Shroud
The Shroud is a poorly-understood alternate dimension comprised entirely of energy, and the source of all Psionic power. While dreaming, individuals with psionics tend to imagine the Shroud, and sometimes visit it for very brief periods. The only known method of accessing this dimension for substantial periods of time is through seances by massed groups of specially-trained psionic telepaths. The most well-known of these groups is the Conclave of Telepaths in the Kingdom of Yondarim, but others exist as well. By using psionic emitters and a vast quanitity of energy, groups of telepaths are capable of 'tunneling' into the Shroud. While their phsyical bodies remain in realspace, their consciousness is transported to the Shroud and can move freely.
The Shroud is described as a whirling mass of psionic energy, a sort of dream-like place. It acts somewhat like an ocean, with currents and eddies that can sweep away unprepared telepaths. Time is also known to be perceived differently in certain regions of the Shroud, with time stretching out into centuries, or even allowing a telepath to see into the future.
Psionic visitors from realspace are not the only inhabitants of the Shroud. It is known to be home to intelligences of its own, typically in the form of swirling masses of energy and rudimentary intelligence. These creatures are capable of breaking into realspace if telepaths create a path, willingly or accidentally. Some groups of telepaths are capable of controlling these creatures, referring to them as Avatars. There are also semi-intelligent inhabitants of the Shroud, referred to as Spirits. It is theorised that these are the consciousnesses of telepaths who have been lost in the Shroud, or simply evolved from regular Shroud creatures.
There exist also vastly powerful entities within the Shroud, the most well-understood of which are called Patrons. They are relatively easier to contact compared to other entities, and sometimes offer bargains with realspace societies. They offer power in exchange for a price. The Kingdom of Yondarim is known to have forged a covenant with the entity known as the Instrument of Desire, which is alleged to provide wealth, power, and prestige to the Kingdom. However, social analysis of market trends within the Kingdom have shown its population to engage in simultaneous frenzies of consumerism and decadence, presumably as a result of their covenant.
While mental travel into the Shroud has long been understood as the only method of accessing it, some telepaths have reported seeing spacecraft during seances. The technology to accomplish this is not understood, and all attempts at reading the minds of the crew of these ships has presumably failed.
The Shroud is described as a whirling mass of psionic energy, a sort of dream-like place. It acts somewhat like an ocean, with currents and eddies that can sweep away unprepared telepaths. Time is also known to be perceived differently in certain regions of the Shroud, with time stretching out into centuries, or even allowing a telepath to see into the future.
Psionic visitors from realspace are not the only inhabitants of the Shroud. It is known to be home to intelligences of its own, typically in the form of swirling masses of energy and rudimentary intelligence. These creatures are capable of breaking into realspace if telepaths create a path, willingly or accidentally. Some groups of telepaths are capable of controlling these creatures, referring to them as Avatars. There are also semi-intelligent inhabitants of the Shroud, referred to as Spirits. It is theorised that these are the consciousnesses of telepaths who have been lost in the Shroud, or simply evolved from regular Shroud creatures.
There exist also vastly powerful entities within the Shroud, the most well-understood of which are called Patrons. They are relatively easier to contact compared to other entities, and sometimes offer bargains with realspace societies. They offer power in exchange for a price. The Kingdom of Yondarim is known to have forged a covenant with the entity known as the Instrument of Desire, which is alleged to provide wealth, power, and prestige to the Kingdom. However, social analysis of market trends within the Kingdom have shown its population to engage in simultaneous frenzies of consumerism and decadence, presumably as a result of their covenant.
While mental travel into the Shroud has long been understood as the only method of accessing it, some telepaths have reported seeing spacecraft during seances. The technology to accomplish this is not understood, and all attempts at reading the minds of the crew of these ships has presumably failed.
Type
Dimensional plane
Comments