#Also the telepath has strict rules about telepathy

[hauntingsunshine14]

what the fuck is up with bitches created in the 60s who have differing philosophies and are also gay but nobody wants to say it outright even thou everyone knows. Also one of them is a telepath. Also they know a Dr. McCoy.

[dailycharacteroption]

Conversion Corner: PF2 Ancestry Rewind part 3

Sprite

 Something fun about the way that Second Edition handles playable ancestries is making things that were previously unplayable without modification into playable creatures. In today’s case, it has given us a handful of related fey creatures, collectively known as sprites, as playable options, covering everything from familiar things like sprites, pixies, and grigs, as well as new creatures like the draconid draxies, the insectile and sugar-fiend melixies, and the fluffy bat-like nyctera.

Of course, I fully expect this ancestry to eventually be expanded on, as there are plenty of other sprite-like fey that they can draw upon, such as the courageous atomies, and the sociable liminal sprites, though admittedly in the latter case, if the liminal sprites are limited by their traditional curse, they might prove difficult to play as unless there is a good supply of entrances and windows for them to sleep in or near.

However, while this ancestry demonstrates the good the system can do, it also illustrates a major annoyance I have with it, being extremely strict about letting players have access to certain abilities, such as flight, and while they do give you the option to ignore the normal rules and just give them a fly speed, the power of complete flight is locked behind a feat chain by default, complete with a frankly patronizing in-universe reason for why they cannot fly, calling them “destined fey heroes of the material plane” that give up immediate flight for the potential to be greater (i.e. be player characters).

In any case, in general sprites is a common term for many diminutive species of fey, most being tiny humanoids with insectile wings, but some possess other traits, such as a tauric cricket lower body, animal or insectile features, and so on. In general, most among their kind are merry pranksters and endlessly curious, seeing the wonder in the world.

 The playable stats below represent the standard “luminous” sprite.

 Sprite

+2 Dex, +2 Int -2 Str

Type: fey

Size: Tiny. Sprites gain a +2 to Dex, a -2 to Str, +2 to AC and to Attack rolls, a -2 to CMB checks and CMD, and a +8 to Stealth checks. They have a reach of zero, and must enter a foe’s space to attack them, which provokes an Attack of Opportunity. Sprites cannot typically flank.

Low-light vision

Speed: Sprites have a speed of 15 feet, and a fly speed of 60 ft

Luminescence: A sprite can shed light as a torch. Changing the color or intensity of the light, including switching it off entirely is a swift action.

Spell-like abilities: Constant: detect evil, detect good

at will: dancing lights, daze

1/day color spray

Languages: Common, Sylvan. Sprites with high intelligence scores may select any bonus language with the exception of secret languages.

 Alternate Heritages: The following heritages represent other types of sprites. Their alternate abilities replace both Luminescence and the Sprite Spell-like abilities.

 Draxie: Descended from the reincarnated shards of a particularly powerful faerie dragon, draxies blend draconic traits with the sprite formula. They are deeply passionate about crafting the perfect joke or prank, and cultivate plans for years if need be, though they also tend to develop strong bonds with those they trust, as well.

Alternate Ability Adjustments +2 Dex, +2 Cha, -2 Wis

Alternate Abilities: Touch Telepathy: A Draxie can speak telepathically with any creature they are in direct physical contact with, regardless of language.

Draxie Breath: once per day, a draxie can breath a 15 ft cone of glittering particles, which has a random effect, and requires a Will Save (DC 11+Cha modifier) to resist. Roll a 1d4 to deterimine the effects.

-1 Targets that fail their save are charmed as charm monster for 1 minute

-2 Targets that fail their save lose the last 5 minutes of their memory as the modify memory spell

-3 Targets that fail their save are placed in a magical sleep, as the sleep spell

-4 Targets that fail their save are staggered and sickened, but also immune to fear for one round.

Languages: Draxies add Draconic to their base languages.

 Grig: Having the lower bodies of crickets, grigs are well-known for their love of music and the arts.

