Psyche
The oomph behind most every Power. Also useful to make sure you don't get your brain burnt during those antagonistic Trump calls.
This is the rating of the character's mental strength.
Psyche also shows the character's force of will, and their ability in manipulating Pattern, Logrus, Magic or Trump. In addition, a character with a high Psyche will be sensitive to danger and to other things.
Most important, the relative Ranking in Psyche will determine all contests of the mind. These Psychic battles, often fought through Trump contacts, or by touch, but also through mystic connections, will be always judged by a character's Psyche. The loser in a Psychic battle can, if overwhelmed, be killed by the power of the mind alone.
Of the children of Oberon, it seems likely that Fiona is number one in Psyche in the Amber family. She could hold off her brother Brand when he was at the height of his power, and she is by all reports both a sorceress and a student of Pattern and Trump.
Why Bid on Psyche? Mental power, no matter what your power base, is the battery that runs things. Whether it be Pattern, Logrus, Trump, or Magic, it's the character with the highest Rank in Psyche who will be most feared.
The Potential of Psyche
Fiona, probably the elder Amberite with the greatest Psyche, can perform quite a few 'tricks'. Here are the limits of what Fiona can do. Player characters can strive for any or all of these abilities.
- In moving through Shadow, using the Pattern, Fiona can sense the disruption caused by another Hellrider, even when out of sight, and follow that disturbance, tailing the leader.
- Fiona has a basic feel for shadow trails, and knows when one has been altered or artificially barred.
- Fiona can sense the gathering of magical energies accompanying the preparation of a sorcerer's spells. Even if the sorcerer is unseen, she can detect the magical aura and have some indication of the intended target.
- Fiona can detect the location of any other Psychic presence in the immediate area, including the minds of those invisible or hidden.
- The 'stench of chaos', as Amberites call it, is obvious when someone nearby summons the Logrus. Likewise any strong use of Logrus, such as reaching through Shadow, or manipulating objects with Logrus tendrils, will be quite noticeable. Note that Logrus users of high Psyche will have the same ability to detect characters summoning or using Pattern.
- Fiona can pick up on the physical condition of those in range of her Psyche seeing their hidden weaknesses, pain, and injury.
- Fiona can sense the presence of objects of power, whether the personal artefacts or creatures of another Amberite, or items powered by Pattern, Logrus, Trump, or other strong energies.
- In sensing characters and creatures, Fiona can tell whether they've reached the limits of their Endurance, and whether they are tired, hungry, thirsty or otherwise in need.
- Fiona when opening up her mind to the environment, is intuitively aware of any potential hazards or dangers. If a character or creature is plotting or preparing an attack, then the source of that attack will be obvious. Traps and innately dangerous situations are simply recorded by Fiona as uneasy feelings, without specific details other than a vague sense of some locations or movements being more dangerous than others.
- Fiona notices it whenever someone is touching her Trump.
- When in the company of others, the general mood and emotional state of each individual will be quite visible to Fiona. This works through Trump contacts, and other long-distance sensations using powers.
- When in mind to mind communication or even while attempting contact, Fiona can read a number of things about the other character. She can get their name, though if the character is sensitive (Real or better Psyche), they'll be aware of the transferral of the knowledge. As the contact continues, unless the other character takes steps to block out the flow of data (mind to mind combat), Fiona can draw out other pieces of information.
- In a Shadow, Fiona can read its composition and resonance, making it possible to identify much about the place. This basically translates into a description of all the Shadow's features, including time differential, and the relative degree of influence of Pattern and Logrus.
- She can also pick up an impression of anyone who has strong impact on the shape or form of the Shadow.
- Meeting, or sensing, any individual or creature, will mean Fiona can detect the presence of Pattern in their blood, and just how activated that Pattern may be. This allows for identifying someone with the Blood of Amber who has not yet walked the Pattern, or telling whether someone has recently walked the Pattern. The potential for Logrus, Trump Artistry, Shape Changing, and Magic are also noticeable.
- In conversation Fiona has a feel for the truth. This means that a direct lie is obvious. Likewise, it's possible for her to tell when one is skipping around the truth, or evading a question.
- Although someone gifted in Shape Change can cloak their identity from most, Fiona can, if she has the mental contact, and the time, find the exact identity of the changed one.
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