Miscellaneous Loroi question-and-answer thread

[Arioch]

I got a question about loroi telepathy and how it relates/affects other alien races. Provided the aliens have no mask, do loroi automatically know/feel/sense what aliens are thinking? Or do loroi have to actively ‘reach out’ in order to read an aliens thoughts? And can aliens develop mental exercises to conceal their thoughts or secrets? Or is that basically impossible?

Susceptibility to Loroi telepathy is variable. There have been examples of species that are especially susceptible (the Golim) and those who are especially resistant (the Mannadi).

[Snoofman]

I got a question about loroi telepathy and how it relates/affects other alien races. Provided the aliens have no mask, do loroi automatically know/feel/sense what aliens are thinking? Or do loroi have to actively ‘reach out’ in order to read an aliens thoughts? And can aliens develop mental exercises to conceal their thoughts or secrets? Or is that basically impossible?

Susceptibility to Loroi telepathy is variable. There have been examples of species that are especially susceptible (the Golim) and those who are especially resistant (the Mannadi).

Thank you Arioch. But I was referring to how susceptible loroi are to aliens. For example, if a Barsam is present within a loroi’s range of sanzai, will that loroi immediately know what the Barsam is feeling and thinking? Or does she have to willfully ‘reach out’ in order to uncover that Barsam’s mind? Could a Barsam protect his own thoughts so to speak from a loroi?

[Arioch]

I got a question about loroi telepathy and how it relates/affects other alien races. Provided the aliens have no mask, do loroi automatically know/feel/sense what aliens are thinking? Or do loroi have to actively ‘reach out’ in order to read an aliens thoughts? And can aliens develop mental exercises to conceal their thoughts or secrets? Or is that basically impossible?

Susceptibility to Loroi telepathy is variable. There have been examples of species that are especially susceptible (the Golim) and those who are especially resistant (the Mannadi).

Thank you Arioch. But I was referring to how susceptible loroi are to aliens. For example, if a Barsam is present within a loroi’s range of sanzai, will that loroi immediately know what the Barsam is feeling and thinking? Or does she have to willfully ‘reach out’ in order to uncover that Barsam’s mind? Could a Barsam protect his own thoughts so to speak from a loroi?

As far as anyone in the Union is aware, telepathy only goes one way, and the Loroi are the only known telepathic species. This means that while a particular Barsam might be able to detect that he is being telepathically probed by a Loroi, this does not endow him with the ability to read the Loroi doing the probing.

While most Loroi can read general intentions from many species at moderate to long distances, the literal reading of minds requires very close range, and in many case physical contact.

[jterlecki]

What would be the overall reaction of the leadership of the Loroi if they met a new sentient species tomorrow morning that was telepathic/psionic like them? Would it be a cause for concern (as they do not have their 'edge' anymore) or would be something they would be able to rejoice about (finally someone like us!). Assume that first contact was not hostile.

[Snoofman]

What would be the overall reaction of the leadership of the Loroi if they met a new sentient species tomorrow morning that was telepathic/psionic like them? Would it be a cause for concern (as they do not have their 'edge' anymore) or would be something they would be able to rejoice about (finally someone like us!). Assume that first contact was not hostile.

My guess… a chaotic mash of mixed reactions. I’m sure the Listels and other curious among loroi would be fascinated and eager to find out how such an alien form of telepathy works. Other more zealot loroi warriors might be mortified for the reasons you’ve just stated. Not to
Mention while there certainly may be loroi and telepathic aliens that would make great chaps, there are bound to be psionic aliens and loroi that would find cause to lash out at each other since they can more easily sense what each the other is thinking. As for the Torrais, I’m sure the majority of them would be desperate to cut off any Union races from seeking dialogue with such psionics. Indeed I wouldn’t be surprised if a number of them look for any justification to either subjugate or annihilate the psionics in order to preserve their dominion. While another bunch, likely with Mizol background, will be eager to discuss alliances that will satisfy the psionics while not jeoprodizing the loroi’s claim to be the ruling race.

