The World of the Legend of the Red Star - 3. Various observations on Might

By Laftakom Greyhand

The Ksingis call it the Gift, while in parts of the Southlands it is spoken of as the Force. To my ears, the term Might has the most majestic ring to it, as it carries an association with strength. Undeniably, one who wields Might can do things the weaker ones can only dream of. Or - I am being imprecise - most ordinary people do not even dare, in their sleep-bound imaginings, to crave what is everyday to those like us. Our world is beyond their reach.

Prevalence

The Malkanian priest Steffon Cledna claimed in his writings that one in fifty people possesses Might to some degree. Based on my own research, I know this number to be greatly exaggerated. Not even the slightest trace exists in more than one person in 5,000, at best. The intentional skew in Cledna's studies is easy to detect, since it was known during his lifetime that he belonged to a religious brotherhood devoted to the persecution of Might-wielders.

A whole other matter is how many ever awaken to feel the Might within themselves. Especially those born with only a weak dose may go through life without ever once using their ability. Their uniqueness can remain entirely unnoticed - those unusual sensations mistaken for queasiness or dismissed as quirks of temperament. I would not mind if such a fate befell even the stronger among us.

Still, we are speaking of an exceedingly rare trait. I sometimes dream of how different our world might be if each of us bore Might in our grasp. Towers would be built by the force of thought, merchandise and people would travel in the blink of an eye, and hard labor would become obsolete. What might such a realm of sorcerers grow into? Or would it collapse under the weight of its own impossibility?

Perhaps in the future, ways will be found to ensure Might passes from parents to children. So far, my research has uncovered no signs of heredity, though researchers from before the Oblivion did prove that human traits such as appearance, intellect, and certain illnesses are inherited via biological units of information. The remnants of those studies that survived the erasures of time mention not a single line regarding Might. I assume it passes on only latently - capable of lying dormant for generations before blooming again.

Manifestations of Might

After decades of study, I still do not know all the ways Might manifests in those who wield it. As a seeker, I am attuned and can sense the many currents in which it ripples through its bearer. Most typically, the contrast is seen between expressions intended to harm and those meant to heal - the former flaring like thorns, the latter flow in warm, gentle waves.

I will outline here only the most common or notable forms of manifestation. The names are largely of my own invention, as no standardized terminology exists for a phenomenon whose existence is not widely acknowledged.

I claim that many rarer channels of Might remain unidentified. Perhaps they are so exceptional that even seekers have not encountered those blessed with them. For example, the thought of a human flying through the air fascinates me, though I have never known of such a person.

Seeking differs from other forms of Might in that it does not aim to alter the physical world or its laws. A seeker can recognize Might in other people or detect its use in their surroundings. What is done with such insight? - Mostly, one is able to avoid their enemies: those who use the Might to destroy. I have, of course, used my ability to find gifted pupils and the dormant Might within them. Seekers can also perceive non-human powers, such as the faceless monstrosities Zaltarim hunts. And in the time before the Oblivion, seekers were vital in detecting approaching dreaders. Entire communities could be saved from certain death.

Healing is undoubtedly the least harmful among the forms of Might. Healers, like my student Taihan, can achieve miracles - or nearly so. Not even the strongest healer can restore a severed limb, nor raise the dead. Thankfully, this is so. Otherwise, I would be forced to retract my statements about healing's harmlessness. How would you respond to reanimated corpses clawing out of their graves? If death could be undone, would there be even fewer restraints left against killing?

Offensive Might is the reverse of healing. It can take nearly any form: energy surging into lightning bursts, invisible pressure blasts, or blazing fireballs. The method often reflects the wielder's personality and preferences. Offensive use must not be condemned out of hand, as it allows us to defend against enemies and strike back. Philosophically, it is the same debate as military preparedness - the pacifist is a murderer's first casualty. It is different, however, when dealing with control discipline, commonly used by the Fallen - a subclass of offensive Might. In practice, it is domination followed by torture.

Dreaming refers to accessing reality through the world of dreams. The dreamer - a Might-wielder - is capable, while asleep, of gaining insight into matters of significance, either by entering the dreams of others or, at their most powerful, reaching into their waking minds. As I understand it, Might-infused sleep can be enhanced through certain magical items designed for this purpose. If I have interpreted the sources correctly, specific relics might allow the dreamer to observe real-world events and even alter them. This should be stated with caution, however, as dreaming has seen little exploration due to its rarity. Still, I suspect it harbors dazzling potential for the Brotherhood. I must investigate this further; indeed, I believe I may possess latent gifts in this art, though I have yet to practice it.

Telekinesis is the simple act of manipulating objects - or at times, living beings - with Might. Those with limited power may rotate a pen on the table or rustle a sheet of paper. At its strongest, one might hurl people into the air. So it is not entirely harmless. Telekinesis is a fine way to ease mundane burdens, useful for mischief, and terrifying in violent hands. Still, let us not confuse it with the next category: traveling through Might.

Traveling is not a settled term for this skill. More commonly it's called 'creating a gate', while the most pretentious favor 'teleportation'. When traveling, the wielder bends space-time to form a fold - a kind of passage through which one can move or transport others safely between locations. It is an extremely demanding spell, and only the most powerful can succeed alone. In my Brotherhood, only Randalos and Chab can open gates without assistance; the others require help from fellow wielders or special tools. The strength of one's Might also affects how far one can travel - the weakest or least trained may barely reach beyond their own backyard, while the strongest might cross to another continent.

Witchcraft both is and is not an expression of Might. I am tempted to exclude it from this list entirely, as even those without Might can be formidable witches. For in casting spells, the witch does not use Might residing within themselves, but draws on enchanted objects in which someone else has imbued power through rituals. From these items, the practitioner channels Might into their own use. Thus, their methods may be infinitely varied - magical implements being limited only by imagination. The purest witch in my Brotherhood is Mocvann, and I can only admire her mastery in bending this magical form toward our purpose.

A whole host of manifestations remain untouched here. These include mind control, weather summoning, protective wards, or taming animals through Might. Worth noting also is the ability to foretell events, which most dismiss as nonsense thanks to the many frauds posing as prophets. But I happen to know better, and I await the return of the red comet.

I conclude this writing here, intending to continue it later. The Might holds much yet to be studied. With it, my Brotherhood shall rise in power above all others. We do this for the good of the Inhabited World. When we rule, humankind will be safe from its enemies.

- On the Frosty Moors, the 15th day of Charcoal month, in the year 1546 Laftakom Greyhand