Alternate Ability Adjustments: +2 Dex, +2 Cha, -2 Str

Alternate Abilities: Leaper: Grigs gain a +2 to Acrobatics checks to leap

Fiddle: As a standard action, Grigs can rub their hind limbs together to release a magical song, compelling foes to move to their beat, inflicting the staggered condition on those who fail their will save, (DC 10 + Cha modifier). The staggered condition lasts as long as the grig continues to spend a standard action to concentrate on it, up to a minute. Creatures that succeed their initial save are not affected on subsequent rounds. A grig can use this ability once per day.

 Melixie: Dialing up their insectile traits with antennae, compound eyes, and more, melixies are notorious sugar fiends that can guzzle down sweets at an alarming rate, channeling the resulting energy into sudden bursts of productivity and creativity, only to crash later.

Alternate Ability Adjustments: +2 Con, +2 Cha, -2 Wis

Alternate Abilities: Arthropod speech: Melixies can speak to insects, arachnids, and other arthropods as if constantly under the effects of Speak with Animals.

Sugar Rush: When a melixie consumes a sweet confectionary or other sugary foodstuff, they are affected as if by haste for 1d4+1 rounds. After this effect ends, melixies are fatigued for 1 minute afterwards.

 Nyktera: Resembling tiny humanoid bats of various species, nyktera are affectionate and community-oriented, with a legendary sense of hospitality. Woe betide the fool that betrays their hospitality or trust, though.

Alternate Ability Adjustments: +2 Dex, +2 Wis, -2 Str

Alternate Abilities: Bat Speech: Nyktera can speak to bats as if they were constantly under the effects of speak with animals.

Righteous Fury: A Nyktera gains a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls against an enemy that has betrayed them in the past.

 Pixie: Pixies are larger than other sprites, but are no less inveterate pranksters. They are known for being able to turn invisible at will and enchanting arrows with their dust, but that is a skill that requires development.

Alternate Ability Adjustments: +2 Dex, +2 Int, -2 Wis

Alternate Abilities: Small: Pixies are small, rather than tiny, gaining a +1 on attack rolls and AC, a -1 to CMB and CMD, and a +4 to Stealth rolls, as well as having a reach of 5 ft.

Pixie Spell-like abilities: Constant: detect evil, detect good

1/ day: dispel magic, entangle, shield

[fvrnaceheart]

* / THE JEDI ORDER – the training bond

Between every Master and their Padawan, a special force bond is formed. A mental link between the two, that allows them to work seamlessly with one another, and even to communicate. In many cases, it’s simply a communication of feelings, but in the case of a particularly strong bond, conversation can be held telepathically with little to no effort. Often a Padawan and Master can feel one another’s emotions as well as physical pain, and are able to easily locate one another, unless one is deliberately shielding themselves from the other, or their connection to the Force is somehow disrupted.

abilities of the bond.

Empathy is the most common mark of a training bond. Emotions, feelings, and pain can be shared across the bond, and are shared to a slight degree by default, though unexpected pain can come across quickly—a Padawan will be able to feel their Master being stabbed or shot, as though they’ve obtained the wound themselves, unless their Master anticipated the wound and shielded the bond. Masters can tell when their Padawans are upset or anxious, or particularly happy, and vice versa.

Telepathy comes with a particularly strong bond, and Master and Padawan are able to mentally hold a conversation with one another. This is all but impossible if they are shielding anything at all from one another, though, so they must be completely open with one another to communicate telepathically—something that is only rarely achieved.

The strongest of bonds can also show a deeper kind of empathy in which the participants are actively able to sense what the other is sensing—to see through their eyes, hear through their ears, or smell, taste, and feel what they’re feeling. This is even rarer than telepathy, though, and very few pairs have ever reached this level of a bond.

forming the bond.

The training bond tends to form naturally, through mutual training sessions and becoming more attuned with one another through the Force, but officially, it is the Padawan that initiates the link. It may take months, or even years, for a training bond to form, and if the Padawan has doubts about their master, a true, strong bond might never form until they are resolved. There must be mutual trust between Master and Padawan, and the Padawan must feel safe enough to be fully vulnerable around their Master. Once that level of trust is achieved, the Padawan will reach out to touch their master’s mind, and the two will forge a connection in the Force, entering a state of mutual meditation in which they share thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

growing the bond.

