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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 3201644" data-attributes="member: 3448">Alistair, meanwhile, had asked the Eldar Farsensor to speak with them.“How may I help you, your grace?”“We’ve detected a psionic effect on one of the nobles, and we were hoping you could tell us more about it,”  replied Alistair.  “It is on the Duke of Brightspan.”“Yes, I noticed that when he was within the palace.  I didn’t comment on it because I assumed that you had placed it, or at least consented to it.”“Why did you assume we placed it?” asked Kit.“It was fairly long-term work, at least by your standards.  The compulsion had been built over the course of years or decades.”“What does it do?” asked Dame Brionna.“It causes him to differentiate wrongly, judging people incorrectly.  It causes paranoia.  There is one woman-- perhaps not quite human, a half-human of some sort?-- who is immune to its effects.  But from everyone else, he sees threats to his honor, intrigues, and shadows.”“A half-human woman?” said Kit.  “That would be the Duchess of Brightspan, with her devil blood.  Was that part of the design?  Maybe she placed it to keep him under her thumb.”“No, the exception was not part of the design.  It was more of a failure of the effect-- even the power of the compulsion could not interfere with the intense, pure love he felt towards the woman, the Duchess if you are correct.”Alistair nodded thoughtfully.  “It explains a great deal.  His anger and distrust of the Archduchy may be natural, but it would have been greatly intensified by this effect.  No wonder he assumes that we’re trying to break his family’s influence and oppress his duchy.  The distance and distrust from his children and grandchildren would be a fear that they are only using him to seek power, and that they will inevitably bring dishonor upon him.  And it also explains why there are no bastards except for the two older ones from before his marriage and presumably from before this effect.”“Of course.  He would assume that any possible mistresses were simply using him to get ahead,” said Kit.  “Can you remove the effect?”“No, that is far from my expertise and would be beyond my power.  It would take at least a grand master redactor.  And even then, it would take his knowledge and participation to do it properly.  Even for a grand master redactor, the process would take weeks, and great care would be necessary in case there are traps woven into the pattern.”“Would there be any way to remove it without his knowledge?” asked Kit.  “He has a fear of psions that would make getting his cooperation difficult, and the paranoia would only make that worse.  It may even have been a deliberate defense to make it harder to remove.”“Possible, although more likely some part of his subconscious knows that he has had his mind altered and has reacted by fearing further attacks.  As for removing it without his knowledge, it would be possible, but would require more patience than humans usually have.  A grandmaster redactor, working from close proximity, could unweave the compulsion over the course of years.”  The Eldar steepled his fingers thoughtfully.  “It would have a side benefit, however.  Unweaving the compulsion slowly would run no risk of triggering any traps.”</blockquote>

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