Dreamers have learned to manipulate the Dreamstate, altering it to their desires. These manipulations are known as arts, and the act of using an art is called evoking. Each art is tied to one of the five elements. Though some arts are so easy to evoke that any dreamer may learn them, most arts can only be learned by those who devote themselves primarily to one element.

 

Manipulating the Dreamstate with arts is difficult, and almost always causes fatigue - temporarily draining points from a given element. Fatigued elements recover over time or through the use of other arts or talismans. If a dreamer has not mastered the art, the evocation may fail, or require long amounts of concentration.

 

Evoking an art requires intense concentration - dreamers must stand still while evoking. If a dreamer moves, is successfully attacked or pushed during evocation, concentration is broken - the evocation must be tried again.

 

Many arts require a line-of-sight to work, meaning dreamers must see their target to successfully evoke. If an attempt to evoke is made when a target cannot be seen, the evocation will fail, though fatigue will occur.

 

The greater a dreamer's level in an art, the faster, longer, and more powerful the evocation.

These are the Arts you may learn which will make use of your Resilience.  Many of them require so much Resilience that only those who have chosen the focus of Soulmaster will be able to learn and use them

 

 

Flamesear

The Resilience flame weapon.  Allows the evoker to fire a ball of flame at a target.  Like all flame weapons, it is slow to evoke at first and does little damage.  As it’s plateaued, it evokes more quickly and does more damage.  At higher levels, many dreamers use their flame arts for hunting  and fighting.

 

Allay

An art which may be evoked on yourself or another dreamer to remove a curse from the avatar. 

 

Restore

Can be evoked on oneself or another dreamer to heal damage.  Can also be evoked on a soulsphere to restore it to coherence.

 

Reweave

Restores the durability of a shield.  With each plateau, the user becomes more adept and can repair the shield faster.

 

Donate

Allows one to give some of one’s own elemental force to another dreamer.  It cannot be used to grant Dreamsoul to a soulsphere.

 

Venom

Poisons the target, draining their dreamsoul slowly over time.

 

Cure

Cures poisoning.  The afflicted dreamer may then need to be restored to repair the damage already done by the venom.

 

Burden

Curses the target, causing his or her arts to fail.

 

Divest

Has the chance of removing one beneficial art from the target.  The odds of success improve as the art is plateaued.

 

Predation

Allows the evoker to steal points of the target’s elements.  The evoker must hold an essence of the target.

 

Healing Aura

Heals everyone in the room with the evoker, be they friend or foe.

I sit quietly on my stone, my Dreamblade resting across my lap, listening to the sounds of the dream around me: the soft breath of the wind as it rustles through my hair,   the quiet rustling of the grass on the nearby plateau.  I can almost imagine that I can hear the rushing mass of chaos beyond the City’s Walls.

 

I slowly breathe in, and breathe out.  Breathing is not required here, but it is a calming, familiar procedure.  I relax, and let my mind slip into its flowing train of thought, allowing the winds to blow my thoughts where they will.

 

I speculate on the nature of the Dream.  I speculate on the nature of the arts we use to weave the Dream into our visions.  I have never been partial to the forceful arts of willpower and lucidity, nor have I been overly competent with the manipulative arts of resilience.  I have always been the most comfortable with the versatile arts of insight.

 

The art of Perceive has proven to be quite useful to me in the past.  It has allowed me to notice things which others have missed in their haste through the City.  It has helped me to relocate places I have been in before, and aided me many times when I was lost, as well as when I was tracking someone.

 

The art of Newly Awakened has proven useful to many Dreamers.  It allows them to sense and locate dreamers who have just recently awoken to the Dreamscape.  They seek these dreamers out to help them acclimatize to the city and to try to recruit them to join a house or another cause.

 

I have often made use of the art of Judgment when confronted with foes whose strength I am unsure of.  It allows one to sense to what degree of power they have risen, for such things are often hidden to the naked eye.

 

Identify has proven useful throughout my dreams.  It allows one to sense the intrinsic properties of a talisman.  How much energy it has left, what its purpose is, and much more.  It keeps one from holding worn and damaged equipment on their person, and makes room for new equipment, with a great deal more power.

