The Thing from another world from 'The Thing' and 'Who Goes There?'

I dunno, it's like this: thousands of years ago this spaceship crashes, and this thing, whatever it is, jumps out or crawls out and gets entombed in the ice.

 The Thing from another world

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F: Depends on Host
A: Depends on Host
S: Depends on Host and Mass
E: Depends on Host and Mass
R: Rm (30)
I: Rm (30)
P: Rm (30)

Health: *
Karma: 90
Resources: Depends on Host
Popularity: Depends on Host

Talents:
Theoretically, the Thing can absorb the complete knowledge of its hosts, and maintain that knowledge, adding to it as it assimilates individuals and creatures. The Thing then can split into multiple creatures, each possessing that learned knowledge to that point. The Thing clearly knows the following:

• Medicine*
• Anatomy*
• Piloting
• Astrogation
• Military
• Multi-Lingual
• Psychology
• Repair/Tinkering
• Knowledge: Culture specific

Powers:
Alien Physiology: The Thing is an alien from another world, a species that exists by consuming and absorbing host creatures and gaining their knowledge and physiology. Unlike other aliens that utilize a host to gestate, the Thing actually absorbs the host, mimicking their lives through gained knowledge, hence the adjustable FASE and in some cases, the possibility of the adjustable RIP. When first encountered, the Thing had absorbed fifteen men and several sled dogs, before being found by the Americans. As such, the Thing must be able to make physical contact with its victims, which begins a cellular process, similarly to a viral infection although with no warning signs. The assimilation of a new creature is how the Thing propagates, and a new independent creature is born with the knowledge of the previous assimilated beings.
The thing has the following attributes:

• Total Memory: Unranked Total Memory regarding the knowledge and memories of previous victims.
• ShapeShifting: The Thing and change its shape by shedding or gaining biological mass through absorption as described above. The thing can change itself into a more formidable (and hideous) amalgamation of creatures with Un (100) ability, limited to the functional aspects of the creatures absorbed. For instance, it could shapeshift into a four-armed dog creature if it has absorbed two men and a dog, etc.
• FASE increase: The Thing gains bonuses to its FASE based on the attributes of the beings absorbed. So, if it absorbs three men and one of them has an Ex (20) strength, it will have an Ex (20)
• The process of absorption and conversion is quick, and if the Thing manages to 'infect' a creature, it must make an Endurance FEAT based on the current rank of the Endurance +2cs ranks of the Thing at the time. For example, if the Thing attacks a human, and it currently has a Gd (10) Endurance, The victim must make an Endurance FEAT of Rm (30) to avoid the infections. A Yellow FEAT is necessary when the Thing seeks to absorb an individual, and if the victim fails, the process of infection, absorption, and reproduction is quick. The victim essentially becomes another creature within 1 - 20 rounds.
• Adaptation: The Thing has shown unnatural ability to adapt quickly to situations, considering to have the power environmental adaptation at Rm (30) as seen in the short story. The movie versions have the Thing capable of adapting to the arctic conditions quickly, and not be as hampered by them as others.
• Telepathic: In the original short story, it is suggested the creature may be telepathic, capable of anticipating the moves of those against it. If this is the case, it would possess telepathy at Gd (10), although telepathy is not suggested in either of the movie versions.
• Non-Detection: Once the Thing has assimilated someone, it is difficult to determine if the person is the thing or not, granting it non-detection at Am (50) from all but mystical means, save for its limitation below. The non-detection aspect is clear in every version of the story, making it difficult to determine who is who.

Contacts:
None, although would could suggest other creatures.

Limitations:
Despite the capabilities of the Thing, it does possess key weaknesses:

• Vulnerability to Fire and heat: In both the short story and the 1982 remake, the Thing has been shown to be extraordinary vulnerable to fire, often requiring fire to permanently injure of kill it. When faced with fire, the Thing takes +2cs damage from it. In the original film version, electricity is used to generate greater amounts of heat in order to kill it, and it is believed heat is essential in overwhelming its being.
• Detection: In the short story and the 1982 remake, detection of the creature was made through blood samples. As each creature is independent, they are however connected to parts of themselves, such as a blood sample. Something as simple as pushing a hot wire into the blood sample will illicit an immediate response from the creature, often revealing them.

1954 version of the Thing