Terror Weaver (Psychic Archetype)
Archetypes for psychics are very rare, so imagine my surprise when we got a new one in Heroes of the Fringe!
One of the greatest weapons of the mind is fear, but you don’t need overt physical threats to strike fear into foes or minion. The right attitude of disdainful calm can also get across how dangerous it is to cross you, and even more so if you can literally worm your way into someone’s mind and directly induce those emotions.
While associated with rare orc individuals that master their minds instead of their bodies, any person can be a so-called terror weaver, manipulating foes and thralls alike with fear or more benign, but no less insidious mental magics.
Regardless of their methods and goals, however, it is clear these figures can get what they want, regardless of if those around them even realize it.
Surprisingly, the first ability these psychics learn isn’t fear-based, but charm. They gain a reserve of energy to quickly cast a basic charming spell, but can also expend spell energy to do the same without officially learning the spell, the potency of the casting determined by the potency of the energy sacrificed.
Similarly, they can exude an aura of fear around themselves both from an inner reserve and sacrificed spells, even adding metamagical techniques to it as well. Additionally, as they grow more powerful, the potency of the fear increases, causing foes to outright flee.
Their mental powers rarely ever not exuding palpable menace, these mystics can choose to expend phrenic power when casting a mental spell to give the target nightmares, tormenting their dreams with visions of the psychic, making them more susceptible to them the next day.
With the ability to sacrifice spells to charm and debuff others, this archetype screams to be used for a debuff and control-heavy build, leaving foes confused, fearful, and bewildered by their magic. Don’t forget to pack some offensive options though, granting some force to back up their bluster.
The context this archetype is originally given with speaks of shadow leaders of brutish tribes that only respect strength, but they might also be leaders of thieves guilds, or vagrants that use their power to make sure they are left alone, or perhaps sad figures that only know how to interact with folks with negative emotions.
Rumors are heard throughout the region of a dragon ruling a band of goblins, demanding absolute loyalty, and striking fear into those that see it. However, those who seek it find only an illusion, the real source being an awakened gila monster with potent psychic abilities.
Recently triton raids have become a serious problem in Bernai Atoll, which is uncharacteristic for that aquatic race. In truth, the tritons have been subjugated by one of their own, a violent and hateful sort who has taken to calling himself Blackfin.
It’s a battle of the tyrants in the sleepy remote town of Bluedale, On one side, the mayor, a potent psychic who has quashed all attempts to unseat him with his psychic might, and on the other, a bodythief who has been replacing townsfolk with arboreal doppelgangers that the mayor cannot control.
