Chi Rework -or- Aura (WIP Title)

Before I go on to explaining what this is all about, let me repost Xael's Chi article from the rokk.darkbb.com site.

Chi is a source of energy that can only be used by those who are in tune with nature. Instead of trying to fight against the 'flow' of nature, one harmonizes with it, using its power as their own. As an analogy, if you were the size of an ant and dropped in a pond. You want to try to reach shore. However, the ripples all around make it difficult to swim straight. Chi would be knowing which way the ripples are flowing, and to ride them from one to another to get to shore, rather than trying to force your way through. OF course, the real challenge is being able to know how the ripples will move, which is where one needs to be attuned with nature. The power produced from this is not so great as to be directly harmful, such as using it to create a fireball, or mimic such other highly destructive magic.

This article was accepted on the darkbb site, but we have since moved to far higher standards now that there is more continuity with the world itself and the laws by which it abides.

There are a few problems with the article itself and problems concerning its capabilities. The article fails to explain the actual source of the power. The only real energy it seems to reference is life energy, which doesn't behave in the same way Xael suggests, nor can it give rise to particularly mentionable feats of power. The actual knowledge and mechanics behind the article are also severely lacking, so the article is somewhat useless to the current system other than a placeholder for an idea.

The thing is though, it is an interesting idea. The concept revolves more around passivity and knowledge than activity and strength. Using that idea, I propose the following rework. However, if it is not an acceptable rework, and someone still believes that there can be a better rework that stays truer to the original system, that's fine. In that case, this is simply an inspired system going under the WIP title "Aura".



Aura

It has been firmly established that mana permeates everything. There is mana within all beings, within the air above, the ground below, and within space. There exist some mortals, specially gifted at birth or otherwise trained by those gifted, who become anchors for mana. Mana will be naturally drawn to these mortals, and they will be able to use this excess for interesting capabilities.

As it has been stated, some mortals (specifically: humans) will naturally have mana drawn to them ("why" is unimportant at this time, but I'm toying with the idea of 'Because Kar'Kaish thought it'd be neat.'). Some portion of the mana they physically encounter will coat their body, resulting in a sort of 'aura'.

The limit to this Aura is dependant upon whether the subject has a natural talent or if the subject was trained. If trained, the limit is significantly lower. The established limit is a bit of a misnomer. Mana will not simply stop coating the skin (unless the subject is trained, then it is more togglable). As mana builds up, the outer layers become more entropic. Eventually, they will spontaneously generate magical phenomenon, which can be lethal to the subject and to his or her surroundings.

The effects of having an 'aura' is intriguing. The layered mana tries to get as close to the person as possible, so any disturbance in one area will be fixed by surface diffusion.

The layered mana also acts as a magic shield. When the mana of a spell contacts the mana of an aura, the two react and disappate one another. While simply wearing the aura as a full body shield is possible, due to the nature and mortal danger of controlled mana reactions, such an approach is only used as a last resort.

A far better approach is learning to control the aura and move it around, known as 'projecting'. While obtaining an aura and the strength of the aura are learned or semi-learned things, projection makes up the vast majority of training.

Projection can be accomplished in a couple different ways. The first method of projection is 'enveloping'. The subject can change the density of the aura in certain regions to thicken it and thin it in other areas. This can also lead the subject to wrap their aura around a weapon, such as a sword.

Important Note: Projecting an aura around a weapon causes instability in the aura. After a certain amount of time, the aura will degenerate around the weapon with a possibility of creating phenomenon. The rate of degeneration will be far faster if physical contact is lost. For example, projecting around an arrow before firing will allow some time before it degenerates. After the arrow is fired, the aura will rapidly degenerate. If the target is far away, the aura will completely degenerate before the arrow lands on the target.
Also note that information is kept intentionally vague for the purposes of development and balancing.

The second method of projection is 'free projection'. Free projection is the art of projecting the aura beyond a physical binding. Free projection can be used to 'fire' off portions of mana for a variety of reasons, such as to disrupt a spell at a distance.

In addition to projecting, those who obtain an aura can also manipulate the aura to create effects similar to that of magic. Elemental magic is impossible, but it is possible for one with an aura to generate more kinetic energy, such as to augment a martial art or weaponplay. Truly skilled use of this conversion process can also create a physical shield by rapidly repulsing any physical contact. The end result is a body shield that repulses both magic and physical attacks. Coupling this conversion with free projection can allow short distance bursts of energy, for example giving the effect of a punch that reaches further than the fist.

Due to the fluidity necessary in technique, auras are often incorporated with certain martial arts (and can be said to have been the foundation of some). This is not a requirement, but exceptions are rare.

Also due to the nature of having and manipulating an aura, including its anti-magical properties, traditional and other forms of magic are impossible to use. Cases in which mages learned to have and control an aura are obscure and have resulted in death due to experimentation.

People with auras are sometimes very prized as an anti-magical soldier. However, they are not often included in anti-magical groups unless by others with auras due to Nulls destroying their auras and having historically caused much bodily harm and death by only their presence.

Finish this....

Planning on it, I just decided to put it up because it's been sitting for three days.

Updated, worked on it during lulls in my morning classes.

I'd like to point out that this was quite easy to make since I came up with a single idea (mana naturally attracted and forms a shell). The rest are just effects that should come naturally, already well-defined by the magic system.

Thoughts appreciated.


Things to add after initial acceptance: prevalence, training, better defined limits and abilities, character important information and sample character.

I kind of enjoy the limit of it having to be projected on an inanimate object (like sword and shield) but then I'm no longer sure aura is the correct terminology.

You don't have to project it to an inanimate object. You can, but it's still an option. Aura, in my opinion, would still be correct terminology because it's more like the person's aura wraps around whatever they are holding.

What breaks it off more from that terminology is being able to project it past the body, but that's like forcing it away from the body (and it will dissipate rapidly thereafter, so it still kind of works).

Currently toying with the thought of 'If someone is able to manipulate Elemental Power (See: Basic Elemental Magic Fundamentals, but not really Spells), they can feed that Elemental Power into areas of their Aura to have it manifest. Earth/Metal/Ice as a shield/spike/etc., Fire/Lightning as a sort of coating either used defensively (you don't want to hit me) or offensively (I'm going to hit you with it), Air/Storm to help produce effects beyond oneself (like throwing wind at a person), Water to dull and/or misdirect incoming kinetic force or to help soothe wounds.'

Detriments: Burns up the Aura pretty fast, feedback is possible and Aura users traditionally don't rely on feedback grounds, the effects aren't as powerful as proper spells or even spell-equivalents.

Benefits: Fists and feet are faster than speech or designing spells. Also: Cool Factor.