As the Padawan’s training continues, the bond will continue to grow. It begins rather weak, like a single thread in the Force, but as Master and Padawan grow closer, more and more threads are added until the bond is like a strong cord. The pair are able to maintain a connection even in circumstances where a deep connection to the Force overall is difficult to reach.

ending the bond.

It is more of a well-followed tradition than a strict rule, but training bonds are often unravelled directly after a Jedi’s knighting ceremony, based on the idea that the new Knight will bond equally with all of the Jedi, rather than favouring only one. Following the knighting ceremony, the new Knight will spend a short time with their former Master in private—from a few minutes to several hours. Occasionally, the process takes days, if the bond is particularly complicated. They will once again enter a state of mutual meditation, and slowly unravel the bond, detaching themselves as Master and Padawan, but maintaining a connection as fellow Jedi Knights.

keeping the bond.

Occasionally, however, the former Master and Padawan will elect not to unravel their bond. This is often frowned upon, as it is seen as attachment, and signifies a lack of readiness to be knighted. Those who do choose to maintain their bond will usually not make that fact widely-known, and many who do opt to unravel it at a later date. A maintained training bond has its advantages, though, including emotional closeness and an increased compatibility in combat, but because of the bond’s sheer strength, this can be to the detriment of other relationships—especially relationships between a new Knight and their future Padawans, though many will unravel the bond before taking on a Padawan of their own. It is said by some within the Order that a Padawan who does not unravel their training bond remains a Padawan forever, though this opinion is not universally held.

severing the bond.

A ritualistic unravelling is not the only means by which a training bond can end. The bond can also be severed. This happens, most commonly, through the death of one or the other. However, it can also be severed in other ways. If Master or Padawan turns to the Dark Side, they may choose to break the bond, or the other might break it to avoid being corrupted through it. This could also occur if one of them leaves the Jedi Order, though many will at least attempt the ritual unravelling before leaving, or if one wishes to simply break the bond for another reason. Occasionally, a powerful force user can break the bond between two others, but this is very rare, and is much more easily accomplished by killing one of the two.

When the bond is broken, it hurts quite a bit. If both parties are still alive, both will feel the pain, but the one doing the breaking will feel it to a far more muted sense. An abruptly broken bond has an effect in the Force similar to a severed limb, but even more severe, and it can even cripple a Jedi’s force abilities for a while, or even permanently if the bond was particularly strong and it was cut particularly swiftly. Often, though, the severing is not without warning, and a Jedi can prepare themselves for it, releasing the bond on their end in a much grimmer, quicker form of the ritualistic unravelling. This can spare them most of the pain, but they will still feel somewhat dulled to the Force for a little while, as they suddenly lack the attunement to another.

[neakco]

Decided to share a chapter of my original work I am trying to get published. Honest comments are appreciated.

Chapter 7

Frost managed to get them to their room taking a longer route to prevent encountering any more people. He placed Shiro on the floor next to the bed and sat by her. They stayed this way for a couple of hours with no words. Shiro taking comfort in Frost's presence next to her in order to feel safe. Frost knew she needed time to calm down before she could get back to her normal.

 Frost knew Shiro and had known for a while she was jealous of those born without magic. For them, a kiss was something fun, but to those born with magic, it was a horrible threat. A kiss done by the right person could be used to sap both magical energy and one's will. The loss of ability to think for oneself was a terrifying notion, one that he knew Shiro feared almost above all else. So, he sat in silence, knowing his human would speak when she was ready. His life of confinement had made him patient, if nothing else. 

Shiro finally turned to look at Frost, puzzlement in her eyes, "Where did you get the clothes?" 

Frost laughed lightly, out of everything, that was what she focused on. "I started my shift from wolf then transmuted my fur to clothes before finishing the shift to human. It's why it took me so long to punch that trash; I'd never tried to transmute my own fur before. It's stupid, but I felt embarrassed when I realized you would see me naked in my human form. I should have just saved you." He grinned suddenly, "You have to admit, it wouldn't have looked as awesome if I was naked." 

Shiro leaned against Frost's shoulder, "True, and if you had taken a few seconds longer I would be a little angry. Why didn't the two human gorillas notice you shifting?" 

