Snow Serpents Strength Agility Intellect Willpower 7d * 4b * 3d 6c Hand Size: 3 (17) Edge: 1 * Snow Serpents will generally have either Boxing or Martial Arts as a skill, but not both - unless they are exceptional fellows. If a Snow Serpent goes with Boxing, he or she will have a c code for their Strength, and an a code for their Agility, which is usually what they manage. However, some Snow Serpents are much more into unarmed combat training, and will instead receive education in Martial Arts. These Snow Serpents will have a d code for their Strength, and an a+ code for their Agility, arguably making them much more dangerous combatants. Origin: Snow Serpents are Cobra Eels who have trained extensively in cold weather operations, above and beyond their usual, undersea demolition work. They lack super-human powers of any stripe, but sometimes they're so effective in the cold that it's hard to tell. Powers: (none) Hindrances / Augmentations: (none) Equipment: AK-47 (a): their standard armament, Snow Serpents can disharge their AK to inflict their Agility +4 in damage when firing a single shot, their Agility +5 in damage when firing a short burst of ammunition, or their Agility +6 in damage when engaging in continuous fire. Cold Weather Gear (s): Snow Serpents are equipped to function indefinitely in sub-zero weather. Their uniform provides them intensity 16 (or +4) protection against the cold, they have snow shoes to more easily navigate snow, and have parachutes so they may be easily deployed anywhere. EK-99 Missile (i): allowing them to hit far above their weight in the middle of combat on the tundra, these single-shot anti-tank weapons are great against Maulers, Snow Cats, and other GI Joe vehicles. These man-portable weapons inflict intensity 10 fragmentary damage. Knife (s): old habits die hard. As such, Snow Serpents always carry a blade on their person, because sometimes they need to end someone quietly. They may wield these m.s. 13 implements to cut through items of like m.s., or to inflict +2 slashing damage in melee. Sidearm (a): a backup for their AKs, Snow Serpents often carry one or more of these weapons, which inflict their Agility +4 in damage when discharging a single round, or their Agility +5 in damage when engaging in a burst of semi-automatic gunfire. Skills: Boating (a): though their duties rarely see them at sea, Snow Serpents nonetheless start out as Eels, and the two share a common skill set. As such, they can perform various shipbound duties, and benefit from a reduced difficulty on actions called for when doing so. Boxing (s): some Snow Serpents are trained in the sweet science. Those who have been are able to divide their pre-card play action score between two distinct, unarmed attacks. The first of these occurs normally, while the second occurs as a contingent action. Engineering (i): fully trained saboteurs, Snow Serpents can make use of their ability to disassemble all manner of vehicles and structures with explosives, whether above or below the waves. They may resolve actions called for when doing so at a reduced difficulty. Guns (a): like all Cobras, Snow Serpents are trained how to effectively discharge firearms. Whether wielding standard, semi-automatic, or fully automatic rifles or pistols, Snow Serpents do so at one difficulty level lower than is usually required. Martial Arts (a): some Snow Serpents are trained in the martial arts proper, instead of just how to strike quickly. They may reduce the difficulty of actions intended to strike others in unarmed melee, catch weapons thrown at them, or dodge incoming assaults. Military (w): all Cobra operatives possess this skill, even if the organization they belong to isn't a real military. It nonetheless has a structure, however Byzantine, and Snow Serpents are taught how to effectively fight in groups, if they somehow haven't been previously. Skill / Knives (s): a handy skill in any environment, Snow Serpents maintain their knife fighting skills even if they never find themselves in the water again. They may assault their enemies at a reduced difficulty any time they have a blade in hand. Survival (w): though Eels receive some education in cold weather operations, this education is greatly expanded upon entering the Snow Serpent training program. These elite Cobra operatives may function indefinitely in sub-zero conditions, no matter how prepared they are. Underwater Combat (a): though their position only tangentially involves combat beneath the waves, Snow Serpents have nonetheless been trained in deep sea combat while serving as Eels. They may attempt offensive and defensive maneuvers underwater without penalty. Contacts: Snow Serpents are much less expendable members of Cobra, having received expensive and extensive training from that organization. At the same time, they are often active in the harshest reaches on earth, making emergency extraction or assistance rare in the coming. Should it be feasible, though, Cobra is more likely than not to lend aid to Snow Serpents in the field, because replacing them is generally more expensive than a quick rescue operation or fire support