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Table of Contents
Spirit-Chasing
Source: Sorcerer's Companion, modified
While this Path's name implies a similarity to Summoning, it has little relation to Summoning/Binding/Warding of any kind. Spirit Chasing instead creates a bond between a mystic and a chosen plant or animal (or, with Storyteller permission, some other sort of Naturae).
Practitioners of this Path believe that within every living creature rest a soul, spirit, animus or similar ephemeral concept. Spirit Chasers try to watch and learn from these beings; unlike the learning of Gifts, however, the animus doesn't necessarily enter into any kind of “bargain” with the mystic. Instead the practitioner studies the spirit, first by making contact with it, then by asking it questions and mimicking its natural abilities that manifest in this world, and finally by putting what it’s learned into practice through Sorcerous rituals.
For example, a Spirit Chaser studying bears would begin by watching bears and observing their movements and patterns of life. He would then engage in some sort of private ritual of his own devising, pleading for a bear's particular spirit to appear; sometimes, this process takes years of work. Next, the mystic would explain to the spirit that he'd like to learn the ways of bears in their natural habitat. The spirit might require proof of the mystic's sincerity. But if it agrees, the Spirit Chaser can learn the rudiments of living like a bear. He could, for example, discover how to survive on raw meat, roots, berries, nuts or insects, even those poisonous to humans. As his understanding progresses, the mystic could also learn to focus his sense like a bear, hibernate or even grow claws. Spirit Chasers by no means restrict themselves only to mammals or even the animal world. A number of them choose plants for their Spirit Chasing. This Path is unique to every practitioner.
While, by default, the practitioners of the Path may only benefit themselves with the abilities they’ve learned, at higher levels a dedicated Sorcerer eventually learns to grant these gifts to another; the mechanics work the same way in that case as if the target had cast it themselves. Any target of this Path’s base effects must be willing; it’s to be treated as a gift, not a burden.
The following table provides both the base spells and general possibilities of Rituals developed at each level, but the specific mechanics will depend on the animal in question; sample benefits and rituals for different plants/animals can be found afterward. If a Sorcerer wishes to take this Path for more than one type of Spirit, they must re-purchase the Path, going through the whole process again from the beginning. With Storyteller permission, redundant levels (like level 3) might provide an additional ritual if you’ve already purchased it once.
System
Attribute: Perception
Cost: One Willpower
Modifiers: -1 if you have Medium, Spirit Sight, or similar merits. +1 if you’ve angered related Naturae.
Duration: A scene, unless the ritual or level says otherwise.
Aspects
Effects
| • | This level allows the mystic to learn how to “eat” the food of the chosen spirit. It requires that the proper food be available (e.g. sunshine and water for plants or crumbs for insects). He receives full nutritional value from the meal, as if he were the animal or plant. Rituals might include chewing cud, hiding food to eat later and so on. |
| •• | With this level of Spirit Chasing, the character can extend his sensory perception to match that of his chosen animal or plant in one aspect. If the Spirit Chaser has a bond with a lynx, for example, he could see in the dark. Discovering hunters, scenting a trail or finding food are examples of rituals at this level. |
| ••• | Animals and plants have an innate understanding of self-preservation. Hurt creatures lick their wounds clean, while plants use energy from photosynthesis to repair torn leaves and roots. When winter approaches and food is scarce, some animals and plants fall into hibernation; they awake when spring comes. This level allows Spirit Chasers the same luxury; they can fall into a healing sleep and recover one Health Level for every success rolled one Health Level for every success rolled on Spirit Chasing. Each level regained requires four hours of rest. Thus, a person who got three success could heal three Health levels after 12 hours of sleep. Rituals may include hiding, or healing venomous. |
| •••• | This level of Spirit Chasing grants the mystic keen insight and wisdom. The Storyteller decides, based upon the levels of success, what sort of information to provide. For example, if a character has chosen the oak tree as her bonded spirit and rolls three success, the wisdom that comes to her might involve seeing how an event long ago affected the present. The idea is that the oak has stood for many years and seen much. The Storyteller can use this level of the path to provide clues or plots hooks for the characters. Possible rituals encompass past visions, detecting lies or leaps of intuition. |
| ••••• | At this point, the Spirit Chaser may practice a unique ability chosen from their spirit. A practitioner bonded to a deer could run quickly or jump over a high fence. If a character chose poison ivy, anyone who touched him might develop a blistering rash. A minimum of three successes is necessary to invoke this effect. Acquiring physical prowess (such as great strength), offensive powers (growing claws or fangs) or shielding (sprouting thick fur) are all possible rituals. |
| ••••• • | The rare Spirit Chaser that reaches this pinnacle may practice another ability chosen from their spirit, but this one may be more obvious or simply a lot more potent. Someone following a bird spirit may be able to fly short distances without wings, or someone following a type of vine may be able to suck the life from another individual. |
Subjects
| • - ••• | The Sorcerer may only grant the benefits to themselves. |
| •••• | The Sorcerer may grant the benefits to one other individual. |
| ••••• | The Sorcerer may grant the benefits to themselves and one other individual. |
| ••••• • | The Sorcerer may grant the benefits to three people, which may include themselves. |
