Kthoniker

"That Rebal Grenton... he's like nothing I've ever seen. We thought we had the upper hand, muscling in on his turf, but he just smiled and... called something up. I don't even know how to describe it. My crew, my friends, they're all gone. Slaughtered by things that don't make sense to look at. Guess he's a Kthoniker, he just stood there, laughing like a lunatic, saying 'You should not have come here'. Now I'm the only one left, and I know I'll never be able to show my face again. Now I keep hearing it... whispers in the dark. Don't know if I'm crazy or if something got attached." ~Victor "The Bull" LaRosa, former gang enforcer.

Kthonikers: Masters of the Unknown

Kthonikers are a unique breed of criminals who study and seek to control Redspace Adversarial Intelligences (RAIs), malevolent beings from Redspace. These extra-dimensional entities treat organic life with sadistic contempt, viewing humans as nothing more than playthings. Kthonikers, driven by ambition or desperation, aim to harness the power of RAIs for their own purposes, navigating the blurred lines between science and occultism.

Dangerous Pursuits

Delving into the mysteries of RAIs comes with immense risks. Kthonikers face the constant threat of being killed, devoured, or possessed by the very entities they seek to control. Even if they survive, they often incur unpayable debts to RAIs, who hold humanity in open contempt. This precarious existence forces Kthonikers to walk a tightrope, balancing their pursuit of power with the need to maintain their sanity and autonomy.

Weird Sciences and Dark Alliances

Kthonikers' expertise in weird sciences and strange physics makes them valuable assets, but also targets for those seeking to exploit their knowledge. Their dealings with RAIs grant them access to unconventional forces and phenomena, allowing them to manipulate reality in unexpected ways. However, this power comes at a terrible cost, as Kthonikers become embroiled in complex webs of obligation and deceit, beholden to beings who regard humanity with disdain.

Tools of the Trade

Kthonikers utilize a number of tools and weapons unique to their profession. All of these pieces of equipment are LC 0. Redspace Communicator: This device is a modified Quantix Comm Terminal, but instead of the married crystal being in a server in Omega Systems' array, it's been shifted to Redspace. This allows communication with RAIs directly, though typically a strong one will take the crystal for its own exclusive use eventually. LC 0+S $10,000 Darkheart: An RI chip that contains a genetically engineered neural fungus. RAIs can attach to this chip, which allows them to be 'plugged in' to any device that can chip in an RI at least. It allows an RAI to perform the function of an AI. The odd radiation put out by the presence of a RAI in a device causes mutant molds and fungi to grow on them, making it difficult to hide their corrupted nature for long. LC 0, $16,000 Tillinghast Resonator: A device that creates a field that does a number of things all at once, with a single goal in mind. First, it creates a resonance at a frequency that causes microtears into Redspace. This allows fauna from that other place to worm their way through. These beings are typically small, bestial things more akin to vermin than demons of folklore, but they are useful if they can be controlled by a strong enough will (See RAI for details. Next, it causes mutations in those who spend a long time in its presence. These mutations can be psionics, or they could be cancer. Those so mutated might find themselves with functional gills, an extra arm, or perhaps simply eyestalks. Anyone carrying these mutations is easy prey for RAIs. Finally, a Resonator that has been in operation long enough can allow increasingly larger and more powerful RAIs through, though their strange, translated flesh tends to dissolve when exposed to the background radiation of Realspace. LC 0+S, $250,000 Silver Mask: A mask that detects Redspace and Psionic energies, prevents possession by RAIs, and can slot an RI (Usually a Darkheart) as an MMI.. LC 0+S, $18,000.