 

I have not personally made much use of Sense Affliction.  I am a lone warrior and scout, and have no need to care for the state of others.  Those in guilds, however, have often told me of its usefulness.  In combat, a clever SoulMaster will attempt to Maledict you, causing your concentration to lapse, and your arts to fail.  Unlike the forceful and easily detectible arts of willpower and lucidity, one cannot sense when under the influence of a Malediction.  Sense Affliction is the only way to know that a compatriot has been Maledicted.

 

I have used the art of Cloak extensively.  It allows an insightful person how to move nearly undetected through the City.  However, it is a very tenuous state.  The cloak of illusion woven around you is very fragile, and any sudden offensive strike will cause the cloak to fall, revealing you to all your foes.  However, as long as you remain cautious, and careful, the cloak will remain around you.

 

The counterpart to this art is the art of Vision.  It allows one to pierce these illusory barriers, and see any Dreamer or Nightmare that attempts to sneak up on them.  Vision also prevents your perceptions from being manipulated by the arts of lucidity which may try to steal your sight.

 

The learning of the art of Blast is often a turning-point for many following the path of insight.  The art is truly quite useful; it allows one to level a piercing gaze at a dreamer, causing them pain with your merest thought.  It is often the first opportunity a young warrior has at truly effective battle beyond the range of their blade.  A forceful gaze and repeated pulses of pain can turn aside even the most stubborn GateKeeper.

 

The art of Recharge goes well with the art of Identify.  Recharge allows a dreamer to try to focus the myriad of energies of the Dreamscape back into their talismans.  Take caution, however!  The manipulation of such unknown forces is unpredictable.  An inexperienced dreamer attempting to Recharge a talisman may find the very power he tries to infuse it with, tears the talisman to shreds before his very eyes.

 

The art of Phase is a much more advanced form of the art of Cloak.  Instead of merely weaving an illusory cloak around yourself, you actually phase into the fabric of the Dream itself.  This requires a great deal more energy, and you are not able to hold it for nearly as long as Cloak.  However, because of the complete and total shift, you are able to do anything you desire to while Phased, even strike at another Dreamer.

 

The art of Circumvent has proven to be one of my most favored arts.  One of the favored arts of those following the paths of willpower is to exert their will upon a portal, Binding it shut save to those they have bestowed their amulet upon.  I often have need to bypass these Bindings, but am seldom in possession of said amulets.  As such, I use my insight to sense, detect and bypass the Bindings, leaving the Binding behind to keep others out.

 

The art of Combine is the third art of insight dealing with the use of talismans.  The art of combine is used in much the same manner as the art of recharge, but with several noticeable differences.  The art of Combine allows you to take two items which, for all intents and purposes, are crafted identically.  You siphon the energy and power from one talisman, to the other, combining their energy.  Through this, you can bestow energy to talismans above and beyond what they could normally possess.

 

Shouts of conflict rising from the lower paths of the mountain slowly pull me from my meditations.  I rise, taking my blade in hand.  As I run my finger along the edge, testing its sharpness, I cannot help but chuckle lightly to myself. 

 

Many perceive the paths of insight to be reserved for those of scholarly bent, who wish to spend their days in closed chambers, poring over talismans and notes on arts.  I, however, have never held a taste for that lifestyle.  I find the arts of insight to be malleable, able to fit any circumstance.  A trait that is quite useful for a warrior, such as me.

 

I cinch the band around my head tightly and, grasping my blade, bow reverently.  I pay homage to the spirits around me; the unawakened, the undreaming, and the spirits of those who have passed beyond. 

 

Gathering energy around me, I fade from view.  All that remains is the soft padding of my footsteps as I hasten to battle.

Jeoffery quietly slipped into Manok's study.  He brushed his hair out of his face, and looked around.  Noticing Manok was not around, the teenager  scratched his head.  It was not often that Master Teacher Manok was not present in his study while dreaming.

 

Jeoffery closed his eyes, and attempted to sense his teacher's location.  He could feel his presence in the dream, but could not pinpoint him.  His master was intentionally diffusing his mental presence.

 

Jeoffery wandered over to the nearby table.  Parchments lay strewn about, as if his master was interrupted in the midst of some work.  His eyes wandered over them, and he read them aloud to himself.