Frost put an arm around Shiro and started to pet her hair in what he hoped was a comforting manner before answering her with a slight growl, "They were too preoccupied with the inside of your shirt. It's why I didn't let the last one run away uninjured." 

Shiro relaxed into Frost's hand slightly, "Why are you petting me?" 

"Hmm?" Frost looked confused for half a moment, "You always pet me and it feels calming. I figured you would find it calming too." 

"Oh," Shiro exclaimed softly, her cheeks a slight red in color. 

"Similar to how I could be talking telepathically as we usually do but figured that actually hearing my voice would be a better comfort." 

Shiro looked up at him, "You think about the little details a lot, don't you?" 

"And you don't." Frost didn't wait for an answer before continuing with an almost wicked grin, "Too bad I can't stay in this form longer, I think I have come attached to it." 

Shiro shoved herself off his shoulder to look him in the eyes, "Why?" 

Frost matched her look with a lazy one, "I can't follow you around as a human, it will raise too many questions." He began to smirk evilly, "But that isn't what you're asking of course. I like this form because as a wolf when I lick you, you don't really react. Now if I were to do the human equivalent," Frost suddenly kissed Shiro on the cheek causing her to turn a dark crimson in color, which Frost seemingly ignored, "you react quite differently." 

Shiro stood quickly, knocking away Frost's comfort. "I think I am going to go to bed now, it is rather late." 

Frost smiled as he waited for her to crawl under the covers before he shifted back into a wolf and lay down next to her. He waited until he was sure Shiro believed that he thought her to be asleep, 'It is three in the afternoon.’

"Shit!" Shiro rolled over and lightly shoved him off the bed. 

Frost dramatically fell off the bed before he landed on all fours. ‘Just something to remember the next time you try and avoid a conversation. Worry not, I don't expect us to continue, but I do plan on reading that book we borrowed and I would prefer to do so on the bed. If you are going to shove me again though I may as well stay down here.’ 

Shiro rolled her eyes at her cocky dragon; first, he makes her blush after she had been scared witless, then he has her completely calm and tranquil again. "Come on up you big lump, if you are staying in that form you need me to turn the pages for you." 

'Says you.’ Frost laughed while jumping lightly back onto the bed; book held gingerly in his mouth. ‘Though I do need you for the demonstrations, I learn faster that way.’ 

They were only 3 pages in when their locked door flew open to reveal the strict instructor in all things alchemical.

 "I have three students claiming they were physically assaulted during a strictly magical duel with you! That is against the rules!"

 Shiro felt a surge of anger, she was being played as the villain? After what they did to her? What they almost did? 

 Frost shoved his muzzle into her ear to calm her, even being angry himself, he knew assaulting a teacher wasn't going to solve anything, ‘Stay calm, explain, if she doesn't listen; I will eat her."’

‘Your dragon form won't fit in my room, plus eating her may cause slight problems.’ Shiro took a calming breath and addressed her teacher. "Professor Eagle, did these students also tell you that our strictly magical duel started with them collaring Frost and physically pinning me to a wall?" Shiro's hand on Frost started to shake, "Did they tell you it wasn't me that inflicted their injuries? I don't know how strong you think I am, but I doubt myself capable of knocking out three men, all larger than me, without the use of magic."

Professor Eagle was known to believe wholly and completely in the rules and was extremely strict when she believed them to be broken. Thankfully she was also unlike many other teachers and wouldn't punish a student that wasn't in the wrong.

Without another word she promptly turned around and left, closing the door behind her.

 Shiro looked down at Frost at the same moment he looked at her. ‘I think that is the first teacher I have met that doesn't just hate you on some sort of principal. You think she noticed I was reading? I think I would regret having to eat her.’

 Shiro couldn't help it, she burst out laughing. The serious, contemplating look Frost had was just too priceless. "I don't know what it says about me that I find you talking about eating people absolutely hilarious."

 Frost grinned wolfishly at her, ‘Nothing good I am sure.’

 It took an hour for the professor to return, this time she at least knocked before entering. "I apologize for my earlier behavior, rules were broken, though not by you." She stopped to adjust her glasses. The light glinted off of them and cast a menacing look to her face. "The proper villains have been punished and the truth extracted. Though I have returned to inquire about the identity of the white-haired male. The villains claimed that at some point the unidentified male claimed that you belong to him, this states you should have knowledge of his existence. He is not a known student or teacher, his existence in the school breaks the rules and he must be apprehended."

