Asheri Rising

Leo Saotome

The following is a combination of information in the archives, the "Supernatural" Thread, my own experience and some embelishment of the truth. Should anyone care to make changes or disagree, feel free. And of course, I'd be glad to delete this if the Keirus do not agree.

And I'll be putting this in installments, begining with...

Psychic Powers

At the present date, the psychic bloodlines appear to be rather weak, but there are always exceptions.

There are many types of powers in those of the bloodlines, and come as follows: kinetics, precognition (seeing the future in advance), aura reading (clairvoyance), mind control, astral projection, and telepathy.

Kinetics

Tele-kinetics, for those that do not know, is the ability to use one's mind to control the movement of an object, animate or in-. At this present date, the most a tele-kinetic seems to be able to produce is to alter the path of a flipped coin, tossed die, playing cards, or juggling balls. These are recognized as abilities bestowed upon a gambler, and most gamblers pass this ability off as luck.

This brings up a query: Are Psychic powers passive or active? In truth, it can be both. The passive telepathics seem to be most dangerous, as they have no control on their own power, but we've nothing to worry about in these weak states. One such account of strong tele-kinetic ability is the daughter of a past King of Akaros. She was riding aboard a ship that had set sail for Gania, and the course of the ship itself was set to go partially through the Drolstrom. This bothered the daughter, and as they were approaching the storm, she ran the the front of the ship and yelled aloud, "Go away!"

Witnesses recount that the Drolstrom itself receeded from the ship and only reverted to its previous state when the ship had passed well out of the Drolstrom's range. Whether the tele-kinetic ability exhibited was active or passive, or even from the daughter herself remains to be proven.


Precognition

Precognition involves the reading of the future. This ability is exhibited widely among Faraians and Gypsies in the form of tarot reading, crystal balls, palm readings, prophecy and other such recitings. Needless to say, this is not always one-hundred percent accurate, as the reading of the future is on one of many outcomes. Naturally, these abilities exhibited are most always active.

Precognition also comes off as passive in the form of visions. An example of such is an elven lady troubled by such visions all the way to her end. As in most psychic powers, these seem to be passed on in lineage. Also in the passive state fall many generals and leaders, who, as generally well-educated men, have a sort of foresight in their actions, a melding of intellect and precognition.

Clairvoyance

Once, it was said that a preacher could see the very aura of his followers, but nowadays it seems as though they may only sense the troubled feeling of a guilty conscience.

Mind Control

This is the very pinnacle of psychic prowess, but so very rare that sufficient information may not be gathered to prove it any more than myth, except among vampires. The ones that have lived long lives and fed well gain a power of controlling the impulses of others.

Astral projection

Among the meditative followers of the Spirit concentration, Astral projection was an experience often sought after. This is oft described as projecting one's spirit to a seperate realm, or another place on this one. It is said that in the possesion of the Sphere Stone of Spirit, a Summoner could traverse to far-distant realms in one's astral body. Such an experience may be simulated with the psychoactive effect in some mushrooms and the toxin produced by toads, but the authenticity of this experience is often questioned.

Telepathy

This is the ability of one or more persons to communicate via thought. Telepathy is most often exerted between people very close, as in lovers or close friends. The Passive side can be shown as a lover surprising his companion with a gift she hadn't mentioned but truly wanted. The active is when the broadcaster actively projects these thoughts. It was once said that telepathy was quite common place between lovers and friends, but at this time is most often exerted in time of great stress or great calm.

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The Undead

As in psychic abilities, these come in many shapes and forms. These may be detailed as follows: Ghosts and the Afiliated Apparitions, and Physical Manifestations (These include vampires, which will not be covered. A much more informative look at vampires is in a thread titled "Treatise on Vampires").

Ghosts and Apparitions

These are generated when the spirit leaves behind the body and does not return the the Creator. Many causes generate these undead, and no one is the true cause. The most common cause is an unmourned death, as in hermits, streetwalkers, homeless persons and the like. These people commonly go unmissed, and at the same time have many mortal ties to this world. This also happens when no one was aware of this person's death and they were on a mission. Great grief also causes the spirit to leave its body, as well as the forces of the Shadow. Another, although rare and almost extinct creation of ghosts occurs when the victim is astral projecting itself when the physical body passes. The astrally projected spirit is then unable to return to its body.

A ghost may appear as anywhere between invisible to near-opaque, in varied forms. These visible forms include the way the spirit saw itself when it was alive, the condition the body was in when it died, itself as a child, or a vast number of formless shapes. Some apparitions possess the ability to change its form, referred to as polymorphs.

In all cases but Shadow-generated ghosts, make peace is the most common route to returning to the creator.

Physical Manifestations

These are recognized as zombies, skeletons and the like. These occur in the same manner as ghosts, except the spirit remains in the body, or is animated spiritlessly long after death. Spiritless re-animation is demonstrated as well in astral projection when the body is live but the spirit is murdered. The difference between a zombie and a skeleton is merely that a skeleton has been dead longer. A zombie generally has its body mostly in tact, but this is not necessary. Zombies occur in various states of decay, and due to their semi-live state, decay is slowed, paused, or stopped completely. Zombies and skeletons, regaurdless of whether or not they have been summoned through the Shadow, tend to have an aversion for all things with sacred, religious, or healing properties.

