Paradigm Concepts

[Vashti]

Things to be gleaned from Psionics Unbound

There are many, many things to take from PsU. This only scratches the surface, or maybe just my interest levels. But here’re the highlights I’ve taken away so far:

1. Sources of Psionics
2. Agents of the Silence
3. Preternatural vs. Normal and vs. Magic

First, the Sources of Psionics are interesting. There is some link with this for sorcery. As noted previously, humans and half-hobgobs can’t be sorcerers because of Mundane blood. Also, they obviously can’t use ‘normal’ psionics, but they’re not alone in this. Preternatural Psionics is one source, but it originates from elsewhere than Onara. Human Celestials can beget psionic capability, but only with alteration (Val). The Ssethric were able to use Bio-Engineering to abscond with the ability. Obviously, the il’Huan, Sansho, Brood of Canturec and others had their own sources which aren’t really delved into.

One thing that sticks out for me with this is the Ssethric bio-engineering. Why couldn’t the dwarves do this? They certainly have the scientific/artisan capability AND…they used to be psionic themselves (well, their forbearers, the Celestial Giants). If it’s not already pending, I’m afraid of the concept of Psionic Reavers! Their Spirit Arrays should hold some memory of Psionic concepts, and I have images of “Master-Smith – Bioengineering”. But one thing is obvious…Psionic ability can be gained (the Sseth, the Blue, the Song of Pyrric, agents of the Silence).

One last item of interest is the fact that the Sseth do not have Psionic capability naturally. What does this say about Kassegore and that dogma? If Arcanis is a source…and he purportedly created Arcanis…then why wouldn’t his chosen? There are tons of ways this could be tweaked and tons of questions; I won’t even begin to go into them. I just find this dissonance interesting.

Next, we tend to focus on the Voiceless Ones as the ‘agents of Silence’, and they certainly seem primary (the Issori and any of a number of other races also included). “For a race so seemingly entwined behind the scenes of just about every major event in modern and ancient history…” and ancient dwarvish lore (presumably as giants), “vermin and parasites that long dogged the steps of their ancient foes throughout their journey through the stars. Silent in word and deed, the maddening gibbering of their thoughts told only of conquest and servitude to Oblivion.”

Well, well…. The latter first. Elsewhere it is pointed out that only the Awakened can hear that gibbering. We know there were psionically capable Giants (also plane-walkers), so presumably this is Giantish lore. It certainly implies close contact, and the giants apparently dismissive of the annoyance. That aside, who were ‘their ancient foes’? Was it the Giants? Or the humans? Someone different?

Now there were several references to the Inter-Planar Empire of the First Imperium. The First Imperium wasn’t around such an awfully long time that it could come to power on Onara and THEN expand outward across the planes. This lends credence to my belief (and that of others) that humans came from another world/plane entirely before coming to Onara. This would be supported by Kassegore’s “Children of the Sun” dream (if you accept that as interpretation of Illiir). We’ve also seen recently that they’ve moved back and forth in time. There are a lot of loose pieces here that I’m overlooking or simply not following for sake of a semblance of brevity, and this remains an interesting issue. The Kha’firee said that they accepted the inevitability of Oblivion, and were put out by PoM refusal to give in to what only made sense.

Now…entwined in nearly every major event. This is pretty serious. The speculation suggests that Darius Gracchi had long been a thrall to a VO. Given the prominence and fame of Darius Gracchi, it is likely that he had close access to the head of the family, which would be someone who would have close access to the Emperor. If the leading vassal family of the Imperial Line has long been manipulated by VO’s, then just what does that mean???

To make it topical (and scratch my favorite itch), let’s conflate some of these. A VO (they live for thousands of years) with easy access to Emperors. There has been speculation that Calsestus’ Visitor was a Valinor – or a VO. The failure of Felician’s “Revelation” spell to reveal a different truth is cited as prime evidence confirming the Valinor. But…

Well, I wrote an extensive bit about comparing approximate caster levels and PRs and (the -10 penalty for Preternatural), but I don’t want to bog this note down. Suffice it to say that if we consider the possibility that this Visitor is actually a VO in disguise, and further accept that such a creature would be a pretty powerful one (as in, Epic-level, Elder-Elorii powerful – after all, Calsestus is mid-30s), then for any of a number of reasons, there is very strong reason to believe that Felician’s 7th-level spell, Revelation, didn’t, wouldn’t or couldn’t work against a Preternaturally Psionic creature.

And from any of a number of sources, one HAS to assume that the Silence is involved in the current strife. We know at least they were near Enpebyn, and even that the Song of Pyrric forces were dogging the steps of the participants at Solanos Mor.

