Technomage philosophy

"We are dreamers, shapers, singers, and makers. We study the mysteries of laser and circuit, crystal and scanner, holographic demons and invocations of equations. These are the tools we employ, and we know many things. Fourteen words to make someone fall in love with you forever, seven words to make them go without pain, how to say goodbye to a friend who is dying, how to be poor, how to be rich, how to rediscover dreams when the world has stolen them from you."

- Credo of the Technomages

REALITY can be viewed as a giant multi-dimensional matrix, in which each level of the matrix represents a level of perception or existence. Quintessence is the energy which flows through this matrix and keeps it connected and in existence. Most humans operate only at the level of mundane existence. An awakened individual has learned to access data from the other levels. The spirit world for example is a data level that is parallel to that of the physical/mundane world.

What we percieve as physical objects are actually multi-dimensional arrays of data. Once you learn to percieve a particular type of array, you can alter the data in it, by "flipping the bits". The ancient concept of yin and yang was right – the ancients merely misunderstood how it worked and how to make practical use of it – you simply interpret yin as one binary state, and yang as the other--0s and 1s. By flipping the bits, you can change an object's motion, physical state, composition, etc.

This merely requires an act of will, once the appropriate data is perceived. This is easier with the use of a computer to help model the necessary changes for you. To move yourself or an object, you simply move the data to a different location in the array. By changing the level on which it is stored, you can move objects between the spirit and physical world, and so forth. By finding a level of the matrix that is not being used, virtual realities can be created by changing their data contents and then finding away to enable people to access this level of the universal Matrix.

Each reality has its own operating system. This makes up the rules of that reality. The minds of its inhabitants are constantly rewriting the operating system. It is possible to bypass the operating system and monkey with the hardware, but some operating systems have built in programs, known as paradox programs, that try to prevent this. Physical reality has very effective paradox programs, but they can be tricked by deviating from the operating systems approved operations as subtly as possible. By masking your actions as an approved one, it is possible to evade the attention of paradox programs for long periods of time. One of our goals is to rewrite the Operating System of physical reality.

As the Technomages are also aware that reality is subjective, this leads to some curious double-thinking on the part of Technomages. On the one hand, they study reality to understand its laws, and on the other hand they shape reality so that the laws they desire hold true.

Technomages see themselves as the guardians of humanity. They aid the masses by several means. First and foremost, they war against the supernatural and/or alien forces which the masses have neither the ability or the strength of will to resist themselves. They raise the general standard of living, by providing new and better technology. More recently, they have begun to protect the masses from themselves, suppressing dangerous impulses and working to build a better man through new breakthroughs in genetic engineering.

Technology is, in many ways, more important than science to the Technomages. While the masses do not understand science, they can grasp the benefits of technology. As the belief of the masses shape reality, technology is much more useful than science. The Technocracy will occasionally reverse engineer science to allow or disallow certain technologies. Technology is also their greatest gift to the common man, as is reflected by the slogan "Technology: Magic for the Masses".

~*~

Technomages use technology in new and different ways. Combine ingenuity with the technological knowledge of the various races and the result is startling. Little is known about what technologies are used and how they are controlled. Be reminded, though, that not all of their powers require technological aid. Knowledge and intelligence give them a great edge. Listed below are some "spells" that have been recorded as being used:

• Destroy Technology - A Technomage can short out technological items in her vicinity. The limits of this spell are unknown.
• Matter Reconstitution - A Technomage can produce an item (even organic structures) from apparently nothing. Perhaps it is merely slight of hand.
• Project Holo - This can take many forms: From projecting a small image from the palm of the hand to a mirror image of the mage across a room. These images are accompanied by sound projected from their location.
• Sense Technology - The Technomage can detect devices in his vicinity.
• Summon Holodemon - A holodemon is a general term for a series of holographic and AI programs at the beck and call of a Technomage. Some are meant to frighten, like Guardian Demons. Some gremlin programs wreak havoc with their mischief. Some consider the Demon AI programs to be the worst. The Holodemon AI program invades a victim's computer system and learns all it can about the victim. Then it proceeds to do everything it can to harass the victim (feeding on files, manipulating the victim's finances, playing the victim's most hated music). This program has caused many victims to come crawling to the technomage who cast it, begging forgiveness.

Telepathic Abilities:

• L1-L2 Telepathic abilities are minimal and erratic: mild empathy, some blocking abilities. The Technomages track and log them for genetic purposes. Technomages of this level go into research.
• L3-L4 Telepathic abilities are minimal and erratic: mild empathy, some blocking abilities. The Technomages track and log them for genetic purposes. Technomages of this level go into research.
• L5-L6 Can receive strong emotions, some detailed information in brief bursts. Technomages of this rating usually belong to the Engineers.
• L7-L9 Can receive strong emotions, some detailed information in brief bursts. At his level, leadership positions within the Technomages are available: from administrating the numerous testing and training centers to managing the Engineers.
• L10-L11 Powerful enough to rip the information out of a resisting person. Technomages of this level are mostly teachers or indoctrinators of other Technomages.
• L12 A Technomage of this level either becomes a Inquisitor or dead. A Technomage is given the authority to enforce all laws and is charged with recovering rogue Technomages. The scanning range of a L12 Technomage is greatly increased when in hyperspace, allowing her to pinpoint the location of ships through though waves emanating from the crew.
• L13+ Can not be achieved by humans.
  

Intro story: The Journey from Earth World Rules Message Board