Somewhat character-specific question: Merlin is, in canon, half-incubus. This gives him abilities like illusions, dream manipulation, some degree of shapeshifting, etc, and perhaps most importantly, he can feed on the magical energy of humans via things like sex. To explain in more specific detail, though:
Incubi are inherently magically-based beings, therefore, they need magical energy (mana) to sustain themselves. Humans produce this, and incubi can feed on this via preying on dreams and emotions (with negative ones apparently being more 'nutritious') or taking the more direct route of exchanging bodily fluids. The latter being due to the fact that mana tends to be absorbed/dissolved into said fluids quite easily/readily. So, for an incubus (or succubus; they're one and the same as a species) that also means sex, but doesn't mean that's the only way they can feed!
So! How much if any of this would Merlin be able to retain? Assuming he keeps at least some of it, would he only be able to go the direct route of sex if he wants to, well, feed in this manner, or would potentially draining someone through their emotional reactions be fair game too? What about dreams, since that may require a certain degree of dreamwalking/manipulation to do?
ALSO I forgot to add, but even with powers nerfed, am I correct in presuming he'd still retain the instincts of his incubus side? Such as the impulse to 'feed' on humans, the tendency to be emotionally distant/have trouble empathizing with individuals, etc?
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Incubi are inherently magically-based beings, therefore, they need magical energy (mana) to sustain themselves. Humans produce this, and incubi can feed on this via preying on dreams and emotions (with negative ones apparently being more 'nutritious') or taking the more direct route of exchanging bodily fluids. The latter being due to the fact that mana tends to be absorbed/dissolved into said fluids quite easily/readily. So, for an incubus (or succubus; they're one and the same as a species) that also means sex, but doesn't mean that's the only way they can feed!
So! How much if any of this would Merlin be able to retain? Assuming he keeps at least some of it, would he only be able to go the direct route of sex if he wants to, well, feed in this manner, or would potentially draining someone through their emotional reactions be fair game too? What about dreams, since that may require a certain degree of dreamwalking/manipulation to do?
ALSO I forgot to add, but even with powers nerfed, am I correct in presuming he'd still retain the instincts of his incubus side? Such as the impulse to 'feed' on humans, the tendency to be emotionally distant/have trouble empathizing with individuals, etc?