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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pathfinderq1" data-source="post: 6850263" data-attributes="member: 48394">Horror High Expanded Universe? Fanfic?- Part 1: Ground RulesThe Ground Rules for what is to come (and what might be coming to eat you):1. Actual overt magic is a thing of the past (Or is it?). Real magic USED to exist- it helped build the pyramids, for instance. Magical power began to decline before the Renaissance, possibly as the genetic gift needed to manipulate magic began to die out. As magic declined, 'wizards' became more rare, and students of the Art turned to darker and darker tactics. So-called Warlocks drew their power from other sources- including emotional or physical pain and injury to unwilling victims. As magic resources became more and more rare, these warlocks committed more atrocities. In time, though, even the gifts needed to harness magical power from such acts died out- this was about the time of the American Revolution. In modern times, some people still have some small manner of arcane ability- some degree of sensitivity to 'magical' energy is the most common talent. At this point, there are no known human practitioners of 'real magic'...  (in game terms, this means no Mages or Acolytes or similar 'true' spellcasters- but see below).2. Alchemy, scrollcraft, and some other forms of artifice-based magic exist, though they are not common. Precise technique and ingredients matter more than magical talent. Certain forms of ritual magic also exist- primarily in the areas of divination and protection/warding- rituals tend to be very complex and slow. In addition, there are a fair number of 'theoretical' wizards- those who have studied arcane history and practice, even if they cannot actually use magic. (In game terms, Occultists and similar occupations ARE possible). While 'real magic' has apparently died out, there are many old spellbooks and tomes of arcane information which still exist- some of them are very old, and some of them have unusual properties... Two of the most formidable collections in North America are not far from Belmont (the 'closed stacks' of the Boston Public Library and the archival vaults at Harvard University).3. Psychic phenomena of various kinds constitute the majority of paranormal activity. While such abilities are not common (and few 'rational' people really believe in such things), there is a reasonable amount of knowledge and research available- if you know where to look. Psychic abilities which can affect the physical world (Telekinesis, etc.) are much rarer than extrasensory gifts. Some people are naturally resistant to psychic talents- and some actually radiate a field which interferes with such abilities (which fuels popular belief that 'psychic powers' are crazy theories). (Telepaths of some level are actually surprisingly common, but Battleminds are all-but unheard of- people or things with some measure of 'anti-psi' are also rather common).4. The federal government does have resources tasked with investigating paranormal activity, though this is a fairly closely held secret- most often they operate under the auspices of the FBI (though some conspiracy theorists also mention the FCC, especially where telepathy is concerned). State and local governments do not generally have official resources allocated to paranormal investigations- though most agencies do have one or two people who get to handle all of the "weird stuff" (sometimes it is a punishment assignment, sometimes it is because they are actually interested in the subject- this varies widely from agency to agency).5. Vampires, werewolves, and similar 'physical' monsters do exist, in a wide range of types- some of which may or may not resemble the popular conception of such creatures. Most such creatures are quite adept at avoiding the notice of the world at large.6. Demons and some otherworldly beings that are similar to them (Great Old Ones, etc,) do exist, but they cannot take physical form, and are rarely able to DIRECTLY affect the real world. A small number of them can exert mental influence on people, up to and including actual possession- especially if the 'victim' has some amount of psychic or arcane ability...  7. The Fae do not exist, at least not in anything even vaguely resembling normal fantasy traditions (though, like aliens, they may exist and may be actively avoiding Earth). Nature spirits and spirits-of-place do exist, but like demons, they are only rarely capable of affecting the normal world (they are more likely to be able to influence things related to their place or element, and some nature spirits can possess animals like demons can possess people). Certain spiritual entities may be bound into a physical object- which they can then manipulate more easily (a golem, for instance, is a spiritual entity bound into a human-shaped body- which it can animate to move about); one story speaks of a malign spirit bound into a car.8. Ghosts do exist- like most other spiritual entities, they can only rarely affect the physical world. Ghosts are often closely tied to a place or object- and their strength increases in proximity to that place or thing (some ghosts are also linked to a person- typically a relative). Certain non-human spiritual beings (see demons, above) often masquerade as ghosts, for a variety of reasons...9. Aliens may or may not exist- there seems to be no real evidence either way. Most scholars of the unexplained believe that aliens do exist, but that they are deliberately avoiding Earth...</blockquote>

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