#abolisher

Originally released on p. 35 of Rifts Sourcebook 1

The Abolisher, Infantry Assault Robot (IAR-2), is another giant vehicle that is part of the Coalition States' military forces. Unlike the UAR-1 Enforcer, which is designed specifically to combat ground troops in an urban/city environment, the Abolisher is a frontline infantry unit with long-range capabilities and heavy firepower for obliterating enemy troops. The focus of its armaments is anti-robot and anti-tank, hence the six heavy cannons bristling around what appears to be the head. The rim of cannons has given the 30 foot (9 m) robot the nickname 'Thorn Head."

The heavily armored bot is a massive, humanoid shaped, all terrain assault vehicle designed to withstand heavy bombardment. However, in keeping with the frightening Death's Head motif, the Abolisher is designed to look like a massive skull with arms and legs. The two eyes are infra-red and conventional light searchlights for night assaults. The upper skull body can rotate 360 degrees and is operated by a five-man crew. Two soldiers are gunners operating three cannons each, the pilot and the copilot/communications engineer (either the pilot or copilot can fire the small, forward facing, dual laser turret) and the top hatch gunner, usually a SAMAS.

The big guns are devastating weapons that can blast an enemy from all sides simultaneously. The robot's arms and hands are powerful and lethal in hand to hand confrontations (can rotate 180 degrees at the shoulders). On top of the behemoth is a Gunner's Hatch which allows a SAMAS or soldier to perch himself on the head and fire at the enemy from the top of the robot. An inner hatch locks automatically, preventing the enemy from easy access should the top gunner be killed; the inner hatch can only be opened by one of the pilots.

The only real disadvantage to the 30 foot (9 m) giant is that its incredible weight and large size reduce its speed and maneuvering capabilities. Although great in the field as an outer perimeter defense or as an infantry assault unit (tank with arms and legs), its speed and size make it an easy target (hence the heavy armor). Unless one wishes to destroy a city, the bot is not well suited for city conflicts. Its weapons are too powerful for use in the city, able to demolish an S.D.C. skyscraper in mere moments, and its size and bulk makes maneuvering through narrow streets difficult. Still, it is excellent for city defense, being able to be placed wherever needed, and ideal for infantry combat.

IAR-2 Abolisher: Size 9 (Huge), Crew 5+2, Strength d12+10, Toughness 60 (36), Pace 14+d10 (70 MPH)

Notes: MDC Armor, Shoulder STS-Cluster -4 to hit and 24 Hardness.

Weapons:

6 x C-144 Auto-Cannons (Spaced 360 degrees around the crown of the bot; Range 100/200/400, 5d12+5 Mega Damage, AP 12, RoF 1)

Anti-Personnel Lasers (belly gun)

 A somewhat deceptive name, today we’ll be looking at an inquisitor that focuses on a particular creature type: aberrations.

Whether they face off against strange beings from below the ground or invaders from beyond the stars or reality as we know it, the so-called “abolishers” seek to defend mortal-kind against the depredations of unknowable creatures that cannot or will not understand the value of mortal life.

In this way, though their primary focus is aberrations, they are also the enemy of other servants of the Great Old Ones or Outer Gods, wherever they are found.

They might seek out rumored enclaves or cults centered around such beings, or they might keep a watchful eye for alien infiltrators in the midst of civilization. Either way, their existence is a statement of defiance against the classic cosmic horror idea of humanity and other mortals being insignificant against the greater cosmos.

 As one might expect, the religions that abolishers crop up in are those deities of the natural world (or at least, natural as most mortals understand it). As such, their single domain must be one with an association with nature, either one of the four classical elements, animals, plants, or the weather.

Quite familiar with the deceptive tactics of their chosen quarry, these inquisitors train to better see through the disguises and stealth of such creatures.

What’s more, they can use a supernatural sense to detect aberrations as well, and can instantly recognize a foe as an aberration by recognizing the difference in the impact of their weaponry, and can even reflexively activate their bane magic as a result.

Finally, many aberrations sport grappling tentacles and immobilizing secretions or powers, so they draw upon their divine blessings to gain a reserve of divine freedom, allowing them to slip out of grasp and ignore impediments, at least for a short time.

A fun archetype for campaigns focused on aberration-heavy antagonists. It’s definitely worth picking up if cosmic horror is a common theme of the campaign, though not so much in others. However, it doesn’t replace so much that it becomes useless in situations without an aberrant foe, so keep that in mind.

 While these inquisitors represent a noble fight against the uncaring and unknowable, it’s worth remembering that nor every aberration is a hostile or a threat to mortals. Whether your abolisher makes that distinction, however, is up to you.

  Recently, a colony of flumphs was discovered in in Maribo’s cistern, watching over a clutch of eggs in the water. However, despite being no threat to anyone, the Order of Life’s Sanctity has caught wind of their presence, and if nothing is done, they will be exterminated.

 Long ago swearing to slay every aboleth they find, the grindylows of Irbok’s Cape sought the blessings of their fish god to gain the power to slay aberrant creatures when they find them. The irony that they themselves qualify as aberrant beings is completely lost of them.