Introduction

For those who accept the theory of pneuma, the duality of life and anti-life is just the beginning. Pneuma is a far more intricate force, capable of assuming diverse and extraordinary forms. While life is pneuma’s most apparent manifestation, its subtle workings extend into other areas of life.

One such manifestation is luck, which can be understood as a pneumatic force akin to the presence or absence of electrons in an atom. Good luck and bad luck are two sides of the same coin, an interplay of pneuma that reflects abundance or scarcity in the flow of events. This dynamic can shift rapidly, like the exchange of particles and their corresponding “holes,” creating a balance or imbalance that guides fate.

Pneumatic Techniques

The practice of harnessing pneuma has evolved into various forms, each tied to its user’s nature, training, and circumstances. These forms fall into several categories, each with its unique implications and potential.

Pure Pneumatic Manipulation

Pure pneumatic manipulation represents the pinnacle of control over the raw essence of pneuma, making it both foundational and transformative. It demands a profound understanding of the life force that animates all living things, requiring years—if not decades—of discipline, focus, and training. Practitioners who dedicate themselves to this art become paragons of versatility and resilience, mastering techniques that touch every aspect of existence.

Applications of Pure Pneumatic Manipulation

Healing and Restoration:

Practitioners can channel their pneuma into restorative forces, mending wounds, curing diseases, and even neutralizing toxins. This application demands precision, as the user must align their pneuma with the injured party’s, a process that can be taxing for both the healer and the healed. Adept users may regenerate lost tissue, close fatal wounds, cure ailments considered incurable, and extend one’s own lifespan, while masters can regrow entire limbs and even bring back the dead in very select cases.

Reinforcing Attacks:

By concentrating pneuma into their strikes, users dramatically increase their offensive power. Weapons reinforced with pneuma can shatter armor or cleave through material far beyond their natural capacity. Barehanded strikes infused with pneuma are capable of delivering shockwaves, toppling foes, or bypassing conventional defenses altogether. This enhancement is especially valuable in combat, allowing practitioners to match or surpass foes with inherent abilities. If channeled properly, one can generate pneuma in a particular frequency so that it can dismantle anti-life.

Reinforcing Surface Tension:

This subtle yet impressive ability lets practitioners traverse surfaces that would otherwise not support them, such as water, thin ice, or fragile terrain. By extending a controlled layer of pneuma beneath their feet, users distribute their weight or create temporary stability. Specialization of this discipline can allow pseudo-flight and supernatural speeds.

Physical Augmentation:

Perhaps the most iconic application of pure pneumatic manipulation is the enhancement of the user’s body. By focusing pneuma into their muscles, bones, and nerves, practitioners can achieve feats of superhuman strength, endurance, durability, and agility. A master of this art can sprint faster than the eye can follow, withstand crushing impacts without injury, lift immense weights far beyond natural and some mechanical limits, and fight for hours without tiring.

These augmentations are limited only by the practitioner’s reserves and their ability to maintain precise control. Mismanagement can lead to severe strain or even permanent injury.

Training and Mastery

Practicing pure pneumatic manipulation begins with the basics: meditation, breath control, and sensory awareness. Practitioners must first learn to feel their pneuma, often described as the warmth of one’s very being. Only then can they begin to direct and amplify it, a process that grows more intuitive with time.

As they progress, users focus on strengthening their reserves. Techniques include controlled exertion to “burn” pneuma efficiently, fasting to sharpen focus, and exposure to high-pressure situations that force rapid adaptation. Mastery is marked by the ability to manipulate pneuma effortlessly, balancing power and precision throughout one’s body and seamlessly using different disciplines without conscious thought.

Advanced practitioners can extend their influence beyond their own bodies, imbuing pneuma into objects, environments, or even other beings. For instance: surrounding air could become dense and pressurized, immobilizing foes and allies could receive a temporary boost in strength or stamina through pneuma transference.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite its versatility, pure pneumatic manipulation is not without drawbacks. The technique demands immense focus, often to the exclusion of other abilities. Those who pursue this path typically forego the opportunity to learn more specialized or innate techniques, as maintaining mastery requires constant refinement and dedication.

Moreover, the strain on the body can be immense. Overuse of pneuma may result in exhaustion, internal injuries, or a “burnout” of reserves, temporarily severing the user’s connection to their life force. In the worst cases, untrained or reckless practitioners have been known to deplete their pneuma entirely, leading to permanent damage or even death.

