Miscellaneous Loroi question-and-answer thread

[harlequin2262]

Oh, damn, I didn't check the lexicon first. Cheers, Dragoon.

[Sweforce]

In page 101, Beryl mentions a 'cultural selan '. What does that particular Loroi word mean? I assume it's something to the effect of 'practises/mores/codes/taboos'? Or is there a particular reason why the word was not translated?

I think you mean page 44

http://well-of-souls.com/outsider/outsider044.html

And the lexicon here has that word as 'taboo'. The reason as to why it isn't translated, that I think is down to let it be shown that Alex doesn't know the trade lexicon of the Loroi. He was taught Trade from the Orgus who were using the Historian lexicon iirc. The Loroi have several words of their own.

Even if the words are exactly the same, culture effected by historical context have it's own effect. A practical example: The concept of a "slave ship". To us this brings up the horrors of trade in human lives. For another culture, not connected to this historical context, especially a high technology one, a "slave ship" could be a ship set to follow another ship automatically with no need for a crew of it'so own. It is even possible that this is how loroi supply convoys are done if someone wants to use this concept in a fan fiction. Or perhaps the or orgus does.

[Sweforce]

The article on Psychokinesis does discuss this subject a bit, if you haven't already seen it.
http://well-of-souls.com/outsider/forum ... nesis.html

hmmmm, I must have missed or overlooked this part when I first read: "....A variety of side effects can result from amplification, again varying by individual, including headaches, fatigue, nausea, temporary impairment of vision, or reduction in effective PK skill. In extreme cases of prolonged amplification, lesions or plaques can form in the brain, resulting in seizures, permanent loss of vision, psychosis, or even death." I wonder if Fireblade's apparent lack of ability to speak trade language is a side effect of her PK amplifier? It has never been explained, and I had assumed she didn't want to "lower" herself by verbal communication.

This is what you get for manufacturing amplifiers without knowing why they work. A suggestion, let the wearer touch it with finger somewhere to activate it when extra power is needed then shut it of again to minimise exposure. An automated shutoff function could be included for those that tend to forget to shut them of after use. The device simply goes into sleep mode after a while. A telekinesis user could perhaps use a telekinetic on/off switch.

[Krulle]

If they even need power.
We do not know how they work, maybe it's just some kind of harmonics device, thus amplifying the tele* powe through harmonised waves, similar to lasers......

*=-kinesis;-pathic,...

[Sweforce]

If they even need power.
We do not know how they work, maybe it's just some kind of harmonics device, thus amplifying the tele* powe through harmonised waves, similar to lasers......

*=-kinesis;-pathic,...

In that case I guess that you would have to mechanically "break" them, do something to make them non functional until needed. A classical break open shotgun is a good analogy. Carry the the gun in open mode for maximum security and close it only when you are about to take aim.

[orion1836]

If they even need power.
We do not know how they work, maybe it's just some kind of harmonics device, thus amplifying the tele* powe through harmonised waves, similar to lasers......

*=-kinesis;-pathic,...

*=-panty

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. No, I'm not sorry at all.

SpoilerShow

[Zamballo]

What is the maximum Loroi can achieve with telekinetics? Both in power and in control. Can the best Teidar lift a horse/car/house? Can the best Mizol open a bottle/thread a needle/catch a fly?

Is Alex inborn Lotai achievable for Loroi?

[dex drako]

What is the maximum Loroi can achieve with telekinetics? Both in power and in control. Can the best Teidar lift a horse/car/house? Can the best Mizol open a bottle/thread a needle/catch a fly?

Is Alex inborn Lotai achievable for Loroi?

well fire blade can lift 2 tons i believe and she can also heat objects so she can take out a tank by heating the armor till it fails then hitting it with two tons of force.

[Sweforce]

What is the maximum Loroi can achieve with telekinetics? Both in power and in control. Can the best Teidar lift a horse/car/house? Can the best Mizol open a bottle/thread a needle/catch a fly?

Is Alex inborn Lotai achievable for Loroi?

I am sort of curious about those with good telekinetic ability but lacking the other requirements teidar or mizol. Do they get a chance to use their ability as well? A gallen could probably make use of an invisible extra third arm for example. Anyone working with tools could probably relate to this.

I understand that loroi lotai require active concentration. That should impare the ability to do other complicated tasks.

[dex drako]

I am sort of curious about those with good telekinetic ability but lacking the other requirements teidar or mizol. Do they get a chance to use their ability as well? A gallen could probably make use of an invisible extra third arm for example. Anyone working with tools could probably relate to this.

I understand that loroi lotai require active concentration. That should impare the ability to do other complicated tasks.

i take it as telekinetic powers are so rare and important it doesn't matter what other requirements they need the teidar or mizol will find something to do with you.

[Arioch]

What is the maximum Loroi can achieve with telekinetics? Both in power and in control. Can the best Teidar lift a horse/car/house? Can the best Mizol open a bottle/thread a needle/catch a fly?

