Zeraphan Mages

The Order of the Zeraphan, often referred to by members as the Fellowship of Light, or as the Zeraphan Mages to outsiders, is one of the most ancient orders dedicated to study of psychic gifts. Originating from the planet of Ahtum, a world were the psychically gifted are revered, the Order once was spread across the galaxy, before they called their members back to their birth planet and withdrew into the Umbra during the Lorgalian Cataclysm. Their order arose from a world ruled by various sorcerer-monarchs and the cults which surrounded them, who came together after centuries of conflict and combined their knowledge to bring prosperity to their planet, joining together to form the Council of Phaeros, which has led the order and the planet of Ahtum for over twelve thousand years. The Order's name is derived from the former Queen Zeraph Andeddu, who was the driving force behind its formation and served as its first Archmagus Hortator.

## Teachings

### General Terminology

**The Light:** The Light is the term that the Zeraphan use for psychic energy, that which resides within the Umbra (the Great Ocean), or within the minds and bodies of living organisms. All living creatures shine with the Light, though only a gifted few are able to wield it.

**The Great Ocean:** The Great Ocean of Light, more commonly shortened to the Great Ocean, is the Zeraphan term for the Umbra. To them, the Great Ocean is an unlimited wellspring of power and knowledge, through which all things are possible.

**The Illuminated:** Zeraphan refer to psions as the Illuminated, those whose who can draw Light from the Great Ocean and shape it in accordance to their will. Those with a more powerful connection to the Great Ocean are said to "shine brighter" with the Light.

### The Vital Truths

The Order of the Zeraphan has spent millennia studying what they refer to as the High Mysteries, the nature of psionic powers and the Umbra. Thanks to countless years of study, research and experimentation, members of its Fellowship are privy to several facts that many other psychically gifted orders are oblivious to. The Fellowship refers to these as the the Vital Truths.

* **First Vital Truth: The Light touches all things.** This Vital Truth references the fact that psionic energy is present in all living creatures, and can be drawn from any location. All creatures have a psychic presence, and shine with the Light, though most of them are incapable of wielding it.
* **Second Vital Truth: Through the Light, all things are possible. Its only limits are the minds of the Illuminated.** This Vital Truth references the fact that psychic powers can be used to accomplish virtually anything, so long as one is able to focus it properly. Psychic foci, such as rituals, holy items, etc are all merely tools to focus one's power over the Light.
* **Third Vital Truth: The depths of the Great Ocean of Light are boundless.** The Great Ocean holds infinite amounts of power. An Illuminated's ability to channel that power and properly focus it is the only limit to what the Light can be used to accomplish. Furthermore, this Vital Truth also serves as a reminder that the Great Ocean holds within it an infinite number of realms and entities, some of which are extremely hazardous.
* **Fourth Vital Truth: The Great Ocean's tides are shifted by those who bear the Light.** The Fourth Vital Truth explains the fact that those who bear the Light (all living beings) affect the Great Ocean. Dreams and emotions can birth creatures and build worlds within it.
* **Fifth Vital Truth: All Light eventually returns to the Great Ocean.** In accordance with this Vital Truth, all psionic energy eventually returns to the Great Ocean. Any power that is released into the world one day dissipates back to whence it came, though on some occasions this may take centuries or millennia. The souls of conscious beings also return into the Great Ocean when an individual dies.

### The Oneiraeic Spheres

The Oneiraeic Spheres are the tools that allow the Zeraphan to utilize such effective control over the Light that they wield. They are a set of psychic foci divised over the centuries and instructed to every member of the Fellowship of Light. As one progresses in their training, so do they progress in the mastery of their Spheres. The purpose of the Spheres is to serve as a form of meditative state, which aids a Zeraphan in performing tasks with their powers. The Spheres are not limited to solely being employed to hone one's powers, however, as they can also be used to hone an individual's mental state across a variety of situations. Those Spheres which are more easily learned, and taught in earlier stages of training are referred to as Lower Spheres, while more advanced Spheres, often practiced only by masters, are known as the Higher Spheres.

A Zeraphan's skill in the use of an Oneiraeic Sphere is measured by what they call Circles of Attunement. Attaining Higher Circles of Attunement means that a Zeraphan is able to ascend into or descend from an Oneiraeic Sphere more rapidly and with greater ease, and maintain it for longer periods of time.

