Street Custom 'Cigarette' Pen Gun

improvised firearm

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smg

Tessera Neural Assault System TNAS-1 'Puppeteer'

assault_rifle

Ablative Charge Disruption Rifle ACDR-2 'Sandpaper'

cyber

Acoustic Cavity Resonance Pistol ACRP-2 'Hollowpoint'

exotic

Acoustic Marrow Shear Rifle AMSR-6 'Tutor'

exotic

Arcturus Defense Solutions Concussive Breach Charge CBC-3 'Knocker'

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Arcturus Defense Solutions Cryogenic Projector CP-4 'Frostbite'

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Arcturus Defense Solutions Directed EMP Rifle DER-5 'Blackout'

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Arcturus Defense Solutions Graviton Shield Projector GSP-1 'Aegis'

heavy

Arcturus Defense Solutions Kinetic Denial System KDS-4 'Bouncer'

heavy

Arcturus Defense Solutions Kinetic Impactor Round KIR-10 'Hammerfall'

rifle

Arcturus Defense Solutions Pulse Carbine PC-6 'Heartbeat'

electromagnetic

Arcturus Defense Solutions Orbital Strike Designator OSD-1 'Finger of God'

heavy

Arcturus Defense Solutions Microwave Area Denial MAD-3 'Sunburn'

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Arcturus Defense Solutions Magnetic Accelerator Rifle MAR-8 'Longbow'

rifle

Autonomous Swarm Dispersal Unit ASDU-3 'Locust'

drone

Autonomous Ferrofluid Denial Platform AFDP-2 'Tidemark'

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Arcturus Defense Solutions Thermal Lance TL-9 'Sunstroke'

energy

Autonomous Adhesive Denial Drone AADD-2 'Barnacle'

drone

Axiom Systems Biometric Lock Rifle BLR-3 'Personal'

rifle

Autonomous Swarm Dispersal Unit ASDU-4 'Locust'

drone

Axiom Systems Cognitive Grenade CG-1 'Brainstorm'

electromagnetic

Axiom Systems Perception Filter Rounds PFR-1 'Blind Spot'

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Axiom Systems Synapse Interruptor SI-3 'Stutter'

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Axiom Systems Cortical Bomb CB-1 'Leash'

cyber-integrated

Axiom Systems Neural Disruptor ND-2 'Migraine'

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Ballistic Resonance Carbine BRC-6 'Kettledrum'

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Axonal Stretch Resonance Lance

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Bioelectric Cascade Charge

explosive

Barometric Implosion Carbine BIC-5 'Sinkhole'

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Bioelectric Induction Lance BIL-3 'Lamprey'

melee

Biometric Denial Charge BDC-1

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Bioluminescent Acoustic Disruptor BAD-2 'Choral'

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Capillary Disruption Pistol CDP-2 'Bruiser'

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Biophotonic Retinal Cascade Emitter BRCE-5 'Flashpoint'

energy

Carrion Defense Works Bone Saw BS-3 'Butcher'

melee

Capacitive Nerve Induction Lance CNIL-1 'Threadneedle'

energy

Carrion Defense Works Fragmentation Sleeve FS-2 'Shrapnel Hug'

explosive

Carrion Defense Works Entropic Shotgun ES-4 'Ragnarok'

shotgun

Carrion Defense Works Hemorrhage Rifle HR-6 'Bloodletter'

rifle

Carrion Defense Works Nerve Agent Micro-Dart System NAMDS-1 'Whisper'

exotic

Carrion Defense Works Miasma Projector MP-5 'Plague Bearer'

chemical

Carrion Defense Works Marrow Drill MD-7 'Dentist'

pistol

Carrion Defense Works Necrotizing Agent Sprayer NAS-2 'Rot'

chemical

Carrion Defense Works Ricochet Pistol RCH-1 'Billiard'

pistol

Carrion Defense Works Neural Lash NL-3 'Agony'

cyber-integrated

Carrion Defense Works Pathogen Delivery System PDS-4 'Typhoid'

chemical

Catalytic Aerosol Mortar CAM-3 'Lungful'

explosive

Catalytic Vapor Dispersal Charge CVDC-5

explosive

Cavitation Pulse Carbine CPC-2 'Bends'

firearm

Catalytic Interstitial Desiccation Drone CIDD-3 'Husk'

drone

Catalytic Spore Dispersal Drone CSDD-3 'Mulch'

drone

Cavitation Pulse Knuckles CPK-5 'Bloodwater'

melee

Cerulean Phosphene Projector CPP-3 'Phantom Light'

exotic

Cochlear Resonant Hemorrhage Projector

cyber

Coherent Thermal Excitation Rifle CTER-7 'Ashmaker'

energy

Coherent Radiation Scalpel CRS-7 'Suture'

