Precognition- possibly the most surprising trait.
It is developed as part of the larval survival process, larva that can anticipate dangers are more likely to survive, and Hiver geneticists theorize that it was a crucial capability that allowed the Hivers to survive their pre-intelligence and pre-civilization animal state.
The post civilization conscious decision to continue classic larval Darwinian selection has caused this trait to remain a part of Hiver physiology, development and culture to the present day.
After the development of Precog is triggered in the wilds, the yearlings are taught how to use their gift during their nest education.
Hivers generally do not have other psion traits, although there are nests dedicated to finding and developing such individuals and spreading their DNA around as fast as possible should they arise.
As a result of the general precognition trait, conversations with Hivers can be very confusing as they can change time tense very quickly and casually regarding a past present or future event, since they really see little difference between them. The translators sometimes do not catch these nuances.
And obviously it would be very upsetting to most humans to hear what sounds like premonitions of bad things happening, which may or may not occur or even be meant by the Hiver.
Precognition obviously can be a very useful trait for scientific and technological inquiry, and desperate unscrupulous brokers and traders who have sussed out the Hivers' secret ability constantly try to get Hivers to give them market tips, which most Hivers are loathe to do. Dangerous direction, the Hiver may decide to start its own new manipulation......
Unlike human psions, which have their best possible development early on in life, Hiver precogs start at 1d6 and can increase their level as they grow older.
Hivers have learned that precognition is not revelation of an immutable destiny but can be changed, at sometimes great cost, and that sometimes efforts to alter a precognition results causes it to occur. Different Hivers can also see different outcomes, which affects their continued precog development.
As a Hiver has more success in using their future vision to see things that do happen, or are able to understand the whole precognition and more importantly change the outcome, their precog strength goes up. And as it goes up, they end up in bigger and bigger leadership roles, since they have demonstrated 'foresight' and ability to change outcomes. In that sense it functions as 'social standing'.
A full Hiver planetary or federation council is filled with such precogs and is a fearsome strategic element to consider.
Obviously, precognition has a lot to do with the activity of manipulation, as it will be used to inform and understand a proposed manipulation and has outcomes that largely determine who expands their precog abilities and leads and who does not.
It also feeds into the curiosity drive as precog visions are maddeningly imprecise and makes Hivers want to know more, or if the vision was accurate and it actually happened.
Precognition as a psionic ability should be considered as an extension of Clairvoyance, but always in a future sense, and subject to change and potentially taken out of context. The Precog concentrates on a person, place or object.
The user should use the points from the Clairvoyance table, and adding a future time value to points used. Future time values are like distance values, with an immediate 1d6 seconds (which turn of a hallway is safe) being like close, the next two levels being 1d6 minutes or hours for 1 point, the next two levels being 1d6 days or weeks for 2 points, the next two levels 1d6 months or years for 3 points, etc.
Referees using this most troublesome psionic ability should be cautious giving it to players, or making Hivers into gods. They aren't and this ability is flawed in that it shows a potential occurrence, not a certain one.
Think of the Delphic Oracle and how many came to grief misunderstanding their predictions.
A referee should seek to make precog visions happen as often as not, but with completely different contexts then the player expectations, or better yet their actions they took 'knowing' about the future caused it to occur.
