The Magicians of Carthage
See No Evil...
Roaming The Night By Candlelight
A key feature of the Magicians comes from their reliance on The Candlelight to fuel their abilities as well as to strengthen them. The individuals who founded the School of Carthage determined that some of the more immediate dangers of candlelight could be eliminated if they never used their eyes. This has a profound effect on the magicians. By taking the eyes away, they can turn the adverse effects of the candlelight to a benefit, at least to an extent.
They gain psionic potential, allowing them to learn Psychic Surgery. They can sense things with candlelight in ways no one else can, which becomes a form of "sight" for them. Their reflexes are second to none, and their knowledge of the metaphysical is just as prestigious. Through some bizarre mix of the arcane and modern technology, they can quantify levels of candlelight in a given subject, and have learned how to increase and decrease those levels.
Through special operations performed through psychic surgery or administering the psychic drug, Bliss, the magicians can completely remove the candlelight from the mind. Through special forms of mediation and exposing oneself to the horrors of the world, they can increase the candlelight and develop an immunity like a researcher, exposing themselves to trace amounts of a potent venom.
They gain psionic potential, allowing them to learn Psychic Surgery. They can sense things with candlelight in ways no one else can, which becomes a form of "sight" for them. Their reflexes are second to none, and their knowledge of the metaphysical is just as prestigious. Through some bizarre mix of the arcane and modern technology, they can quantify levels of candlelight in a given subject, and have learned how to increase and decrease those levels.
Through special operations performed through psychic surgery or administering the psychic drug, Bliss, the magicians can completely remove the candlelight from the mind. Through special forms of mediation and exposing oneself to the horrors of the world, they can increase the candlelight and develop an immunity like a researcher, exposing themselves to trace amounts of a potent venom.
Psychic Surgery
Most abilities used by The Magicians come from Psychic Surgery, psionic power that manifests in various ways. Through thought alone, they can manipulate almost anything in their environment, though how much they can manipulate varies depending on the strength of the magician. They can lift and move objects, communicate with others, control the flow of energy, and even destabilize particles in a wall, so they may stroll through it. They can also use the candlelight as a weapon, forging an impossibly thin "psychic scalpel" that emits from their hand in a lavender glow.
The practice is their own invention, and the first of its kind in the world of The Web. Its development is still ongoing, and new abilities show up periodically over time. Using psychic surgery, Magicians can do impossible things. They have removed tumors from the body with little effort, erased memories, heal the mind after trauma, and restore the body after sustaining fatal wounds. This can also be used to harm. Their abilities allow them to fight, tearing enemies apart by willing it to be so.
Psionic power comes directly from one's connection to the candlelight. The more you have, the more powerful your psychic potential. Despite this, it's rare outside of The Magicians. An occasional medium will develop minor abilities. One will swindle the gullible until one day she finds every prediction she makes comes true. The more specific a prediction, the truer it becomes. An actor on a ghost hunting TV show finds he can suddenly see auras and claims he sees spirits, though the TV crew refuses to believe him. These cases are anomalies, random occurrences with little correlation. It is unclear if this is orchestrated the Magicians or simply the natural order of things, but in time, these few always find themselves at The School Of Carthage.
The Oedipist Right
There is a downside to joining The Magicians: as one furthers their training at The School Of Carthage, they will inevitably come to a point where they must either turn away, maintaining their rank, but unable to progress, or go through the Oedepist Rite, a ritual that involves the removal of the eyes for reasons kept secret even to those undergoing the transformation.
The magicians are blind. While once, it was an option to have your eyes removed or simply covered, the modern day is different. Due to an unfortunate incident leading to a high ranking member's death, The Oedipist Rite is now required to fully become a magician. They can't see a thing, though they can 'see' many things. The experience is often described as psychic awareness through the other senses. They don't have an internal sonar like a bat, but their hearing is close.
The true advantage is when around subjects that are connected to the metaphysical world. All living beings, undead, and even blades of grass are connected to some metaphysical entity. For this reason, they can literally 'feel' you. They know how close you are, what you're wearing, your facial expressions, and can gauge your state of mind as well by using this sensation.
The magicians are blind. While once, it was an option to have your eyes removed or simply covered, the modern day is different. Due to an unfortunate incident leading to a high ranking member's death, The Oedipist Rite is now required to fully become a magician. They can't see a thing, though they can 'see' many things. The experience is often described as psychic awareness through the other senses. They don't have an internal sonar like a bat, but their hearing is close.
The true advantage is when around subjects that are connected to the metaphysical world. All living beings, undead, and even blades of grass are connected to some metaphysical entity. For this reason, they can literally 'feel' you. They know how close you are, what you're wearing, your facial expressions, and can gauge your state of mind as well by using this sensation.
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I do enjoy your Carthage Magicians. They are such a unique mix of power and tragedy.
Necromancy is a Wholesome Science.
Im glad you like them! They are another of my favorites. Thanks once again!