Moreau

**Moreaus** are animal-human hybrids. Generally hybrids are mammals. GM's may allow avian, reptilian, or amphibian hybrids.

Moreaus are generally grown in labs and are typically sterilie, but there are rumors of botched sterilizations. Most people view moreaus with fear and violence.

There are three ‘degrees’ of moreau: Covert, Moderate, and Overt.

**Covert Moreaus** appear human until they demonstrate superior physical abilities or senses. All covert moreaus are Medium size.

**Moderate Moreaus** are the most common, are all bipedal and can pass as human if they wear hoods or hats and keep to the shadows. Moderate moreaus suffer a -10 penalty on Disguise checks to pass as human. Many appear to be suffering from birth defects or random mutations rather than members of a separate species. They generally have abundant body hair but lack true pelts. All are Medium size and possess Low-Light Vision.

**Overt Moreaus** are clearly non-human and many are mistaken for people in costumes. Their size and body shapes vary widely, and they grow pelts rather than normal human hair. Most overt moreaus find human clothing uncomfortable and prefer to work without or with just enough for modesty. Their pronounced muzzles accent their speaking voices, but they have no trouble speaking most languages. Overt moreaus have opposable thumbs and can use most equipment without modification. They posses many of the features of their animal ancestors including whiskers, enlarged ears and teeth. Overt moreaus can pass for human if they wear bulky clothing under very dark conditions, and as such suffer a -20 penalty on Disguise checks to pass as human. Most travel as easily on all fours as they do on two legs.

## Bat Moreau

Bat moreaus are a blend of human and brown bat. They tend to be small, quiet people with high pitched squeaky voices. Because of their unique ability to hear ultra high-frequency sounds they can echolocate and are quite comfortable in complete darkness. They are used as scouts and Special Forces operatives in unconventional warfare units.

Overt bat moreaus have large, triangular ears set high on their heads. Many have pronounced webbing between elongated fingers and a few have vestigial flaps of skin reaching from ankles to wrists.

* **Covert:** +2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom.
* **Moderate:** +2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution, -2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom.
* **Overt:** +2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution, -4 Intelligence, +4 Wisdom.
* **Medium:** As Medium-size creatures, bat moreaus have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
* Bat moreau land speed is 30 feet.
* **Blindsight:** Bat moreaus have the Blindsight ability out to a 120-foot range.
* **Light Sensitivity:** Bat moreaus are blinded by sunlight, flashlights, florescent light, halogen lamps, light spells and other sources of bright illumination. They can counter this weakness by wearing dark tinted glasses or tinted visors or they can close their eyes and rely upon their Blindsight ability. Many wear sunglasses even in the dark.

## Bear Moreau

Bear moreaus are a blend of human and various bear species. They tend to be slow but extraordinarily powerful.

Overt bear moreaus have small triangular ears set high on their skulls and sharp non-retractable claws that can serve as close range weapons. However, they suffer from eye stigma making their eye sight very poor in comparison to other moreaus and humans.

* **Covert:** +2 strength, -2 dexterity.
* **Moderate:** +2 strength, -2 dexterity, +2 constitution, -2 intelligence.
* **Overt:** +4 strength, -4 dexterity, +2 constitution, -2 intelligence.
* **Variable Size:** Covert and moderate bear moreaus are Medium-size and have a 5 ft reach and 5 x 5-foot fighting space, with no special bonuses or penalties due to their size. Overt bear moreaus are Large-size and have a 10 ft reach and 10 x 10-foot fighting space.
* Bear moreau land speed is 25 feet.
* **Claws:** All bear moreaus have claws that deal 1d6 + STR slashing damage and function as natural weapons.
* **Poor Vision:** All bear moreaus suffer from poor eyesight. They take a -2 penalty on spot checks and take a -4 penalty on range attacks for each range increment, instead of the normal -2.

## Canine Moreau

Canine moreaus are a blend of human and dog. They tend to be lithe and well-muscled with narrow, elongated skulls. They are often used as trackers in military and paramilitary roles.

Overt canine moreaus generally have the physical traits of their canine component and as such a wide variety of looks.

* **Covert:** +2 constitution, –2 intelligence.
* **Moderate:** +2 constitution, -2 intelligence, +2 wisdom, -2 charisma.
* **Overt:** +4 constitution, -4 intelligence, +2 wisdom, -2 charisma.
* **Medium:** As Medium-sized creatures, canine moreaus have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
* Canine moreau base land speed is 40 feet.
* **Low-Light Vision:** A canine moreau can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
* **Scent:** All canine moreaus gain Scent and the ability to track via Scent.

## Dolphin Moreau

Dolphin moreaus are a blend of human and dolphin, typically bottlenose. Their physical power combined with a high intelligence frightens many humans and most other moreaus. Dolphin moreaus were most often found in naval task forces and unconventional warfare units, particularly those dealing with maritime missions. Unlike other moreaus, covert dolphin moreaus have little to no body hair.

