Kal
Whispers
- Intent: A crystalline dovin basal analogue for wacky aliens.
- Image Source: IGNITION by Niels PRAYER
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: Dovin Basal
- Manufacturer: Greystone Mercantile
- Affiliation: Greystone Mercantile
- Market Status: Closed-Market
- Open-Market for Unique/Semi-Unique submissions.
- Model: 'Inkwell' Gravshaper Shardform
- Modularity: Limited, mainly size.
- Production: Minor
- Material: 'Living Crystal'
- 'Shifts in non-euclidean ways' while in use.
- Like the Vong organisms that inspired them, Gravshapers are able to generate powerful gravitational fields for the purpose of propulsion. In contrast to their organic counterparts, they are unable to create micro-black holes to swallow incoming fire but compensate by 'nudging' the paths of projectiles and even lasers. Their defensive potential is inversely proportional to the amount of effort delegated towards mobility.
- Vessels outfitted with sufficient quantities of Gravshapers are able to travel between systems using Superluminal Transit.
- Gravshapers lack the raw destructive potential of Dovin Basals - they could never pull down a moon in a timely manner.
- Gravshapers are nurtured into being in the Netherworld of the Force and retain strong ties to that ephemeral realm even when brought to the coldly-logical Realspace. They are able to pull the vessel to which they are mounted into that dimension or back again, much like a Helldrive, and can even do the same to other objects or vessels under the right circumstances. Doing so offensively is difficult, but not inconceivable.
- An unusual tactic known as 'Arctin's Transposition' makes full use of this, using Gravshapers to open a temporary rift to their home and a Nethermancer to yank forth hostile spirits, unstable anomalies, and other otherworldly phenomena. Attempting such a thing without a properly trained Force User is a recipe for disappointment - the Netherworld is vast enough that nothing's liable to cross.
- Defying Gravity: Much like their Vong counterparts, Gravshapers are capable of nonstandard propulsion by manipulating local gravity. They are able to use this same ability to 'nudge' incoming weapons fire away from their path, a highly energy-effective way of protecting a vessel.
- Netherformed: Gravshapers retain a link to the Nether and can drag their vessels - and occasionally other objects - into and out of it.
- Gravitic Interference: Interdiction fields interfere with the anomalous properties of Gravshapers, lowering their performance in all fields.
- Exclusive Attention: Individual Gravshapers can focus on only one task at a time; defence comes at the expense of mobility, etc.
Anomalous crystalline structures capable of manipulating local gravity for a variety of purposes, most commonly propulsion, Gravshapers are rightly counted among Greystone's least comprehensible inventions. While in use they appear 'alive', shifting strangely in response to unseen currents of energy, but no such activity can be recorded while they are inert. They are relatively fragile to direct assault but can survive truly extreme pressure.
A lesson in contrasts, they exist to manipulate the firmly defined laws of Realspace but are typically nurtured forth in remote facilities located in the remotest corners of the Netherworld of the Force. While impressively versatile, any one Gravshaper can only focus on one task at a time.
How exactly these strange devices function is poorly understood by most who encounter them, but there are several similarities to Yuuzhan Vong Dovin Basals, not to mention the common repulsor. Whatever their true nature, their effects are relatively simple - no micro-singularities here.