energy

Corneal Piezoelectric Delamination Pistol

cyber

Cryogenic Dendrite Scatter Cannon CDSC-4 'Frostbite'

exotic

Coronal Discharge Projector CDP-9 'Sunburn'

exotic

Cortical Bleed Emitter CBE-4 'Lacuna'

cyber

Counter-Personnel Loiter Munition CPLM-7 'Patience'

drone

Crystalline Synovial Pressure Rifle CSPR-2 'Kneemaker'

exotic

Cryogenic Fracture Disbursement Mine CFDM-4

explosive

Dermal Induction Flayer DIF-2 'Saltwater'

exotic

Cryogenic Pressure Emitter CPE-2 'Frostbite'

energy

Dielectric Filament Anchor Drone DFAD-1 'Cobweb'

drone

Dielectric Hemorrhage Emitter DHE-4 'Blister'

energy

Dielectric Phase Inversion Glove DPIG-4 'Secondskin'

exotic

Dielectric Vitreous Humor Agitator DVHA-2 'Snowglobe'

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Electrochemical Dissolution Sprayer EDS-2 'Lacquer'

exotic

Directed Overpressure Charge

explosive

Directed Oxidation Lance DOL-3 'Rustmaker'

cyber

Electrokinetic Pulse Drone EPD-3 'Thunderhead'

drone

Electrochemical Vapor Seeding Drone EVSD-4 'Rainmaker'

drone

Electrolytic Bone Density Projector EBDP-4 'Chalk'

energy

Electrostatic Adipose Polarization Drone EAPD-2 'Render'

drone

Electromagnetic Overpressure Charge EOC-8

explosive

Electrostatic Dermal Adhesion Projector

exotic

Electromagnetic Pulse Grenade EPG-5 'Deadstop'

explosive

Electrothermal Chemical Carbine ETCC-5 'Flashpoint'

firearm

Electrothermal Compression Lance ETCL-9 'Ironlung'

energy

Electrostatic Needle Array Rifle ENAR-3 'Porcupine'

firearm

Electrostatic Flensing Projector EFP-1 'Skinreader'

energy

Endolymphatic Pressure Cascade Rifle

exotic

Endothermic Synovial Disruption Rifle ESDR-1 'Lockjaw'

energy

Endocrine Cascade Volatilization Lance ECVL-5 'Burnout'

cyber

Ferroelectric Shatter Sidearm FESA-2 'Gravel'

exotic

Ferrofluid Induction Cannon FIC-6 'Ironbloom'

energy

Ferrofluid Dermal Infiltration Drone FDID-6 'Ironblush'

drone

Entropic Dielectric Pulse Emitter EDPE-5 'Candle'

energy

Galvanic Myofibril Lash

melee

Galvanic Marrow Projector GMP-1 'Marrowbone'

cyber

Galvanic Interstitial Fluid Displacement Lance

exotic

Galvanic Disruption Gauntlet GDG-2 'Palsy'

melee

Galvanic Periosteal Fatigue Emitter GPFE-4 'Hairline'

exotic

Galvanic Vapor Diffusion Pistol GVDP-1 'Saltlick'

exotic

Gauss Flechette Repeater GFR-3 'Needlerain'

firearm

Gravimetric Induction Pistol GIP-4 'Undertow'

energy

Street Custom 'Gutterfish' Improvised Speargun

A crude speargun assembled from PVC pipe, surgical tubing, and sharpened rebar, used by Shelf residents who work, hide, or fight in GLMZ's flooded lower levels. The Gutterfish operates on simple elastic propulsion — the surgical tubing is stretched to store energy, the rebar spear is seated in the PVC barrel, and releasing the retention clip fires the spear at velocities sufficient to penetrate flesh and light materials at ranges up to 5 meters underwater.

Gutterfish spearguns exist because the people who need underwater weapons the most are the ones who can least afford them. The Shelf's lowest levels flood regularly, and residents who refuse to evacuate — because they have nowhere to go, or because leaving means losing what little they own — need tools that work in water. The Gutterfish serves as weapon, fishing tool, and utility device. The same instrument that defends a flooded home also catches the fish that increasingly colonize GLMZ's submerged spaces, providing protein to communities that can't afford the vertical farm produce sold in upper-tier markets.

