Illusion Guide

[Supremacy 3357]

Sensory Illusion:

 

 

Basic Understandings:

 

A magic which, to this day, few Arcanists understand.  However, what is known is that Illusion is the magic of the mind and conscience.  Perhaps Illusion is considered to be the magic of the manipulative due to the fact that Illusion most often always deals with the manipulation of others through the creation of false thoughts and images.  A truly difficult art to master in the sense that any Illusionists must first be a master of their own mind to alter the minds of others.   Though Illusion does not involve the “summoning” of any physical object from the Void into the physical world it does still involve the use of the Void.

 

The Void is a plain of thoughts, memories and emotions.  Though the Void may “appear” to be nothing more than a vast black nothingness it is in fact a collaboration of thousands of the previously stated.  This is how the Illusionist weaves their web, through using the Void directly.  Everyone’s mind is technically connected to the Void, however very few know how to utilize it as Mages do.  An Illusionists must spend days upon hours upon weeks meditating and looking into the nothingness that is the Void.  More than any other sub-type of Arcane, Illusionists must be the most connected to their source.  By allowing their own conscience to drift through this empty space allows for them to enter that of others.

 

A common misconception is that Illusionists posses the ability to control the minds of their foes.  This is, of course, false.  In no future or past can any form of Arcane arts directly control the minds of others, only control certain senses which we as living things process.  These senses are: touch, sight, sound and smell.  When an Illusionists alters these senses the art is known as “Sensory Illusion”.  Sensory illusion is the most basic (but by no means weaker) form of Illusion which allows Illusionists to use other’s mind within the Void to make them hear, see, smell, or touch something which does not actually exist.  This is done by the Illusionists having their minds enter the Void and just as all the other sub-types, they must imagine what they are choosing to create, whether that be an army of soldiers or ear ringing shreek.  However, unlike the more scientific approach which the others require, Illusionists rely on their own experience.  

 

They must know exactly how their Illusion will sound, smell, feel, or appear.  It is because of this that Illusionists must experience their own Illusions.  If they choose to summon a tangle of snakes, they must have seen with their own eyes, ear, hands, and nose that tangle of snakes in the physical world.  Due to this factor, it is extremely rare to find an Illusionists who can produce something like an ear bleeding shreek, because if an Illusionists experienced that noise in the physical world, they would most likely be deaf.  After the step of creating the Illusion in their mind, next comes the step of actually making the Illusion come to be.  Unlike the other sub-types though, an Illusionist almost entirely skips the step of drawing the Illusion from their mind and into the physical world.  Once the Illusion is imagined within the Illusionist’s mind they must simply have the Illusion take place within the minds they choose.  This is when the use of mana for Illusion comes in.  By using their own mana to intermingle with that of their choosing (With our without the other person(s) knowing) they can reproduce this Illusion which is already within their own minds into the minds of others.

 

Illusions can also take on multiple senses to alter.  Meaning an Illusionists could create the most realistic army to siege a castle ever seen, however!  No matter how realistic that army is NEVER can it affect the physical world.  This means that if a fake soldier stabs an Illusionist’s enemy, that blade can appear and even feel like a real blade, but never will that blade harm or draw blood from the enemy no matter how realistic the stabbing feels to the enemy.  (Note that the Illusionists would have had to feel what being stabbed feels like to produce this Illusion...)

 

Just as any other sub-type, the larger more complex the Illusion, the more mana it will take to produce.  Oddly enough, Illusion uses the least amount of mana since nothing within this sub-type actually exists and not nearly as much mana is needed to enter the minds of others than to produce a fireball.

 

Roleplaying Guidelines:

 

Roleplaying Sensory illusion is relatively simple. Depending on the situation one may use /tells or emotes to convey their illusions. This is true because illusions can be targeted to specific individuals. For the purpose of this guide we will split our illusions up into glamors, fighments and phantasms.

 

A glamor is an object which has its sensory properties altered by an illusionist, a figment is an entirely illusory object and a phantasm is an emotion brought on by an illusionist. Sensory illusions shall be defined as any illusion which manipulates the senses (figments and glamors).

 

 

In general glamors tend to be the easiest of illusions as one does not need to create an entirely new sensory object in the mind of their foe. Figments are slightly harder and phantasms tend to be the hardest. This does not restrict the order in which one learns them though, but rather restricts the power of each. In general a character learning illusion will have picked up all three skills by the time they are adept. Perfecting sensory illusions in 2 months, and phantasms in one. It is recommended one has their character learn light illusions first as they tend to be more useful in RP.

 

Practicing on animals IC is also a good idea as their minds are weak and therefore far easier to illusion.