We can be assured that the Silence has been yanking on cords for all they're worth over the duration of the campaign.

Thanks, have fun,
Michael

[EricGorman]

I have to admit I was hoping for a little bit more story out of the material, but its not like there wasn't alot on the plate already...such as replacing the SRD psionics or anything. We did get some much appreciated material on the awakening processes of the val which to me was the most interesting part of the book. It would also seem to suggest that some monastic paths might lead to awakening . . . sadly a thread that will never be pursued with the coming of 4.0

Okay you raised a couple of points:
As I read it the first time, I took the passage of ancient foes as a reference to the Celestrial Giants: "vermin and parasites that long dogged the steps of their ancient foes throughout their journey through the stars."
I assume that to mean the VO (vermin and parasites) dogged the steps of the Celestrial Giants (foes of the VO). Lord of the Peaks lists a Celestrial Giant as a CR: 19 creature...before they start adding class levels. Their CG example Sola is also a level 10 psion IIRC which makes for a CR: 24 creature at least. The "weanie VO" of PU is only a CR 9 creature. If I'm reading it correctly that probably qualifies the typical VO as "irritants" to the typical Celestrial Giant...unless the CGs were overwhelmed by very large numbers of VOs.

Thinking about Kassegore and creation is always an interesting thought exercise. What strikes me is that many "elder races" have psionics. And of course the Ssethrics don't (except through brain technomancy). Are the Ssethrics then really an "elder race?" And if not what does that say about Kassegore's claim to be the creator and destroyer of the Universe. Everytime we get a new piece of the celestrial picture things get more complicated. I don't want to delve too much into matters revealed by Sacrifice of Generations and the Kha'firee but obviously there are a lot more dieities running around than any church is willing to admit and more like the Varn and the SK keep trying to join the divine ranks.

Poor Darius Gracchi. I don't know that he was a mover and a shaker within the family, - the journal entries suggest he dedicated his life to 30 years of adventuring and not to politics, but sure, the fact that he was a VO sock puppet doesn't look too good. If there were any major political repercusions they aren't IC/OOC knowledge yet. The first journal entry for the Cerebrilith is 587 and it ends with a 617 IC entry. A quick look at the timeline shows nothing mentioned between 538 IC (End of the Coryani-Ymandrake War) and 764 with the start of the second Coryani-Khitani war. We do know that somewhere in there the val'Assante lost the Alabaster throne to the val'Dellenovs (and of course this ultimately led to everyone's least favorite Emperor, Quron the Mad). We know prior to the 2nd C/K war the val'Ds were already on the throne as the Azure Way was started by Quintelus - possibly Quron's father.

Finally on to Cal's winged friend. Yes its possible its some ungodly entropic behemouth...but my money is still on Manetas the Fallen Pride of Illiir. It just seems suspicious to me that the guys who corrupted the val'Assante Imperators gets free a year or two earlier in BLOOD REIGN IN NISHANPUR and suddenly the val'Assante Emperor is putting a statue up a statue to himself that puts Illiir in his shadow. But that's me and my take. I will say that the entropic freaks seem to spend a lot of time underground or otherwise hiding from the light of the sun so I don't really belive that appearing in public fits the VO's MO.

It'd be nice to bring Xabal south and pick his brain on what he thinks about Cal's friend!
_________________
~Eisener val'Holryn. Holy Champion of Nier and haunted veteran of the crusade
~Formerly Sir Jaeger val'Holryn, gave his soul to help free King Noen from the LLT Banner

[Vashti]

Yeah, as I said this was just a rough gleaning. The default assumption are that the dwarves were talking about the VOs interacting with the Giants. This raises some interesting questions about the relationships of various races. I've always wondered about the Giants' knowledge and relations with the PoM. The VOs were the Giants' "ancient foe", but also were the foe of the PoM? Or was that not until they arrived on Onara?

If we consider it as a reference to humans, then that cuts the giants out and makes things neater, but that's not compelling.

One other thing...with the arrival of the VOs and the Giants, could that be an alternate reference to Kassegore's dream about a darkness that would cover the world, followed by the arrival of the Children of the Sun? Celestial giants certainly seem as possible to fit that description, and the VOs bringing Oblivion would also work well. The view of Umor & Humans fits that statement so utterly neatly -- and also has enjoyed a complete lack of alternatives to this statement...but VOs and Giants could be the first alternative we've seen.

Giants and dwarves have always struck me as a none-to-subtle race. It would fit well that the VOs may have engineered the Giants' hubris and subsequent fall. CR 19 or not, they could still be easily beguiled and manipulated by a sneaky, mischievous sort!

Thanks,
Michael