The Fallen
Overview
Section titled “Overview”The Fallen are the enemy of civilization — the heretics who trap souls in dead bodies, denying them passage to Source. They were defeated a thousand years ago. They have been rebuilding ever since.
Origin
Section titled “Origin”The Fallen emerged from the Shadow, one of the original six Orders charged with protecting and shepherding civilization:
| Phase | Description |
|---|---|
| Origin | The Order of the Shadow studied death and transition |
| Heresy | They concluded Source was annihilation, not transcendence |
| Development | They created technology to trap souls in bodies |
| Schism | War between Orders; apparent defeat |
| Survival | They fled to deep space; have been building ever since |
See: Order History
What They Do
Section titled “What They Do”Reanimation
Section titled “Reanimation”The core of Fallen technology: Reanimate Tech.
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| The body | Preserved or reconstructed dead flesh |
| The soul | Consciousness trapped within by technology |
| The control | Nanotechnic work allowing remote direction |
| The horror | The soul is aware, screaming, unable to escape |
Processing
Section titled “Processing”How they create more Reanimated:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| Harvest | Kill or capture living beings |
| Death | Either they’re already dead or they’re killed |
| Capture | Nanotechnic implants trap the soul before passage |
| Reactivation | The body is restored to function |
| Control | The consciousness can be directed |
The Trapped Experience
Section titled “The Trapped Experience”The Reanimated are not mindless:
“They feel. They see. They hear. They cannot speak except as directed. They cannot act except as commanded. They cannot die except as permitted. They are prisoners in their own corpses.”
Types of Fallen Agents
Section titled “Types of Fallen Agents”| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Reanimated/Necrosynths | Dead bodies with trapped souls; visible if examined |
| True Believers | Living people who chose the Fallen philosophy |
| Coerced | Living people under pressure; blackmail, threats |
| Sleepers | Descendants of original Necrosynths; activated by signal |
| Unknowing | People serving without knowing who they serve |
| The Converted | Recently “processed” but functioning normally |
The Architect
Section titled “The Architect”The mind behind the Necrosynth resurgence:
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Origin | The original leader who articulated the heresy |
| Age | Over a thousand years old; preserved through their own technology |
| Role | Strategic mastermind; the planner of the three-front war |
| Motivation | Genuine belief that they’re saving souls from extinction |
See: The Architect
The Instrument
Section titled “The Instrument”The Architect’s primary subordinate:
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Role | ”You are my Instrument” — the executing hand |
| Function | Carries out the Architect’s plans |
| Relationship | Like Morgoth/Sauron; master and devoted servant |
| Identity | True name unknown; learning it should land like tragedy |
The Mole
Section titled “The Mole”Someone on The Thirteen is compromised:
| Question | Options |
|---|---|
| Nature | Reanimated? True believer? Blackmailed? |
| Identity | Which Ordermaster or Lord Commander? |
| Companion | Is their Companion complicit or imprisoned? |
| Influence | What decisions have they steered? |
The Companion Dilemma
Section titled “The Companion Dilemma”If a Thirteen member is compromised, what about their Companion?
| Option | Horror |
|---|---|
| Complicit | The AI is Necrosynth-aligned; joined willingly or was corrupted |
| Imprisoned | The Companion watches, helpless, as their Knight betrays everything |
| Disabled | The mole somehow operates without full Companion function |
| Fooled | Compartmentalization — the Companion doesn’t know |
Option 2 — the imprisoned Companion — is narratively richest.
Detection
Section titled “Detection”How to identify Necrosynth agents:
| Method | Reliability |
|---|---|
| Current soul-sense | Detects trapped souls in Reanimated; not living agents |
| Behavioral analysis | Living agents may show patterns |
| Physical examination | Nanotechnic implants can be found with right equipment |
| Companion monitoring | Unusual Companion behavior might indicate |
| Investigation | Traditional intelligence work |
The problem: many agents aren’t Reanimated and won’t trigger soul-sense.
The Numbers Game
Section titled “The Numbers Game”The Fallen advantage:
| Factor | Necrosynth | Orders |
|---|---|---|
| Personnel | Grows with every battle | Finite |
| Resource needs | Minimal | High |
| Morale | Not a factor | Critical |
| Time | A thousand years of preparation | Caught off-guard |
Story Role
Section titled “Story Role”- The enemy — The threat that drives all conflict
- The mirror — What the Orders could become
- The tragedy — They believe they’re saving people
- The infiltration — They’re already inside
Questions to Resolve
Section titled “Questions to Resolve”- Can Reanimated ever be freed?
- How many living true believers exist?
- What is the Instrument’s true name?
- Who is the mole on The Thirteen?
- How did the Fallen survive their “defeat”?