I say we start mutating/cogifying/transmogrifiying the kids very soon, like now. Treat it as normal procedure - which in our lair, it is. There needs be no hostility, fear, pain, or aggression. They had one day to see how good it is here - for those who make it through the process, that's only going to continue and get better.The mutagen procedure is not without risk.
Of course. ~20 is a lot. We probably are going to lose some and we probably are not going to lose them all. We just 'lost' an unknown number of completely unknown would-have-been heroes and sidekicks, and probably more than one (maybe many more) unclassified who could not be fit into our transport. Their deaths are no more or less 'our fault' than the deaths of those who will not make it through the transformation process. We started this (ignorantly) unable to save all of these children.
However, if this is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE to anyone, that some of these potent kids be lost in the transformation process, then lets do the one thing we can be 100% sure of not failing to change them and keep them alive in the process."Now, everyone line up for your shots!" Chemista exclaims, preparing her syringe.
New Animal Unit Acquired: Beastmen.
Human+Animal=Enjoy.
This can really be quite easy. We can make them all beastmen. We've done it with both animal base, and human base, and neither case had any rolls. Pure and certain success when we created the original two beast men, and when we created the snailcasters.
Now, I haven't looked lately, but the survival rates for Mooks/Monsters weren't that great.
We're also worried about what's going to happen to them as we use them on missions? I suspect few if any of these characters are getting out of this story alive. after all...
I am an extremely reasonable GM. In fact, I will make sure the Overlord dies a horrible death.
Jokes aside...
Until every single dwarf is dead.
They're with us now. They've had a great day with us - standards are satisfied and tone is set. I say we start mutating/cogifying/transmogrifiying the kids very soon, like now. Separate them all. Do it. Reunite the survivors with the rest of our fortress. Those that don't survive go down the drain - they leave the story, having never truely entered it.The human convulses, froth emerges from his mouth and then...then in front of your eyes his entire Dna tears apart as he becomes a...
A blob.
A mass of gelatinous blob that breaks and is quickly thrown away.
The second mutagen (as always, still Squid)
Fails. The second blob falls down on the ground and slowly goes down the drain.
It's happened before, it will happen again. Our lair is a paradise for monsters. Lets get these kids properly moved in, do any of you seriously think it will be better, easier, or kinder to do it 'tomorrow'? Or next week? Or next year? I don't - but if you do, by all means, vote beastman for them. We can decide on a case-by-case basis how, if, and when we include any of them in any and all future upkeeps and downkeeps.