Pulse Dancers

A technique mastered by the Pulse Mages who were outlawed by Eanna during The Conquering. Anyone practiced in arcane physiology was labeled as a corruptor of human nature, and immediately locked away. Coupled with many of the nasty Barrenlanders, meek mages developed a system of defense that they referred to as Pulse Manipulation (Pulse Dancing, Heart Control).

It was designed as a tool in combat, to confuse the opponents' involuntary nervous system, and thereby their reaction time.

In the jails, however, dark mages became so adept that this quickly led to murders through Pulse Reversals. It's a tricky thing to master, so they would practice on rats and flies and the occasional wandering cat.