He knew the anguish of the marrow
The ague of the skeleton;
No contact possible to flesh
Allayed the fever of the bone.
-Thomas Steams Eliot
"Whispers of Immortality"
Speaking with the Dead
This chapter examines a
most curious class of
people - mediums. These
rare individuals can break
through the barriers
finding mortal life and make contact
with those who have passed beyond.
When battling ghosts, mediums can
be valuable sources of information.
Those able to coax information from the
dead can reveal the weaknesses of
particular spirits, the reasons they are
unable to find eternal rest in the grave,
and the motivation that drives them to
roam the lands of the living. With such allies, a ghost hunter is assured of more favorable outcomes in any clash with the undead.
Types of Mediums
The way in which a spiritualist's power
manifests itself is very different from the
way in which a wizard casts a spell.
While the two may attain similar results,
the medium's efforts generally take longer and are more draining on the body than the magician's efforts.
Over the course of this section, I shall detail the most common types of
spiritualists and give a brief overview of
their abilities and characteristic traits.
Arranged alphabetically for the reader's
convenience, the seven types discussed
herere include focus, guide, host,
regression, sympathetic, and trance
mediums. I save the false mediums for last, as they present special problems all around.
Focus Mediums
A focus medium is an unusual breed of
person. She is able to make contact
with a spirit, then cause that spirit to
enter an inanimate object of some type.
The fusion of spiritual essence and
unliving matter is unstable, but it can be
maintained with concentration by the
medium.
Once a focus object is inhabited, the
medium can present questions to the
spirit. The spirit responds by causing
some reaction in the object. This
reaction can be almost anything and is
generally different for each medium. I know of a medium who constructed a
special compass for use in her seances.
The natural direction of "north"
indicated a neutral state. The other
directions referred to various emotional
states. A number of runes are arranged
in a circle, indicating possible sources
of the ghost's anger. When she channels
a spirit into her compass and asks it
questions, the essence of the spirit is
able to swing the needle to point at
different directions and runes, indicating
its emotional state and probable causes
for the same.
The nature of the focus that each
medium of this type employs varies
greatly from individual to individual.
Almost all of them select a focus that
has some special significance. The
woman who built the compass, for
instance, had a fascination with
loadstones that dated back to her
childhood. When she felt her powers
stirring within her, it seemed only logical
for her to build something that was
based upon these bewitching stones.
The means by which a spirit
communicates with a focus medium
varies with the nature of the object employed. I have encountered many
wonderful examples of this in my
travels, ranging from a medium who
employed a small nonmagical
crystalline sphere that changed color in
answer to her questions to an elf hermit
who could cause spirits to enter the
flames of his cooking fire, gesturing or
dancing at his command.
Focus mediums are often able to
extract highly accurate information
from the spirits with whom they deal.
While less powerful examples of their
order are able to simulate the effects
of a speak with dead spell, more
powerful focus mediums are able to
employ powers akin to contact higher
plane or commune spells.
If the medium's focus is damaged
or destroyed while it houses a spirit,
that spirit becomes trapped in the
world of the living. Unable to return to
the realm of the dead, it soon
becomes a malign force anchored to
the scene of its summoning.
Guide Mediums
A guide medium is a unique and
powerful individual. This person is
actually able to enter the spirit world, the
border ethereal, and communicate with a
ghost on its home territory. My research
indicates this is done in a manner similar
to a wizard's astral spell.
Often, the guide medium must craft
some manner of portal or gateway
through which he will enter the spirit
world. Some type of ceremony is held,
during which the medium goes through
a series of steps designed to open this
portal. When all is ready, the mystic
(and perhaps a handful of other people)
can step through the gate and into the
border ethereal.
Once in the spirit world, the medium
has a natural understanding of what is
encountered there. While I found the
entire voyage utterly bewildering and
disorienting the one time I traveled with
a guide medium, she was never put off
by the weird landscape of the spirit
realm. When we encountered the spirit
that we sought, it was all I could do to
offer even the slightest aid to the
medium battling it.
Host Mediums
A host medium is similar to trance
medium in that she allows her body
be used as a conduit through which
ghost can communicate with the living.
The host medium, however, gives up
absolute control of her body to the
visiting spirit for the duration of the
ghost's stay.
Host mediums are useful when the
ghost or spirit to be dealt with has some
corporeal need to be met that requires
physical body. I was once called upon
look into a haunting at a popular
Kartakan inn. I discovered that the spirit belonged to a woman who had been
slain by wolves in the countryside
nearby. Her death occurred on the day
of her wedding, as she and her new
husband were traveling to the inn for
their honeymoon.
The spirit longed to embrace her
husband, feel his kiss but once, and
know the bliss of his love before she
could rest in peace. With a little effort
located a host medium who allowed thr
woman's spirit to control her body. Thr
husband and his wife were briefly
reunited, and the ghost was able to rest
in peace afterward. Like the trance
medium, a host medium runs the risk
domination if she is unable to throw of the spirit that possesses her. A host
medium must be careful to avoid a
sudden shock to her system while a
spirit is in control of her body. A major
unanticipated circumstance, such as an
attack upon the spiritualist, has a
chance of allowing the visiting essence
to seize permanent control of the
medium's body.
This type of medium is able to
invoke powers similar to those
harnessed in an astral spell. The
medium also has an almost infallible
sense of direction while traveling in the
border ethereal. If the mystic is slain
during this transit of the Ethereal Plane
all companions who were traveling with
the medium are left on their own,
trapped in this realm. Finding a safe
return to the land of the living can be
very lengthy ordeal, as the spirits that
linger in the border ethereal may well
want to keep these living creatures from
their own amusement, or seek to
destroy them.
