Talents

Talents in Chronicles of Thedas
We all know that you cannot have magical talents in Dragon Age, right? Right? They are spells, not talents.

Wrong.

Remember, this is not the game, this is an online play by post setting and we are an Alternate Universe version of Thedas. Thus we want to account for the following (as well as be creative and flexible with magic):

The elvhen girl in Dawn of the Seeker. She had a talent for controlling animals with her mind, something that was used to control dragons. THIS is what we mean by talent. And controlling animals is but one of a list we like to refer to as thus.

These are naturally occurring talents, they are not specs or skill trees an they can vary vastly from person to person. Not every magi is born with such talents, some develop their talents later in life, in the process of training (wherever that may be).

The parameters for talents

 * One talent per character.
 * Do not create "spells" for talents.
 * Must have admin approval for those talents with a ** next to them.
 * Your character must develop or go on to learn magic in a school and/or spec related to this talent. So for example a pyromancer would be steered towards the school of Primal if they were in the Circle and if they were an Avvar they would be expected to master the element of fire as a shaman.
 * Though they are not specs they bare a similar weight to specs and must be treated as such.

Naturally Occurring Talents in Thedas
Talents do not come with "spells".

Animal Whisperer**

 * What is it? - Controls animals telepathically
 * How it manifests/typical age - Typically a child (usually around 9 years of age) may be seen speaking to animals and the animals may be doing as they ask. The child does not understand that it is its thoughts the animal obeys though. The talent must manifest before the end of adolescence or it will never manifest. Proximity to animals in the wilds make it more likely to manifest.
 * Type of magic affinity/natural progression of magic - nature magic and primal magic are the most common paths for those with this talent, but the majority are well equipped to become shapeshifters and become master shapeshifters. This talents enables them to speak to the animals and learn from them more easily.
 * Limits
 * There can be no "speaking" to the animal IC.
 * They cannot talk to and understand every animal.
 * They can only ever whisper to two or three types of animals at most.
 * This is restricted to animals.
 * Cannot control dragonkin of any kind.
 * Common traits and "abilities" - Excellent at silencing the world and focusing on thoughts; Can engage with all animals but not speak to them all; Affinity with animals.

Astral Projection**

 * What is it? - This odd talent is where a mage can be unconscious and awaken as a spectre in another place. Essentially their body stays in one place and their mind can be in another - and perfectly conscious.
 * How it manifests/typical age - Typically this manifests when a mage is either very scared or very "divided". When they have a strong sense of needing to be in two places at once. Such strength of emotion and magical power is usually only found in adults, but it has been known for young mages of around 7 to have astral projected.
 * Type of magic affinity/natural progression of magic - Force magic and summoning are interesting paths for an astral protector. Types of magical affinity include any kind of magic where spells are used to move things.
 * Limits
 * Children do not understand it early enough to realise what they have done.
 * Only lasts for a few seconds to a maximum of a few minutes.
 * Is very rare and not easily controlled.
 * Can never be mastered completely.
 * Unpredictable - cannot be relied upon.
 * Common traits and "abilities" - Can project their consciousness to another place; Some can use force magic or its like while in their astral form - but only those who have mastered using only their minds to casts such spells.

Empath**

 * What is it? - A mage can feel the emotions of others.
 * How it manifests/typical age - Usually it manifests during adolescence when emotions are already high. An empath mage finds it hard to differentiate between their own emotions and those of others - at first not even realising it is others emotions they are feeling sometimes.
 * Type of magic affinity/natural progression of magic - Creation and Healing are very good magic to pair with empaths. Also, Spirit to help them create mental defences to block others emotions.
 * Limits
 * This talent can quite easily drive a mage insane.
 * Eventually become a recluse.
 * Cannot handle society.
 * Common traits and "abilities" - It varies in intensity but usually an empath feels the strongest emotions the most, but only an echo of them; Some empaths are unlucky enough to feel the full extreme of the emotion; Empaths tend to be compassionate people because they know what others feel and what context they feel them in.

