the application of further force may cause trauma.

Malleability (Mal): All Dollmen’s bodies are able to be stretched and twisted in ways that would not be possible for any Unaffected or Mant, but the extent they can be so manipulated depends on the malleability score of the individual Dollman. Those with low malleability can still be squished flat and have their identifiable features distorted or blurred but usually cannot be twisted into more complex shapes such as clothing. By contrast, those with high malleability can be stretched and manipulated to an extent that exceeds what should be possible, allowing them to be converted into varied forms. Low malleability does not mean the Dollman will necessarily be harmed by attempted manipulation, but rather that their body will often snap back to a less manipulated form once pressure is removed.

Absorbency (Abs): Dollmen bodies are capable, when under duress, of absorbing large quantities of liquid and/or gas directly through their skin and extracting any available nutrients while purifying the absorbed material for later expulsion. This is what allows a Dollman to survive for extended periods in a squashed state despite being unable to eat, drink, or sometimes even breath during that period. As with physiological traits the exact level of absorbency of individual Dollmen varies, with those of low absorbency able to absorb bare minimum nutrients, and generally doing little to purify absorbed material. Meanwhile, those with high absorbency may be able to absorb and purify vast quantities of liquid and gas (and at the highest level even solids) and may exhibit these traits at a lower level even when not in a squashed state. Absorbency can also assist Dollmen to avoid drowning underwater.

Adhesiveness (Adh): When placed under significant pressure for an extended period of time, it is possible for Dollmen to begin to adhere to the nearest surface. This can be advantageous in allowing Dollmen to find purchase and relative safety during dangerous situations but can also lead to them being trapped in unfortunate locations. Although all Dollmen are at least mildly adhesive when being placed under sufficient pressure and heat (which can act as an adhesive multiplier), individuals vary in their general level of adhesiveness. Those with low adhesiveness will often only become adhered with significant concerted effort, and even then may quickly peel off, whereas Dollmen with high adhesiveness can become quickly adhered and may sometimes even become permanently bonded.

Recovery Rate (Rec): Although sometimes overlooked in regard to a Dollman’s physiological traits, a Dollman’s recovery rate can in many instances be their most valuable trait. All squashed or otherwise physically manipulated Dollmen will automatically attempt to reform if given sufficient space and time to do so, but the rate at which they are able to reform varies from individual, with some able to reform from almost all damage within a few minutes at most (and within seconds for minor damage). Others, however, may take days or even weeks to reform if squished for a sufficiently long period or under a sufficient amount of force. A Dollman’s recovery rate score represents a general assessment of their average recovery speed only, and faster reformation may occur if sufficient effort is exerted.

UNTESTED DOLLMEN TRAITS

Note that the above does not represent all traits that may influence the fortunes of an individual Dollman, but rather only those that can be readily tested for through equipment currently available to the UTC, and in circumstances where the testing results can be considered reasonably reliable.

In addition to the above, three other key traits certainly affect the fortunes of individual Dollmen:

Intelligence (Int): Though not always enough to avoid unfortunate circumstances, smarter Dollmen are potentially able to better control the flow of any discussions they may have with Unaffected and in so doing can often avoid any misunderstandings or unintended offence. A smarter Dollman will also usually be better able to avoid stumbling into dangerous zones.

Personality (Per): While personalities run a wide spectrum, it is of course the case that a risk adverse and polite Dollman is less likely to run into trouble than a reckless or rude individual.

Luck (Luc): Probably the most important and simultaneously most elusive trait. Dollmen are perpetually at the whims of fate, and while some individuals seem to make it through any situation unscathed, others are mere cosmic playthings, met with near-constant misfortune.