Fireblade is near the top end of Loroi in terms of psychokinetic power (at peak performance she can lift about 3 tons), but there is no hard cap on power. PK users with high skill (like Tempo) can perform pretty much any manual feat that a dexterous person could do with her hands.

Is Alex inborn Lotai achievable for Loroi?

There are no Loroi born without a telepathic signature, if that's what you're asking. Even someone born with severe brain damage and who was a telepathic mute would still have a signature.

I am sort of curious about those with good telekinetic ability but lacking the other requirements teidar or mizol. Do they get a chance to use their ability as well? A gallen could probably make use of an invisible extra third arm for example. Anyone working with tools could probably relate to this.

I understand that loroi lotai require active concentration. That should impare the ability to do other complicated tasks.

A Loroi with sufficient PK power (when amplified) to apply lethal force will usually be made Teidar.
A Loroi with any PK who also has high unamplified telepathy power will usually be made Mizol.
A Loroi with low power in both will usually be assigned to the family's traditional caste as usual; this ability may be useful, but it's not common enough that there are formal training practices to maximize PK use for that specialty (though you may be able to find a mentor). It's common enough that in any large gathering of "ordinary" Loroi there's a fair chance that one of them has some PK ability; this is why games like dice are not popular, because you never know for sure whether someone is secretly screwing with the pieces. If the ability is latent, the PK may not consciously know herself. (PK Ouija board games can get freaky.)

[Zamballo]

There are no Loroi born without a telepathic signature, if that's what you're asking. Even someone born with severe brain damage and who was a telepathic mute would still have a signature.

In the Insider you describe Lotai as hiding ones signature, which, while rare and difficult is possible for Loroi. So I was wondering if Alex with his presumably perfect Lotai is something the Loroi have themselfes or if he's more like a unicorn to them. If the former, Stillstorms behaviour appears far more reasonable.

[Arioch]

There are no Loroi born without a telepathic signature, if that's what you're asking. Even someone born with severe brain damage and who was a telepathic mute would still have a signature.

In the Insider you describe Lotai as hiding ones signature, which, while rare and difficult is possible for Loroi. So I was wondering if Alex with his presumably perfect Lotai is something the Loroi have themselfes or if he's more like a unicorn to them. If the former, Stillstorms behaviour appears far more reasonable.

It is possible to learn to consciously disguise one's telepathic signature, but there are not Loroi who are simply born without one.

[Zamballo]

Can a Loroi then learn to become undetectable even when the other Loroi is right in front of them? Like Alex seems to be to Tempo on the bridge.

[Sweforce]

Can a Loroi then learn to become undetectable even when the other Loroi is right in front of them? Like Alex seems to be to Tempo on the bridge.

I doubt that is possible and if it is it would probably require absolute concentration. This is what makes Alex such a freak. A Loroi with Alex lotai would probably be considered to be an holographic projection or perhaps a robot.

[Siber]

It occurred to me recently that the "seems to be" construction of polite Loroi speech has the feature of allowing the speaker to be contradicted by someone else without it being directly interpertable as being an accusation of falsehood. I wonder if that's an intentional aspect of it, or Arioch's part, or just a happy accident?

[orion1836]

It occurred to me recently that the "seems to be" construction of polite Loroi speech has the feature of allowing the speaker to be contradicted by someone else without it being directly interpertable as being an accusation of falsehood. I wonder if that's an intentional aspect of it, or Arioch's part, or just a happy accident?

It sounds a lot like the face-saving language style of the East. Nice cultural touchstone and realistic for a society where emotion is conveyed with language.

[cacambo43]

this is why games like dice are not popular, because you never know for sure whether someone is secretly screwing with the pieces.

How could they not know, unless that player is using lotai, in which case everyone would be suspicious of them anyway?

CJSF

[Arioch]

Can a Loroi then learn to become undetectable even when the other Loroi is right in front of them? Like Alex seems to be to Tempo on the bridge.

No. The closer you are, the harder it is to disguise or hide your signature. Trying to hide your signature when the other Loroi can clearly see you would serve no purpose.

It occurred to me recently that the "seems to be" construction of polite Loroi speech has the feature of allowing the speaker to be contradicted by someone else without it being directly interpertable as being an accusation of falsehood. I wonder if that's an intentional aspect of it, or Arioch's part, or just a happy accident?

It's a little of both. I was initially using "seems" instead of "is" because the latter wasn't in the lexicon yet, but it occurred to me that it was an appropriate polite form (as it's an obfuscation).

this is why games like dice are not popular, because you never know for sure whether someone is secretly screwing with the pieces.

How could they not know, unless that player is using lotai, in which case everyone would be suspicious of them anyway?

Lotai is the ability to hide or disguise one's telepathic signature. There are skills to detect PK use, but not everyone has them, and they have nothing to do with telepathic signature.

[cacambo43]

OK, maybe I meant wouldn't the other players know what the "cheater" was thinking, or is it the case with sanzai that if you're not "talking" no one "hears" you?

CJSF