OOC Note; In the event of any RP involving mind control or drastic alterations of a character's personality, both players or GMs should agree beforehand on the intended effects. Psionics are specifically for subterfuge and weirdly charismatic cult demagogues, not for mind flayer shenanigans. Any examples of more powerful effects have been provided specifically to reference older RP and for general flavour.

Since the dawn of human history there have been tales of shamans and magic. Jesters and charlatans performing parlour tricks of misdirection, slight of hand, mind reading, psychological manipulation and hypnotism. Always with tall tales of esotericism and hidden occult circles, or perhaps claiming a special insight into a misunderstood figment of the human psyche.

No military would publicly declare they are funding research into such things, of course- but psi-ops, personality manipulation, and even brainwashing techniques could indeed be said to be branches of the same tree.

In the far future of the Kikyo Sector, these techniques have been developed to the point of innate telepathy and psycho-remote operation, even being rather common in several empires. It is such a common trait, that many do not even question it as abnormal… And yet, the mystery of exactly how it works is still very much alive. Somewhere in the previous eons, the truth was either lost, obscured or intentionally hidden.

Psions and telepaths simply exist.

The exact method of operation is completely unknown to the general public, even telepaths themselves. Conspiracy theories speculate that the effect is similar to power armour neural control devices, which read the pilot's brainwaves as electrical impulses. Except in this case, it's inputting rather than outputting information.

Another, more sinister concept, is that not just Nekovalkyrja, but the entire genetically engineered Nepleslian population, could at some point have been modified to be susceptible to a specific kind of mental suggestion. After all, the soul transfer device is now common in some places. What is to say that someone could not use that information as a template, to manipulate and adjust the thoughts of others?

All that can really be said is, that those with immense mental focus, tonal control, and perhaps a bit of gene splicing, really do seem to be able to directly effect the minds of others around them. It's at least enough of a threat for multiple factions to develop devices specifically to block such activities. In those areas of society where the effect is validated, the effect can be strong, but who is to say that it doesn't run deeper, with even greater secret players pulling the strings of every nation behind the scenes?

The PNUgen Corporation incorporated psionic abilities into the basic aspects of every single Nekovalkyrja gynoid, forming the basis of a semi-telepathic digital messaging service that many now take for granted. Exactly how this power works is either hidden or lost after the corporation's absorption by Ketsurui Zaibatsu in YE 27, but presumably manipulates brainwaves through focused microwaves, or some more obscure quantum manipulation. Their long term enemies, the abhorrent Mishhuvurthyar, take this to an all new level, overwriting the thoughts of others and psychologically dominating them with their mere presence.

The Norian population also possesses the ability of psionics that they call Vesper Links. These Vesper Links are completely biological in nature due to how their brains are wired. However, with enhancement available via a Leviathan tech implant that all Norians receive at birth they are able vesper link with their mindhives. Use of this ability is encrypted and requires consent from all parties involved, therefore it is not capable of being invasive. This ability enables them to project images, thought spaces, emotions and words to communicate with other consenting Norians.

• Reading of emotions.
• Strong powers of suggestion or mental coercion.
• Being able to distract or manipulate another's movements during a close quarters fight.
• Transmitting thoughts and data.
• Projecting painful walls of 'thought noise'.
• An uncanny ability to track individuals, or know when they are being tracked.
• Controlling specially designed thought-control drones or vehicles.
• Being able to detect intense psychological differences, such as the active minds of other alien species.
• Directly reading the thoughts of the willing (Or made to be willing).
• Able to implant dreams or hallucinations in those lacking focus, such as seeing something moving in the corner of their eye.
• Changing their demeanour in a way that makes them difficult to remember or identify in a crowd.
• Transmitting emotional states.

• All standard Nekovalkyrja models.
• Most sentient Mishhuvurthyar species.
• The Iromakuanhe have their own skin-contact variant.
• All Norian or half-Norian, to include children in a mother's womb.

• Yamatai Star Empire
• Sfrarabla Mishhuvurthyar Nougpift
• Elysian Celestial Empire
• Lorath Matriarchy
• Sourcians

Only characters who are specifically trained, or shown to develop these powers during RP with the direct guidance of a GM, may use any of these powers or effects during RP. Just because a character is technically capable, does not mean they actually know how to perform such feats.

• Psionics are subject to the Telepathy and Magic Rules.
• The effect of specific anti-Psionic devices, such as the Psionic Signal Controller, Nekovalkyrja Signaler or Psionics Scrambler Device are said to be 'complete'… but often not numerically definable. This is just one of the many reasons why it is important to discuss your intentions with a GM, before having a character go down this road.

Primitive Polygon created this article on 2023/03/06 17:18. Last modified on 2023/03/06 with new input from a deleted user, specifically the information on the Norian race.

🚧 This article is a work-in-progress. Is it not currently approved.