Conjuring

Many hands make light work, and that's true even when those hands are ghostly and insubstantial. The Sixth World is host to a range of spirits, visitors from other planes who take on characteristics of air, earth, fire, water, beasts, or even people. Their exact nature is eternally debated — are they echoes of forms here on earth? Departed souls? Both? Something else? — but their utility is clear. The conjuration of spirits can be very useful to the Awakened, bringing them assistants with a range of skills and abilities to help out the summoner. Whether they serve as scouts, directly attack an enemy, or mess with opponents’ strategies, spirits can give a big boost to a shadowrunner team - or present them with a tremendous pain in the hoop.

Characters do two things when they conjure a spirit. First, they summon them, that is, make them appear; and second, they compel them to perform a certain number of services, based on the power of the summoning. For full and detailed information on the topic see Shadowrun: Sixth World core and Street Wyrd.

Summoning

To summon a spirit, decide on the Force of the spirit you want to conjure - this is the power you want the conjured spirit to have.

Roll a Conjuring + Magic vs. (Force x 2).

At least 1 net hit is needed to successfully summon the spirit. Services obtained are equal to net hits.

Characters must resist drain as if they had casted a spell against a Drain Value equal to the number of hits the spirit rolled. This is Stun damage unless it is higher than a character's Magic rating, in which case it is Physical.

If the Drain is enough to make the summoner unconscious, the spirit returns home to its metaplane.

Spirits have a built-in limit: once one sunrise and one sunset pass after summoning, the spirit returns to its home plane even if it has not fulfilled all of its services.

You can freely spend reagents equal to the Force of the spirit you are attempting to summon to gain a free Edge on the summoning test.

You cannot have an active spirit whose combined Force is greater than your (Magic x 3) at any one time.

Spirits can be fought with anything that affects astral beings, or with regular weapons if they materialize.

They have one Condition Monitor, based on their Willpower and if it is filled the spirit is disrupted and sent back to their home metaplane.

Banishing

Banishing is the flip side of Summoning: trying to eliminate a spirit that is somehow messing with your plans.

To attempt to banish a spirit, use a Major Action to roll Conjuring + Magic vs. (spirit’s Force x 2).

Any net hits reduce the services the spirit has left to fulfill by one per net hit. Once those services are reduced to zero, the spirit departs to its home metaplane.

As is the case with summoning, banishing brings drain, which is equal to twice the number of hits (not net hits) the spirit got on the test to resist the banishment.

As with summoning, if the final drain is higher than the banisher’s Magic, the drain damage is Physical; otherwise it’s Stun.

Spending reagents equal to the Force of the spirit you are attempting to banish gives you a point of bonus Edge.

Services

A service is a single, discrete, clearly defined action.

"Do everything I say," or "keep me safe" are too broad to be considered services.

"Take this package to Mr. Johnson at the research facility" or "distract those guards for 10 minutes" are more specific - and acceptable.

We can't draw the exact line of what is an acceptable service and what is not - it's down to the gamemaster's discretion.

Spirits and Edge

Spirits do not have Edge themselves and they also do not have rerolls, but they can still use Edge mechanically.

Their summoner (or an ally) can award them 2 Edge to give the spirit 1 Edge.

The spirit can use this Edge normally.

The spirit must be within (Force x 10) meters of anyone who wishes to give it Edge.

Spirit Range

Spirits try to stay close to their conjurer.

IF they get more than (Conjurer's Magic x 100) meters from their conjurer, they will try to return to that range unless they have been specifically directed not to.

Spirit Mindlink

A conjured spirit is linked to its conjurer so that they do not need to speak to communicate. They share a mental communication that can cross any physical distance but cannot cross from one metaplane to another.

The communication itself is conceptual in nature, which means it cannot share actual audio, video, or pictures. This link means that if a conjured spirit is disrupted or banished, the conjurer knows immediately.

Spirit Etiquette

It's always worth remembering that spirits are being compelled by magic power into services about which they have no say, whether the actions they are taking are moral, illegal, enjoyable, painful, or hurtful cannot affect their decisions to follow that action: if something is painful or unpleasant it is still part of a service, and they still have to do it.

This can affect their attitude towards conjurers and perhaps more importantly it can affect an individual's reputation among spirits.

Since spirits have been known to share their thoughts openly, this reputation can spread. Any time a conjurer deliberately uses a service to cause a spirit they conjured significant disruption or discomfort, decrease the character's Reputation by 1.