Inheritable Abilities

Inheritable pneumatic abilities represent a profound connection between pneuma and lineage, embodying the idea that power, identity, and purpose can transcend generations. These abilities are more than simple techniques—they are legacies, deeply woven into the fabric of a family, clan, or culture. The essence of an inheritable ability often carries the weight of its history, reflecting the collective will, identity, or ideals of those who came before.

The Nature of Inheritable Abilities

Unlike innate abilities, which emerge from an individual’s unique spirit, inheritable abilities are deliberately cultivated and passed down. This transmission is achieved through various means, including: Rituals that bind the ability to a successor; bloodlines, where the ability is imprinted into the pneuma of descendants; shared resonance, where a strong collective will or purpose ensures the ability’s continuity, even if not tied strictly to genetics; reincarnation, where the ability/life force possesses a will of is own, moving from one host to another.

These abilities often evolve as they are inherited, adapting to the strengths, experiences, and interpretations of each new bearer while retaining their core essence.

Notable Examples of Inheritable Abilities:

The Horsemen:

These are embodiments of primal and universal forces such as war, famine, death, and conquest. Each Horseman is a wielder of immense power tied to their concept, and their abilities often manifest as both personal and environmental effects. For instance: War - one of defense or offense, the burning fire of perseverance/desire and destruction, inspires and commands battlefields, or imbues unrelenting strength, a versatile master of multiple arts/tactics; Famine- saps vitality, withers crops, disrupts balance and abundance, can be concentrated or spread far and wide, slow but endurable; death- grants dominion over mortality, decay, or the thin veil between life and the afterlife, an immensely powerful force that is present for both the living and nonliving, a universal constant; Conquest - the master of pride and greed, war for the sake of taking what you want no further morals, striving for a legacy at the expense of others, swift and decisive.

The way horsemen are selected varies by the particular steed. Usually, being passed on after the death of the horseman.

Sahibs/Sultans of the Seasons:

These inheritable abilities are tied to the natural cycles of the world, reflecting the essence of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Bearers of these titles are often revered as stewards of balance and nature, with powers that manifest in distinct, cyclical ways. Examples include: Spring - Bringing renewal, growth, and rejuvenation to life and land; Summer - Channeling heat, vitality, and overwhelming energy; Autumn-Wielding harvest, decay, and transitions, often blending creation and destruction; Winter- Commanding cold, stillness, and the endurance of hardship.

These abilities are often preserved through tightly knit cultural or religious traditions, ensuring that their cyclical nature remains unbroken.

Lesser-Known Inheritances:

Beyond the grand archetypes, countless smaller-scale inheritable abilities exist, often tied to specific families, regions, or historical events. These may include: Guardians of a Sacred Relic or Site- Abilities tied to protecting an object or location of great importance; Cultural Healers or Warriors- Powers tied to the traditions of a particular people, such as controlling local elements or defending against specific threats; Regional Guardians - Abilities unique to a particular area, often influenced by the environment or historical conflicts.

Preservation and Transmission

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The continuity of inheritable abilities relies on careful stewardship. Families and organizations often take great pains to preserve these abilities, using methods such as: Training the Successor- Identifying and grooming the next bearer from a young age; Rituals of Passage- Ceremonies that transfer the ability, often requiring the successor to prove themselves worthy; Resonance of Will- A metaphysical alignment between the bearer and the legacy, ensuring the ability is passed even across generations or reincarnations.

In some cases, these abilities are guarded jealously, leading to internal conflicts or schisms within the lineage. In others, they are shared openly, contributing to the cultural or historical identity of an entire region.

Challenges and Burdens

While inheritable abilities are powerful, they often come with significant challenges: Expectations and Pressure- Successors may feel burdened by the weight of their legacy, struggling to live up to the accomplishments of previous bearers; Conflicts Over Succession- In families or organizations, disputes over who should inherit the ability can lead to division or even violence; Decay and Corruption- If not properly maintained, the ability itself may degrade, becoming unstable or corrupted over time. This is particularly true for abilities tied to strong emotions or collective will, which can be influenced by negativity or loss; Personal Sacrifice- Some inheritable abilities demand a heavy price, such as a shortened lifespan, isolation, or forfeiture of personal desires for the sake of the legacy.