Fade Beacon**

 * What is it? - A mage attracts Fade denizens and is more likely to befriend them or be possessed by them.
 * How it manifests/typical age - Usually mage's are born with this talent and it manifests at the same time as their magic.
 * Type of magic affinity/natural progression of magic - Spirit Healing and Blood Magic. Spirit magic for other spells.
 * Limits
 * Easily possessed
 * Can go insane because of the voices in their head
 * Can become a target for demons
 * Lack of sleep, their dreams are usually active and drain them instead of restoring their body from fatigue.
 * Common traits and "abilities" - Usually they can befriend Fade denizens more easily; They appear as a beacon in the Fade and can be easily found by other mages; Affinity with any Fade related magic, so the school of spirit is like second nature to them.

Hypnotist

 * What is it? - A mage can mesmerise people with ease
 * How it manifests/typical age - It can manifest in any way and at any age - the old the mage the more likely they will discover it as a talent.
 * Type of magic affinity/natural progression of magic - The schools of Illusion and Mysticism are particularly suitable, and the specialisation Blood Mage.
 * Limits
 * Cannot control peoples thoughts, only influence them externally.
 * Their hold is tenuous and they can wreck minds
 * It has been known for some with this talent to mesmerise themselves by looking at their reflection, they never look away and they wither and die.
 * Common traits and "abilities" - Their presence can draw instant attention; they can channel others desires into completing tasks; charisma and gravitas seems to come very naturally to them.

Illusionist

 * What is it? - The is where a mage can conjure a mask of illusion. This is not not shapeshifting.
 * How it manifests/typical age - Usually when a mage wants to hide they conjure this mask. Typically in adolescence this manifests.
 * Type of magic affinity/natural progression of magic - Illusion and Mysticism are common schools where they have a natural affinity. Obviously Illusion magic is something they excel at - they master this school within five years usually.
 * Limits
 * Effect is closely tied to emotions and is therefore unpredictable.
 * If relied upon a spike in emotion can reveal them to be a mage when they are trying to hide.
 * A talent that can be abused and get the mage into a lot of trouble.
 * Common traits and "abilities" - Some illusionists can exactly replicate the image of a persons face - exactly. This is very rare indeed. Illusions last for up to a minute in most cases (when paired with taught magic these spells can be enhanced by the talent and make the illusion around the self last until it is no longer needed or desired).

Immunity

 * What is it? - Literally an immunity from natural diseases
 * How it manifests/typical age - Usually a person is never sick and if this is picked up on and the person has manifested as a mage then the talent is suspected. They are born with this talent.
 * Type of magic affinity/natural progression of magic - Specifically healing, herbalism, alchemy. They have a great affinity for creation magic.
 * Limits
 * The talent is in the blood and limited to the blood.
 * Cannot provide a "cure" for masses since too much blood is needed for just once person to be "cured".
 * There is no control over this talent unless paired with herbalism and alchemy
 * Common traits and "abilities" - Never sick.

Magic sensing

 * What is it? - a mage with this talent can sense mages to varying degrees. This talent is similar to the Wardens sensing darkspawn.
 * How it manifests/typical age' - After magic has manifested this talent is hot on its heels! It begins with the child being able to see an aura or hear a buzzing and feel a presence and can develop into being able to pinpoint and even tell what type of magic the mage is capable of.
 * Type of magic affinity/natural progression of magic - Spirit, Arcane
 * Limits
 * Is generally non specific
 * They might be able to sense a mage but not identity the magic user in a crowd.
 * The limits are generally dependant on the mage and are taken on a case by case basis.
 * Common traits and "abilities" - The abilities range between being able to sense that a person can use magic to sometimes (when permission is given by the other player) knowing the extent of another mage's power and specific talents and proficiency in areas of magic.

Muse

 * What is it? - Where a mage can inspire people around them, inspire creativity
 * How it manifests/typical age' - Varies, but the typical age is around 10 and the typical manifestation is while observing creative people.
 * Type of magic affinity/natural progression of magic - Nothing in particular.
 * Limits
 * Requires unwavering concentration
 * Does not work on the Muse themselves.
 * Common traits and "abilities" - Often surrounded by creative people and is the only non artistic person in their circle.