Every Gutterfish is handmade and unreliable. The surgical tubing degrades in contaminated water, the PVC cracks in cold temperatures, and the rebar spears are never straight enough for consistent accuracy. But the weapon costs Φ10 in materials and can be built by anyone with basic tools, making it the most democratic weapon in GLMZ's flooded underworld.

name

Street Custom 'Gutterfish' Improvised Speargun

aliases

Gutterfish
Sewer Shooter
Drain Gun

category

underwater weapon

manufacturer

Street Custom

tier availability

Tier 1+

legality

Unregulated — classified as fishing equipment

base technologies

Elastic propulsion
PVC barrel construction
Improvised projectile fabrication

specifications

projectile: Sharpened rebar, 40-60cm
effective range: 5 meters underwater
propulsion: Surgical tubing elastic
weight: 0.5-1 kg
length: 60-80cm
reliability: Variable, degrades in contaminated water

tactical use

Close-range underwater combat and subsistence fishing in flooded environments. The Gutterfish is a tool of survival, used by people who live in spaces that the rest of the city has abandoned to the water. Its effectiveness depends entirely on the builder's skill and the operator's familiarity with their specific weapon.

cultural context

The Gutterfish is a symbol of adaptation at the margins. Shelf residents who carry them are people who have chosen to live in the water rather than be displaced by it. The weapon-tool represents a community that has made peace with flooding as a permanent condition and adapted their culture accordingly — including their weapons.

known users

Shelf residents in flood-prone zones
Subsistence fishers in submerged areas
Anyone defending a flooded home or stash

story hooks

A corporate dive team sent to survey flooded infrastructure in the Shelf was driven off by Gutterfish spears — three divers hit, none fatally, but the message was clear. The flooded levels belong to the people who live there, and they will defend them with rebar and rubber.
A Shelf community has organized a fishing cooperative using Gutterfish spearguns, harvesting fish from flooded transit tunnels and selling them in improvised markets. The fish are thriving in the contaminated water, and nobody is asking what the contamination is doing to the food supply.

ammunition type

improvised_spear

street price

Φ10-30 (materials cost)

related entities

Alper Holmberg-Dembele
Brecken Yılmaz-Osei
Charnel Propulsion
Crucible Industries CX-1 'Golem'
GLMZ
Lincoln Spear
The I-75 Spine
The Shelf
The Skinners
Tomasz Wren
Variable Impedance Rifle VIR-9 'Switchback'

physical description

visual profile	A skeletal, jury-rigged contraption that screams improvisation — a crude speargun that looks like it was assembled in a flooded basement by someone who needed a weapon more than they needed elegance. The PVC barrel is the spine; surgical tubing forms a taut, organic web of propulsion around it. Everything about it suggests desperation and ingenuity in equal measure.
dimensions	60-80cm length overall, 8-12cm barrel diameter, 40-60cm rebar projectile with sharpened point
weight description	Light and unbalanced — feels heavier toward the rebar tip than the grip. Roughly 0.5-1kg, but the asymmetry makes it feel unwieldy in the hand, requiring deliberate aim and muscle memory to control.
primary material	Schedule 40 PVC pipe (barrel and frame), surgical tubing (propulsion bands), iron rebar (projectile), crude wooden or plastic stock
finish	Weathered, stained with biofilm and corrosion. The PVC is discolored from repeated submersion — greenish-brown algae blooms in any crack. The rebar is bare, showing rust bloom and file marks where someone sharpened the point. Metal clips and retention mechanisms are pitted steel.
color scheme	Murky off-white PVC heavily streaked with teal-green algae staining, rust-orange rebar, translucent surgical tubing showing faint purple or amber tint, dull steel hardware
grip texture	Raw, slightly tacky from water exposure and algae film. Some examples have paracord or fabric wrapping for grip, others are bare PVC with knife cuts for purchase. Texture is rough, deliberately scored to prevent slipping when wet.
distinctive features	Surgical tubing stretched visibly across the frame, held under tension by a crude clip mechanism Sharpened rebar point with uneven file marks and surface corrosion PVC barrel with hairline cracks visible in side-lighting, especially near the breech Custom-carved or filed notches along the barrel for sight alignment Water weeping from cracks in the polymer at rest — constant micro-degradation Hand-scratched serial or maker's mark on the stock (initials, notches, random etchings) Possible algae growth in grooves, especially around the firing mechanism
manufacturer markings	None official. Handmade weapons bear only personal marks — scratched initials, tally marks for fish caught, or ritualistic notches. Some builders carve identifying symbols into the stock to claim authorship among Shelf communities.
condition typical	Battle-worn and corroded. This is a weapon that lives in contaminated water. Surface is always slick, internal mechanisms are unreliable, and structural integrity degrades with each dive. A well-maintained example might look deliberate; a typical street example looks like salvage that somehow became lethal.

image prompt

Close-up product photography of a crude DIY speargun made from PVC pipe and surgical tubing, photographed against a dark wet surface or held in a gloved, damp hand. The PVC barrel is scarred and algae-stained in murky teal-green, the surgical tubing is stretched taut and translucent, the sharpened rebar point is rust-orange and wickedly sharp. Dramatic side-lighting reveals water beading on the polymer, corrosion blooms, hairline cracks, and file marks on the projectile. The aesthetic is post-industrial, desperation-engineered, tactile wetness. Neo-noir underwater survivalism. Shallow depth of field emphasizing the dangerous tip and organic decay. --ar 3:2 --v 6

visual prompt