Projection
From Mizahar Lore
| Personal magic | |
| Full name | Projection |
|---|---|
| Availability | Throughout Mizahar |
| Learned from | Users, books |
| Key concept | Projecting one's astral body to perform tasks and combat |
| Uses | Telekinesis, remote manipulation, damage, scouting and more |
| Risks | Physical and emotional trauma, nerve damage, death |
Projection is a discipline of personal magic that allows the wizard to detach portions - generally the arms - or even the entirety of their astral body from their physical body thanks to the user's Djed. The astral body can thus be stretched to reach distant locations and perform remote tasks or even combat. The end result often looks like telekinesis or similar powers, though the user is still manipulating objects as they would with their physical body. The user surrenders control over the corresponding physical body part, which becomes limp and unusable as long as they are Projecting.
Overview
The astral body is the outermost layer of the soul of any living being. It is the only part of the soul that can interact with the physical world, and thanks to this ability the spirit can reside within a body, puppeteering it as desired. The discipline of Projection allows the user to forcibly detach and reattach parts of their astral body, using them to perform tasks beyond the reach of the physical body. The astral body can stretch much farther than the corresponding section of the physical body; for example, an arm's length can reach several meters away, or even many dozen meters in the case of very skilled users. Of course, the body part no longer occupied by the astral body becomes limp, as there is nothing transmitting orders to it until the astral body is reattached.
Just like the astral body can control one's body, it can interact with physical reality, though the Projector can choose to keep it intangible. Also, because the astral body is invisible to anyone without true sight, the effects of Projection appear to originate without a cause. Note that, when the Projector stresses this power to its limit, the astral body may indeed become visible as a faint glowing outline for others to see, among other side effects.
The quality and scope of manipulations possible through Projection depends on the user's skill. Beginners usually accomplish minor acts of telekinesis, lifting and moving small objects. Intermediate users acquire finer motor control as well higher accuracy, strength and range and may be able to use Projection to land kinetic blows in combat. Advanced Projectors are skilled enough to wield a sword or another tool remotely. Particularly skilled wizards have been known to deflect arrows, operate complex mechanisms from a long distance, and even cut limbs with the sheer pressure of their astral bodies. Some wizards use this discipline to deliver magical projectiles to their foes, for example a fireball made with the Res of Reimancy. Also, a select few are able to absorb their physical body into the astral, turning themselves into a purely energetic being called Overbody for a short duration.
Much like any other form of personal magic, Projection is a dangerous path to undertake, as it stresses the synchronized relationship between mind and body. The act of abusing the ability beyond one's natural limits, usually called overgiving in personal magic, can lead to many side effects both temporary and permanent. At best, the user has trouble reattaching the astral body and the two are out of sync for a while; in the worst case, the user's soul finds itself banished from the physical body, resulting in the wizard's death or transformation into an incorporeal undead being.