asgardeventide | 003

[Samantha opted, when setting up the feed, to go with voice only. She still looked like hell, and she didn't need anyone seeing or asking stupid questions. It wasn't their business. But, after speaking to Conan, she'd resolved that it was time to stop trying to hide from this place any further. When she spoke, her voice had a tired quality to it, but was still strong.]

So, Asgard.

I wanted to discuss something with those of you who will still speak with me right now. These powers that we have. Most of the people I see seem to think of them as a good thing, a blessing of sorts, or at least they partially make up for the tricks you had in your homeworlds. Right.

Here's the thing I wanted to talk about. Most I've spoken to seem to think of these powers as something that's being used to help other people around here, or to protect people that can't protect themselves. How do you people handle the fact that any of them can be abused, misused or mishandled? What do people around here do to prepare themselves to be protected if those powers get used for the wrong reasons? I've been thinking a lot lately about how people could protect themselves from some of these powers, and it worries me.

Not all of us are nice people, you know.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I would say that mind effects are the ones that concern me, Body Control, Charm, Telepathy, Bardic Influence. Those are dangers that I am finding it more difficult to imagine a defense.

[Private]

What was the verdict? Have you verified that powers aren't controlled through Body Control, as he was guessing?

I know that body control can be resisted. Perhaps the others can be in some way as well.

[Private]

Correct. Powers of a subject cannot be controlled by the body control user.

I would assume that it can be resisted with a strong will. That's the running consensus. But, the stronger willed the user, and the more powerful that they are, the harder that is. So the idea of offering people practice in resisting, for those who want it... it might have potential.

[Private]

That is a major load off my shoulders. It means that even a super-strong traveler's just a regular joe when controlled. Now, if we can just tell if they can still use their powers themselves, even while controlled. With some of the ones that are mental, that might still offer defenses right there.

It might.

[Logically, it does make sense, Castiel's just hesitant about the whole thing for his own reasons. Mostly because it would be smart to practice, but he doesn't want to do so himself, and then feels foolish about it.]

[Private]

We tested that as well, in part. If the control is only partial, such a hand, the target could still control their own power. Presumably it wouldn't work if the control was complete, however.

[He hadn't wanted to test it himself.]

[Another downside that she hadn't really considered deeply was that, if she did this for a lot of people, it would mean she used her powers readily, regularly. It would build up her, and as a result her 'other half's,' stamina considerably.]

I'd prefer to work in definites. I could subject myself to Conan, if he's advanced as I think he is, and we could see if I could still control another person while resisting total control by him. Not today, but somewhere soonish.

I am certain that the influence-related abilities don't affect power use. Bardic influence still allows the afflicted to wield their powers.

[This was as close as she was coming to admitting Diva'd used it on her.]

More testing is wise. Those who are advanced in our powers should also write out detailed information pertaining to them, perhaps for use at the Teacher's Council. Compiling what can and cannot be done with each power would be of use.

That is good to know.

[Castiel has avoided letting any of the influencing powers be used on him, so he doesn't know a whole lot about them.]

I... would be willing to serve as a guinea pig in a controlled environment. Some of the powers, however, should be treated very carefully. The odds of 'her' showing up increase a lot if people nudge me the wrong way, if that makes sense.

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