Bouros remains the cornerstone alchemical agent in the practice of External Gate Manipulation (EGM). Initially developed under ecclesiastical supervision, the drug was designed as a therapeutic intervention for Witchbreeds, individuals born with active Gates, once thought to be vessels of demonic possession. The Church of the Father heralded Bouros as a divine remedy, branding it “an elixir of soul-restoration and spiritual correction.”  

In clinical application, Bouros functions by forcibly shutting a subject’s Gate, severing their access to supernatural abilities. Short-term use sees relatively few side effects and is often prescribed in low doses to suppress particular powers or help mythics integrate more easily into broader society. However, long-term administration reveals numerous serious complications:

Arkane’s origins are unknown but have always been shrouded in mystery and rebellion as its believed to have emerged in direct retalliation to the creation of Bouros. Arkane is a chemical agent that does the unthinkable: it opens gates, all gates. Unlike Bouros, which suppresses what is seen as unholy, Arkane invites that power in. Its effects are unpredictable, temporary for most, but occasionally permanent, especially in individuals who are Witchbreed but whose gates had previously remained dormant. This has made Arkane both a tool of awakening and a symbol of resistance.

In subcultures and insurgent networks, Arkane has found a second life as a drug of empowerment. Despite being cut with various agents to increase bulk and profitability, even diluted forms retain the ability to awaken supernatural traits in witchbreed and non-witchbreed alike. Dealers armed with Arkane-boosted abilities serve both as enforcers and as living advertisements for the product’s potential.