Overt dolphin moreaus have distinctive skin patterns, with a dark blue or black back, a white front and golden stripes down their arms, ribs and legs. They have pronounced webbing between their fingers. Overt dolphins have tiny external ears and unlike other moreaus, overt dolphins tend to be hairless.

* **Covert:** +2 intelligence, -2 wisdom.
* **Moderate:** +2 strength, -2 dexterity, +2 intelligence, -2 wisdom.
* **Overt:** +2 strength, -2 dexterity, +4 intelligence, -4 wisdom.
* **Medium:** As Medium-sized creatures, Dolphin moreaus have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
* Dolphin moreau base land speed is 30 feet.
* Dolphin moreau base swim speed is 30 feet.
* **Hold Breath:** All dolphin moreaus can hold their breath for a number of minutes equal to their constitution score.
* **Low-Light Vision:** All dolphin moreau can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
* **Blindsight:** Overt dolphin moreaus have blindsight with a range of 60 feet in land or water.

## Rabbit Moreau

Rabbit Moreau are a blend of human and rabbit. They tend to be agile, quick and many humans and fey find them to be very attractive. It is because of this attraction that many Pre-Hammer Intelligence agencies used them as infiltrators and information gathering spies after discovering the attraction. They tend to have a demure bearing knowing that they are attractive and use that as a weapon in of itself against other who under estimate them.

Overt Rabbits tend to have grey to light brown fur along with long ears and fluffy tails. Even Overt Rabbit Moreau are seen as attractive. This sadly targets them for slave auctions as sex toys.

* **Covert:** -2 intelligence, +2 charisma
* **Moderate:** +2 dexterity, -2 constitution, -2 intelligence, +2 charisma
* **Overt:** +2 dexterity, -2 constitution, -4 intelligence, +4 charisma
* **Medium:** As Medium creatures, Rabbit Moreau have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
* Rabbit Moreau base land speed is 30 feet.
* **Low-Light Vision:** All Rabbit Moreau can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
* **Hop:** All Rabbit Moreau count as if they had a +10ft running start when making jump checks even when standing still.
* All Rabbit Moreau get a +2 to Diplomacy and Gather Information checks and add Diplomacy and Gather Information to their list of Class Skills.

## Rat Moreau

Rat moreaus are a blend of human and brown rat. Governments made extensive use of rat moreaus, keeping breeding stock under heavy guard to make use of their rapid breeding cycle. This makes rat moreaus a source of cheap and fast produced troops.

Overt rat moreaus have sleek fur except on their hands, feet and tails. Their fur may have any color or pattern found in rats but they are commonly brown with white on the chest and stomach. They have black eyes and small triangular ears high on their heads.

* **Covert:** -2 strength, +2 dexterity
* **Moderate:** -2 strength, +2 dexterity, +2 intelligence, -2 charisma
* **Overt:** -4 strength, +4 dexterity, +2 intelligence, -2 charisma
* **Medium:** As Medium-sized creatures, rat moreaus have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
* Rat moreau base land speed is 30 feet.
* **Low-Light Vision:** All rat moreaus can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.

## Orca Moreau

Orca moreaus are a blend of human and killer whale. They tend to be large, bulky people with aggressive personalities and contempt for other species. Because of their almost uncontrollable physical power, aggression, and disdain for their creators,most nations consider this line a failure and instead work with the dolphin strain. However, a number exist and were pressed into various brutal services by their governments.

Overt orca moreaus have distinctive skin patterns, with a dark blue or black back, a white front, and white patterns around their shoulders and on their faces. They have pronounced
webbing between their fingers. Overt orcas have tiny external ears. Unlike other overt moreaus, overt orcas tend to be hairless.

* **Covert:** +2 strength, -2 dexterity
* **Moderate:** +2 strength, -2 dexterity, +2 intelligence, -2 charisma
* **Overt:** +4 strength, -4 dexterity, +2 intelligence, -2 charisma
* **Variable Size:** Covert and moderate orca moreaus are Medium-size. Coverts and moderates have a 5-foot-by-5-foot fighting space and a 5-foot reach.
Overt orca moreaus are Large. An overt orca moreau has a 10-foot-by-10-foot fighting space and a 10-foot reach.
* Orca Moreau base land speed is 30 feet.
* **Hold Breath:** An orca moreau can remain submerged for a number of minutes equal to its Constitution score before needing to surface for air.
* **Low-Light Vision:** Covert and moderate orca moreaus can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
* **Blindsight:** Overt orca moreaus have blindsight with a range of 60 feet on land or water.
* **Character Details:** Use the bear moreau entries for height and weight on Table 8-24: Moreau Height and Weight in the d20 Modern roleplaying game to determine height and weight for orca moreaus. Use the dolphin entry on Table 8-25:Moreau Age to determine orca moreau ages.

*(Originally presented in Polyhedron #155)*