From psionic artifacts to fusion-powered weaponry, the tools that shape destiny across the Five Realms. Each item tells a story of innovation, power, and the complex interplay between humanity and the forces that seek to challenge it.
This compendium of notable artifacts, weapons, and technologies is continuously expanding as new discoveries emerge from across the Sol System. Check back regularly for updates on the tools that shape the fate of humanity in the 23rd century.
Quantum Watch
The Quantum Watch operates at near-absolute-zero temperatures, allowing it to perform billions of operations per second. A Quantum Watch utilizes a quantum field to sync with the user’s neural activity, effectively aligning their current mental state with a past one. Can only access memories that occurred while wearing the Quantum Watch.
Quantum Immersion: Allows the user to recall and “relive” specific memories or past experiences while wearing the watch.Drains the fusion battery at a rate of 0.166% per second. Maximum duration of 600 seconds (10 minutes) per activation before needing a recharge.Uses: Relive cherished memories, aiding in emotional well-being but risking emotional dependency; Revisit instructional/learning experiences, allowing for personal improvement and skill mastery.
Mobile Hacking Interface: This feature lets the user connect to any fusion-powered device they have console access to. Attempting to hack or injecting shell scripts requires additional Quantum Processing Units (QPUs). The Atomic Accord has not disclosed why this feature is often misused to illicitly download interactive holographic pornography from the Extranet.
Psytum Sword
The Psytum Sword is a sophisticated weapon that becomes a dazzling reality when activated, harnessing psionic energy through the unique interplay of human DNA and quantum mechanics. This advanced weapon requires its wielder to be psionic, a crystalline DNA sequence within the nucleus of cells in psionic individuals, which enables the channeling of atomic energies into tangible psionic abilities.
The term “Psytum” is a fusion of “Psyche” and “Quantum”, highlighting the weapon’s reliance on quantum mechanics. The Psytum Sword operates by tapping into the quantum states of the wielder’s psyche, allowing for the stabilization and projection of a coherent energy blade. This quantum interaction, sustained by the wielder’s heartbeat, is what sets the Psytum Sword apart, enabling it to maintain a consistent and powerful laser blade without the need for an external power source.
Despite being a melee weapon, the Psytum Sword is highly versatile with a significant ceiling for destructive power. The nature of the sword’s energy blade is influenced by the wielder’s emotions:
Aggressive and Turbulent Emotions: Amplify the sword’s destructive power, making the energy blade more volatile and capable of devastating attacks that can cleave through the toughest armors. However, this volatility risks collateral damage, and in extreme cases, can cause splash damage to the user themselves.
Serene and Calm Emotions: Imbue the sword with a crystalline, razor-sharp energy blade, enhancing precision and allowing for graceful, fluid movements. This state is ideal for precise strikes and controlled combat, minimizing the risk of unintended damage.
10mm Magnum
Legal for purchase and carry by adults in countries like the Terra Alliance (North America), Spain and Japan, these lightweight weapons have found a niche, particularly among American college students. 10mm Magnums are among the most modifiable guns on the market, offering a wide range of upgrades—from extended barrels and enhanced sights to various ammunition types. However, the modifications often exceed the price of the gun itself. While the Alliance also manufactures it to some extent, Taiwan is the leading producer and biggest exporter of this weapon.
Popular among college students in the Alliance and legal adults in several freedom-valuing countries, these pistols are a symbol of personal freedom. Before Taiwan was annexed by the Imperium, these pistols were as ubiquitous as scooters. The province remains a leading manufacturer and exporter of 10mm Magnums to this day.
Medi-Vap
This is an Terra Alliance invention by Dr. Martin then improved by Directorate scholars in the realm of medical care. The pocket-sized, cylindrical vial is designed to be vaporized and inhaled through the lips, this aerosolized medication speeds up the user’s metabolism, facilitating rapid wound healing from bullets, blades, and bruises.
It has also proven effective against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that once plagued humanity, including Syphilis, AIDS, and Gonorrhea. While it has rendered traditional protective measures like condoms obsolete, it also has a drastic side effect: infertility. Excessive use of Medi-Vap has been strongly correlated with infertility in both women and men, as it inadvertently kills both sperm and eggs. This side effect contributes to the broader societal challenge of population decline—a pressing issue in modern societies.
Indra-Sprite
Originating from the culturally rich Indonesia and made from Mangosteen, Salak, Lychee and Blue Durian, Indra-Sprite is an elixir renowned for its replenishing and mood-enhancing effects. A single sip offers an immediate surge of Aether, allowing psionic practitioners to maintain their powers at peak levels. In Indonesian culture, Indra is the king of the gods, often associated with rain and thunderstorms, symbolizing rejuvenation and vitality. This reflects the potion’s nature as a medicinal drink, fitting for its replenishing properties.
Indra-Sprite is also available in water-soluble capsules, which can be added to drinks or taken with water like an average capsule. However, overconsumption of Indra-Sprite when one’s Aether is drained can induce insomnia, anxiety disorders, or recurring stomach pain. Psionic individuals are advised to consult doctors before use.
When Indra-Sprite is over-extracted, its effects change dramatically. Rather than replenishing Aether, it enhances sexual performance and pleasure for a limited time. Men experience increased libido, prolonged erections, and higher semen volume. Women who consume it produce more vaginal lubrication. These effects last between 3 to 7 hours, the exact duration depending on the individual user’s health, age and general physiology. This variant of Indra-Sprite, due to its unique properties, commands a premium price—a staggering 690% higher than the standard version—and is commonly found in night clubs and Leased Lilies venues.
