Theurgic Psionics
Whereas Enmitics draw power from their unbridled passions and Empaths do so from powerful emotional connections, Theurges are defined by their difficulty establishing these connections in the first place. Theurges are not necessarily loners, but many times struggle to truly understand or make themselves understood by others, their isolation punctuated by their fabrication of illusionary mental constructs or the apparent shifting of reality around them.
They walk the fine line between hounded by the need to constantly control and keep their emotions in check as their abilities can ‘bleed’ out of the Theurge, shifting the environment around them. Theurges that are not in control of their abilities will find themselves unwittingly exerting their presence out into the world and many tales of hauntings have behind them an unstable theurge, unaware or unable to rein back their power. Even as they sleep, they can project forth phantasms that stalk those in the area, make doors and windows suddenly open or shut, lights flicker out and paths seemingly continue without an end.
While this is a common problem for uninitiated Psions, especially Enmitics, those outbursts usually respond to strong emotions directed at others and. Unfortunately, many times the first victim of an unbalance theurge is the theurge himself, and as they are affected by this madness they can spiral further down until the apparitions they call forth gain enough power to have an actual, physical effect on the world.
Ultimately the power of a Theurgic Psion is to project and even incarnate their presence in the world around them, many times outside of their control. As such, experienced Theurges are always in control of their emotions and expectations, letting their power bleed out only in calculated bursts whenever they need it.
Talents
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 2
Resist: Intelligence + Perception
Duration: 1 Minute
Effect: The Psion projects a silent image about the size of a human capable of moving and acting in the mind of the target. If the target fails to resist the ability, they will continue to see the figure for up to one minute.
Boost: —
Range: Any in Line of Sight.
-
Type: Ongoing
Cost: 0
Resist: —
Duration: Until Long rest.
Effect: The Psion summons a small semi-ethereal creature of pure psionic energy within thirty feet whose shape and appearance reflects their state of mind. The avatar’s characteristics are included at the end of this section. Each turn, the Psion may use a Free Action to command the avatar as if it was an animal companion as long as it is within Line of Sight (though no test is required). There is no limit to the amount of times an Avatar may be summoned like but its HP, AV & DR persists between summons. If the avatar is reduced to 0 HP, it dissipates and cannot be summoned again until after a full night’s rest.
While Avatar is an ongoing effect, it can be maintained alongside one other ongoing psionic effect. The Avatar has major disadvantage on any attacks against Mechanical Targets.
Boost: An additional 2 focus can be spent to make the avatar Invisible when summoning it. The Avatar remains invisible until it uses a run action, attacks, take damage or otherwise reveals itself, or until it is summoned again.
Range: 30 feet
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 5
Resist: Insight + Willpower
Duration: 1 + Presence Rank rounds
Effect: The Psion creates a link between his mind and that of their target, pouring into it an unfiltered psionic cacophony.
At the start of each of their turns for a number of rounds equal to 1+ the Psion’s Presence, the target must make a Willpower test or be affected by a condition on a D6.
[ 1] The target is blinded until the end of their turn.
[ 2] The target goes berserk and melee attacks the closest target.
[ 3] The target feels as if their gear is on fire and drops a weapon they are holding.
[ 4] The target immediately loses balance and goes prone.
[5] The target tries to use a run action to move as far away from the Psion as possible.
[6] The target can act normally.
Does not affect mechanical targets.
Boost: —
Range: 30 feet
-
Type: Passive
Cost: 0
Resist: —
Duration: Permanent.
Effect: The Psion’s personality permeates everything around them and extends the reach of their mind as elements of it are sent forth. The range of the Psion’s abilities may be measured from the Psion themselves or from any Avatar, Infused Animal, Grudge Holder or Silent Watcher the Psion has active.
Boost: —
Range: Self
-
Type: Passive
Cost: 0
Resist: —
Duration: Permanent
Effect: The Psion is able to reach with their mind, transposing their consciousness into an animal they have a strong bond with, an avatar summoned from their subconscious, a grudge holder or a silent watcher. The Psion may perceive the world through the eyes and ears of their target as long as they are within 50 feet for each Rank they have in Presence.
The Psion may not act, move, or perceive the world around their true body while inhabiting their target, and they may command their target with the command free action. Mechanical entities (Mechs, Drones, Cyborgs) cannot be perceived with Ghost sight.
