Aligned

From LSWiki

->) The Aligned (<-

You are one of the Aligned, one who has undergone a process of alignment with nature itself.

Alignment is a development upon the process of attunement, so as an Aligned you are perforce Attuned. Attunement is the esoteric process of ordering the structure of one's essence with the structure of nature, via certain significant patterns in the Hanoman ecosystem. For more information on attunement in general, type 'help attuned'.

Alignment is the esoteric process of using one's attunement as a foundation for more complex ordered magicks. Most Aligned do not think of themselves as magicians in the traditional sense, having little use for the strange incantations and gestures of most cabals. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that alignment is a highly magickal trade, and the Aligned are initiates and wielders of magick through and through.

The Aligned are not strictly speaking a cabal, nor a priesthood, but something that is at once a mixture of these and something new altogether. The Aligned are mystically bound to the island of Hanoma. They learn their magicks -- and, occasionally, invent new magicks -- by this bond. They accomplish this sometimes directly, through will, and sometimes through intermediary arts tied to the culture of the Hanomans on the island. (Since all things on Hanoma, the culture of the residents included, seems to be mystically connected to the island somehow, this can be seen as another route of direct access.)

The island is not a sentient being per se, but it does resonate with sentient beings, and it carries with it a certain ethos. That ethos is not enforced by one's alignment to the island, but one's alignment is partly composed by that ethos, so abiding it is important for the operation of one's magicks. To this extent, the Aligned are more like priests than like magi. Moreover there are specific tasks that, due to their ethical undertones, serve as the basis for magicks; these are known as "normative forms".

However, the bond is more natural than divine to the extent that one does not need to curry favor with a divinity in order to use one's magicks. One needs to keep one's bond with Hanoma strong due to the nature of the process of alignment, but, given that it is, one effects one's magicks by hermetic, "natural" processes, not divine favor.

The Aligned are different from both priests and most magi in that they neither invoke nor evoke for their spells, but learn, by alignment, to directly manifest their wills in the world by willpower and concentration alone. Your magickal abilities from alignment, as a class, are referred to as "forms", of which there are several subtypes. Type 'help forms' for more information.

The ethos is one of discipline, inner balance, tranquility, and above all harmony with nature. This is how Hanomans understand and make sense of the order of the universe; the Aligned are the most consistent exemplars of this philosophy. This done not mean eschewing chaos per se -- chaos has its place in the universe as well -- but it does mean living a disciplined and balanced life. This lifestyle brought is brought into esoteric fruition by the process of attunement, the process that serves as the basis for alignment.

The Aligned have a certain metaphysical rapport with one another which includes the ability to communicate regardless of distance and language via the 'aligned' communication channel.

You say, [- i want to become aligned -] in beautifully-accented Nihonese. Taiji states, ->) Olaris's presence is welcome here, though there are grute gier of his that I will never answer. (<- in Nihonese.

                               ~%@)*(   +   )*(@%~
                               Aligned: Guild News

   Welcome to the guild.  The best way to inform me of bugs, typos, or other
   problems or suggestions is via a page on the Lost Souls wiki:
   lostsouls.org/wiki.
       -- Twilight, 9/08
                               -+>>     -     <<+-

   Inertia has been updated to make more sense.  It now keeps track of your
   overall hit point change and *either* heals you or damages you, depending
   on whether that change is net positive or negative.  (The old behavior
   was to keep tracking of healing and damage separately, and both damage
   and heal you based on each, which was confusing and contrary to the spirit
   of the power, which is supposed to capture your overall trajectory.)
       -- Twilight, 12/08

                               ~%@)*(   +   )*(@%~

You are now a first-degree specialist in leximancy and telesma. Taiji states, ->) Very good. I will attempt to find your essence within Hanoma. While I nu rel, visualize your true self. This will complete the initiation rite. (<- in Nihonese. Taiji closes his eyes in concentration.