Neural Thread Control System: The Puppet Strings
What Are Neural Threads?
Neural Threads are bio-mechanical interfaces that connect a living pilot's nervous system to a Casket's control mechanisms. They are the only way to pilot a Casket...no alternative control systems exist.
They are literal puppet strings, drilled through the pilot's fingertips into bone, transmitting bioelectric signals that make a 15-foot war machine move.
Physical Design
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Material | Bio-conductive synthetic nerve fiber (pre-Sundering tech) |
| Diameter | 1-2mm (thinner than a pencil lead) |
| Length | 3-6 feet (routes from pilot's fingers to casket joints) |
| Color | Translucent silver-white (glows faintly during use) |
| Durability | Fragile (combat damage can sever threads easily) |
| Installation | Drilled into distal phalanx bone (fingertip bone) |
Installation Points
Each pilot has 10 neural threads installed:
- 5 threads per hand (one per finger: thumb, index, middle, ring, pinky)
- Threads pierce through the fingertip (between nail and first joint)
- Drilled into the distal phalanx bone (fingertip bone)
- Secured with bio-adhesive and nerve-bonding gel
- Cannot be removed without surgery (permanent installation)
Installation Procedure
Common Installation Steps
- Preparation: Pilot's hands sterilized, immobilized. Fingers individually clamped. Neural mapping scan identifies nerve clusters.
- Drilling: Drill pierces through fingertip (2-3mm hole, 5-10mm deep into bone). Pain level: Excruciating (even with anesthetic).
- Thread Insertion: Thread fed through drilled hole. Bio-adhesive bonds thread to bone. Nerve-bonding gel fuses thread to nerve endings.
- Calibration: Pilot moves each finger individually. Technician observes casket's response. Fine-tuning adjustments made.
- Sealing: Fingertip wound sealed with synthetic skin. Thread exit point reinforced with metal ring. Hands bandaged (cannot use for 1-2 weeks).
Faction-Specific Methods
| Faction | Duration | Anesthetic | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Church | 4-6 hours | Minimal (suffering is penance) | Includes prayer rituals. 2 weeks recovery. |
| Dwarves | 6-8 hours | Full (unconscious) | Laser-guided precision. Runic thread anchors. 3 weeks recovery. |
| Ossuarium | 2-3 hours | Partial (numbed) | Rushed, industrial. 10-15% require reinstallation. 1 week recovery. |
| Elves | 8-12 hours | Herbal trance | Living vine threads grafted to nerves. 4 weeks recovery. |
How Neural Threads Work
The Puppet Control Mechanism
Basic Principle: Pilot moves finger → bioelectric signal travels through thread → Signal reaches casket joint → Hydraulic actuator engages → Casket limb mirrors the finger motion at larger scale.
Thread-to-Function Mapping (Standard Configuration)
| Finger | Right Hand Thread | Left Hand Thread |
|---|---|---|
| Thumb | Right hand grip/release | Left hand grip/release |
| Index | Right arm bend/extend | Left arm bend/extend |
| Middle | Right leg step/lift | Left leg step/lift |
| Ring | Right shoulder rotate | Left shoulder rotate |
| Pinky | Head/torso rotation (right) | Head/torso rotation (left) |
Complex Movements
- Walking: Alternate middle fingers (left-right rhythm)
- Aiming: Index fingers (adjust arm angles)
- Firing: Thumbs (squeeze trigger)
- Dodging: Ring + Pinky (torso twist + shoulder rotation)
Muscle Memory Learning Curve
- First 10-20 hours: Clumsy, confusing (wrong finger = wrong limb)
- After 50+ hours: Instinctive (pilot no longer thinks about which finger to move)
- After 200+ hours: Subconscious (pilot's fingers twitch before conscious thought)
Bioelectric Feedback (Pain and Sensation)
The Threads Transmit in Both Directions:
- Pilot → Casket: Finger movement → Limb motion
- Casket → Pilot: Impact/damage → Phantom pain
Feedback Types
| Casket Event | Pilot Sensation |
|---|---|
| Casket takes damage | Sharp pain in corresponding finger (thread transmits impact) |
| Casket overheats | Burning sensation in all fingers (threads feel "hot") |
| Thread Snap | Excruciating nerve shock (feels like finger being ripped off) |
| Casket destroyed | All threads discharge simultaneously (pilot blacks out from pain) |
Why This Matters: Pilots feel the battle viscerally (not detached button-pushing). Damage to the casket hurts the pilot (creates emotional investment). Thread Snaps are traumatic (psychological and physical scars).
