Psionics

Psionics is the practical application of supernatural phenomena in the form of mental, matter, chance, or causality manipulation, on scales ranging from individual to collective. The scientific study of psionics is known as Psiology. Psionic powers appear in various species throughout the Dranvamus Galaxy and beyond, though certain species display more numerous psychic individuals than others, and some display no powers at all.

The origins and presence of psionic powers among lifeforms has been an eternal enigma to the civilisations of the universe. Methods of explaining its nature, purpose and tendencies has been weighed by a wide variety of subject from genetics to philosophy, psychology and theology. Even species that largely understand themselves to be largely cut off from the The Aether on an innate level have seen psionics of great power appear among their number.

Overview
Although there are many ways to explain the nature of Psionics, the common conclusion about the nature of psionics defines it as being the interaction between living beings and a higher dimension known colloquially as The Aether to affect the physical universe.

Psionic influence can manifest in a wide variety of ways, and while only a few beings demonstrate an overt connection, all but a few can at least feel its influence. The mood of a room, voices in the mind, or the smells in the air are all things known to be affected by the flow of psionic energy. Leading to some scholars and scientists asking if the Psionic is the physical’s effect on the Aether, the reverse, or a combination of the two.

Psionic Sensitivity
"Every culture has stories of sorcerers and soothsayers. Individuals who claim to speak for the dead, twist the forces of nature or whatever else. Turns out, occasionally someone really does have a deeper connection to the universe."

- -- Psionics and Society: A History.

The vast majority of individuals within known space possess an inherent subconscious awareness of psionic energy, and can be influenced in turn by its fluctuations. This ability to influence or be influenced by psionic energies is known as psionic sensitivity.

The degree of this awareness differs from being to being. Different individuals may possess a different level of connection to the psychic dimensions of the universe, known colloquially to the mortal races as The Aether. Psionic sensitivity broadly correlates to a the strength being’s innate connection to the Aether. A stronger level of connection however is both a boon and a curse, as the stronger one’s initial connection is, the more the energies coming from the Aether affect him. An individual with strong psionic sensitivity can be compared to a sailship, capable of harnessing the power of the psychic realm to a great degree, but are also vulnerable to its fluctuations. A powerful psychic may experience strong discomfort when the Aether around them is disturbed somehow, and particularly strong of such ‘’psi-storms’’ may prove painful or even outright debilitating.

In extreme cases, the most sensitive of psychics may have their very bodies adapt to the energies of the Aether coursing through them, so that, once a connection to these energies is cut off, the psychic may experience painful withdrawal or even die - if the storm of turbulent energies itself does not kill them. This phenomenon is known in Dranvamus as psionic shock. Conversely, an individual who is psi-deaf may possess a strong resistance if not a full immunity to the influence of psionic phenomena, at the cost of being unable to sense or influence the psychic currents around them.

The Dravanmus Galaxy has various methods of rating the psionic sensitivity of its inhabitants, ranging from 0-10 scales, to more esoteric rating systems, though ultimately all individuals in the universe with psychic sensitivity (or non-sensitivity) can be expressed as being in a spectrum of deaf, dull, sensitive, attuned, and hypersensitive.

Any individual who is not psi-deaf can learn to use psionic phenomena to their advantage; though sensitive and hypersensitive individuals hold a considerable advantage in learning to utilize psychic powers as their connection is more open. At the cost of being extremely prone to the fickle eddies of the Aether and its influence on the physical realm.

Psychic Powers
The most obvious impact of psionics in the galaxy is the psychic powers they grant to those individuals with the sensitivity or patience to tap into their use. Many thousands, if not millions, of psychic abilities have been discovered and documented across the long eons of history, ranging from benign and relatively mundane telekinesis and telepathy to more esoteric, unfamiliar, and dangerous phenomena, such as pyrokinesis, ‘blinking’ across large distances, and the infamous “Psionic Nova”, a more-recently discovered ability that the ankoran Kalia Suuk demonstrated during the Covenant-Dominion War.

The reputation of certain abilities has been coloured greatly by their use by psychic individuals, and how well targetted or indiscriminate their use is. Certain abilities are considered inherently evil as a result of the intent of those who have used them, whereas others are considered inherently good. Nonetheless, psychic abilities are entirely a neutral phenomena, who’s “goodness” or “evil” is purely of the wielder’s intent.

Other various known psionic abilities include precognition, psychometry, astral projection, technopathy, mind control, barrier-raising and “witchcraft”.

Manifesting the Psionic
On the surface, there does not appear to be one set way toe to harness the Psionic. Techniques to manifest these powers range from performative arts to rhythmic chanting, finger gestures and breathing exercises. The common trend however is understood to be summoning some measure of "focus"; in order to manifest the psionic, the user must perform some habit or technique to concentrate and direct the currents of the Aether. The power to manifest psionic powers is ultimately in the mind, but how to turn thought into reality is the art of learning how to harness someone's psionic potential. What this habit might be often stems from a psion's upbringing, faith, and cultural understanding of the universe.

