Sindhi Mystics and Spheres
by Giampaolo AgostaMystics, like all classes, support a wide variety of actual character types, often depending on the cultural peculiarities of the region. The best developed example in canon is of course Sind. Here is a summary by Cthulhudrew from the old WotC boards:
There several mentioned in CoM for Sind (p 16 of the Explorer's Manual):Fakirs: Ascetics following disciplines that originated in Ylaruam (with Sindhi influences). Vows of poverty- they only own the rags they wear and a begging bowl. They master their bodies to the point where pain and exhaustion are nothing. They indulge in strenuous ritual exercise- whirling in place in the heat of the noon sun, walking on coals, lying on beds of nails, etc.
Keis: The largest Sindhi order. Open to all castes (even foreigners) who are able to pass their mental and physical tests. They gain enlightenment through meditation and a form of unarmed combat that is based on not being where your opponent strikes.
Jashpurdhanas: A small order, based in the mountains of Kadesh. They meditate on the meaning of life. After training in unarmed combat for 3 years, they embark on a 10 year journey for truth and knowledge.
Shehids: They are selflessly devoted to their fellow man. They protest abuses of people by authority and always step in when they see injustice. Many of them have died protecting the subjects of evil rajahs.
Svamins: Known for their enigmatic answers to imponderable questions (what is the sound of one hand clapping?) Reclusive, they each live a solitary existence in the wilderness (no cloisters). Those seeking to learn from them must seek them out and earn their tutelage. They only train one pupil at a time.
Yogins: They master the body and mind through ritual postures. They are commonly found standing in contorted positions, mindless of their surroundings.
Clearly Svamins and, likely, Jashpurdhanas could be associated with the Sphere of Thought, but Yogins might be associated with the Sphere of Time, as they are less intellectual. Shehids are freedom fighters, with limited religious overtones, and Fakirs could easily be associated with Energy or even Matter rather than Thought. Keis seem more generic.
Still, the point is that they are rather different from each other, so, maybe in other regions, mystics could have different characteristics.