Boost: —
Range: Animal Companion, Avatar, Grudge Holder or Silent Watcher.
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Type: Passive
Cost: 0
Resist: —
Duration: Permanent
Effect: The Psion is able to project their thoughts into the space around an animal they have a strong bond with, an avatar summoned from their subconscious, a grudge holder or a silent watcher. The Psion might speak directly into the mind of one friendly target that is within 20 feet of their Animal Companion or Avatar and perceive replies in their own mind.
This ability works as long as the Animal Companion or Avatar is at least within 150 feet for each rank the Psion has in Presence. Mechanical units (drones, mechs, cyborgs) cannot be spoken to with Ghostpeak .
Boost: —
Range: Avatar, Animal Companion, Grudge Holder, Silent Watcher.
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Type: Instant
Cost: 3
Resist: —
Duration: Until Long Rest or Psionic Meditation
Effect: The Psion creates an invisible, human sized force which is immobile in a location within 30 feet of them. The force remains in the spot until the Psion takes a long rest, the grudge holder hits with an attack or the psion meditates to regain Psionic Charges.
Whenever someone hostile moves within 5 feet of them, the grudge holder strikes them with the following profile;
[Attack: 6 + (Psion’s Presence Rank) / Damage: 5 points + (Psionic Attribute)D / Knockdown (X)]
And then dissipate on a hit. The grudge holder cannot detect or attack mechanical targets.
Boost: An extra focus can be spent to increase the range of the grudge holder’s attack to 10 feet.
Range: 60 feet
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 5
Resist: Insight + Empathy
Duration: 1 Minute
Effect: The Psion projects an aura around themselves which seems to warp people’s perceptions, making friends look alien and unrecognizable. Anyone that doesn’t resist the effect quickly develops a deep distrust of those around them for a minute.
Does not affect mechanical targets
Boost: A number of Focus equal to the Psion’s presence can be consumed to extend the duration of the ability by one minute per charge.
Range: 30 feet around the Psion
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 2
Resist: Intelligence + Perception
Duration: (1+Presence Rank) Minutes.
Effect: The ground before the target appears to shift and turn, gaps opening at random at the edge of their feet. The target moves at half speed for up to one minute plus an extra minute for every rank the Psion has in presence. In combat, they can attempt to break out of the illusion at the end of each of their turns.
Does not affect mechanical targets.
Boost: —
Range: 120
-
Type: Ongoing
Cost: 2
Resist: —
Duration: Until Long rest or Psionic meditation
Effect: The Psion infuses a friendly animal with part of their consciousness. Until the Psion takes a long rest, the ability is disrupted by damage or dismissed or until the Psion meditates to regain Psi Charges, the animal immediately gains DR equal to the Psion’s Psionic Attribute and may be commanded each turn as a free action without a need for a test. DR gained from Infuse regenerates at the beginning of the psion’s turn every round.
In the case the Psion can already command their companion without a test, they may instead command them without consuming an action or free action.
While Infuse is an ongoing effect, it can be maintained alongside one other ongoing psionic effect.
Boost: May consume three extra focus to increase the gained DR to the Psion’s Psionic Attribute + Presence Rank.
Range: Friendly Animal within 30 feet.
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 4
Resist: Insight + Willpower
Duration: (1+Presence Rank) Minutes
Effect: The Psion projects a horrifying delusion directly into the target’s mind. If the target fails to resist the ability, they are affected by Fear towards the Psion for one minute plus an extra minute for each rank the Psion has in presence. The target may test against the ability again at the end of every minute or, in combat, at the end of each of its turns.
Does not affect mechanical targets.
Boost: —
Range: 60 feet.
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Type: Instant
Cost: 1
Resist: —
Duration: Instant
Effect: The theurge exerts their will against someone or something within their sight, making them feel a light touch or manipulating a small object. In combat, it allows the Psion to use a Flick or Distract action against any object or target within Line of Sight.
Boost: —
Range: Any in Line of Sight
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Type: Instant
Cost: 3
Resist: —
Duration: (Psionic Attribute + Presence) Hours or until Psionic meditation
Effect: The theurge leaves behind a small figment of their mind in the shape of a phantasmal object which floats in midair and lasts for a number of hours equal to the Psion’s Psionic Attribute + Presence or until the Psion meditates to regain Psionic charges.