Thread Snap: The Nightmare
What Causes Thread Snaps
- Combat damage to casket (limb destroyed, armor breached near thread routing)
- Overheating (threads melt/fray from excess bioelectric discharge)
- Taint corruption (Void energy degrades thread material)
- Emergency disconnect (pilot manually severs thread to prevent feedback overload)
Immediate Effects
On Pilot:
- Excruciating nerve shock (DC 15 Grit check or lose 1 turn to pain)
- Phantom sensation: "feels like finger was amputated"
- Thread stump sparks purple (Void energy discharge)
- Blood seeps from fingertip (thread tore through flesh/bone)
On Casket:
- Corresponding function disabled (cannot move that limb/joint)
- Casket lurches/stumbles (sudden loss of control)
- Error alarms (audio/visual warning)
Field Repair (Emergency Fix)
Requirements: Ally with Repair skill, 1 full turn (vulnerable), DC 12 Repair check
Success: Thread is functional but fragile (-1 to all checks using that thread). Will fail again if casket takes 5+ damage in one hit. Must be properly repaired at settlement.
Long-Term Effects
- Temporary: Thread can be field-repaired (1d6 turns with ally)
- Permanent: If thread completely destroyed, requires surgical reinstallation (1 week downtime, 50 Credits)
- Scarring: Repeated Thread Snaps cause nerve damage (permanent -1 to pilot checks per 3 snaps)
Thread Configurations (Faction Variants)
| Faction | Thread Customization | Philosophy |
|---|---|---|
| Church | Wrapped in blessed silk (white/gold). Prayer beads at each finger joint. Cross patterns inside casket. | "Each thread is a chain of penance. Each movement is a prayer." |
| Dwarves | Etched with micro-runes. Runic anchors in bone. Geometrically optimized routing. | "Precision engineering. Every millimeter matters. No wasted motion." |
| Ossuarium | Wrapped in bone fiber. Soul-binding glyphs on fingertips. Skeletal patterns. | "The dead guide the living. The threads are tendons." |
| Elves | Living vines grafted to nerves. Root anchors in bone. Sprouts leaves inside casket. | "The threads live. We do not control the casket...we grow with it." |
| Exchange | Mass-produced generic. Serial number tags. Universal compatibility. | "Standardization ensures resale value. This is business." |
Psychological Impact
The Bonding Process
First Week: Pilots experience severe phantom sensations (feels like fingers are 15 feet long). Dreams of being trapped, stretched, pulled apart. Some pilots report hearing the Soulstone soul's screaming through the threads.
First Month: Phantom sensations fade, replaced by casket awareness (pilot "feels" casket's position). Muscle memory begins forming. Social isolation (cannot shake hands, hold objects normally).
After 6+ Months: Threads feel natural (pilot forgets they're there). Casket becomes extension of body. Some pilots cannot distinguish where their body ends and casket begins.
The Disconnection Trauma
What Happens When Threads Are Removed:
- Pilot feels amputated (brain expects casket limbs, they're gone)
- Phantom limb syndrome (feels 15 feet tall, reaches for objects too far away)
- Depression, dissociation, identity crisis
Common Symptoms:
- "I'm too small. Everything is too close."
- "My hands don't work. I can't make them move right."
- "I miss the casket. I feel safe inside. Out here, I'm vulnerable."
Recovery: Most pilots never fully recover (permanent psychological dependence). Many pilots refuse to leave caskets (live inside permanently).
Thread Maintenance
Daily Care (Pilot Responsibility)
- Inspect threads (check for fraying, discoloration)
- Clean fingertip exit points (remove dried blood, dead skin)
- Apply nerve-bonding gel (keeps threads flexible)
- Calibration exercises (wiggle each finger, confirm casket response)
Settlement Overhaul (Every 10 Missions)
| Service | Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Thread Maintenance | 20-30 Credits per thread | 1 day (surgical replacement) |
Neglect Consequences: Degraded threads = -1 to -3 penalty on all pilot checks. High Thread Snap risk (50% chance per mission). Permanent nerve damage (irreversible after 20+ missions without maintenance).
Explore Further
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Casket Technology | Complete overview of dual-entity design, pilot vs. soul mechanics |
| Soulstone Power System | Energy mechanics, Taint, Core burnout |
| Soul-Binding Mechanics | How souls are trapped in Soulstones |
| Thread Snap Rules | Combat mechanics for Thread Snap damage |