Volcanic Power

Volcanic Power (major) by Primus

This power allows the character to control many elements of lava and even create a small volcano. The power is very similar to an earth elemental type power, but limited only to magma and volcanic forces. The powers of the hero include the creation of volcanic gases, control over rivers of lava, the creation of magma armor, and creation of a full-blown volcano.

1. Gas Cloud: The hero is able to summon a cloud of noxious volcanic gases from the earth. The cloud is a greenish-yellow in color and consists mainly of sulfur and ash. Anyone not protected from the cloud will choke, cough, and vomit for as long as they are in the cloud. Their eyes will also burn and water from the chemicals in the air. After 1d4 melee rounds in the cloud, the victims may pass out from lack of oxygen as the sulfur binds to free oxygen. The cloud also produces an extremely disgusting odor similar to extremely rotten eggs that radiates from the cloud, potentially causing those around the cloud to gag and choke.

Range: Up to 60 feet (18 m) away; the cloud can cover a 5’ by 5’ by 5’ (1.6 cubic m) area at level 1, add 1 foot (0.3 m) in all directions per level of experience.

Duration: 1D4 melees per level of experience

Damage: 2D6 SDC of damage initially and an additional 1D6 per melee in the cloud; after 1D4 melees, the victims must roll vs. non-lethal poison to avoid passing out; all in the cloud are at -6 to strike, parry, and dodge, and lose half their attacks from coughing;

2. Lava bolt: The hero can call forth a burst of lava from the ground and direct it at a target. This is a brief spurt of lava and not a sustained stream like a hose. The lava bolt can be directed at any target in range.

Range: Up to 75 feet (23 m) away

Rate: Equal to hand to hand attacks; +3 to strike

Damage: 3D6 SDC+1D6 per level of experience; the lava will also burn for another 1D6 melees igniting flammable items, melting plastics and glass, and doing an additional 1D6 SDC per melee round for that duration.

3. Magma Armor: The hero can cover himself in lava to create a “suit” of armor, protecting him from harm. The lava seeps up from the ground and completely covers him/her within a single melee action. The armor allows the hero to see out and breathe as needed. The armor provides a number of benefits: add 2D6 fire damage to hand to hand attacks; anyone attacking the character will take 1d6 fire damage unless protected; the armor provides the hero an additional +6 to P.S. (superhuman if not higher), an AR of 16, and 250 SDC. The armor takes no damage from fire and heat, half damage from impacts (punches, kicks, bullets), and- since it is in a fairly malleable state- regenerates 6D6 SDC damage per minute (4 melees). HOWEVER, the armor takes double damage from water-based or cold-based attacks. All other damage is normal. Armor duration is 5 minutes per level of experience.

4. Lava Flow: The hero can summon a veritable river or lava. The “river” is 30 feet (9 m) long, 10 feet (3 m) wide, and 4 feet (1.3 m) deep at first level. At 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th, and 14th levels, 5 feet (1.5 m) of length is gained; at levels 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15, 3 feet (0.9 m) of width is gained. This is not a river so to speak- it doesn’t sink into the ground like a creek. The flow is very thick and slow moving. The lava will ignite anything it touches and moves at a rate of about 150 feet (45 m) per melee (just under 7 mph (11.2 kph)). The hero is able to steer the river in the direction he wishes. The force of the lava flow can crush cars and potentially knock over walls and buildings. Anything overtaken by lava will take 2D4x10 SDC of damage for every 5 seconds it remains in contact. After removal from the flow the victim will continue to take 4D6 SDC damage per melee for another 2D6 minutes from lava still clinging to him/her/it (submerging in water will instantly cool the lava and halt damage). After the duration of this power, the lava seems to just seep back into the ground leaving the earth charred and smoking. However this power can also be used to steer existing lava flows by diverting a portion of the flow to feed the new river. In these cases, the size of the flow and duration of the power are both doubled. However, this must be an exposed flow- not an underground flow- and the flow must be large enough to sustain the diversion of flow for the duration of the power. The duration of the power is 3 minutes plus 2 per level of experience.

5. Create a volcano (cannot be used until level 3): One of the most devastating powers on earth, a volcano is a weapon capable of leveling entire cities and killing thousands. In addition to lava flows, extreme heat, ash, and noxious gases, the creation of a volcano can completely reshape the landscape of a region and throw the ecological system off kilter. This power is very similar to the Supernova power of APS: Fire in that it is a last ditch power and will likely end up killing the character. Once begun, the power cannot be stopped. The hero provides the impetus for the volcano and Nature does the rest. Most heroes will NEVER use this power anywhere close to civilians or towns. The power creates a new mountain- literally- that can tower up to 15,000 feet (4.5 km) high! In addition to the height the base of the new volcano will measure three times its height (up to 45,000 feet (13.5 km) wide). That’s right- the mountain could potentially cover everything in within a radius of up to 4.5 miles (7.2 km), or a total area of almost 57 square miles (162 sq. km)! The understanding of this power can either humble the hero, making them very cautious with all of their volcanic powers, or it can thrill him- which would inevitably lead down the path of death and evil. The creation of the volcano occurs in four stages and is a long and violent process. It can be interrupted during certain stages, but once begun it will destroy virtually everything.

Stage 1- The character must concentrate UNINTERRUPTED for 5 minutes (20 melees). During this time if he is attacked the entire process is disrupted. The character will begin channeling the power of the Earth itself and will grow progressively stronger. His body will begin to glow red-hot after 2 minutes and anything within 5 feet (1.5 m) of him may ignite. Anyone who touches him will take 1D6 damage. At this point even water doesn’t touch him- it evaporates before it gets to his skin. Despite this buildup of power, the character cannot attack or defend himself by ANY means (including other super powers such as Create Force Field) or the power is lost. The character is mentally finding the resources to create his volcano at this point. It is very similar to an out of body experience. The mind travels into the earth to the molten levels below the earth’s crust. His mind then begins to shape the earth, creating the passageways for magma and volcanic gases to blast to the surface. The ground also beings to shake in a small localized earthquake of about 3.0-4.0 on the Richter scale beginning in the third minute and growing at a rate of 1-1.5 Richter points per minute.

