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 Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 12:38 pm
Table of Contents:
1.) Soul Weaponry
2.) God-Shroud
3.) Psi-Amplifier
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 1:46 pm
Soul Weaponry:
Every soul has inherent power, as every soul represents a direct connection between a hunk of matter and the Energy Dimension; each living body of a sentient being is literally an intrusion of Energy Space into our dimension. The Renegades have learned how to harness this power, in a manner that is suprisingly simple.
Through a series of experiments that we need not discuss here, the Renegade scientists isolated the exact moment the soul attaches itself to the body. (conception) They then went on to discover how, if the developing cluster of cells splits, the soul doubles in size and splits too, creating two seperate beings.
As a fully grown adult, pieces of the body fall off all the time, and the soul does not go with them. Somehow the soul knows to stay with the majority of the body, more specifically, with the center of decision-making activity (brain)
In the early weeks, however, the souls connection to the body is extremely fragile. For one thing, it is hard to distinguish where the mother's body ends and the child's begins.
This fact is exploited by the bio-scientists of the Renegade faction.
The process works like this:
1.) A fertilized egg is nurtured until it is healthy and the soul is firmly planted. (Start the process too early and the soul will go back to Energy Space)
2.) As the egg divides and multiplies, it is broken into two pieces and each piece is nurtured separately as each develops its own soul.
3.) This process is repeated as many times as needed until the desired number of souls is reached.
4.) Using advanced microscopes and minute pincers (wielded by computerized, robotic hands) tiny pieces of metal are wedged into the cracks of the each growing cell colony. If the process is done gradually, the soul will enlarge its body-image to include the bits of metal. (This would be hard to do with an adult, but at this point the body is growing so fast that the soul is overwhelmed by new additions to be included in the body image, a few more are not likely to be rejected)
5.) More and more bits of metal are added, until most of the body (still microscopic) is metallic.
6.) The original cells are allowed to die of old age, one by one falling off and dissapearing from the body image. By the time the last cell dies, the body resembles a hairball of steel fragments. As the last biological activity fades, the soul would normally consider itself dead and disappear, but not now: by now, the soul has become used to the inanimate nature of its body.
7.) More and more flecks of metal are added, growing the body as rapidly as an egg would normally grow into a fetus.
8.) Eventually, a shape can be made with the metal, such as a bullet.
The process takes time, but is usually done on an industrial scale so large amounts of soul ammunition can be produced. Stages 1-3 take as long as a couple weeks to get a good-sized population going, at which point there will be plenty of souls to use. Each individual bullet/soul combination takes about two weeks to grow, requiring a minimal amount of power and an area the size of a gluestick to hold the entire process (manipulating and computing machinery included)
The entire process is automated.
Manufacturing ammunition with this method resembles farming; a large area in a ship will be given over to rack upon rack of black test-tube sized devices, which are "fed" with electricity and "harvested" two weeks later.
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 2:10 pm
1.5) Applications of Soul Weaponry:
As previously mentioned, all souls have inherent power.
Souls trapped in bullets have been robbed of their mobility, their freedom, and almost everything that was supposed to be their life. They are bitter and twisted beings, creatures of malice and suicidal envy. Souls trapped in bullets have far greater telekinetic powers than otherwise, because they are able to devote their entire being to it without bodily distractions.
In any situation, trapped Souls will act to best damage and destroy others.
In practical terms this means that a bullet with a soul will go farther, will penetrate more, and may even explode. The bullet will expand in soft targets, compress to pass through armor, and even swerve slightly to turn near misses into hits and hits into critical hits.
This is useful against armored enemies but not a "magic bullet" so to speak. A couple inches of steel is still inpenetrable to a pistol round. The added penetration is roughly equivalent to 50% more than that of conventional ammo.
This is most useful against non-physical defenses, such as shields. It varies by the shield type, but with minor shields it will sometimes seem like the bullets pass straight through. With heavier shields, they simply wear down much faster, especially under a barrage of shots. With every bullet blocked, the shield must break the will of an entire soul. The effect of this differs, but is generally about 300% greater than that of a normal bullet.
Also, there is the strange effect known as Soul Poisoning. Any being with pieces of Soul Ammunition stuck in them will be poisoned. They can be cured by quick removal of the offending bullet.
The poisioning works like this:
As the "body" of the trapped Soul mingles with the "body" of the victim, the barrier between the two beings is broken and the line between the two consciousnesses is blurred. This gives the trapped Soul access to and partial control of the victim's body. As the victim's soul is much more practiced with bodily movements, the victim still retains control of their body- at most times. However, as the psychic struggle between the two souls progresses, occasionally the invading soul will take over temporarily, lashing out in rage at any nearby beings. The frequency of these episodes will increase over time until the body is evenly divided between the two, at which point both souls are reduced to insane wrecks, locked in tortured battle for eternity. In this final stage, the body ceases to breath and the heart ceases to pump, resulting in the death of both souls.
Strong-willed individuals are able to fight the invading Soul more, prolonging but not preventing the inevitable.
During the periods in which the victim loses control of the body, the invading soul will do its best to damage and kill those around it, though it is limited in that it does not know how to use weapons and technology. It will, however, pull the trigger/fire the guns of any weapon or ship it is already "at the controls" of. This is potentially dangerous when the poisoned individual is on the battlefield holding a rifle, or in a fighting vehicle.
