Category:Eternals

Eternals, taxonomically known as Homo immortalis, are an offshoot of evolutionary process that created sentient life on Earth.

Origin
When the Celestials visited Earth five million years ago and performed genetic experiments on early proto-humanity, they created two divergent races: the long-lived Eternals and the genetically unstable and monstrously grotesque Deviants. These experiments led to the capacity for superhuman mutants in humans.

Despite looking human, Eternals are much more long-lived and that kept them from having much contact with the human cousins. Eternals have a low birth rate; they can interbreed with humans, but the result is always a normal human. Despite this, the Eternals have, in general, protected the human race, especially from the Deviants, with whom they have always had an enmity. The Eternals have also developed advanced technology over the millennia.

Powers
Eternal Physiology: An Eternal's physiology is augmented by cosmic energy, and they have total mental control over their physical form and bodily processes, even while asleep or unconscious.
 * Cosmic Energy Manipulation: All Eternals are able to project cosmic energy from their hand and eyes.
 * Immortality: Due to the cosmic energy that suffuses an Eternal's body and the high-unbreakable mental hold they have over their physiological processes, the Eternals can live for millennia and are immune to disease and poison.
 * Superhuman Strength: All Eternals possess superhuman strength to varying degrees.
 * Superhuman Durability: Most Eternals cannot be injured by conventional weaponry. They are also unaffected by environmental extremes of cold and heat.
 * Superhuman Stamina: Due to their control over their physiological processes, Eternals do not tire from physical exertion.
 * Regenerative Healing Factor: Even if an Eternal is injured somehow, they can rapidly regenerate any damage as long as they maintain their mental hold over their bodies.
 * Flight (potentially): All Eternals are potentially able to fly by channeling a portion of the cosmic energy of their body.
 * Teleportation (potentially): All Eternals are potentially able to teleport by channeling cosmic energy, although Eternals tend to find the teleportation process to be physically uncomfortable so they prefer not to do so.
 * Molecular Manipulation (potentially): All Eternals are potentially able to transmute matter by channeling cosmic energy.
 * Telepathy (potentially): All Eternals are potentially able to read and control minds, as well as cast illusions, by channeling a portion of the cosmic energy of their body.
 * Uni-Mind: All Eternals can join the Uni-Mind, a vastly powerful psionic entity that contains the totality of the powers and abilities of all the beings that comprise it. As few as three Eternals can form the Uni-Mind at a time.

Weaknesses
Hardwiring: Eternals are programmed or hardwired so that they cannot attack their Celestial "masters" for any reason. Any such attempt to do so shuts down the body of the attacking Eternal and is implied to be an automatic defense mechanism of the Celestials' armor Deviant Syndrome: There exists a genetic condition amongst the Eternals known as Deviant Syndrome. This syndrome is considered a mutation, although it is unknown if this syndrome exists among all Eternals or only those of Titan. The only known Eternal afflicted with the Deviant Syndrome is Thanos.

Mahd Wy'ry: The Mahd Wy'ry, also known as the Secret Curse of the Eternals, is a type of Eternal senility that occurs as the Eternals' immortal bodies weren't matched by their human-templated consciousnesses. The disease takes centuries to drive an Eternal mad, but the process can be accelerated. Once an Eternal is claimed by the disease, there is no way to cure it, as of now. According to the ancient laws and old dictates of Eternal society, it is extremely important that the madness is prevented from spreading by molecular discorporation of the afflicted Eternal.