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Psionic Talents are a fact of life in the Game, though they are generally unknown in most cases.
Among the most overtly powerful of the Wild Talents, the Firestarter betrays a wild and uncontrolled aptitude for Psychokinesis that manifests in the form of extremely destructive power -- when enraged or greatly frightened, she becomes enveloped in a massive bonfire of white-hot flame that can easily ignite the most flame resistant substances. This causes the fire to cascade out of control, quickly spreading as fast as any other flame. While immune to the flames they create directly, it is not unusual for a Firestarter to get caught within their own conflagrations to horrible effect. While Firestarters instinctively learn to shunt away heat and survive in much hotter enviroments than the human norm, they can still burn to death if caught in a large enough blaze with no escape.
These abilities are only the leading edge of a vast unrealized potential with Psychokinesis in general which all Firestarters share. If given the opportunity, many Firestarters go on to master their innate abilities completely, becoming some of the most potent masters of their psionic aptitude. The connection between Firestarters and raw Psychokinetic mastery is well known to the various secret forces of the world, however. Once their powers are discovered, Firestarters inevitably find themselves in vastly more complicated situations, fighting off various forces eager to recruit or neutralize them.
In addition to their raw abilities, Firestarters tend to share certain psychological traits such as rashness bordering on the suicdal and a firey temper. Most are also obsessed with flames, with many of them being reported "Firebugs" even before their power manifests.
The Firestarter Template (47 points)
Advantages: Flame Aura (see note) [52]; Fearlessness (+1) [2]; Psychokinetic Talent (+3) [15]; Unusual Background [15]; Temperature Tolerance (5xHT degrees) [5].
Disadvantages: Bad Temper [-10]; On the Edge (15-) [-7]; Pyromanic [-5]; Secret [-20].
Flame Aura- You are surrounded in a firey billowing inferno! This is an Innate Attack that does 4d6 burn damage, with the modifiers of Area Effect (16 yards; +200%), Persistent (+40%), Extended Duration (x3; +20%), Costs Fatigue (2 fatigue; -10%), Emanation (-20%), Emergencies Only (-30%), Uncontrollable (-30%), and Psychokinetic (-10%). Thus, whenever you get angry, upset, or otherwise stressed you can expend 2 fatigue and blare into a roaring bonfire that does 4d6 damage to everyone and everything within 16 yards of you. This bonfire lasts for 30 seconds, and can manifest when you don't want it to. This power costs 52 points.
The Mindreader manifests a much more subtle and difficult to detect talent, often manifesting whisps of his raw aptitude for Telepathy long before his power fully blossoms after puberty. Mindreaders often report having heard "voices" since early childhood, a trait that only grows as their latent telepathy grows more powerful. Many grow used to the steady whisps of thought from those around them, rendering them distracted and on edge when they are isolated from others.
While often quite reserved early in life, the Mindreader undergoes an especially profound change shortly after puberty when his powers begin to manifest. This latent telepathy makes them some of the most likable people imaginable, with each able to fit into any social setting and impress nearly anyone regardless of culture or social status. Their talent has usually fully manifested by 16, allowing the Mindreader to actually gauge the surface thoughts of anyone within sight. Most have a surprising amount of control over this gift, compared to other Talents, but few are fully in command of their gift. In particular, any stress robs them of this ability entirely.
Most notable of all, however, is the fact that all known Mindreaders are certifiable Sociopaths. It is certain that they are likable friendly Sociopaths, but it is virtually unknown for such latent Telepaths to consider the feelings and emotions of others (so prominately on display) to be equal to his own.
The Mindreader Template (50 points)
Advantages: Charisma (+3) [15]; Cultural Adaptabillity [10]; Mind Reading (see note) [15]; Social Chameleon [5]; Unusual Background [15]; Telepathy Talent (+2) [10].
Disadvantages: Callous [-5]; Gregarious [-10]; Phantom Voices (Annoying) [-5].
Mind Reading- You can easily draw out the surface thoughts of others, at least when you're not under a lot of pressure or too distracted. This is the Mind Reading advantage, with the modifiers Reduced Time (+20%), Telepathic (-10%), and Useless Under Stress (-60%). This allows you to read any one mind with a free action, provided you share a language with the subject and are not under any real stress. This advantage costs 15 points.
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