Fetish & Totem

A totem/fetish is an item that has had a spirit (totem), or a spirits power (fetish), bound within, allowing the user to access a specific power. Usually this is a spell power held by the spirit, or bound into the item by a spirit or a shaman. It can be an actual spirit however who has agreed to one or more services, either voluntarily or by binding. This group of spells concerns itself with spell totems/fetishes only, which for many purposes are similar to a magical device that has been enchanted.

A totem/fetish is a physical manifestation of spiritual power. It must reflect the nature of the power contained within it, both in its materials and its form. A spell of fly would be bound to a feather totem, and not to a rock. The GM must take care to enforce this simpatico between the power and the totem item itself. If a totem is damaged or broken then the spirit power is lost immediately and cannot be regained.

Shamans cannot enchant except via Spirit, which would weaken them, so nearly all shamans use other spirits for this purpose. Shamans who are desperate can use their own SPIRIT to create a totem/fetish instead of another spirits.

Totems/fetishes are created in the following manner:

• Craft the container: the shaman is required to craft the totem/fetish from appropriate materials. Law and Neutrality based shamans are required to do this themselves with base craft values of 9/8/7/6 for level I/II/III/IV spells. Chaotic shamans are unconcerned with this and may obtain them from any available source, but these can only be used in conjunction with Chaos aligned spirits. The cost of the totem/fetish is irrelevant, but the GM may wish to prescribe the materials required.

• Source the spirit: the shaman must find a suitable spirit with the appropriate power and gain its agreement/defeat it in combat.

• Bind the power: the spirit inserts the required power into the totem/fetish and the shaman binds that power. This requires the permanent sacrifice of 1 or more points of SPIRIT, either by the spirit supplying it, or the Shaman (or both). The amount of SPIRIT lost is equal to the level of the power gained (spell level equivalent).

• Apply conditioners: the shaman may now apply any standard conditionals to the use of the totem/fetish.

• Lock the container: the finished item is sealed and ready for use.

Tattoos.

A totem/fetish can be taken as a tattoo. Each body may have a number of useable tattoos equal to their SIZE/2. Each tattoo can hold one power. The tattoo must be created with a craft skill roll vs base (8). A failure renders the tattoo useless and the space is permanently wasted. If a permanent power is embedded into a tattoo it is altered and can only ever hold that power from then on. The spell/power placed in the tattoo MUST target the owner.

Using a Totem/Fetish

When a user wishes to activate a power from a totem/fetish they merely need only touch it and wish it to work. Activation will require the loss of FAT equal to the powers spell level squared from the wearer. There is no roll required however, the power always works. FAT can be sourced just like any other spell casting.

Multiple Powers

Totems/fetishes cannot hold more than one power.