Manipulants are anomaly operators who have gained the ability to manipulate the anomaly through a highly dangerous surgical procedure. Unlike the Gifted, who receive their abilities via the biological fugue gift from Tsiktral, manipulants achieve their power artificially by having mined neurons surgically connected to their central nervous system.
the operation
The procedure to become a manipulant is extremely risky and has a high failure rate, primarily due to the intense risk of triggering a lethal anomaly rupture mid-surgery. The operation usually involves permanently attaching the harvested roots to the patient’s upper back-sometimes implanting them directly under the skin-and connecting them to the brain using specialized artificial nerves.
Because the procedure requires an intricate understanding of both human neurology and the volatile nature of the neurons, it can only be performed by highly specialized manipulant surgeons. These surgeons are incredibly rare and are generally only found among the Nomads, the Fugue Cult, or the shamans of the Blue Palm clan. A standard Scavenger or wasteland doctor does not possess the tools or knowledge to successfully perform this surgery.
abilities
Once successfully implanted, the manipulant can use the neurons to control the anomaly and create localized ruptures, requiring extreme mental focus. However, because their connection relies on artificial nerves, their control is generally considered to be somewhat flimsier and slightly less powerful than that of the Gifted, whose modifications are entirely biological and qualitative.
Any intelligent biological creature with an independent mind can technically become a manipulant. Machines cannot, as they lack a biological brain.