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Tell Me About Elans

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
xbattle_popex
May 26, 2009 11:14:53 Hello all,

Trying to make my 1st psion ever and I'm super psych'd! I want to make an Elan PC but I just can't find enough info on this race. They are a race in Expanded Psionics Handbook, but all they have is one little section. I want to know about how a human becomes an elan, how elans reproduce psionically (specifically the ritual itself and if the "child" is human or elan), and any other bits of useful info. All comments welcome!

Thanks!
#2
fatalis_902
May 26, 2009 23:26:54 The transformation ritual is not described, you or your DM needs to make it up as you go along. The elan reproduction process is not described either, so, again, you or your DM would need to make it up as you go along.

That said, what is written should be enough. Human applies to become an elan. Council screens them, and, if they are accepted, the council performs the transformative ritual. Simple. It's all background, anyway. If you want to play an elan from the get-go, there are no rules stopping you. You don't have t start off as a human and undergo the transformation during the game. That is usually assumed to have happened before the game started.

If I may, why do you need these bits of info? For the transformation, what is wrong with the human character being led into some chamber in the stronghold/citadel/palace/psionic college/wherever the transformations occur in your world, and emerging some time later as an elan? Also, and potentially more importantly, why do you want to know how elans reproduce? I'm just having trouble imagining why it could possibly be important.
#3
anyr
May 26, 2009 23:40:20 This isn't official material, but Dreamscarred Press publish a book in their Races of the Mind series that's devoted to the Elan. It might be worth a look if you're looking for an analysis of their psychology or a few extra mechanical options to flesh one out.
#4
calronmoonflower
May 27, 2009 2:25:30 The only other info I know of elans is in Eberron.
In that campaign setting they are born with a Quori spirit imprisoned in them rather than made from humans.
#5
Kilsek_of_Sheverash
May 27, 2009 16:12:26 If you like the flavor of Elan, you might also very much like the flavor of Devas in PHB2. They are also very cerebral and something of an "evolved human," if you will.
#6
xbattle_popex
May 30, 2009 14:22:29 Thanks for the input everyone! I need the reproduction because i wanted to play a "natural elan" if you will. It's going to be a part of the story. DOes that answer your question Fatalis? I was going to have the PC's walk in on the ritual.
#7
fatalis_902
May 30, 2009 22:13:53 Well, that certainly helps. There are no "natural elans," however. The first line in the entry in the XPH specifically states that elans are made, never born. Reflavor as you like, though.

As for having the PCs walk in on the ritual, I'd have the councilors, all high-level psions, one of each discipline (including erudite), standing at the points of a heptagram towards the edges of a large room, with the candidates being transformed in the middle. The candidates would likely be in some sort of ectoplasmic cocoon-type effect, with think strands of psionic energy linking the cocoon to the brows of each of the councilors. The councilors would likely also be linked to one another along the lines that form the heptagram. Breaking the concentration of one of the councilors would force the other councilors to make concentration checks to mainatin their focus on the ritual, or else the ritual would be lost, and the candidates would be restored to first-level humans at best, or killed outright, perhaps even annihilated ala Disintegrate. Of course, this is just my idea, but feel free to use it for your own ideas.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 xbattle_popex May 26, 2009 11:14:53	Hello all, Trying to make my 1st psion ever and I'm super psych'd! I want to make an Elan PC but I just can't find enough info on this race. They are a race in Expanded Psionics Handbook, but all they have is one little section. I want to know about how a human becomes an elan, how elans reproduce psionically (specifically the ritual itself and if the "child" is human or elan), and any other bits of useful info. All comments welcome! Thanks!
#2 fatalis_902 May 26, 2009 23:26:54	The transformation ritual is not described, you or your DM needs to make it up as you go along. The elan reproduction process is not described either, so, again, you or your DM would need to make it up as you go along. That said, what is written should be enough. Human applies to become an elan. Council screens them, and, if they are accepted, the council performs the transformative ritual. Simple. It's all background, anyway. If you want to play an elan from the get-go, there are no rules stopping you. You don't have t start off as a human and undergo the transformation during the game. That is usually assumed to have happened before the game started. If I may, why do you need these bits of info? For the transformation, what is wrong with the human character being led into some chamber in the stronghold/citadel/palace/psionic college/wherever the transformations occur in your world, and emerging some time later as an elan? Also, and potentially more importantly, why do you want to know how elans reproduce? I'm just having trouble imagining why it could possibly be important.
#3 anyr May 26, 2009 23:40:20	This isn't official material, but Dreamscarred Press publish a book in their Races of the Mind series that's devoted to the Elan. It might be worth a look if you're looking for an analysis of their psychology or a few extra mechanical options to flesh one out.
#4 calronmoonflower May 27, 2009 2:25:30	The only other info I know of elans is in Eberron. In that campaign setting they are born with a Quori spirit imprisoned in them rather than made from humans.
#5 Kilsek_of_Sheverash May 27, 2009 16:12:26	If you like the flavor of Elan, you might also very much like the flavor of Devas in PHB2. They are also very cerebral and something of an "evolved human," if you will.
#6 xbattle_popex May 30, 2009 14:22:29	Thanks for the input everyone! I need the reproduction because i wanted to play a "natural elan" if you will. It's going to be a part of the story. DOes that answer your question Fatalis? I was going to have the PC's walk in on the ritual.
#7 fatalis_902 May 30, 2009 22:13:53	Well, that certainly helps. There are no "natural elans," however. The first line in the entry in the XPH specifically states that elans are made, never born. Reflavor as you like, though. As for having the PCs walk in on the ritual, I'd have the councilors, all high-level psions, one of each discipline (including erudite), standing at the points of a heptagram towards the edges of a large room, with the candidates being transformed in the middle. The candidates would likely be in some sort of ectoplasmic cocoon-type effect, with think strands of psionic energy linking the cocoon to the brows of each of the councilors. The councilors would likely also be linked to one another along the lines that form the heptagram. Breaking the concentration of one of the councilors would force the other councilors to make concentration checks to mainatin their focus on the ritual, or else the ritual would be lost, and the candidates would be restored to first-level humans at best, or killed outright, perhaps even annihilated ala Disintegrate. Of course, this is just my idea, but feel free to use it for your own ideas.