Ambient sounds courtesy of tosha73 and EminYILDIRIM
Greetings to those below. I am Death, though I will ask you call me Azrael as I have always done. Today I aim to dazzle your thoughts, or at the very least make them tingle, for today, we will be exploring that mystical dance of the mind known as psionics.
First, though you must understand the word itself. Second, you must understand the cultural context. Not everyone has psionics, you see. Specifically it is the dragons and the Sithuwaye elves who do. No one else. Though even between these two peoples, the difference in application is vast.
A Brief Explanation
by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay
Psionics is a catch-all term that refers collectively to two separate mental abilities. They are telepathy and telekinesis, though while you may understand these abilities already, those below, I would advise leaving your mind open to some Orostian-specific differences.
A Universal Truth
by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
will explain the Sithuwaye elf variant of psionics today and the dragon variant next time, if only because the dragons are more . . . technical. Hmph. When are they not? But, that aside, for Sithuwaye and dragons both, there is at least one universal truth. Psionics are a natural born capability in both Sithuwaye and dragon minds. They are
possible talents that then must be honed similar to how one might have a natural affinity for the piano, but of course still must practice and train so as to not have that talent wither and die. Even prodigies are not exempt from this. Concentration. Focus. Discipline. These are the points of character one must develop within themselves to truly grasp psionics—especially if one desires to be powerful. Because as much as psionics are a skill, they are also an art form.
Rules for Sithuwaye
Sithuwaye, unlike dragons, have the ability to utilize both aspects of psionics freely as they choose. Both their telepathy and their telekinesis remain unshackled. Because of this, they are the art’s visible and—dare I say flashy?—practitioners.
Sithuwaye Telepathy
by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay
ithuwaye telepathy is the first function performed by the psionic muscle located in the brain. It first manifests itself in the womb since, for Sithuwaye, the brain is the first thing to develop in the womb. Development for the rest of the body comes second. Shortly after conception, both Sithuwaye parents may extend the energy of their minds gently inside the mother’s womb and mentally touch the developing life. I have never experienced it myself, but what a thrill it must be to connect to the mind of one’s child for the first time, to
feel them and see the colors of their mind as it grows richer, bolder, more developed; until finally, I imagine it must appear like a firework of expression as the birth draws near.
I have heard Sithuwaye mothers describe hearing the psionic voice of their unborn child reaching out to them. Nothing specific, of course, but they might sense little touches of color, light, and laughter. If the father is physically close enough, sometimes he might sense it, too.
Once born, the baby learns as it grows, learning to speak with their tongue in addition to their mind. It is odd to think of physical speech as being the equivalent to a second language, but that is what it must be like for them. Some children do get confused between the two for a time. Humans have a helpful phrase here. “Tongue-tied.” Sithuwaye children sometimes get tongue-tied and brain-tied.
The mental connection will always be strongest with close family, but as they get older, Sithuwaye children will learn to extend their thoughts to unrelated minds. This is where the true art comes into play, though, for there is a danger to telepathy. While it is inherently mental, there is a physical component. The Sithuwaye’s telepathy extends from their body as a current of invisible yet tangible energy, meaning you could
literally feel a Sithuwaye poking around inside your head depending on the lightness and skill of their touch. If you wish, you may think of it as feeling like a spider tap-dancing on your brain. Is your head itching yet? (I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist.)
But there is also the
layers of the mind to consider. The surface of one’s mind is light and airy, as unbound as the clouds in the sky. A Sithuwaye can allow their telepathic energy to ripple like poured water over the surface of your brain with little resistance. There they can hear the echoes of thought drifting up from deeper caverns. Here is where telepathic conversations can be held, as well. This would be true even for those who don’t have psionic abilities. While participating in a mental discussion, of course the non-psionic user would not be able to project their reply, but facilitated by the Sithuwaye, they may still at least think a sentence as their reply, and the Sithuwaye would be able to discern it. It is not quite as efficient, but it works in a pinch.
Moving beyond the surface, though, changes the game. To dig deeper, one must literally dig. This is why reading one’s mind past the surface is dangerous and can only be done if the receiving person is relaxed and willing. If the mind is open, the telepathic energy may proceed unchallenged to access those deeper thoughts, but it is still dangerous, and I would not advise a young adult Sithuwaye, much less a child, to perform such a thing. It is too delicate an art for an inexperienced person. If the receiver is unwilling, the mind will be hard, flexed, and guarded. The invading telepathic energy will churn and sting against the mounted resistance until I imagine it becomes something like frenzied clawed fingers digging, squeezing, ripping into the brain’s pink, juicy flesh. There will be . . . damage. And yes, I think it’s safe to say it would hurt. Excruciating might be a good word. Hmm.