Also, skeletons and zombies may be "killed" as it were. Fire and ice tend to work well, in addition to Holy magic. A skeleton or a zombie may also be exorcised unwillfully, or make peace and return to the creator.

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I suppose this was bound to happen. Writer's block on the paranormal. Can anyone think of anything else?

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Orocia Agua

Mediums...

Mediums are people who can speak with the dearly departed. ~_^

What dost thou sayeth on these mediums, Leo?
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Leo Saotome

Dwarven psychic escapes from prison.

Small Medium at Large.

Eh heh.. tomorrow, I'll have a post on Mediums.

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Mediums

Now, there is no such thing as a 'generic' Medium. Such a thing would seem redundant. Mediums are generally gifted with the abilities required to communicate with the dead, but these vary greatly. Mediums can be classified as Seers, Transmitters, Callers, and Senders. A Medium can be any one of these, a combination of any two or three, or all four.

Seers

A seer has the blessing or curse of seeing and/or hearing the dearly departed. They may see the dead in as many conditions as a ghost or aparition may appear. These ghosts and apparitions are mostly what these seers see, but they may also be contacted by those that have passed on without any difficulty. Some seers may exert power over their ability to see these departed, and they tend to fall into the Caller category as well.

Some even use the power of Seeing as a blessing, and use this for a greater good. However, most find this ability as a curse and are troubled with it all the way to their ends.

An example of such a seer is the son of a noble in Corner. He was constantly troubled by visions of dead vagrants up until he threw himself into the ocean over these troubling sights.

Transmitters

A transmitter is described as someone whom the Departed appear or speak to directly, not indirectly as do Seers. They most often seek out these people to help them find peace or to contact troubled relatives and let them know they have passed on. Sometimes, the departed are hostile toward transmitters, most specifically Shadow summoned apparitions. Some transmitters exert this power actively, and also most often fall into the Caller category. Transmitters may also be 'possessed' as it were, where the departed speak through the transmitter to all around. Even a change in voice is not uncommon.

Just as seers may use this power for the greater good or let this trouble them all their lives, so may transmitters.

Such an example would be a gypsy living in Ferain in long past. All the way up until her death she worked to find the people the departed told her about and bring about the eternal rest of the dead or peace of mind to the living.

Callers

Callers have the innate ability of calling the dead to them. This is most often controlled, as well as combined with the abilities previously mentioned. Sometimes, however, the departed can be called to the caller without their expressed want. Troubled persons are most often passive callers, adding to their troubled status as well as causing minor physical disturbances in the world around them.

Such a caller would be the appentice of some obscure weaponsmith in the city of Xellos. He was often chastised for being a bumbling fool, however, under close supervision he always did directly as instructed. Accidents just seemed to follow this boy, including his unfortunate death in some impossible event involving a spear rack, a hot blade, a stoker, and an anvil.

Senders

Senders seem to be just the reverse of callers, either exorcising ghosts that reside physically in their location simply by presense or active thought, or moving them physically to another area on this plane or to another realm simply by prensense or active thought.

One very small girl seemed in high demand around the mining city of Endroth during one short period for the seeming ability to dispell paranormal activities in her vicinity. However, this strange ability left her once she began to speak.

Note: These abilities may also be practiced, usually in an active matter, by those that study the Terra magic of Spirit. If neccesary, I shall edit later.

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Arboreal Prowler

I think you forgot to mention liches. I've never been quite clear as to what they are. Aren't they powerful mages that were cursed, or something? All I know is that they are some form of undead, so you might want to mention them.

Other than that, I think you've covered just about everything (except Ms. Cleo lol ) Good work.

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Keiru Cobalt

Liches, if indeed they exist at all (only the Keirus would know for sure...Mwa ha ha...), need not be mentioned due to the very sensitive nature of their being. Certainly, such powerful creatures are the rarest amongst their kind, and each has his/her/its own peculiar and important history. Accordingly, if a writer were to desire to include a lich or lich-like entity, he or she should seek permission before doing so.

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Leo Saotome

If the Keirus should want, I could write up a lich/necromancer/et cetera post, send it to them and have it reviewed/edited/picked apart for foreshadowing/whatever.

If not and otherwise, I'm finished.

What sayeth the Keiru?

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Leo Saotome

Just writing this post to encourgage feedback.

Did I miss anything?

Does anyone disagree?

Any new ideas?

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Keiru Emerald

I'd say this is good, Leo.. As for Liches, I'm gunna say no Liches.. for Veri are essentially Liches, but modified to be less cliche. However, as far as Arch-liches are concerned.. that's yet to be seen...

Kudos, and Thanks Leo.. I'll condense this thread and move it to the Treatise section sometime soon.

KE

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