The Angels

ANGELS

An angel is to a chimera what a ballistic missile is to a bow and arrow: the logical conclusion.  Such a dreadful tool is beyond the reach of all but a handful of the most powerful and secretive actors.  And of those who could even bring such a thing into the world only a handful dare try.  Usually there's no point.  The category of problems that can be solved with an Angel is almost entirely coextensive with the category of problems that can also be solved with a thermonuclear warhead at a hundred-thousandth of the price.  But sometimes the only solution to a problem is a walking basilisk hack broadcasting arcane formulae on every auditory and electromagnetic frequency.  It isn't using the magic: you are and the only safe way to handle arcane formulae is to use them without thinking about them . . . .  

Angels are very secret (and rarely leave survivors to tell tales).  The least of them can work alongside specialized chimeras.  The greatest are a localized extinction event given shape.  

Angels are highly intelligent but barely self-aware.  Like every chimera, there is a human brain somewhere inside but anything resembling humanity is long gone.  You can talk to one if you like; it can understand you (and also read your mind).  But what would such a creature have to say to you?

An Angel is big -- far too big for reality to fully contain.  The world twists and contorts to accommodate them.  Much of an Angel's bulk resides in hyperspace. The physical body is nothing more than a puppet.  The puppeteer is elsewhere and the destruction of its physical body is a minor nuisance.  As with any hyperspace conduit in or near a gravity well, Angels tend to leave fertile ground for the Gaunt for decades after their use.  If you have a problem that requires an angel, this is usually regarded as an acceptable sacrifice.

When an angel is not in use, it sleeps.  Housed in enormous golden sarcophagi micro-etched with arcane formulae and helium-chilled to three degrees Kelvin.  Surrounded by triple-redundant magical white noise generators.  Organic components drugged into a stupor with neurotoxins.  Strapped to a weaponized warp core should any of those other forms of containment fail.  

This is Humanity's last line of defense.  Never used lightly.

A LESSER ANGEL

Lesser Angels are the only sort a player could conceivably survive.  Greater Angels do not require stats -- you wouldn't try to engage Cthulhu in gunfight. 

 

ENTITY DESIGNATION K-24η

A low drone in your head. A visceral dread at the back of your throat and deep in your stomach.  A n infrasonic roar; loud as a jet engine but barely audible.  Awe.  Electronics announce its presence and bend to its will.  The sensation of a phantom presence just out of your sight. 

K-24η is an unusually precise tool currently in the possession of Rhombus Technical Services.  As Angels go, it sees frequent use.  K-24η cannot be directly observed and cannot be attacked unless it is indirectly observed.  This exposes the indirect observer to the Angel's attack.

It is physically present next to everything within 250m. It usually appears behind all intelligent beings unless faced with a credible threat.  It always appears behind a target it has directly attacked.  In theory it can  target all indirect observers regardless of distance.  In practice K-24η is limited by lightspeed lag and can only effectively target indirect observers within 1 light-second.     

      

COMBAT: 70

INSTINCT:  80

SPEED:  The Angel is always adjacent to you.  All of you.  Always.

HITS: 4 (2MDMG)  The Angel will regenerate in 1d10 minutes.  Immune to ordinary damage.

Attacks against any target within 250m 1/round:

5d10 against 3 targets

OR FEAR save or panic.  The Angel may pick a second target.  That target saves at [+].  The Angel always knows who is most likely to break and always targets that person.

Attacks against all indirect observers:

1d10 damage to FEAR  (SANITY for half)

1 point of stress (no save), ability cannot be controlled, affects friendlies 

AND 3d10 against any 3 targets

SPECIAL ABILITIES:

• Cannot be directly observed.  Can only be attacked if viewed with an electronic sensor (you may attack any instance of the angel within 250m)
• May control any electronic device within 250m (or, if observed, any electronic sensor within 1 light-second).  Use of this ability limits the Angel's power but can protect it from detection or orbital bombardment.

UNIQUE EQUIPMENT:

Angelic Censor (requires slicksocket, 1 slickslot) -- functions in a similar manner to an ANI; protects against stress caused by K-24η and allows safe indirect observation.  K-24η could easily turn a censor off if it wished.  Unique item used to enable friendly operators to work alongside the Angel.