Dome-ni are naturally occurring innate abilities documented within a small percentage of the Ethian population. Although recognized throughout Imperial history, the origin, inheritance, and development of these abilities remain only partially understood despite centuries of scientific study.
Most Ethians never develop a Dome-ni and live their entire lives without exhibiting any extraordinary abilities. Those who do often require years of disciplined training before their abilities reach their full potential.
Dome-ni vary considerably in both function and strength. Some subtly influence perception, emotion, or cognition, while others enhance physical capabilities or allow direct interaction with the surrounding environment. Even individuals sharing the same Dome-ni may demonstrate vastly different levels of proficiency depending upon training, experience, and natural aptitude.
Imperial researchers have identified hereditary patterns among many Dome-ni families, though inheritance remains unpredictable. Children may inherit a parent’s ability, develop a completely different ability, or possess no Dome-ni whatsoever. The mechanisms governing these variations continue to be the subject of ongoing scientific investigation.
Although uncommon, documented cases exist of individuals born with two independent Dome-ni. Such occurrences remain exceptionally rare, and no widely accepted explanation currently exists for their manifestation.
This Archive contains only those Dome-ni that have been approved for Public Release. Additional abilities may be added as future Archive Records are declassified.
Imperial Classification System
For archival purposes, documented Dome-ni are classified according to both rarity and functional discipline.
Rarity Classification
Common
Documented throughout the Empire, though still uncommon within the general population.
Uncommon
Regularly documented, but present in only a small percentage of known Dome-ni users.
Rare
Only a limited number of individuals are documented during a typical generation.
Very Rare
Known to exist in only a handful of living individuals.
Extremely Rare
Frequently represented by a single documented individual within a generation and may remain absent for several generations.
Exceedingly Rare
Among the rarest Dome-ni ever recorded by the Imperial Archives.
Functional Classifications
For archival consistency, documented Dome-ni are organized into three primary disciplines.
Mental
Abilities affecting thought, perception, memory, communication, or cognition.
Emotional
Abilities interacting primarily with emotional perception, projection, or influence.
Physical
Abilities enhancing the body’s natural capabilities or enabling direct interaction with the physical environment.
List of Dome-ni Abilities
Agility
A physical Dome-ni that greatly enhances speed, balance, coordination, flexibility, and reflexes. Individuals with Agility are capable of remarkable athletic feats and can move faster than most people.
Rarity: Common
Category: Physical
Analytical
The ability to rapidly gather, organize, and retain enormous amounts of information. Analytical Dome-ni excel at recognizing facts, recalling details with exceptional accuracy, and solving complex problems through logic and observation.
Rarity: Common
Category: Mental
Dreamwalker
The ability to communicate through dreams and enter the dreamscape. Skilled Dreamwalkers can exchange messages, explore symbolic visions, and occasionally uncover information that would otherwise remain hidden.
Rarity: Exceedingly Rare
Category: Mental
Empath
The ability to sense the emotions of others. With experience and training, Empaths can also project or reflect emotions, influencing the emotional state of those around them.
Rarity: Common
Category: Emotional
Endurance
A physical Dome-ni that grants exceptional stamina, resilience, and mental fortitude. Individuals with Endurance can withstand prolonged physical exertion, recover more quickly from fatigue, and remain focused under extreme stress. Many also possess enhanced physical strength, allowing them to perform feats beyond the capabilities of an average Ethian.
Rarity: Common
Category: Physical
Illusionist
The ability to project convincing sensory illusions directly into another person’s mind. These illusions are temporary but can appear completely real to those affected.
Rarity: Rare
Category: Mental
Intimidation
The ability to project overwhelming confidence, determination, or authority onto others. Those affected often experience an intense pressure to comply or back down, although strong-willed individuals can resist the effect.
Rarity: Uncommon
Category: Emotional
Mind Bender
An uncommon and one of most dangerous Dome-ni abilities. Mind Benders can issue powerful mental commands, alter or suppress memories, and, when working alongside an Analytical Dome-ni, even implant carefully constructed memories.
Rarity: Uncommon
Category: Mental
Perception
The ability to recognize hidden patterns, relationships, and connections between people, events, and situations. Individuals with Perception often anticipate likely outcomes, identify motives, and make strategic decisions others would overlook.
Rarity: Extremely Rare
Category: Mental
Sensory
A unique ability that perceives emotions through heightened senses such as taste and smell. Advanced Sensory users can also project emotions onto others, creating vivid emotional experiences.
Rarity: Common
Category: Emotional
Note: This Dome-ni only manifests in women.
Telekinetic (Commonly known as a Mover)
The ability to manipulate physical objects through mental focus. Powerful Telekinetics can move large objects and, in rare cases, even living beings.
Rarity: Rare
Category: Physical
Telepathy
The ability to perceive another person’s surface thoughts, intentions, and immediate mental state. Skilled Telepaths can communicate silently with other Telepaths and, with sufficient training, establish mental communication with non-Telepaths.
Rarity: Uncommon
Category: Mental
Verity
The ability to sense deception. Verity users instinctively recognize lies and inconsistencies, making deliberate deception exceptionally difficult, particularly when confronted with significant falsehoods.
Rarity: Very rare
Category: Mental
Protector Bond Enhancements
Although not classified as Dome-ni themselves, Protector Bonds have been documented to enhance or, in rare instances, awaken certain abilities within the bonded Protector.
The most frequently observed enhancements include increased Agility, Endurance, and accelerated healing. Less commonly, existing Mental Dome-ni demonstrate measurable increases in effectiveness, while isolated historical records suggest entirely new abilities have manifested following successful bonding.
The degree of enhancement varies considerably between individuals, and the biological mechanisms responsible remain incompletely understood.
Origins And Ongoing Research
Despite centuries of Imperial research, the true origin of Dome-ni remains unknown.
Scientists continue to investigate why Dome-ni first appeared, how they are inherited, why certain abilities remain extraordinarily rare, and why a small number of individuals develop multiple independent abilities.
Although dozens of Dome-ni have been documented throughout Imperial history, new discoveries continue to expand the Imperial Archives as additional abilities are identified and verified.
Cynthia D. Griffin 