[Keklas Rekobah]

Has anyone tried "photoshopping" images of live models to look like Outsider characters?

[Quickdraw101]

Susceptibility to Loroi telepathy is variable. There have been examples of species that are especially susceptible (the Golim) and those who are especially resistant (the Mannadi).

Thank you Arioch. But I was referring to how susceptible loroi are to aliens. For example, if a Barsam is present within a loroi’s range of sanzai, will that loroi immediately know what the Barsam is feeling and thinking? Or does she have to willfully ‘reach out’ in order to uncover that Barsam’s mind? Could a Barsam protect his own thoughts so to speak from a loroi?

As far as anyone in the Union is aware, telepathy only goes one way, and the Loroi are the only known telepathic species. This means that while a particular Barsam might be able to detect that he is being telepathically probed by a Loroi, this does not endow him with the ability to read the Loroi doing the probing.

While most Loroi can read general intentions from many species at moderate to long distances, the literal reading of minds requires very close range, and in many case physical contact.

I wondered how this worked, since it was stated either here or on the extras page, that insurgencies are hard against the Loroi because if any member passes by a Loroi soldier, they'd get gunned down. In a very large crowd of people, how does a single Loroi determine who is who?

Or to be more specific, in some hypothetical scenario where a Loroi could read a Human's mind. Said Human needs to walk past a Soroin to get to the store. In his mind, he's focused on buying groceries. Would the Soroin be able to tell he is going to buy groceries?

[Cthulhu]

A "normal" Soroin could probably sense the general mood and emotional state, nothing else, but a disguised Mizol operative? It's classified.

[Arioch]

Telepathic skill varies greatly between Loroi individuals, especially as regards interactions with aliens. Hostility is comparatively easy to sense; a Soroin is not authorized to gun down random civilians just because she sensed hostility, but she might order the group of civilians to halt, and go through and touch each one, if she has that level of ability. Occupation units will have as many Mizol and telepathy-specialized Teidar as they can muster, who have much stronger ability to read thoughts, some even at range.

[Cthulhu]

That didn't help that much during the Mannadi occupation or especially the Enok incident, so it does have its limitations. Could the Farseers or their male equivalents be able to sense the general mood of the (alien) population, and how specific and accurate would that assessment be?

[Tamri]

As far as I understand, the answer will be something like "average temperature in the hospital" at best.

By the way, the need to touch every suspicious alien to find out the reasons for the negativity (especially in the occupied zone, where it is difficult to find someone WITHOUT negativity in the direction of the occupiers) may well end up for Loroi in getting into ambushes and provocations if the resistance knows about such protocols.

[Cthulhu]

That's why I asked about the Farseers, perhaps it is possible to pinpoint, quantify or even analyze the feelings (perhaps even thought patters)?

[Arioch]

Could the Farseers or their male equivalents be able to sense the general mood of the (alien) population, and how specific and accurate would that assessment be?

No.

[Keklas Rekobah]

AFAIK & IMHO: "Seeing" (or "Timaio"?) is little more than the detection of sentient minds.  Non-Loroi sentients, while capable of conscious thought, either experience different emotions or experience emotions differently than Loroi.  Arioch has said, "The content of the message is not exactly transmission of 'thought' or 'emotion', but is faster and more expressive than spoken language." (Forum Digest, "Telepathy", third paragraph, first sentence.)

So sanzai is not so much an act of communicating "thought-words" or "though-feels" as it is an act of communicating both content and context of a message.

This should be easy when the target is a another Loroi in close proximity; but what does the bistimadi sense when focused on an alien world in another star system?  Likely, the "hum" of billions of minds going about their business -- imagine listening to an AM shortwave receiver during the high point of a sunspot cycle; you know something is being said, but it is impossible to pick out any one voice.  Maybe all they sense is a gestaltic "Yes, I Am" self-awareness.