That said, there are ways to defend oneself from these psionic attacks . . . if you also have psionics. Forming mental shields and the like to help defend and such. But if you do not have psionics, well, I am afraid you have only your will, and there is only so much of that you can muster before you fall drooling to the floor.
There are limits to this, though. Having a talented lineage definitely increases the chances of you becoming powerful yourself. Breathe a bit easier when I tell you only the most powerful Sithuwaye can physically tear apart someone’s mind. Those Sithuwaye like Vānima the Veldriss and others from the Anastilian royal line, for example. This is because the Anastils all descend from Desmon Anastil, the most powerful Sithuwaye to have ever lived. He could pluck a brain right off its stem, rip it out through your nose, and squash it into paste all with a single thought. But he is the only one who has ever managed that, and that particular example is dipping into the telekinetic side of things, too. There
is a subtle art that comes with combining them. After all, it is all part of the same muscle.
Sithuwaye Telekinesis
by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
ithuwaye telekinesis is the second function performed by the psionic muscle located in the brain. The important thing to keep in mind here is what I just said. It’s a muscle, meaning it functions much the same as the muscles in your arm or leg.
Think of closing a door—a big, heavy door. Think of the force you would have to use to close it. Would it take less force to close the door with one quick shove or to slowly push it closed, fighting its weight along the way? The former is the correct answer, which is exactly why it is easier for a Sithuwaye using telekinesis to quickly slam a door closed than it would be for them to slowly do the same thing. To do it slower requires the muscle to remain flexed for a longer length of time, compared to a quick flex that allows the door to, after the initial shove, close on its own thanks to its own inertia and weight.
With this in mind, I think it is fair to say that using telekinesis is all about finding ways
not to use it. If you want to start an avalanche, flick a pebble with your mind, and let the mountain do the rest of the work. It is a basic principle, then, that the less overall force you use, the better off you will be. Otherwise you risk pulling the psionic muscle just as you might pull a muscle in your arm or leg. This is why levitating a lighter person off the ground is easier than levitating a heavier person, or why simply throwing the heavier person, letting go, and letting them free fall is easier still.
Think, then, of Desmon again and why one of the most famous showings of his power began what is now known as Desmon’s Rebellion. That day, Desmon’s mind flexed forward with all his determination and wrath, and by the throat, he lifted and dangled three fully grown 20ft gigantes off the ground
at once and commanded them to announce to their masters he was on his way. That left quite the impression I can promise you. Even I shudder at the thought. And yes, those below. If you are struggling to picture how a man with such power could be good, well . . . you’d be right in thinking he wasn’t. Then again, I suppose it’s complicated. He didn’t start that way. And in the end, he . . . well, I don’t really know. He tried to speak to me as I collected him, but it was too garbled for me to understand. I only caught four words.
"I made her jump . . ."
—Desmon Anastil
In any case, all this to say, if you observe a Sithuwaye carefully opening a door with their mind, be impressed and know it took considerably more concentration, control, and effort than it would have to simply yank it open. Then again, it also might be prudent to wonder why they are bothering to expend needless energy to do it slowly if they are not otherwise trying to be sneaky. But mmph, that’s just a minor curiosity on my part, I suppose.
Origins
by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
s to the origins of psionics, for once I may answer freely. My master is the creator of psionics. He gifted the Sithuwaye and the dragons with these talents when he first created them. I suppose this means psionics are a thing older than even I, because if you didn’t know before, I will tell you that both the dragons and the Sithuwaye elves are also both a year older than I.
Funny how much things have changed . . .
Usage Today
by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay - Modified by J. L. Gryphon
nyway, I suppose the last thing to mention is the prevalence of psionics today. Among the dragons, which again, I will discuss next time, the talent is alive and well and exactly the same as it has been. The dragons should be happy about that. They don’t like change, you see.
As for the Sithuwaye, well . . . at least on Rhye, psionics have become as rare as the Sithuwaye themselves. It is almost extinct, I am afraid. You can thank Vānima the Veldriss for that. She views psionics, particularly telepathy, as a threat to her and everything she has built. Even a goddess’s mind has secrets, so naturally, she seeks to wipe out anyone who might use this threat to destroy her. Or should I say expose her?
However, it would be simplistic to say it is entirely her fault. There are other things that happened, other people that . . . well, let’s just say Vānima is one small piece in a very large puzzle, especially when you consider some of the puzzle’s most vital pieces have been missing for a very,
very long time.
Signed your thinking narrator,
Azrael the Star of Death
Book Information
To learn more, hop on over to the books page OR hop on over to the teaser and get a sneak peek of Chapter 1! For more articles like this one, have a peek at my Worldbuilding Journal and explore Orosta.
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