Remote Viewing

Remote Viewing Mystical  Apprentice  1600 hours  Psionic Remote viewing is long-distance guided clairvoyance. Bear in mind that you are processing psychic impressions through your brain's visual centers. What you see—no matter how clear it may seem—may be your emotional response to a scene rather than what is actually there. These visions are also rarely very clear. Most often they are vague, like a distant object seen through fog or smoke, or are almost-images, much like seeing something only by its shadow. In other words, remote viewing is pretty lousy for spying on an enemy's technical plans for a new war machine or for perving on someone in the bath. Remote viewing requires the mind mage's undivided attention, which means (among other things) that the body must be at comfortable rest and the environment safe.

An apprentice has a very limited range, only to hovering about her body. This level of skill is mostly only useful as a party trick. At this degree of competence her mind is too little to be allowed to wander far away. The journeyman's range is unlimited, but his control over where he goes and what he sees is still restricted. It is possible to be telepathically guided to a specific spot, but otherwise the destination is hit or miss at best, even if nearby and obvious. As with most psychic sensitive skills, a familiar environment is a far easier target. A journeyman clairvoyant can usually successfully check back home to see if he left the oven on.

The master has a greatly improved sense of direction, and can even try to find things whose location is unknown. Unfamiliar but obvious locations (such as the other side of a wall) can be attempted, but gross misses still happen sometimes. The master can also receive additional psychic impressions, depending on her other talents. For example, one that is also empathic may sometimes get an emotional vibe from a scene. Light levels are not an issue for master clairvoyants; they will know the scene is dark, but can still make out people and objects just as well. Also keep in mind that this skill allows a distant vantage point, not omniscience. Seeking a missing child and finding her 'trapped in a darkened room' doesn't always tell you where that room is. Your clairvoyance is not a remote-controlled camera, and only limited movement of the vantage point is possible.