The Legacy of Will

Inheritable abilities are more than techniques—they are living symbols of the enduring power of pneuma. They represent the fusion of past, present, and future, as each new bearer not only inherits the power but also shapes it. Whether tied to archetypes like the Horsemen, the natural cycles of the Seasons, or more humble family traditions, these abilities ensure that the legacy of pneuma continues to evolve, echoing across generations.

Innate Abilities

Innate abilities reflect the deeply personal and intrinsic connection between an individual’s being and their pneuma. These abilities are not learned or inherited in the traditional sense but instead emerge from the unique essence of the individual. Whether present at birth or awakened later in life, innate abilities are as varied and multifaceted as the people who wield them.

The Nature of Innate Abilities

Innate abilities are a direct manifestation of one’s spirit, shaped by their identity, emotions, and experiences. While lineage and ancestry often play a role, these abilities are not bound by strict inheritance laws. Instead, they adapt to the person’s pneuma, creating abilities that are entirely unique.

Key characteristics of innate abilities include: Personalization- Even within the same family, no two individuals possess identical abilities. For example, siblings might share an elemental affinity but express it in entirely different ways—one as a destructive force, another as a tool for healing; Evolution- These abilities grow and change alongside the individual, reflecting their development and personal growth. An ability dormant in youth might flourish in adulthood, shaped by the bearer’s trials and triumphs; Emotional Resonance- Strong emotions often trigger the emergence or amplification of innate abilities, aligning them with the bearer’s deepest desires or fears.

Examples of Innate Abilities

The following are some categories innate abilities might fall into, including examples. Innate Abilities do not have to fall into only one of these or any of them at all, nor are they limited to the examples mentioned.

Unique Elemental Affinities:

While elemental manipulation can be learned through training, innate elemental affinities are deeply personal and often far more specialized. Examples include: A Tempestuous Affinity- An individual might command storms, summoning lightning or controlling turbulent winds with an intensity unmatched by conventional techniques; Subtle Mastery- Another might influence water on a molecular level, purifying it or drawing moisture from the air with precision.

Personalized Combat or Healing Techniques:

These techniques are not learned from external sources but arise instinctively, tailored to the bearer’s spirit and pneuma. Examples include: Combat- A fighter might instinctively summon spectral weapons, each uniquely suited to their needs, or channel pneuma into raw, explosive strikes; Healing- A healer might mend wounds by enveloping the injured in a cocoon of nurturing energy, their pneuma intuitively seeking out and repairing damage.

Spiritual Extensions:

These abilities project the bearer’s essence into the world, creating constructs or phenomena tied directly to their spirit. Examples include: Protective Auras: A shield of pneuma that repels harm or strengthens allies within its radius. These auras are often as much about emotional support as physical defense. Ethereal Constructs- Manifestations of the spirit, such as spectral wings for flight, phantom beasts for combat, or ephemeral bridges to cross gaps.

Awakening Innate Abilities

While some innate abilities manifest early in life, others remain dormant, requiring a significant event or personal growth to awaken. These triggers can include: Emotional Clarity- Intense emotions, whether joy, fear, or anger, can serve as a catalyst; Spiritual Maturation- As individuals grow and refine their understanding of themselves, their abilities may naturally emerge; External Stimuli- Encounters with other powerful pneuma users, or exposure to extreme situations, can unlock latent abilities.

Innate Abilities and Lineage

While innate abilities are deeply personal, they often exhibit patterns within families or bloodlines. For instance: Elemental Themes- A family might share an affinity for fire, but each member’s abilities vary—one creating roaring infernos, another igniting objects with a touch, and yet another controlling ambient heat; Shared Foundations- Members of a lineage might display variations of a core ability, such as different forms of defensive constructs or unique interpretations of healing.

These familial patterns arise not from direct inheritance but from shared pneuma resonances, influenced by the family’s history, culture, and collective will.

Challenges of Innate Abilities

The deeply personal nature of innate abilities can present unique challenges, such as: Control Issues- Innate abilities often manifest instinctively, leading to difficulties in controlling or refining them without guidance; Unpredictable Growth- As these abilities evolve with the individual, they may develop in unexpected or even dangerous ways, requiring constant adaptation; Isolation- Those with rare or misunderstood abilities might struggle to connect with others, particularly if their powers create fear or envy.

Mutation or Genetic Pneumatic Techniques

Rare and extraordinary, mutation or genetic pneumatic techniques occur when pneuma fundamentally alters a lineage, imprinting distinctive traits that persist across generations. These changes can arise from powerful external stimuli, deliberate manipulation, or even the chaotic unpredictability of pneuma itself. Unlike inheritable abilities, these traits are not tied to collective will or legacy but are instead physical and pneumatic adaptations that evolve with each new generation.

