Awakening

The awakening is a phenomenon in the world of Arlec where a person grows beyond what is classed as their normal capabilities.

## History

The description of an ‘Awakened’ individual draws its history all the way back to the First Era. However, after the ‘Falling Gods’ event ended the Second Era, the description was finally called the Awakening.

### The First Awakened

The first Awakened is the event that made the world of Arlec realise that something had drastically changed in their people. While people with Awakened abilities had lived before this moment, nothing was written in the new history, making it the first recorded act.

The report details that the first Awakened were a group of friends travelling one day, their destination not important. The group had picked up a simple escort job for a carriage. On their travels, they were attacked. The story goes that it was a monster that came out, though primary sources are hard to find, none mentioning what actually attacked them. Nonetheless, during the fight, some of the friends were injured. Enraged by the pain of their friends, they awoke something deep down inside them, a power that had been hidden. Releasing this power, they were able to push their bodies beyond what was normal and defeat their foe, saving the carriage and their friends.

Since their awakening, they continued to grow stronger, though started back where they were, soon passing beyond peak mortal form. The way they Awakened would later be termed as a ‘Forced Awakening’.

## Process

To Awaken an individual, there are two processes. The first, stated above, is a forced Awakening. The second was developed later, called a Guided Awakening.

### Forced

A Forced Awakening occurs when a person who could be classed as an Awakened has a stressful event in their life, such as a fight or a near-death experience. This event causes a fight-or-flight response, bringing their powers to the forefront and manifesting themselves. When a person forcefully awakens, they can show power that they have not yet achieved, seen sometimes as their potential. After the event is over, they return back to normal, but can now train and grow beyond their old limits.

### Guided

A Guided Awakening only came later in history. After adventuring guilds began popping up to recruit Awakened individuals they quickly found out that there was only a small number. So, they came up with the idea of finding out if a person was Awakened before they had to have their stressful event.

The creation of the Aka Orb was used to fit this purpose. Allowing the individual to know if they have the powers of an Awakened or not simply by touching it. Yet, the orb did not awaken an individual, only telling them that they can. These individuals became known as a Hidden Alora, or Hidden Light.

Next, came the Concieo Orb. Once they know that the individual can awaken, they provide them with the Concieo Orb. This orb simply releases the restrictions on someone that is blocking their awakening, bringing them to a point where they would be as if they had finished their Forced Awakening.

## Awakened

Awakened individuals have been able to show a few things that differ them from the normal races, other than the fact that they can push their strength and intelligence beyond what is considered normal.

### Abilities

**Healing Ability** - After taking a series of heavy attacks, an Awakened individual who completes a long rest can seemingly return back to normal, healing almost all the wounds they received. Only attacks that specifically target this ability ignore stop this from occurring.

**Increased Endurance** - Awakened individuals have shown high levels of endurance. When they take normally lethal shots, they are brought to a state of unconsciousness instead of dying, though some can even continue fighting in this stage.

**Longevity** - Awakened individuals have been shown to have longer lifespans than the normal person. Magical individuals even moreso. They are able to remain in their peak form longer, with some types of Awakened keeping their peak form even into their elderly years. The extension of their life depends on what race they are, Elves not benefitting from this ability.

**Magical Connection** - While normal individuals can only attune to a single, or in very rare cases a second, magical item, Awakened individuals can attune to three, some even reaching more. It likely comes down to their Increased Endurance, but scientists have been unable to figure out why.

**Magic** - Some types of Awakened individuals are able to use magic, whether it comes naturally, they learn it or make a deal. They have shown to have a unique connection with the weave that normal people have been unable to grasp, even stronger than the races that have naturally obtained magical abilities.