Water Manipulation

Water manipulation is the ability to physically direct water. There are three main categories of manipulation, depending on the scale. Ship-scale manipulation is called working, human-scale is called handling, and cell-scale is called tuning. Handling is the most common level of ability, while working is likely the best known. Tuning is a more recent extension of manipulation, with a controversial history. It is currently thought that past Seekers thought to have only passive watersense probably had the potential for water tuning.

Effect

People with the ability to manipulate can form any imaginable physical shape from a source of water, at a scale determined by the Seeker's processing strengths. The best-known manifestation of water manipulation is the Dancinglight's Dome used by the Old Eddy to shield its sages from the interference of outsiders. The shell of water, supported by a circle of waterspouts, could completely enclose an entire mother ship plus its support fleet, and required multiple workers to maintain.

Side/Secondary Effects

Water manipulation is taxing, especially when performed at a distance from the water or when using forms that oppose the water's physical properties. Ship-scale workers in particular run the risk of dehydration and/or overheating if they maintain a working for too long without assistance.

Discovery

Water working and handling became known during the first wave of oceanic exploration. The earliest known mention of water manipulation is in the legend of Tiamou's Voyage, in which the sailor Yadi walks from the becalmed ship to the island of Miyestat. Tuning was unknown until the end of the 2nd Volcanic Millennium, infamously developed by Kezlaf to devastating effect. There remains a great deal of opposition to the use of water tuning.

Material Components

Free sources of water are easiest to manipulate, but objects that have been saturated with water can also be moved.

Gestures & Ritual

Water manipulation is entirely a mental process. Protos begin studying the practice by using hand, arm, and body movements to visualize the forms they shape; however, they are not considered proficient until they can work while maintaining a meditative float.

Effect Duration

A manipulated form of water lasts only as long as a Water Seeker is able to exert influence on it.

Applied Restriction

Water manipulation is characterized by the ability to assimilate vs. the ability to focus. The standard test is to maintain a column of water between separated hands. Tuners generally lose control of the column at distances greater than a hand's-breadth apart, workers lose it at distances shorter than shoulder-width, while handlers have little difficulty at either extension.