Types Of Spirits

There are many types of spirits. Each spirit receives an optional power for every 3 full points of Force (so Force 1–2 spirits have no optional powers, Force 3–5 have one, Force 6–8 have two, and so on). The summoner selects the optional powers at the time of summoning, and they cannot be changed once the spirit is summoned.

Spirits’ stats are based on their Force (abbreviated F in the stat blocks). A spirit’s attribute cannot be lower than one, even if the adjustment listed would make it so. Any skills they have are at a rank equal to their Force.

Spirits Of Air

Powers:

Accident
Astral Form
Concealment
Confusion
Engulf (Air)
Materialization
Movement
Sapience
Search

Optional Powers:

Elemental Attack (Cold or Electricity)
Energy Aura (Cold or Electricity)
Fear
Guard
Noxious Breath
Psychokinesis

Spirits Of Beasts

Powers:

Animal Control
Astral Form
Enhanced Senses (Hearing, Smell, Low-Light Vision)
Fear
Materialization
Movement
Sapience

Optional Powers:

Concealment
Confusion
Guard
Natural Weapon (Claws/Bite)
Noxious Breath
Search
Venom

Spirits Of Earth

Powers:

Astral Form
Binding
Guard
Materialization
Movement
Sapience
Search

Optional Powers:

Concealment
Confusion
Elemental Attack (Chemical)
Engulf (Earth)
Fear

Spirits Of Fire

Powers:

Accident
Astral Form
Confusion
Elemental Attack (Fire)
Energy Aura (Fire)
Engulf (Fire)
Materialization
Sapience

Optional Powers:

Fear
Guard
Noxious Breath
Search

Spirits Of Kin

Powers:

Accident
Astral Form
Concealment
Confusion
Enhanced Senses (Low-Light, Thermographic Vision)
Guard
Influence
Materialization
Sapience
Search

Optional Powers:

Fear
Innate Spell (1 From Conjurer)
Movement
Psychokinesis

Spirits Of Water

Powers:

Astral Form
Concealment
Confusion
Engulf (Water)
Materialization
Movement
Sapience
Search

Optional Powers:

Accident
Binding
Elemental Attack (Cold)
Energy Aura (Cold)
Guard
Weather Control

Plant Spirits

The flora of the Sxith World is highly varied and vibrant. Plant life is also deeply connected to the psyche of metahumanity, which means the spirit world reflects this diversity. From thorn-covered humanoids to Venus flytrap-headed vine creatures, the forms and shapes of plant spirits are as varied as any other in the metaplanes.

Powers:

Astral Form
Concealment
Engulf
Fear
Guard
Magical Guard
Materialization
Sapience
Silence

Optional Powers:

Accident
Confusion
Movement
Noxious Breath
Search

Guardian Spirits

With appearances ranging from avenging angels to Zulu warriors, guardian spirits are summoned to be the ultimate protectors. Driven by a warrior's code and strongly opposed to immoral tactics, these spirits come to their summoner's aid and defense but rarely bend knee to a conjurer with a dark heart - and as such will actively oppose and work defiantly against any conjurer with a negative Astral Reputation.

Powers:

Astral Form
Fear
Guard
Magical Guard
Materialization
Movement
Sapience

Optional Powers:

Animal Control
Concealment
Elemental Attack (Conjurer's Choice)
Natural Weapon
Psychokinesis
Skill Specialization (Any Close Combat skill specialization)

Guidance Spirits

Sometimes summoning is not about service but instead about seeking advice of a wise sage. While the direction they deliver may come in the form of a riddle or masked allusions, a guidance spirit rarely feels their job is complete until they have offered wise counsel.

The advice of a guide is directly related to Astral Reputation. The higher it is, the more direct the advice will be.

Powers:

Astral Form
Confusion
Divining
Guard
Magical Guard
Materialization
Sapience
Search
Shadow Cloak

Optional Powers:

Engulf
Enhanced Senses (Low-Light, Thermographic Vision, Smell, Hearing)
Fear
Influence

Task Spirits

Work, creation, innovation, invention, effort - these are all concepts intimately connected with the metahuman psyche for centuries. Since metahumanity first shifted to urban civilization, the various jobs of the world have been split, dissected, and narrowed. The spirit realm has mirrored those changes, creating metaplanes filled with beings skilled in differing ways.

When you seek the aid of a task spirit, be sure you know what kind of help you're seeking. A spirit skilled in cobbling cannot help you make the perfect peach cobbler.

