G-Virus

Return to Home

Return to Resident Evil Setting Guide

Return to Resident Evil Creature Compendium

Return to Resident Evil Bio-Tech & Bio-Hazards

**G-Virus: Disease**

The G-Virus is an infectious disease that produces a variety of bizarre, mutating effects. Although some of the side effects of the contagion are supernatural, nothing about the disease itself is magical, making it only extraordinary in nature. Only humanoids can be infected; all other creature types are immune. Categorized as a disease, the G-Virus has the following characteristics:

**Infection Type:** via Injury; the virus is spread by a diminutive parasitic being, which attaches to a potential host & burrows into its flesh, exposing the host to the virus (see **G-Larva**, below).

**Infection TN:** 5; this figure is for the Fortitude to resist the initial infection; once a creature has become infected only a *wish* or a *miracle* can prevent the spread of the disease; the infection TN against genetically-compatible beings (usually blood relatives of the carrier) is 20.

**Incubation:** 1d8 minutes

**Damage:** 1d4 Charisma every 1d8 minutes

**G-Virus: Template**

A creature that has acquired the G-Virus template looks somewhat like it did before becoming infected with G-Virus, at least initially. However, there are numerous alterations to their appearance & abilities. They quickly develop cat-like eyes with slit pupils. Their skin becomes mottled, with patches of discoloration. And then there are the mutations…

The G-Virus Template is a template that can be applied to any Humanoid that has succumbed to the ability drain effects of the G-Virus (referred to hereafter as the base creature). A G-Virus creature uses all the base creature’s statistics & abilities except as noted here.

• • **Type:** the creature’s type changes to [**Aberration**] (although it does not automatically gain Darkvision); it retains any subtypes except alignment subtypes and subtypes that indicate kind; it also gains the **[G-Virus Carrier] subtype**; it does not gain the [**Augmented**] subtype.

• • **Size:** there is no change in the creature’s size, at least at first.

• • **Hit Die:** drop any Hit Dice from class levels (to a minimum of 1), double the number of Hit Dice left, & change them to d8’s.

• • **Speed:** same as the base creature, at least at first.

• • **Defense Class:** the creature’s base defense class is unchanged, at least at first; however, it loses all DC bonuses from class levels.

• • **Base Attack:** the creature has a base attack bonus equal to ½ its Hit Dice, at least at first.

• • **Grapple:** Grapple bonus = base attack bonus + Strength modifier + special size modifier (Colossal +16, Gargantuan +12, Huge +8, Large +4, Medium +0, Small -4, Tiny -8, Diminutive -12, Fine -16).

• • **Attacks:** the creature retains all the natural & manufactured weapons of the base creature, but loses all other attacks; it also gains a slam attack; Attack bonus = base attack bonus + Strength modifier + size modifier (Colossal -8, Gargantuan -4, Huge -2, Large -1, Medium +0, Small +1, Tiny +2, Diminutive +4, Fine +8).

• • **Damage:** natural & manufactured weapons deal damage normally; a slam attack deals damage depending on the creature’s size, see **Table: Damage by Size** above for results; use the base creature’s slam damage if it’s better.

• • **Special Attacks:** the base creature retains all of its extraordinary special attacks; it also gains the ability to vomit forth any **G-Larva** that it has spawned, but this vomiting attack does no damage & has a maximum range of 1 meter.

• • **Special Qualities:** it retains any extraordinary special qualities, but loses all supernatural & spell-like abilities; it also gains the special traits of the [**Aberration**] type, the **[G-Virus Carrier] subtype**, & the following special qualities:

• • **Rapid Mutation (Ex):** the creature gains 1d12 random mutations (roll d%, see **Table: Random Mutations** below for results); the creature also gains 1d2 random mutations every hour, as well as 1d4 random mutations every time that it is seriously injured (anytime its HP are reduced to 50% or less)

• • **Fast Healing (Ex):** the creature has Fast Healing 1.

• • **Saves:** same as the base creature, at least at first.

• • **Abilities:** same as the base creature, at least at first.

