From: Sandy Petersen (sandyp@idgecko.idsoftware.com)
Date: Fri 06 Sep 1996 - 17:15:25 EEST
Peter Metcalfe presents an argument that spirits would not be hostile
to sorcerers, because sorcerers don't go around binding spirits as
often.
The term "spirits" is pointless in this connection, however.
There is no such thing as a generic spirit. Instead, probably tens of
thousands of types of spirits inhabit the gray zone, and even within
a given type they vary in personality and experience.
Any spirit that meets a sorcerer on its own plane is going to
react to that sorcerer with respect to its own needs and purposes. A
sorcerer will be perceived as prey by predatory spirits, as rivals by
many intelligent spirits, as an unnatural intrusion by some, and as
meaningless background noise by still others.
>It's likely to be far more concerned about a Shaman that it meets
>because a Shaman is able to make it do things it doesn't want to do.
BUT shamans don't just go onto the spirit plane, attack
spirits and forcibly take them home as slaves. At least not
intelligent ones. I perceive shamans as perfectly able to negotiate
deals with spirits, using threats, force, pleading, familial
relationships, bribery, etc.
Why attack a Dehore if you can present yourself as a friend
of the Dark, and talk it into temporarily accompanying you back to
the mundane plane? In return for which you'll erect a shrine and
sacrifice a small animal to its memory every year (or whatever a
particular Dehore might want). Why engage Uncle Einar in spirit
combat, when he's perfectly happy to cooperate if you'll only bite
off one of your own fingers for him? Guy Hoyle knows what I'm talking
about?
A non-intelligent spirit may not be subject to negotiation,
but they also won't be hostile to shamans _because_ they lack the
brains to know that shamans are a possible threat.
A shaman knows his way around the spirit plane. He has spirit
perceptions, skills, etc. He is at home here. A sorcerer blunders
about, half-blinded and thrashing like a wounded fish. The commotion
he throws up has two effects -- frightening away the timid, and
attracting the malign.
Sandy P.
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