The object can alert the Psion if anyone comes within 60 feet of it, additionally, the Psion can focus on the object and perceive everything within 60 feet of it but each minute of doing so consumes an hour of its duration.
Mechanical entities are invisible to the watcher and do not trigger it.
Boost: —
Range: 60 feet
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Type: Passive
Cost: 0
Resist: —
Duration: Instant
Effect: The very air around the Psion seems laden with a supernatural chill and their stare steals the very warmth of one’s blood. Any character that fails a test to resist the Psion’s Presence skill (be it via intimidation, distract actions, etc.) take 1 point of direct frost damage.
Those around the Psion feel a constant, uncomfortable chill deep in their bones, unable to feel truly warm no matter how much they may bundle up.
Boost: —
Range: Varies
-
Type: Passive
Cost: 0
Resist: —
Duration: Permanent
Effect: The Psion’s presence lashes out towards those around them, creating an aura of dread and unsettling visual and auditory hallucinations. Distract free actions (and derived actions such as Taunt) from the Psion affect one extra target within range for each rank the Psion has in Presence.
Boost: —
Range: Varies
-
Type: Ongoing
Cost: 3
Resist: Intelligence + Perception
Duration: (1+Presence Rank) Minutes.
Effect: The Psion produces an auditory hallucination affecting a single target that lasts for a number minutes equal to 1 + the Psion’s presence. Does not affect mechanical targets.
Boost: Focus equal to the Psion’s presence can be consumed to increase the duration for 1 minute per Focus.
Powers
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Type: Instant
Cost: 6
Resist: —
Duration: Long rest or Psionic meditation.
Effect: The Psion further empowers an Infused animal or avatar, enhancing their Strength, Endurance and Dexterity by 1 and granting their attacks Corrosion(X), Scorch (1), Shock (1) or Frost (1) , if first used alongside Infuse or Avatar, this Power is a free action. The ability lasts until the Psion takes a long rest, meditates to regain Psionic charges, the infused animal is knocked unconscious or the Avatar is destroyed.
Boost: An additional focus can be consumed to increase Scorch, Shock or Frost by 1 or grant the Poison(X) quality to their attack.
Range: Infused Animal or Avatar within 60 feet.
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Type: Instant
Cost: 3
Resist: —
Duration: Instant
Effect: The Psion further enhances his link with an infused animal or an avatar of his presence, enabling them to transfer HP up to their Psionic Attribute + Presence between themselves and the target.
Boost: —
Range: Infused Animal or Avatar within 60 feet.
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 10
Resist: Insight + Willpower
Duration: (1+Presence Rank) Minutes
Effect: The Psion projects forward an ever-increasing field of psionic pressure. Everyone within 30 feet of the Psion must pass a Willpower test against the Psion’s passive Presence or be unable to move or perform any actions. In combat, the test is repeated every round for up to a number of rounds equal to the Psion’s presence rank. Out of combat, the test is repeated every minute for a maximum number of minutes equal to the Psion’s Presence Rank +1.
While Judgement is active, the Psion may only perform movement actions. Does not affect mechanical targets.
Boost: —
Range: 30 feet around the Psion
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Type: Instant
Cost: 7
Resist: Endurance + Fortitude
Duration: Instant
Effect: The next time a Psion makes a successful unarmed melee attack against a target, instead of taking damage normally, the target must pass a fortitude test against the Psion’s passive Presence or take 3D6+Presence Rank points of Direct Damage. If this attack knocks someone Out of the Fight or kills them, the Psion regains d3+1 Psionic Charges.
Boost: —
Range: Touch
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Type: Instant
Cost: 6
Resist: —
Duration: Long Rest or Psionic Meditation
Effect: The Psion coats an infused animal or Avatar in a powerful psionic field, increasing its Insight, Intelligence and Charisma by 1, granting it +2 AV, and Fireproof (1), Coldproof (1), Shockproof (1) or Chemproof (1). If first used alongside Infuse or Avatar, this Power is a free action. The ability lasts until the Psion takes a long rest, meditates to regain Psionic charges, the infused animal is knocked unconscious or the Avatar is destroyed.
