P.P.E.™, S.D.C.™, M.D.C.™, Splurgoth™ and Bio-Wizardry™, are Trademarks owned and licenced by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books, Inc.
In certain places were P.P.E. levels are chronically high (i.e. Rifts Earth, Phase World, certain worlds in the 3 Galaxies system), a strange new human “adaption” has been born. Although some believe that this is a relatively new phenomenon, it has actually been occurring for as long as humans have existed. The reason for this is the rarity. Approximately 1 in 50 000 000 live human births in areas of high P.P.E. has been a Thaumathrope. In the past, perhaps once a millennium, a Thaumathrope may have been born at a Ley Line Nexus. But since the erupting of the Ley Lines, it has become possible for Thaumathropes to be born nearly anywhere on Rifts Earth.
It is entirely possible for a Thaumathrope to live out their entire life without ever knowing that they are different from other humans. The only indications that they may be different is an odd weakness that overcomes them if they remain too long in areas with absolutely no ambient P.P.E. This is because the Thaumathropes are a unique form of P.P.E. parasite. Some experts have theorized that the Thaumathropes are some sort of odd defence mechanism of the human race against excessive profusion of magic; because unlike Psi-Stalkers, they aren’t P.P.E. vampires. They cannot take P.P.E. from people, creatures or magical items
Their sustenance is Raw Magic. (although they still need food and water as any normal human does)
A Thaumathrope can be detected as children, by the fact that they have abnormally low P.P.E. levels; rarely more than 4! However, this doesn’t hinder them, since they naturally absorb P.P.E. from the environment (3 P.P.E. per day as children, 2 P.P.E. per day as young teens, and 1 P.P.E. per day as adults). Because of this low Psychic Potential, Thaumathropes can never use magic, or develop psionic powers. If a Thaumathrope’s P.P.E. levels ever reach 0, and they still can’t get any from the environment, then they begin to start consuming their own life essence to fuel their unique existence. A permanent loss of 5 HP replaces 1 P.P.E. However, feeding off their minuscule P.P.E. Base, or their Hit Points, is painful and debilitating to them. They are reduced to 1 attack per melee, no combat bonuses, and are -4 on all combat rolls.
Thaumathropes are a bane to magic users, since they absorb the P.P.E. of every spell directed at them. All but 1 P.P.E. of any spell that targets them is consumed by the Thaumathrope. Although the cosmetic effects of the spell may still seem to occur (i.e. a bolt of flame may shoot from a mage to the Thaumathrope), the Thaumathrope is not affected by the spell whatsoever. Even area affect spells can feed the Thaumathrope. 1 P.P.E., or 10% (whichever is greater) of the cost of the area effect spell is absorbed. The spell will affect all other targets normally, but will have no effect on the Thaumathrope. Area Effect Spells that target things other than the Thaumathrope (i.e. Calm Storm) will still work normally when he is in the area — only magic where the direct manifestation of the psychic energy is consumed.
Although a Thaumathrope can store psychic energy to nourish itself in areas of low P.P.E., is not an efficient P.P.E. battery — any amount in excess of 25 P.P.E. bleeds away naturally into the environment at a rate of 1 P.P.E. per minute. This causes no ill effect to the Thaumathrope, nor to those around him. However, if the P.P.E. levels ever exceed 50 P.P.E., the most fearsome aspect of the Thaumathrope manifests.
The Thaumathrope transforms into a daemonic-like monster, filled with animalistic rage. It still retains the magic-absorbing powers of its human form, but it also gains supernatural toughness, strength, and a devastating breath weapon. The Thaumathrope will attack everything and anything about it, until it naturally bleeds away the P.P.E. in excess of 50; at which time, he reverts to his human form, his clothing torn and shredded, with no recollection of what he did while in the Thaumonster form.
The Thaumonster has an I.Q. of 1; it will mindlessly attack friend and foe alike. It cannot understand speech, but it may respond to telepathic contact. Thaumathropes of Principled or Scrupulous alignment may be able to restrain their Thaumonster rage from harming a true innocent (save vs. Pain 14+). As a Thaumathrope gains experience, he may gain more control of his Thaumonster form. Regardless of the Thaumonster’s I.Q., the transformed being is in a constant state of Frenzy. It has an overwhelming desire to destroy and kill; one that cannot be denied — only directed.
Any time that the Thaumathrope’s P.P.E. levels exceed 50, it grows into a hulking, monstrous creature, full of mindless rage. The growth into the Thaumonster destroys what the character is wearing; even MDC material. The Thaumathrope remains in its Thaumonster form until its P.P.E. levels drop to 50. (as per the normal Thaumathrope P.P.E. bleed of 1 per minute). The Thaumonster is in a perpetual Frenzy, and will lash out at friend or foe, inanimate object or innocent bystander. Thaumathropes of Principled or Scrupulous Alignment may restrain their rage from targeting true Innocents by rolling a save vs. pain (14+) in each instance.
Each level, the Thaumathrope can roll a save vs. psionics (15+, with any M.E. bonuses), to try to gain some level of control over it’s Thaumonster form. Each time the character succeeds on this roll, his Thaumonster’s I.Q. increases by one (Starts at I.Q. 1). If he rolls a 1 on this roll, then he loses some level of control, and the Thaumonster’s I.Q. drops by one (minimum 1).
At I.Q. of 4, it can begin to understand simple speech in its native tongue, but it still rage-filled. Others might be able to convince it to direct its rage at a specific target.
At I.Q. of 6, it can recognize close friends and will avoid directly hurting them. It can understand its native language, and a tiny bit of any other language that it knows. Although the Thaumonster’s mouth and larynx is not suited for speaking, it can make growls that sound like “Yes”, “No”, “Bad”, “Good”, “Kill”, “Hurt”, “Stop”, “Me”, “You”, “Crush”, etc.
I.Q. of 8 is the maximum a Thaumonster can ever achieve (must still roll each level to see if he loses some level of control). At this level, the Thaumonster can communicate like a 4 year old child. However, it is still subject to the unstoppable rage. However, it can direct that rage at specific targets, and recognize specific friends and foes.
Whatever the Thaumonster’s I.Q., it’s target of choice will always be the one that last targeted him with magic.