Psionics
Psionics is the practice and study of utilising mental energy to create physical effects on the world. While ancient tales of beings capable of lifting objects with their minds or reading the thoughts of others are present in many current galactic civilisations, conclusive evidence as to the existence of psionics was not discovered until the mid 23rd century. Even today, there are many debates as to the exact nature of what psionics represent, and what the field really is.
Most biological species in the galaxy are known to possess latent psionic potential. Hive minded species do not appear to be capable of psionics, nor do machines. Psionic abilities have also never been observed appearing naturally, only appearing after a concerted effort to cause their emergence. The Kingdom of Yondarim was the first major spacefaring polity to discover psionic theory, and has led the way in psionic research.
All individuals with psionic abilities have a connection to a realm of psionic energy called the Shroud. This alternate dimension is a physical, metaphorical, metaphysical, and mental place, and psionic individuals use the energies within to power their own Psi abilities.
While most psionic individuals display little more than basic telepathy, some are capable of more powerful feats. Estimates vary, but most place the number of individuals with this capability in the single digit percentages of any psionic society. With training, they are able to harness their power more acutely. Abilities such as mind-reading, telekinesis, precognition, superior reflexes, and even the ability to project psionic shields have been observed.
Class-A: The most powerful of all psionically-gifted individuals, but also the most rare. Approximately one out of every one million psions can be rated as Class-A. Class-A psions have incredibly natural aptitude, capable of moving small shuttles with their minds, reading the minds of guarded individuals, and even psychically killing other sapients by frying their mind. However, the sheer power granted by the Shroud has the unfortunate side effect of degenerating the minds of Class-A psions. With training, their powers can be focused and life expectancy increased, but they tend to live for under 40 years regardless.
Class-B: Class-B psions are the most powerful type of psion that most individuals will see in their life. Although lacking the sheer power of Class-A psions, Class-Bs have very high innate psionic potential, and with training, the most adept of them can reach heights close to the lowest Class-As. Class-B psions are typically capable of reading or even altering the minds of other sapients, moving truck-sized objects, and communicating over long distances (several hundred metres) telepathically. Due to their power and relative abundance compared to Class-A psions (at approximately two percent of a psionic population), Class-B psions are in high demand by states and megacorporations for their talents.
Class-C: Just over one in ten psions can be considered a Class-C. Even without training, they have a solid grasp of almost all psionic powers, such as telepathy, telekinesis, and in some cases, very limited precognition. They may specialise in certain fields, with the highest of Class-C nearly matching Class-B psions in that field. However, the majority of Class-C psions are, to a non-psionic eye, fairly indistinguishable from Class-D.
Class-D: By an extreme margin, Class-D is the most common category of psion. Approximately seventy percent of the galactic psionic population is Class-D. Class-D psions possess limited psychic abilities, typically not a "full set" of them either. Generally speaking, the average Class-D psion can engage in telepathy with accepting individuals standing next to them and move small (fruit-sized) objects with telekinesis. The power of a Class-D psion is typically too low to seriously injure someone, though that is not an absolute statement.
Class-E: Class-E represents individuals who have very weak psionic powers. These individuals are uncommon, representing approximately fifteen percent of psions. They lack most psionic abilities, and struggle to utilise even 'basic' abilities like telekinesis and telepathy. In many cases, young Class-E psions can be "improved" to Class-D through years of specialised training, but that requires significant time and effort. Past adolescence, however, improvement on a Class-E is rare.
Class-F: Not a standard class, Class-F refers to individuals who do not display psionic power, but have the potential for it. This is most common in species that have begun their psionic awakening, and may spontaneously develop a higher class of power. This class has somewhat fallen out of use since the development of "transcendent awakening", a procudure developed by the Yondar to grant any sapient organic psionic power. While extremely uncomfortable and lengthy, the process has a near 100% success rate.
Class-X: A hypothesised class of psion that vastly exceeds the power of even a Class-A. The only known Class-X individuals were members of the Divine faction of the ancient Zroni species, and a single member of the Saviors faction. Such power developed today could only come directly from a Shroud entity, such as one of the patrons. A Class-X individual would be able to manipulate thousands of minds, see clearly into the future, and perhaps even visit the Shroud themselves.
Most biological species in the galaxy are known to possess latent psionic potential. Hive minded species do not appear to be capable of psionics, nor do machines. Psionic abilities have also never been observed appearing naturally, only appearing after a concerted effort to cause their emergence. The Kingdom of Yondarim was the first major spacefaring polity to discover psionic theory, and has led the way in psionic research.
All individuals with psionic abilities have a connection to a realm of psionic energy called the Shroud. This alternate dimension is a physical, metaphorical, metaphysical, and mental place, and psionic individuals use the energies within to power their own Psi abilities.
