Pyrokinetic

A pyrokinetic (pl. pyrokinetics) is a type of psychic capable of controlling and manipulating fire.


Physiology

Pyrokinetics have no physical characteristics to distinguish themselves from an ordinary human - in other words, they have the perfect camouflage. Because they deal closely with fire, they often smell like smoke, and some of them have singed clothes, but these are just maybes - psychics are as varied as regular humans, and follow no particular pattern.

Like all humans, pyrokinetics can have allergies or grow ill. They live a normal human lifespan, assuming dealing with their powers doesn't have an adverse affect on their mental health.


Magical Characteristics

Strictly speaking, pyrokinetics are not 'magical'. Their abilities are a phenomenon of physics, and therefore cannot be sensed in the same way that magic can, or prevented in the same way. Pyrokinetics control their abilities (to the extent that they are able) with their minds. Keeping a pyrokinetic drugged or unconscious thus effectively incapacitates them.

A pyrokinetic controls fire, and can manipulate it beyond natural occurrence, if they have developed enough control. Forcing an element beyond natural barriers, however, is incredibly draining on the psychic, as they are effectively using their own life force to sustain it (in this case, to literally fuel the fire). Usually a psychic starts out with absolutely no control, developing their powers somewhere between childhood and puberty. If they acknowledge the power and practice with it, they can grow stronger and have more control - if they are in denial their development is considerably hindered, and 'accidents' may occur. Without control, a pyrokinetic's powers may flare up during periods of strong emotion - setting those who offend them on fire, for instance. With enough control, a pyrokinetic can control massive blazes - but regardless of their control, a pyrokinetic cannot burn things that wouldn't normally burn given the right temperature extremes.

Pyrokinetics are innately immune to being burned - fire does not harm them, unless for some reason they choose to let the fire burn them. Also, their body temperature tends to be higher than normal.


Society and Habitat

Pyrokinetics live in normal human society, though they do tend toward the outskirts. Often, pyrokinetics are isolated occurrences - their traits are not inherited, simply… the occasional genetic fluke. They are few and far between, and therefore many spend their lives feeling a bit like freaks, and not discussing their abilities with anyone else. If they accept their abilities, they might find jobs where control of fire is an asset, such as working as a fireman. Pyrokinetics loathe being wet. Sometimes this means they freak out if it rains, sometimes it means they sit there sizzling and sulking in the pool.

Of the elemental psychics, pyrokinetics are the most likely to be mentally unsound. When they are still learning control, fires have a tendency to get out of hand around them, meaning many of them have traumatic pasts (sometimes house fires in which they are the only survivor, for example).