**PART 1: BIOWEAPONS BACKGROUND**

**Judgment Day**

Nuclear Cataclysm. Mankind almost wiped out from the entire planet. Few survivors managed to restore civilization in NOVA, a large city surrounded by defensive walls to protect their citizens against the dangers from the exterior. Deadly creatures inhabit the wastelands, abominations, as a result of nuclear radiation (this is what people think, maybe there is something more?)

*The wastelands are dark and full of terror*.

**The discovery**

The nuclear explosion created a massive crack on the planet surface of ???km deep at ground 0. NOVA scientist went on an expedition where no man has ever been before. Here they found the red crystals with mysterious power (as XyloDrone suggested, the power of the crystals can be used to keep the sky city floating, energy supply for NOVA city, create powerful weapons, etc). Along with the crystals, they found traces of ancient [1] DNA which were brought back to the research lab.

[1] we can keep it as “ancient” here so we have a door open for imagination on its origins: extraterrestrial, from a lost civilization, from another dimension…

**First tests**

Back in the lab, they realized that this ancient DNA had a genome sequence completely different from any other species on their database. However, the DNA was degraded with very poor quality, which was very difficult for them to keep studying it. To solve this, a solution was to combine the ancient DNA with another species DNA as a backbone, to bring this ancient being back to life and continue with the research program (code name = PROJECT LAZARUS). Based on DNA sequence similarities, the closer organism to ancient DNA was a salamander (Caudata/Urodele order). Here is why I would like to introduce the axolotl (Caudata > Ambystomatidae > Ambystoma family) [2] for 3 main reasons:

1- Axolotls are known for their AMAZING regeneration abilities. These little guys are able to regenerate any part of their body (organs, entire limbs). Anything. Chad-like bioweapons could benefit from this ability to make them more deadly. Any amputated part will grow back to normal as it was, unless they die, for example if you chop off their heads (maybe that’s the only way to kill a chad-like bioweapon).
2- Their genome is massive, 10x bigger than human. I believe is the biggest genome found today. However, scientist still can’t explain why as most of it is full on non-coding sequences (which means that there is nothing “useful” in there, at least that we know). This also could be a good point on using it to deploy the ancient DNA, as there is lot of “free” space to play with.
3- Axolotls are cute and funny creatures (even as pets). But don’t be a fool, they are predators! They are carnivores and hunters [3]. This could bring some AGGRESSIVENES for Chad-Bioweapons and their natural need to find prey…
4- This is an additional point. Axolotls went extinct and only kept in captivity for research purposes (pretty much as happens today irl). This can add some imprinted memories into Bioweapons, against humans… they fucked up their “home” and they want some revenge. These feelings may arise on some Bioweapons and they could go rogue, leaving NOVA and starting their own revolution against humans, treating them as the real virus (kind of last Planet of Apes trilogy, a Cesar-style Chad-Bioweapon that leads them).

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axolotl
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXu13_fKgGw

However, we don’t need to mention specifically the word “axolotl” and just keep it simple as “salamander species with regenerative capacities”.

**An unexpected result**

[First observation before moving forward: Here we have to decide what Bioweapons are, 2 choices came to my mind:

1- They are like a parasite symbiotes (Venom-like) which need a host. They can keep the Venom duality host/parasite acting basically like an armor, or they just take control of the host and develop in itself until taking full control of it.
2- They are a brand-new species, no need for host to take control.
Either way, both scenarios can come out from resurrecting that ancient DNA with genetic engineering = we can get a symbiote or a new beast. In both cases, it will go out of hand at the beginning.]

The first experiments went really bad, resulting in a massacre. New specimens were out of control (by infecting humans or growing as a deadly beasts), they exhibited brutal force and a natural instinct to kill. NOVA military managed to control the disaster and they decided to shut down project LAZARUS (“officially”…).

**Exosamas are born**

Despite the massive disaster from experimenting with ancient DNA, NOVA scientists were still amazed with the abilities these new created beings displayed. Most important, military leaders didn’t want to renounce to such potential for their troops. They initiated a proposal to develop the first line of transgenic humans: incorporate pieces of ancient DNA into human genome to generate a new breed of super-soldiers (remember JCVD Universal Soldier?). This will require to edit human genome at some minor level, by including only genomic pieces of interest from ancient DNA that scientist were able to study before the disaster. Based on human genome architecture, females came up as the best fit to incorporate ancient DNA with low risk. Human genome has 23 pairs of chromosomes, 1 pair responsible for sex determination (females XX, males XY). There is a common event known as X-chromosome inactivation, a process where 1 X chromosome copy from XX pair becomes inactive/silenced to prevent double X-genetic products and remain similar as males (males have 1 copy of X chromosome). Again, inactive X-chromosome could be used to insert ancient DNA, without affecting the rest of their original genome sequence (at least that’s what their thought…). Also, this could bring an additional meaning to the ”X” as in E**X**OSAMAS). Therefore, EXOSAMAS were born. Genetically-modified females with enhanced senses and abilities they were easily recruited as the elite soldiers of NOVA.

**The [dark] truth behind EXOSAMA program**

The Exosama program was a success. As a result, the research lab received unlimited funds to keep up with the Exosama research program. However, these funds weren’t being used entirely for the Exosama program… A secret research facility was using part of these funds to continue the previously canceled project LAZARUS to develop Bioweapons. In fact, Exosama project was only a distraction to raise funds to continue with the Bioweapon technology development in the shadows. It took years of atrocities experimenting on human subjects, to find the perfect match of human-ancient DNA assembly and develop deadly but obedient Chad-like bioweapons[4].

