Mutants (Faction)

## Mutants

The **mutants** were living beings whose genetic code had been changed, either by radiation, exposure to artificial mutagenic agents, or programmed genetic modifications. There were different types of physical mutations, like the growth of extra limbs or hair, but most mutants in City Shaft developed animal-like features. Most mutants lived in the Mutant GTO, situated in the mutant quarter of the endocity.

## History

In City Shaft most mutants where born and grew in the Mutant GTO, which they were prohibited from leaving before the age of 21. In fact, human citizens who had obtained the appropriate permit ("urb-hunters") were authorized to eliminate the underage mutants present outside of the mutant quarter.

Due to their mutations the mutants were generally segregated from other citizens, and faced violence and discrimination.

## Mutant GTO

The Mutant GTO was a hermetically closed area located in level 30.2, dangerously near to the Great Acid Lake. The gate required an electronic card, which was changed every month, although you could also buy a tourist pass in the black market. Only 20 tourist visitor were allowed each year, and they were usually aristos with perverted interests. All light inside was forbidden, since the Prezident's urb-ethnologists considered that a lack of light would prevent young mutants from yielding to
their animal instincts.

At one point the mutants were blamed with endangering the life of the Prezident and the Mutant GTO was raided by hunchbacks who massacred and jailed most of the mutant population there. During the massacre, Tigerhead was hanged, Bandtiih was raped to death, and Snailead was left for dead.

## The Church of the Neuro-emotional Cult

The Church of the Neuro-emotional cult is the most extended religious belief among the mutant population. According to the myth, the Minotaur-Prophet was the founder of the cult. He was the first mutant at a time when mutations were still extremely rare, and he was one day
brought to the Golden Planet to be displayed. It was on this occasion that he
discovered Amorose, a small white flower that grew in immaculate gold, from which amorine could be extracted. After ingesting some seeds he escaped and became a preacher of the white flower.

The Minotaur-Prophet’s
message quickly found a large response in the heart of the mutant population. Temples were constructed around the mutant quarter, where energetic and wild ceremonies took place, while priests, called “reverends” or “sacerdotes”
were trained and sent out to preach.

The amorine, a drug that allowed its user to be reacquainted with the concept of love, could be grown in a lab, by using the bodies of volunteers in a prolonged and exquisite state of near death. The seed was sowed into the heart of the cult's volunteers, and the seed would grow by feeding on their bodies for a whole year. These type of "labs" were regularly torched by the cybo-cops.

## Mutants from the Center of the Planet

A different breed of mutants also live in the Center of the Planet. They were bigger and had orangutan-like features and red hair. Some of them were servant of Tanatah, the Queen of Amok. At one point some of them with were tasked with retrieving the Incal, who had been stolen by a group of Berg, who had assumed a mutant form by using a homo-camouflage.

## Significant mutant characters

### **Tigerhead**

One of the most important mutant leaders in the Mutant GTO. During the massacre he was hanged by the hunchbacks.

### **Bandtiih**

A mutant girl who was a volunteer of the Neuro-emotional church, and one of John's girlfriends. She was raped to death in the Mutant GTO during the hunchback's massacre.

### **Snailhead**

An amorine drug dealer and reverend of the Neuro-emotional Church who was involved with John DiFool's mother.

### **Kill Wolfhead**

A mutant mercenary and one of Tanatah's Amok warriors, who eventually joined John's posse.