Like the trance medium, a host medium is a valuable source of spiritual information. Generally, a host medium couil provide more information to a ghost hunter than a trance medium, duplicating the effects of legend lore spell.
In the event that a host medium is subjected to a sudden shock while a spirit is in control of her body, there is a 25% chance that a mishap occurs. If the medium is injured by the accidental disturbance, this chance increases by 5% per point of damage sustained. Thus, if a host medium is attacked and suffers 5 points of damage, there is a 50% chance of a mishap occuring. If no mishaps occur, the spiritualist's soul returns to her body and contacts with the spirit world is lost. If a mishap does occur, refer to the table accompanying the later section on trance mediums for the consequences.
Regression Mediums
Some mediums deal not with the spirit
world, but with the inner world of the
psyche. They believe that we have all
lived before, and that much of the
information that we possessed in our
previous lives is now buried deep within
our minds. By inducing a mesmeric
trance in their clients, these talented
individuals are able to help people recall
the details of their past lives.
(I have never been bold enough to
undergo this mesmeric process myself.
Something in my inner nature refuses
to accept that I was ever more or less
than I am now. This is not to say that I do not have faith in the skills and
powers of regression mediums Rather, this is an indication of my own destiny
for uncertainty. I have no interest in
knowing who I might have been in a
past life.)
Another talent of the regression
medium is the ability to take a person
back to previous times in his current
life. This I have experienced. I was
asked to watch the dancing flame at
the heart of a fine crystal lamp while
the medium spoke to me in a calm
relaxing tone. Before I knew it, I apparently fell into a trance and was
under his power. With only his voice
a guide, I went back into my own pa
to relive an encounter with Desmian
L'Strange, a minor vampire in
Valachan.
I was convinced the vampire was
destroyed in our first encounter, but I recently saw and gave chase to him
the city of Levkarest. When I was able to experience the
scene again from an
objective point of view, I saw the means
of the vampire's escape. Further details
from the scene made clear a previously
undiscovered weakness of the monster,
which I then used to destroy him as he
feld from me into the woods of Borca.
The first power of a regression medium, that of exploring a person past lives, is similiar to the incarnate awareness presented in PHB The Complete Psionics Handbook. Those not familiar with this product can treat the ability as per a legend lore spell, with one past life (invented by the Dungeon Master) learned per session with the medium.
The second power, that of regression within a given lifetime, or can be treated as instilling a photographic memory in the subject. Every detail about a given past event can be examined carefully and closely. Any emotions experienced the first time (such as fear, anger and love) are sensed, but not experienced. Thus analysis of the past event can be made analytical and logical.
If the medium is interrupted in the session, the client must take a save throw vs. spell (modified by the client's Wisdom adjustment) to avoid becoming trapped in the previous incarnation or being unable to escape from reliving the past events that he or she was experiencing. Such people fall into maddness and can be cured only by magical or psionic means.
"Bow your head, Van Richten, for the
goodness of fair Paladine has given me
the knowledge you seek. "
"Praise be".
"Do you have the murder weapon
here with you?"
"I do, wise one. Here it is. "
"Ah. I see. There is much anger
within this dagger. There is a hunger
here, too. A crimson thirst that rivers of
vital blood could not satiate. "
"Holy one, can you see a face?"
"Indeed - a dark and sinister face that
hides from the furious truth of the sun.
The killer is not of our realm. He is of the
realm of darkness".
Sympathetic Mediums
Among the most common types of
spiritualists are those I call sympathetic
mediums. These people are not actually
able to contact the spirit world or
manifest any form of power over the
undead. Rather, they sense the psychic
vibrations that surround objects and
places. In rare cases, these mediums
can even sense things about people or
other living creatures. Primarily,
however, their talent functions with
inanimate objects.
Every emotional event that takes
place near an object or in a particular
place leaves it with a small trace of
psychic energy. This energy fades over
time, eventually vanishing altogether.
The more powerful the emotions
involved, the stronger this resonance
becomes and the longer it remains. The
strongest of emotions can last for
centuries and leave a very detailed
record in an object.
When a sensitive is exposed to these
vibrations, he is able to feel the emotions that linger in a given area. In
most cases, this is manifested simply as
an awareness of what has occurred.
I once explored a ruined castle with a
sensitive named Hildegren. As we
moved into the building, she became
somewhat nervous and looked about
with great anxiety. "Many people have
fought and died here", she said. "Death
and pain linger in every stone". As we
moved deeper into the castle, her
trepidation became more and more
pronounced. When we finally reached
the heart of the keep, which was
dominated by a massive obsidian
throne, she collapsed. This chamber
was the seat of power for an evil
creature from another plane of
existence that had been trapped in our
world. So foul and vile were the acts of
this depraved fiend that even I could
sense the darkness of the deeds that
had been done in this place. For
Hildegren, who could read the nature of
such vibrations clearly, it was enough to
strike her unconscious.
Trance Mediums
This type of medium must achieve a
state of absolute serenity in order to
employ his powers. In general, this state
takes several hours to achieve, often
requiring fasting and isolation. Once a
trance medium is at peace, he opens
his mind to psychic vibrations of the
spirit world. If he is successful in his
attempt to contact a ghost, the spirit is able to converse with the living, using
the body of the spiritualist as a conduit.
My studies of this type of medium
indicate that the spiritualist allows the
spirit to contact his mind during the
trance, granting it access to the
medium's senses and control over his
voice, though the medium retains his
own mind. This is a dangerous
practice, for not all apparitions are
quick to give up control of a living
body when the medium bids them farewell. In extreme cases, the spirit
can attempt to usurp control of the
body just as if it had used either the
dominate victim or inhabit body power
both discussed in Chapter Three.