mission. As always, it depends on the cost/benefit ratio. Calling: Various Callings: the majority of Snow Serpents join Cobra for their own, evil purposes. The money is nice, so Greed is a powerful motivator, as is World Domination, for those Snow Serpents who wish to force others to bow to their whims. But anything goes, really. After all, Snow Serpents are elite Cobra operatives, and may very well go with Peace of Mind if attempting to exceed their personal best, Vengeance if they're working towards some enemy's end, or even Gloryhound if particularly proud of themselves. Costume: The original, iconic Snow Serpent uniform includes an insulated white, fur-lined coat, insulated white trousers, white fur-covered gloves, insulated blue boots, an insulated white cap, blue web gear, a white backpack to hold their cold weather gear, and a black face plate. Notes: Snow Serpents are Eels who have survived a six month course in Arctic and Antarctic survival and combat techniques. This allows them to engage Cobra's enemies in any climate, above or below the waves, whether facing individual personnel or heavily armored vehicles. Unlike other Eel career paths, earning your place in the Snow Serpents isn't all that selective; either you survive the course or you don't. Elite Cobra operatives, Snow Serpents are generally all-in, and you're not likely to find them seeking employment elsewhere. Who else would pay them what their skills make them worth? * 1991 VARIATIONS * Equipment: Rocket Board (i): Snow Serpents adopted the use of a rocket-powered snow board this year, which allows them to move at ludicrous speeds on the snow and ice. Providing intensity 2 propulsion, these devices let them rocket over the tundra at up to sixty miles per hour! Costume: Snow Serpents' second costume consists of a white heated jacket beneath an orange fur vest, white heated trousers, brown boots and gloves topped with orange fur, a brown belt with a red buckle, brown holsters and sheathes, a white cap, a purple mask, and white and red goggles. * 1993 VARIATIONS * Costume: The third Snow Serpent costume is comprised of a blue heated jacket beneath a white fur vest, blue heated trousers, black boots and gloves topped with white fur, a black belt, black holsters and sheathes, a purple cap, a red mask, and silver and white goggles. * 1998 VARIATIONS * Equipment: Rocket Board (i):Rocket Board: Snow Serpents resumed the use of a rocket-powered snow board this year, which allows them to move at ludicrous speeds on the snow and ice. Providing intensity 2 propulsion, these devices let them rocket over the tundra at up to sixty miles per hour! Costume: Snow Serpents' fourth costume includes a white heated jacket beneath a gray fur vest, white heated trousers, blue boots and gloves topped with gray fur, a gray belt with a blue buckle, gray holsters and sheathes, a white cap, a white mask, and gray and blue goggles. * 2002 VARIATIONS * Costume: The fifth Snow Serpent uniform includes a gray heated jacket, gray heated trousers, brown, fur-covered boots and gloves, brown knee pads, a brown fur cloak, a blue leather belt, blue web gear, black holsters, blue sheathes, a gray cap, a steel face plate, and silver and gold goggles. * 2003 VARIATIONS * Equipment: Polar Blast (i): while they typically don't use vehicles more complicated than their rocket boards, Snow Serpents nonetheless adopted the use of this half-track ride in '03. Fast and heavily armed, this mobile death platform is described in its own vehicular entry. Costume: Snow Serpents' sixth costume is comprised of a white heated jacket, white heated trousers, gray, fur-covered boots and gloves, white knee pads, a white fur cloak, a gray leather belt, gray web gear, holsters, and sheathes, a gray cap, a black face plate, and black and gray goggles. * 2005 VARIATIONS * Costume: The seventh Snow Serpent uniform is like their first, including an insulated white, fur-lined coat, insulated white trousers, black boots and gloves covered in white fur, black knee pads, a white belt, blue web gear, holsters, and sheathes, a white cap, and a black face plate. * 2008 VARIATIONS * Equipment: Shotgun (a): some Snow Serpents replace their AKs with shotguns, which fire birdshot to inflict their Agility +4 in damage in a sixty degree arc, buckshot to inflict their Agility +5 in damage to adjacent targets, or slugs to inflict their Agility +6 in damage to a single foe. Costume: Snow Serpents' eighth uniform is again their first, consisting of an insulated white, fur-lined coat, insulated white trousers, white fur-covered gloves, insulated blue boots, an insulated white cap, blue web gear, a white backpack, white and blue goggles, and a black face plate. Dog Strength Agility Intellect Willpower 3x 2x 1x 2d Hand Size: 2 (10) Edge: 0 2002 Snow Serpents have dogs. Why? Who knows?! Either way, these animals can Track (w) per the skill, inflict +2 slashing damage with their Fangs (s), move at intensity 1 speed for short bursts, and possess intensity 8 (+2) Resistance (s) to cold damage. Note: there were two versions of the Snow Serpent released in 2008 (Versions 8 and 9).