Mutant Pugs

Here's the section to my Palladium Books practice writing. One of the iconic creatures of Rifts is the dog boy there various breeds of dogs are available in the game. This is the first of many additions I'll be adding to the list of humanoid dog breeds

Pug
This charismatic breed almost useless as a military asset but have been great diplomatic tools. Mostly as giving the unaltered animals away as part of gift baskets during important negotiations. These dogs survived the Cataclysm because of their sheer number of them because of their popularity as pets, especially by the wealthy. Pugs have become the ultimate status symbol in post-rifts earth, because owning one is seen as openly mocking the “rifraf” that have to fight to survive. Offering a comeback to this insult is the Coalition ambassador, because they are the only ones with Pug Dog Boys.
Mutant pugs are very effective at coaxing people into giving up information they did not mean to divulge. The reason they are so effective is because pugs are genuinely agreeable which flatters people into forgetting where the pugs loyalty lies. Intelligence gathering has been reduced to diplomats finding an excuse to leave the room without their Pugboy attendant and later ask them what was discussed.
This strategy has only really failed once. The Coalition was seeking to develop a relationship with a group of arms dealers that specialized in modernizing pre-goldenage vehicles. For some inexplicable reason the mere presence of the Ambassador’s pug aid through the leader of the organization into a murderous rage.

Breed Characteristics
I.Q. -2 M.A. +2D4 P.B. +2 -30% to intimidate -20% to all scent related skills
After extended periods in warm conditions (above 80 degrees) Pugs must make a save of 14 or suffer heat stroke.
Pugs are also susceptible to having their eyes pop out from pressure to the neck (such as being choked by an irate arms dealer). If the eye is not immediately put back in it can be lost forever. Attackers who are surprised by this outcome must make a save 12 (+1 per 20% of pugs charm/impress) vs pity/mercy. Failing the save immediately drains all anger from the attacker and often leads to mild guilt/shame.

Rifts Fanfic

I've been obsessing over Rifts, an old tabletop RPG I played mostly in middle school. Here's a sketch I did during the Vice Presidential debate. It's part of a practice manuscript so I can get down the writing style before submitting to Rifts publisher.

Lone Star: Archeo-genomics project
Desmond Bradford has been bored with Dogboys for some time. He has moved onto bigger and better things. He gave little thought to approving, lowly but talented, Jean Wendell’s archeo-genomics proposal. He now feels he will come to regret his decision.
The archeo-genomics project revisits past accomplishments of the Lone Star complex and attempts to improve their viability. Primarily the team will be looking on new and better ways to use the Dog Boys and the process of ‘evolving’ various dog breeds. This prospect was very appealing to the bean counters in Chi-Town because it sounds inexpensive- which it is.
The name archeo-genomics is in reference to the part of the project focused on re-discovering lost breeds of domesticated dogs. Wendell discovered that pre-rifts there were many more dogs than anyone in Lone Star had previously. During the Cataclysm many breeds didn't have the survival skills to live on their own without civilization to help their gene’s carry on. While other breeds intermingled into a hardy ‘generic’ breed not too different than the Australian Dingo.
Some of the lost breeds continue to this day by finding niche environments while others continue on through hobbyist breeders.
In most cases Dr. Wendell’s team must search through pre-rifts material to find out specific traits of other breeds of dogs and use genetic engineering and even good old fashioned selective breeding to create an animal as close to breed standard as possible. Often they can check their work with broken chained samples of DNA in their files.
Wendell’s team has thus far been a boon to Bradford who gets credit for most of their accomplishments by those who count. She has redeemed several projects which were previously considered a waste of investment and she has lowered the cost of many types of operations.
What Bradford is concerned with is the fact that there is now someone who has the potential to be groomed into his replacement if any of his unsanctioned projects get discovered. On the other hand Dr. Wendell’s team is highly productive- so much so that they actually make it less obvious that Bradford is pouring most of his resources into projects on the lower floors of the Lone Star complex.

Psi-hounds AKA Psi-Calvary AKA Horsehounds
Prosek’s favorite of archeo-genomics accomplishment is the Psi-Calvary. Not only has it been useful in the ongoing attempts of the Coalition to tame the wilderness but also as a propaganda piece. These animals serve in contrast as evidence that Dog Boys are simply intelligent animals who walk on two legs. Anyone looking at Psi-Calvary can see they could be merely fancy giant dogs. Spending time with them makes it much easier to accept that Dog Boys are more advanced but basically the same.

The Psi-Calvary are actually an intermediate step in genetic engineering between common dogs and Dog Boys. This stage of the process was created before the idea of Dog Boys was fully conceived. The idea of using the natural abilities of dogs to sense the supernatural was there, but the idea was to use large semi-intelligent dogs in the manner of a fox hunt. 
Dr. Wendell came up with the idea of reissuing these creatures to solve the problem of transportation in the New West. Commanders were complaining that there were no practical vehicles for patrols along the western front. They are either too loud, cumbersome, or expensive for the Ops they’ve been running in the region. 
Wendell’s solution was a popular one. Psi-Calvary are popular mounts for lone wilderness scouts and death squads. These soldiers are notoriously anti-social and much prefer the company of these intelligent beast to that of their Dog Boy kin that annoy them in the way that other humans who are needy and seeking their approval annoy them.

(see image)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7GFS1uVjxs2tybpfbmxorzDwahxHhg4YVq5HgQ-SUKE7DOssSKyfPsIiSrq-_ZpZdhOvIIxH4Nk6EIJkiiWbK80h8EpqIj25MsBoLdYS8fYxfw_Ptda5dcNZb7vZpLg05RtUc5DXsMew/s320/RIFTSpsihound.jpg
Function
Primarily as riding mounts. Occationally a Horsehound is put into a Dog Pack to carry heavy equipment and/or supplies

Natural Abilities
Psi-Calvary have all the natural abilities of Dog Boys.

Attributes
I.Q. 2D6 (High animal intelligence) M.E. 3D6 M.A. 3D6 P.S. 3D6 +12 PP 3D6 P.E. 3D6+20 P.B. 2D6+5 S.P.D. 3D6 +15

Breeds
Psi-Calvary receive the same bonus for breeds as other Psi-hounds. The default size is about that of a horse. Smaller dog breeds being pony sized while larger dog breeds are closer to Clydesdales.

Skills
Tracking (+15%)
Prowl (+7%)
Climb (-10%)
Sense of Balance (-20%)
Swimming (+5%)