Mentalism

The Origins

Concepts

The Neurocrux: When a Weaver is first initiated, their Rune crafts an ethereal network within and around their brain, lining it with arcane patterns that are visible if ever a Weaver's brain is extracted from their corpse. These patterns glow, albeit somewhat faintly, and this glow results in a faint iridescent hue glimmering through the eyes of the mage. The point of the Neurocrux is not one that is aesthetic, however. It instead serves as the major distinction of the magic, separating a Mind Mage from any other man or mage in what they can accomplish with their brain. The Neurocrux allows the Mind Mage to do a few things: to alter the Mural of others, to invade others' brains, to process others' thoughts and emotions alongside one's own in an effective manner, and to amplify and project one's own consciousness through Obelisks. It also allows one to create 'the Weave', turning their own conscious will into physical force and reality. The Neurocrux is the base that allows the rest of the magic to function and exist, as no mage would otherwise be able to perform the arduous cognitive tasks embedded into the Rune.

The Mural: The Mural is the cognitive and psychological landscape of all mortals. It was given this name by scholars of magical theory, though it is even referred to as such by the Gods. It is called this for what it initially appears as to a Mind Mage: a complex work of art, somewhat like fragmented, stained glass shards placed upon a circular facet. The Mural, when visibly viewed, appears almost like a chaotic emblem of images immortalized in crystalline form.

The Mural first becomes visible when a Mind Mage manages to enter the brain of another through tethers. Once these tethers have reached the mind, they feed back images to the mage's Neurocrux. If willing, the mage can then close their eyes and focus on the nuances of the mental shape, which often coils, unfurls, twists or reorganizes itself based on the change in emotions demonstrated by the observed mind. Otherwise it is largely represented by colors. The Mural often appears to be shaped strongly by the individual's perceived image of their position in the world.

Vaguely, one can see shapes and concepts revolving around the person's identity; they are often the centerpiece as well, though ideological minds may view things on a more grand scale. An example of a Mural may be a beggar woman's image of herself; downtrodden, pressed against the cobbled floor with others looking down upon her. Her own shape is colored blue with sorrow, while others are gilded gold, or various shades of grey, depicting a sort of ambivalence. Perhaps if one gives generously to her, her Mural will appear differently in the immediate aftermath; suddenly the shapes of others will be kneeling to help her from the ground, offering her alms, wearing friendly faces. In many ways, the Mural offers an ever-changing simplicity to the complex thoughts of mortals. It also allows the Mind Mage a reasonable way of learning of others minds, and seeing the consequences of the changes they inflict upon them. The emotions forced or inferred by a Mind Mage can directly impact, twist and reshape the Mural of others. A gloomily colored beggar woman's blue shape may instead become red with rage, the word clouding around her as she sees nothing but her own blind fury.

Tethers: Tethers are created within the Neurocrux, the mage enriching their own ether and crafting purple lines of energy that they can then release through their body, typically their hands. These lines appear somewhat holographic, appearing as if glitched as they partly fade in and out, their shape twitching while they move. These lines are what are used to actually influence the Mural of others, entering their body often through the spinal cord or directly through the cranium into their brain. Tethers are capable of moving freely through organic mass, acting as a worm through which one can view and subvert the emotions of others through their Neurocrux.

It should be noted that Tethers always act as a connection: they come from the mage's Neurocrux and bleed out through their hands, but so long as the mage is connected to the other, the Tether will be visible. This certainly acts as a weakness for mind manipulation, as it is always obvious when a Weaver is manipulating the thoughts of another, due to the very obvious ethereal lines between them. More tethers are often necessary to subdue more willful minds, particularly of those with more experience (magical or worldly). Additionally, more tethers allow for more radical swings in emotion. Each requires ether to craft, and the more profound a change, the more ether must be channeled within the link. Interestingly, beginning at Journeyman a Mentalist learns how to make others unable to see Tethers that are currently connected to them, often making them unaware of the influence upon them.

The Weave:

Initiation

Threshold Sickness

The drawbacks listed below do not always come in pairs, and certainly not simultaneously. Some may come and others may not.

Lesser: Nausea, fatigue, headaches, muscle spasms, dehydration

Moderate: Bleeding through the nose, eyes and ears, intense cramps, seizure-like shocks and spasms, internal bleeding, vomiting and weakness

Severe:

Abilities

Compel: This ability is acquired at Novice. pull

Impel: This ability is acquired at Novice. push

Minstrel: This ability is acquired at Apprentice. happy emoji

Tragedian: This ability is acquired at Apprentice. sad emoji

Obelisk: This ability is acquired at Journeyman. mind control pylons

Constrain: This ability is acquired at Journeyman. suspend

Nailing: This ability is acquired at Journeyman. pin something down

Provocateur: This ability is acquired at Expert. angery emoji

Overbear: This ability is acquired at Expert. crush

Paramour: This ability is acquired at Expert. flirty eggplant emoji

Marshal: This ability is acquired at Expert. use telekinesis on self (other abilities)

Scarecrow: This ability is acquired at Expert. spoopy ghost emoji

Fashion: This ability is acquired at Master. warp, twist, bend within a space

Apprehend: This ability is acquired at Master. intensive mind reading

Unravel: This ability is acquired at Master. suppress memories, etc

Invite: This ability is acquired at Master. invite someone else into a mindscape; link them via your neurocrux

Aberration Abilities

True Subversion: mind control

Tower: major pylons

Master

The Aberration

crown of small, black, arched pylons. 3 on each side. purple glowing eyes, trail of aethereal tether-like energy following the mage.