The most fascinating thing about
watching a trance medium work is
listening to the changes in his voice.
Each time a new spirit speaks through
the medium, it does so in its own native
tongue and with its own speech
patterns. I have, for instance, seen a
spiritualist who normally spoke with
thick Barovian accent suddenly switch
to the rolling, flowery prose of the elves
when his mind came into contact with
the spirit of an ancient elf warrior.
I later confirmed the fact that the
medium knew, as far as anyone ould
recall, not a word of Elvish.
The power of a sensitive can take many
shapes. Virtually any of the detect-type
divination spells might be available to a
sensitive, as might the psionic abilities
aura sight, object reading, and
sensitivity to psychic Impressions. In
most cases, the sensations that the
medium receives are only vague
feelings. The more intense the emotions
involved, however, the more accurate
the information received.
A sensitive can be overwhelmed by
the power of psychic impressions he
reads. If the psychic is subjected to
severe emotional trauma, he must
make a saving throw vs. spell (adjusted
by Wisdom) to avoid being overcome.
If the roll is successful, the psychic
functions normally. If the roll fails, the
medium collapses into a catatonic state
and cannot be revived for 1d20 hours
after being removed from the presence
of the intense resonance.
If the roll is a natural 1, however
medium is driven complete mad by
emanations. He takes on a person
that reflects that suggested by the
psychic impressions he received
remains insane until magical or psionic
means are used to cure him. In the
meantime, he acts according to his
ew personality.
For example, Madame Selya, a
noted sensitive, chooses to explore
ruins of a vampire's castle. If she
comes across the chamber in which
the creature satisfied its lust for blood
she might be overwhelmed by the
that was done here. If she rolls a 1
(when making her saving throw),
would take on the evil nature
suggested by the vampire's frenzy,
She might even come to believe that
she herself is a vampire and begin
feeding upon the blood of her fellow
adventurers.
Prognostics do not always prove
prophecies at least the wisest prophets
make sure of the event first.
- Horace Walpole
Letters
A trance medium is generally able
to simulate the effects of the speak
with dead, commune, or other
informational spells. When in a trance,
he claims to speak for the spirit world.
In order to do this, he establishes an
intimate mental link with a desired
spirit. While the spirit does not
really enter the body of the
spiritualist, as it does with a host
medium, it does manage to exert
control of the medium's voice and
uses his senses.
A trance medium is slow and
methodical in reaching his trance
state, for the slightest error can result
in catastrophic failure in which the
medium is destroyed and his body
dominated by a restless and possibly
evil spirit.
Reaching a trance state requires
2d4 hours. This may be rushed if the
medium is willing, but the end result
comes less certain when this is
done. In order to decrease the time
required, a spiritualist must lessen
depth of his trance and his ties to
spirit world. For every hour that
trance is rushed, there is a
cumulative 10% chance of a mishap.
The time needed to attain a trance
never be reduced by more than
half. If a mishap occurs, check the
following table to determine what
actually happens.
Table 19: Trace Medium Mishaps
Roll
2d6 |
|
Mishap |
2 |
|
Mental collapse. The medium
becomes a creature called a broken
one, as described in the Monstrous
Manual tome. |
3-4 |
|
Mental trauma. The medium is
unable to break free of the trance and
becomes comatose for 1d4 weeks. |
5-6 |
|
Mental shock. The medium is
stunned and cannot move or speak for
1 hour. During this time the medium is
catatonic. No further trances may be
attempted for 48 hours. |
7 |
|
Trance failure. The medium
must rest for 24 hours before
attempting any other trances. |
8-9 |
|
Frenzy. The medium falls
under the control of a malevolent spirit
and flies into a berserk rage for 1d4
rounds. During this time, the medium
attacks the nearest person each round. |
10-11 |
|
Hysteria. The medium is
utterly dominated by an evil spirit. For
the next 1d4 days the medium acts in
a psychotic manner, sowing
destruction and havoc wherever and
whenever possible. |
12 |
|
Hysteria. The medium is
utterly dominated by an evil spirit. For
the next 1d4 days the medium acts in
a psychotic manner, sowing
destruction and havoc wherever and
whenever possible. |
False Mediums
The last type of medium I shall discuss
is the foul charlatan - a person who
takes on the guise of a medium in an
attempt to lure unsuspecting people
near so that she can steal from them. I wish I could say that these people were
rare, but the truth is that more false
mediums are around than real ones.
The type of people who commonly
seek out a medium are those who have
some need or desire to speak with a
deceased friend or relative. A widow
abouut to remarry might desire to know
her dead husband approves of her
new love, for instance. These people are generally so emotionally involved
with the issue at hand that their logic,
which might enable them to spot a
fake, fails them. Thus, the false
medium is able to persuade the client
to pour much money into his coffers
while supplying a string of promises
and suggestions that "more will be
made apparent at our next meeting".
This individual takes on all of the
macabre and mysterious mannerisms
that he can imagine. Further, he
attempts to drum up business by
posting advertisements and distributing
handbills that promise incredible
services at minimal charge. It is not
uncommon for a false medium to hire someone to tell others of his so-called
skills and powers.
If one has dealt with such a vile
person before, one can generally spot
another with greater ease thanks to
higher standards of caution. A charlatan
uses many tricks in the pursuit of his ill-gotten gains. A careful observer can
spot the leading questions, research,
false prophecies, stagecraft, and props
and devices for what they are: items in
the charlatan's miserable bag of tricks.
Leading Questions
One of the most common deceptions
employed by false mediums is the
asking of leading questions. This tactic
is simple enough to identify, but it can
still be enormously effective when
dealing with the uneducated or
unsuspecting. The key here to
defeating this tactic is to demand
specific information from the medium.
