Dreamer Info, Part 1 Basic Info I've spent the past few years creating and adding to these chars, and they are still very much a work in progress. I think it's time that I took a step back and see what other people make of them, though. If you feel that any of this info needs to be modified, please let me know. Nothing on these pages is written in stone, and I'm flexible, and open to criticisms. Note: this is all basic details, and then some. Also, the organization below is not exact. Contents: I. Introduction A: Reason for being B. Absolute basics II. Magic A. Mage levels 1. Dolphin 2. Eagle 3. Unicorn 4. Phoenix 5. Dragon B. Elemental Dreamers III. Basic Info A. Process 1. Finding/Choosing 2. Minors 3. Majors B. Dreamer's Oath C. Beliefs D. The Cygnus Sword E. Titles Dreamers can probably be best described as knights sworn to protect the Astral plane, and Dreamtime. Except for their abilities and oaths, they are normal human beings. Dreamers are sworn to protect the innocent, free will, those with strong wills and compassion, and dreams. Their enemies are those who steal dreams, crush spirits, and take away free will. Their allies are humans with Dreamer powers who are unsuitable for various reasons, or who share at least some of their views. First and foremost, Dreamers are mages. However, they can only affect the physical plane with their magic in limited ways. It is on the Astral plane, and Dreamtime (the Australian definition of it) that their powers are strong. Even there, however, they are limited by their Oath. (More on this later.) Important: Dreamers exist on the physical and Astral planes simultaneously. They cannot physically be on the Astral. However, they can project their Astral selves almost anywhere on the physical plane, within a certain range. They can also project their image to a specific person, but they must have some kind of link to them. A photo will do in a pinch, but a physical link is best, especially if the Dreamer has already met the person they are projecting to. After a potential child is Found, has Chosen to become a Dreamer, and taken a modified version of the Oath, then they are asked to empty their minds completely. Whatever form they take is who they are apprenticed to. There are two types of Dreamer, Dreamers themselves, and Guardians, who act almost like bodyguards for the Dreamers, though they fight as a team. They are bonded for life at the time a Dreamer becomes a Minor, a bond so tight very little except death can break it. However, there are rare exceptions. Dreamers without a Guardian must deal with a constant sense of loss and pain. A Guardian's totem is always the Gryphon, and their leader is the Gryphon Major. Also, there are Majors and Minors. Majors are the masters, the Minors their apprentices. In case the Major has died before a Minor has been Found, the Minor is trained by the rest of the Dreamers. A Minor is ready to become a Major after around three years. The minimum age for Majors to be sworn in is 16. There are 5 levels a mage can reach, if they have the potential. Each level is associated with an element. Dreamers have a limited control over their elements, adding elements as they progress through the levels. Also, each element is associated with a totem animal. The levels are based on the amount of power the mage has the ability to use, and how much training they've received. All Dreamers have a natural ability to use magic. Also, on the astral plane, they can metamorphose into different forms, but it is only there that those forms have solidity. On the physical, those forms appear as only illusion... although the illusions are extremely convincing, to even the most sharp eyed. What forms they can take depends on their level. The exception to this is when they have access to a LOT of magic, or they are in a high adrenaline situation, such as a battle. However, afterwards, they will collapse from exhaustion, drained of almost all their energy. This can be remedied if someone gives the some of their own energy. A Dreamer will only take what is freely given, and no more energy than they need. Also, a Dreamer can only physically take a limited number of forms, which must be learned. Not only that, but the Dreamer will take on some of the characteristics of the physical form. For instance, those who choose equine forms (including unicorns) will often have high strung nerves while in that form. Predatory forms will also be a bit more bloodthirsty than peaceful forms. The lowest level is Dolphin, which is roughly equivalent to an Apprentice. All Dreamers start out at Dolphin level, until they receive training in basics like shielding. Their element is Water. They can only take the form of their totem, the dolphin, or their normal, human form. All Dreamers can take these forms. Next is Eagle, which are the equivalent of Novices. After receiving enough basic training, Dreamers become Eagle level, and begin to learn to change forms easily, and also begin to receive weapons training, as well as how to fight in different forms. All weapons are low-tech on the Astral... swords, daggers, and bows are common. On the physical, many elect to also learn to use more "modern" weapons. Weapons training never ceases over the course the Dreamer's lifetime, and they are expected to keep in practice. Eagle's element is Air. They can take the form of any non magical animal. The Eagle and Dolphin are considered the non-magical totems, and Air and Water are the mutable elements, meaning they can easily be altered by magic. Most Dreamers are still Eagles when they are sworn as Minors. Unicorns are roughly the same as Journeymen. A Dreamer must have a certain amount of potential to move from Eagle to Unicorn level. Unicorns are the first of the three magical totems. They are trained in more defensive and offense magics than Eagles. Their element is Earth. In addition to the forms they could take as Dolphins and Eagles, they can also take the form of the unicorn, and gryphons. All Guardians are at least Unicorn level before they are assigned. Phoenixes, totems of the element of Fire, are the same as Masters. They can safely use more power than Unicorns, and are the second of the two immutable elements, as well as the second of the magic totems. Most Dreamers are either Unicorns or Phoenixes. They can take the form of their totem, as well as all the forms they learned at previous levels. Much rarer than the other levels are Dragons, the Adepts among Dreamers. They have mastered limited control over all 4 elements. In addition to all the other forms they have learned, they alone are privileged enough to