Umbric Abilities

Chapter 1 First appears in:

Tuning

Tuning is an Umbric ability used while Diving uncover the past and acquire knowledge

Am is the energy used to power the Umbric abilities. The more a Quaestor can control their Umbric and channel the flow of Am, the stronger the abilities.

The Fold

When Quaestors use Umbric Abilities, they are channeling the very essence of the Fold to do so. Some would say this makes the Quaestor a living conduit of the Fold, and forms a sacred relationship between the two.

Stepping

Undoubtedly one of the most powerful Umbric Abilities, Stepping is a difficult feat practiced only by highly skilled Quaestors.

Shield

Shield is a defensive ability enabled by Haroona’s Shade bracers.

Shroud

Shroud is an ability that Haroona taught herself; she might be the only Quaestor to ever wield this skill!

Diving

During the golden age of the LYS, workshops on Diving were given frequently. Although it is not easy, it is a fundamental ability, and executing a successful Dive into Fold is a fantasy every Quaestor has.

Shade Bracers

Shade Bracers are a tool used to build up and focus Am so that Umbric abilities are channeled properly. In addition to strengthening some abilities, Shade Bracers could also be used to enable new ones.

Umbric abilities, enabled by a Quaestor’s connection to the Fold, defy the laws of nature as we typically know them. Sometimes known as the Umbric arts, these abilities improve with practice, and experienced Quaestors who have a strong connection to the Fold and a keen sense of their own Am exhibit more potent abilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Each Quaestor’s profile of abilities is their own—some excel in common skills like Peeking and Diving, while others specialize in rarer abilities like Tuning. As humanity’s comprehension of the Fold deepens, a multitude of unimaginable abilities may lie waiting to be discovered.

No one can accuse Haroona of leading an easy life.&nbsp; From an orphan living on the streets of Chamiri to adopting the ways of a nomadic Quaestor-in-training, she possesses a special gift belonging only to the very few. As the source of her phenomenal strength, she believes it also keeps her from fully integrating into society; using her gift to help others sometimes does more harm than good. Haroona develops feelings of isolation, slowly withdrawing and shutting others out. &nbsp; After receiving guidance in the Umbric arts and discovering the existence of the Fold, she learns to control herself better than before. The knowledge is nothing short of a revelation, however, it does not - or cannot - fix everything. Now in her early twenties and still alone in the world, Haroona takes on odd jobs to survive while meandering in and out of dangerous circumstances. Prone to reckless behavior or acting on impulse, Haroona nevertheless possesses wisdom beyond her years, granting her purview to see life for what it truly is: one big game where the stakes hardly matter anymore.

Haroona

Haroona’s natural affinity for the Fold and the years she spent learning from Reika have made her one of the most proficient Umbric artists in history. She can Step, Peek, Dive, Shield, Shroud, and more.

In the Shivalik foothills of the Himalayas, locals know of a spry old woman usually called Reika. Her name is about all that’s known. She’s not quite a wandering sadhu (or mystic), not quite a hermit. She is certainly not from the area yet she speaks every local dialect. Some villages may go years between seeing her. She is not hostile but declines any invitations or gifts.&nbsp;Some in the early LYS have a similar experience of her. For a time, she is often around their gatherings, though nobody can say if she was a member or not. She shares little and limits her interactions—a watcher, not a joiner—but always seems to be the most knowledgeable and skilled Quaestor in the room.&nbsp;There are rumblings that she takes on apprentices from time to time. For eager Quaestors this is a prospect as exciting as it is intimidating; just being in Reika’s presence can be a humbling experience.

Reika

Has anybody ever really seen what Reika is capable of? Certainly she can Dive, Tune, Step and employing all kinds of melee trickery. But she has only offered instruction to a handful of souls, and is not the type to show off Umbric abilities like party tricks

Mara Nilsen

Buchra Ilunga

Azad Jayed

Luther Goodwin

Phantom

Tethering Capsule

The Cambrian Device

The Ascendants

Scribing

The Unknown 9

The Deep Fold

Dasuden, Richat Structure, Northwest Africa

Peshanden

Reithden, Central Africa

Dasuden: Blood and Vengeance

Richat Structure: Teacher and Apprentice

The Morning Star: Dark Intent

Unknown 9: Awakening

My demonstrations make the technique seem simple. Indeed, you should soon see progress yourself. But mastering it takes lifetimes.

element

Richat Structure: Teacher and Apprentice

Umbric Abilities

First appears in:

Chapter 1