Thresher Mist: The Fog That Remembers
Properties
Material Characteristics
To the eye, Thresher Mist appears like an innocent morning fog—but it hangs unnaturally still, like breath held in terror. Under focused light it refracts in strange ripples, forming veils that twist without wind. In darkness, it seems to glow faintly where it brushes living skin. The Church likens it to a ghost net, while Engineers have called it “frost smoke made sentient.”
Physical & Chemical Properties
- Physical: Weightless, mobile, and highly reactive to heat, sound, and bioelectric activity.
- Chemical: Mildly acidic (pH ~5.2), unstable in open air; bonds rapidly with organic oils and moist tissue.
- Other: Exhibits semi-conscious behavior in high concentrations—pools in corners, avoids wind, and may “follow” infected hosts.
- Hazards: Induces hallucinations, nausea, and memory flashbacks in exposed individuals, especially those with Sonohoka Syndrome.
Compounds
- Incorporated (illegally) into Wake-Serum, a stimulant used in interrogations.
- The Solstice Syndicate distills it into Dreamtide, a powerful psychic enhancer and narcotic.
- Under clinical containment, Doctors have tested Thresher Mist as a diagnostic for neurodegenerative conditions due to its reactivity to neural tissue. Trials ended in 102 SE after a subject collapsed from “memory flooding.”
Type
Nanomaterial
Value
800$
Rarity
Uncommmon (TL4)
Odor
A distinctive blend of burned cinnamon, ozone, and rotting wood. Stronger when agitated or heated.
Taste
Acrid, metallic tang with notes of mold and spoiled sugar. Victims often describe an “electrical numbness” across the tongue and teeth.
Color
Pale gray to blue-white in neutral state; can shimmer faintly pink in darkness or near infected individuals.
Boiling / Condensation Point
Begins to condense into a visible fog at 34°C (93°F) and evaporates fully by 55°C (131°F).
Melting / Freezing Point
Not applicable; behaves as a nanoparticle aerosol rather than a traditional solid/liquid.
Density
Significantly lighter than air; hovers and clings to ceilings, rafters, and high alcoves.
Related Locations
Related Species
Related Professions
Geology & Geography
- Most commonly found in the Drowned Trenches northeast of Camp Hope—zones once riddled with Old World combat androids and drone swarms.
- Seen in decayed bunkers, reactor ruins, and collapsed neurotech labs.
- Appearance Triggers: Seems to awaken in the presence of electrical heat, magnetic pulses, or emotional trauma.
Origin & Source
Thresher Mist is a byproduct of decaying nanite clusters—specifically, obsolete combat medical swarms deployed in the Fall. As they overheat or degrade, they vaporize into the Mist rather than decompose. The term “Thresher” originates from Field Medica reports in 21 SE describing “a white mist that threshes the mind like grain.”Life & Expiration
Stability: Highly unstable outside sealed environments. Fully dissipates in 72–96 hours unless sealed or recharged with electromagnetic pulses. Degradation Products: Leaves behind ferrous ash and neuro-reactive dust, which can cause secondary contamination.Thresher Mist is not merely a material—it is memory weaponized by time, the ghosts of the Fall made molecular. Beware the breath you cannot trace, and the dreams that are not your own.
History & Usage
History
Cultural Significance and Usage
Church of Hope: Thresher exposure is part of “The Fire Veil Trials,” an illegal rite among radical Faith Students. Survivors are said to have seen God’s memory. Common Superstition: Misty breath on a clear day is said to mean the Thresher watches you. Children are told to stay silent in its presence.Industrial Use
No known safe industrial usage. Research into Mist-reactive metals was halted after catastrophic accidents in Engineer labs. Some speculative biotech attempts exist to “tame” the mist into psychic computing substrates.Refinement
Refinement is dangerous and unstable. The Doctors’ Quarantine Wing utilizes magnetic fields and thermal chambers to isolate microspores into concentrated canisters. Syndicate distillers use biosynthetic mycelial filters to “milk” the mist from fungal habitats—dangerous, unpredictable, and often fatal.Manufacturing & Products
Wake-Serum (banned)
Dreamtide (illegal)
Thresher Glass: A rare, luminescent ceramic created when Mist fuses with sand—used in relic artistry and psychic trinkets.
Byproducts & Sideproducts
- Ferrous Ash: Contains trace nanite fragments that may self-assemble in wet environments.
- Neural bleed: Some victims report persistent shared dreams and voices long after exposure.
Hazards
- Health: Neurotoxic. Prolonged exposure leads to dissociation, convulsions, long-term memory degradation, or obsessional behaviors.
- Psychological: Can reawaken trauma loops in victims with prior Sonohoka exposure.
- Occupational Risk: Handling requires sealed suits, neutralizing agents, and anti-hallucinogen injections.
Environmental Impact
Contamination: Lingers in ruins, pollutes groundwater, and disrupts migratory behavior in local fauna. Ecological Collapse: Infected zones lose all bird and insect life—only Others seem unaffected or drawn to it.Reusability & Recycling
Thresher Mist cannot be truly recycled—it is entropic. However, certain Doctors and Priests theorize it retains informational “ghosts."Distribution
Trade & Market
- Market Status: Strictly controlled. High black-market value in Camp Hope
- Value: One vial of refined Mist can sell for 500–800 credits to a Syndicate agent or rogue chemist.
- Barter Use: Occasionally traded for neural stabilizers or pre-Fall tech fragments.
Storage
Must be kept in stasis flasks with Faraday shielding and cold compression.Law & Regulation
Legal Status: Classified as a Category II Neural Hazard under Camp Hope Medical Law. Regulated By: The Doctors and Town Watch; possession punishable by seizure, fines, or detainment.The Mist is memory undone—God’s breath turned sour by the sins of our forebears. To walk within it is to be judged, and only the Pure shall emerge with soul unscorched.
This is an eerie article and I love the concept. Start to finish I think its fantastic. Its a well thought out and interesting with the lore surrounding it as well. I enjoyed reading it, well done :)
Thank you so much!