Psi Abilities
Individuals with psionic abilities tend to first display them in childhood, but their appearing post-adolescence is not unheard of. Those with Psi abilities manifest them differently, but the most common power is that of telepathy. Individuals with telepathy are able to communicate mentally with others nearby, sharing thoughts and feelings. They are also able to sense the 'souls', for lack of a better term, of nearby biological entities. This has reaffirmed the belief of many spiritualist leaders throughout the galaxy that machines fundamentally cannot be 'alive', but this continues to be challenged by materialists and synthetics alike.While most psionic individuals display little more than basic telepathy, some are capable of more powerful feats. Estimates vary, but most place the number of individuals with this capability in the single digit percentages of any psionic society. With training, they are able to harness their power more acutely. Abilities such as mind-reading, telekinesis, precognition, superior reflexes, and even the ability to project psionic shields have been observed.
Psionic Ability Index
Initially developed by the Kingdom of Yondarim to classify approximate psionic aptitude, the Psionic Ability Index is now the standard scale for measuring an individual's psionic power. It is divided into six classes, ranging from Class-F to Class-A. A seventh, hypothetical, class exists, but no individuals have been observed to belong to it as of 2357 CE. An alternate naming scheme is used by some, ranging from Class 1 (Class-F) to Class 6 (Class-A) and beyond. It is preferred by those who use the Psionic Ability Index to classify the power of Shroud beings, but otherwise the lettered naming scheme is preferred in academia.Class-A: The most powerful of all psionically-gifted individuals, but also the most rare. Approximately one out of every one million psions can be rated as Class-A. Class-A psions have incredibly natural aptitude, capable of moving small shuttles with their minds, reading the minds of guarded individuals, and even psychically killing other sapients by frying their mind. However, the sheer power granted by the Shroud has the unfortunate side effect of degenerating the minds of Class-A psions. With training, their powers can be focused and life expectancy increased, but they tend to live for under 40 years regardless.
Class-B: Class-B psions are the most powerful type of psion that most individuals will see in their life. Although lacking the sheer power of Class-A psions, Class-Bs have very high innate psionic potential, and with training, the most adept of them can reach heights close to the lowest Class-As. Class-B psions are typically capable of reading or even altering the minds of other sapients, moving truck-sized objects, and communicating over long distances (several hundred metres) telepathically. Due to their power and relative abundance compared to Class-A psions (at approximately two percent of a psionic population), Class-B psions are in high demand by states and megacorporations for their talents.
Class-C: Just over one in ten psions can be considered a Class-C. Even without training, they have a solid grasp of almost all psionic powers, such as telepathy, telekinesis, and in some cases, very limited precognition. They may specialise in certain fields, with the highest of Class-C nearly matching Class-B psions in that field. However, the majority of Class-C psions are, to a non-psionic eye, fairly indistinguishable from Class-D.
Class-D: By an extreme margin, Class-D is the most common category of psion. Approximately seventy percent of the galactic psionic population is Class-D. Class-D psions possess limited psychic abilities, typically not a "full set" of them either. Generally speaking, the average Class-D psion can engage in telepathy with accepting individuals standing next to them and move small (fruit-sized) objects with telekinesis. The power of a Class-D psion is typically too low to seriously injure someone, though that is not an absolute statement.
Class-E: Class-E represents individuals who have very weak psionic powers. These individuals are uncommon, representing approximately fifteen percent of psions. They lack most psionic abilities, and struggle to utilise even 'basic' abilities like telekinesis and telepathy. In many cases, young Class-E psions can be "improved" to Class-D through years of specialised training, but that requires significant time and effort. Past adolescence, however, improvement on a Class-E is rare.
Class-F: Not a standard class, Class-F refers to individuals who do not display psionic power, but have the potential for it. This is most common in species that have begun their psionic awakening, and may spontaneously develop a higher class of power. This class has somewhat fallen out of use since the development of "transcendent awakening", a procudure developed by the Yondar to grant any sapient organic psionic power. While extremely uncomfortable and lengthy, the process has a near 100% success rate.
Class-X: A hypothesised class of psion that vastly exceeds the power of even a Class-A. The only known Class-X individuals were members of the Divine faction of the ancient Zroni species, and a single member of the Saviors faction. Such power developed today could only come directly from a Shroud entity, such as one of the patrons. A Class-X individual would be able to manipulate thousands of minds, see clearly into the future, and perhaps even visit the Shroud themselves.
Type
Metaphysical, Psychic
Mind-Reading
Memory Alteration
Telepathic Communication
Telekinesis
Sensing Biological Entities
Precognition
Superior Reflexes
Barrier Generation
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