Perception of the Unknown

Overview

The Shrouded Galaxy teems with mysteries that stretch the boundaries of human understanding, from ancient alien artifacts and volatile Eldritch Energy to the enigmatic figures of Resonants and the whispered legends of the Old Ones. For the average citizen, these phenomena exist on the fringes of belief, dismissed as myth or distorted by fear and superstition. Alien Artifacts, despite being the source of immense technological leaps, are often shrouded in secrecy, with their true nature hidden behind layers of corporate and governmental control. Eldritch Energy, with its reality-warping properties, is feared as a harbinger of chaos, and public displays of its power are swiftly suppressed to prevent panic. Resonants, beings born with the ability to harness this dangerous energy, are equally feared and revered—ostracized by society yet exploited by shadowy organizations and powerful corporations.

Governments and corporations walk a fine line, treating these phenomena as both strategic assets and existential threats. Secretive groups like the Arkham Research Council and cults such as the Cult of the Old Ones further muddy the waters, each pursuing their own agendas with fervent devotion. To the shadowy players of the galaxy, Alien Artifacts and Eldritch Energy are not merely tools but gateways to power and forbidden knowledge. Yet for the masses, these are tales of horror and awe, reinforced by rumor and suppressed truth. In a galaxy ruled by fractured allegiances, the perception of the unknown is a tool wielded by the powerful, a source of terror for the vulnerable, and a reality for those brave—or unfortunate—enough to confront it.

Alien Artifacts

• Public Perception: Alien Artifacts are widely recognized as real, thanks to centuries of discovery and their pivotal role in unlocking technologies such as Warp Drives and Jump Gates. However, their true nature and potential remain shrouded in mystery for the general populace. Many view them with a mixture of awe and superstition, often romanticized in popular culture as relics of ancient, advanced civilizations. Tales of cursed or dangerous artifacts are common, blending fact with myth.
• Governments and Corporations: Governments and corporations view Alien Artifacts as invaluable resources, often prioritizing their acquisition at any cost. Corporations like Arcane Biotech, AetherTech Solutions, and the Oranos Institute invest heavily in artifact retrieval and research, often operating under extreme secrecy. Governments attempt to regulate artifact use, but enforcement is patchy due to corporate influence and black-market proliferation. Artifacts are seen as both a strategic advantage and a potential threat.
• Shadowy Organizations and Research Institutions: Groups like the Arkham Research Council, clandestine cults such as the Cult of the Old Ones, and criminal organizations such as The Phantom Cartel are deeply invested in artifacts, believing them to be the key to unlocking deeper truths about the universe—or even summoning beings of unimaginable power. These groups often manipulate public perception to maintain control over these relics, either glorifying or demonizing them depending on their agenda.

Eldritch Energy

• Public Perception: Eldritch Energy is widely feared and shrouded in myth. While some accept it as a scientific phenomenon tied to Alien Artifacts, others dismiss it as superstition or exaggeration. Public displays of Eldritch phenomena—such as reality-warping events—are often dismissed as hoaxes or covered up by governments and corporations to prevent mass hysteria. Many religious or cultic groups consider it divine or apocalyptic.
• Governments and Corporations: Governments treat Eldritch Energy as a classified threat, often working to suppress public knowledge about its dangers. Corporations such as Arcane Biotech and AetherTech Solutions view it as a double-edged sword: a potential source of limitless power but also highly volatile and dangerous. Experimental research is carried out in secret facilities, often resulting in catastrophic failures or dangerous breakthroughs.
• Shadowy Organizations and Research Institutions: Groups like the Arkham Research Council and Oranos Institute study Eldritch Energy with cautious reverence, seeking to understand its properties and potential. The Cult of the Old Ones views it as sacred and actively seeks to spread its influence, often orchestrating catastrophic events to "prepare the galaxy" for the Old Ones’ return. These groups often clash with each other, driven by conflicting ideologies about the energy’s purpose.

The Old Ones

• Public Perception: The Old Ones are often considered mythological, akin to ancient gods or demons. Most denizens of The Shrouded Galaxy dismiss their existence as folklore, propagated by religious cults or conspiracy theorists. However, those who have encountered Eldritch phenomena or witnessed the effects of Alien Artifacts may harbor a quiet, unspoken belief in their existence.
• Governments and Corporations: Governments generally dismiss the Old Ones as myths, officially denying their existence while secretly monitoring cult activity. Corporations are less concerned with the beings themselves and more focused on the tangible benefits of related technologies, though some executives privately fear the consequences of meddling with forces they don’t understand.
• Shadowy Organizations and Research Institutions: The Cult of the Old Ones is the primary advocate for the belief in these entities, working tirelessly to awaken them. Other groups, such as the Arkham Research Council, view the Old Ones as existential threats and seek to suppress or neutralize their influence, often clashing with the Cult. The belief in the Old Ones is a polarizing topic among academics and researchers, with heated debates about their reality and significance.

Resonants

• Public Perception: Resonants are often viewed with suspicion and fear. To the general populace, they are both revered and reviled—seen as living proof of humanity’s potential to evolve but also as harbingers of chaos and destruction due to their connection to the mysterious Eldritch Energy. Public displays of Resonance Manipulation are typically met with panic or outright violence, with Resonants often forced into hiding or subjected to persecution.
• Governments and Corporations: Governments officially regulate Resonants, often requiring them to register their abilities. In practice, this varies widely, with some systems offering support and others treating Resonants as threats to be neutralized. Corporations, particularly Arcane Biotech and ValiGen Biosolutions, view Resonants as valuable assets, often exploiting or experimenting on them to harness their abilities for profit.
• Shadowy Organizations and Research Institutions: The Arkham Research Council and similar groups study Resonants extensively, often recruiting them for high-risk missions involving Eldritch phenomena. The Cult of the Old Ones considers Resonants to be chosen conduits of their gods, actively seeking to convert or corrupt them. Many criminal enterprises such as The Claudian Consortium, the Veil Consortium , the Obsidian Veil, and others attempt to recruit them to further their own shadowy ends. Resonants frequently find themselves caught between these conflicting forces, forced to navigate a treacherous web of alliances and betrayals.

Conclusion

For the general populace, much of The Shrouded Galaxy’s darker aspects—Eldritch Energy, the Old Ones, and Resonants—remain the stuff of myths, rumors, and conspiracy theories. Governments and corporations work tirelessly to control the narrative, ensuring that the average citizen remains unaware of the full truth. Meanwhile, shadowy organizations and research institutions operate in the shadows, driven by agendas that could reshape—or destroy—the galaxy as it is known. In this fractured and chaotic universe, belief and ignorance are equally dangerous commodities, wielded as tools of power by those who dare to seek the truth.