Editing LeviathanTempest:ChapterFive (section)

==== The Hybrid Template ====

Hybrids are considered to be a minor Template. Philosophically and mechanically they're human with a little extra. Yes some of them are physically more fish than man but man was never defined by the color, or shape, of his skin. The Hybrid template consists of: Strain, Mutations, Depth and Ichor. 

In addition to actual Hybrids this Template can be used to represent Leviathans who are in the process of Emerging but have not yet gained the full Leviathan Template, when doing so feel free to bend any rule written below. 

===== Strain =====

Each Strain of Leviathans births a line of Hybrids that it claims as it's own. These lines are called Lemashu and tend to be more stable than regular Hybrids, both in that their Mutations follow more predictable lines and in that they are spared the worst effects being a Hybrid has upon the body and the mind. 

The first Mutation acquired by a Lamashu is set by their Strain.
* Abuu, born of the Dagonites: Brother to the Fishes (OOOO)
* Gibborim, born of the Tanninim: Natural Weapons (OOOO)
* Gugal, born of the Bahamutans: Increased Endurance (OOOO)
* Hemitheos, born of the Thalassans: Increased Strength (OOOO)
* Heqen, born of the Nu: Diving into the Tempest (OOOO)
* Mahhu, born of the Lahamu: Prophecy (OOOO)
* Pelopsids, born of the Oceanids: Increased Resolve (OOOO)
* Hybrids, born of no Strain, or many: Four free dots in any Mutations.

===== Mutations =====

Within the genetic code of every Hybrid lies Mutations, strands of DNA from an earlier age of the world that guide the body in ways unimaginable to natural evolution.  A Hybrid may be born displaying all their mutations or they may activate over the course of it's life. If there is a correlation between how a Hybrid appears at birth and it's eventual state the Tribe hasn't identified it. Unlike Leviathans who can guide their genetics through dedication and self discovery Hybrids get what they're born with. Though this means the character has no control over their Mutations the player retains full control. 

Lemashu begin play with a single Mutation chosen by their Strain, Hybrids have four dots to spend as they wish. Additional Mutations can be brought with Merit dots, as always the fifth dot of a Mutation costs double. During play Mutations can be brought for experience points and cost new Dots x 2. There is a further restriction for Lemashu: They have a favored Vestige as per their Leviathans' Strain. Lemashu must place a number of dots into their favored Vestige or universal Mutations equal to Depth -1, their Strain's starting Mutation does not count towards this requirement. The Favored Vestige doesn’t provide experience discounts on mutations.  

Not all mutations are cool powers. Hybrids must take two flaws to represent harmful side effects of their mutations. Neither of these flaws provide experience though they may take a third flaw which will provide experience as normal. Lemashu are not immune to harmful mutations but it's considerably rarer, they do not require any flaws but may take one as usual.

====== Sidebar: Genetic Mayhem, an Optional Rule ======

The most powerful Hybrids are the ones with the most mutations. But surely the most mutated Hybrids would have a host of disorders as well as their abilities. There are two ways to represent this, both should not be used for player characters unless the gaming group is confident they can manage them. 

The first and simplest is to give an extra flaw to Hybrids and Lemashu every time their Depth decreases. At the Storyteller's discretion this may be tempered with a new Mutation (O – OOOO), each dot allows the player to remove one genetic Flaw. This Mutation either is Universal Affinity or goes under Vitality, Storytellers choice. 

The second is to allow players to take as many additional flaws as they want. The first additional flaw grants experience as usual. Extra Flaws – which must plausibly be the result of genetics – provide “genetic experience” which can only be spent on Mutations. The advantage of this system is that not all Hybrids or Strains of Lemashu are noted to be equally healthy, a fact which for simplicity's sake is not represented in the mechanics. As for what happens when a player has run out of room for Mutations but still has Genetic Experience: sadly that experience is useless, no one ever said genetic disorders were nice.

===== Depth =====

All Mutations affect a Hybrids appearance. To represent this Hybrids have Depth, Hybrids use the same scale as Leviathans but suffer slightly smaller social penalties: Treat everyone as Atolls. Unlike with Leviathans a Hybrid's Depth does not govern the extent of their powers or provide a free increase in size. Some Mutations are given a minimum Depth, this is not because a Hybrid with at a shallower Depth isn't "powerful" enough, but because that Mutation cannot pass as any more human than the Mutation's listed Depth.  

A Hybrid's Depth is defined by the number of dots they have in Mutations and is ranked from one to five: No Hybrid ever has human form or Apotheosis. Depth in turn sets a limit on a Hybrid's Intelligence and the likelihood of it being non-sapient. The stability of a Lemashu's genetics over a Hybrid provides a measure of protection. For the purposes of Intelligence and sapience assume a Lemashu has a Depth one step closer to human. 

<table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
  <tr style="background-color: #DFDFDF;">
    <th>DEPTH</th>
    <th>MUTATION DOTS</th>
    <th>INTELLIGENCE MAXIMUM</th>
    <th>SAPIENCE</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td align="center">1</td>
    <td align="center">1 to 10</td>
    <td align="center">5</td>
    <td align="center">Always</td>
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td align="center">2</td>
    <td align="center">11 to 15</td>
    <td align="center">4</td>
    <td align="center">Always</td>
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td align="center">3</td>
    <td align="center">16 to 20</td>
    <td align="center">3</td>
    <td align="center">Mostly</td>
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td align="center">4</td>
    <td align="center">21 to 25</td>
    <td align="center">2</td>
    <td align="center">Rarely</td>
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td align="center">5</td>
    <td align="center">26 to 30</td>
    <td align="center">1</td>
    <td align="center">Never</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Hybrids can and often do reach lower Depths over the course of their life but a Hybrid never loses their mental faculties, those are defined at birth. A Hybrid with Intelligence 4 simply will not gain an 16th dot of Mutations and similarly a Sapient Hybrid cannot reach Depth 5.

===== Ichor =====

All Hybrids can carry the Divine Ichor within themselves. A Hybrid's Maximum Ichor pool is equal to Stamina + Depth and their per turn expenditure is limited to one. Lacking both the bestial and divine natures found within a Leviathan their methods of regaining Ichor are limited. Only Resonance and Immersion allow a Hybrid to gain additional points of Ichor.