Modron, Nonaton

Strength 9x

Agility 6d

Intellect 9d

Willpower 11c

Hand Size: Edge:

3 (17) 1

Origin:

As are all other modrons, the eighty-one nonatons are extradimensional clockwork beings, hailing from the highly orderly plane of Mechanus. Their fantastic alien physiology is a bizarre blend of flesh and gears, and this, combined with their inherently magical nature, is the source of the nonatons' many and various ascendant powers.

Powers:

Modron Physique: the children of Mechanus, the infinite masses of modrons are a potent blend of organism and mechanism. Modrons seamlessly combine the two diametric designs into a seamless whole, a feat which is made possible by their highly orderly, magically charged bodies. Nonatons are no exception to this rule, and have access to these powerful abilities as a result:

* Agelessness (s): all modrons, regardless of rank or station, are ageless in nature. Instead of having the longevity power, which implies an eventual lifespan, modrons simply do not age whatsoever. In fact, if not slain by accident or design, a modron may effectively live on forever, adopting new and more versatile forms as it ascends the ladder of law.

* Body Armor (s): both organic and inorganic in nature, all modrons have some manner of resistance to physical attacks. Essentially, base modrons should be treated as having intensity 4 (+1) protection from attacks of a conventional sort. Not that they really need it, for only the most foolish of foes attempt to face a nonaton in melee combat.

* Clairsentience (w): the modron high-ups have unbelievably acute sensory apparatus, allowing them to sense anything within the plane they currently occupy. Distance isn't a factor, but simply knowing where to look / listen / taste / touch / smell is. This power functions for nonatons at intensity 10, allowing them an unheard of awareness of their surroundings.

* Dimensional Transit (i): an offshoot of the hierarch modron's ability to teleport, this supernatural power allows a nonaton to transport itself to another plane of existence altogether. However, this power only works at intensity 10, and has the risk of materializing the nonaton in solid matter unless it intimately knows the area it is traveling to. Thus, this power is normally used sparingly.

* Force Field (i): hierarch modrons have the ability to form a specialized force field in their immediate vicinity, in either a hemispherical or spherical form. Either way, this force field acts as an intensity 10 barrier against any incoming damage - even magical attacks! However, a determined opponent can teleport through it with ease, but then, that's what a nonaton's other powers are for.

* Invulnerability to Emotion Control, Illusion, Mind Control, Paralysis / Sleep, and Vampirism (s): all modrons, especially the eighty-one nonatons, are completely immune to these attack forms. As beings of ultimate order, they are able to shrug off such effects with ease - though they can readily perceive when such assaults are used (albeit unsuccessfully) against them.

* Mesmerism (w): though limited in scope, hierarch modrons can use this to great effect when confronted with non-modrons. Working at intensity 10, this power allows a nonaton to attempt an easy difficulty Mesmerism action (opposed by the target's Willpower score). If successful, this action lets a nonaton force its opponent to execute (or at least attempt) a one word command.

* Resistance to Acid, Cold, and Fire attacks (s): the modron physique is highly resistant, albeit not totally immune to, the effects of extreme cold, heat, and corrosives - this despite their partially metallic nature. They possess intensity 4 (+1) damage reduction against such attack forms, allowing them to maneuver in most hostile environs with relative ease - which comes in handy during the Modron March.

* Resistance to Magic (s): modron hierarchs are resistant to magical powers, whether damaging or otherwise, though each brand of hierarch has a different level of immunity to such power. The nonaton, for instance, has intensity 6 (+1) resistance to sorcery. While this in no way makes them immune to the stuff, it gives nonatons a respectable edge against most of the empowered entities they encounter in battle.

* Telepathy (w): while all hierarch modrons have telepathy as a general matter of course, it must be noted that a nonaton can use it on non-modrons, as well as the regular targets of this ability. Being able to telepathically communicate with all sentient beings, in addition to 'mere' modrons, helps nonatons in their law enforcement duties considerably - despite this power's intensity of 4.

* Teleportation (i): all hierarch modrons have the innate ability to teleport at will, transporting themselves to just about any place they know of within their current plane of existence. This essentially translates into intensity 20 teleportation, and modrons using this power have no chance whatsoever of materializing in a solid object - this supernatural ability is that precise!

Additional Limbs / Tentacles (a): a nonaton has nine powerful, whip-thin tentacles, which it can readily bring to bear on its foes in battle. Thanks to an inherent skill with multiple attacks, nonatons can make up to four melee attacks in one turn, the last three of which will occur as contingent actions - albeit at a highly reduced action score.

Adhesion (i): a nonaton can use this intensity 12 power to bind an opponent in a mass of sticky web-like materials. This magically enhanced webbing will ensnare a target if the nonaton can hit them with an easy difficulty Adhesion (agility) action, and once bound, said target cannot break free until he or she can in turn pass an easy difficulty Strength (adhesion) action.

Charm Sense (w): nonatons have the power to look at any being, sentient or not, and to see whether or not the person in question is under the sway of a charm of any sort, this being defined as any mind control, forced summoning, geas, or quest effect. This power works at intensity 12, and helps to determine blame in more than a few legal situations.

