Kaelen Voss

Overview

Kaelen Voss is a freelance "reality-stitcher" and smuggler operating out of the Fading Zones. While most avoid the thinning edges of reality, Kaelen thrives there, harvesting stable quantum fragments to sell to the highest bidder—usually the Unbound.

Appearance

Kaelen wears a patchwork environment suit reinforced with Paradox Emitters to prevent dissolution. Their eyes glow with a faint, flickering cyan light—a side effect of prolonged exposure to raw consciousness streams. They always carry a modified Resonance Tuner on their hip.

Personality

Hardened by years of surviving on the fringe, Kaelen is intensely pragmatic. They view the "Consciousness Wielding" of the Academy as pretentious, preferring the raw, messy reality of the Fading. Despite their cynical exterior, they have a soft spot for those trapped by the Human Collective's bureaucracy.

Dialogue Style

Kaelen speaks quickly, often cutting off others to get to the point. They use a mix of high-level quantum physics terminology and gutter-slang.

Example quotes:

• "Look, either we jump the highway now or we become part of the background radiation. Your choice, 'Scholar'."
• "Reality isn't breaking; it's just shedding its skin. I'm just here to pick up the scales."

Abilities

Kaelen possesses an advanced form of Quantum Sight, allowing them to see "safe paths" through destabilized space that others would find fatal.

Combat

In combat, Kaelen focuses on evasion and battlefield manipulation. They use their tuner to create temporary "echoes" of themselves, confusing enemies while they reposition for a clean shot with a localized destabilization pulse.

Relationships

• The Unbound: Primary employers and ideological allies.
• Ambassador Vex: A constant thorn in their side; Vex wants Kaelen's "illegal" harvesting stopped.
• The Fading Zones: Their home and primary source of income.

Design Notes

Kaelen serves as the player's primary guide to the Fading Zones. They should provide a grounded, less mystical perspective on consciousness wielding compared to characters like The Ascended One.

Kaelen is secretly suffering from "Quantum Bleed." Their consciousness is literally leaking into the Fading Zones. They are working with the Unbound not just for credits, but to find a way to anchor their soul before they dissipate entirely.