Vox Populi

### Description:

Vox Populi, which translates from Latin into "Voice of the People," refers to a stable and incredibly rare strain of mutation found only in sentient humanoids across the K2 Universe. The counterparts to the Vox Phantasmus, Vox Populi are the living manifestations of Sentient Cities; as such, Vox Populi are born into urban environments and most never leave the one in which they were born. Vox Populi can be from any non-mutated sentient humanoid race that forms cities large enough to evolve into Sentient Cities; Goblins, Helltouched and Heaventouched, Element-Touched, and Powdertouched are all incapable of being Vox Populi.

Due to the variety in which Vox Populi can appear, their physical traits are almost always unique but highly representative of the city they personify. A Vox Popili's race is determined by the dominant racial group of the city they represent, and otherwise bear no distinctive or uniform physical traits beyond those common in residents of the city the individual personifies.

Being the physical personification of a large population center, Vox Populi are almost always charismatic and outgoing; additionally, their influence over the city they represents gives them unlimited influence over the people that claim residence within their Domain's borders. Therefore, many Vox Populi are local celebrities within their Domains that, while they may not be financially wealthy, are never wanting for anything as long as they remain within the boundaries of their Sentient City.

Similarly, Vox Populi possess a form of collective consciousness with the residents of their Domain, which helps develop the Vox Populi's personality to best represent the predominant personality, values, language, and culture of their representative Sentient City; should a Vox Populi represent a particularly diverse city with many languages spoken by large numbers of people, the Vox Populi will be born with an innate understanding of all of those languages. This collective consciousness and innate connection to the city, combined with a Vox Populi's clairvoyant understanding of their Domain and the total unity they possess with their Domain, make Vox Populi appear intelligent and unimaginably wise; a Vox Populi's raw intellect is representative of the ability of the majority of the city's residents. The technological understanding of a Vox Populi also depends on the technological level of their Domain; should a Vox Populi be exposed to technology more advanced than that which is found in their Domain, the Vox Populi is likely to gradually forget about the technology and the experience altogether over the course of twelve (12) to twenty four (24) hours. Vox Populi do, however, possess incredible Sorcerer abilities that appear most prominently after puberty (*Note: For more detail, see below*).

Vox Populi, being born from the collective "singular beating heart" of a Sentient City, are incredibly rare with very specific requirements that must be met for one to be born. Vox Populi can only be born in a Sentient City with a population of more than five million (5,000,000) permanent residents; the Vox Populi's parents will both be native-born residents of the city that never left the city for more than six (6) months at a time and who are also both of the majority racial group that inhabits the city. Vox Populi are then conceived and born naturally according to the birth methods of the parents. As children, many Vox Populi are unaware of their abilities and are treated as normal, during which time they are brought up within the Sentient City's boundaries and learn all of its alleys and streets, its people and their successes and struggles; this education as a child and teenager develop the individual's personality and provide healthy development before their powers are fully manifested. Only one (1) Vox Populi can exist per Sentient City, and Vox Populi cannot be born in a city that exists within a Hinterland.

Given their total unity and synchronization with the "beating heart" of their Domains, Vox Populi almost always die of natural causes, and almost always live to the maximum extent of their race's lifespan, if not far longer. The lifespan of a Vox Populi can be extended through either Magic or technology without hindrance. Should a Vox Populi leave their Domain for longer than six (months) at a time, they will begin losing their powers and falling ill until, after two (2) years of uninterrupted separation, they die of an unknown illness and are immediately replaced by a newborn child in their Domain.

### Personality:

Vox Populi exist to represent the people of their Sentient City and protect both the physical location and its inhabitants at all costs; Vox Populi are ultimately replaceable, and they understand that their sacrifice may be required to save the heart of the Sentient City or a great number of its inhabitants. As a result of this goal, Vox Populi are almost always politically connected individuals with a divine level of authority within their Domain, using all of their Domain's resources to protect it and its people; corrupt Vox Populi are rare, but possible.

The details of the personalities of Vox Populi are dictated by the Sentient City the individual represents; if the city's inhabitants are egotistical, then the Vox Populi will be egotistical, and if the city's inhabitants are generous and kind then so will the city's Vox Populi.

Vox Populi are often suspicious of those outside of their Domains, but tend to have a greater degree of initial trust and respect for other Vox Populi and Vox Phantasmus.