**The First Circle of Attunement** means that, while a Zeraphan has proved able to ascend into a Sphere successfully, their attempts at doing so are sporadic and inconsistent. Most likely, they require extremely prolonged periods of concentration to ascend to the Sphere, and can only maintain it for a brief period of time before descending. Even minimal lapses in focus can also cause them to descend.

**The Second Circle of Attunement** indicates a Zeraphan is able to consistently ascend into a Sphere, usually after a short period of focus. They can remain within the Sphere for long periods of time, and only severe distractions, such as an emotional state at odds with the Sphere, can cause them to descend, or prevent their ascension.

**The Third Circle of Attunement** signifies that an individual has attained full mastery of the Onaeiraeic Sphere. This means that they can ascend to and descend from the Sphere at will, and remain centered within the Sphere for however long as they desire. Only their own intent may cause them to descend from the Sphere at this stage. Those within the Third Circle are often described as being fully attuned to a Sphere.

#### The Spheres

**The First Oneiraeic Sphere:** The First Oneriaeic Sphere is Hathor, the Sphere of Tranquility. It is the most akin to standard meditation, wherein an individual who enters it clears their mind of all ambient thought and feeling. Ascending to Hathor is especially useful for those who are just beginning to use their powers, as it allows them to begin attempting to apply their powers with a fresh, untroubled mind after they descend from the Sphere. Hathor is most crucially employed as a safety measure, and novice Zeraphan often choose to ascend to it during moments of extreme volatility, lest they accidentally unleash their powers upon their surroundings. The First Sphere is also commonly employed for meditative purposes, wherein one uses it to empty their mind and then bask in the serenity of their quieted thoughts, untroubled by the cares of the world.

**The Second Oneiraeic Sphere:** The Second Oneiraeic Sphere is Photep, the Sphere of Devotion. Entering Photep allows a Zeraphan to direct their intent to a singular task or subject, to the exclusion of all others. Such tasks can range from battling an opponent, to listening to an instructor speak, to carving a block of wood. The Second Sphere is a tremendous boon when one is conducting a new use of one's powers, or engaging in a complicated psychic ritual which requires intense focus. One of the drawbacks of the Sphere, however, is the danger of becoming too engrossed in one's task, which is why a strong attunement, and therefore, the ability to descend from the Sphere, is of paramount importance.

**The Third Oneiraeic Sphere:** The Third Onaeraeic Sphere is Amon, the Sphere of Awareness. The Third Sphere opens the senses and perceptions, allowing them to analyze their surroundings and to absorb a vast amount of sensory input. The state of heightened awareness that Amon brings strengthens all of one's physical perceptions, and allows them to maintain awareness of all that is occuring within sensory range, and is extremely useful for mental multitasking. Like the Second Sphere, it is possible to be engulfed by the Third, as one loses themselves in the sensory world around them. The Sphere can be used on the battlefield, to eavesdrop on multiple conversations within a crowded room, or simply to meditate and enjoy one's surroundings.

**The Fourth Oneiraeic Sphere:** The Fourth Onaeraeic Sphere is Khnum, the Sphere of Insight. Ascending to the Fourth Sphere sends a Zeraphan into their own minds. It allows them to replay their own memories and relive their emotional and physical experiences with perfect clarity. While most plainly, this gifts a Zeraphan with use of the Sphere an impeccable memory, it also allows them to reexamine their own experiences over and over again, and gain new understanding of their own actions and feelings, as well as review any information that they have previously learned.

**The Fifth Oneiraeic Sphere:** The Fifth Oneiraeic Sphere is Rukesh, the Sphere of Persistence. By ascending to Rukesh, a Zeraphan may stabilize their mind, locking in their emotional state, thought processes, and memories until they descend. The primary purpose of Rukesh is to protect oneself from outside psychic influence, warding off mental invasion and alteration. The Fifth Sphere can also be employed to aid in one's focus in a manner similar to the Second, only locking the entire mind into a specific state, rather than focusing on a singular task. Since Rukesh prevents the influx of fresh emotions, it can also be used to resist stress and torture, allowing a Zeraphan to ignore the consequences of fear and pain while they remain in it. Rukesh is also sometimes used to avoid being persuaded to change their minds.

