“The townsfolk’d sooner flay us alive than have us destroy the alien idol.” - Dorothea von Petrica, Exorcist of the Witchblight Syndicate

Heralds of the Mother Comet

Our line-up of cosmic horrors begins small and quaint. The first to break off from Ragnorra and approach a planet, the heralds of her imminent arrival, and the great long-term deceivers of her Progeny: Idea Shapers.

All Progeny come directly from Ragnorra. But Idea Shapers move the fastest and survive the longest within the vacuum of space. Like a caterpillar in a cocoon, Idea Shapers split away as undeveloped potential wrapped and protected under numerous layers of Ragnorra’s flesh. This ‘cocoon’ hurtles through space at speeds of many miles per second, far faster than Ragnorra herself.

The cocoon is largely destroyed in the atmosphere of a targeted planet, and fully destroyed on impact. Rising from a small crater comes the Idea Shaper, an emaciated humanoid with enormous orb-like eyes, a useless sliver of a mouth, and seven distinct openings on its face that facilitate perfectly efficient breathing.

Unlike other members of the Progeny, the Idea Shaper is not suited for combat. In fact, it is extremely frail. Even an untrained commoner could slay an Idea Shaper with little difficulty. The Idea Shaper knows it is weak, and it knows that many would react to it with hostility. So instead, the Idea Shaper slinks off to some darkened secluded forgotten corner, crevice, cave, or crack and simple waits.

Cosmic Influencers

When an Idea Shaper finds a relatively safe location to hide, it will begin its primary function. Using all seven breathing openings, the Idea Shaper enters into a virtually indefinite meditative trance. The Idea Shaper uses almost zero energy while in this state, purges its body of bacteria and germs, and begins to psychically augment reality around itself. It may take months, or years, but slowly the Idea Shaper takes root within a location.

As the Idea Shaper meditates more and more, its influence grows. Yet, the influence of Ragnorra is not immediately negative. Instead, her influence can be quite the boon for certain groups.

Ragnorra’s influence stimulates positive energy within the surrounding environment and heightens life-giving events and processes. For example, the birth rate of twins and triplets nearly octuples under the influence of an Idea Shaper (and thus, Ragnorra). Other processes, such as eating, resting, or recovering are also augmented and enhanced. Crop fields within the Idea Shaper’s sphere of influence provide bountiful harvests, terminal illnesses like cancers or tuberculosis are miraculously cured, and every person feels a sense of peace, tranquility, and happiness.

It is no wonder that some groups who discover an Idea Shaper choose to keep it a secret. Indeed, destroying one of these aliens eliminates all the good they do (and may even create a negative-energy backlash). However, that is where the danger of an Idea Shaper lies.

When a populous becomes complacent with the Idea Shaper’s influence and allow it to continue, the pull of Ragnorra grows. Each and every Idea Shaper that is within deep meditation acts like a magnet. When dozens, hundreds, or thousands of them are allowed to spread their influence, it effectively locks Ragnorra onto the planet… all but guaranteeing her arrival.

Progeny Boosters

Idea Shapers have a secondary purpose, one that only shows itself once others of its kind have arrived. The influence of an Idea Shaper is felt 100x more powerfully to another Progeny member. This means that Idea Shapers can will wounds into healing, grant allies super speed or strength, or worst of all, induce a whimsically violent attack flurry.

Areas where Idea Shapers have taken root in make ideal landing zones for the other members of the Progeny. The lair it calls its meditation chamber become some of the deadliest places to engage with the Progeny, as the Idea Shaper will pulse with pure positive energy to keep itself and allies healthy and fighting.

Though the Idea Shaper may be weak, and its immediate effects beneficial. It is to be destroyed the moment one is discovered.