PSIONICS
The events of The Black Wall incident introduces Psionic abilities to the world of Liminal Horror. These psychically tinged Fallout and abilities are wildly unpredictable and highly coveted by Panopticon and other factions. This section includes the mechanics, how to use them to create Investigators and NPCs who have psionic powers.
WHAT ARE PSIONICS?
In short, psionics are an unlocking of the human mind, allowing it to use and manipulate psychic powers in order to control the material world.
Panopticon and other factions have spent decades trying to use their knowledge of dimensional anomalies to unlock the potential of the human mind. Most attempts to breach the “Black Wall” that contains a human’s consciousness have failed, until now.
GAINING PSIONICS
Psionics are not naturally occurring and are exceedingly rare as they must be made and unleashed upon the world. Psionics in their current, unstable form are like a virus, spreading their fractured nature to those that fall victim and survive. There are two known ways in which Psionic Fallouts may be unlocked:
Injecting that AX serum. The outcome of this is not guaranteed and comes with it a set of its own very specific risks. Many failed psionics have been mutated as a result of incompatibility
Stress from a Psionic Ability that triggers Critical Stress that results in a Fallout.
Creating a direct connection to the other dimension: Shifting World (DE p. x). This connection will fracture the barriers inherent within the human mind and unlock psionic abilities in some.
AX-SERUM
A black metallic like substance that reacts to sound. When injected, it has the potential to unlock Psionic Fallout. Most resulting experiments have only survived a short time as the powers are unstable.
PSIONIC FALLOUT
Exposure to dimensional anomalies and resonant energies has unlocked the human brain, allowing access to a specific subset of Fallout often referred to as psionics. Psionic Fallout functions the same as traditional Fallout in that it takes up an Inventory Slot.
Using Psionics cause d4 Stress
If the resulting Stress is more than their HP, it will target their CTRL.
If an Investigator fails the resulting CTRL save, they will take Critical Stress and take another Psionic Fallout.
The awakening of a new Psionic Fallout is dangerous and unstable. When the Investigator records the new Psionic Fallout, they will lose control, unleashing their new power and dealing d4 Stress to a random target.
Psionics by their very nature are wild and unpredictable. No recorded Psionic has lived long enough in order to demonstrate what true mastery of these abilities would look like.
Maintaining Psionic Abilities for a substantial amount of time requires a CTRL save. If the Psionic fails that save, it will cause the d4 damage (targeting STR) in order to continue.
The baseline of damage and Stress caused by Psionic Fallout is typically d6.
The baseline is a single target.
Psionics may push themselves past normal limits, taking d6 damage (targeting STR) in order to amplify their abilities and enhancing the scope and breadth of what they can do.
PSIONIC FALLOUT TABLE
Astral Projection: Mentally project oneself across time and space.
Atomkinesis: Control the weather.
Bilocation: Existing in two places at the same time.
Biokinesis: Manipulate organic matter, augmenting the body.
Clairvoyance: Observe across time and space
Electrokinesis: Generate and manipulate electricity.
Ergokinesis: influence the movement of energy.
Geokinesis: Manipulate earthy materials.
Hydrokinesis: Manipulate water.
Illusions: Conjure illusions in the minds of others.
Invisibility: Make something invisible to others.
Levitation: To float or fly.
Materialization: Create objects and material where it once was not.
Petrification: To an object or being to stone.
Pyrokinesis: Manipulate and create fire.
Shapeshifting: To transform an object or being into something else.
Telekinesis: To exert force with one's mind.
Telepathy: To connect and control minds.
Teleportation: To transfer matter from one point to another instantaneously.
Umbrakinesis: To control and manipulate darkness/shadows.
Additional Psionic Powers: memory extraction, healing touch, paralysis, shoot lasers, inhuman speed, force barrier, sleep manipulation.