Useful in many ways, Magic
Networks are a
way to transfer energy with less 'loss' over distance from it being
spread from its destination on sending. Think of it like shooting a jet
of gas in a direction - some of it is swept away by the wind.
Magic networks can be
thought like the cables through which energy flows. Not using a network
is like flowing electricity through air with nothing to guide it.
Although we focus the energy with our minds, creating an energy network
barrier removes the added effort needed to focus the energy. Networks
can also be threaded between people, or between energy sources and
people for a cleaner energy input/output.
Another advantage of using
networks is for
things like telepathy - creating a network effect that reduces the
'white noise' you get while attempting to receive telepathy, and
increase the change of you understanding the correct message.
How to make the network?
Simply focus energy
into a static state by programming it to continuously take in energy,
give it enough energy to stand for a long time, perhaps by adding in
anti-leakage shields to make the best use of the energy. Program the
static base network by giving it functions and commands, using more
energy to solidify it. Using air energy as a 'foam' in-between aether
can block out false telepathy signals and rogue energy well. [This
air/element foam can be used for other things, among them force
shields, but that's another topic altogether - experiment!]
Set the locations for the
web to travel
through, and maybe a few switches to increase/decrease or turn on/off
the energy flow. Activate it and voila! One magical network. Practicing
with a simple kind and then using it will give new ideas for what other
things it could be used for, and it can be edited by need. It's also
good practice to put a consecrating shield, force shield and stealth
bubble around the network and network's energy sources/slave
constructs/users to stop energy parasites forming, as well as a good
energy defense. Little critters LOVE to soak up the energy made by a
magic network, which for them is like an artificially-made mana
vault/plane splinter.
If you detect other magic
networks in the
area, it is very bad practice to blast open a vein and send your
messages through it to see where it's from. It's damaging, wastes a lot
of the network's energy through the leak created and data will be lost
as well. The creators of the network really wouldn't be pleased. Most
networks contain a semi-permeable shield for receiving foreign messages
without letting in harmful constructs. Try contacting the network users
through the shield rather than blasting the whole thing down because
you don't think they can hear you.
Energy-link networks are
the most common.
They are usually a way for a user to get energy most efficiently from
the source to themselves for use. The network is simple with one user,
one source and one channel connecting the two. The user can bring as
little or as much energy through the channel, which is reinforced to
stop energy leakage from the transfer. Portals can also be used so that
the transfer is not seen all the way from source to user, like a huge
beacon. Cloaking can also be used for this, though it is usually more
vulnerable. However, crude portals are easy to detect from energy
signatures.
Mind-link networks are
fairly common; and
sometimes have an instant connection between minds for several users to
experience the same stimuli. More advanced ones use switches to choose
the energy flow, and can have a telepathy system or storage for keeping
messages until the storage is viewed, or message importance can be set
by need. Empathy can be set in the same way though sometimes shields
are hard to form through habit.
To create the mind link
requires a burst of
energy and the lowering of the mind barrier of the users (having trust
that this new energy link isn’t something to be automatically broken
and rejected) and then linking the threads together. If all parties are
aware of the link being formed, they can help it strengthen in the
early days. If they don’t know about it, their mind might well reject
the mind link as an intrusion unless you send data beforehand. Don’t do
this as it’s basically a psychic attack into someone’s brain.
People who are enlightened
and place more
value on the eternal generally have an easier time with mind links than
animalistic-type humans. I’ve not tried mind linking with someone who
is less than 50% human so I wouldn’t know the effects. I would assume
linking with something such as a vampire could cause latent energy
vampirism from other users, or even get the other users to take up the
trait. It’s therefore important to add more shields between users that
block such traits.
As said, dangers of magic
networks
(especially mind links) include taking unwanted traits and similarities
from mind link members – the very formation of a mind link brings the
linked ones closer to an identical mindset, increasing as the link gets
stronger. This can be blocked with the shields but does have an effect
on total network strength, not sure how to circumvent that as of now.
Another danger is the
spread of magical
diseases. Not all diseases are known, therefore not all can be
protected against. It’s good practice then to install a magical
‘firewall/immune system’ to the network to detect and block illness
through each channel, and disinfect the web on a regular basis.
Parasites locating the network can cause instabilities and energy loss,
particularly if the parasite is cloaked. The main concerns of the
network holder is to stop negative mind effects occurring, keeping out
pests and making sure that the web isn’t weakened or taken over by some
rogue force controlling a user. Security is VERY important for a mind
network.
Firewall – filter
energy
and data that goes
through any part of the web for harmful data and constructs.
Cloaking – hiding the web
from parasites and
hostile entities. A stealth shield works in a pinch, but creatures that
happen to fly into the network or the few that can see through such
deceptions can’t help anything. Using a mirror technique or illusions
would make it more effective.
Defenses – if something
does get through the
curtain, then these will fight off the intruder. Pretty damn important.
Energy source/s – Powers
the network. A
little energy taken from each user in a mind network seems to be
effective. For an energy transfer network the source energy is often
used.
On a final note: the
advantages of a magical
network are many - More efficient transferal of energy, less
interference when using telepathy, adding effects to the network user’s
advantages and power, bringing together communities, organizing
constructs, etc. The important question is – can you get a good network
working? Energy networks are simple enough, but mind networks are risky
and require a lot of upkeep to be viable. Instabilities of coupling
human minds together are often crippling. They do sound useful, but
sometimes they just aren’t worth the effort.
Be careful and good luck.