Origins of Mutations

Mutations in pneuma often result from profound events or influences, including: Exposure to Extreme Pneuma- An ancestor’s interaction with overwhelming levels of pneuma, whether through battle, experimentation, or environmental exposure, can trigger permanent alterations; Deliberate Manipulation- Certain practitioners or orders may attempt to enhance their lineage by infusing pneuma into their bloodlines, often with unpredictable outcomes; Anti-Life Encounters- Direct exposure to anti-life forces may force a family’s pneuma to adapt, developing traits to combat or resist such corruption; Natural Evolution- In some cases, pneuma simply evolves alongside its host, shaping their lineage in response to environmental or spiritual demands.

Practiced Techniques

Practiced techniques represent a vast and adaptable domain of pneumatic arts, where pneuma is integrated into structured disciplines. Unlike innate or inheritable abilities, these techniques are learned and refined through dedication and study. They bridge the gap between natural talent and acquired skill, allowing practitioners to expand their capabilities and adapt pneuma to diverse applications.

The Foundation of Practice

At the heart of all practiced techniques lies mastery over pure pneumatic manipulation. This foundational skill enables practitioners to control, channel, and refine their pneuma with precision, providing the groundwork for advanced disciplines. Without a solid grasp of pure manipulation, progress in practiced techniques is limited, as most require precise pneumatic control to function effectively.

Key Disciplines of Practiced Techniques

Sorcery:

Sorcery would be any school that one would classify as the traditional fantastical magic. Pneuma acts as a catalyst, building block, and amplifier for spellcasting. Practitioners channel their life force to fuel or enhance magical effects, resulting in: Pneumatic Spell Casting- Pneuma can be channeled in frequency which take the form of power, precise, or far reaching spells; Defensive Enchantments- Barriers or wards fortified with pneuma offer enhanced resilience, capable of withstanding both physical and metaphysical assaults; Synchronized Casting- Pneuma enables the seamless combination of multiple spells, creating unique and devastating effects.

Martial Arts:

Martial artists who incorporate pneuma into their techniques achieve feats of unparalleled physical prowess. This discipline focuses on blending life force with physical mastery to create devastating combat styles, including: Enhanced Strikes- Pneuma amplifies the force of punches, kicks, or weapon strikes, shattering defenses and overwhelming opponents; Pneumatic Movement- Practitioners use pneuma to increase speed, agility, and precision, allowing them to dodge or counterattack with near-supernatural efficiency; Pressure Techniques- Targeting an opponent’s pneuma flow, martial artists can disrupt their abilities, paralyze their movements, or even render them unconscious.

Alchemical Sciences:

Alchemists harness pneuma to unlock the hidden potential of materials, blending science, sorcery, and pneuma into a single discipline. This fusion allows for: Pneuma-Infused Potions- Medicines and elixirs that enhance physical or spiritual recovery, often far surpassing conventional remedies; Transmutation- Using pneuma to alter the properties of materials, turning base substances into rare or valuable forms; Explosive Compounds- Pneuma-charged mixtures that release devastating energy upon activation, often used in combat or construction.

Alchemical sciences require an analytical mind and meticulous control over pneuma, as small miscalculations can lead to catastrophic results.

Artistic and Philosophical Practices:

Some disciplines emphasize the creative or philosophical applications of pneuma, focusing on self-expression, enlightenment, or harmony with the natural world. These include: Pneumatic Artistry- Using pneuma to create living sculptures, enchanted paintings, or other works imbued with spiritual resonance; Meditative Practices- Techniques to expand one’s pneuma reserves, refine control, or achieve spiritual balance through focused contemplation; Environmental Manipulation- Aligning pneuma with natural forces to influence weather, flora, or fauna, often practiced by shamans or druids.

Challenges of Mastery

While practiced techniques are accessible to many, they are not without their challenges: Time and Dedication- Mastery requires years of rigorous study and training, with no shortcuts to success; Pneumatic Strain- Practiced techniques often demand precise control and significant energy, making overuse a constant risk; Interdisciplinary Complexity- Many techniques require knowledge from multiple fields, such as blending pneuma with science, philosophy, or other disciplines.

Jacks

A common term for one who is skilled in multiple of these technique sources/schools are called Jacks.