Dear Samantha,

I hope the day finds you well. Our correspondences have grown to such an extent that I begin to pity my poor postman. The information contained therein has a reached a length suitable for publication in a book. Of course, any such publication would have to be limited to others of our kind. Most mortals would view the contents to be fiction (and poorly written at that). However, I have heard whispers of nascent government agencies that seek to unmask or control us. A fresh war would be disastrous.

Before coming to the heart of our subject, I pray you will forgive my use of the word "immortal." Like you, I am well aware that our common usage is inaccurate. All humans are immortal, of course. If that were not true, this prison universe would never have been built. We are simply the immortals that have some continuity of conciousness and memory between our incarnations. Eventually, our shards will pass and we will become as ignorant of our circumstances as the majority. Despite this, describing ourselves as immortals is the best option and has the added utility of avoiding the confusing profusion of terms that are spread by our fellows. It may be an unworthy foible, but I dislike the useless arguments over the superiority of "Shardbearer," "Aspect," etc.

In the interest of continuing our ongoing conversation, I present to you a missive that I hope will help to define types of Gifts. It is my desire that this simple codification might bridge the gap between the terms used by East and West.

It have both observed and been informed of various different uses of divine power. Based on this data, I can confidently categorize as follows: Declarative, Immediate, Constant, and Escalating Gifts.

Declarative Gifts are those that absolutely require a specific pose, statement of intent, or similar prerequisite before use. An example from our legends would be the activation of the Undying Light by the Hero, one of the first immortals. Prior to unleashing this force on the Villain, legend states that he would always assume a firm stance and exclaim "Undying Light!" As this seems to have been a requirement and not a mere preference, we can state that Undying Light was a Declarative Gift. That the activation sequence must be seen or heard may be an additional restriction. These Gifts are rare and are usually powerful.

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Immediate Gifts are those that work immediately upon activation. Activation is an act of will. My own Aura of Godly Protection is in this category. I believe this is quite self-explanatory, but will expound further in any future publication.

Constant Gifts require neither declaration or activation. Even intent is not needed. Simply put, these Gifts are inherent to the immortal's shard and are always in operation. However, I think that they should be deemed separate from the physical enhancements that most immortals share. Most such Gifts are unique or limited to a very small number of persons. The Ancient Fighter's Gift of Martial Repose is an excellent example. Even when taken by surprise, he is able to avoid or deflect attacks and retaliate in seemingly innocuous ways, all while maintaining an air of serenity.

Escalating Gifts mark our final category. It took some time to prove the existence of the category to my own satisfaction, but I am now thoroughly convinced. Escalating Gifts require activation, but begin at a stage of minimal effectiveness. Power and effectiveness grow progressively as time passes and the Gift is maintained. For example, the Vanguard's Gift of Invincibilty reduces the seriousness of wounds when first activated, but eventually offers total immunity from physical harm.

Based on old stories and hearsay, I note that there may be a category of Gifts that are both Declarative and Escalating. However, I do not possess enough firm evidence to assume that this is true. It is my hope that our continuing association may reveal any additional categories and insert these terms into the vernacular of immortals the world over.

(Missive continues on next page)