Variantism Explained

According to science, variants are individuals who possess abilities that normal humans cannot reproduce—usually abilities such as flight, energy projection, super-human strength, telepathy or other powers beyond the scope of human ability. The presence of these abilities at any level is enough to mark the individual as a variant, though few variants have 'useless' powers—in fact it is a very small percentage who are ranked Alpha, never mind sub-Alpha. If superhuman variance exists in an individual, it exists at a useful, if not potent, level.
    Variant Scholars have expanded the term "variant" to include anyone who engaged in effective costumed adventurer status, or any humans who displayed recorded and measurable ability far outside the human norm for their time and place. Their claim is that the broad base of skill and ability displayed by such costumed adventurers is the basis on which variance is founded—the seed from which full fledged variance grows. While most scientists scoff at this theory, Nexalists have come to embrace it as well, citing as evidence the non-variants of extreme skill such as Captain Awesome, and the high number of variants who are also exceptionally well trained.
    In a small but significant number of cases, something goes wrong while a person is emerging as a variant, resulting in half-manifested characteristics that are more curse than blessing. Even if they suffer no physical handicap, those stricken are often unable to return to their normal lives; many turn to the carnival world, where the price for companionship of those who accept their oddities is satisfying the curious gazes of those who do not. "Rogers Syndrome" is not well understood in the medical community, but the odds of it striking seem to increase when emergence occurs well before or after the usual timeframe of the teen years.
    Variants are ranked in five stages of power relative to humans and each other, designated by the Greek letters Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon.

Alpha
Alpha level variants are three to five times as competent as an average adult human, and usually fall within the range of acceptable human, though well above the human norm—many whom Variant Scholars would call Alpha variants are seen by other scientists as exceptional humans.

Beta
Beta level variants are three to five times as competent as Alpha variants, and are the most common level of accepted variants, though 'normal' humans can train to these levels. Variants of this level are also the most accepted in society, as they are easily idolized as something humans can aspire to, but are also fairly easily controlled, since their power levels are not too great.

Gamma
Gamma level variants are three to five times as powerful as Beta Variants, making them roughly sixty times more competent than normal humans. While some human non-variants have reached this pinnacle of ability, they are exceedingly rare, and have some strange form of genetic or spiritual predisposition to the abilities they excel in. This marks the end of human training, if you want to consider Captain Awesome and his kind truly human.

Delta
Delta level variants are three to five times as powerful as Gamma variants, and are roughly 250 times more potent than 'normal' humans. Variants of this power level are uncommon, but even a few can have a drastic effect on the world around them, altering wars and leveling cities.

Epsilon
Epsilon level variants are three to five times more powerful than that, possessing power levels of staggering, immeasurable potential. The number of Epsilon level variants of human origin can be counted on your fingers, though more of supernatural or extraterrestrial origin have been encountered.

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