Task spirits are willing workers and when successfully summoned, offer an additional service to their conjurer and when bound they offer an extra task point as long as the conjurer's Astral Reputation is positive.

Powers:

Accident
Astral Form
Binding
Materialization
Movement
Sapience
Search
Skill (Choose: Biotech, Electronics, Engineering, Outdoors, or Piloting.)
Skill (Any appropriate Knowledge skill relating to the chosen skill above.)
Skill Specialization (Any appropriate specialization relating to the chosen skill above.)

Optional Powers:

Concealment
Enhanced Senses (Hearing, Smell, Low-Light or Thermographic Vision)
Influence
Psychokinesis
Skill (Choose: Biotech, Electronics, Engineering, Outdoors, or Piloting.)

Free Spirits

Spirits that live in the Sixth World free of any bonds to any conjurer are Free Spirits. Perhaps they gained this freedom from the death of the individual who summoned them, or they managed to break those mystical bonds without having to off their summoner, or they found a way to come over on their own and have no intention of leaving.

Free Spirits come from 2 primary sources: those who have had been here long or repeatedly bound to this plane who found a window to escape captivity, and those who found a way to cross the barriers of the metaplanes to establish a home here.

Your average spirit is not likely to become free unless it is powerful (Force 6+) or experiences some strong emotional event that makes it see our world as a better home than their metaplane. When a spirit becomes free, they gain an Edge attribute equal to their Force, and Free Spirits are individuals with their own drives and goals and can become contacts, enemies, teammates, or innocent bystanders.

Every Free Spirit is considered a full magician with the exception of that they may never possess a Conjuring skill. If they use the Inhabitation power, they may only attempt astral projection from a vessel if the spirit has the Astral Projection power as well. When doing so, they leave the Inhabited subject in a state of suspended animation.

When a spirit becomes free, they also gain a number of new powers equal to its Edge attribute.

In place of a power, the Free Spirit may instead choose any metamagic technique available to metahuman initiates. Free Spirits use Edge instead of initiate grade. They may also possess metamagics currently unknown or otherwise inaccessible to metahumanity.

Free Spirits do not owe services to anyone, but can perform all the services of bound spirits if they choose to do so.

For full, detailed information on Free and Ally Spirits, reference Shadowrun 6th Edition: Street Wyrd.

True Names

The true name of a spirit is a well-kept secret. This name can trap the spirit into a level of servitude far beyond simple summoning and commands. The name itself is actually a complex arcane formula that symbolizes the sum total of the spirit's essence and nature. Even though they possess such complexity, true names can be transcribed by using the Astral (Spirit Type) skill into recognizable symbols. Those who possess a copy of a spirit formula can command the free spirit that the formula represents regardless of their own arcane talent. This means that mundane people can control a free spirit by possessing their True Name formula.

Since this is so powerful and the strain on a spirit torn between masters is agonizing, they rarely allow more than one copy of their True Name formula to exist.

Learning The True Name

There are 4 primary methods to gain access to a spirit formula: random discovery, a hunt for the physical anchor, a metaplanar quest, and an effort to design the formula.

Random Discovery: By the providence of the GM, a player can gain the spirit formula or true name of a spirit. This is usually done in connection with a plot or as a reward for a job.

Hunt Down The Physical Location: A spirit's True Name becomes physically imprinted on an object, a person, or even a place that was near the spirit when it first broke free. The physical true name is similar to an astral signature and can be identified with an Astral + Intuition (3) test once located.

Translating the True Name into a spirit formula requires a little time and effort with an Astral + Logic (Spirit's Force x 5) extended test that takes 1 full day.

Metaplanar Quest: An initiate or individual with access to the metaplanes may learn a spirit's true name by undertaking a metaplanar quest to the spirit's native metaplane. The spirit's metaplane can be obvious or obscure, and without obvious clues the magician must assense the spirit or its signature. This requires either an Astral + Intuition (4) test if observing the spirit directly or an Astral + Intuition (5) test if assensing an astral signature.

This is a harrowing, difficult undertaking and an adventure of its own. The caster likely will require a guide and at the end of a success quest, the true name is etched into the initiate's mind. They can then translate the True Name into a spirit forumla with an Astral + Logic (Spirit Force x 3) extended test that takes 24 hours.

Design Formula: If a magician spends time directly observing a spirit, they can perform an Astral +Intuition (Spirit's Force x 5) extended test that takes 1 hour. Success allows them to attempt to design a functional spirit formula from their impressions of the spirit.

