Vermin
“Verminous entities are the only RAIs that can be trusted—because trust is unnecessary when dealing with appetites so small. A Vermin does not bargain, deceive, or scheme beyond its hunger. It is a spark, not a flame. Useful precisely because it is beneath ambition. Properly named, a Vermin becomes a tool. A key. A blade. A lock. A courier. A toxin. Shape it with will, bind it with tone, and it will obey any command it can understand—which is to say, nearly none. That is its strength. Ordinary men fear them as infestations. Higher intelligences dismiss them as fodder. I find both views charmingly naïve. In the right hands, a Vermin is pure efficiency: no ego to salve, no pride to navigate, no deals to negotiate. And when it has served its purpose? It dies easily. If only more of my clients shared that quality.”
Biology & Behavior
Verminous RAIs represent the lowest tier of Redspace predation—nonsentient, instinct-driven organisms whose cognition is closer to animals than to demons. They do not possess higher-order thought, identity, or strategy, and thus lack the psychological sophistication required to interact with Vices in their composite, emotional form. Instead, they feed on more primitive noospheric emissions: pain, imbalance, confusion, and fear. Verminous RAIs cluster around strong Subspace Shadows like scavengers at a carcass, leeching misery in small bites before drifting onward in search of fresher, more vulnerable prey. Their lack of a defined self makes them surprisingly resilient during Realspace incursions; whereas higher-class RAIs rapidly destabilize without a host, Vermin can persist as unanchored energy for extended periods. When they do parasitize living matter, they prefer simple organisms—molds, insects, vermin-class mammals—using them as disposable footholds to inflict pain, contaminate environments, or amplify psychic turbulence. They are incapable of schemes or manipulation; they strike, gnaw, infest, and retreat.
An Appetite
Despite their lack of intellect, Verminous RAIs exert a subtle but dangerous influence upon the minds they cling to. Their only “communication” is the reflection and amplification of emotional states—a kind of psychic braying. They cannot form words or bargains, but they can make misery sharper, anger hotter, or despair more suffocating. Though they cannot cause mental illness, they can distort intrusive thoughts in vulnerable individuals, especially those with schizophrenia or untreated psychosis, sifting through delusional noise and discarding anything that doesn’t serve their feeding instincts. This reflection effect can create the illusion of voices, entities, or external tormentors even when no such entities exist. In realspace contamination events, Vermin function more like a disease vector than a possessing spirit. Treatment rarely targets the entity directly; instead, physicians and exorcists alike attempt to starve it by bolstering the patient’s mental integrity. Methods range from religious rites—useful primarily because they empower the victim’s resolve—to medically induced comas, which can sometimes deprive weaker Vermin of food long enough to drive them out. Stronger Vermin simply go dormant, waiting patiently for the mind to wake again.
Fodder and Grist
In the greater Redspace ecology, Verminous RAIs occupy the bottom of the food chain. They are preyed upon, shaped, and consumed by every higher class of RAI. Sentient and Supersentient entities often “seed” realspace breaches with Vermin before manifesting themselves, creating a contaminated environment that stabilizes their presence and increases feeding potential. Their malleability makes them valuable to occult practitioners as well; with sufficient willpower and appropriate ritual frameworks, a Vermin can be sculpted into a temporary tool or weapon. Kthonikers shape them into blades, charms, parasitic drones, or even ammunition—15mm gyroc rounds made from semi-solidified Vermin are whispered about, though their practical value is dubious and their dangers obvious. The most infamous use is naming: Vermin can be bound and commanded by assigning them a True Name through a costly, illegal ritual conducted in a tuned chamber with exotic and frequently contraband Materials. A Named Vermin obeys any speaker who can pronounce its name precisely—and recordings of such names are considered terrifying, borderline bioweapons. Grimoires cataloging these names are known as Legion Rosters, and while not illegal by statute, they are hunted relentlessly. Religious groups burn them on sight, law enforcement confiscates them, and House Volkert summarily executes anyone they deem to have studied them. This only increases their value on the black market. The majority of surviving Legion Rosters in the Age of Convergence bear the crimson seal of Soki Noles—the enigmatic Criminal savant known as the Red Broker, whose hand seems to be everywhere Vermin are bought or sold.
