Essence

## Common Knowledge

There have always been people with unexplained abilities: seeing the future, bestowing curses, recovering from injuries with little effort, and so on. Such powers are usually confined only to rumors and legends, but not always.

There are also magical concoctions, called potions, which can do many incredible things when drunk.

## Overview

Essense is a force originating from the Material Plane and permeating all other planes of existence. Something’s essence is a mystical part of what makes it the way that it is.

The ability to manipulate and interact with essence manifests in many different forms. Some essence-users can see partway into the future to predict events, some can restore life, some can harden their bodies to nigh-invulnerability, and still others tap into powers unheard of before. Some essence-users have the ability to pose a vague question to the universe, and receive an answer in turn from the ether. One of the simplest techniques an essence-user can develop is a limited extra sense, where they feel the essence of objects and creatures near them.

Similar to magic, essence can be used to conduct longform ceremonies, called rituals, to achieve specific aims. The methodologies behind the rituals of essence vary greatly, and do not necessarily abide by any specific rules.

Though people can be taught to use this energy, practitioners are rare enough that many essence-users are self-taught or even born with such abilities.

## Affected Regions

There are no known regions in Temporis not affected in some way by essence. Essence can be performed nearly anywhere, even on other planes of existence. The potency of essence is not determined by proximity to any location like the Conduit.

## Related Groups and People

* Much like magic, anyone can learn to harness and wield essence. Unlike magic, its influence cannot be immediately noticed, and some practitioners may not be aware of their abilities. People who know of these abilities sometimes call essence-users witches, fortune-tellers, or nomads.
* There are many different kinds of essence-users.
	+ Essence users who focus their power inward to perpetuate their own lives and enhance their abilities are called monks. This is not to say that all who participate in the monastic tradition are fighting super-people, though a shockingly large number actually are. Monks often refer to the essence within themselves as chi (or ki, or qi, depending on who you ask).
	+ Essence users who channel their power outward to affect the world around them through curses and hexes are called mystics, though they may call themselves by other names.
	+ Some essence users rely on the power of runes, specially crafted sigils that harness ambient essence to achieve some purpose. The powers and capabilities of runes depend on each culture’s individual runic alphabet, with some excelling at certain powers and falling short in others. Runes can be placed in a massive sequence to achieve remarkable effects. Those experienced with runes, especially their use in combat, are referred to as rune knights.
	+ Though not strictly essence-users per se, certain physical materials contain unique formations of essence. Over time, people have found that mixing such materials together can produce liquid concoctions of great power. These mixtures are called potions and poisons, their practice the study of alchemy, and its practitioners alchemists.

## Importance

Though essence and its practitioners have a much more understated role in the course of history, it is nonetheless an underlying force of the universe.

## Social and Cultural Impact

Much like magic, essence is a widespread enough phenomenon that different groups of people may react differently to it. Given the subtler nature of essence as compared to magic, some cultures may not even recognize it as a legitimate phenomenon, instead attributing it to be a blessing (or curse) from a higher power.

Alchemy is a massively lucrative business with a continent-wide appeal, and alchemists often receive more recognition for their accomplishments than even magic-users, to say nothing of typical essence-users. It isn’t wholly unreasonable for a ruler to keep an alchemist in their court for consultation on such matters.

## Founding and History

Essence has existed for as long as Temporis has, and comes from the same cosmic forces of the planes that created magic. Unlike forms of “proper” magic, essence does not derive from any Elder God or Elder Goddess in particular. Despite this, the Elder Goddess of Possibility does wield great influence over essence, and can even be contacted through it.

## Further Information

* Elder Gods
* Magic