If he cannot supply it in any manner,
then he is most certainly a fraud.
I present you now with an example of
the way in which leading questions are
employed.
Medium: I sense that you might be
married.
Victim: No, I'm not.
Medium: Ah, yes, but there is a woman
of whom you are very fond.
Victim: Yes, there is.
Medium: I sense that she might be well-to-do.
Victim: Well, she's quite poor, actually.
Medium: So she is now, my friend, so
she is now - but she will not always be!
As you can see, the charlatan
employs leading questions to get the
victim to believe that the "medium"
knows things he truly does not. In the
above example, the charlatan could
almost certainly count on his client to
believe that the medium sensed the
existence of his sweetheart, whom the
client might possibly wish to marry, even
though the client was tricked into
revealing the relationship. Further, the
client has been given the hint that this
woman will one day come into a fair
amount of wealth. Certainly the promise
of good fortune will heighten the young
man's interest in her, and foster a strong
belief in the alleged powers of the wholly
shameless "medium".
A quick way to defeat this ploy is to
simply lie. When the medium says, "I
sense you are married", simply agree.
The fantastic lies such a humbug will
weave when presented with so profound
a deception quickly reveal his true
nature - and may be entertaining
enough to warrant the coinage paid for
the fortune telling.
Research
Just as no ghost hunter can survive
without information, so too is the false
medium fond of special knowledge. No
only does this eliminate the need to use
leading questions in dealing with
customers, it also supplies the false
medium with a solid point from which to
exploit the fears, weaknesses, greed,
and desires of his victims.
The type of research that a false
medium might perform encompasses
many possibilities. Among the most
common and despicable is the
practice of watching the death
announcements in a large town, then
presenting new widows and widowers
with an offer of help in contacting the
loved ones they have just lost. The
depths to which such a fiend will sink
is appalling, for I can think of few
things so vile as the abuse of
vulnerable persons in mourning.
Another foul research practice of the
swindler is the learning of secrets and
minor facts that the "medium" claims
to have been told by the deceased, with
whom the medium is supposedly in
contact. If the information the medium
has obtained is specific and seems to
be authentic, the victim will often
believe that there is no way for the
fraud to have learned this fact if not to
have been privy to a voice from beyond
the grave.
False Prophesies
The making of predictions has long been
a cornerstone of the false medium
business. In order to appear gifted and
clairvoyant, the medium makes some
prediction about coming events. This can
be done in one of two ways.
The most common of these tactics is
to make a prediction so vague that it
will "come true" no matter what
happens. For example, the customer
might be told to carry a silver coin in
his hand whenever he goes about in
public, or a horrible fate will befall him.
If the advice is followed and no great
trauma occurs, the mystic takes credit
for the customer's safety. If a calamity
does befall the customer, however, the
medium can almost always explain it
away by blaming other dark forces,
perhaps then urging the gullible victim
to carry two silver coins from that point
on for better luck.
The other means by which a
prediction can be made to appear
true is more difficult but far more
convincing. This tactic relies upon the
medium making a very specific
prediction about an upcoming event,
then making sure that the event comes
to pass. For example, the mystic might
warn of a robbery in the victim's future,
men hire a thug to rob the client,
splitting the take with the medium. In
some cases, this can become quite an
elaborate hoax, for some swindlers are
truly artists at their vulgar profession.
Stagecraft
Another very convincing process by
which customers can be lured away
from their cash and into the clutches of
the false medium is by simple acting
ability. A false mystic who makes a
living at his craft must be a masterful
actor, capable of lying with absolute
conviction and gaining the confidence,
friendship, and even love of those he
cheats. Often the false medium could
earn an honest wage on the stage,
performing in plays, but he is, for
whatever reason, loath to give up the
criminal life.
Props and Devices
In addition to his researching and acting
abilities, the false medium can build a
number of mechanical devices that
enable him to mimic the powers of a
true mystic. Any number of
mechanisms can be employed to
deceive the unsuspecting.
For example, the false medium might
craft a hollow glass ball that he can
cause to fill with swirling vapors "when
the spirits are present". Another
common tactic is the use of stage
magic to cause a table or some other
object to rise into the air or jump and
bang about. Strange noises (often
produced by a compatriot) are another
common tactic.
Another common trick is the
employment of smoke and vapors,
created when powders, herbs, or
alchemical fluids are mixed or tossed
onto a fire. I know of one such
individual who always insisted that he
and his client drink from the same
glass of wine before each session. The
wine was drugged with a narcotic to
which the medium had built up a
tolerance. Under its influence, the
victim of this deceit would experience
realistic hallucinations prompted by
the medium. When all was done, the
victim was only too ready to believe
that he or she had been in the
presence of the supernatural.
The section on false mediums is
particularly useful when the finding of
a medium is a primary part of an
adventure. The Dungeon Master can
roleplay the part of a false medium
for all it is worth, leading the
unsuspecting group of adventurers on
a merry path leading who knows
where. The swindler kit from The
Complete Thief's Handbook (TSR #2111) and the charlatan kit from
The Complete Bard's Handbook (TSR #2127) should provide inspiration.
Locating and Hiring a Medium
Tracking down a real medium can be a
difficult and demanding task. True, in
some places they openly practice their
art, drawing customers just as any other
merchant would. More frequently,
however, they are forced to practice
their profession in secret because of local prejudices or government
restriction. This section will discuss
finding a medium through
recommendation, by reputation,
through advertising, and by sensing.
Please note that many people liken
contact with spirits and the dead with
evil and dark magic. I do not share this
belief, but I have seen enough people
corrupted by contact with the powers of
necromancy to understand this
common fear and suspicion.
