From:	TalonMail@***.com TalonMail@***.com
Subject:	Where is your permit, wizard?
Date:	Mon, 2 Aug 1999 10:04:14 EDT

Allen Versfeld <moe@*******.com> wrote:
>>>Is it possible to describe an astral signature reliably? Since you
can't record it in the same manner as, say, fingerprints, or a retinal
scan, the record would have to be based on somebodies verbal
description. Sure, the signature is distinctive, but how easy is it to
describe to another magician?<<<<

Allen brings up one of the key points of magical forensics: astral evidence
is almost entirely subjective. Unlike DNA or fingerprints, astral signatures
can't be effectively described or recorded in any manner. Even a description
of the signature isn't very useful since it may appear differently to
different people, much like different people assense different "colors" from
a persons aura, even though they get the same information (yellow might mean
fear to me, but greed to you).

So, while a magician who has assensed a person's astral signature can
recognize it if he sees it again, that doesn't necessarily help the forensic
mage in another city unless they bring the original magician in to check
things out. By that time, the signature has usually faded away. So, while
astral signatures are useful for catching magical criminals, they're not as
omnipresent as things like fingerprints.

Take care,
Steve

Kenson's Cranial Collection
http://members.aol.com/talonmail