• • **Skills:** the creature retains all skill ranks, at least at first.

• • **Feats:** the creature retains all feats, at least at first.

• • **Environment:** any land or underground.

• • **Organization:** any.

• • **Challenge Rating:** +1, at least at first; this will almost certainly increase dramatically as the creature accrues mutations.

• • **Treasure:** N/A

• • **Advancement:** same as the base creature

• • **Level Adjustment:** N/A

• • **Spawn Larva (Ex):** the creature has the ability to spawn tiny offspring (see **G-Larva**, below); these diminutive parasitic beings attempt to latch onto & implant themselves within a host body, thereby spreading the disease (see **G-Virus: Disease**, above); a carrier can spawn 1 of these larva every 1d6+4 rounds, but can only hold 1 within themselves at a time; the larva can be expelled (birthed) through any sufficient orifice

• • **Primal Instincts:** when encountering any lifeform (of Tiny size or larger), the creature will either attempt to destroy the being or it will attempt to infect it with a G-Larva; the creature will always attack any being that is immune to the G-Larva

**G-Virus: Development**

The G-Virus was developed by Umbrella Corporation scientist William Birkin, who had also done pioneering work on the T-Virus with the help of James Marcus. According to “Wesker’s Report II,” a primitive form of the virus was discovered in the mutated body of Lisa Trevor, on whom the Umbrella Corporation had been conducting unethical genetic and viral experiments for two decades. When she displayed unexpected immune resistance to the experimental NE-α parasite, Birkin & other researchers looked for a cause and found what would later become the Gene virus, which would become better known by its sobriquet, the G-Virus.

**G-Virus: Characteristics**

The G-Virus works by continually altering the genetic structure of the host, causing massive physical mutations. The mutations induced by the virus tend to be extremely volatile, & are believed to be tied to the creation of strange chemical (formula: H38-C24-O16-N4) with unknown properties in the host body.

The only known successful host was William Birkin, who injected himself with the virus after being mortally wounded by the Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service unit attempting to recover the G-Virus from his labs. While wandering beneath the Police Station, Leon Kennedy & Claire Redfield also encounter a host whose body has rejected the G-Virus (see the **G-Imago**, below), thus making it a truly disturbing monster. Unlike T-Virus hosts, G-Virus hosts continue to mutate for as long as the host lives, even without external stimuli, thus causing transformations akin to a sort of artificial evolution or the like. G-Virus carriers evolve even faster when wounded, due to the incredible regenerative capabilities of infected cells.

William Birkin undergoes five distinct stages of transformation throughout the events of *Resident Evil 2*, and it is most likely that other G-carriers would also undergo similar stages, although the unpredictable nature of G-Virus mutations means that the details would differ.

Because only humans with compatible cellular & DNA makeup can accept the virus fully, William Birkin seeks his daughter, Sherry, in order to reproduce. The rejected G found below the station was not successfully fused with the virus. This caused the virus to force itself to replicate throughout the host’s body and severely distorted the host’s appearance. Similar to Birkin, the rejected form can release G-Larva from its mouth. Also, whereas its counterpart, the T-Virus, is highly communicable, the G-Virus requires embryolic transmission making it problematic in terms of weaponizing it for the intention of mass epidemic.

**G-Virus: Stages**

• • **Stage 1** bears the greatest resemblance to the host, though its upper torso is far more muscular due to a sudden increase of muscle mass. The right arm, where Birkin was sprayed with several submachine gun rounds, is considerably swollen with muscle, (this may be due to the uncontrolled cellular reproduction that trademarks every virus developed from the Progenitor Virus), and a large tumor-like eyeball has developed within the shoulder; this is supposedly where the G-Larva are developed prior to oral implantation into a potential host. As this form does not possess any weapons with which to attack its foes, G instead makes use of its superhuman strength to tear a pipe from a guardrail to swing about and attack with.