A medium will assist a group of
adventurers out of sympathy for their
cause or out of a desire for their gold. In
the former case, the charge for services
rendered might be a minimal amount or
even free. In the latter case, however,
the price demanded may be staggering.
If the spiritualist believes her services
are vital to the success of a client's
mission and that no other avenue of
recourse exists for the client, the medium's prices may reflect a moderate
increase. I have heard tell of ruthless
mediums demanding veritable treasure
troves from wealthy clients.
It is sometimes possible to haggle
with a spiritualist when money is not
available to meet a stated price. The
best thing to offer the medium then is a
period of service. A medium frequently
has a need for investigative work, for
even her powers are not unlimited.
Through Recomendation
Perhaps the most reliable way to locate
a qualified spiritualist is through the
recommendation of a trusted friend, In
my own profession, I have established
contacts with many adventurers and
ghost hunters over the years. If I am in
a certain domain, I need only contact
someone in that area who knows me,
then tell him or her what services I require. As this person is invariably
more familiar than I am with the
resources locally available, this works
quite well for finding mediums.
To those who lack such a solid
network of support, I can offer only
limited advice. If an organization can be
found to which you might make a claim
of membership) - a thieves' guild or
school of wizards, for example - then
much can be gained there. It has been
my experience that groups such as
these can be of great service to their
members and allies in locating special
help. Care must be taken, however, in
deciding how much trust one can place
in any group of strangers.
If no manner of professional or
fraternal ties can be found, there is
always the clergy to consider. It is often
possible to locate a church that,
although not of the same faith one
follows, will be sympathetic to the cause
for which one is fighting. If this
relationship can be forged, trustworthy
advice is often forthcoming.
I have had occasion to deal with
some of the priests who devote
themselves to the gods of Har'Akir.
While my own faith is different from
theirs, we nevertheless quickly found common belief in justice and the
sanctity of the tomb that bridged the
gap between our cultures.
I am delighted to say that a long and
true friendship arose between several
local holy men and myself. Indeed, on
at least three separate occasions, the
actions of these wonderful companions
saved my life. Without them, I should
not be able to write this missive.
"Can you give a name to the vile
creature?"
"To the creature itself? No. But to the
mortal form it has assumed, yes. It calls
itself Dominique I'Mortain. "
"What? Holy one, are you certain?
Lady Dominique is well known and
respected hereabouts. I cannot take
action against her without absolute
cause!"
"Paladine does not deceive, Van
Richten. "
"No, I suppose not. But can I rely upon your interpretations of all that you
sense to be accurate?"
"Would you have come to me if you
harbored any doubt?"
- Transcript of a meeting
between Dr. Van Richten
and a medium in Sithicus
Acquiring the services of a medium
can usually be dealt with in the same
manner as hiring a nonplayer-character spellcaster. Table 69: NPC
Spell Costs, in Chapter 12 of the
Dungeon Master Guide, provides a
listing of costs that might reasonably
be demanded for the use of a
medium's powers.
In general, the spells available from
a spipiritualist include augury,
clairvoyance, commune (500 gp),
contact other plane,
divination, ESP,
legend lore,
speak with dead, and true
seeing. More potent spells, including
gate and plane shift, might be available
from extremely powerful mediums at
whatever price can be negotiated.
For those campaigns using PHBR5
The Complete Psionics Handbook, the
following powers might be available
from psionic mediums (with the costs
associated with their use): object reading
(200 gp), precognition (200 gp),
sensitivity to psychic impressions
(100 gp), danger sense (250 gp), spirit
sense (300 gp), probability travel
(7.300 gp + 1,000 per "passenger"),
summon planar creature (25,000 gp),
astral projection (1,000 gp), and
incarnation awareness
(1,000 gp).
These abilities are not, as a rule,
cast or used in the same manner that a
priest, wizard, or psionicist would
invoke a spell or power. Rather, the
same effect is created by means of a
complex ritual or seance. Furthermore,
not all of these powers are available
from every medium. As a rule, each
medium is capable of employing only
1d4 of the above spells or psionic
abilities. When designing an adventure
and creating a nonplayer-character
medium, Dungeon Masters should
carefully select the medium's powers
for their dramatic effect and
importance to the story, instead of
randomly selecting the powers.
Dungeon Masters can play up the
unusual nature of these nonplayer
characters and their powers by making
them unusual eccentrics who have
memorable personalities and traits. An
encounter with a medium is a wonderful
roleplaying opportunity to add dramatic
or comic mood and atmosphere.
By Reputation
A less reliable means of locating a
medium is by the medium's reputation.
An individual who is talented in the art
of communication and who chooses not
to practice his or her skills in secrecy
will eventually become known. In some
cases, this reputation can spread far
and wide, crossing even the borders of
a domain.
A word of caution is vital here,
however. In my years of travel, I have
encountered many fraudulent
spiritualists whose claims far outweighed
their purported mystical abilities. In almost every case, these individuals had
amassed reputations built around stories
of past successes they themselves had
invented. Tracking down a medium by
reputation alone lends itself to this kind
of deception more than any other
method.
Through Advertisement
It is possible to seek out a medium by
posting handbills and hiring street criers
to express one's desire to employ a such
a person. This has the distinct
disadvantage of alerting all those
interested in fraud and deceit to the
presence of a possible victim for their
trickery. Even if a genuine medium
responds to the advertisement, he might
be overlooked in favor of a talented
faker with greater charm.
I have been forced to resort to this
avenue of hiring only once in my life. To
my surprise, the first applicant for the
position arrived even as the first of my
notices was being posted. After a brief
interview, I learned she had been aware
that a stranger had come into town who
was, she sensed, "in need of guidance".
