The Vast is an endless expanse in the Hive. It lies beyond the functioning districts of each Ring and stretches endlessly towards either direction from the lowest ring of the Hive. Beyond the mines and the last homes, the Vast appears as a mist-covered, unlit area where only criminals, beggars and strange entities reside. The Astral Guard rarely patrols and it is said that any guard found in the Vast is either compromised, corrupt or part of a fringe organization.
The Vast does not feature functioning buildings, merely ruins from the time of the clash between the emperors. It is an old warzone, abandoned and dangerous. It is extremely dangerous as it consists of long bridges over endless chasms that lead to falls into the unknown.
The Vast is home to certain illegal factions but also to Void Spirits known as Bergas.
Tinkers: A faction in the vast, robbers, killers, they scavenge items from corpses.
Void Spirit of the Broken War
Type: Void Spirit
Role: Disruptor / Terrain Controller
Threat Level: Moderate
CR: 2
A Bergas appears as a stretched silhouette made of fog and splintered starlight. Its edges flicker like torn fabric in windless air. When near a chasm, it elongates and whispers like a distant echo.
They are remnants of souls lost during the Clash of the Emperors.
Void Phase
Can partially phase through ruined structures but cannot cross Amber.
Gravity Murmur
Bridges within Close range tremble subtly.
Chasm Hunger
Deals bonus damage if the target is near an edge.
Hollow Grasp – Pulls a target 2 meters toward an edge.
Echo Shriek – Disadvantage on next balance-related roll.
Fall Temptation (Recharge) – Target must resist or step backward involuntarily.
Never fights head-on.
Targets weakest or most unstable footing.
Attempts to cause environmental death, not direct kill.
War-Shell of a Forgotten Guard
Type: Corrupted Construct
Role: Enforcer
Threat Level: Moderate–High
CR: 3
An ancient Astral Guard left to rot in the Vast. Armor fused to bone. Helm sealed. Inside: something hollow and angry.
Its metal is warped — iron is rare in the Hive, making this creature terrifyingly valuable and illegal.
Iron Relic
Counts as illegal weapon if salvaged.
Silent March
Immune to fear.
Broken Oath
Deals bonus damage to anyone claiming loyalty to the Emperor.
Helm Bash – Stuns on critical.
Crushing Advance – Pushes enemy back along narrow bridge.
Oath Collapse (1/Day) – Emits a shockwave; balance checks required.
Slow, unstoppable.
Fights in straight lines.
Uses bridge terrain to corner targets.
Predator of the Endless Drop
Type: Aberration
Role: Ambush Predator
Threat Level: Moderate
CR: 2
A pale, elongated creature that clings under bridges. It senses vibration — similar to Jaraxi masking techniques.
Vibration Sense
Detects movement automatically.
Drop Hunter
If it drags a creature off edge, damage is severe.
Hooked Tongue – Grapple from below.
Spine Bite – Ongoing bleed.
Bridge Snap (Recharge) – Damages structure integrity.
Attacks from underneath.
Retreats if injured.
Prioritizes isolated targets.
Jaraxi Void-Caller
Type: Kaolir Mutant
Role: Controller / Portal Agent
Threat Level: High
CR: 4
A Kaolir whose tail vibrates in harmonic resonance with a Void Ring. Its spine is split, revealing faint violet fractures.
It spreads influence from the dead dimension Fringe.
Void Ring Bearer
Can open micro-rifts briefly.
Vibration Masking
Hard to detect before combat.
Fringe Echo
When wounded, emits psychic feedback.
Tail Resonance – Causes disorientation.
Micro Rift – Teleports self or ally short distance.
Fringe Pulse (Recharge) – Summons minor Bergas.
Avoids prolonged fight.
Uses Bergas as shields.
Retreats through Rift if below half Grit.
The Vast Itself Made Flesh
Type: Colossal Aberration
Role: Environmental Boss
Threat Level: Severe
CR: 6
An entire ruined bridge animated by Void force. Pieces shift, rotate, grind. Faces appear in stone.
This is not a creature — it is the Vast defending itself.
Living Terrain
Cannot be grappled.
Bridge Collapse Cycle
Segments fall each round.
Chasm Authority
Immune to push effects.
Falling Span – Forces group reposition.
Stone Maw – Crush damage.
Gravity Reverse (1/Encounter) – Vertical battlefield inversion for one round.
Changes battlefield constantly.
Designed to teach environmental survival.
Former Ironborn workers who implant crystal shards into their chassis to mimic meteorite resonance.
Speak in synchronized whispers.
Seek forbidden gate fragments.
Believe the Emperor is dying.
CR 2–4 variants possible.
Astral Guards corrupted but still believing they serve Ular.
They arrest people in the Vast for crimes committed in dreams.
Combat here should emphasize:
Vertical danger.
Environmental manipulation.
Limited legality.
Makeshift weapons.
Psychological tension.
Echoes of the Clash of the Emperors.
Spells misfire.
Iron is contraband.
Authority is distant.
The Void is patient.