Conversely, when Annette recollects William Birkin’s transformation and his slaughter of the Umbrella Special Forces, G is shown slashing the soldiers with talons. When G first appears, though, no such claws are visible whatsoever thus one can assume that the talons were either lost in a process of devolution (contrary to the G-Virus’s properties) or atrophied away following lack of use in any further combat. Another explanation is that Annette exaggerated the event; she was not present in the sewer at the time.

• • **Stage 2** results in the carrier’s visage descending into the anterior of the thoracic cavity whilst the digits of the right hand sprout into massive talons comprised of bone. Two tiny, vestigial limbs also develop lateral to the abdomen underneath the original arms and a new rudimentary skull grows to take the place of the former; it is in this new cranium that an entirely new brain, far more animalistic and vicious, is created as a result of the transformation, replacing Birkin’s true brain.

• • **Stage 3** is perhaps the least grotesque of the various forms that William Birkin assumes following the injection of the G-Virus into his body. The host by now has shed all of its integument, revealing its musculature, whilst hundreds of spike-like projections rise prominently into an apex from the center of its thorax; the visage of William Birkin, on the other hand, slowly begins to merge and fade away into the abdomen. In addition to its right hand, the beast’s left hand also possesses deadly talons now; in fact, the abomination has grown in height thus its primary arms have also elongated beyond normal human proportions. The vestigial arms of the prior stage, meanwhile, have also matured into functional limbs with talons and the rudimentary head now sports a lipless grin, bearing its razor sharp teeth, that resembles the facial features of the Nemesis. Finally, a secondary, smaller eyeball-like tumor has developed in the left rectus femoris of the creature. This form is the only one that has bilateral symmetry, and to some, it resembles a demon in appearance.

Furthermore, when G is encountered after crashing through the ceiling shortly before its complete transformation into its hexapodal fourth form, the appearance of its third form has changed slightly. The spikes located on its chest have begun to open thus hinting to its fourth form.

• • **Stage 4** involves the host mutating from a standing equilibrium as a bipedal to a hexapodal base on the ground involving the utilization of its four primary limbs to maintain movement. The skull and maxilla of the creature have elongated to accommodate its massive mandible, a gaping, circular cavity surrounded by rows of spike-like projections, which has now fused into the thorax of the beast. Despite its appearance, however, this stage of G is extremely agile, able to sprint and leap all about a room with ease, and the aforementioned spikes around the mouth are capable of impaling its prey.

• • **Stage 5** is by far the most grotesque of all the forms that G has mutated into. After extreme physical trauma to G, it has become a shapeless blob of flesh, spikes, and tentacles, slowly dragging itself via attachment of its largest tentacles to a stationary object and subsequent use of its lesser tentacles to slime forth. It appears that by this stage, the G-Virus has evolved continually by merging with the beings it has devoured to sustain itself; this is evident as one can discern various zombies and other lifeforms protruding from the trunk of the creature. This final form was destroyed only after the train which it had invaded was consumed by a massive explosion following the automatic activation of its self-destruct sequence.

Since the Birkin Mutation was destroyed at this point, it is unknown if it would have continued to mutate into further forms- though it must be noted that at this point, there was hardly anything to further mutate into: the Stage 5 G was nothing else but a huge blob of organic mass. It is theorized that further mutations would have only resulted in an increase in size, along with additional tentacles, arms, legs, eyes, mouths & other features “bubbling up to the surface” in a random, haphazard fasion.

**G-Virus: Means of Infection**

Infection by the G-Virus is caused by either direct injection of a distilled sample or ingestion of a G-Larva, but unlike creatures infected with the T-Virus, G-infected creatures cannot pass infection on to other creatures through physical contact or injury. Instead, they create offspring (see **G-Larva**, above) by orally implanting small, parasitic organisms into a live host through the palm of the hand. In unfortunate consequences, a host who lacks compatible DNA will reject the parasite in a matter of minutes. The embryo rapidly grows inside its host before bursting from their chest (an apparent homage to the *Alien* movie series). Upon exiting the host body, the larva quickly mutates into its adult form (see **G-Imago**, below) and goes in search of another host (this is done by removing all special qualities & applying the G-Virus template to the G-Larva, with bonus mutations 03, 05, 06, 07, 10, 14, 15, & 16).