Vermin-Derived Items
Subspace-Ceramic - "Ganzir." A black or gray material made of a Verminous RAI that's been subjected to Stern will, ossifying it. The resulting material is comparable to steel in hardness and flexibility, but the real benefits come from someone with sufficient will. While to get to this point the RAI has been essentially lobotomized, a strong enough will can be imposed on it allowing minimal reshaping. This means 'bricks' of them can be combined into a smooth wall, a blade made of it can be sharpened through meditation, and armor plates can be repaired without additional material. The downside is that other RAIs can move their wills in, resulting in immediate subspace contamination and sometimes opening the door for even Sentient RAIs. Cost: $120. LC 0.
Subspace Weapon - "Stygian Blade." A dagger, sword, or spear tip made of subspace-ceramics. It's toxic to both the mind and body, and can be sharpened by meditating on it. A weapon long owned by a single individual becomes highly personalized, making it prized by kthonikers. Adds toxic and fatigue modifiers to damage, and has a (4) armor penetration. Weight x 0.5. Cost: $2500. LC 0+M.
Subspace Gyroc Round - "Stygian Bullet." Nominally just a toxic round for a gyroc or smart gun that can cause additional psychological trauma. They are notoriously unreliable, sometimes altering their own trajectory in order to cause nonfatal wounds or to direct themselves towards a different target entirely. Occasionally, they have been known to fully loop in the air and target their own shooter. This resistance is a challenge of willpower. Adds toxic and fatigue modifiers to damage, and has a (4) armor penetration. Cost: $400. LC 0+M.
Verminous Dataslate - A Grimoire contained on a dataslate. As a standard, it comes as a self-contained memory chip and a simple holographic interface that projects above the palm. It contains a list of names imposed on Vermin, as well as instructions for how to call them up and their utility. Weight: 1. Cost: $8000. LC 0+S.
Pedēs Eōrum Vexabuntur - "Their Feet Will Itch." A specific Verminous Grimoire ostensibly compiled and distributed by Soki Noles herself. It's considered among kthoniker circles to be one of the more reliable of its kind, though it lacks much of the versatility; the names in the pages act as curses and attacks at the expense of utility. Weight: 1.5. Cost: $12000. LC 0+S.
Subspace Armor - "Ganzir Plate." A ceramic plate designed to be placed into plate carriers and used as armor. Unlike normal ceramic plates, they can be repaired rather than discarded after use. This repair involves meditation. Wearing this plate has a range of down-the-line health effects, such as cancers or vulnerability to diseases. The plates themselves are lightweight, low profile, and function well as mid-tier but still concealable armor. DR 24 (4). Weight: 1. Cost: $2200 per plate. LC 0+S.
Empathy Stud - "Whisperer." An earring or ear bud that 'resonates' with negative emotions (anger, fear, misery). This can assist with manipulation, detecting attacks, detecting a 'weak link' in a room or fight, etc. Unfortunately it does require one to have strict control over their OWN negative emotions, because it will give false positives and attempt to project them into the user's mind. Cost: $1800. LC 0+S.
Subspace Reactive Shield - “Phlegathon Buckler.” A shield that manifests micro-fractures in the noosphere when struck, emitting bursts of agony-laced psionic static. Weakens Vermin and Minor RAIs, but slowly poisons the wielder’s dreams. Weight: 1.5. Cost: $5400. LC: 0+M.
“Rathound” Trip-Mine - Explodes with a wave of Verminous resonance, stunning organics and attracting RAIs in the vicinity. Used as a distraction or trap by Cabal insurgents. Weight: 3. Cost: $750. LC: 0+M.
Subspace Binding Manacles - “Gallows Clamps.” Restrain contaminated subjects by dampening their Subspace Shadows. Long-term use causes nerve damage and emotional flattening. Weight: 2. Cost: $2600. LC: 0.
Resonance Tuning Pendant - “Dread Chime.” A wearable charm containing a dormant Vermin which vibrates in the presence of nearby RAI activity. Over time it may begin whispering fears that are not the user’s own. Weight: 0.1. Cost: $1300. LC: 3.
