Bix

Those Who Walk Betwixt

Those who dwell in two realities are known as Those Who Walk Betwixt. The more common, much less of a mouthful term, is simply: the Bix. The Bix are Naturals (and occasionally others) who have Awakened—they have experienced the phenomenon of seeing the Darkworld while conscious for the first time. Once Awakened, Bix may not go "back to sleep", save by a Midknight, but those creatures simply kill as often as they play at being sandmen. The Bix all share some common traits among them, and can instantly recognise one another on sight. First, the appearance of a Bix is different, it changes, but only to those who have eyes to see it. The mundane world and, to a large extent, the supernatural will be unable to perceive this. In a way, it is the more pure face, the True Face, of the dreamer.

While those who still Sleep may see only a non-descript human, Bix will see each other as a dreamed archetype, the Dreamed-Self. This self-image might be slightly prettier, with wrinkles and other minor imperfections removed—or it might be terrifying to behold. It is rumored a lost Glint, known only to powerful elders, allows Dreamwalkers to alter this form at will. Hypnomancers and Pookas may be capable of such self alteration, simply directing Dreamshaping at themselves, but this can be dangerous for in changing the form they must keep the function in mind.

Another shared ability is humanity's tendency towards self deception. This isn't really a power, by strictest definition. It is a function of the human mind not accepting certain input in order to protect itself. This happens regularly, people every day walk around wearing psychological blinders to avoid the awful truths about the world screaming from every direction. It is just something that "isn't my problem." Most people simply "don't want to get involved," because it's "none of their business," right? Absolutely, right up until the moment they see and Darkworld in all its subtle ferocity falls into their tender brains like a bullet. In the simplest terms: The Unawakened will not recognise Bix for what they are. They will, in fact, barely see Those Who Walk Betwixt, most of the time.

Special Abilities

Dreamed-Self

Simply stated, when a Dreamwalker, or other Bix, Awakens, their Darkworld form takes precedence. Should Bix pull themselves fully into Earthly reality, even mundanes will see them for what they truly are. To create this image, the player of the Bix character simply creates a more fitting image for that personality. Meaning: thugs will really look like thugs, while seductive womanizers fit the part in every way. How fantastic this appearance may be is completely up to the player with the only limitation being that the Dreamed-Self generally conforms to the actual physical size of the Bix. The Dreamed-Self is purely cosmetic. Even if it looks like you are on fire, there is no heat and nothing near you burns. The more outrageous the appearance, however, the easier you are to notice.

Sleeping Mind

For their own protection, those who still Sleep will not notice one of the Bix, save in passing, and will often never recall them later. For a Sleeper to take notice of the unnaturalness of Bix, the Bix in question must call attention to herself in some way, usually by doing something "impossible". If the action occurs in plain sight, the Sleeper makes an Overcome roll against Fantastic (+6) difficulty using either Careful or Clever, whichever is higher. If the roll succeeds, the Sleeper will Awaken.

Dreamwalkers

Those who fight, serving Fate with will.

Far more common than other types of Bix, Dreamwalkers are trained as warriors. While they have some ability to influence the dreamworld (by spending Fate Points), they are not any sort of magician. Instead they train in a martial art based in the flexible reality of The Sixth Paradigm called Acceldur.

Acceldur—or, more crudely, "Asskickery" as younger Dreamwalkers are fond of calling it—has features in common with the Wizarding Way. It is an extension of the will given shape and impact upon one's immediate surroundings and, most often, against one's foes. While limited in range it is effectively unlimited in application, the only inhibiting factor being the imagination of the practitioner.

Dreamwalkers, and generally all Bix, fight a secret war among the streets and alleys of the endless city of Threshold and across the The Fifth Paradigm when Dream occasionally spills over into "mundane reality". There exist malevolent forces in the Sixth Paradigm, some as old as Humanity's first nightmare, and the most powerful may only ever be contained but never truly defeated. Beneath these great and terrible powers scuttle Tinglers and Acolytes, very much the villains in a world composed of shadows and dread.

The primary power of these individuals is called Dreamwalking.

Hypnomancers

Those who shape, to fight, to kill.

Hypnomancers are the battlemages, the wizards of war. They use Dreamshaping for weaponry, for attack, for armor and defense. Hypnomancers are feared, and are thus persecuted by many Bix. Hypnomancers must be constantly vigilant, against outside threats, and the mind-warping internal struggle with Dreamshaping. Hypnomancers tend to be a bit grim, compared to the bravado of the Dreamwalkers and near-giddy insanity (inanity?) of the Pookas.

Though they may only affect one reality at a time, this does not make them weak, by any means. Hypnomancers fear Dreamshaping, even as they seek to master it, for Masters inevitably succumb to a crippling madness and irrevocably become a part of Darkworld. Hypnomancers refer to this as the Becoming. Indeed, the Hypnomancer gains incredible power and insight, forsaking the bondage of Earthly reality, but the price is great, indeed.

When a Hypnomancer reaches rank five in Dreamshaping, he must begin making daily Overcome rolls against Great (+4) difficulty. A tied roll earns him one point of Dreaming. A failure earns him two. The character can spend a Fate point if he has any available to avoid gaining a point of Dreaming. If he ever accrues ten points, he slips fully from Earthly reality, becomes a part of Darkworld, and an NPC. These points can never be bought off. Such is the price one pays for power.

Pookas

Those who shape, to trick, to thrill.

The Pookas have existed only half as long as the brooding Hypnomancers. They practice Dreamshaping as well, but to much different ends. There are those, among the Hypnomancers, who say that Pookas were once part of their group, but revolted against the dark regime. While the Hypnomancers live by a warrior's code, and are generally somber fellows, the mischievous Pookas have found a new appreciation for the fluidity of perceived reality. They are jesters among the Bix. Pookas tend to be darkly humorous, their gags and pranks occasionally life-threatening. Their saving grace comes from their ability to entertain. It is said a Pooka could make even a Bogeyman laugh. Unlike most of the Bix, the Pookas tend to be rather light-hearted, their peers claiming the Waking has broken their minds. But to the Jolly Ones, theirs is a sacred duty: to lighten Darkworld, to keep humanity's dreams fresh, to make sure Magick does not die. To this end, the Pookas thrill their audiences, captive or not, and have been responsible for the most Awakenings in the last several decades. Most of the other Bix are quite disturbed by this trend.

Dreamshaping works identically for Pookas as it does for Hypnomancers, aside from the risk. When a Pooka reaches rank five in Dreamshaping, she must begin making daily Overcome rolls. Each tied roll earns her one point of Waking. A failure earns her two. If she ever accrues ten points, she slips fully into Earthly reality, loses the Darkworld, and can never enter it, or see it, again. These points can never be bought off. Such is the price one pays for power.

Awakening

Whenever a Sleeper witnesses the activities of the Bix or other evidence of the Sixth Paradigm, there is a risk that they will Awaken. With the activities of Supers in the world, it is easier to explain away the things the Bix can do. If such explanations are not available, the Sleeper must overcome Great (+5) difficulty with Careful. If successful (not tied), the Sleeper Awakens.

Awakening is a very stressful process. Persons with preexisting cardiac or similar conditions may die. Derangement of indefinite length may result. NPCs will almost always die due to shock and stress upon witnessing two realities at the same time or fall victim to forces in the Sixth that take advantage of the newly Awakened. Named NPCs and PCs may become Bix with Narrator and player approval, respectively. Characters that succeed on the overcome role but do not become Bix due to lack of approval will suffer a Major mental consequence, instead, due to the waking nightmare experience.