Mindwarden Enclave
[p]Fledgling empires are so eager to throw away their freedom and enslave themselves to eldritch entities for a pittance of power.[/p][p][/p][p]Motivated by a deep antipathy toward the Shroud, this organization provides services and technology to counteract the powerful effects of psionic practices. Their mission is to protect against the menace of the Shroud and all those who spread its ill effects. They believe in minds free from invasion, and a galaxy fortified against psionics.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/9703436/727855616a0e3be31855857854d25ba966707576.png"][/img][/p][p]Assuming you have not been compromised, the Mindwardens will provide a number of services. They will happily warn newcomers of the dangers presented by the ethereal, can offer “Thought Police” services to reduce crime, can provide targeted raids against known threats (similar to Marauders, but with greater strength of purpose and intent), and will happily dispose of donated Zro.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/9703436/4a0f1efaa8405391a7faa8dffc973ea76cca1adb.png"][/img][/p][p]Those who have earned the Mindwarden’s trust can also make use of their logistical assistance - reducing ship upkeep for ten years, hire Assault Warden armies that excel against Psionic foes, or provide the services of a Mindwarden Commissioner that can act as a Thought Warden on your Council.[/p][p]
[img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/9703436/0ad606a6969829c5cf336db60c4a3d21fa5af7ca.png"][/img][/p][p]One of the greatest inventions of the Mindwardens, however, is the Shroud Seal. These seals drain the power of Psionic Auras, weakening them over time. Shroud Seals will suppress their system and adjacent systems, though there are rumors of a Relic that can increase their power.[/p][p]
[img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/9703436/7e781b88339f8683532c7ef0b80794382b75cbbc.png"][/img][/p][p]Should the corruptive influences of a Psionic Aura threaten your territory, the Mindwardens can provide a counter to this malicious influence.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/9703436/0de0952a68486fc51454821b6c45d97e653087b6.png"][/img][/p][p]The Shroudwalkers tend to take offense at those interacting with the Mindwardens, and will cease all dealings with you should you perform profane acts such as building a Shroud Seal.[/p]
Mindwarden Origin
[p]Freedom is meaningless without sovereignty of thought.[/p][p][/p][p]Should you wish to take a proactive approach towards dealing with otherworldly menaces, the challenging Mindwarden origin is here.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/9703436/ce6ee90c241a6d4bb78f3b151dc380b8e3427069.png"][/img][/p][p]The Krijdex Wardenship is one of the three prescripted empires in Shadows of the Shroud[/p][p]
The perils of the Shroud are not only many, but unfortunately they are also near. The terrible “psi-radiation” of the Aura of the Dreamer infects many of the systems close to your homeworld.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/9703436/d0ca8e09799cfee05aae28935969be67aa96c682.png"][/img][/p][p]You’ll need to learn about this threat and how to counteract it. Thankfully, your ancestors overcame a psychic plague long ago and left you with an Ancient Ward to protect your people.
[/p][p]Should you succeed at containing this menace and securing the psychic safety of your empire, you’ll be able to release fleets to establish the first Mindwarden enclaves. Your empire will have a special relationship with them - providing the services the Enclaves normally possess as well as having a relationship similar to that between Mercenary Enclaves and their patrons.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/9703436/8efbe9241b2cacb06b1df23a6cabe91c8b7b4b1d.png"][/img][/p]
Mindwarden Shipset
[p]Many triangles and sharp edges came together to produce this image for your desktop.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/9703436/631fee2fca0157374a49b6e2cc2091065db8ca63.png"][/img][/p][p]In-game screenshots of many of these ships can be found in last week’s dev diary thread.[/p]
The Shroud-Forged
[p]The Shroud-Forged Origin explores the tale of a gestalt machine intelligence that has attracted the attention of the Shroud entity known as the Animator of Clay.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/9703436/65c6c103f24ebd1ea718aeb50d40dfccb00ccbb9.png"][/img][/p][p]The Yorphian Extactorate is the second of our three prescripted empires in Shadows of the Shroud.[/p][p][/p][p]It’s up to you whether you seek to reassert control over these rogue models, or embrace the Animator’s gifts. Both paths have unique benefits and drawbacks - spurning the blessings of a capricious eldritch entity has obvious downsides, but accepting them could be just as dangerous.[/p][p](Dangerous to whom?)
[/p][p]The balance of power within your empire is reflected in Forged by the Shroud situation.
[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/9703436/e765f433c4002db9c3859948e1c972e9c915a9e5.png"][/img][/p][p]In the end, is this the story of the Animator of Clay playing with their beloved toys, or is it a tale of hubris leading to their downfall?[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/9703436/d621a231f61cb2bc4adcd2f3dd28b8bbfdce9297.png"][/img][/p][p][/p][p]I’m not explicitly saying that the Shroud-Forged story can get a little dark, but if you have Nemesis, one of the possible Shroud-Forged paths has some special interactions with the Galactic Nemesis Ascension Perk.[/p]
Tankbound Civic
[p]Completing our trifecta of prescripted empires is the Oracularity of Noerm, a Prosperous Unification empire with Superstitious Beliefs and the Tankbound civic.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/9703436/68b70837cac1b36bf14fcf157517285f0143f696.png"][/img][/p][p]It automates.[/p][p]Pops from a Tankbound society are unable to leave their protective vats of specialized bio-fluids. They are heavily reliant on assistive equipment and have difficulty engaging directly in physical work. They automatically automate their rural jobs (though starting with less efficiency than true automation), but as they unlock technologies related to automation they will work off these penalties.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/9703436/2899cd0d0e9b97f1fbc2baf634a8d79d330fe1ef.png"][/img][/p][p]It optimizes.[/p][p][/p][p]The Tankbound civic requires one of the three portraits that heavily feature these chambers:[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/9703436/d28740fbec0888410ef5cef1922f1a3e5a1e042e.png"][/img][/p][p][/p]