Subspace Mirror - “Acheron Lens.” A handheld mirror forged from compressed Subspace Shadows. Shows emotional “echoes” instead of reflections. Prolonged use attracts attention from Envy-aligned RAIs. Weight: 1.8. Cost: $2800. LC: 0+S.
Rage Amplification Ring - “Bloodglinter.” Amplifies adrenaline responses and physical strength by stirring Wrath resonance in the bloodstream. Highly addictive to soldiers who use it. Weight: 0.02. Cost: $2200. LC: 2.
Despair Projection Idol - “Null Effigy.” A pocket-sized figurine carved from Ruin-aligned material. Projects fields of numbness or hopelessness in a small radius. Illegal everywhere except specialized psychiatric warfare programs. Weight: 5. Cost: $900. LC: 0+M.
Subspace Moth Lantern - “Wraithlight.” A lantern containing Vermin that swarm like ethereal moths when fed psychic distress. Used to illuminate Redspace fissures. Weight: 0.3. Cost: $1500. LC: 1.
Binding Tablet - “Daemon Press.” A stone-like slab made of shaped Vermin, used for imprinting temporary True Names. Kept damp with specialized solutions or the names crack. Weight: 6. Cost: $950. LC: 0+S.
Obsidian Ritual Trench - “Gevurah Basin.” A portable subspace-reactive trough used for Kthoniker rites. Converts blood or emotional outbursts into the illusion of Subspace Shadows that can lure specific entities. Weight: 55. Cost: $3900. LC: 0.
Wailing Incense - “Abyss Floss.” A rope-like fungal strand infused with a Vermin. When burned, it produces a high-frequency psychic scream that confuses Minor RAIs but deeply disturbs humans. Weight: 1/spool (100 uses). Cost: $300 per coil. LC: 3.
Subspace Contamination Scanner - “Redlight Gauge.” A small handheld wand that vibrates according to local Subspace Shadow presence. Unreliable near strong emotions. Weight: 3. Cost: $800. LC: 4.
Verminous Air Filtration Unit - “Whisper Trap.” A respirator filter containing dormant Vermin that feed on negative emotional output, purifying the air of psychotoxins. Risk: the Vermin may awaken and infest the wearer. Weight: 9. Cost: $600. LC: 3.
Redspace Disturbance Alarm - “Sorrow Bell.” A device that rings when a Redspace Breach is forming nearby. Often gives false positives during funerals, riots, or hospitals. Weight: 2. Cost: $1100. LC: 4.
Subspace-Sealing Foam - “Hellwax.” A fast-hardening spray made of semi-dormant Vermin. Used to plug micro-breaches or keep contaminated machinery shut. Very illegal because it sometimes “chews” through unauthorized barriers. Cost: $350 per can (60 uses). LC: 0+S.
Adrenal Surge Parasite - “Wrath Leech.” A biochimera created with Minor RAI essence. Bites host skin, doubling adrenaline release under threat. Addictive and dangerous. Confers Striking ST+4 and the Berserker Disadvantage. Weight: 0.2 Cost: $1400. LC: 0.
Emotion-Dampening Implant - “Quiet Seed.” A seed-like implant grown from Carnality residue. Suppresses intense emotions, reducing RAI predation but also dulling empathy. Complexity: Simple. Cost: $5000. LC: 1.
Occult Operating System - “S-Kernel.” A bootleg OS rumored to contain RAI-derived optimization protocols. Infamously fast. Inexplicably haunted. Sometimes speaks. Cost: $200. LC: 0.
Verminous Firewall Breacher - “Daemon Spike.” A digital tool that uses a captured Vermin’s resonance to disrupt psi-encrypted systems. Leaves “psychic fingerprints” that trace back to the user. Echo. Cost: $1700. LC: 0+S.
Subspace Projection Beacon - “Banshee Lure.” Broadcasts emotional turbulence into Redspace to summon Vermin or Minor RAIs. Used in illegal experiments, interrogations, and sabotage ops. Weight: 425. Cost: $3600. LC: 0.