**The Sixth Oneiraeic Sphere:** The Sixth Oneiraeic Sphere is Sutekh, the Sphere of Aggression. The Sixth Sphere's primary use is in combat, where it provides those who ascend to it with heightened levels of aggressiveness, decreases one's sensitivity to pain and fear, and weakens a user's capacity for empathy. Sutekh is ideal for battle situations as a result, allowing users to attack, maim, and even kill with ease, all the while shirking personal concern's for oneself. Any instance where compassion for others is a liability is a time when the Sixth Sphere can be employed. Some of the more subtle ways Sutekh can also be utilized by those who have mastered it to great extents include gentle teacher to be harsh in their students.

Given the inherent dangers of such a mental state, Sutekh training is one of the most heavily supervised by master Zeraphan.

**The Seventh Oneiraeic Sphere:** The Seventh Oneiraeic Sphere is Bastet, the Sphere of the Void. By ascending to the Seventh Sphere, a Zeraphan is able to cleanse their mind and spirit of all emotion, allowing their thoughts to flow unpolluted by passion. In essence, those in the Sphere of Bastet can act and make decision based solely on logic, allowing for pragmatism and tranquility in its most absolute form. Despite its uses, the Seventh Sphere is viewed with great caution, and is rarely entered even by those few who manage to master it, as being unable to descend from Bastet has the potential of turning a Zeraphan into a detached and emotionless being bereft of any true connection to its peers. Throughout the Zeraphan Order's twelve millennia history, there have been several cases of members who have "fallen" to Bastet, and many have wrought unspeakable havoc in the name of the so called "greater good".

**The Eighth Oneiraeic Sphere:** The Eighth Oneiraeic Sphere is Kemara, the Sphere of the One. It is the rarest and most legendary of all the Spheres known by the Fellowship of Light, and it is a rare and select few indeed who master it. The Sphere of the One enables those who ascend into it to blend all their collective knowledge and skills together, allowing them to act on their cumulative abilities in an instant, without any need for conscious thought. A being in the Sphere of Kemara can instantaneously access any memory, employ any fighting move, or enact any psychic power without the need for any foci, effortlessly fabricate speeches and formulae of astounding brilliance, and access the power of any previous Sphere at the slightest prompting, being fully in tune with all of their emotions. Attaining the Eighth Sphere is believed to be the highest achievement a Zeraphan, or indeed, any being, can ever achieve, as doing so entails the attainment of utter self mastery and enlightenment. Any Zeraphan who manages to ascend to the Eighth Sphere is known as an Exalted One.

### The Four Pillars

The Four Pillars are the classifications that the Order of the Zeraphan gives to the various fields of psychic powers that they have catalogued and devised throughout their study of psionic powers. The Four Pillars together form the House of Erudition, which is the Zeraphan term for their collective knowledge and teachings.

#### The Pillars

**Nubis, The Etheric Pillar:** Nubis, the Etheric Pillar, governs powers of the mind and consciousness, allowing for communion with and command over other conscious beings, as well as with the sensing of the tides of the Great Ocean. It is the most fundamental of the Pillars within the House of Erudition, being the basis of the Oneiraeic Spheres, the skills that separate the Fellowship of Light from more run of the mill psionic orders. Through the use of Nubis, Zeraphan are able to engage in mind reading and alteration, as well as astral projection.

**Isfet, The Vital Pillar:** Isfet, the Vital Pillar, gifts those who master it command over the forces of the universe. Wielding the powers of Isfet enable the Zeraphan to move with strength and grace beyond those unable to wield the Light, summon and unleash raw destructive power upon their foes, and even distort the fabric of space for the purpose of teleportation.

**Maat, The Corporeal Pillar:** Maat, the Corporeal Pillar is so named because it governs physical matter, both lifeless and inert material as well as living tissues. A master of Maat is capable of such feats as transmuting one material into another, reshaping physical structures, altering the vital functions of an organism, and even the animation of the dead.

**Zehuut, The Arcane Pillar:** Zehuut, the Arcane Pillar, gains its name from the fact that it is the most esoteric and difficult to master of the Four Pillars. Zehuut encapsulates powers which govern the flow of time, the evershifting tides of the future, and the deepest mysteries of the Great Ocean and the denizens that dwell there.

## Organization and Rankings

### Progression

Initiate

Acolyte

Magus

Archmagus

Sage??