Matthias, The Family, and the Omega Man Virus from 'The Omega Man' (1972)

We waited for you, Neville, so you could see this: The end. The end of all you done. You see, none of it was real. It was illusion. Your art, your science, it was all a nightmare. And now it's done. Finished. My brethren, our task is nearly complete. He was the last of those who brought the punishment to us. We have cleansed and purged his world. Now we must build.

The second attempt to film Richard Matheson's I am Legend remains unique in post-apocalyptic films - For one part, it's very much a view of the 1970s if an apocalypse happened. Primarily however it's the portrayal of the main villain Johnathan Matthias played by Anthony Zerbe, who makes you not only creeped out but also fully aware the apocalypse isn't going to be pretty, sane, or unintelligent. Matthias isn't just a zealot mutant victim - He's satan in the remnants of the world, leading the family towards 'salvation' with the destruction of Dr. Robert Neville....the last figure of the old world.

Matthias

Johnathan Matthias

F: Gd (10)
A: Typ (06)
S: Typ (06)
E: Ex (20)
R: Gd (10)
I: Ex (20)
P: Rm (30)

Health: 42
Karma: 60
Popularity: 20 (Prior to the war)/40 (To the family, afflicted, and survivors)
Resources: Ex (20) (Prior to the war)/* (See below)


Talents:
Profession: Journalist*
Leadership*
Area Knowledge: Los Angeles
Knowledge: Law of the Family
Knowledge: Pre-War History
Knowledge: Pre-War Current Events
Knowledge: Subterfuge

Powers:
Mutant: Matthias is an albino mutant, afflicted with the deadly bio-warfare germ which wiped out 99% of mankind. While not granting him any serious abilities, the mutants born from the virus have several key natural abilities (See The Family for more details)
Unnatural Leader:Matthias is beyond charismatic to the family, he is nearly considered a god. Matthias is the sole voice of the family, and even those who show dissent quickly and quietly cease when Matthias decides. Members of The Family will die at Matthias's command without question, and Matthias is able to convert any member of the afflicted to a member of the family with a simple Psyche FEAT. Although not a power, the ability to convert the afflicted is uncanny and based on Matthias's resolve.
Drive:: Matthias's drive to 'end the old world' grants him great resolve and ability to function even when not normally able. It's up to the Judge if this is an ability or simply due to the psychotic madness of the disease, and could be a variation of Iron Will at Gd (10) (sans the health aspect).

Resources: Existing in the post-war remnants of Los Angeles, Matthias has nearly limitless resources, albeit he will not use them in certain circumstances (See Limitations). Matthias can draw upon reserves of natural resources, simply technologies, and manpower for different purposes.

Contacts:
Pre-War, Johnathan Matthias was a well-known anchorman and journalist with numerous contacts in both the media and political arenas.

Post-War, Matthias's only contacts are members of the family.


Limitations:
Afflicted: Matthias suffers the same affliction from the war that all members of the family suffer from. (See The Family for more details)
Obsessed: Born from the same drive that keeps him going, Matthias is completely obsessed with destroying the remnants of the old world, and specifically Robert Neville. Matthias is not reckless, but combined with his psychosis makes him suffer a -4cs to any social situation in dealing with negotiations with survivors or specifically Robert Neville.
Arch-Enemy: Robert Neville: Matthias is the arch-enemy of the last uninfected man in the Los Angeles area, Colonel Robert Neville. As such, most of Matthias's plans are related to capturing and trying Neville, ultimately to convict and murder him. Matthias will stop at nothing to get Neville.



The Family

Typical Family Member:

F: Typ (06)
A: Typ (06)
S: Typ (06)
E: Gd (10)
R: Typ (06)
I: Typ (06)
P: Typ (06)

Health: 28
Karma: 18
Popularity: - 20 (Los Angeles post-war)
Resources: See below

Talents:
Family members have typical talents they had before becoming infected. In addition, Family members gain:
Knowledge: The Family

Powers:
The afflicted have no real powers, but their condition allows them several key advantages. All members of The Family share these abilities:

• Increased Night-Vision: Each member of The Family is noctural by nature, and has increased ability to see in the dark. For the purposes of mechanics, it's considered to be Pr (04) night vision.
• Increased Endurance: The virus which is killing them also grants typical Family members higher Endurance, allowing them to do things they may not be able to do as well as resist the more damaging effects.
• Pseudo-telepathic bond: Although not expressly stated, as Lisa changed in the movie, she began to either hallucinate or hear Matthias's call mentally. For the purposes of this write-up, I'm consider it to be a Pr (04) level empathic effect. Each member of the Family seems connected and knows where the others are, as seen with Lisa's brother finding his way through L.A. to the Family's HQ, etc.

Contacts:
Post-War, members of The Family only have members of The Family as contacts.

Limitations:
Afflicted: Each member of The Family is a survivor of the plague that wiped out mankind and as such, are still slowly being killed because of it. The Family members suffer the following limitations due to the affliction:

• Unusual Looks: All family members are drained of color, forcing a complete albinoism. In addition, sores appear very quickly, making members of The Family very obvious. Due to the extreme physical change, Family members suffer a -2cs to reaction bonuses from survivors.
• Vulnerability to Light: Family members are photo-phobic, suffering a -1cs reaction bonus from unshielded exposure, and a +1cs to damage above Ex (20) intensity. In addition, any light source above Gd (10) requires Family members to make Endurance FEATs or be blinded for up to 1d10 rounds after exposure ceases. At Ex (20) intensity or greater, unshielded Family members are automatically blinded.
• Sterile: Although not stated in the theatrical version, the uncut version of the movie shows that no Family member has been able to successfully have children.
• Dying: Despite surviving the virus, Family members are still dying from it. Family members close to death will separate from the others, and die usually alone. Once final affliction sets in, a Family member must make Endurance FEATS every six hours. Failure results in death within a day.
• Psychotic: Members of The Family are considered to be psychotic and absolutely devoted to Matthias upon pain of death.

The Virus

Although unnamed, the Virus which destroyed mankind was a product of germ warfare between China and Russia. So far, only Robert Neville was immune due to his use of an experimental serum. The Virus is considered 99% lethal to man, requiring an initial Endurance FEAT of red intensity to survive. An additional Endurance FEAT is required afterwards to determine the period of time before initial affliction sets in.

Initial Affliction makes the patient light-sensitive. Pre-adolescents seem somewhat resistant, but once a victim has entered adulthood, Secondary Affliction can occur at any time. Adults must make an Endurance FEAT every day, failure begins the Secondary Affliction.

Secondary Affliction begins with high fever and the gradual draining of all color from the victim, leaving them in an albino state and extremely vulnerable to light (See The Family's Powers and Limitations). The process can take anywhere from one turn to several days, depending on the Endurance FEAT's result. Once Secondary Affliction sets in, the victim seems drawn to other Afflicted and are easily recruited into The Family.

Final Affliction can occur anywhere from a day to several years. Once Final Affliction has set in, the victim has only a limited time before death occurs.

Finally, a serum derived of Dr. Robert Neville's blood seems to provide a cure and can actually reverse the virus's pathology and symptoms. As seen with Richie, a previous victim who was mostly turned, the serum can not only cure the damage but make the victim immune. The serum seems to work no matter what level of affliction a victim suffers from.



Notes:
I always liked this movie. For years I labored under the delusion that Charleton Heston wore a Roman helmet in the final battle. I re-watched it recently and was only slightly disappointed.