Stage 2- The character finally stands up and raises his hands into the air. With this gesture, volcanic gases break through the ground and begin to shoot into the air. The gases quickly spread to the ground causing the same effects as the Gas Cloud power over a 100 foot (30 m) radius that increases by 100 feet (30 m) per melee and up into the sky at a rate of 500 feet (150 m) per melee. The ground directly beneath the character also starts to bulge over the same 100 foot (30 mph) radius. However, rather than expanding outwards, it expands upwards forming a hill that grows at about 25 feet (7.5 m) per melee round. This stage lasts 2D4 melees. At this point, the eruption can still be disrupted by distracting or attacking the character. Anything that breaks his concentration will INSTANTLY stop the eruption; the ground sinks quickly back to normal and the gases dissipate within 1D4 melees. The character’s body is now glowing bright orange and starts to take on a “rocky” appearance; at this point the character has an additional 200 SDC and has acquired an AR of 12.

Stage 3- This is the final stage that can be disrupted. However it is VERY short- only 1 melee in length. The character’s body turns into a lava-like form. Finally both fists are brought crashing down on the ground on the last action of the melee. Once the fists hit the ground, the process is complete and that’s all she wrote- a volcano WILL be born on that spot. The ground cracks open with an ear-splitting roar louder than standing right next to a jet engine, forming an opening (a volcanic vent) that is 3D6x10 feet long (up to 54 m) per level and 1D6x10 feet (up to 18 m) wide per level. Immediately smoke, gas, and ash blasts into the sky up to an altitude of 6D6x1,000 feet (up to 22 km). The blast itself will knock back ANYTHING not attached to the ground 1D6x100 yards per level of experience and the heat does an additional 2D6x100 SDC to everything in a 500 foot (150 m) per level radius. (NOTE: The character’s body is blasted apart completely at this point. See table below for results.) Glass will shatter and buildings may be leveled. Within one melee, ash will completely cover the ground in a 2D4 mile (up to 12.8 km) radius. The ash and gas eruption will last 1D4 hours. The ash will accumulate at a rate of 2D6 inches (5-30 cm) every 5 minutes in the immediate blast radius and 4D4 inches (10-40 cm) per hour in the fallout radius. Note that the gases are extremely hot, doing 1D6x10 SDC every 5 seconds to anything thrown into the tower of ash. Also, the ash fall will stall cars and aircraft by plugging up air vents, contaminate lakes and rivers, and melt snow creating mudslides.

Stage 4- The final stage of the volcano is the deadliest. The ash and gases continue to pour from the vent. After the ash and gas eruption begins to calm down (to about half of previous levels), a strong localized earthquake occurs knocking over anyone standing in the initial blast radius. At this point a fountain of lava and rock spouts from the earth up to 1D4x100 feet (up to 120 m) high and begins to spread around the vent. Some lava does start to cool immediately and build up around the vent. Anything close to the vent will be buried under the lava, and eventually, under the mountain. The lava will flow in all directions up to the maximum width of the volcano. The volcano will grow at a speed of 1,000 feet (300 m) per day in height; the maximum height of the volcano is 1,000 feet (300 m) per level of experience. Remember that the average width of the volcano is three times the height, so a level 3 volcano will be 9,000 feet (2,700 m) wide and 3,000 feet (900 m) tall. Nothing will be able to stop the volcano at this point- nature has taken over. Lava flows, gas, ash, rock, and heat will completely destroy ANYTHING in within the resulting measurement of the base. After the eruption ends, the volcano will behave as a normal one would in that region. For example, a volcano created in Illinois would likely simply go extinct- it’s not a volcanically active area. However, a volcano created in California, Oregon, or Washington may remain active for thousands of years; the area is definitely active geologically. If this is the case, then roll on the following table.

01-15 Extinct; may erupt once every 2D6 millennia

16-55 Active; erupts once every 1D6x100 years

56-75 Active; erupts once every 2D6x10 years

76-95 Active; erupts once every 3D6 years

96-00 Extremely active; erupts every 2D6 months

Volcanic eruptions are very fickle things; one never knows when it will happen or how long the eruption will be. However, the eruption style is always the same. As a result, the volcanoes subsequent eruptions after creation will be virtually identical to the first one in most respects. However, for every 100 years since the last eruption the damage, effects, and blast radius double due to geological pressure building up. Once the mountain reaches its maximum height, it usually does not get much taller. Add 1D4x100 feet (up to 120 m) up to for each subsequent eruption.

The results of the character’s use of the power: The use of this power is fatal most of the time. However, there is a slim chance of surviving the eruption and resulting cataclysm. Roll on the table below.

01-95 Fatal, character was completely destroyed by the use of the earth’s energies.

96-97 Character’s body was blasted apart, but was able to reform after 1D4 days; however, the Volcano power is lost permanently without replacement.

98 Character’s body reforms after 1D4 days but is now stuck in lava form. Replace Volcano power with Alter Physical Structure: Lava at 1st level.

99 Character’s body reforms after 1D4 days; the Volcano power remains intact.

00 Character’s body reforms after 1D4 days; however the trauma of the incident has altered all his superpowers! Roll all powers over again and start from 1st level!

6. Other powers and abilities:

Impervious to fire and heat

Add +5 to save vs. poisons/toxins

Effects of damaging odors is reduced by ½

Can walk on top of lava flows without sinking.

Add 1d4x10 S.D.C.