Mental Telepathy and Manipulation

**Mental telepathy and manipulation** is an incredibly rare self-usage ability in the VGHW franchise only generated from Owl's computer keyboard gifted to the Brother and Chris. Mental telepathy and manipulation first appeared in *VGHW: The Original Saga - Episode VI (The Mini Movie)*, and is exceptionally rare, elevating its significance and intrigue throughout both the prime and new ages of the saga.

Mental telepathy and manipulation is not just notable for its rarity, but also for the extraordinary amount of energy required to employ it. This, however, has not been a deterrent for its primary user, Chris Seelig. Despite the high energy consumption, Chris has frequently chosen to use this power due to the substantial impact it has on those who fall prey to it.

When this ability is invoked, the user is capable of **telepathically communicating** with or **manipulating the thoughts** and actions of others. This power can have profound consequences, with victims often unable to resist the telepathic influence. Moreover, depending on the strength and control of the user, this ability can reach out to multiple individuals simultaneously, making it an incredibly powerful tool in battles or negotiations.

Due to its high energy demand, use of mental telepathy and manipulation results in **significant fatigue** and lengthy recovery times. However, Chris, demonstrating mastery over this power, seems to have cultivated an exceptional capacity for enduring these effects. His consistent reliance on this ability throughout the saga underscores its strategic importance, despite its exhausting nature. Overall, mental telepathy and manipulation stands as one of the most potent and coveted abilities within the VGHW franchise.

## Profile

The mental telepathy and manipulation ability within the VGHW franchise offers a unique and potent mix of powers, namely **mind-reading**, **mind-controlling**, and **telepathic tracking**. The methods of triggering these abilities vary between characters. Owl and the Brother seem to call upon these abilities innately, with no apparent physical cues. Chris, on the other hand, signals his use of these abilities through a signature smile. This variation adds a layer of depth and uniqueness to each character's execution of the ability.

Interestingly, there are no obvious outward signs when the mental powers are invoked. Instead, the effects are felt intensely by the victim, who must be in a **powerless or weakened state for the abilities to work**. The lack of visible cues makes these powers stealthy and challenging to counteract.

Mind-reading allows the user to delve into the thoughts of the targeted individual, obtaining valuable information without the individual being aware of the intrusion. This aspect of the ability can significantly alter the course of events, providing the user with an unparalleled advantage during confrontations or strategic planning.

Mental manipulation goes a step further, granting the user control over the actions of another individual. This means the user can make the controlled individual speak or act according to their wishes. Like mind-reading, the affected individual has **no memory of being controlled**, making this power particularly insidious. The pairing of mind-reading and mind-controlling abilities creates a formidable duo that can heavily influence the outcome of events.

Finally, the telepathic tracking ability lets the user **mentally track** the whereabouts of individuals who are **frequently seen** or familiar. This powerful surveillance tool further enhances the user's control over situations and individuals, adding to the overall potency of the mental telepathy and manipulation ability.

In summary, the mental telepathy and manipulation ability is a diverse and potent tool within the VGHW franchise. Its utilization requires significant energy and precision but, when executed correctly, can profoundly alter the direction of the narrative.

## Origin

The mental telepathy and manipulation ability within the VGHW franchise is a unique and potent skill set, but its use comes with a high energy cost. This form of mental energy expenditure can be extremely taxing on the user, making sustained use of the ability challenging and potentially debilitating. However, despite this substantial energy requirement, both the Brother and Chris frequently resort to this power, especially when they face a weakened or powerless Wexler.

What's particularly interesting about this ability is its exclusive association with Owl's **completed computer keyboard**. This fact explains why characters like Wexler, Ben, and Dichter, who interacted with the incomplete keyboard to gain their powers in VGHW (2022), were not able to access mental telepathy and manipulation.

It remains a mystery as to the specific modifications or enhancements Owl made to the keyboard to enable it to confer these mental abilities. These details have not been explicitly disclosed within the VGHW franchise lore. Nevertheless, it is clear that whatever changes Owl enacted to finalize the keyboard, they represented a significant advancement over the methodology that Wexler employed in crafting his power machine.

This further solidifies the potency and special status of mental telepathy and manipulation in the VGHW universe, marking it as a power tier above the more commonplace abilities. It also underlines the pivotal role Owl played in amplifying and diversifying the power dynamics within the VGHW franchise, enriching the narrative complexity and providing more depth to character abilities and interactions.

## Important Uses

The application of mental telepathy and manipulation within the VGHW franchise has provided some memorable moments, pushing the narrative forward with unexpected twists and turns. This particular ability has been used to generate some of the saga's most consequential plot developments, often precipitating dramatic confrontations or even altering the trajectory of key characters.

An early instance of mental telepathy and manipulation's impactful application is the Brother's interaction with Remy. The Brother executed a mental hack on Remy, resulting in Remy's sudden disappearance and subsequent entrance into the spirit realm, which ultimately led to his six year long stay. This scenario not only demonstrated the potency of the ability but also hinted at its potential to manipulate the very fabric of reality within the VGHW universe.

However, perhaps the most significant use of this ability unfolded during Chris's interaction with Wexler. Using his mind-reading and manipulation powers, Chris was able to extract vital information about MiP's location from Wexler, without Wexler's conscious awareness. This manipulation allowed Chris to track down and infiltrate TLS headquarters, setting the stage for further confrontations. Interestingly, Wexler's amnesia following this interaction highlighted the insidious and covert nature of mental telepathy and manipulation, as victims remain unaware of the manipulation, further enhancing the ability's strategic value.

However, the exhaustive energy requirements of this power were also emphasized in this narrative arc. Chris's failure to control Leo's mind, following his mental manipulation of Wexler, underscored the significant toll that using this ability takes on the user. Despite its immense potential, mental telepathy and manipulation clearly has its limits within the VGHW universe, balancing its power with a high cost, and thus keeping the narrative tension intact.

## Possessors and Sources:

* Owl: Keyboard (2015)
* The Brother: Keyboard (2015)
* Chris Seelig: Keyboard (2015)