guide:psionics

This is an old revision of the document!


Psionics

In the universe presented within WS, Psionics exists as a fundamental force present within the universe along side basic atomic forces, gravity, and electromagnetic forces.

The force of psionics has been observed as an analogue wavelength in the brain, present throughout and strongest in the amygdala and keyed to the psion's emotions. Harnessing psionics creates movement in the wave. The wave is mapped on a spectrum, oriented by emotions. A psion's waves are measurable on a psionic spectrograph, illustrated as a circle within the range of emotions.

  • Psionics is about thinking things into happening, over bending the world to your will via a set of instructions as Magic does. The stronger the thought is, the more likely the psion's thoughts will manifest.
  • Psionics relies on the subject's 'lizard brain', the unconscious part of the brain responsible for automatic functions such as heartbeat, breathing, and survival. Therefore, higher brain functions can be suspended or lost, but psionic ability can still function normally.
  • The application of psionic power on the environment or an individual has a measurable wavelength. With special equipment, this wavelength can be recorded into a digital format from the psionic, allowing Psionics to be read and analysed by computer.
    • This 'wavelength' if present can be amplified by psionic implants, annulled by a psionic restraining bolt, or drowned out by external interference or forms of 'psi noise'.
  • The stronger the psion is, the more sensitive they are to external psionic forces.
    • Strong psionics subconsciously share their emotions and temperament with those around them.
  • The manifestation of psionics can vary, ranging from opening the third eye, to glows on the hands and head, manifesting a bizarre eidolon, or hitting play on a pre-recorded wavelength to speakers.
    • Sounds heard usually include a hum or whine, intensifying with proportional application.

Wavelength is a spectrum of thoughts and feelings present in living things. Every creature has a 'resting' state of wavelength dictated by their mental state and conditions, predisposing them to certain thoughts or feelings. They can be read to gauge an individual's emotional status.

Psionics works by acting on the wavelength, utilising an emotion associated with part of a circular spectrum. The wavelength is expressed as a circle. The spectrum of emotions in a wavelength is as follows, with the strongest emotions on the edges:

Vigilance Optimism Ecstasy Love Admiration
Aggressiveness Anticipation Joy Trust Submission
Rage Anger (Content) Apprehension Terror
Contempt Disgust Sadness Surprise Awe
Loathing Remorse Grief Disapproval Amazement

The observable wavelength spectrum is based off of the Plutchik Wheel.

The following phenomena have been observed in psionics:

Analogous to aural white noise, Psionic Noise is a blocking signal capable of dampening or nullifying psionics in its area. Expressed in the wavelength, it appears to be a solid block, engaging every emotion on the spectrum at once and overloading psionic facilities.

It is often employed as a countermeasure to psionic attacks, and is capable of incapacitating especially sensitive psions.

Psionics v0.1b

Within the universe as presented in the WS setting, Psionics exists as a phenomenon observable as a capacity to warp, and alter reality, bending the rules of physics to acheive tangible effects. This is most commonly acheived through a process that in most species is analogous to thought, the effects relying on the interaction of waveforms present within the brains of many sentient species whose fluctuations and shifts trigger observable effects in their surroundings.1)

Functionally psionic effects are the developed capacity of psionic capable individuals to interact with the world around them in a mental fashion2) allowing the user to bypass the need for physical apendages, or tools at the cost of draining the individual's energy, and potentially if overused causing damage to the body similar to caloric deprivation. This allows an individual with training and practice to acheive superhuman feats, or at times more practical mundane utility allowing a great amount of flexibility without relying on tools or hardware.

As these psionic effects are observable and mappable in the brains of psionic individuals using any brain imaging technology, there exists technology capable of replicating the associated waveforms allowing psionic effects to be acheived through artificial means, though without a guiding influence these effects are typically less flexible.

Something something psionic implants to boost the strength of psionic waveforms in practicitioners.

Something something large pharmecuitical industry that provides drugs to aid psions acheive ideal mental states, as well as pharmeciticals that improve brain function.

