Mitheral
"Growf!"
One Jan 1, 2028 just 210 years after the original anonymous publication of Mary Shelley’s famous novel Frankenstein a discovery was made in the Arctic. It was a charred corpse of a humanoid and standing about 8 feet tall. It was hideous, covered with surgical scars.
Shelley described Frankenstein's monster as an 8-foot-tall (2.4 m) creature of hideous contrasts:
His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips.
The monster had kept its word to travel to the northernmost part of the world and incinerate itself.
The creature’s first new memories were of smells - the sort of smells born of science. Next came the awareness of being bound. Was there any surprise? Third was the realization that his body was healing. There was an annoying beeping noise that grew more rapid and louder.
“Turn it down,” is hushed voice spoke. It was female. “He can hear us. I want complete quiet. Lockdown phase 3 now.”
“What if it gets free?” A man’s voice, soft and nervous.
“You are welcome to leave,” the woman responded. There was more restrained excitement in her voice than anything like fear. She was determined.
“Do you think he can understand us?” the man asked.
“Doubtful. He was created in Germany, learned to speak and read in Germany. But he didn’t return to his creator for a year. So it is possible. Still let us try German.”
The woman spoke now in German to the monster before her. “You kept your word as best you could. I know this. Your eyes are covered to protect them. They need time to heal. You were bound for your own protection - and in all honesty my assistants are afraid of you. I am Dr Mary Shelley.” She laughed softly. “I suspect the reason for my humor escapes you. “My namesake is the woman who wrote the story of your creation. You once suggested a name to your creator. Adam. May I call you that?”
Characters
YOU are the monster. I posted a picture above. It is from the movie I, Frankenstein. It was the movie’s idea of what Adam looked like shortly before he disappeared into the Arctic to destroy himself. Over time he heals and begins to take on the more handsome form originally intended by Victor Frankenstein.
I intend to roleplay the newest “Dr Frankenstein”. Is she a monster or does she have the best intentions? Even if they are the best, do they simply pave the way to Hell?
Plot
In a way this is Pygmalion affair as well as a quest for redemption. Dr Shelley feels that science has finally reached the point that it can repair some of the damage done so long ago. Stem cell treatments can hasten healing for example. Indeed, they have been going for months. When discovered Adam was little more than a charred corpse. However, the fire wasn’t enough. There were still viable cells that were frozen and preserved. Once they thawed out, the regenerative process began.
If the brain was burned, Adam may have amnesia, possibly permanent. But for the sake of roleplay, I suggest he be similar to the version in I, Frankenstein.
I am also considering a sort of "superhero" setting, possibly a post apocalypse based on a Rapture event having already occurred - or something similar, dark like the movie, but different. The dates of the RP are a little adjustable. I just didn’t want to jump 50 years. I want to keep tech fairly near future. (Superhero might be better read as antihero)
