From: Colin Watson (watson@computing-science.aberdeen.ac.uk)
Date: Thu 23 Sep 1993 - 13:37:32 EEST
Tarka Jabig gave some sound advice:
>1 You might summon a *dead* shaman complete with 200 POW fetch (Ops!).
Yes, an embarassing situation. This is why I would suggest using the Name of
a specific Shaman. It removes some of the risk. I'm not too clear whether
the common name of the target will do for this, or whether you need its
Truename (to coin a D&Dspeak phrase).
I'd also recommend multispelling as many Dominate spells as you can muster
when you cast the summons. Even Shamans of Extraordinary Magnitude have to
roll 00 for their resistance sometime! One must play the percentages.
>2 The shaman's body will die before too long and then his/her fetch will
> come to join his/her spirit. Now what are you going to do with this
> 50 to 500 POW angry fetch which is hovering over your right shoulder sending
> horrible spirits at you. Remember the shaman and his fetch know that when
> you die all the spirits that you have bound are released.
The Fetch, aye there's the rub. I make a few assumptions (which are as yet
untested):
1 - The fetch is an extension of the Shaman.
2 - The fetch's cooperation with the Shaman is *not a conscious, voluntary
act*. The fetch, by its very nature, *must* do as the Shaman directs. 3 - So, he who controls the Shaman controls the Fetch (indirectly).
For example, if you Dominate your bound shaman, you can force him to
continually cast spells *using the fetch's MPs*. This effectively cripples the
fetch. The Fetch is indirectly *forced* to free any spirits which it holds
when its MPs get low.
If you start this process early, you can be certain that the Fetch will be
helpless by the time the Shaman's body dies.
It's possible that this precaution is unnecessary. Perhaps control of the shaman gives *direct* control of the fetch. Who knows? How much independent awareness can a fetch have? Some experimentation is obviously required.
>3 Due to the hazards of binding experienced shamans with large fetches it is
> only safe to bind lesser shamans who are of little practical use. And, even
> these often have fanatical followers who will come and interrupt you just
> when you are at critical points in rituals.
Indeed. 'tis the very stuff that Scenarios are made of. :-)
I'm not suggesting for a moment that any sane PC would attempt such summoning tomfoolery. It does, however, lend itself as an interesting plot-device to get the PCs involved in a scenario.
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This discussion has forced me to consider a couple of other points:
Or is there something about the Spirit Plane that makes Shamans want to stay there after death?
Questions, questions...
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CW.
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