Creating the formula requires an Astral + Logic (Spirit's Force x 10) extended test that takes 1 day.

If the test is interrupted in any way, it needs to be completely restarted. A Glitch means the magician thinks they have made good progress but instead they have introduced an error that will make the formula a dud. A Critical Glitch means they have someone's name, but not the intended spirit... and when they show up, they'll be uncontrolled and very pissed off.

Proper Feeding And Care Of Your Friendly Neighborhood Free Spirit

Free spirits use Karma to grow in power, just like characters. But unlike characters, they cannot earn it for themselves. A Free Spirit must receive Karma from a willing metahuman unless it has the Energy Drain (Karma) power.

While negotiating a deal with a free spirit, it is very likely that it will ask for Karma as payment. There are some occasions where it may ask for contacts, services, unique enchantments or even material wealth but Karma is their preferred remuneration.

The ritual to give Karma takes 1 hour per 1 point of Karma given and it rarely looks like an arcane ritual - it's more like a poolside chat or an evening out on the town.

Summoning a Free Spirit

In order to summon a Free Spirit, the conjurer must have access to the spirit formula and spend time focusing on the spirit. As they know the location, the spirit will be drawn to the formula and manifest nearby.

They will then check the conjurer's Astral Reputation and act accordingly.

No roll is required for this, and no reagents are spent, no drain is suffered, and no services are gained.

If a spirit is inhabiting or possessing a vessel, then they will resist this as described in Street Wyrd.

Binding a Free Spirit

Due to the immense power of a True Name, anyone - Awakened or mundane - can bind a Free Spirit to their command.

The ritual to bind a Free Spirit requires (Force x 25) drams of reagents. The ritual may be conducted anywhere, does not require wards, and takes a number of hours equal to the spirit's Force.

At the end of the ritual, the summoner makes an opposed Willpower + Conjuring (Binding) against the spirit's Force. Free Spirits often use Edge when resisting this test. If the character wins, the spirit is bound to a number of services equal to the number of net hits.

Drain for this effort is equal to the spirit's Force plus or minus the net hits of the test. If the character wins, they subtract net hits. If the spirit wins, the net hits are added.

While bound, the spirit is unable to directly harm their controller until their services are exhausted, but the spirit can still plot to put their controller in harm's way.

The spirit may also be bound again and this can happen an unlimited amount of times but is best done before the final service is rendered. If the controller suffers a Glitch, the spirit has one Combat Round to do anything they want before the binding takes effect.

If the controller suffers a Critical Glitch, all services are lost and the spirit becomes free once more.

Banishing A Free Spirit

Free Spirits face the risk of banishment just like any other spirit. Most free spirits are unbound and owe no services that can be banished so instead each net hit the banisher receives on a Conjuring + Magic vs (Force x 2) test reduces the spirit's Edge attribute. A Free Spirit whose Edge is reduced to zero is temporarily disrupted and vanishes to its native metaplane. It may return when its Edge replenishes at the next new moon.

Sometimes the goal of banishment is a permanent solution and there is one.

A free spirit that has been banished can be prevented from ever returning if the banisher immediately destroys a copy of the spirit formula and succeeds on an opposed Conjuring + Willpower vs Force + Edge.

There is no true way to tell if this succeeds or not, and many uncertain banishers may repeat the process, but another copy of the spirit formula is required for each attempt.

Ally Spirits

Initiated magicians gain a massively powerful boon with the conjuration of an ally spirit. To conjure an ally spirit, a magician needs a spirit formula. Only with the proper formula may the ritual to conjure and bind be attempted.

For full, detailed information on Free and Ally Spirits, reference Shadowrun 6th Edition: Street Wyrd.

Ally Spirit Formula

The spirit formula for an Ally Spirit is a representation of the spirit on the physical plane, similar to an initiate's thesis. To perform the summoning ceremony, the conjurer needs a physical copy of this formula. For allies requiring a vessel, either the original or a copy of the spirit must be carved into the prepared vessel.

The spirit formula may be obtained in one of two ways:

A formula can be created from scratch by the conjurer or a well-trusted third party by making an Astral + Logic (Force x 10) extended test that takes 1 day. The trusted creator needs to be truly trusted, as keeping a copy of the spirit formula means the creator might have an edge over the ally in the future. See Creating an Ally Spirit Formula below for how to determine the Force.
Undertaking a metaplanar quest to a chosen metaplane, which is an adventure of its own, allows an initiate to locate a formula that matches their needs.

