Anomaly

An anomaly, as classified by Raven and the wider human scientific community, is an uncontrolled sources of exophysical phenomena that poses a risk or effects a disruption to its surrounding area and the life within it via manifold distortion or other hazards. Examples of anomalies designated as such by Raven include most Precursor technology (Geometry Cubes, Dark Obelisks, the Null Driver, etc); sapients such as Exon and the Selerian Horror, and entities that have been known to emerge from dimensional incursions.

Artefacts

Anomalous artefacts are non-sapient, usually immobile examples of technology, examples of which include most Precursor technology, as well as some Ir'vaki psionics technology. Due to their hazards and their potential utility in exoterrorism, their possession is criminalised under the Dimensional Security Accords. An artefact outside custody is colloquially referred to as an orphan artefact due to its similarity in hazards to a radioactive orphan source, especially as many artefacts do emit deadly entropic radiation.

Sapients

A sapient anomaly is an anomaly that possesses sapience. Sapient anomalies do not exist in nature within human society, and the most common way sapient anomalies are created is via exposure to a strong E-rad field. Areas such as the Southern Exclusion Zone and the Silent Zone have given rise to large numbers of sapient anomalies, due to the use of entropic flashover bombs there. Another method of creation is by intentional exposure, such as placing an organic in the beam path of a cavity reactor. This is the method historically used by organisations that have attempted to create sapient anomalies, such as BioCorp, Dreams Intelligence, the Aegis Institute, and the rogue elements of Black Research. The vast majority of exposed individuals do not survive, and the anomaly conversion rate is extremely low. Additionally, because of the extreme circumstances of their creation, most sapient anomalies created in this way possess PTSD.

The vast majority of sapient anomalies do not possess extreme reality-breaking psionic powers as beings such as Exon and the Selerian Horror do. In fact, the powers of most anomalies can be somewhat mundane. Furthermore, even when an anomaly possesses the intrinsic capability for greater powers, they still must train to control them to avoid indiscriminate destruction and collateral damage. It is overwhelmingly sapient anomalies that lack the skill to control their powers that have resulted in the highest-profile calamities that pushed Raven to pursue all sapient anomalies more aggressively. The Anomaly Rights Coalition trains every sapient in its ranks to control their abilities.

Politics

In human society, sapient anomalies are regarded and feared as one of the greatest existential threats, alongside negligent damage to reality resulting from the actions of humans. The regulatory and security organisation Raven was established to control all exophysical sciences in order to attempt to eliminate the perceived threat of anomalies to human civilisation. Raven’s historical doctrine towards them has been to destroy them using overwhelming force.

The truth is that it is unnecessary to summarily terminate sapient anomalies that pose no ill will towards humanity, and that most negative effects they produce passively on their surroundings can be mitigated via technological measures. However, Raven has historically refused to change its stance, citing the risk of any sapient anomaly being allowed to roam free to humanity outweighing the moral advantage of allowing them to live. This resulted in the advent of a powerful insurgency known as the Anomaly Rights Coalition that wages war on Raven for survival. Ironically, even humans in the most distant of senses are technically anomalies due to their latent psionic abilities. The same applies to any sapient being (any being with a substratic network). Of course, this is a fact Raven will never acknowledge.