Qiretan · Chapter III

Astral Space, Essence & Psionics

Astral Space exists alongside the Material Plane: a different place occupying the same place, separated by a veil. The Qiretan does not vanish completely into it. Ordinary space remains visible, the crew experiences normal time, and the Psi Drive is not a form of time travel.

Astral currents behave somewhat like winds or ocean currents. They shift, but persistent patterns exist, and experienced navigators learn how to read them. What happens when navigation goes badly is intentionally flexible rather than governed by a single fixed consequence.

Essence is the energy of existence and the soul. It is measured conceptually on a scale from one to ten, with ten representing the maximum. Sufficient Essence creates the potential for psionic ability, although potential does not guarantee that those abilities will ever develop.

Physical injury or the loss of a natural limb does not reduce Essence. Replacing parts of the body with cybernetics or other artificial components does. Someone who replaced nearly their entire body could theoretically fall as low as Essence 1.

Exactly how Essence is measured inside the setting remains deliberately unresolved for now.