Empath

Humans with extrasensory empathy.

Basics

• Taxonomic Order: Metahumans

• Taxonomic Family: Empathics

• Alignment: Nommic

• Energy: Emotional resonance

• Lifespan: 100-150 years

• Diet: Normal mortal fare

• Habitat: Subtropical plains, hills, and mountains

Origins

Empaths evolved from early humans on First Shem as they learned to wield emotional resonance.

Description

Empaths have the same range of appearance as humans, being indistinguishable visibly from them. Culturally, empaths tend to wear bright, warm colors.

Procreation

Empaths reproduce sexually in a manner the same as humans. They can reproduce with other metahumans, where it follows the mother. With non-human beings, it is only possible with supernatural intervention.

Powers

Empaths are resistant to natural diseases and poisons.

Senses

Empaths can sense and feel the emotions of other living beings around them. Positive emotions make them feel good, negative emotions make them feel bad, and neutral emotions are simply experienced. Weaker empaths can only sense other empathic beings' emotions. Average empaths can sense the emotions of other intelligent beings. Powerful empaths can sense the emotions of animals. Supernaturally powerful empaths can sense the emotions of plants, fungi, or even microscopic organisms. All empathic beings can sense other empathic beings because of the familiarity of their emotional states. This recognition allows them to always know another empathic being, though not what kind of empathic being, unless certain emotions are present (i.e., the sadistic reaction of an ender to someone's pain).

Touch

Empaths have the power to affect the emotions of others with their touch. Sensing positive emotions can make this temporarily stronger if the emotions are powerful enough. The more the skin contact with the target, the greater the power of the touch. Their touch can work through a thin layer of cloth, but will be slightly weakened.

Weaknesses

A large number of people experiencing intense emotions can overwhelm and disorient them.

Nations

There are empaths in many, many nations, but the one with the most empaths (and thus the most influence from them) is the Danuan nation.

Culture

Empaths originally lived in tight-knit, matriarchal tribal communities with shared property, freeform gender roles, and a council of elders as their leaders, much as most beings once did. However, sometime on First Shem, their early societies mingled with early human and other metahuman societies, and a mixed culture developed. At present, most empaths live in a feudal society dominated mostly by humans and those few empaths with lower empathy powers and higher healing powers, who can more ruthlessly sell out their fellow empaths.

Their nation within this society is honored for their powers, but they are often exploited as well. Their culture within this broader culture seeks to retain old customs, such as nightly familial soothings, special annual festivals to honor their ancestors, bringing all empaths in the community with the same birthday together to celebrate to amplify the positive emotional feedback, a focus on comfort foods established in their youths, wearing bright and warm colors to evoke positive emotional reactions, and so on. However, they also assimilate into the broader society, living as advisers, therapists, healers, peasants, workers, artisans, enneads, and merchants while eschewing the warrior, hunter, and noble roles. Those few who take on these roles are considered odd for empaths, but valued by the ruling class. They are also often recruited as spies.

Within their communities within this broader society, they have their own community leaders, usually elders or powerful empaths who can meet the needs of the community socially, politically, and materially.

The broader society is ruled by a king and queen, usually human, and their royal family and noble class followers, with a privileged warrior class serving as enforcers and military. This society has other nations within it as well, and the mixing of these cultures forms a unique kingdom of different religions, customs, and even currencies. However, the dominant culture is the human one. The kingdom is known as Danuo, and at times of great strength this kingdom can be an empire stretching over half a continent, colonizing many other cultures, robbing them of riches, and enforcing their might with a powerful armada. The empaths within it are often involved in resistance against the conquest, reluctant supporters of the soldiers and warriors, or vain attempts at neutrality.

Empaths often leave their homeland for other parts of the world, seeking better lives.

Esoterica

Empaths are beings of emotional resonance. They also commonly wield

Religion

Empaths adapt the religion of Danuo, which is complex and polytheistic. Their original culture honored Nueve Corazones, a collective deity who represented the nine realms of emotion. They still often honor them, usually through superstitions and ancient prayers.

Gender

Empaths can sense the dysphoria of those who do not fit the binary gender system of Danuo, and they are therefore more sensitive to those who do not fit that binary system.

Economy

The Danuan economy is either feudal or capitalist, depending on era.

Military

When empaths join the Danuan military, they are prized as warriors who can sense the emotions of their opponent and thus defend better. They can also use their empathy to bond with animals or other soldiers. In Danuo, they are recruited to be knights known as caballeros, mounted warriors known as jinetes, or archers known as arqueres. They sometimes serve as scouts and hunters known as cazadors.

Language

Danuan is based on Spanish.

Trade

As part of the Danuan nation and culture, they are part of that country’s extensive trading. Themselves, they most trade their own services and skills.

Occupations

• Ennead - controlling emotional resonance through string figures.

• Vate - bards who use empathic powers to heighten their stories.

• Jaden - gardeners who can sense the emotions of plants.

• Descubridor - journalists who use their empathy to find stories.

• Firer - community elders.

• Vendedor - merchants who use their empathy to make deals.

• Cruitire - harpers who use their empathy to evoke emotions through music.

• Cazador - hunters who use their empathy to hunt prey.

• Lectoris - teachers who use their empathy to help guide students.

• Caballero - knights who use their empathy to bond with their steeds and to embody chivalry.

• Jinete - riders who wield rifles and saps.

• Arquere - archers who use emotional resonance to sense targets.

• Sentimentiere - celebrities who use emotional resonance to relate to people and raise their own popularity.

• Etape - actors who use empathy to perform better.

• Monje - monks who focus on their emotional inner life.

• Monja - nuns cloistered together in a bonded emotional community.

• Espiar - spies who use their power to spy on others’ hearts.

Outside View

Empaths are welcomed into almost every society for their emotional powers. In some places, they are revered and respected. In others, they are more neutrally viewed but often are able to trade services for better positions. And in some societies, they are sought after as slaves. When they are not soothers, they gravitate toward trades that allow them to experience positive emotional feedback, such as performing arts, comedy, teaching, or serving food.

Notables

• Armana Eolisin, Empath Manifest, Aeonian

• Sidney Bronccour, the Messiah of Flowers, Ascended

• Palla Artallona, the Surgeon, Champion of the Healer Divine

• Dale Swearengen, healer on the Diamond of the Seas

• Emily Brand, Warden of Kindness, Aeonian

• Valara Lucent, Mother of Love's Restoration, deceased

Estimated Populations

• Danuans: 5 million

• Other: 44 million

Sample Stats

PRO 7
ATH 8
STR 8
AWA 10
WIL 9
PRS 10
STH 9