Looking for some constructive feedback and advice on my power system
OVERVIEW OF MY POWER SYSTEM: RESONANCE
Overview
The Resonance is my world’s power system, it is the innate ability to interact with and control a fundamental property of the world or to be more accurate, a filtered concept of it. Every living creature possesses some degree of Resonance, but their strength, precision, and potential vary drastically between individuals.
Most people possess a weak Resonance and require tools to use it effectively. Through training, discipline, and understanding, individuals can refine their Resonance into increasingly sophisticated forms. At its highest levels, Resonance doesn’t just allow someone to manipulate their internment and themselves but instead gives them the ability to bend and violate it.
THE PATHS
Every individual is born aligned to a single Resonance Path. Each Path contains multiple Branches. People are normally born with access to only one Branch of their Path. Extremely rarely, an individual may possess two or more Branches within the same Path.
KNOWN PATHS
Antaeus The Path of Solids
Branches:
Earth
Metal
Sand
Glass
Alcides The Path of Self
Branches:
Body
Motion
Mind
Manannán The Path of Liquids
Branches:
Water
Mist
Blood
Logi The Path of Sustained Reaction
Branches:
Fire
Combustion
Smoke
Janus The Path of Connection
Branches:
Navigator
Communicator
Janus Resonants are considered among the most politically important individuals within my world.
Navigators
Can sense and safely guide others around the Unseen.
Communicators
Can establish telepathic links with other communicators by first establishing physical contact with them.
Communication works by transmitting intent and emotion rather than spoken language this allows them to bypasses language barriers. Communicators cannot communicate across the Unseen or over extreme distances.
Communicators can also forcibly read the minds of non-Janus individuals through direct and sustained physical contact. This works more like a lie detector than normal mind reading.
THE TWO DISCIPLINES
Every Resonant develops their Branch through two primary disciplines:
WIELDING
Individuals that focus on this discipline specialise in moving, directing, accelerating, or controlling existing material.
Example:
A Metal Wielder manipulates the movement of metal itself.
Elite Wielders possess extraordinary control and scale, capable of manipulating microscopic traces or enormous masses.
MANIPULATION
Manipulators specialize in reshaping, restructuring, refining and altering form.
Example:
A Metal Manipulator can reshape metal into intricate and complex structures.
Elite Manipulators can perform transformations of extraordinary complexity and precision.
HYBRID RESONANTS
Individuals are not limited to or forced into a single discipline and can choose to train in both disciplines simultaneously. This grants versatility but significantly slows mastery of either one. An individual who chooses to specialise in a single discipline will generally surpass hybrids within that chosen discipline, while hybrids generally possess broader adaptability.
True masters of both disciplines are exceptionally rare.
PROGRESSION
Resonance develops through training and refinement. Most common people require specialized tools or mediums to use their Resonance effectively. Progression typically follows four stages:
Stage-Method
Common-Tool assisted
Trained-Physical movement
Elite-Spoken activation
Master-Thought activation
Wealthier and more politically powerful people can dedicate more time and resources toward refinement and mastery of their Resonance abilities.
LIMITATIONS
Resonant cannot be used to create matter from nothing. People can only manipulate material that already exists within their environment for example a person from the Sand branch requires access to sand to use their abilities.
ARCANE
Arcane Resonance is exceedingly rare.
Where ordinary Resonance interacts with reality through the Great Filter, Arcane Resonance awakened individuals can choose to bypasses it entirely and draw directly from the eldritch realm beyond reality.
Individuals who have obtained Arcane Resonant do not just control matter they interact with the conceptual truth underlying their Branch.
ARCANE TRUTHS
Every Branch possesses multiple deeper conceptual truths.
Examples for Sand include:
Impermanence
The Relentless Passage of Time
Infinity
Erosion
Instability
An individual with Arcane Resonant manifests abilities based on their personal understanding of these truths.
No two Arcane manifestations are necessarily identical.
ARCANE BLOODLINES
Once an Arcane Truth is discovered, it becomes inheritable through bloodline inheritance. There are however conditions that must be met. The offspring must inherit the same Path and Branch
Arcane inheritance remains exclusive to that bloodline, If the bloodline dies out, then the Arcane Truth can eventually be rediscovered by another. Only a handful of Arcane bloodlines have ever existed throughout recorded history.
THE PRICE OF UNDERSTANDING
The deeper an individual understands an Arcane Truth, the more powerful their Resonance becomes but greater understanding also increases exposure to the eldritch realm.
This exposure slowly erodes identity, individuality, emotional stability and ultimately free will. Individuals who have awakened an Arcane Resonant risk losing themselves mind, body and soul to the conceptual truth that they have awakened.