Bistimadi might have a better chance of determining the overall mood of a nearby Loroi community; but it is more likely that a quiet stroll through a community while "listening" to random surface thoughts would be their preferred method.

Anyway, this is mostly guesswork, based on what I have gleaned from the Forum Digest and various fora.  Loroi are telepathic, not empathic . . . just ask Teidar Pallan Leinnol. 

Fireblade: "?Maie" " <disdain><contempt> "!"

[Cthulhu]

Could the Farseers or their male equivalents be able to sense the general mood of the (alien) population, and how specific and accurate would that assessment be?

No.

I see, so it only works for Loroi populations, then? The Timadi male order does "keep track of local populations" as the Insider says, after all. Or is that classified for plot reasons?

Fireblade: "?Maie" " <disdain><contempt> "!"

Fireblade: looks at Tempo
Tempo: nods
Fireblade: escorts the impertinent alien through the door

[Arioch]

Signature detection is the telepathic ability to detect the presence of living minds; whether this tells the user anything more than the location and nature (species, individual) of the mind depends on the power, sensitivity and skill of the user, and the nature of the mind in question. Telepathic minds (other Loroi) have much clearer signatures than those of non-telepathic aliens.

Seers (Timadi) are male Loroi with naturally very sensitive telepathy who are trained to monitor local Loroi populations. Some are powerful enough to detect the "flavor" of the signature, perhaps indicating qualities such as health, mood, or even emotional state... but this is a lot easier to do with telepathic subjects. The ability to detect surface thoughts at range is a slightly different ability, though many or most Seers can do this also. The job of Nedatan Seers is to monitor the local Loroi population on a large scale (to whatever degree each individual's abilities allow), and to work in conjunction with Counselors (Tiret) to telepathically monitor individual Loroi patients at close range. Nedatan males do not generally work with amplifiers or the other artificial means used to enhanced power and sensitivity, since these have deleterious long-term health effects, and they are not used for military applications or any other role that would involve significant risks.

Aside from also using the signature detection ability. Farseers are none of the things I described above. A Seer could do a Farseer's job, but not vice-versa.

[Cthulhu]

Thank you for the detailed answer and the clarification, especially regarding the limits of the Farseer's abilities. This shall come in handy.

[Snoofman]

I understand the disgrace a loroi brings to herself if she fails the trials. But is it possible for civilian loroi to enroll in a form of redemption or retraining program? Something that gives her another chance to prove that she can be a competent warrior? Such a program would be useful during a vastly destructive campaign against the Umiaks' efficient, industrial capacity. Especially when the Union needs new warriors quickly to replace those that have perished or to outcompete the Umiak.

[Keklas Rekobah]

↑ Fireblade may be an example, in a way.  After the Fall of Seren, she and other Loroi were experimented upon by the Umiak occupiers.  After Seren was retaken, these victims are looked upon with suspicion for the possibility of having been 'turned' by their captors (consciously or unconsciously).  Fireblade's exceptional linoro skills may have convinced the authorities to give her a chance, and she has risen in the ranks -- although her rank and proficiency were not enough to inspire Stillstorm to keep her onboard the Tempest after having made physical contact with Alex.  (I wonder what happened to the other two Teidar who were with Fireblade during their interrogation of Alex.)

I suspect someone with strong sanzai and/or linoro skills who failed their caste initiation (and survived) may be given another chance to enter a military caste, but Arioch would have to verify this.

[Arioch]

The only rule to which there is no exception is that there is an exception to every rule, but there would have to be a pretty compelling reason to allow something that breaks down the walls holding up their society. Keeping in mind that all candidates are the daughters of warrior families, it would take more than just highly placed relatives to get around this rule.

Failing the trials, especially during wartime when there is less incentive for the system to be extra picky, means that either you quit, couldn't get along with your teammates, or were so hopelessly unfit that even your teammates couldn't cover for you.

If a civilian who failed the trials later turns out to have psionic abilities that would be useful for the war effort, there are usually roles that she could fill that don't require warrior status.