Cannibal

Basic description:

Hungry for sentient flesh, a fierce reputation for eating people they disagree with. Can bite foes.

Physiology:

Like most commonly found non-region specific mutants, the cannibal resembles humans. They often have at least two textures in their hair as well as it being 'uncombable'. They have the trait of having their eyes being able to focus on different things, like if something interesting is on their left side, their left eye may drift to focus more on that. The muscles in their hands and fingers are slightly more developed than the average human. Their tongues have more taste buds and have unusual taste sensations that go far beyond the 5 basic tastes of bitter, sour, salty, sweet, and umami with them being able being able to describe tastes such as 'tangy', 'animal', 'cool', and more. Some cannibals are noted to be able to expand their jaws and eat corpses whole to sate their hunger.

History:

The cannibal mutation was not always known as the cannibal mutation but was at first known as the "Consumption Adaptation And Normalization" or CAAN genetic modification. In the time the Changes happened, there was a technovirus that caused plants and animals (and people) to turn into piles of interconnected technology. There was a mass disappearance of cows and pigs. The seas were already overfished. In short, food became scarce real fast. The CAAN genetic modification was developed and dispersed into the human gene pool in order for humans to find new sources of food... things that would normally not be considered palatable became just that thanks to the CAAN modification. Rats, plant materials like husks, grasses used for seasoning, and more. Eventually the Changes winded down and food sources became stable. The CAAN modification was no longer needed for survival of the human race, but cannibals found a new purpose for it... their modification became the source for desires and now the desire for exotic and sometimes tasting sentient flesh became an honor among the mutants.

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There is also a belief that this was a 'natural' development of the CAAN modification as it may have also made 'survival cannibalism' more acceptable.

Culture:

Even though 'cannibalism' is common through the consumption of soylent, direct and overt cannibalism by cannibals is looked as 'real cannibalism' by others.

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Cannibals with their mutation found they could naturally prepare and cook food as well as be a natural taster and critic. A group may sometimes find a cannibal chef to be a desired part of their group... but they have to be sure nobody, ranging from their own members to neighbors, suddenly goes missing while the chef is employed or else one may find that the mystery meat steak, the chili, the pie, or the stew to feature an... interesting ingredient.