Zephyrium (核風礦)
A crystalline mineral of unparalleled potential, Zephyrium serves as the cornerstone of the Atomic Era’s technological advancement. Originally discovered in the icy depths of Titan, this rare mineral’s ability to facilitate cold fusion has revolutionized energy generation, offering a clean and potent power source for both humans and Radi-Mons. Zephyrium powers sustainable, efficient cold fusion, providing a near-inexhaustible energy source for cities, space vessels, and advanced technologies.
Distribution
- Mercury: Small, scattered deposits that remain largely unexploited due to the logistical challenges of operating on a planet with extreme temperature variations
- Venus: Boasts the highest concentration in the Inner Sol, making it a hotspot for mining operations despite the planet’s harsh conditions
- Earth: Deposits primarily concentrated in Africa, with smaller veins found in extreme environments including deserts, tundras, and highlands
- Osram (Moon): Moderate deposits, heavily contested by major factions
- Mars: Modest deposits comparable to Osram
- Jupiter: High concentrations, particularly on the Galilean moons
- Saturn: Extensive surveys remain incomplete due to the strong Radi-Mon presence; potential deposits obscured by the planet’s powerful electromagnetic fields
- Uranus: Believed to contain the richest deposits in the Sol System, but the extreme distance makes extraction economically impractical
- Neptune: Moderate concentrations theorized to exist, but detailed exploration has been limited by both distance and the mysterious behavior of scanning equipment in Neptune’s orbit
Helionite (日沸泥)
A luminescent slurry with a distinctive green glow, Helionite is the primary byproduct of cold fusion processes powered by Zephyrium. Named after the helium produced in fusion reactions, this substance has become ubiquitous wherever fusion technology operates.
Helionite manifests as a semi-liquid substance with unusual properties that allow it to remain stable under most conditions. Its environmental impact is minimal compared to radioactive waste from fission reactors of the Digital Era, though proper containment remains essential.
Most fusion power facilities store Helionite in secure underground facilities, where it poses little threat to surrounding ecosystems. However, irresponsible disposal has created “Helionite dumps” in various regions, drawing Radi-Mons who consume it as their primary food source.
FAQs
How do currencies function across the different factions in the 23rd century?
The Atomic Dollar (A$) serves as the primary global currency, established by the Atomic Accord to facilitate interplanetary commerce. Digital in nature, it’s backed by a complex algorithm that factors in fusion energy reserves, Zephyrium deposits, and economic productivity across member nations. The Imperium Yuan (¥), while technically pegged to the Atomic Dollar, operates with greater autonomy within Imperial territories and their trade partners. Other regional currencies exist—such as the Directorate Cedis and Covenant Zloty—but most major transactions across faction boundaries use Atomic Dollars for simplicity.
Physical currency has become exceedingly rare, preserved mainly in museums or by collectors. Most transactions occur through encrypted quantum networks, using personal devices like Quantum Watches or Neural Implants that interface directly with banking systems. The verification process involves quantum-encrypted biometric authentication that analyzes over 200 unique physiological markers, making counterfeit transactions virtually impossible. For travelers between factions, currency conversion happens automatically during transactions, with conversion fees determined by current diplomatic relations between the involved factions—another subtle way economic policy reinforces political realities in the modern era.
Why are certain technologies designed differently across factions despite serving similar functions?
Technological divergence across factions reflects both practical necessity and cultural values. The Alliance prioritizes user customization and modular design, exemplified by the highly modifiable 10mm Magnum. Their technology often emphasizes individual expression and market-driven innovation, frequently sacrificing standardization for personalization options. Imperium technology, conversely, follows strict standardization protocols with minimal variation between units, focusing on reliability, longevity, and centralized control—their Thermal Battleaxes undergo rigorous conformity testing before deployment.
The Directorate has pioneered bio-integration and environmental harmony in their designs, developing technologies that work with natural systems rather than against them. Their Sumina staffs incorporate living components that respond to environmental conditions. Meanwhile, Covenant technology often integrates religious symbolism and collective usage paradigms, designed for shared rather than individual ownership. These differences extend beyond mere aesthetics—they influence how technologies are manufactured, distributed, maintained, and eventually recycled within each faction’s territory. This technological divergence serves as both a practical adaptation to different resource availabilities and a powerful expression of each faction’s core philosophical outlook on humanity’s relationship with technology.
How has the prevalence of psionic-activated equipment affected those without psionic abilities?
The rise of psionic-activated technology has created both challenges and opportunities for the non-psionic majority. While weapons like Psytum Swords remain exclusively for psionic users, many manufacturers have developed hybrid technologies accessible to all. The most common approach involves “psionic simulators”—devices that generate artificial psionic fields that non-psionic individuals can interact with through specialized interfaces. For example, civilian-grade “Pseudo-Psytum” tools use standard fusion batteries to generate energy fields that mimic true psionic manifestations, though with significantly reduced power and duration.
Some non-psionic individuals opt for temporary psionic enhancement through drugs like Catalyst-X or specialized Spinal Orbs, granting limited psionic interaction capabilities for specific tasks. Others rely on psionic assistants, either human or advanced androids with integrated psionic circuits. This technological divide has sparked sociopolitical movements advocating for “psionic accessibility” in public infrastructure and technology design. The Alliance has largely embraced market-driven solutions to this divide, while the Directorate has implemented regulations requiring all public facilities to provide non-psionic alternatives. Meanwhile, the Imperium’s approach reflects their social hierarchy, with different access levels based on social standing rather than psionic ability—demonstrating how even technological adaptation becomes another expression of each faction’s fundamental values.