Ectoscopic Pod
by Professor Harvey Wangenstein, Electrodyne Engineer
March 13, 1883The Umbral Dimensions are truly fascinating to study. The varied structures, inhabitants and compositions of these Realms offer any Scientist a lifetime -- several lifetimes, in fact -- worth of Scientific research opportunities. However, it can be quite tasking to try and keep our Dimension and others consistently separate from one another. Stories of 'haunted' buildings and locations are very common. These sites, with their spectral visions and psychokinetic phenomena, may simply be points of weakness in the 'walls' between our Dimension and one or more others. The abilities of most documented Umbral beings make them a likely source of the disturbances connected with haunted areas. However, while it is easy to diagnose such cases as being of Umbral origin, resolving them remains entirely another matter. Just detecting an Umbral being within our Dimension can be very arduous unless it is that creature's wish to be detected. Should the Umbral entity prove hostile, dealing with the situation becomes that much more difficult and dangerous. If Man can detect the properties of other unseen elements such as atmosphere, (the as-yet publicly unannounced) X-rays, temporons and the like, should He not also be able to detect the presence of Visitors from the Umbral Dimensions? He should, and with the aid of Science, He can.
The Stuff of Umbra was once thought to be untouchable, uncontainable and virtually unknowable. However, as with most things, Time proves such thoughts patently false. Coalesced Umbral Essence, while not common, is used in Experiments that involve the more exotic, alternate Dimensions. The Essence is a substance that can touch and be touched by both ordinary and Umbral materials in our Dimension, making it invaluable for matters involving Umbral entities. It is important to note that its functionality is curtailed by one small detail: once coalesced, the Essence has a life span of approximately one hour. This limitation means that permanent cross-Dimensional structures and objects must, for the moment, wait. I myself have been able to step around this time limit by chemically separating the Essence into two inert components, one a liquid and the other a rubbery solid. Separating the Essential components in this way reduces their volume by a factor of one-hundred, making them much easier to store and transport. When re-combined, the two components react with one another, returning to their former state and volume. It is this reaction that makes the Ectoscopic Pod possible.
The Pod is a green, cylindrical object about the size of a single stick of dynamite and made of the solid Essence component. At the center of the Pod is a long, thin vial. Inside the vial is the liquid Essence component. The user bends the Pod in his hands until he feels the vial break. At this point, the solid and liquid components begin reacting with one another and forming the Coalesced Umbral Essence. The user then has approximately six seconds to relieve himself of the Pod before internal pressure causes it to break down and explosively release the re-formed Essence contained inside. Under normal use, the user breaks the vial and hurls it into the area suspected of containing an Umbral prescence. After six seconds have elapsed, all objects Umbral and Material within a twenty-foot radius are coated with a thin white layer of a material resembling nothing so much as cottage cheese. This substance will reveal the presence of invisible creatures or objects hidden through simple optical illusions. It will also cover any Umbral being or object within the area of effect, whether incorporeal or solid. While the Essence is completely non-toxic, both to Earthly and Umbral beings, its consistency and lightly adhesive nature can be disconcerting. Once the Coalesced Umbral Essence reforms, it resumes its deterioration. Because Nature (even extra-dimensional Nature) seeks a state of homeostasis, the Umbral component slowly 'leaks', for lack of a better term, back to its original Dimension. At the same time, the Material component evaporates into the atmosphere. The substance vanishes completely after one hour and leaves behind no residue of any sort.
Incidentally, the Coalesced Umbral Essence released by the Ectoscopic Pod will also put out small fires, and ability I've found very useful in my experiments and travels. Several times, I've taken a refreshing one hour break while a number of Ectoscopic Pods extinguish my laboratory for me after a miscalculation or misstep brought lamentably flammable consequences. In all, I believe that the Ectoscopic Pod will be a valuable tool in all cases of suspected extra-dimensional activity.
GAME NOTES
(Second Edition.) Using Matter ••, Prime ••, Spirit ••, the Scientist creates a substance that can touch both Matter and Spirit-beings and objects. While it can touch immaterial Spirit-beings, this formula cannot touch non-Spirit lifeforms who are phased. To do so requires the addition of Life •••. The Professor's formula for Coalesced Umbral Essence can, indeed, extinguish small fires. Larger fires may require more than one Pod. If the burning material combusts spontaneously in the presence of oxygen (like phosphorus), the coating of Essence will keep it extinguished until the Essence evaporates one hour later.
1999 Derek D. Bass
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