Spirit Chasing

Category
Numinae
Subcategory
hedge
While this Path's name implies a similarity to Summoning, it has little relation to that variety of Hedge Magic. Spirit Chasing instead creates a bond between a mystic and his chosen plant or animal. Practitioners of this Path believe, as do werewolves, that within every living creature rests a soul, spirit, animus or whatever. 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. 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 particular bear's 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 how to focus his senses 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. To perform the task requires spending one Willpower point and rolling Manipulation + Occult versus a difficulty of the Path level + 4.
System

Spirit Chasing Path

While this Path's name implies a similarity to Summoning, it has little relation to that variety of Hedge Magic. Spirit Chasing instead creates a bond between a mystic and his chosen plant or animal. Practitioners of this Path believe that within every living creature rests a soul, spirit, animus or whatever. 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.

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. This Path is unique to every practitioner.

System: To perform the task requires spending one Willpower point and rolling Manipulation + Occult versus a difficulty of the Path level + 4.

• Level 1: Eating the Spirit's Food

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 or hiding food to eat later.

• • Level 2: Enhanced Sensory Perception

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 bonded with a lynx, for example, he could see in the dark. Discovering hunters, scenting a trail, or finding food are examples of rituals.

• • • Level 3: Healing Sleep

This level allows Spirit Chasers the luxury of **healing sleep**. They can fall into a healing sleep and **recover one Health Level for every success** rolled on Spirit Chasing. Each level regained requires four hours of rest (e.g., three successes heal three Health Levels after 12 hours of sleep). Rituals include hiding, healing venomous wounds, and childbirth.

• • • • Level 4: Keen Insight and Wisdom

This level of Spirit Chasing grants the mystic **keen insight and wisdom**. The Storyteller decides, based upon the level of success, what sort of information to provide. For example, if bonded to an oak tree, the wisdom might involve seeing how an event long ago affected the present. Possible rituals encompass past visions, detecting lies, or leaps of intuition.

• • • • • Level 5: Unique Spirit Ability

Only the most dedicated reach this level. They may practice a **unique ability chosen from their spirit**. A practitioner bonded to a deer could run quickly or jump high. A minimum of **three successes is necessary to invoke this effect**. Acquiring physical prowess (strength), offensive powers (claws/fangs), or shielding (thick fur) are all possible rituals.

Prerequisites
Kinfolk
LStat Lists
numina