I've seen it mentioned several times, but it isn't clear what that entails. How can someone recognize when they're being attacked that way?

It really depends... There are a lot of different forms of attacks, that have a wide range of symptoms. Some of them mimic other problems, so sometimes it's harder to tell...

Out of curiosity, is there a particular reason that you're asking?

Symptoms tend to vary, depending on what type of Psi attack is being used. Some do very real damage, some seem to short out particular nerve links, and still others seem to be more insidious.

Psychic Attacks 101

The first types of attacks, if you could call them that are influential. In the field among military projects many psychics dubbed the term 'pushing' or 'nudging'. It is using your own will, and projecting thoughts, concepts or ideas, though usually in a way that is quite strong. Sometimes it is as simple as a question, but wrapped in the desire to find out the answer, often by asking a person. This is a form of psychic spying, and is often used to get information out of people by influencing a trusted confidant or friend. The person isnt even aware they've been influenced, unless they are continually aware of their thoughts, how they think, and have a strong sense of Self, and can catch something that is fabricated and implanted. The person asked has no clue he just gave vital information to the enemy.

Thats just one type. There are other types that the average joe wont even realize. For instance, shuffling through memory. Its not hard, if you can get into one's thoughts, or get to them through the dreamscape, and just influence them to remember, that alone will give the information up. Others, can sort of get into a mental construct, and rifle through your mind like a house, or computer. It's all in interpretation. It's almost like telepathy and imagination done in a way that creates a sort of mental reality, you might say. Its more common among the more disciplined minds.

Sometimes though, if a mind is defensive they will have natural defenses that are lke layers of tissue or armor, and having to breach those layers well... those are when a person is aware they are under attack. It can be anything from just a shiver of something wrong, or it can be a feeling like someone is crushing their head, and prying at it with a crowbar and chissle trying to get inside there to 'get at the good stuff'. This occurs when a psychic typically is tired of being 'nice and subtle', is in a hurry, or thoroughly considers a target to be an enemy, or they begin to resist... or if they don't care, because the stress CAN cause cardiac arrest, or an aneurism.

Other Psychic attacks are directed at the physical mind, ie the brain, and seek to do tissue damage by either overloading the nerves, burning out the brain, or causing other brain-damage via raising body temperature, or blood pressure, or the like. Often the physical parts of the body are better shielded, as the subconcious guards them more, and is continually monitoring them. Signs that someone may be under this sort of attack are dialated or constricted pupils, or 'blown' pupils. Meaning one is large, the other is small. That is an indicator of severe trauma or shock. Sweating, panting, dizzyness, lack of coordination or motor skills, may feel tired, may be incoherent and unable to think clearly. They may also suffer delusions, and the same can be said of the first as well. They may think a trusted friend, is really their enemy and may feel compelled to either get away from them, or in some cases kill them, though usually, they wont be able to do more than hurt that friend, instead of killing them.

There are attacks that stop a person's heart, sieze up their lungs, and cause other physiological effects, all by flipping 'switches' in the brain, or shutting down nerves here or there. These techniques are often used by weapon's grade or assasin psychics and will allow them to kill their targets in a very little amount of time, though it still takes a strong will, and solid control of their power. Other side effects and attacks include changing or forcably altering someone's brain-waves, or alterred brain-waves may be a sign of attack, or a forced state of altered conciousness, such as a trance, or even a coma. A person that may be mentally posessed might very well exhibit the brain-waves of someone in a coma, while their body talks and responds with ease. It appears this way because their body has just become a remote-controlled shell. The brain is on 'hibernate' but hte body still accepts commands, even though the commanding presence is not the normal owner of the body.

Other signs you might witness are the person in question asking/saying, doing, or trying odd, new, or wierd things, or just generally acting strangely. They may have been 'nudged' or suggested something by a psychic. Often psychics recognize the signs quickly, and can break the effects, but ordinary joes are not as lucky. There are some, like myself, that will often notice an attempt as it is being made, and can turn it around, though not always. It depends on the psychics involved, but in any case, many psychics can also find out if a person is being affected by a psychic or psionic ability.

That about covers the basics, I guess. If you can tell me what you see out of all that, maybe I can help, Willie. I might even be able to go Astral and break the effects, and return said person to normal, provided the son of a bitch hasn't done his/her/it's homework.

I didn't put it together at the time, but a few times I had a headache that disappeared immediately when I entered the temple. Each time it happened, that night I had a stubborn nightmare.

When Ron mentioned his doppelganger was back, I reexamined those incidents and wondered if one of those things was messin' with me.

yeah, i think there are enough people around here with their minds messed with.