Highbourne descendanded from Wraiths and humans are called Veilseers. They are born attuned to the boundary between life and death, able to perceive the Veil that separates the mortal world from what lies beyond. Veilseers do not command spirits, nor can they halt or reverse death. They witness what is already unfolding.
Where others see a single layer of reality, Veilseers might perceive the threshold beneath it. They see when a soul loosens from the body. They see the Reaper who comes to guide it. They see the Door when it opens. If a spirit refuses to pass, they see the ghost that lingers.
Veilseers are often calm, deliberate, and soft-spoken. They are difficult to startle and rarely surprised by endings. Many prefer dim spaces and find bright light overstimulating or disorienting. Their natural rhythm leans toward the night; they are wakeful and clear-minded after dusk, and sluggish in full daylight.
Veilseers can have traits such as:
- Veil-Sight: Can see the moment of death as the soul detaches and the Reaper arrives. If a spirit refuses to cross, the Veilseer perceives it clearly.
- Aura Vision: In dim or low light, sees a faint spectrum of color around living beings. The spectrum reflects resonance — Heart and Path alignment — not morality. Bright light drowns out this perception.
- Echo Perception: Can see or sense emotional residue in spaces where intense events occurred. Strong grief, violence, or devotion leaves visible impressions.
- Threshold Awareness: Can sense when a person is nearing death, though not the cause or precise timing. It feels like standing near an unseen draft.
- Spirit Visibility: Can see shades and lingering spirits even when others cannot. They may speak to them, but cannot compel or banish them.
- Reversed Circadian Rhythm: Naturally nocturnal. Perception sharpens at night and dulls in daylight.
- Veil-Resistance: Glamour or illusion magic struggles to fully deceive them; while appearances may shift, the underlying resonance remains visible.
- Dream Communion: Occasionally dreams of conversations with ancestors or recently departed souls, though such encounters cannot be summoned on command.