Boost: An additional focus can be consumed to increase Fireproof, Shockproof, Coldproof or Chemproof by 1.
Range: Infused Animal or Avatar within 30 feet
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 8
Resist: Insight + Fortitude
Duration: (1+Presence Rank) Minutes
Effect: The Psion creates a powerful mass delusion around themselves. Anyone within the target area that fails to resist sees the floor as something horrifying, be it a writhing mass of maggots, a pile of human bones, a field of jagged spikes, etc, are compelled to leave the target area immediately and cannot re-enter for one minute plus an additional minute for each rank the Psion has in Presence.
In combat, the targets can attempt to resist the ability again at the end of each of their turns. Outside of combat, they can attempt to resist once per minute.
Does not affect mechanical targets.
Boost: —
Range: 30 feet around the Psion
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Type: Passive
Cost: 0
Resist: —
Duration: Permanent
Effect: The images and mirages created by the Psion get more and more elaborate… Those affected by it believe they can touch, hear and even smell them… even if that is only in their head.
Characters within range attempting to resist the Psion’s illusion-based abilities do so at a Major Disadvantage.
Boost: —
Range: All within (5*Presence) feet of the Psion
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Type: Passive
Cost: 0
Resist: —
Duration: Permanent
Effect: The Psion harnesses fear and revels in it even as it scars their mind. Whenever the Psion or anyone within range fails a Willpower test, they recover a number of Hit Points equal to the Psion’s Presence Rank.
If the Psion is at full HP, they instead gain DR to a maximum equal to their Presence rank, this DR lasts only for 1 minute.
Boost: —
Range: Self or any within 60 feet.
Mastery
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 12
Resist: —
Duration: (Psionic Attribute + Presence Rank) Minutes.
Effect: The Psion can immediately release the control they may have had over their emotions, allowing them to flow outwards and lash out towards anyone unfortunate enough to be called in the maelstrom. The Psion can summon a number of boosted Grudge Holders equal to 2d6+their Presence rank which appear in spaces of their choice within 100 feet of them. The grudge holders remain in place for a number of minutes equal to the Psion’s Psionic Attribute + Presence rank or until they manage to hit someone.
Boost: —
Range: 100 Feet
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Type: Instant
Cost: Varies
Resist: —
Duration: Varies
Effect: The Psion can grant extra effects to one of their other abilities by spending a number of focus.
Avatar (12 Focus): Transform your Avatar into a Greater Avatar for 1 minute. The Greater Avatar is much more powerful but the Psion must pass a difficulty 3 test using their Psionic Attribute + Presence at the end of each of their turns or lose control of the psionic projection. An Avatar cannot be dismissed while in Greater Avatar form. If the Psion loses control, the Greater Avatar remains for a number of rounds equal to the Psion’s presence before transforming back into its regular Avatar form, at which point the Psion regains control.
Infuse (5 Psi Poins): The Infused animal gains regenerating DR equal to 2d6 + the Psion’s presence rank. The effect starts alongside the infusion and immediately ends if the Psion interrupts the ability.
Apparition (4 Psi Points): The apparition is able to make noise and seemingly manipulate objects, or at least it does so in the mind of the target.
Silent Watcher (7 Psi Points): The Silent Watcher can move whenever the Psion is focusing on it (spending a free action to move the watcher if in combat). It can move in any direction at a maximum speed of 5 feet per second (30 feet in a round of combat) but cannot go through solid objects.
Boost: —
Range: Varies
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 15
Resist: Insight + Willpower or Intelligence + Investigation.
Duration: (Psionic Attribute + Presence Rank) Minutes
Effect: Theurge creates a complete mass sensory hallucination enveloping everyone in range that lasts for a number of minutes equal to the Theurge’s Psionic Attribute + Presence rank. At the end of each minute, characters may choose to attempt am Insight + Willpower or Intelligence + Investigation test against the Theurge’s passive Presence to break out of the illusion as long as they suspect what they are experiencing is not real.
If all subjects outside of the Theurge are asleep, the duration inside the illusion can be up to one hour for each minute passing outside of it. Characters may attempt tests at the end of each minute of real time, which may be up to one hour in the illusion. If the Theurge is attacked or their concentration disrupted, all characters in the illusion might attempt an extra test to break out. If the Theurge takes any damage, the illusion breaks immediately.