She kept a careful watch on the notice
board in the center of town and
responded instantly upon seeing my
leaflet.
I suspect she would have found me
even if I had not posted my notices, but
I cannot be certain of this. Over the
course of the next few days, as she
provided me with all of the information I needed to solve the matter at hand, I was faced with a constant trickle of
pretenders and charlatans who claimed
to be the genuine article. Doubtless one
or two of them might have had some
minor gift for prognostication, but most
were simply talented actors trying to
land a profitable role - one that might
have cost me more than mere gold.
By Sensitivity
I have heard tell that some people can
actually sense the presence of a
spiritualist in a given locality. Whether the
phenomenon is magical, psychic, or
divine, I cannot say, but I have seen
evidence to indicate that one might
attribute such a power to each of these
three sources. Allow me to present an
example. I was traveling with a pair of
companions through the strange, distant
domain of Sanguinia. My comrades were
a fierce desert warrior, a foreigner name
Arametrius, and the stern and mysterious
ranger, George Weathermay, whose
reputation is widely known hereabouts.
Arametrius was a man of secrets, to
be sure. That his native land was one of
deserts and hot sun was obvious, for his
skin was tanned, and the chilling winds
of Sanguinia were almost more than he
could bear. He was unfamiliar with the
metal objects we used in our daily life.
As he did not speak any language I knew, I was never able to understand
the wonder with which he beheld such
simple things as iron tools or steel
weapons. I believe the root of his
attitude to be religious in nature -
perhaps his people used metal only in
the fashioning of holy objects.
Arametrius was also sensitive to the
presence of the undead or persons
connected with them. On three
occasions, he awoke in the dead of
night with cries of fear, grabbing for the
bone ax he kept always by his side.
Without exception, such nightmares
were soon followed by an encounter
with the undead. I was convinced that
his was a valuable gift.
When it became obvious that our
company would require the services someone capable of communicating
with the spirit world, the task fell to
Arametrius. He set his powerful mind to
work on the matter and, within a few
minutes, was able to sense the presence
of a supernatural influence. We sought
outthe woman whom he had sensed a
charming young lady named Claudia
DeShanes - and asked for her help.
To our surprise, we found Claudia had
no idea what we were talking about.
Indeed, she was certain Arametrius was
mistaken, for she swore she was not a
mystic. I persuaded her to attempt some
simple experiments under my guidance,
and her powers quickly manifested
themselves. We learned her mother had
been sensitive to the vibrations of the
spirit world, as had her grandmother.
Claudia was not only gifted, she was
among the most accurate and powerful
spiritualists with whom I have ever
worked. After our adventure in Sanguinia
ended, Claudia joined me in my battle
against the forces of evil. We traveled
together for little more than a year before
herr death in the dread land of Lamordia.
Sources of a Medium's Power
In this section I shall discuss the ways in
which a medium might acquire his
powers. It is important to me, as a man
of learning, that these distinctions be
drawn, for they help quantify that which
is otherwise mysterious and unknown.
Spiritualists seem to come in two
broad groups. The first represents all
those who deliberately set out to master
their mystical abilities. The second
group seems to come upon the mystic
calling in a more haphazard, unplanned
fashion. I call these groups studied and
incidental.
Studied Abilities
Mediums in this group spend years in
the pursuit of knowledge and power, so
that they might contact and control the
spirit world. In the eyes of many
adventurers, these individuals are the
easiest with which to deal, for they are
often kindred spirits who seek to lay the dead to rest. These mediums derive
their power by magical, divine, or
psionic means.
Magical Powers
Persons who draw power from a magical
source include necromancers, diviners,
and others who depend upon the weaving
of spells for communication with the
undead or spirit world. Several spells
have been created expressly for obtaining
information from and about the dead.
Among the most common and useful of
these spells are detect undead, legend
lore, sending, demand, and foresight.
Magical means of communicating with
the dead are quite reliable, but are not
typically found among the general public.
As a rule, individuals with these powers
are few and far between. If a group of
adventurers has no ability among them to
cast these spells, their only access to
these abilities is through a hired wizard.
Knowing these mysterious and powerful
beings as I do, I can state that finding
such an individual and convincing him to
give aid can be a long, hazardous, and
frequently expensive process.
Divine Powers
If I had to select the spiritualists for
whom I have the greatest respect, it
would be those persons who draw
power from the worship of deities. As a
rule, these individuals have access to
highly effective and reliable spells that
enable them to draw forth such
information and to exercise a level of control over the undead that no
magician can match.
The drawback to this group is that
sometimes these individuals are in the
service of dark powers. As such, they
are among the most dangerous and
formidable foes an adventurer is likely to
face. Their abilities to communicate with
the spirit world, coupled with their
control over the undead, can be
channeled into a mighty weapon, the
likes of which few ghost hunters will
survive.
Earlier, I wrote about my trip to
Har'Akir and my fondness for several
members of the local clergy. There is
more to that story, which I shall use to
illustrate the above point. One of the
first people I met in that land of sun
and desert was a tall, slender woman
with skin the color of polished ebony.
She was a priest of some sort,
although her faith was unknown to me
then. She extended to me what I thought was the hand of friendship,
and, being alone in a domain I did not
know, I accepted. For several days, all
seemed well. She fed me fine foods,
kept an ample supply of water and
wine available for me, and made a
great effort to learn my language. She
expressed interest in my works and
seemed eager to help me in defeating
a withered spirit that had pursued me
across the dunes. Before long,
however, I discovered that this
kindness was nothing but a charade.
