~02~ video;

[thequeensown]

[Talia has been keeping relatively quiet over the network, but Jack's post caught her attention while she was checking up on things and she responds with a post of her own after gathering her thoughts.]

Hello... my name is Talia and I've had the pleasure of meeting a few of you since my rather rough arrival. [If by rough she meant near death, but that was a trivial matter right now.] As has been brought to your attention already, our hosts appear to be growing ever more impatient with us. In some areas this is as a simple as not offering us jobs, or refusing us service... In other areas, I have been physically jostled aside and I've little doubt that others have suffered similarly. I know rationing and I understand the stress that it puts upon a people, let alone a people that are 'suffering' unexpected guests. This is something more and it concerns me...

[She exhales slowly, because admitting to this had caused her problems in the past and directly caused her to be ostracized and targeted... needless to say, she was wary, but knew it was knowledge that needed to be shared.]

I would like it known that I am an Empath and a Mind Healer. One of the things this grants me is the ability to read the emotions of others and, if I choose, to sway them. The kedan are restless and they are angrier by the day... I'm the strongest Empath in my kingdom, but not even I can manage the entire expanse of Tu Vishan by myself at one time. I have been able to keep tempers calm around the Water Sector, but if you've need of me anywhere, at any time, you've but to send for me and I will come.

Otherwise, I will be making circuits throughout the Sectors and offering what help I may with my abilities. [And she'd continue to do so until she ran herself to the ground or the trouble came to an end.]

Comments

video - private (default encryption)

[wintershepherd]

[ Have a rather panicked looking snowchild who's actually got his hand pressed against the console as though that will somehow make her receive the message faster. ]

Hey, no don't say that! Hurry up, delete this message or something! Please!

video - private (default encryption)

[thequeensown]

[Talia doesnt know encryption from a space shuttle, but as Jack set it, she responds in kind. She recognizes Jack from his past posts, een if she's never spoken with him directly. Unfortunately, others have seen and responded to the post already and though she sees that he is obviously upset, she doesn't know why.]

I- I'm sorry... It's been seen already... What's wrong?

[audio -- 60% encryption]

[angermanaging]

[It doesn't take half a second for Bruce to understand the implications an ability like this could have on preventing an incident. He adds the encryption largely because he's paranoid.]

That's a really kind offer. Do you mind if I ask you about your empathy? And... mind healing?

[video -- 60% encryption]

[thequeensown]

[Talia follows Bruce's lead with the encryption, responding in kind; and a good thing he'd done it himself, because technology and the Herald were not associates.

She gives a half nod in response, having expected that some would have either questions or arguments about her Gifts; she'd dealt with them ever since they'd appeared.]

Of course. What would you like to know?

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[andaway]

[Clark pushes his glasses up before talking, wondering how to word what he wants to say.]

How do you exactly... 'sway' those emotions? Do you change their thoughts or memories at all?

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[thequeensown]

[So many new people speaking to her, but she'd expected such. She had answered many of the same questions in the past and had become rather accustomed to it. She exhales and considers her answer before speaking.]

Empathy is a Mind Magic that grants me the ability to feel the emotions of others, and in my case, to even control them. An Empath can also ‘see’ if certain emotions are strongly connected to a person or event, as emotions leave a telltale imprint on their surroundings. I cannot read someone's thoughts, or alter them. I can see if an individual's mind or memories have been altered or shielded, and I can remove those blocks or alterations and return their mind to them.

I can blanket a person's emotions with those of my choice, whether delicately to let them make their own mind, or remoing the choice entirely; though only in the most dire of circumstances would I even consider such. I cannot change memories... That is not an ability I have, or that I think I would want... emotions are difficult enough. I can make emotions connect to certain thoughts, whether either positive or negative. I have only ever had to do the latter once, while making judgement on a man that had abused his step-daughter, emotionally and... physically... for years. I took her emotional trauma, her horror, pain and anger and imprinted them into his mind so that whenever he had certain thoughts, that he would experience her emotions until he ceased having those thoughts; he would, in essence, be the source of his own cure.

[It had been one of the most severe rulings she had ever made on a Circuit and Kris had asked her about it afterwards. She had told him that she would have made the same ruling if I had ever happened again and she stood by that.]

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[emasculates]

You'd do better to keep those abilities to yourself.

[She has no especial opinion on it one way or another, but then, she's hard-headed as an ox and doubts anything could actually influence her mind without her permission.

She's a little arrogant. Also: Incorrect.]

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[thequeensown]

[She nods her head once in reply, understanding the response.]

I think it better that it be known, rather than found out later. I have lived with accusations and moral arguments about my Gifts for years and would see not having the same here.

[Talia had met very few in her years that were able to shield themselves from her, one of whom was the man that had taken her captive. It wasn't something she liked to prove people wrong about, particularly without their go ahead, as such completely dreamed the subject of trust she expected to have from others.]

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[backwordscompatible]

[Yeah, she could've encrypted the feed. But you know what? Her opinions aren't this matter weren't really a secret, and she didn't care who saw.]

That's really nice of you to offer.