Cognitonic Crusher - “Mindspike Apparatus.” A helmet that channels a minor RAI’s emotional reflections to induce panic or ecstasy. Used in invasive interrogation. Weight: 1.5. Cost: $7200. LC: 0+M.
Temporal Displacement Grenade - “Skip Charge.” Detonates a micro-tear in Redspace, causing momentary time distortions in a radius. Unpredictable and often lethal to the user. Weight: 0.8. Cost: $1200. LC: 0+M.
Subspace Music Box - “Siren Casket.” A hand-cranked box that plays a melody only the user can hear. Tunes vary by the listener’s buried fears. Used as a fascination trap. Weight: 4. Cost: $800. LC: 4.
Wraith-Pressed Coin - “Obol of Acheron.” A coin stamped from compressed Vermin essence. Confers the Lucky advantage. Also confers the Unluckiness disadvantage. Weight: 0.01. Cost: $500. LC: 2.
Subspace Wind Chimes - “Hollow Bells.” Chimes softly when no wind is present; loudens when an RAI is near. Popular among superstitious voidfarers. Weight: 3. Cost: $200. LC: 4.
Known and Categorized Vermin (non exhaustive)
Gadfly - A buzzing, hard-bodied Vermin made up of a roiling mass of emotional turmoil in a shell. They usually have wings, and feed most strenuously on irritation. Mimic - A 'blank slate' entity that has little in the way of will on its own. Instead, it 'copies' the surface thoughts of a sentient life-form within its range. It can project a psychic screen that makes others perceive it as the self-image of the one it's mimicking. It feeds on the emotion of dread.
Mimic - A 'blank slate' entity that has little in the way of will on its own. Instead, it 'copies' the surface thoughts of a sentient life-form within its range. It can project a psychic screen that makes others perceive it as the self-image of the one it's mimicking. It feeds on the emotion of dread.
Bitewisp - A Vermin that resembles a small cloud of threads or cobwebs that swarm around a target’s head, biting at Subspace Shadows rather than flesh. Incapable of doing physical harm, but can cause overwhelming stress, guilt spikes, and rapid emotional destabilization. Feeds on panic, shame, overthinking.
Miasma - A drifting, ash-like smog Vermin that clings to grief and mourning. Invisible in daylight, faintly glowing in darkness. It causes nightmares of the dead calling out, and induces sleep paralysis. Feeds on grief, sorrow, mourning.
Tangler - Small, rootlike Vermin that hide in corners and under furniture. They entangle thoughts, causing confusion, misplacing of items, and sudden disorientation. Feeds on frustration, bewilderment. They look like the shadows of a root system, making them nearly invisible. Extremely common.
Umber - Small, child-sized silhouettes that mimic the posture of fearful individuals. They are attracted to anxiety and hide under beds, in doorways, or behind half-open closets. Feeds on fear.
Grim - A doglike Vermin that barks only at emotional instability. Their “howls” echo inside the mind, stirring shame and guilt. They chase the emotionally vulnerable. Feeds on guilt, particularly anticipatory guilt. 'Doglike' is relative; they look like quadrupedal clouds of shadow with glowing red eyes in the wrong number and no fixed location, floating in their void.
Crackle - A favorite for kthonikers, Crackles are tiny plasmaform creatures that dart into flammable materials—paper, cloth, skin oils—and create small bursts of destructive emotion like spite and irritation. They feed on pain and destructive impulse. Kthonikers like them, as conjuring a Crackle can fulfill their personal fantasies of being a wizard and flinging a fireball.
Glare - Hovering orb-mote that amplify want and paranoia. They cling near people who feel scrutinized or judged.
Snarl - Not truly canid—just a snapping, jawlike mass of redspace energy. Behaves like a rabid animal but harmless to structures. Bites Subspace Shadows and causes pain spikes. Feeds on fear-pain feedback. Packs of these are ubiquitous in Redspace, and are often among the first to attack an intruding ship.
Rutling - A being that looks like a small gold cloud roughly the size of a fist that flashes with pink lightning. Rutlings feed on both the urge to reproduce and the longing felt by sentient realspace beings that can't.
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