Pyromancer

 * What is it? - A mage with a natural affinity for controlling fire.
 * How it manifests/typical age' -
 * Type of magic affinity/natural progression of magic - School of Primal - fire magic's.
 * Limits
 * Hard to control
 * Often harms themselves and others before gaining control (or never gain control and kill themselves or are tranquilled)
 * This talent often comes with rage
 * It is not uncommon for a pyromancer to be impatient and somewhat aggressive.
 * Common traits and "abilities" - This is possibly one of the only talents where "spells" are built in - since the school of primal is something born of nature and requires an affinity, a pyromancy is born with an affinity and self teaches many basic (and some advanced) fire spells. Pyromancers often create new types of fire spells and do things with fire specific to themselves and things others who are taught primal could never do. These mages can be anything from a firestarter to immolator (of people)

Seductress

 * What is it? - This is where the mage can use blood magic to control lust or desire.
 * How it manifests/typical age' - Always manifests after puberty or shortly after or during a persons sexual peak. The typical way for the talents to become known is when the blood mage feels the pull of their blood magic - they have the innate drive to use that magic to control desire and once they begin a blood fuelled spell the talent explodes and invades the passions of the object of their attention.
 * Type of magic affinity/natural progression of magic -
 * Limits
 * Must already be a blood mage for this talent to manifest itself.
 * Can lose control very easily.
 * When the spell wears off the person they used it on always remembers.
 * Common traits and "abilities" - The type of blood mage who has this talent is not often "malign" per se; They are often sexually active - perhaps even whores; Naturally flirtatious and charismatic.

Retrocognition

 * What is it? - A mage who can see the past.
 * How it manifests/typical age' - Usually a mage has this talent "sparked" by touching an old, magical object. Can manifest at any age.
 * Type of magic affinity/natural progression of magic - Spirit, Seer Specialisation, Mysticism.
 * Limits
 * Limited by psychometry, they must touch something to trip a vision
 * Visions are only snapshots and not very detailed unless a Seer trains them.
 * Very hit and miss, the same object might only trip a single vision.
 * Common traits and "abilities" - Usually these mages have very good memories; An eye for detail; Sometimes a photographic memory and can recall visions exactly.

Siren

 * What is it? - When the mage sings or plays an instrument they mesmerise the crowd and/or infulence their emotions.
 * How it manifests/typical age' - It usually manifests while the mage is performing musically.
 * Type of magic affinity/natural progression of magic - It lends itself to Illusion spells and the mage often tailors their spells to their talent and casts spells with their voice and uses illusions to fool as well.
 * Limits
 * Severely limits the Siren to learn any other schools of magic. Any spell - theoretically - can still be learned, but will take much more time and effort and considered a waste.
 * It's not mind "control" magic, so it can be resisted with enough magical resistance.
 * Can't use a staff to concentrate their cast, only enchanted necklaces.
 * Common traits and "abilities" - The talent can alter the mana path in the body to allow the siren to cast with her voice; A mage often develops new illusion spells and they can do things with their voice specific to themselves and things others who are taught illusion could never do.

Telekinesis**

 * What is it? - This is the ability to move objects with the mind
 * How it manifests/typical age' - This is another emotion fuelled talent and usually manifests when a mage is angry or upset/having a tantrum. The age can be anything from 5 to old age.
 * Type of magic affinity/natural progression of magic - Force magic, Arcane magic, Primal. Paired with mastery of Arcane this can be a formidable power.
 * Limits
 * Can only move objects they can physically move themselves.
 * Can only move objects they can see
 * Ineffective against strong willed individuals.
 * Common traits and "abilities" - Like the pyromancers this is one of the few talents that lend to spell-like abilities - the act of telekinesis itself is similar to spells in the school of Arcane and in Force magic - as a talent however it is not of the same level as spellcasting in the Force mage spec - but the odd telekine may have a talent close to the average Force mage.

Telepathy**

 * What is it? - The ability of a mage to read others thoughts
 * How it manifests/typical age - Usually it manifests during adolescence when emotions are already high. A telepathic mage finds it hard to others thoughts.
 * Type of magic affinity/natural progression of magic - Spirit to help them create mental defences to block others emotions; Illusion is a dangerous pairing since they can read someone's thoughts then create an illusion of what they want.
 * Limits
 * This talent can quite easily drive a mage insane.
 * If untrained usually become a recluse.
 * Very hard to master.
 * Is usually a very weak power where the mage only has an impression of what it thought, seeing an image rather than hearing actual words.
 * Common traits and "abilities" - It varies in intensity but usually a telepath is bombarded by thoughts and images when in a crowd. Commonly an edgy, twitchy sort of person.