I learned that this priestess,
Kharafek, served a power of darkness
and evil. Her only purpose in treating
me well was to acquire information
about the spirit I had been battling, It
was her desire to control this ancient
evil being and use it as a pawn in her
effort to crush the local temples of just
and righteous gods. I learned of her
plans too late, after she had already
seized control of the withered shade. I was forced to flee from her temple in
the dead of night.
As I ran, Kharafek bent her will
against me. Spirits rose from the sand
to lash at my body. I dare say I would
have been horribly mauled or even slain
by the nightmares that she drew forth
from the spirit world if I had not
stumbled upon a small party of local
clerics, led by a powerful cleric of their
own faith. Seeing my peril, they can
to my aid. We soon found our common
ground and joined forces against the
dread Kharafek.
Psionic Powers
Some people can draw upon their own
mental powers to establish contact with
the spirit world. Such individuals are
very rare but often quite powerful,
Among the powers at their disposal are
such useful talents as object reading,
precognition, sensitivity to psychic
impressions, danger sense, spirit sense,
and incarnation awareness.
Some of the informational powers
employed by this type of person are truly
wonderful. The first time I saw someone
employ the incarnation awareness
ability, for example, I was stunned. The
information we received was accurate,
concise, and decisive in the resolutiono of
a most challenging case.
For some reason, however, psychic
spiritualists are almost unheard of in
the lands I call home. Those few that I have encountered have almost always
been outsiders who traveled here over
great distances from unheard-of places
Curiously, these psychics say their
powers are far less reliable here than in
their homelands. I can only assume
that some aspect of our land warps
these powers, although I cannot provide any manner of explanation for
I unusual phenomenon.
Incidental Abilities
In rare cases, an individual with no
redisposition for mystic powers has
them granted to or forced upon him.
Without question, these powers (be they
accidentally created, hereditary, or
partificially induced) are more potent
than those forged out of dedicated
study. This may not seem fair,
particularly to someone who has spent
years in the study of arcane lore and
mystical incantations.
While incidental powers are
generally more effective in their
specific roles than those that are
earned, an individual gifted with
incidental abilities rarely has more
than one or two of them. Thus, such
mediums are typically specialists with
only one avenue of highly restricted
expertise, as opposed to those who have studied multiple abilities.
Accidental Powers
Some spiritualists have only the hand
of fate to thank for their powers. They
did not seek out a special ability
through study or similar means, and
they have no hereditary claim to such
gifts. Although powers of this type can
spontaneously awaken in a person, it
is far more likely that they are
triggered through an accident or period
of great stress.
I have met one individual, a dwarf
who now travels under the name of
Koal Shadowforge, whose powers can
be traced to an accidental origin. Like
many of his race, Koal spent years
aboring in the mines that surround the
city in which he lived. One day, an
explosion occurred in the tunnels,
causing a collapse. The shower of rocks
that fell around Koal knocked him
unconscious and left him pinned
beneath a heavy layer of stone.
When Koal awoke, he found himself
in the company of three of his fellow
miner. Like him, they had been
trapped in the collapse and were unable to move. Thus, the quartet was forced to wait until help arrived. They passed
the time in conversation and, as
dwarves are wont to do, complaining
about their problems.
Two days later, help arrived. Koal
was freed; luckily, his injuries proved to
be minor. To his surprise, however, he
found that his companions had all been
killed in the initial collapse. His time
trapped in the mine had been spent in
the company of three ghosts.
From that point on, Koal found
himself able to converse freely with the
spirits of the recently dead. With the
help of a magician in my native Darkon,
I was able to test Koal's ability. Our
conclusion was that he was effectively
able to employ the spell holy men call
speak with dead at any time. He had no
need for rituals or incantations, his
race's natural resistance to magic did
not hinder him, and he made no
conscious effort to employ his power.
He was simply able to converse with
them as you or I might chat with a
traveling companion.
In some cases, power acquired in this
way can be fleeting in nature. On one of
my own adventures, I encountered a
small child whose father had been
beheaded for a crime he did not
commit. When the wronged man's spirit
returned to exact vengeance on the
people who had falsely accused him,
the daughter was able to freely
converse with the apparition.
No one else was able to do this
without the aid of powerful spells.
Further, when the ghost had completed
its task and returned to a peaceful rest
in the grave, the girl was unable to
communicate with other spirits. To the
best of my knowledge, she now lives as
happy and normal a life as anyone in
Darkon.
Hereditary Powers
The most powerful spiritualists are
those who descended from long lines of
similarly gifted persons. Most Vistani
mediums are of this type, for the
powerful magic of the waking dream
(explained later) runs strongly in family
lines, passing almost without exception
from mother to daughter.
Vistani who have this power are often
trained to use their talents by their
parents. They are extremely reliable
when called upon to undertake spiritual
tasks, and they have a good
understanding of their abilities, their
limitations, and the risks involved in any
endeavor.
It is very rare that someone who has
hereditary powers does not receive
training from an ancestor or a mentor. If
this does not happen, a perilous focus is
created. A hereditary medium cannot
help but see into the spirit world. His
karmic aura is in tune with all that
transpires nearby, and this can be most
dangerous. With all of this spiritual
energy swirling about, an untrained
medium acts as a lodestone to pull
ghosts, shades, and spirits into the
world around him.
Often this infuses these mediums
with a feeling of dread and paranoia.
They sense the looming energies about
them and panic. For some, this
oppressive karmic weight is too much
to bear and they succumb to death. In
stronger minds, psychosis grows. They
feel hunted and pursued by the ghosts
around them. They flee, perhaps
seeking isolation in the wilderness to
become hermits who dwell at the heart
of some haunted, dire forest.