 

In general the first two weeks of illusion will consist of a student learning how to connect and control the void. By the end of the second week they should be able to make basic flashes of light in their mind, or the mind of another. Though these will not be bright they can easily be of any color the illusionist choses. From here the illusionist may develop either sensory illusions or phantasms. In general a single sense will take a week to become competant with. If the illusionist elects to study sensory illusions first by the end of their first month they should be capable of two senses (usually sight and sound). The illusionist would be able to create small illusionary objects and hold them for short periods of time. From here a sense may be learnt each week, picking up smell, touch, taste and even sensations of temperature. By the end of their second month an illusionist would be easily able to hold small illusions like a dagger in their hand and would even for a limited amount of time be able to put on an illusionary disguise. Though at this point it would be weak. Let us examine how light illusion might be roleplayed:

 

Kalenz then spins about, back to his student and speaks “A salum’sair at a most basic level changes what things appear to be. Should you decide to deceive another an illusion must be similar enough to the real so that it is believable. However, no illusion is perfect. For us to move on to greater heights in illusion we must master what appears to be the most simply illusions of all. Small tricks with the light are often, despite their often far more useful than the most complex if they are to be used correctly.”

Kalenz pauses for a moment in thought “Ah yes! I do believe it is your turn!”

The student gazes at him in sheer surprise “Me? But I can only make a little flash!”

Kalenz then frowns “Progress can not be made without risk. If you are not to try, little will be achieved on this day, nor on any other in the future”.

The student shudders and approaches the fire, extending a hand.

Moments later the light before the student seems to shift. The student grunts, still remaining still with his hand extended.

For a few seconds nothing seems to occur but suddenly a faint green hue appears on one of the tips of the fire for no more than three seconds.But an instant later the student collapses.

Kalenz then frowns once more and mumbles to himself as a crowd gathers around his student to see if he is ok “Rather convenient he did not fall into the fire”.

The illusionist then turns on his heel and strides off, not particularly willing to deal with his recovering student at this late hour.

 

Phantasm learning begins with the focusing on an emotion which the illusionist has experienced. From there they must learn to push it upon their target by emulating it in their mind. Phantasm usually is limited to one person except by select masters who perhaps can push an emotion onto multiple beings present. 

 

Velwyn exhales sharply while his eyes flick up and down Davey.

In three even strides he crosses the room, his metallic armor making loud clanking sounds as he does so.

Beneath his helmet Velwyn twitches lightly his eyes looking directly into Davey’s “One hears you were quite... obstinate in training today”.

Davey simply grunts, staring into Velwyn’s helm.

[/tell by the illusionist]*Davey suddenly feels an awkward sensation, barely noticeable unless he was perhaps searching for such*.

“The creator smiles upon those who are obedient to the White Rose”.

Davey takes a short step backwards, nodding slowly.

[/tell by the illusionist] *A strange sensation is seemingly attempting to enter Davey’s mind, a sensation of euphoria*

Velwyn tilts his head slightly “Would you agree, Davey?”

Davey exhales sharply, he mutters unsure for a moment.

[/tell by the illusionist] *The sensation continues to be pushed upon Davey, searching for an entry point*

 

At this point one may need to clarify that the illusion is occurring OOC. Most will not be ‘immune’ to phantasm however those who do not experience such emotions often will be less susceptible. The idea that a character can not feel emotion is illogical and such claims are often best ignored, that being said a sensation of fear on an orc will be more difficult to create while honor on an orc will be easier. One who knows an illusion is orrucing is better equipped to resist a phantasm, but in general if one has never experienced it before they will feel the emotion.

 

 

Davey smiles rather suddenly nodding while stating “Erhm... ye...”

Velwyn nods slowly before moving to stroll off. A bead of sweat runs down his face, hidden by his helmet.

[/tell by the illusionist] *As Velwyn walks away the sensation fades back to nothing.*

 

Novice: Small fragments the size of a small ball which can be held for short periods of time. These only control light and fade when touched.

 

Journeyman: Mastering other senses such as hearing, touch, taste, smell and learning to mainpulate sensations of heat. By this point an illusionist would be able to hold an illusionary disguise for a short time. The illusionist begins to experiment with phantasm but is largely ineffective.

 

Adept: Illusionist can form a variety of light illusions and hold disguises for a while. The illusionist is capable of a few phantasm emotions on one person. They struggle holding a conversation and maintaing a phantasm.

 

Master: Sensory illusions continue to develop while phantasm can be extended (with difficulty) to more than one individual.

 

Red Lines:

• Emoting invisibility, one can not become invisible. There will always be tells. This does not, however, mean one can't vanish. Given enough distance one may create smoke or a flash of light and then become the illusionary form of somewhat-invisible to escape.
• Copying a person perfectly in an illusionary disguise. One is required to study someone in detail before they can be replicated without error. Unless one has spent a large amount of time with someone they can only replicate their appearance vaguely with illusion.
• Attempting to illusion upon one's self. This is impossible as it creates a paradox. After all, logically how can you attempt to trick your own mind while knowing you are doing it?
• Accessing memories, wiping minds or reading minds.