Telepathic Bond
One of the defining characteristics of the Vasati species is the ability to form telepathic bonds with other humanoids and with animal companions, irregardless of presence or abscence of other magical talent.
This ability manifests as the ability for a Vasati to form a telepathic bond. The strength and type of these bonds vary by individual. Some may be able to form bonds with only animals, some only people, and some both. Similarly, they may form a bond that relies on the transfer of only images or feelings, or may be able to form a bond where they can exchange entire conversations mentally as if they were speaking aloud. The bond may be different for a person with different people or animals - for instance they may have a very strong bond with their warhorse, but only a shallow ability to communicate with other humans.
Intelligence does play a role. Very few Vasati have a conversation-level bond with regular animals; these bonds are usually formed between Vasati and magical creatures or other humanoids, while shallower bonds are formed with animals. Emotional connection also plays a role - a Vasati is far less likely to form any strong link to an individual that they do not have a strong emotional (positive or negative) bond with.
This ability is localized to the Vasati people. The Vasati people make up an unknown portion of the individuals that make up the United Tribes of Mare'n, with humans comprising the other half. The Vasati are, in reality, a true-breeding Folk-Human hybrid species. The strong propensity towards having this ability to telepathic bond is one of the major things that the Vasati inherited from their Folk lineage, along with a propensity towards certain other kinds of magic. Unlike some of the other hybrids, they do not have any physical features that set them apart from the Humans of the world.
Genetically, or whatever other law governs the inheritance of this ability, the telepathic bonding of the Vasati is dominant. Those with mere drops of Vasati blood are as likely to have the ability as a pure-blood Vasati, and the strength does not seem to diminish with the dilution of the Vasati inheritance. The result is that it is almost impossible to separate the Vasati and Human tribespeople, who frequently interbreed, except by careful tracing of one's lineage to a time few speak about and even fewer remember. And even then, one has to wonder. You cannot rule out that a tribesperson is Vasati if they do not have the ability (because inheritance is not 100%), but you can guarantee that anyone who has the talent has Vasati heritage.
Manifestation
This ability manifests as the ability for a Vasati to form a telepathic bond. The strength and type of these bonds vary by individual. Some may be able to form bonds with only animals, some only people, and some both. Similarly, they may form a bond that relies on the transfer of only images or feelings, or may be able to form a bond where they can exchange entire conversations mentally as if they were speaking aloud. The bond may be different for a person with different people or animals - for instance they may have a very strong bond with their warhorse, but only a shallow ability to communicate with other humans.
Intelligence does play a role. Very few Vasati have a conversation-level bond with regular animals; these bonds are usually formed between Vasati and magical creatures or other humanoids, while shallower bonds are formed with animals. Emotional connection also plays a role - a Vasati is far less likely to form any strong link to an individual that they do not have a strong emotional (positive or negative) bond with.
Localization
This ability is localized to the Vasati people. The Vasati people make up an unknown portion of the individuals that make up the United Tribes of Mare'n, with humans comprising the other half. The Vasati are, in reality, a true-breeding Folk-Human hybrid species. The strong propensity towards having this ability to telepathic bond is one of the major things that the Vasati inherited from their Folk lineage, along with a propensity towards certain other kinds of magic. Unlike some of the other hybrids, they do not have any physical features that set them apart from the Humans of the world.
Genetically, or whatever other law governs the inheritance of this ability, the telepathic bonding of the Vasati is dominant. Those with mere drops of Vasati blood are as likely to have the ability as a pure-blood Vasati, and the strength does not seem to diminish with the dilution of the Vasati inheritance. The result is that it is almost impossible to separate the Vasati and Human tribespeople, who frequently interbreed, except by careful tracing of one's lineage to a time few speak about and even fewer remember. And even then, one has to wonder. You cannot rule out that a tribesperson is Vasati if they do not have the ability (because inheritance is not 100%), but you can guarantee that anyone who has the talent has Vasati heritage.
Shallow, Not Weak
When referring to this ability, it is customary to use the word shallow instead of weak or anything of that nature when discussing those whose abilities are more feelings or images than words. This is because scholars and tribespeople understand that the ability to speak words does not determine the strength of a bond - and that in fact, some of the strongest bonds in history have been held by individuals who could only send pictures or feelings through their bond.
Bond-Animals
A long time ago, before anyone can really remember, the Tribespeople realized that they had an easier time creating "strong" bonds with other humanoids, and some very intelligent animals. They began to selectively breed different species for intelligence, creating animals who were faster, stronger, healthier, and most of all, intelligent enough to change the way animals bonded and had conversations with people. They have been refining this process ever since in key species like horses, big cats, hounds, and falcons, to name a few.
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