Soul weaponry is regarded as abhorrent and criminal by many sentient races, for obvious reasons. As of yet only the Renegades know exactly how to manufacture it, though given time other races could surely learn.
One final note: Part of the power of Renegade soul weaponry comes from their unique Izani power of magical resistance, meaning that the Force (or whatever you decide to call it) is less of a defense. The Konigserker race have an even more powerful resistance. This has led many in the Renegade forces to consider (in secret, of course) capturing a specimen of the Konigserker race in order to manufacture even more powerful ammunition. As of yet, no Konigserker have been abducted, though plans have been made...
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 2:43 pm
2.) God-Shroud
Once the scientists of Jared Prime discovered how to detect the presence of the Gods themselves, it was a relatively small step to discover how the Gods detect people.
Each Izani soul comes with a sort of psychic signature that twists and pinches the fabric of space so that it might access the Energy dimension. Throught the pinch-hole thus created, Esarhaddon can look. The effect is somewhat like that of an RTS computer game, Esarhaddon has "line of sight" that enables him to view the world in a small radius around each Izani.
The God-shroud is a small device that is implanted in the brain and attatched to the soul. It creates a sort of psychic static around the twist in space that obstructs God's view of the surroundings. It is the equivalent of slapping a whole bunch of pop-ups on over top of the RTS game, so that the player cannot see even the minimap, much less the world.
Without any reference points, Esarhaddon is left only with the knowledge that the Renegade is still alive-- he does not know where.
The effect of the God-shroud applies not just to the person using it but to everyone within a large radius, almost a kilometer in fact.
This has interesting ramifications when it comes to Soul weaponry: a Renegade firing Soul ammunition will remain undetected, but someone who does not have a God-shroud in the near vicinity will arouse the wrath of Esarhaddon, who will not interfere directly but who will perhaps call the Realm of Zaan to war.
After battles, often stray bullets will be found with the souls still intact. If the Renegades have been driven off or have left, then Esarhaddon will be able to pinpoint the location of the scene and call in the fleet (by subtly influencing the minds of the Izani)
The God-Shroud is designed to be used against Esarhaddon but it could easily be adapted to fit other gods as well. Many renegades are actively advocating this, preaching the gospel of cosmic rebellion to all who care to listen.
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 2:47 pm
2.5) Ramifications of the God-Shroud
The wearing of a God-Shroud is the ultimate rejection, the ultimate rebellion against one's creator. Needless to say it is regarded as highly blasphemous and is one of the blackest sins.
As with Soul weaponry, the reaction of other races to this technology is varied. Some openly accept it and work towards obtaining it, while others are sickened by it and even go so far as to crusade against it. As of this time we have yet to hear from the major powers in this universe.
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 3:09 pm
3.) Psi-Amplifier:
A Psi-Amplifier is a device that helps someone to harness the inherent power of his own soul and the connection he has to Energy Space. The Mirai do this to a greater degree (or so I gather) biologically; the Renegades do it technologically.
As of yet the technology for telekinesis, telepathy, and other advanced psychic abilities is still far beyond the reach of even the best Renegade scientists, but by connecting the Psi-Amplifier to the part of the soul responsible for maintaining body image, and linking it to the part of the soul responsible for telekinesis, a certain effect is reached.
A Psi-Amplifier, when implanted, will use the power of Energy Space to increase the speed and power of the wearers movements.
This works to about 25%,
so punches are 25% faster
so jumps are 25% higher
so running is 25% faster
etc.
In most cases this goes unnoticed; even in battle the Psi-Amplifier's effects might be mistaken for mere adrenaline. However, a skilled Renegade (of which there are several) can use it to great effect: When combined with martial arts techniques and a mobile, acrobatic style of combat the Psi-Amplifier can be legendary.
(ooc: when I say this I picture a guy running on walls like in The Matrix, only carrying more guns because he has four arms. biggrin )
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:14 am
Soul Missiles:
The Renegades have discovered another application of Soul Weaponry technology.
They imprison a soul not in a bullet but in a guided rocket or missile, fitted to a Longhorn or an ordinance canister. This particular soul is equipped with a form of Psi-Amplifier which greatly increases the trapped soul's telekinetic and telepathic abilities.
This has the effect of enabling the Soul to guide or steer his rocket with great precision, of increasing the penetrative and explosive power of the missile, and (most importantly) of increasing the sensory range of the Soul trapped in the missile. Also, it allows the missile to track the target unhampered by chaff, flares, electronic jamming, or even stealth technology.
With bullets, the trapped Soul cannot sense the target at long range, only as the target approaches can the Soul change course or otherwise prepare for impact.
The Psi-amplifier greatly increases the range at which the soul can detect and understand.
This all makes such Soul-missiles extremely dangerous- you see, once equipped with a Psi-amplifier, the trapped Soul can do a wide variety of devious things, even prematurely detonating in order to destroy it's handlers.
So the Psi-Amplifier is actually deactivated until the missile has already been fired and has reached a sufficient range away from the craft that fired it.
Usually, the missile is "activated" when it is too far to sense the men that fired it, thus ensuring that it wont turn back and attack it's handlers. Sometimes, in thick fighting, such safety measures are a luxury that cannot be afforded. In some cases the Psi-amplifier is activated as soon as the missile leads the canister, allowing for rapid-fire salvoes that are extremely deadly to all nearby.
Soul missiles greatly increase the power of the already potent Renegade aerial squadrons.
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