Step 1: Choose Force

You need to know just how much power your ally spirit is going to pack out of the gate.

To determine the base cost, multiply the desired Force by 8.

Step 2: Choose The Form

During character creation, an ally spirit may only possess one of the following powers: Inhabitation, Materialization, or Possession.

Materialization allies have a base form that usually applies to the conjurer's tradition or the home metaplane of the spirit. Ally spirit with Materialization can have additional forms at the cost of 2 Karma each. An ally can switch between forms using a Major Action.

Inhabitation allies must have a prepared vessel for them but they can only have multiple forms if a true form results from the merge.

Possession allies have no material form of their own, but vessels can be prepared for them.

Step 3: Choose Powers

Ally Spirits start with Astral Form, Realistic Form, Sapience, and Borrow Sense as an Innate Spell. Ally Spirits also receive one additional power for every 2 points of Force. These can be chosen from any powers possible with spirits appropriate to the conjurer's tradition. Beyond this, further powers can be bought at a cost of 5 Karma per power if they are appropriate to the conjurer's tradition or 10 Karma per power if they fall outside the usual powers of a conjurer's spirits.

If the conjurer chooses the Elemental Attack, Energy Aura, or Engulf powers, they must specify what form the power takes.

Step 4: Choose Skills

Ally Spirits start with the following skills: Astral, Close Combat, and Perception. Additional skills that the conjurer knows, or others that may be required for the spirit to use their other powers (such as Exotic Ranged Weapon for Elemental Attack or Spellcasting for Magical Guard), cost 5 Karma each.

Allies may never possess the Conjuring skill and they may only be given the Athletics (Flying) specialization if it fits the spirit's form.

Step 2: Choose Spells

An Ally Spirit can be taught any spell the conjurer knows for 3 Karma each or ones the conjurer doesn't know for 5 Karma each, but spell formulae are still required to be purchased if the caster does not know the spell.

Attributes, Loyalty, & Drain

An ally's Physical and Mental attributes are equal to their Force. Ally spirits start with an Edge attribute of 1. This can be increased over time. As a small exception, ally spirits with the Inhabitation power follow those rules to determine physical attributes.

By creating an ally spirit, you created a free-thinking friend. The bond between summoner and ally is as solid as an old friendship, but it is not unbreakable. If too many lines are crossed too often, the ally will buck.

When casting a spell, the conjurer may choose to have their ally take a portion of the spell's Drain. Boxes of Stun damage from the spell drain can be transferred directly to an ally spirit as Stun damage on a one-to-one basis or two-for-one on a Physical basis. This service is painful for the ally and frequent use may foster hatred over time.

Enhancing An Ally

An ally spirit is summoned with a stagnant nature. They cannot be improved without first modifying their formula. This acts as a benefit, as nothing negative affects an ally permanently either. In order to alter an ally spirit's formula, the conjurer must complete a Ritual of Change.

This involves an Astral + Logic (Force x 5) extended test that takes one day or a metaplanar quest to the spirit's native plane. The ritual requires a warded area equal to the Force of the spirit along with Force x 10 drams of reagents.

At the completion of the ritual, the conjurer pays the Karma cost for the changes and the spirit's form is adjusted.

The Karma cost for advancements is Force x 1 Karma for every point of adjustment. A spirit with the Inhabitation power does not require a new test, but a new vessel can be provided for the spirit to merge with if prepared in advance.

Losing An Ally

An ally is an intense investment and should be treated as such but mistreatment, misuse, or even abuse of a spirit's kin will lead an ally spirit down the dark road to breaking free.

An ally spirit has two windows of opportunity to do so: during a Ritual of Change and when their conjurer is knocked unconscious by Drain or damage.

When an ally spirit attempts to break free, it makes a Force x 2 test against the magician's Conjuring (Binding) + Magic. If the spirit generates any net hits, it goes free and may become a free spirit. Any attempt to break free causes strain on the conjurer and they must resist Drain equal to the ally spirit's hits on the test.

If the attempt occurs during a Ritual of Change and the Drain renders the conjurer unconscious, the ritual fails. The reagents and time are spent but the Karma remains unspent. The ally also has a second chance to escape.

If an ally spirit goes free, the conjurer immediately loses one point of Magic. This can be repurchased with Karma at the standard cost.