Because some measure of focus appears to be the primary means of commanding the psionic. Mastery often improves the ease of use. If the technique involves regulated breathing for instance, a novice psion might require a controlled session of concentration to prepare for exertion while an expert might get their breathing at the right rate in less than a few seconds to accomplish the same result. Unlike with sensitivity, where this ease comes from how open the user's connection is, higher levels of expertise do not have the same backfire risk as higher levels of sensitivity do.

Cultural Impact
"Thou shall not disfigure the soul. What do the adherents of the Path mean by that? That the power which the Fourfold has granted unto us exists to maintain harmony, not disrupt it. To disfigure the soul, that is, to break into the thoughts and feelings of another living thing, is a sin unlike any other; for it is the sin against all living things. Does the Sacrosanct Canon not preach that the spirit of all life is one? Thus he who wounds one soul, wounds the universe entire."

- -- The Explications of Divine ae-Chanasi

The perception of the Aether and psionics within the Imperium is largely coloured by the beliefs of the deonari and is deeply spiritual in character. Although Imperium scientists do recognise that the Aether can, in some way, be studied scientifically, there exists a notion that its existence somehow validates the Ecumenical Imperial Church’s doctrines, particularly the notion that all life is connected on a metaphysical level. For the Church, the Aether is a spiritual world, its thoughtform inhabitants are hallowed spirits (whether benevolent or demonic), and psionics are an expression of the shared divine ancestry of every living thing.

This doctrine affects the nature of whatever research the Imperium performs in the area of psiology. Some priests in Grand Seranaica outright scoff at the idea that the Aether can be studied at all, and point at the flaws in whatever theories researchers propose to “prove” their belief that psionics are an inherently non-scientific phenomenon. Other deonari clerics, and the adherents of other cults within the Imperial Church, are more accepting of psiological research, but do nevertheless maintain that this research has to remain within the confines of religious ethics.

The most obvious impact of psionics in the galaxy is the psychic powers they grant to those individuals with the sensitivity or patience to tap into their use. Many thousands, if not millions, of psychic abilities have been discovered and documented across the long eons of history, ranging from benign and relatively mundane telekinesis and telepathy to more esoteric, unfamiliar, and dangerous phenomena, such as pyrokinesis, ‘blinking’ across large distances, and the infamous “Psionic Nova”, a more-recently discovered ability that the Ankoran Kalia Suuk demonstrated during the Covenant-Dominion War.

The reputation of certain abilities has been coloured greatly by their use by psychic individuals, and how well-targeted or indiscriminate their use is. Certain abilities are considered inherently evil as a result of the intent of those who have used them, whereas others are considered inherently good. Nonetheless, psychic abilities are entirely a neutral phenomena, who’s “goodness” or “evil” is purely of the wielder’s intent. Other various known psionic abilities include precognition, psychometry, astral projection, technopathy, mind control, barrier-raising and “witchcraft”.

Everyday Experiences
A majority of psiologists agree the extent of which psionics exists among the universal populace can be seen in how many can be influenced by it. Most individuals - even them most stubborn to its credibility - can be influenced by psychic powers. And the lack of real exposure means there is little correlation between believing psychic powers can affect them, and actual resistance to the changes in the Aether.

The vast majority of citizens in the known universe will go about their lives almost unaware of their potential. Most people will dismiss the idea they can become psychics through a mix of disinterest or an unwillingness to commit to the practices of bringing it out. Despite widespread stories of people with this potential, most people when asked will see mediation or focus training as time they don't have to spare being taken out of their day. Or they might balk at having to commit.

Some psiologists reckon that on occasion, people untrained in the psionic arts can call on Aetheral energies for feats that would otherwise exceed their bodily limits. Events like sudden bouts of super-strength or endurance, or sudden moments of mental clarity could be a product of either conscious or unconscious "will" into pushing the body beyond its limits using the Aether for limited periods of enhancement. Unlike other aspects of psiology however, it is difficult to say if these bursts made by mundane individuals are the work of supernatural influences or not. The psionic's intertwined nature between the physical and the Aether make separating the two difficult. And impossible to say which is a more powerful influence over either at any given moment.

Hiveminds and Groupminds
Some species across the universe are known to possess a higher psi-sensitivity than the norm. With the ability to share thoughts and manipulate the Aether being something most if not all individuals share. In these individuals it is common to weave using the Aether into body gestures and non-verbal communication. Some of these species engage in great psychic networks, where groups of individuals share thoughts seamlessly between one another as a group mind. With some species connecting their entire number into a single collective intelligence.

Warlocks
Not all who are capable of manipulating the Aether do so benignly or with a full understanding of what they are doing. While many names exist to describe such individuals - witch, apostate, Aether-touched, psi-renegade, etc. - warlocks are individuals considered potentially dangerous either through the wilful use of psionics to harm or cause trouble, or otherwise manipulating the Aether in a manner considered dangerous by society.

Due to the perceived threat they can pose, warlocks are often targets of arrest, persecution or conditioning by state organisations or religious orders such as the Order of Harmony. But the degree of being labelled as a warlock, or the persecution thereof can vary form society to society. From applying the name only to psionics engaging in acts of terrorism, to being the mark of any political dissenter possessing psionic ability.

Regardless of how a local polity might use the term, "warlock" and its synonyms have seen use to describe any psi-capable individual from people people afraid, envious, suspicious or simply ignorant of their talents.