 Shiro and Frost looked at each other, ‘I don't think she is leaving without an answer.’

 ‘Does that mean I will really have to eat her? I'm not actually hungry right now.’

 ‘Maybe we can strike some sort of deal with her using her love of rules.’

‘I can follow her as a spider or something to make sure she doesn't tell, but you have to stay in the room, I'm not leaving you unprotected.’

 A tapping foot interrupted their silent discussion, "Staring at your frost wolf will not yield answers, nor will it allow you to telepathically order him to attack me."

 Shiro gaped at the professor, "Why would I tell him to do that? I am more likely to ask him to do a jig"

 Frost sat up and glared at Shiro.

 "I wouldn't ask you to do a jig, that's the point."

 Frost nodded and laid back down, ears pointed in the direction of Professor Eagle.

 The professor was now staring at them, her mouth almost agape. "It is illogical, he understood, he nodded, that's mythological."

 Shiro and Frost inwardly winced realizing their mistake.

 "Shit. Frost, could you?"

 Frost got up off the bed, closed the door, and locked it with his muzzle.

 "Please sit Professor. There is a lot to tell you, and you won't believe half of it."

 Frost pushed the desk chair over to the professor and jumped on the bed behind Shiro as the professor collapsed slowly in the chair.

 "I guess I will start by explaining the man. He is allowed to be here even though he isn't a student or teacher." Shiro paused, "He is a bonded creature."

 The professor was about to retaliate about the impossibility of it but stopped when she saw the look in Shiro's eyes. "Continue."

 Shiro sighed, this was hard, "I can only continue if you swear to me no other living soul will hear of this. I claim the right of teacher-student confidentiality."

 Professor Eagle looked highly offended, "Of course, it is a rule that anything said in confidence to a member of the facility may not be spoken to another soul except in cases of extreme illegal activity." She pushed her glasses higher causing them to glint again, "It is the rules!"

 ‘Yep, I actually like this one. I could see her bonding with a sphynx if she could find a living one.’ Frost grinned.

 Shiro shoved him lightly and looked back to the professor. Shiro felt that she may actually be able to trust someone for once, it was a strange feeling. "Thank you, Professor. The white-haired man in the fight was Frost."

 "That' is absur..." Professor Eagle's words died as Frost leapt off the bed in the form of a wolf and landed gracefully as a human before he bowed towards her.

 Telepathically, Shiro congratulated him, ‘You seem to have figured out the whole clothes thing.’

 ‘It was only difficult the first time.’

 ‘Show off.’

 Frost grinned before straightening and giving Shiro a wink, 'Only for you.’

 Professor Eagle starred wide-eyed, "How? Telepathy, shape-shifting? Child, what are you? What is he? Certainly not a frost wolf."

 Sitting on the bed so as not to look imposing, it was Frost that answered, "I am a dragon. I chose to bond with this human that reflects me." He tilted his head to look at the professor, "You may learn telepathy yourself if you could find a sphynx to bond with."

 Shiro elbowed him to stop before he offended her and they both sat in silence waiting for the professor to say something, or even show some change in facial expression.

 After several silent minutes had passed, the professor stood up. "You will henceforth have lessons with me every Saturday at 1700 hours." The professor unlocked the door and left. Almost out of earshot she muttered, "Apparently my own education is lacking and in need of immediate correction." before the door closed behind her.

 They sat in silence a few moments longer to process the professor's reaction before Frost said, "Definitely would have regretted eating her."

 Shiro collapsed into giggles that lasted until Frost, tiring of them, grabbed her and ruffed her hair. "Come on giggles we have more studying if we are going to survive to see you graduate."

[littleshebear]

Awoken telepathy headcanons

 I’ve used these quite a bit in fic but I thought it would be a good idea just to get them down here for the funzies. Feedback/input always appreciated!

