Rules:Chaos Foci
- These are the official character rules for Chaos Foci. For the story-based description of Foci, go here.
Name: Chaos Foci
Class: Racial Overlay
Tech Bias: +1 step bias improvement towards Chaos-based techniques, -1 step bias penalty towards Order-based techniques
Available Power Types: Phys, Ki, Magic
History and Background Page: Foci
Racial Advantages:
Channel Chaos: This is the basic ability that sets Chaos-wielders apart from other mages. It gives no special ability, per se... it's just a pre-requisite to having the other abilities. It's not -unique- to Chaos Foci... but they're the ones who have it naturally. It is possible for others to learn to wield Chaos, but it comes far easier to the Chaos Foci.
Chaos Sensing: Chaos Foci have the ability to sense the flows of Chaos (and by extension, Order) in such a manner that they can sense magic 'ripples' in it, allowing them to detect the usage of any kind of magic. This operates much like ki sensing does for a ki wielder, however, because ki and psi both also cause perturbations in the flows of Order and Chaos, this allows the Chaos Foci to detect wielders of ki and psi as well. Because magicians, however, do not have any special innate power resting in them, they can only detect active magic, of course. However, any Order Foci or Chaos Foci can sense another by the way they disturb the Order and Chaos flows. (Sensing abilities work at equivalent to ki-sensing norm. If Ki sensors operate at 110% PL by current rules, then Order Sensing works at the same level.)
Chaotic Visions: Chaos Foci can naturally scry. To do so requires a reflective surface, and sunlight, or a suitable substitute. (Moonlight will suffice, though the visions will be less clear.) Without training, the Chaotic Visions are precisely that. Random, and difficult to hold. For 30 tech days (bias as per Chaos-based effect, no mage doubling), this ability can be refined to allow for controlling the visions, to hold them and control where they scry. Only sight is allowed through these visions, no other senses come into play, such as their Chaos Sensing, or hearing, for instance. Additional techs would be required to allow those senses to also utilize this ability.
Gray Awakening: The use of this ability results in the permanent transformation from Order or Chaos Foci to Gray Savant. It is slightly easier for an Order Foci to become a Gray Savant than for a Chaos Foci to, because there are essentially two things which must be realized for the transformation to be successful. First, the Foci must come to a realization of the essential Balance between Chaos and Order, which also created them to be as they are. Secondly, they must learn to create their opposite. Order Foci must learn to create Chaos energies out of Order energies, and Chaos Foci must learn to create Order energies out of Chaos energies. This can be something of an ordeal, and attempts to do so are not always survived, much less successful. The successful use of this ability requires several things: 60 tech days (no bias modifications, no doubling for mages) spent in meditation, the last seven of which must be total fasting and meditation (no other roleplay). Interrupting this process (doing 30 days, then learning something else, for example) requires that the learner start over again. At least two solos must be submitted to and approved by the appropriate staffers, related to the development of the concepts of Balance, and creating the opposite energy. Logged roleplays with at least two different muns, although not necessarily at the same time, must also be submitted, containing the seeds of these ideas. These logged roleplays must be submitted and approved before the other things may be attempted (solos, tech days, etc).
Increased Base Gain: Should the Chaos Focus fight someone who is specifically an order-wielder, their base gain is increased to 4% from 3%. Should they fight an Order Focus, their base gain is increased to 5%. However, this does not come into play unless at least one side (character, not necessarily mun) intends the fight to be lethal. Sparring with an Order Focus or a regular order-wielder does not garner them this boost, which limits this greatly.
Refined Chaos: This ability allows a +1 Autocharge to any Chaos-based spell or effect, three times per day. They cannot be stacked onto a single instance of a spell or effect. (That is, you can't cast Spell A with a +3 Autocharge, but you could cast Spell A with a +1 Autocharge three times in a row.) Senzu beans, at the choice of the Chaos Focus, may restore this ability instead of PL or physical condition.
Racial Disadvantages:
Chaos Foci cannot learn to wield Psi, ever. They can, however, learn to wield both Ki and Magic quite effectively.
Decreased Charge Rate: This is always in effect. For Order-based spells/effects, the Focus in question is at a -5% charge rate. So, if a Chaos Focus wanted to hurl an Orderly lightning bolt (presuming they somehow learnt such a thing) they'd only add 5% per turn rather than the regular 10%.
Decreased Base Gain: Should a Chaos Focus spar with another Chaos Focus, their base gain is set to 0% for that spar. They gain -nothing- from it. However, if it should be intended to be lethal by at least one party (again, character, not mun) then there is a gain of 1.5%.
Iron Allergy: Due to their Chaotic natures, and the naturally Orderly nature of Iron and derivatives thereof (Steel, Black Iron, etc.) Chaos Foci are negatively affected by the touch of these objects.
