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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rhialto" data-source="post: 485273" data-attributes="member: 630">To my mind, it's generally more interesting to use historical figures in your pseudo-history.For example...Franz Anton Mesmer glanced at the assembly,  a smile on his face.  After years of their laughter and scorn, he would at last be able to stand eye to eye with these so called "experts".  He had stood back and watched as his work--his great work--was ignored, and spat upon but now, now they would be forced to acknowledge him.  "Gentlemen of the Academy," he began quietly.  "I am here to demonstrate new discoveries in the field of Animal Magnetism..."A wave of slight derisive laughter came over his audience.  "More of your chicanery, Anton?" muttered one.Mesmer felt the color rising to his cheeks.  His hand reached into his pouch, and grabbed a handful sand.  "It was never chicanery." he muttered quietly.  "I have offered miracles to you, and you have thrown them away as refuse.  But this--this one not even you can ignore!"The words cames easily to Mesmer by now, almost as if he had known them his entire life.  From his hand shot out an array of dazzling colors, causing much of the assembly to shut their eyes.  As the colors faded, Mesmer allowed himself a smile.  "Gentlemen," he began, "I have, through the forceful application of Animal Magnetism caused a mere handful of sand to, when magnetized, produce scintallating colors.  This is one of a mere handful of effects that we have managed to produce which--"One of the Academy members stood up.  "Impossible!  You have used a prism of some kind--or perhaps a minature lantern..."Mesmer raised his hand to silence him.  "I assure you, no such mudane methods were used to do that act.  Indeed, I count it as one of the more minor effects I have achieved, far beneath my cures.  And I am far from the only one able to achieve such effects.  I have discovered many such people--for example a jeu marseillais expert who is capable of channeling Animal Magnetism through his body to a devastating effect, allowing him to perform physical feats far beyond the ability of any normal man.  A common tavern singer who uses Animal Magnetism to boost her songs effects, making her absolutely entrancing to the ear.  And in one fascinating case, a common thief who uses Animal Magnetism to cling to walls, and increase his speed as he escapes..."One of the Academy members snorted.  "Listen to your examples Mesmer--common alley scum the lot of them!  Are we to believe these illiterate vagnabonds are capable of these marvels you profess?"Mesmer laughed.  "But it is the very unvarnished nature of these people that makes them more sensitive to the unseen charges that surround us!  Gentlemen, it is my contention that we are born half-blind, and for most of us, what we are taught only makes us blinder.   The older we get, the more we train ourselves to ignore the sensations and powers of that world,  However, some do not develop these blinders, growing by nature, only more aware.  And even the most sophisticated of us, with proper training can relearn this awareness, and even learn to effect those fields..."The Academy was listening to him now, almost despite themselves.  In all likelihood, this was nothing more than another form of fraud, but if it was not...Well, this would change everything...</blockquote>

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