 

"The element of willpower represents a character's determination and stubbornness. Willpower arts generally focus on resisting the impulses and manipulation of others, and on protecting and defending other dreamers."

 

Jeoffery couldn't suppress a quiet chuckle.  His stern teacher was nothing if not determined and stubborn; a thorough expert in this field.  His eyes skimmed over to another parchment.

 

"The most characteristic arts of willpower are those which allow them to control the portals which act as gates between areas of the Dream.  Bind enables its evoker to attach a locking ward to the target portal, preventing the passage of most dreamers.  Plateauing this art enables it to be evoked faster, a definite advantage in a combat situation."

 

"Those whom the binder wishes to allow to pass may be given an Amulet.  Evoked using an art of the same name, the amulet enables its possessor to pass any binds made by its creator.  The binding will eventually expire on its own, but if someone wishes to pass the portal earlier, a dreamer with the art of Shatter may destroy the binding, thus opening the way.  For Shatter to be effective, it must be plateaued to a higher level than the Binding," Jeoffery rolled his eyes.  He recalled many times his master had used such bindings to ensure that he remained around for his lessons.  Moving that paper aside, he looked at the next one.

 

"The protective arts which use Willpower are Embolden, which enables one to resist being scared; Dexterity, which protects one from being paralyzed or staggered; and Defense, which protects against Burdening.  Plateauing these arts make them last longer and evoke more quickly.  It's a rare dreamer who doesn't try to earn enough Will to learn these important arts and plateau them as high as possible."

 

"One may also focus one's willpower and by the art of Regeneration recover Dreamsoul which has been lost in a fight.  In order to focus the Will, one must stand still for the art to be effective." Jeoffery nodded to himself, reading.  Master Manok was not particularly dexterous.  He avoided warfare at all costs.  However, he would always do his best to ensure that the dreamers around him were protected in any manner he could provide.  Jeoffery skipped to the next page.

 

"At higher levels of Will, dreamers may learn the art of Recall.  This allows them to mark a place, go elsewhere, and then recall themselves to the place previously marked.  Plateauing this art makes the mark last longer."

 

"Dreamers with even higher levels of Will may learn the art of Dreamquake, which causes everyone not partied with the evoker to stagger uncontrollably around the room.  Plateauing the art makes the effect last longer.  Gatekeepers particularly enjoy catching Fatesenders with this one, since most other arts which cause such uncontrolled effects are the purview of the 'Senders."

 

Jeoffery chuckled at this.  Master Manok had used Dreamquake only once that Jeoffery knew of: during a recent class, combatants from a war between two guilds had burst into the field where Master Manok was holding class.  After only seconds of chakram fire blazing across the room, Manok had closed his eyes, and shaken the entire area.  The combatants had fallen to the ground.  Not wanting to anger a Master Teacher, they wisely took their dispute elsewhere.  Jeoffery continued reading.

 

"At the highest levels, dreamers may learn the art of Reflect.  This enables them to repel most targeted arts back on their evokers, much to the discomfiture of the attacker.  Plateauing the art makes the effect last longer."

 

A cough from behind him caught Jeoffery's attention.  He twirled around, and barely had time to register his teacher Manok standing next to a portal with a binding on it, before the room shook around him, knocking him off his feet.

 

He rolled quickly, and tried to get to his feet.  Angrily, he gathered his lucidity, and crafted it, attempting to blind Master Manok's sight long enough for him to be safe until the binding fell.  The energy flew toward Manok, who grinned darkly.  As if hitting an invisible shield, the energy reverted, and struck Jeoffery's avatar.  The room faded into darkness.

 

"Jeoffery, Jeoffery, Jeoffery…" Manok chuckled quietly.  "You should know better than to nose around in other people's things.  And you should definitely know better than to try to skew the perceptions of a master of willpower.  However, let's consider this your lesson for today.  I shall see you again, tomorrow.  I expect you to be more prepared."

 

In the darkness, Jeoffery heard the binding shattered into pieces, and Master Manok walk out of the room.  He sighed quietly to himself, and waited for his own art to wear off.