[4] This narrative can fit with both scenarios of what bioweapons might be: a) host/symbiote = they could have kept experimenting for an optimal match/host b) brand new species = after Exosamas success, they went one-step forward and started experimenting the new ancient/salamander specimen with the whole human genome (male and female, they don’t care at this point), looking for optimal candidates to carry the burden of an optimal match (these experimental subjects can relate to young kids from AKIRA carrying special abilities to unleash devastating power, all orchestrated from the government).

**The purge**

Xeon, a high-rank general from NOVA’s military also in control of Exosama research program (and LAZARUS project, ofc) decided to take over NOVA with his newly developed Chad-size Bioweapons, stronger and now more obedient under his control (how? microchips for mind control? Or is there something else…). And what a better display of power to turn Chad-Bioweapons against the Exosama elite? Chad-Bioweapons were proclaimed the new military order leaving Exosamas out. All NOVA citizens, including Exosamas, should obey now the new ruler of NOVA (TOWSNBN) and any form of insurrection shall be punished with death. Exosamas fought back against this new regime, but wasn’t enough… it was a massacre. Thousands of Exosama perished, some others managed to escape (and maybe some others accepted to remain as a low-rank soldiers, or even slaves).

**The rebellion begins**

So here we are now. Exosamas fight against tyranny of Xeon and his Bioweapons to control NOVA. And the city in the sky? More tyrants? Is Xeon somehow involved with them?

**PART 2: GAME DYNAMICS SUGGESTIONS**

A) Following this line of events, genetics and DNA technologies could play also a role in Exosama power up abilities. Will Exosamas be able to improve their abilities permanently? Like a classic rpg leveling system with increasing attributes? Then we can differentiate 2 different items:
- Transient improvements: this could be a transitory boost to enhance Exosamas abilities, but for a short period of time. They can be aminoacid boost, protein shot, mitochondrial power up, vitamin cocktail… (these are just examples). They can act like potions in wither 3.
- Stable improvements: if our NFTs can be permanently improved, this should require gene therapy. Stem cells from Exosamas will be extracted, genetically modified with the desired improvements, and reinjected into own organism to provide with the specific improvement. This will not be transitory, it will be permanent upgrade.

B) Also, ancient DNA can bring Exosamas some cool powers (classic elemental attacks like fire, ice, lightning, etc). But also, since they share same DNA as bioweapons, they could unlock a final power that can activate a BEAST-MODE, with x10 their original attributes (maybe x2 is enough, will leave that to game developers). This is inspired by this picture:


They can release THE BEAST they have inside. Maybe there is a specific gene that triggers that, we can call it the “EXO” gene maybe? But this could be also a CURSE… the same way it grants them an enormous source of power, they also lose control and can start attacking their own team mates [5].

[5] This idea comes from my second favorite rpg game from all time: BREATH OF FIRE 3 (first one is ff7, ofc). In BoF3 there was a character REI, a humanoid tiger with the ability to transform into a big badass monster tiger BERSERK mode. When he transforms, he has an enormous power with lots of damage. But he lost his mind and starts attacking his own team members, so you had to use his ability in very desperate situations. The interesting part is that when the character was leveling up, each level the % of attacks their own team members was reduced. Basically, at the late game stages, if you reached top level, he rarely attacked your team members, as if he managed to control his power.

8:21 transforms (this game was so good) and 15:55 attacks team member
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSQUMswI688

**SUPPLEMENTARY PART 1.5: THE SYMBIOTE-BIOWEAPONS PATH**

Some additional ideas if we take the symbiote-bioweapon path:

- They bring ancient DNA back to life (with salamander genome as backbone, or other methods, maybe we don't need to disclose that from the begining) and the "new born" is a hungry parasite looking for host.

- It infects human host, and due to genome incompatibility between human-ancient DNA it turns him into an unstable chad-size-like bioweapon, out of control . After a few minutes of mass destruction, the parasite ends up consuming his host vital energy so he needs to jump into another one [6]. Kind of Alien original movie scenario. This causes a cascade of deaths on the way of the parasite looking for a perfect match.

[6] This ancient parasite is so powerful that consumes a ridiculous amounts of energy. Their metabolism is so demanding that human body isnt capable to produce such amounts of energy, which results in a high consumption of biomolecules and the host death.

- NOVA military controls the parasite plague, and get rid of the specimen as per official sources. Truth is, they spend years of research in secrecy looking for a perfect match between human-ancient DNA [7] (in the meantime, they developed Exosamas for the public eye and use it as a source of research funding).

[7] How did they solve the high energy consumption of symbiotes? Maybe the mysterious red stones play a key role here. They use the red stones as a source of power to satisfy symbiote needs. Maybe they managed to make symbiotes to synthetise red stones along their body? (this will be hard to justify from a scientific point of view, but c'mon let's have some fun!)

- They end up developing symbiote soldiers as bioweapons, under Xeon orders. How TOWSNBN is able to control them? No one knows, but he is able control every single one of them at his will.

- Xeon little secret: This shouldnt be revealed until the very end, but TOWSNBN himself has a symbiote. He was "the first one" or simply "the one".

- All these years of research looking for a perfect match were more than successful. They developed the first symbiote perfectly compatibile with human DNA. This was known as speciment "ALPHA", and Xeon decided to take it on himself. Maybe it was because of his desire of power, his hunger to rule the world, but there was a perfect synergy between TOWSNBN and ALPHA. Not only that, researchers were able to generate a lineage of symbiotes from ALPHA cells, his progeny, and this was the beginning of TOWSNBN Bioweapons army.

- All the symbiote progeny had a special connection with ALPHA. Xeon was able to control them, see what they see, they were like an extension of Xeon-ALHPA itself among all his army. Similar to Lord of the Rings: ALPHA was "one to rule them all"