Material Manipulator (Mesmerist Archetype)
They say that reality is perception in many ways, that how we view the world around us affects how it will affect us in turn. Some take this a bit further by questioning whether there actually is an “objective” reality at all, which varies in insightfulness between a cosmic reevaluation of how reality works, and the ramblings of those who think they are cleverer than they really are.
There are those, however, who take this to its most literal extreme. Unlike a transmuter or shadow-mage, however, they do this not through traditional magic, but by imposing their own perception upon reality to the point that reality actually changes to match. In short they take the power of what is normally considered a purely mental class and applying it to the real world.
These material manipulators remind me a bit of the mages from Mage the Ascension in this regard, since Magick in that setting is based upon their ability to alter reality according to their whims. The Cult of Ecstasy in particular reflects this due to their tendency to use altered states of mind as the foci for their spells.
Reality is a plaything of these mesmerists, and this is apparent in their spells, for in addition to the sort of magic that mesmerists can learn, they also learn how to cast forth glamering illusions, quasi-real shadow spells, and even very real transmutation effects.
Their more uncanny ability, however, allows them to reshape the reality of other beings and themselves, temporarily altering them physically. At first, these are minor changes like height and weight, but then they begin to be able to alter physical features, apparent gender, physical age, and even altering the species and fundamental nature of the being, fully shapeshifting them. The more powerful they are, the longer such a transformation can last, with the most powerful among them able to hold a creature in a form as long as they like.
The end result is a mesmerist with a little something extra in their arsenal. Certainly they have many ways to bend the minds of foes, but they also can affect the real world in multiple ways, and provide all sorts of disguises or even battle-forms for allies. As such they can fulfil some new roles not normally possible for the class, controlling the battlefield, providing more ways to buff and more illusionary utilities, and even catching what few shadow spells the class doesn’t already get. Consider that when building.
I can see this archetype supporting a few different personality types, namely the blissful sort that is fascinated by perception and the mutability of reality, often helping others experiment with their own identity, or the imperious dominators, not content to bend the wills of others, but reshape them as they see fit, twisting the minds and bodies of foes to make them insignificant or more appealing.
Elbri Star-Chaser has been experimenting with themselves for as long as they could remember, trying out new identities, genders, and appearances as whim takes them. It was only a matter of time before they sought out the mystic power to enhance their skill. Anyone willing to pay her fee can expect a full makeover for a short while, both in terms of magical illusion and physical transformation.
Normally, a mortal cannot be possessed by a bhuta, as their power only extends over animals. However, when a reality-warping mesmerist leaves to try living as a tiger in the wild for a while, she returns not herself, harboring the dormand spirit of the bhuta trapped inside, gaining the possessed corruption.
Rescuing the prince from Er Bhara, easily one of the most powerful mesmerists in the world, will be difficult indeed, for while she has forgone permanently ruling the minds of others, she is an expert at reshaping others into other forms, using her magic to slowly reshape their mind to match their new form. Any of her servants could be the young royal in disguise, under mental compulsion.