Boost: —
Range: (Psionic Attribute + Presence rank*5) feet around the Psion
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 15
Resist: —
Duration: Until Long rest, Until another Psionic Ability is used or Psionic Meditation.
Effect: The Psion completely shuts their mind off of the world and is completely in control of every aspect of their psyche, both the logical and the emotional.
Any tests against the Psion’s passive Perception, Investigation, Knowledge, Willpower and Empathy are done at a Major Disadvantage and the Psion makes Deception, Willpower, Empathy, Investigation and Perception at maximum advantages. The ability lasts until the Psion takes a long rest, meditates to regain Psionic charges, uses any other Psionic ability or the ability is disrupted by damage.
Boost: —
Range: Self
Theurgic Avatar
Theurgic Avatars are manifestations of different aspects of the theurgic Psion’s mind which can grow and interact with the world when the Psion is focusing on them. Many of the apparitions and creatures that appear around theurges can be chalked off to Avatars out of control, manifested fears or insecurities. A theurgic avatar is ‘crafted’, but once a decision has been made about the Avatar’s abilities and characteristics, it cannot be changed as it is a locked in, foundational aspect of the Psion’s psyche.
Theurgic Avatars start with the following characteristics:
Strength
5
Endurance
5
Dexterity
5
Intelligence
5
Insight
5
Charisma
5
Whenever the Theurge gains an extra rank in Presence, they may increase one of the Avatar’s characteristics by 1 and their Hit points by 3.
Additionally, a Theurgic Avatar has a number of points equal to the Psion’s Psionic Attribute + Presence to distribute among its skills. Increasing a skill to the next rank costs one of these points. Normally an Avatar may only have up to 2 ranks in a skill.
The Theurgic Avatar has a standard melee attack which can use Strength or Dexterity for attack, and your Psionic Attribute or Strength for damage, initiative 9, naturally moves up to 30 feet and runs up to 60 feet, has Night Vision out to 30 feet and possesses the following armor;
AV: Psionic Attribute + Presence Rank / DR: Psion’s Presence Rank
Additionally, the Avatar possesses two of the following abilities and gains another ability from the following list with each rank the Psion gains in Presence.
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Cutting: Attacks gain +2D Damage
Sound Mind: +6 HP
Calculating: +2 Investigation Rank
Conflictive: +2 Grapple Rank
Nightmare: Increased movement to 40 ft and ignores terrain
Barbed Thoughts: Melee attack range changes to 5ft-15ft
Noncommittal: +1 Evasion Rank
Murderous Urges: +2 Strike Rank
Paranoia: +2 Perception Rank
Leaping: +2 Athletics Rank
Unassuming: +2 Sneak Rank
Inflammatory: Melee attacks gain Scorch (1) and Armor gains Fireproof (2)
Hidden Strength: +1 Fortitude Rank
Hyperaware: The Avatar’s gains Night Vision out to 100 feet and Heat Detecting out to 30 feet.
Misanthropic: Attacks gain the Sever quality
Cold: Attacks gain Frost (1) and Armor gains Coldproof (2)
Toxic: Attacks gain Corrosion and Armor gains Chemproof (2)
Mercurial: Attacks gain Shock (1) and Armor gains Shockproof (2)
Night Terror: Can cause Fear with Distract actions.
Defensive: +2 AV
Deflective; +4 DR
Dissociate: +1 AP
Dream Eater: Recovers D3HP whenever it deals non-elemental HP damage to a non-mechanical target
Self-destructive: When the Avatar is destroyed, it does so with a Blast (2) HE grenade equivalent explosion
Twitchy: +1 Reaction each round
Obsessive; +2 Willpower Rank
Overreaching: Gains a ranged attack with the following profile; Attack: Dex+ Aim, Damage: (Psionic Attribute)D, Range, 15-30ft
Overwhelming: The avatar is a large creature that can be ridden and counts as a mount animal companion.
Overbearing: Attacks gain the Stun (2) Quality
Maddened: Can climb with full movement speed, stand on vertical surfaces and upside down
Greater Avatars have an initiative of 12, are larger and double all the modifiers from Presence that Avatars gain on their Characteristics, Armor, HP and DR as well as an extra wound, but do not gain any additional special abilities.