take the form of a Dragon. They can handle a lot of magic, but it comes with a price. Dragon Dreamers often die young, either in battle or simply by using more power than even they can handle. In addition, using so much power is extremely draining for them, so they normally use as little magic as possible. They have the strongest wills of any Dreamer, which helps them handle so much magic. They are vulnerable in another way, as well. They can become reliant on their magic, which can be devastating when they are in an area that has very little of it. Rarest of the rare are the Elemental Dreamers, of which only 5 ever exist at any given time. Their totem is one of the ones belonging to an Element. They have complete mastery over their element, and are ranked by the level of their Element. Greatest of them all is the Dragon Dreamer, who has complete mastery over all 5 Elements. Each Dreamer has a specific role, based on their totem. Some teach the Minors, some are weaponsmasters, some keep the records, some are healers, some scouts, some warriors. All are united by their abilities and Oath. *****-----*****-----*****-----*****-----*****-----*****-----*****-----*****----- Their abilities are limited mainly to the Astral plane. When fighting on the physical, they must resort to mundane means, or use illusions. If there is enough magic, they can change forms physically while fighting, as described above. Illusions are, after all, a type of waking dream. Magicwise, on the physical, they are mainly limited to illusions, and shields. In this way, Dolphins and Eagles are stronger than Unicorns or Phoenixes, and to some extent, Dragons, while on the physical plane. A child with Dreamer potential is generally Found at around age 12 to 14 by a Dreamer. The child is watched from a distance, and put through several trials. Among the qualities the Dreamer looks for are a strong will, compassion, a sense of honor, honesty, and loyalty. Should the child pass the trials and show these qualities, they are approached while sleeping. This generally occurs between ages 14 and 16. The Dreamer uses one of the abilities unique to them... the ability to create and change dreams. The child is told of the Dreamers, their mission, their Oath... everything, including the hardships they will face if they choose the path of a Dreamer. The child is asked to Choose their path. There is no shame in refusing... Dreamers do not take the unwilling. If they Choose to be a Dreamer, they begin their training, their totem is found using the method described above, and they are given a taste of what a Dreamer's life is like. When the become Eagles, they are again asked if they still want to follow this path. Again, there is no shame in refusing. If they agree, they are sworn in as a Minor, assigned a Guardian, and apprenticed to their totem's Major. Finally, upon the death or retirement of their Major, they are asked one last time if they still want to be a Dreamer. Those who refuse at this point are extremely rare, but there is still no shame in it. Those who agree are sworn in as a Major, and the cycle begins again. The Dreamer's Oath is similar to that of a knight's, save for the oath of fealty. Dreamers are encouraged to act independently. All are sworn to protect the innocent, and each other. Serious Oathbreakers are stripped of their rank, their powers are locked away so they can never use them again, and they are shunned by all Dreamers from that day forth. Many Dreamers are not religious. Centuries ago, when magic was more prevalent, they could do much more magic on the physical plane. Fearful non-Dreamers, who didn't understand that Dreamers are sworn to protect, branded them as witches, and burned some at the stake. To this day, many Dreamers shy away from religions that frown upon magic, afraid that they will be shunned for their abilities and chosen path. Those who are religious keep their abilities a secret. Some of the non-religious ones regret their choice to give up religion, but none regret becoming a Dreamer. A dreamer's uniform is simple, and serves a purpose: to conceal their identity in hostile places. It consists of a tunic, breeches, moccasins or boots, and most importantly, a hooded cloak with scarf, all made of soft doeskin and/or wool. The color depends on that Dreamer's totem. Also, there is always a stylized representation of their totem stitched into the back of the cloak. When out among non-Dreamers, they often forgo wearing their uniform, unless they are on official business. One of the Dreamer's most prized weapons is the Cygnus Sword. It is made of crystal and sliver, and is normally fragile. It is basically a sword made of crystal, with a sliver core. However, during a battle, the Cygnus can pour some of her own energy into it, causing it to glow with magic. While charged, it is nearly unbreakable. It is NOT magical itself. However, it is constructed to act as a focus. The silver and crystal work together to make it conductive to magic. Using the sword is extremely draining, to the point where the Cygnus is normally near unconscious afterwards, so it is only used when it is needed most. Finally, there's the question of titles. A Dreamer almost never goes by their given name around strangers, rather, they go by their totem, or a nickname. The exception is when those strangers have no idea that they are a Dreamer, or even what a Dreamer is, and they're NOT in Uniform. The moment that uniform is put on, given names are NOT used, unless among fellow Dreamers in secure locations. Cygnata, for example is an informal form of Cygnus Major. A Dreamer's full title is in the following format: " Dreamer ". For example, the full title of the Cygnus major I use in the book (and as an online persona) is Unicorn Dreamer Cygnus Major. Guardians have a slightly different format: "Dreamer Guardian ". Elemental dreamers use " Dreamer". They more commonly go by their Totems: Delphius, Aquila, Uni, Phoenix (never came up with anything... she's currently The Phoenix), and Draco. This prevents confusion with the mage levels. Among themselves, Dreamers will occasionally use each other's given first names, however, their middle and last names are used ONLY during the Oathtaking. There are, of course, exceptions, to even this rule. A Dreamer will give their full given name to people they trust when absolutely necessary. OK... I think that's all the basic info I can remember at the moment, and then some. Part 2 will cover some of this information in more depth. I will be happy to answer any questions you have, and elaborate and edit as need be. Let me know what you think. :)