Pulse

Relations Through Static

She listened to her surroundings and focused the static, condensing it to the palm of her hand. She knelt down, placing her hand on the ground as one would touch a priceless work of art. She released The Static. A cloud of dirt and leaves to burst from the ground in a ring around her. The force drove into the earth, static shooting out in all directions. It moved over the rocks and shot through trees. It traced the land, giving a mental map of roads, creeks, and elevation. The Static painted a picture, but one that couldn't be seen. Morrigan's sense of self, her being, extended beyond her body. She expanded, not only aware of the landscape, but also part of it.
— The Scarlet Ashes

Static pulses are one of many utilities bestowed upon those who use The Prestige. It is a universal talent, meaning all practitioners can learn it. The learning and development of this ability varies from one to another. One's skill is entirely dependent on practice, leading many to equate strengthening the skill to building muscle. The more you use it, the stronger your talent will be. While it can be used to do many things, a static pulse will always function as a means of increasing spatial awareness. By condensing The Static and releasing it, spreading it over a given area around the caster, one can gain information on the area.

Fun Fact: Arcane Radar

Static pulses have been used at a smaller scale for ages, but few ever tried to maximize the distance. When the first radar set was invented, Its usage gave practitioners the idea. As time progressed, the usage of Static Pulses to map large areas became a staple for casters. What's curious about this fact is how rarely The Prestige sees something new. The Prestige rarely evolved or progresses, leading many to believe its limits have been found and explored. While there are many secrets left to discover and mysteries left to solve, those who believe The Prestige cannot evolve much further are right. The Prestige approaches a dead end as far as research is concerned, and with every mystery solved, there is that much less to learn.

limitations

The larger the range of the pulse, the less you can see and learn from it. A pulse that extends for miles can only detect large subjects such as buildings. Trees may be noticed, but if detecting a forest, it will be impossible to distinguish a single tree over others without that tree being radically different from the others. By lowering the range to 200 meters, one can detect individual subjects, but will have difficulties seeing anything in motion. For stationary objects, one will find it difficult to notice anything smaller than the average vehicle. In ranges between 1 and 40 meters, one is no longer limited by size, but should still take great care. Regardless of range, the stronger the pulse, the more one will see. It can be jarring for a caster when they push too far, sending a pulse that not only maps the area and reveals their target, but also reveals every other object in fine detail. Even more power will cause one to map the location of every single living thing in the area, from an enemy hiding out of sight, to an entire colony of ants. This much information can cause the brain undue stress, which will disorient the caster. Some have experienced brain hemmorages as a result.

Uses

Tracking:Small, concentrated pulses of static can be used in tracking. By keeping the pulse isolated to a smaller area, small details like tracks are seen clearly. If the target is within the area of effect, their position will be easily noted by the caster.

Environmental Analysis: Members of The Oxford Cabal have assisted other organizations by using a concentrated pulse to "scan" crime scenes and other locations of interest. By doing so, things often overlooked are easily visible, and some practitioners can even put together a decent idea of what occurred in the area, if relevant.

Mapping and Exploration: The Oxford Cabal routinely funds expeditions, delving into forgotten ruins and establishing archaeological operations across the globe. Finding these locations can be done by concentrating a larger pulse that can scatter The Static over several miles, giving the caster a mental map of the area. It is also used to map these locations to learn of traps, secret rooms, and other important information.

Detection and Specification: Similar to tracking, a Static Pulse can be used to detect those who cause a unique reaction to the static. Practitioners can use it to detect others who have The Prestige, certain creatures, and even objects with arcane qualities. They can easily distinguish what they are detecting if they have experienced the reaction before. Using a pulse is rarely discreet. A caster can alert those with the prestige if the pulse is detected.

Horrific Potential

The Static is an extension of self for the caster. Many call it an extra limb, and for good reason. When one uses the static, they can sense and move it as one would their arm or leg. When The Static is sent out in a pulse, you cast the static out, not only spreading awareness, but spreading yourself. The Static embeds itself into everything, and this can have some serious problems. While nearly impossible at larger areas, and the least of your concerns when using the pulse in small areas, if enough density is present, one can experience many terrifying things as just by casting the static over the natural world. You won't just witness predators stalking their prey, you will feel the predator and their prey. At higher density, The Static should always be used with care. One could inadvertently experience all the horrors of murder just by using the spell at the wrong time. In smaller areas, one should never try to overcompensate density, as this horrific experience is even worse when experienced through the eyes of insects.

Comments

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Kendallonian

Apr 9, 2020 01:41

So, if you want to hide from a wizard, lair in a giant ant colony. Might be useful in a census. As a wizard, I'd like to experiment with using this spell to not only sense things as a part of myself but also to manipulate them as such; on the cool end you have giant rock fists coming up out of the landscape, and on the creepy end you have mind control or even hive mind creation. This spell would be great as a way to perceive objects that you need to perceive in order to affect them with spells. Maybe really small pulses can be used to detect medical problems in dying patients? I love the image of a P.I. magically scanning the area for clues.

Sage Dylonishere123

Apr 9, 2020 14:26 by R. Dylon Elder

That would definitely work, though you not be able to hide 100%. You can control how powerful a pulse is, and might be able to sent out small ammounts to detect a lair. Your best bet there would be wording but that can make it obvious if you ward a larger area, which is discovered in the events directly after the quote here. It appears as empty space in the map, a void. You're either like minded or I'm very predictable XD pulses act as a great segwaay to controlling things like chunks of earth and some can animate bodies like puppets with the static using the same method. "mapping" the body of the injured or sick to look for problems is another great option, though one has to be careful. Ant colonies are nothing if you accidentally notice and map EVERY SINGLE BLOOD CELL. Excellent ideas and inspiring as well!

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Apr 11, 2020 16:48

So, if there are isolated cave systems beneath you, does the pulse travel through the ground and detect them or does it only travel along the surface of the world?

Apr 11, 2020 18:58 by R. Dylon Elder

Usually through to detect them but its not automatic. The caster will usually configure the spell to do so on principle.