Paraphysicist

**Paraphysicists**, also known as **thaumathurges**, and colloquially **mages**, are individuals capable of activating the Waltzmann pathway and altering local reality using paraphysics. This is achieved through the interaction of AR-type structures within the body with the Waltzmann morphic field, and may be enhanced in a variety of ways. Although it is entirely possible for a mage to cast without technique, focus and syntaxes serve to amplify and help direct the reality bending into a more efficient process. The effectiveness of a mage directly correlates to their level of focus and complexity and specificity of the syntax used.

Different species possess different AR-type structures, and so vary in paraphysical power between them. Difference in biology also limits the types of syntaxes a mage can use. It is also possible to draw energy for paraphysics from an inherently paraphysical source, although a sentient source may prove to be more resistant due to the presence of a stronger morphic field. ThoughtForms and Primordials, however, have been shown to funnel additional energy into their servants or victims for an array of purposes.

## Human mages

### History

As Earth was heavily seeded by the Wethsp, the first humans to develop magical abilities attracted the attention of ThoughtForms, unintentionally shaping them into their ancient gods. The ThoughtForms in turn uplifted them technologically, inventing syntaxes and magical artifacts in exchange for a steady supply of worship. The high priests and priestesses of these gods would often receive bodily augmentations that would allow them to use exclusive syntaxes, such as an extra digit for the use of six-fingered casting. Circa 200 BC, however, humanity became caught in the ThoughtForm War between Yahweh and Amon Ra, spreading devastation across multiple Earths and killing hundreds of other ThoughtForms, which eventually culminated in Morpheus amnesticising most of the human population, removing any knowledge of paraphysics to avoid attracting additional ThoughtForms. Horus, however, fled with a colony of followers to Trisonius, where the Falcon Imperium was founded in isolation for many centuries.

By the 21st century, the human population on most Earths had all but lost magical capability, with the *Vkon* gene inactivated through evolution. It would not be until the 23rd century when Trisonius would be rediscovered by the Pariah and Michael Bishop, Horus was killed and the last remaining human mages were deported to the Human-Hyalean Empire by the Stateship in order to loot the remains of Horus' Imperium. Among these refuges was Peyton Parabel III, who over the course of five years on Frindalis, inadvertently triggered a reactivation of *Vkon* through her own magic use as well as attempting to teach casting to a friend. From the mid- to late-23rd century onwards, the morphic fields generated by the annexed magicians and their descendants reactivated *Vkon* in a large portion of the population, effectively restoring the human race's paraphysical manipulation capabilities. In response paraphysical institutes were set up by those who had been trained by Parabel.

### Biology

Humans have the highest concentration of AR-21 in their tissues out of all magic-capable species. These proteins mainly saturate neural tissue and cerebrospinal fluid in the central nervous system, with the prefrontal and parietal notices having the highest density. AR-21 is also present in bone marrow, both yellow and red, in synovial fluid in joints, and in soft connective tissues like adipose tissue, tendons, ligaments and fascia, all of which contribute to the ease of use and popularity of limb-based syntax with human mages. AR-6 is another protein that is present in the solid bone matrix, although in much lower quantities than those of demons or the Anulin, making human bones less than ideal for producing artifacts. Finally, AR-5 exists in the bloodstream, but is strictly controlled by homeostatic mechanisms; this does however make it a popular target for temporary intravenous or oral power boosting drugs.