We know that the Awoken have some degree of telepathic ability. In the grimoire card Ghost fragment: The Reef 2, we see Mara communicating with the Awoken who left the Reef for earth. Not only can she see what they see, garner snippets of thoughts and conversations but she also communicates directly. She’s speaking to them in sentences, it’s not just a vague empathic connection. A similar thing happens between her and Uldren after the battle with the Hive fleet over Saturn. That’s what’s canon. So now, to headcanon territory, the following is not lore, these are all my personal thoughts on the matter.

- All Awoken have some degree of telepathic ability but it varies from individual to individual. Mara and the Techeuns are particularly powerful and the Techeuns can help Mara boost her abilities to communicate over vast distances. I’m not sure if this is something unique to the Techeuns or if this is something any group of Awoken are able to do. I lean towards the latter because when Mara reached out to the Earth Awoken, she was obviously expecting some kind of reply. It may not have been as coherent as Mara’s message but they may have been able to get some kind of signal back to her but they chose not to.

- I call Awoken telepathy shenanigans The Link, when an Awoken communicates with another it’s called Linking. They can share images, emotions or have private conversations.

- In a society where you can hop into another person’s head, there would be massive privacy issues. As such, Awoken are taught from a young age how to shield their thoughts, how to filter what remains hidden and what is let out into the open.

- There would also have to be strict rules of etiquette. You don’t just go barging into someone’s thoughts without permission. You must always ask first, sort of like a mental door-knock which can be answered or ignored. It’s considered extremely taboo to ignore a rejection and break through someone’s mental defences.

- There can be rare exceptions to this. Mara sensed the thoughts of the people she was communing with on Earth. This is either because she had to push really hard because of the distances involved and lacked the usual finesse. Or it could just be because she’s the Queen and she can do what she bloody well likes.

- Another example of an exception to this rule would be times of extreme emotional distress; Pain, terror, grief etc. An Awoken in this situation may mentally cry out and end up unintentionally battering down the mental doors of any other Awoken around. As such, an Awoken going into a high-stress situation (before a battle for example) has to prepare themselves and shore up their mental defences. They can’t be effective if they’re feeling the pain and fear of their comrades. Related to this, there was such a massive ourpouring of fear and pain during the slaughter over Saturn that every Awoken in the system sensed it.

- Related, it’s generally inadvisable to Link with someone during the physical act of love unless you’re in a serious committed relationship with them. The intensity of the sensations and emotions is too great; if you end up linking with someone you think could be the love of your life while to them, you’re just a casual hook-up? That’s a recipe for disaster. Linking during love-making is a mark of extreme trust and devotion. It’s an important and extremely intimiate relationship rite of passage.

- Awoken can only Link with humans in a reduced capacity and only in certain situations. With someone they know very well, they could have an empathic Link with them but it would be only one-way (the Awoken could sense the human’s emotions but not vice-versa). Communicating anything beyond images and emotions would be difficult but it can be achieved through training/concentration on the human’s part and the Link can be intensified through physical contact. It’s not advisable for a human to attempt to link with an Awoken for too long because human minds aren’t built for it (hello migraines). I’m assuming that everything I’ve said about humans would also apply to Exos as Exos have human minds.

- Again, there are a couple of exceptions to the above. If a human is experiencing extreme physical or emotional pain, they may end up broadcasting on all channels and inadvertently communicate with a nearby Awoken. Again, the ability to “broadcast” would vary from human to human. Not everyone would end up doing this, only the particuarly empathic would do this. It would also be easier for an Awoken to ‘read’ a human while they were sleeping because the mental defences are lower, it may even be possible for the human to sense the Awoken through their dreams. 

- Again, there are ethical issues to be adressed. An Awoken is not to go around attempting to read any humans they know, willy nilly. They need consent first. In the human’s case it would probably need to be verbal consent since humans don’t have the finesse to be able to communicate intentions clearly. There wouldn’t be much in the way of semantic content in a human’s telepathic communications, it would be more emotive (“Hooray!” or “Boo!”). So, for example, if an Awoken suspected a human of lying, they couldn’t just read them to confirm their suspicions. If they did so without permission it would be extremely bad form.

- All of this would make Awoken/Human romantic relationships a little complicated. There would always be a slight power imbalance because one half of the relationship is able to sense the emotions of the other, while the other has to rely on good old fashioned words and body language. There would have to be a great deal of trust and understanding for a human/Awoken relationship to really work.