Originally posted by druke
the sytem of telepathy and telekeneti energies make up a branch of power known as \"Psionics\" its different form magic in that psionics are hm... real, so to speak, its hard to explain, technicaly psioincs can be scietifcy explained. however the idea of psionics is different from fantasy to fantasy
Well, magic in Yliakum can be scientifically explained as well (the crystal is the source of some energy that can be manipulated using glyphs). And most RPGs have pretty detailed explanations on magic. The common element of all magic is that there is some source of energy that you can manipulate. This energy has three major sources:
1) The environment. This is the most common notion. It is split into two main branches:
- the natural magic branch, in which the surrounding and nature itself is interwoven with magic power that, by being connected to everyone, can be manipulated by those who know and have access to it (like if you possess voice you can speak)
- the abstract magic branch, in which there is a magic plane from which energy can be drawn into the mundane plane by those who know how to and who can access it to affect the mundane plane. (In PS\'s case, the crystal)
2) The divine branch, in which the source of power is attributed to a godlike being (in fact any being of great power, including gods and devils and such) or a combination of beings (like spirits).
3) The blood magic branch, where the lifeforce of any being is the source of power. It can be found in voodoo and blood rites but also in notions where the magicdoer draws the power from itself, creating strain on itself that, when overused, leads to physical damage.
Psionics neatly fit in as a fourth branch IMO, because their source of power is the mind of the psychic. In this branch, unlike in branch 3), the psychics mind itself, not it\'s blood, contains or makes or is made of the power that is being tapped into. While conventional psychics tend to focus on the mental aspects (like telepathy and illusion), the common presence of teleportation and telekinesis proves that this power is not limited to affecting other minds.
All branches have one thing in common: each of them can be used in two basic ways: the academic way and the intuitive way. The classical wizard is a perfect example of the academic way while the shaman is the perfect example of the intuitive way, so are priest and witch. So are traind psychics and so-called \"wild talents\".
So I am inclined to say this: each of these branches is an equally valid approach to the same concept of magic, but neither of these
actually understands it. They are models that give the magicdoer tools to understand and use magic, but they are just a model like the flat earth model or atom model. The question is: even if the source of magic could be \"traced\", would it really be the source? Or would it not just be that the
actual source simply escapes the trace? After all, one can only sense what one has tools to, and these tools need to be sensitive enough to sense it. These are things we can only
assume, but not prove. The only proof is if we can prove them wrong, something that should be welcomed and not feared, for the sake of increased knowledge and therefore power in the long run. In the short run it, of course, reduces the power of these who only know about the wrong thesis, thus these things are not readily embraced by the established forces, as we all know.