I have to warn you, though: there are some people here who're probably going to take offense to it. I got yelled at for even having the potential to do something like that.

audio; 100% encrypted

[imaginate]

[oh no you didn't.]

Seriously?

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[thequeensown]

[She nods, her smile wan and a bit strained.]

There have always been those that take offense to my Gifts and their usage and their always will. It is unfortunate that the only guidelines I can assure people are my own moral standings as a Herald and directly as Queen's Own. I would not have been Chosen had Rolan not seen the proper traits in me.

I expect a degree of fall out, unfortunately. [She holds her hands out slightly in surrender.] I can only do so much to prove myself, but will do as I can.

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[fatedchaos]

What sort of things does a Mind Healer do? [Not judging or anything, just curious. She's been around enough people with mental abilities that it doesn't bother her.]

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[thequeensown]

[Takia is taking no offense o the questions she's receiving, having expected any number of them. It came with her position, sadly.]

I can see if an individual's mind or memories have been altered or shielded, and I can remove those blocks or alterations and return their mind to them whole. I can act as a counselor and advisor if one seeks it... help with trauma and the healing processes of grief.

video.

[traitre]

[an... interesting ability, to say the least. that is, if she can really do what she says she can do. the more empirical side of him wants to see it in person, to test it out-- but every other part of him is about as adverse to the very thought as one can get.

qilby keeps his tone level, but can't help the frown and furrowed brow.] Well, it certainly takes a considerable amount of bravery to reveal something like this.

So under what situations do you choose to employ your abilities?

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[thequeensown]

[She shakes her head at the first.] It is better they know because I tell them, then to find out after the fact or in other ways.

[Ah, she knew these questions well enough. She'd been asked these questions by nearly every diplomat that came to Court.]

In the past I have used them in service to the Queen and my kingdom. I have used them to assure the safety of the people of Valdemar, and Valdemar's allies. Here, I have used them to calm the kedan and keep them from mobbing, and I have used them to calm a new arrival that was confused and scared. I used them without any semblance of control when I first arrived, as my mental shields were non existent.

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[animalhats]

[ A little suspicious ]

You don't use your powers for evil or anything, do you?

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[thequeensown]

[Ah, younglings, thank Haven. She seemed to get along better with younglings. It's the question, though, that gets her sincere head shake. Her voice is firm and compassionate.]

No, kitling, I do not and have not. At no point in my life have my Gifts been used for such things. [But similar abilities had been turned on her.]

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[thewaythatiam]

[ Astrid is, as ever, deadpan and serious-looking, but she's got a curious shine in her eyes today - an empath who can both sense and manipulate the emotions of those around her, that is very interesting and Astrid wishes to know more.

And, as it's been brought to her attention that their text does not translate, and Talia's obviously not from Earth, she's braving video in order to ask about it. ]

What exactly do your abilities allow you to do aside from that?

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[thequeensown]

[Talia studies the woman through the console, but there is only so much to be gleaned through a screen. The woman seemed keen, though, her gaze intense.]

As I've said... I can sway emotions and sense them from those around me unless they are shielded. [She could get through some mental shields, though not all.]

I can also sense if alterations have been made to the mind and remove them. I can attach emotional responses to set thoughts, either positive or negative... though I've only been forced to the latter once.

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[saisamour]

[ok lbr marius probably hadn't even noticed the kedan giving him nasty stares so this is clearly news to him]

It's a pleasure to speak with you again, mademoiselle. [a short pause!] If you offer to assist everyone with your abilities, would that not tire you extensively?

[does she even tire? he has no idea ok but he's just concerned, you were nice to him when he first arrived. 8'(]

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[thequeensown]

[A familiar face and thankfully one she is fond of. Her expression softens at his concern.]

Hello, Marius... It is true that I can tire and my Gifts use energy like any other ability or exercise. When I tire, I will rest and start again as needed. [Or run herself ragged... Either or. SUBJECT CHANGE!]

How are you feeling?

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[spacehipster]

[ people here need to chill, geez. ] Let me know if anyone gives you trouble because of your abilities.

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[thequeensown]

[Another new face, but this time an offer of aid should she need it. She is silent, her expression a mixture of calm, sadness and appreciation.]

I appreciate you offer, sir... It is most unexpected, but kind.

anonymous text;

[squint]

[ It takes a while for him to get to his usual cafe to log on anonymously, so the text response is delayed compared to the others. ]

Have you done this to anyone in this city?

--Mr. Charles

Video;

[thequeensown]

[Thank Haven they taught everyone to read during their training at the Collegium. Generic language is English, and go! She reads over the text, sitting back and nodding.]

The kedan as tempers have begun to rise and their actions have become volatile... A young man when he first arrived, he was grief stricken and confused and I calmed him enough to explain what had happened and why he was here... And several felt my emotions on my arrival, due to my mental shields being depleted during m-... While I was held captive before my arrival.

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[iwillnotlookback]

Is sorcery so common here?

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[thequeensown]

[Her smile is wry and just a touched strained by this point.]

It appears as common here as it did upon my own world, Your Grace.