The term Orgone refers to several related phenomena linked primarily with biofields. In fact, 'orgone field' is de facto interchangeable with 'biofield'. Orgone fields can be tapped to shape Orgone Shields, although the process still requires an external energy source. However, the orgone field can be disrupted by bursts of orgone radiation, affecting field's owner. There are many types of orgone radiation, and their effects on the recipient vary. Some are used in medicine for positive effects, or for selective destruction of certain cells (primarily cancers). Others are used as weapons. Still others are merely nasty hazards coming from certain alchemically active materials and/or processes.
The unit of accumulated dose of orgone radiation is usually called a Fol. Dosages of different types are normally non-cumulative.
Primary types of Orgone Radiation[]
Negative Feedback[]
This is the type of burst that occurs when a tapped orgone field is damaged by a disrupted Orgone Shield. Typical effect is a dose of 1-6 Fol, distributed evenly over the whole body, and cannot be negated. The game effect is 1d of Cosmic Tox injury. Due to the way shields work, it is extremely unlikely for a person to get hit by more than a couple bursts at a time. Negative feedback Fols heals as fast as the HP injury.
Neurodisruptive Bursts[]
Neurodisruptive orgone radiation is used in neurolashes (UT165). It dissipates extremely quickly with distance, and has poor penetration, but has quick, predictable effects on a subject's neural system. A single shock is 10-100 Fol strong, but the dosage is normally negated in seconds to minutes.
Vitamorphic radiation[]
One of the more insidious types. Typically low-intensity, but with nasty long-term consequences. Consequences are based on the total accumulated dose. Each dose is diminished separately - starting 30 days after irradiation, at a rate of 10 Fols per day. However, healing the incurred Disadvantages may take more or less time than healing the dosage.
To estimate the severity of irradiation, take the dosage, make a HT roll (with the indicated maximum), and cross-reference result, picking the degree before the slash for a success, after the slash for the failure. Note that while the maximum effective HT is capped by the dosage, the bonuses from things such as Resistances or drugs are not. It's perfectly possible to have HT capped at 11 due to catching 4,000 Fols, but roll against a 16 thanks to having Resistance to Metabolic Hazards. Onset: this is the time until the first-degree symptoms normally appear. After this, read the onset time of the line above - this is when the second-degree symptoms appear, and so on until all symptoms manifest in their fullest.
Dosage Roll Max HT Onset 10 -/I 16 1d days 35 I/II 15 2d hours 100 II/III 14 1d×10 minutes 350 III/IV 13 1d minutes 1,000 IV/V 12 1 minute 3,500 V/VI 11 immediate
I: Minor physiological dysfunctions. 1-3 nuisance symptoms, not life-threatening. Trait effects: up to [-10] for 7-11 days.
II: Medium somatic dysfunctions. Symptoms significant enough to interfere with ability to work; minor threat to life; negligible long-term impairment. Trait effects: up to [-25] for 14-22 days, gain a permanent physical quirk [-1].
III: Major somatic disruption. Life-threatening tissue damage or metamorphosis, up to possibilities of cancerous growths. Notable long-term impairment. Trait effects: up to [-75] for 20-60 days (which may include Terminally Ill); full recovery requires medical care, and even after that the character will receive a permanent Disadvantage of about [-5].
IV: Severe somatic damage. Major impairment and risk to life, even with proper medical care. Significant long-term impairment in case of survival. Trait effects: up to [-150] for 1-6 months, usually including Terminally Ill, always requiring full medical care for recovery; permanent [-25] worth of disadvantages.
V: Terminal vitamorphic deterioration. Rapid, major changes in tissues and organs almost never compatible with life. Trait effects: temporary [-200] for a year or more, permanent [-100] in case of survival.
VI: Rapid cellular deterioration. Severity sufficient to make most tissues non-viable in seconds to minutes.