Was playing Underrail and downing mushroom brews with the Dude, my bud and it dawned on me. You can connect the rift walking, soothsaying Dude to a Terence Mckenna like figure whose drug use has ravaged their psyche due to seeing the interdimensional entities. You can go further and use the experiences you and the Dude go on to unlocking your mind with the Juice and rift walking yourself throughout the Underrail. I feel however that the Dude has yet to encounter the hostile supernatural entities like those you encounter in the Expedition so he's like a virgin compared to Mckenna who has experienced these entities and still supports the use of psychedelics making him a nefarious figure who willingly spreads the corrupting agents.