Growth (a): depending on which artistic interpretation of the nonaton's anatomy you prefer, these beings may or may not possess this power. For those of you who choose the nine foot tall variation on a nonaton, they will possess this ability at intensity 1, mostly to denote their raw size compared to others. Thus, nonatons of this interpretation will possess a size factor of one (1).

Imaginary Doubles (i): oddly, nonatons wield this power at intensity 8, allowing them to generate up to eight false images of themselves at any given time. These illusory nonatons are quite convincing, and anybody targeting the nonaton will have equal odds of striking a false nonaton instead of the real one. Each false nonaton, once hit, disappears.

Lie Detection (w): when conversing with others, a nonaton has the power to determine whether or not it is being lied to. The falsehoods of others are laid bare before a nonaton unless they shield their thoughts, which requires a successful, easy difficulty Willpower (lie detection) action against this intensity 12. Of course, this doesn't help to determine truth, at least not directly.

Philosophical Awareness (w): when looking at any sentient being, a nonaton has the ability to determine, if said being fails an easy difficulty Willpower (philosophical awareness) action against this intensity 12 power, whether he or she leans towards an orderly, chaotic, good, evil, or balanced mindset. The nonatons' role as Mechanus' security force is greatly aided by this power.

Stunning Blast (a): this power allows a nonaton to neutralize (or at least seriously attempt to do so) a target within its vicinity. This handy power works at intensity 12, and opponents struck by it suffer like imaginary, non-lethal damage, which fades after an aura duration. Of course, if a body is brought to zero health by this attack, he or she will still fall unconscious.

Time Control (i): nonatons wield this intensity 2, yet incredibly dangerous power in a very limited fashion, one that basically allows them to wrap a target in a temporal bubble that seriously hinders their movement relative to others. Those within range of a nonaton when it activates this power may only act every other exchange for an aura duration.

Schooling: Novice - Clerical Magic / Order

Nonatons are competent users of magic, evincing a priestly devotion to order itself. In addition to their considerable innate magical powers, nonatons may wield anywhere between one and four magic spells of this type, all functioning at intensity 12. Most of these should be determined before a given nonaton enters play, though one spell 'slot' may be kept in reserve for surprise's sake.

Hindrances / Augmentations:

(none)

Equipment

(none)

Skills:

Law (i): more than anything else, the modrons are ultimate masters of law, knowing their own clockwork plane in and out. They extend this basic knowledge of What Should Be to all aspects of existence, and should make any Intellect action based on the knowledge of orderly systems at one difficulty level lower than normal, using either Intellect or Willpower if regarding Mechanus, and with an autotrump concerning Regulus.

Law Enforcement (w): as the second level of modron law enforcement, the nonatons are required to supervise the pentadrones (via their decaton minions) in their efforts to cleanse Mechanus of all things chaotic. As such, they have the authority to detain or neutralize these beings as is necessary, though they prefer to capture them for trial - it shows the triumph of order, after all...

Leadership (w): knowing how to spread resources around and delegate tasks like no other beings alive, all hierarchs have this skill as a general matter of course. If they can pass an average difficulty Willpower action, these modrons can add a +1 to the action scores of anybody they lead. If the modron loses its ability to lead, however, this bonus turns into a -1 penalty.

Repair / Tinkering (a): furthermore, in their capacity as the caretakers of Mechanus (as far as they are concerned, at least), modrons have a preternatural knowledge of mechanical systems. In addition to allowing them to keep the gears of their home plane running smoothly, this skill doubles as an effective first aid skill for modrons, letting them utilize basic medicinal skills on their brethren.

Calling:

Soldier: more so than any other beings in the multiverse, modrons live to further the influence of law and order. They follow the orders of their superiors instinctively, for to do otherwise is incomprehensible. While this calling sounds more militant than modrons really are, it should be noted that they are virtual exemplars of the soldier mindset.

Characteristics:

Being charged with the task of maintaining the security of Regulus (and Mechanus itself, to a lesser extent), nonatons often come across as somewhat paranoid in their behavior, questioning any and all non-modrons they encounter. If they decide such visitors are a threat, they will happily expel or eradicate the source of danger to their home.

Appearance:

Nonaton appearance is a quandary, in that they have two possible forms, depending on artists' interpretations. The original portrays nonatons as large, nine foot tall cylindrical beings. Standing on three elephantine legs, the nonatons possess nine whip-like tentacles situated around the center of their steel plated bodies, and have the standard modron face.

A fleshy, vaguely humanoid face with one over-sized eye.

A second interpretation has the nonatons appearing like some sort of centipede, composed of nine metallic, spherical parts attached together by cog-like apparatus. The front sphere appears just like a monodrone (without the wings), and the creature has mechanical legs on its first, fifth, and ninth segments. A nonaton's tentacles issue forth from its mouth.

You know, the one described above.

Ecological Niche:

Nonatons primarily serve as intermediaries between the octons, each of which controls one of Regulus' cogs, and the decatons who lord over the base modrons working on each cog. Sixty four of the nonatons serve in this role, eight more monitor the loyalties of the decaton-led armies of Mechanus, and the rest remain on the lookout for those who would disrupt order.

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