05-29-2014, 08:55 PM
At the end of the day, I think Nick's right. Baring the most powerful and experienced of Channelers, most would be unable to defend themselves consistently from attacks. Indeed, bullets are fast, but would be the easiest. A wall of air would make short work of an explosion or a bullet, should the Channeler be aware of the impending attack and have the time to prepare such a defense.
Weapon systems incorporating sound, light, and radiation, however, would be just too exotic for most to think up a defense. At least for the next few years setting-wise. Eventually the more skilled Channelers would catch on and devise ways to protect themselves.
But again, knowing how to and being able to do it in a pinch is two different things. To respond instinctively to a threat is something that comes with practice and drills. Things that most Channelers wouldn't be able to really do. It comes through years of focused training and experience.
So, there are non-lethal weapons in abundance in the First Age setting, final marketable products of the dizzying variety of such things that exist as prototypes and possibilities today. Heat rays, LRADs, microwave weapons, and more. So now, how can they be used, legally, to target Channelers?
Would this be an issue in some countries? To have weapons developed and deployed specifically to target one group of people? Would Channelers have the same rights as everyone else, or will world governments have to draft special laws to allow them greater freedom, or, more likely, far less freedom? They are, after all, potential of great violence and danger, of a sort most of the population simply cannot defend themselves against.
From this, we can draw leads from a variety of real-world sources. Marvel comics, for instance, and the ongoing conflict between Mutants and regular Humans.
In light of the global situation, would some governments work to find and acquire Channelers, to train them for the military, for economic sectors, and as spies? Would they be seen as demons and be hated and killed? Culled from the population? The Atharim could find a wealth of support in it's hidden works regarding dealing with Channelers in these sorts of places, and would find their efforts much more challenging in countries that actively seek out and acquire Channelers.
Once Channelers become a known reality, their connection to the Sickness would be easily extrapolated, making finding many of the currently manifested Channelers a bit easier, as well as finding those that are to come in the years after they become a known phenomenon.
So what can we figure out from this? Will the CCD have specialist task forces for dealing with Channelers that are running rampant? Many would surely end up at the Facility for processing and training. Some would be deemed too dangerous though, and what is to be done with them? Should they be killed, without a trial? Can they even be given a fair trial, considering the things they are capable of?
Weapon systems incorporating sound, light, and radiation, however, would be just too exotic for most to think up a defense. At least for the next few years setting-wise. Eventually the more skilled Channelers would catch on and devise ways to protect themselves.
But again, knowing how to and being able to do it in a pinch is two different things. To respond instinctively to a threat is something that comes with practice and drills. Things that most Channelers wouldn't be able to really do. It comes through years of focused training and experience.
So, there are non-lethal weapons in abundance in the First Age setting, final marketable products of the dizzying variety of such things that exist as prototypes and possibilities today. Heat rays, LRADs, microwave weapons, and more. So now, how can they be used, legally, to target Channelers?
Would this be an issue in some countries? To have weapons developed and deployed specifically to target one group of people? Would Channelers have the same rights as everyone else, or will world governments have to draft special laws to allow them greater freedom, or, more likely, far less freedom? They are, after all, potential of great violence and danger, of a sort most of the population simply cannot defend themselves against.
From this, we can draw leads from a variety of real-world sources. Marvel comics, for instance, and the ongoing conflict between Mutants and regular Humans.
In light of the global situation, would some governments work to find and acquire Channelers, to train them for the military, for economic sectors, and as spies? Would they be seen as demons and be hated and killed? Culled from the population? The Atharim could find a wealth of support in it's hidden works regarding dealing with Channelers in these sorts of places, and would find their efforts much more challenging in countries that actively seek out and acquire Channelers.
Once Channelers become a known reality, their connection to the Sickness would be easily extrapolated, making finding many of the currently manifested Channelers a bit easier, as well as finding those that are to come in the years after they become a known phenomenon.
So what can we figure out from this? Will the CCD have specialist task forces for dealing with Channelers that are running rampant? Many would surely end up at the Facility for processing and training. Some would be deemed too dangerous though, and what is to be done with them? Should they be killed, without a trial? Can they even be given a fair trial, considering the things they are capable of?