One of the many branches of psionics is the Emotive branch of psionics relies upon the the emotions of a practitioner, being dependent and empowered by the strength and clarity of the emotion that the practitioner draws upon.

The force of psionic of these types has been popularly observed as an analogue wavelength in the brain, present throughout and strongest in the amygdala and keyed to the psion's emotions. Harnessing psionics creates movement in the wave. The wave is mapped on a spectrum, oriented by emotions. A psion's waves are measurable on a psionic spectrograph, illustrated as a circle within the range of emotions.

  • Psionics is about thinking things into happening, over bending the world to your will via a set of instructions as Magic does. The stronger the thought is, the more likely the psion's thoughts will manifest.
  • Psionics relies on the subject's 'lizard brain', the unconscious part of the brain responsible for automatic functions such as heartbeat, breathing, and survival. Therefore, higher brain functions can be suspended or lost, but psionic ability can still function normally.
  • The application of psionic power on the environment or an individual has a measurable wavelength. With special equipment, this wavelength can be recorded into a digital format from the psionic, allowing Psionics to be read and analysed by computer.
    • This 'wavelength' if present can be amplified by psionic implants, annulled by a psionic restraining bolt, or drowned out by external interference or forms of 'psi noise'.
  • The stronger the psion is, the more sensitive they are to external psionic forces.
    • Strong psionics subconsciously share their emotions and temperament with those around them.
  • The manifestation of psionics can vary, ranging from opening the third eye, to glows on the hands and head, manifesting a bizarre eidolon, or hitting play on a pre-recorded wavelength to speakers.
    • Sounds heard usually include a hum or whine, intensifying with proportional application.

Wavelength is a spectrum of thoughts and feelings present in living things. Every creature has a 'resting' state of wavelength dictated by their mental state and conditions, predisposing them to certain thoughts or feelings. They can be read to gauge an individual's emotional status.

Psionics works by acting on the wavelength, utilising an emotion associated with part of a circular spectrum. The wavelength is expressed as a circle. The spectrum of emotions in a wavelength is as follows, with the strongest emotions on the edges:

Vigilance Optimism Ecstasy Love Admiration
Aggressiveness Anticipation Joy Trust Submission
Rage Anger (Content) Apprehension Terror
Contempt Disgust Sadness Surprise Awe
Loathing Remorse Grief Disapproval Amazement

The observable wavelength spectrum is based off of the Plutchik Wheel.

The following phenomena have been observed in psionics:

Psionic cancellation or interference is an option available to negate the psionic capabilities of one or more individuals and typically is acheived through the use of either a trained psion or a specialized piece of equipment that is capable prodcing a cancelling wave intended to negate the bands of brain activity associated with psionic manifestation, typically a practitioner or piece of equipment broadcasts along standard known wavelengths for a given species and related sub-species, however better trained individuals or more expensive and military grade hardware versions will be capable of reading surges in brain activity that may indicate psionic activity and actively produce a counter wavelength allowing for the cancellation of even unfamiliar psionic wavelengths.

Psi Noise

A broader option for limiting psionics is one that is analogous to aural white noise; Psionic Noise is a wide band non-specific blocking signal capable of dampening or nullifying most psionics in its area.3) Expressed in a band of wavelengths, that work to broadly cancel out psionic activity in nearby sources.

Psi noise may originate from psionic individuals or specialized equipment designed to generally suppress psionic activity or to act as a countermeasure to psionic attacks. Notably this form of psionic countermeasure is capable of incapacitating especially sensitive psions, and may cause headaches, irritation, or disorientation even in non-psionic individuals as it interferes with normal brainwave propegation.

To Empathic Psions it appears to be a solid block, engaging every emotion on the spectrum at once and overloading psionic facilities.


1)
Though this is not universal with some species likely having dedicated psionic organs, as well as other deviations to produce similar wave forms.
2)
whether instinctive, emotional, cognitive, induced, or otherwise
3)
Psionics that operate outside of the known spectrum of wavelengths may be missed.
  • guide/psionics.1479260505.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2016/11/15 20:41
  • by eistheid