Rod, that Karma rule is exactly how I would run it, too.<br/><br/>The part of my brain that writes narrative prose is still somewhere over the Pacific, so I haven't been able to finish my character's background, but I'm going to post what I have so we can start tying everything together.<br/><br/><<<br/>Clelan/"Silver"<br/>Graceful Jack Who Rides The Lightning<br/><br/>Clelan was born into an informal clan: a traveling troupe of entertainers.  The Ninth World being as it is, every member of the troupe plays multiple roles (both on and off the stage), including "guard".  Thus Clelan's parents once found themselves beset by more [critters] than they and their colleagues could readily handle.  Clelan's father therefore made use of a cypher he had on hand: a pill that he knew would boost its consumer's physical prowess.  He gave it to his beloved Annalie.<br/><br/>Annalie survived the fight.  Her lover died of his wounds.  But later that month, Annalie learned that she was carrying his child.<br/><br/>The pregnancy was extremely difficult.  Annalie did not survive.  But the child lived, and in accordance with Annalie's wishes, she was named after her father.<br/><br/>It soon became clear that the girl was special.  First she survived her premature birth.  Then she flourished.  She was quick to walk, quick to talk, and quick to learn.  She was just plain quick.  Also she had pale silver eyes and hair (whereby she gained her primary nickname).<br/>>>