Windrunners and the Three Lashings:
Reports surrounding the strange abilities of the so-called Assassin in White led me to uncover several sources of knowledge I believe to be largely unknown. The Windrunners were one of the ancient Orders of the Lightners, and their powers stemmed from the manipulation of two Surges. These manifestations of power were commonly referred to by members of the Order as the Three Lashings.
1. Back Lashing:
Among the most commonly used—and most versatile—Lashings in the Order, the Basic Lashing is deceptively complex. Unlike the Full Lashing, it requires careful spatial awareness and control.
This Lashing alters the spiritual gravitational bond between a person or object and the planet below. Instead, it temporarily links the object to a new direction or reference point—effectively changing its "down." This twists gravitational energy itself, allowing a Windrunner to run up walls, send objects flying, or manipulate gravitational vectors.
More advanced use allowed a Windrunner to reduce their effective weight by Lashing a portion of their mass upwards. (For instance, Lashing 25% of one's mass upward would cut their weight in half; Lashing 50% would result in weightlessness.) Multiple Basic Lashings could also be applied simultaneously, creating downward force multipliers—doubling, tripling, or even further increasing an object's effective weight.
2. Full Lashing:
Although often mistaken for the Basic Lashing, the Full Lashing operates on an entirely different principle—Adhesion. This Surge binds objects together at a fundamental level, fusing surfaces as if they were a single entity. I suspect this may relate in some way to atmospheric pressure or surface tension.
To perform a Full Lashing, a Windrunner infuses an object with Soulight, then presses another object against it. The resulting bond is nearly unbreakable, stronger than most materials themselves—often causing the objects to break before the bond does.
3. Reverse Lashing:
This appears to be a specialized form of the Basic Lashing, yet it behaves in a distinct and fascinating manner. It is also the most Soulight-efficient of the three types.
To execute a Reverse Lashing, a Windrunner infuses an object with Soulight and issues a mental command. The object then begins to attract nearby items toward itself, simulating a spiritual gravitational bond similar to that between the object and the ground.
The effect creates a sort of gravitational bubble centered on the infused item. This Lashing is particularly effective on free-falling or airborne objects, whose spiritual connections to the planet are weaker. Objects anchored to the ground can still be affected, but this demands significantly more Soulight—and skill.