Non-corporal characters

[Glitch]

I'm struggling to describe a non-corporal pov character who can move about like the breeze, take form at will and who can command powerful magic with a simple thought. How and why he uses such magic is part of the story.

For instance. How would you best describe clicking ones fingers being linked to an explosion?

Edit. Or even non-corporeal as Hex pointed out. Oops

 

[Mirannan]

A rather useful guide to his might be Atoning Unifex from Julian May's books.

 

[tinkerdan]

When you say non-corporeal will that be the same as incorporeal. And do you mean in the strictest sense of a spirit or soul or do you just mean without a material body thus including air ether and fire although some consider the soul to be of fire so that gets muddy.

Anyway I agree check Julian May and Jack the Bodiless

I'm not sure how you could describe clicking fingers from anything that has no fingers. Unless you get all theological as in describing the finger of god in which case I suppose they would just click, though possibly with thunderous result.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

As to the clicking/explosion link...must the POV character take corporeal form to click-fingers/explode things/use its magic? If so that might make the reader wonder why it doesn't stay 'in form' most of the story (if that is what it takes to manifest its destructive powers).

You mention the creature "can move about like the breeze"...can it manifest its magic while in breeze-form? If so, and if its breeze form is visible (for ex., it's cloud-like in appearance) what if the creature/cloud pulses visibly when it uses magic, like an electrical impulse fires throughout the cloud and a clicking/popping/electrical discharge sound is heard at the same time? Just a thought...not sure if I know enough about the creature to give better advice, but I hope this might help in some small way! CC

 

[The Storyteller]

I think is should be possible to have him use magic without physical movement. For example: "with a flick of his mind he...." or "a wave of thought sent magic pushing from him." Or "the magic flowed at his bidding..." or "at his silent command, magic ....."
All the .... bits are fill in the blanks with whatever kind of spell you are using by the way!

I would think of it as telekinesis; physical things are being done without any physical movement from the one doing it. It is all done mentally; so however you would describe a telekinetic using their powers is how I would describe this person using magic. Hope that helps!

 

[Glitch]

I'm still developing this character. So the traits may change to suit.

In his non-corporeal form the character will essentially be undetectable to the naked eye. I'm playing with the idea of giving a person goose bumps, making lights flicker or radio interference etc... In the opening scene a minor character walks through the mc's non-corporeal form and looks back. The mc thinks she has felt him, but was actually looking at something else.

The character would be able to use his magic regardless of corporeal or non-corporeal form.

I like the idea of making the character use a gesture to activate his magic when in corporeal form, but that's more would be more for the benefit of those observing. Like knowing when to duck etc... Although when I put something along these lines up in crits, everyone got confused!

I'm looking to use this character type in a series. This particular story only has two of these characters. These characters are neutral to each other in this story; so I'm not looking for a god like fight scene at any point.

I'll take a look at Julian May.

 

[Mirannan]

I thought I'd just mention that Jack the Bodiless wasn't quite incorporeal. I won't say any more - don't like spoilers.