Within *Resident Evil 2*, the G-Adult encountered in the sewers, following the rejection of the embryo from a genetically-incompatible host, was a large, slow creature seemingly devoid of skin that possessed with an elongated neck and seemingly stood hunched over; this was due to the fact that the right side of its body was vastly disproportionate in comparison to its left region as a result of unequal bilateral symmetry. The creature also periodically vomited G-Larva which would cling to the opponent in an attempt to disorient him whilst the G-Adult attacked.

The G-Adult found in *Resident Evil Outbreak* above the subterranean Umbrella laboratories after bursting forth from a host body, likewise, possessed similar features such as an elongated neck, exposed muscle tissue, and the ability to spawn G-Larva; its body also lacked bilateral symmetry as evident by the fact that its left arm is smaller than its right. As opposed to the G-Adult in the sewers, this offspring is quite tall and possesses a large sac on its dorsal cavity covered with bullas in addition to a tail. The rapid growth and reproduction of cells within each of these creatures is likely the cause of their physical disfigurements and disproportionate features, as similar symptoms occur during the growth of cancers and tumours. These diseases form as a result of mutated or irregular cell reproduction and division, albeit on a much smaller scale.

A DNA match can only be achieved by a G-mutant infecting a close blood relative with a G-Larva. The virus can then propagate throughout the host body, turning them into what can only be assumed to be another G-mutant. Sherry Birkin was infected by her father, but the parasite was destroyed with an experimental anti-G-Virus vaccine, codenamed DEVIL, before mutations could occur with help from her mother Annette Birkin & Claire Redfield.

**G-Virus: Differences from the T-Virus**

The G-Virus is quite different to the T-Virus in terms of action and transmission. While both viruses have the characteristic of inciting mutation in infected organisms, the similarities end there. The G-Virus has none of the necrotic properties of the T-Virus, and as such, host organisms do not decompose (the characteristic rotting of the zombies).

The G-Virus is also far less virulent than the T-Virus, for while the T-Virus can be transmitted by body fluids, direct attack from an infected organism, or even water, the G-Virus can only be transmitted by direct injection or active impregnation of a parasite into the prospective host by a G-mutant, & G-mutants (as evident by Birkin and his spawn) instinctively attempt to reproduce as any other animal species. In this manner, G-Virus carriers act much more like living creatures than those infected with the T-Virus; while T-Virus infection can be considered accidental (as the host does not actually mean to infect its victim), G-mutants actively attempt to perpetuate their “species.” This has the frightening implication that, while the T-Virus is infinitely more contagious, a G-Virus epidemic would be uncontrollable and actively hostile to humanity, as G-mutants would seek to reproduce over any other instinct.

The G-Virus also acts exponentially faster than the T-Virus, with William Birkin manifesting considerable physical mutation mere seconds after infection. Apparently, direct injection of the virus is incurable, as it acts too quickly for a vaccine to be effective. Infection by larval impregnation, however, can be controlled much like the T-Virus, with a vaccine being effective if administered during the initial stages of infection, before the larva can gestate.

While the T-Virus’ effects on long term controlled exposure are well documented, the Tyrant, the Hunters & the Lickers for instance, the effects of such exposure to the G-Virus are unknown, as there was no testing in this field done before the Raccoon City incident. However, results of such manipulation of the virus could be seen in future sequels of the series, considering both Hunk and Ada Wong were able to procure samples of the virus for Umbrella and Albert Wesker, respectively. However, if the effect of said exposure was similar to the T-Virus & the T-Veronica virus, such organisms would theoretically be the absolute deadliest creatures ever made by Umbrella. Birkin himself, an accidental G-mutant, was more powerful and deadly than any creature created with the T-Virus on purpose. The effects of the G-Virus on non-human hosts is unknown, but they are probably just as radically powerful & unstable as their human counterparts in comparison to the T-Virus.