A sharp, cold wind blew through the shard of Cloudsbreak, sending its few inhabitants running for cover and a warm fire.  Rain spattered down intermittently, leaving an already chill evening damp as well.

 

What residents hadn’t gone back to their homes, had gathered in Morgrin’s Inn, the only tavern on the shard.  Morgrin’s latest batch of ale had finished fermenting and was ready for public consumption.  His regulars had not disappointed him.  The inn was filled with customers, and the clamor of conversation filled the commons room.

 

The peace of the evening was shattered however, by a disruption at the table next to the door.

 

“You cheated!” Orgrim said, leaning against the table.  His face was twisted in rage, and his huge biceps quivered tensely.

 

Across from him, Marvik leaned back in his chair, a drunken grin covering his face.  Marvik had drunk more than his share that evening.  He laid the cards down on the table, and announced triumphantly, “Five crows!  That beats anything you could possibly have!”  Marvik hiccupped, and leaned back against the chair.

 

Orgrim pushed the table over, grabbed Marvik by the shirt.  “There are only FOUR crows in a deck!” he shouted in Marvik’s face as he opened the door, and threw him outside.

 

Marvik rolled several times and landed in the mud.  He drunkenly staggered to his feet.  He saw the door of the Inn open, and Orgrim step out, fists clenched tightly, and face twisted in rage.

 

“Hold, good sir!” Marvik said, raising his hands.  “Before you assault and batter my person, I must inform you that I am in reality, a Dreamer, and as such, I possess a dazzling array of arts and abilities!”

 

Orgrim paused at the word ‘dreamer,' and narrowed his eyes.  His stance did not become any less threatening, but Marvik took it as a good sign.

 

“I am a master of Lucidity!” Marvik said, followed by a hiccup.

 

“I am a master of perceptions!  Using my art of Deafen, I can make it so that you can hear nothing!  There is no way for you to protect yourself against that, my friend, and it is quite a dire state to find ones self in.”

 

“I can inject your mind with pure fear using my art of Scare, and leave you with only one thought available in your mind, how to flee from me!  Or, if I do not feel like watching you run like the chicken you are, I could instead Paralyze you, and freeze you in place!  Or I could evoke Stagger on you, and make it so that you can barely walk, worse than if you’d had two HUNDRED cups of Morgrin’s new ale!  I know you, Orgrim.  You have little willpower.  There’s nothing you could do to protect yourself against any of those.  However, if by some fluke chance you could, I can even Blind you, so you could not even see your hand in front of your face, much less find me to do injury to me!”

 

Orgrim growled, and continued stepping forward.  Behind him, some of the more curious spectators had stepped from the Inn’s confines, to see what was going on outside.  Marvik cast them a glance, then laughed gleefully.

 

“Aha!  So, you bring backup!  You are that much in fear of my abilities, are you?  Well, have I ever news for you!”  Marvik replied, shaking a finger in Orgrim’s direction.  At least, he tried to shake it in Orgrim’s direction, but he couldn’t quite pin down just which direction that was.

 

“I can instead use Darkness!  It allows me to not only blind you, but blind everyone else nearby!  I could fill this area with a vicious Firestorm, and roast your hapless bodies to a crisp!  I could craft a Hypnotic Weave with my hands, and leave you all stunned and dazzled by its appearance!  I could inflict a massive wave of Terror upon you all, and watch you all flee!  Or, I could use this wind to craft up a massive Razorwind, slashing your bodies to shreds!”

 

Orgrim was nearly upon him now.

 

“I see you are not taking heed to my warnings!” Marvik said, and lifted his hands up.  He continued with a serious tone that only wavered slightly.  “I do apologize for the pain I am about to inflict on you.”

 

He stared at his hands for a moment, a look of confusion on his face.  The next thing that he saw was Orgrim’s fist, appearing directly in front of his face.  He flipped over backwards, and landed on his back in a puddle.

 

“You’re drunk, Marvik.” Orgrim said darkly, as he turned to go back to the Inn.  “Go home.  I’ll get my money from you tomorrow.”

 

As the world faded around him, Marvik’s mind slowly worked through the drunken haze.  The Dream.  Yes.  Arts always worked a lot better in the Dream.  He should remember that next time.