### Abilities:

Vox Populi vary in physical prowess, but all are experts in urban environments; many are expert free-runners or parkour artists, although their mystical conrol over their Domains prevents the necessity for such skills. All Vox Populi possess an encyclopedic knowledge of every alleyway, street, building, and sewer tunnel within their Domain, knowledge obtained partially from their upbringing and partially through their innate powers. The senses of a Vox Populi are dependent upon their specific race, although Vox Populi do possess a degree of clairvoyance and unnatural awareness of events that transpire within their Domain's borders, although this ability is not absolute and not always active.

Most predominantly, Vox Populi are masters of their Domains in almost every way. While they cannot control the weather, gravity, time, or use their reality-warping powers to affect the world beyond their Domain, Vox Populi are nigh-divine entities within their Domains. They can change building locations, alter layouts, manipulate rooms and architecture, change the design and color of entire districts at will, create spaces larger on the inside than they appeared on the outside and vice versa, animate objects into constructs or golems at will, and manipulate all living inhabitants of their Domain. Vox Populi can drastically alter the layout of their Domain to their advantage, using it to trap or kill foes or escape pursuit; these abilities are derived from very powerful Magic that is almost impossible to dispel or counter for anyone short of an Archmage. This active use of their innate Magic power can warp Reality and defy the rules of logic, space, and time; this makes Vox Populi incredibly powerful and immensely dangerous if left uncontrolled.

Vox Populi's control over the inhabitants of their Domains extends to any and all living things that spend a majority of their time in the user's Domain. A Vox Populi can manipulate these inhabitants to do whatever they want whenever they want, and can do so without end. Vox Populi can alter the memories of inhabitants, have them conduct complex tasks without knowledge of their actions, etc., but cannot control anyone outside of their Domain and cannot use their powers if the Vox Populi is outside of their Domain. Vox Populi are known to turn millions of people into semi-mindless slaves in order to defend the Sentient City, although the hijacking of even a single mind within the Domain has negative consequences on the Sentient City and therefore the Vox Populi. As a result, many Vox Populi do not resort to using this ability unless absolutely necessary.

Vox Populi also possess a number of common passive abilities. Their innate unity with their Domain ensures that no accidents befall them within their Domain, allowing them to wander into traffic with total confidence in their own safety, wander around rickety bridges or construction sites without issue, and have the Sentient City pay for all city-run services; Vox Populi pay no taxes to their Domain and do not have to pay for any public services like transportation, education, police and fire services, etc. Crowds of people will passively give the Vox Populi space, and the city itself will alter its shape and features to aid the Vox Populi; for instance, if someone were to try to shoot a Vox Populi on the street of that individual's Domain, then a piece of the sidewalk may stand on end to block the bullet, or a lamp post will bend unnaturally to deflect the attack.

Given this incredible and mind-bending amount of power afforded to Vox Populi, the threat of an uncontrolled, corrupt, or manipulative Vox Populi is a dangerous concept. To combat this eventuality, the JPCU has done extensive research into Sentient Cities and their weaknesses; such research has provided the knowledge that, as long as they remain within their Domains, Vox Populi are nearly untouchable. The aid Sentient Cities provide to Vox Populi makes most attempts at harming Vox Populi impossible. However, there are ways around this. Vox Populi do not have control over those who are not inhabitants of their Domain, which offers a slim chance for opposition. Additionally, should someone be able to reach the Sentient City's "Heart and soul" underneath its bustling streets, then that person may be able to talk the Sentient City into disowning the Vox Populi or compelling them to change their ways; the "heart and soul" of a Sentient City is also vulnerable to corruption or manipulation (See: Sentient Cities for more information). Anti-Magic proves partially useful against Vox Populi, although Sentient Cities are so innately Magical that most Anti-Magic is temporarily effective at best.

However, corrupted, abusive, manipulative, or otherwise evil Vox Populi are incredibly rare. Sentient Cities often manage the behaviors, thoughts, and attitudes of their Vox Populi to prevent abuse of power, and all Sentient Cities and their Vox Populi are in contact with the JPCU and other, similar organizations to put out an alert should a Vox Populi or Sentient City be corrupted or manipulated in any way.

### Culture/Religion:

The culture and religion of a Vox Populi is dependent upon the predominant (or mixed) culture and religion(s) of the Sentient City which the Vox Populi represents.