More frequently, however, this
medium never settles down. Rather, the
medium becomes a mystical plague
carrier who travels from town to town in an effort to stay ahead of the spectral
forces that gather around him. Even
the medium encounters runs the risk
exposure to supernatural presences.
not uncommon for a dozen or more
hauntings to spring up following the
passage of such a tragic figure.
With the proper training, however,
these people can be a great boon to
those who battle the ranks of the evry
undead. While the way in which such
medium's power manifest itself varied
from individual to individual, one can
almost always count on a hereditary
medium to be a powerful and reliable
source of information. If cooperative,
can prove to be a valuable weapon in
one's endeavors.
Induced Powers
Some mediums, particularly those from
less advanced cultures, require an
outside stimulus to awaken their
mystical powers. Generally, the stimulus
takes the form of a ritual ceremony that
surrounds the imbibing of a magical
concoction. The potion must be drunk
each time that spiritual powers are to be
used.
The information one receives from
such an individual is usually reliable,
but a bit random in nature. Although
induced medium can put a general
question to the spirits, the contacted
spirits seldom feel it is more than a
suggestion. An answer might be given
that is wholly accurate and correct or,
more frequently, of a puzzling or only
partly useful nature.
I do not mean to discount the
usefulness of this kind of medium. If the
only type of mystic around is someone
who depends upon a magical tincture
poultice to make contact with an
apparition, by all means, seek out this
person and make use of this gift. I am
saying only that some degree of cautious
is warranted in the wording of question
and in the interpretation of answers.
If one thinks in broad terms when putting questions to induced mediums
the reader will generally be safe
enough. Ask about the origins of a
spirit, or its wants and desires. If one
attempts to pin down specific points, however, disappointment or
disinformation is certain.
Lifestyles of Mediums
The life of a medium is seldom similar to
that of a normal person. The medium
receives the mortal world differently than
you or I do, often sensing things that we
cannot. This section discusses six personalities toward which mediums seem
naturally gravitate: aloof, calculated,
morbid, nomadic, reclusive, and
unworthy. This information might be
useful when attempting to find a medium.
Aloof
Some mediums choose to remain
among humanity, but they retain a
sensee of alienation that marks the
nomadic and reclusive spiritualists. In
order to remain among the living and
only in one place, they adopt an
understandable philosophy: a belief in
their absolute superiority over those
who have no supernatural powers.
I know of one woman, for example,
who claimed to see the world exactly as
it wass. When I asserted my belief that I could do the same, she laughed. I soon
found that she was correct in her
claims. Her power was in her sight. She
saw the shifting winds themselves, not
symply their effects upon trees. Nothing
could hide from her keen senses - not
those items under a magical
shroud of invisibility, for she saw such
things normally. Illusions and
phantasms were instantly obvious to
her, and she could tell if someone was
telling the truth or lying merely by
the aura surrounding him. She
was an amazing woman.
Such keen senses, however, made it
impossible for her to live as we do. She
could tell at a glance the innermost
secrets of everyone she met. Even the
famed detective Alanik Ray, whom I have worked with on two occasions,
could not match her perception and
skill at deduction. She knew that all
those around her feared her power.
They could not stand to be near her,
for she knew all their personal secrets, both
benign and wicked. I consider myself
fair and understanding, but even I was
taken aback by her powers when we
first met.
Individuals who have the aloof
personality are seldom wholly good or
evil. Rather, they are opportunistic
individuals who place their own well
being and comfort above that of anyone
else. They desire only the best and insist
that those around them, the lesser ranks
of humanity, provide it for them.
Calculated
Some mediums adopt the same
mannerisms one might expect from
master craftsmen. They make no
attempt to hide their powers or disguise
them in any way. In fact, they often
advertise their abilities and let their past
accomplishments be known. They may
open shops or offices, to make their
living telling fortunes and answering
questions about the unknown for local
citizens and ghost hunters.
Such calculating mediums generally
take no notice of the feelings others
have toward their abilities. They are
what they are and seldom regret the
powers that fate put in their hands.
These mediums tend to form a close
circle of trusted friends around
themselves, and this becomes the whole
of their social life. They are often
perceived as cold and caring for only
what might profit them. I believe they
foster this notion as a defense against
those who do not understand them.
Morbid
Perhaps the most disturbing lifestyle
commonly found among mediums is
that which I term morbid. These
individuals feel a strong kinship with
the dead because of their powers. As
time goes by, these ties grow stronger.
The mediums begin to find things
relating to death and the dead
aesthetically pleasing. In most cases,
these individuals live in homes that
begin to look much like tombs or
mausoleums.
Individuals with this outlook have a
fatalistic view of the world. They see
the living, themselves included, as
transient things, dust motes in the vast
scope of the cosmos. I have listened
to their views and found them
strangely compelling but disturbing. It
may be that all living beings have a
trace of this morbid fascination (as I hypothesized in Chapter Three
regarding the power of some ghosts to
entrance victims), or it may be that
my own encounters with death and the
undead have left me particularly
vulnerable to this fatalistic outlook.
In an extreme case, a morbid
spiritualist might believe that he or she
is actually undead, trapped in a living
body through some magic or curse.
Strangely, this mirrors the mentality of
many undead creatures that believe
themselves actually alive but cursed
with death.
Nomadic
Believing that they have no place in
mortal society, nomadic mediums
travel from place to place. Generally,
they devote their lives to the study of
the supernatural and seek to master
their inner gifts. From time to time,
these mediums become traveling ghost
hunters who uses their abilities for the
betterment of humanity without
actually taking a personal interest in
any given town or individual.
Just as often, however, these
individuals become drifting minions
evil. Their powers and resentment of
the living guide them down paths of
darkness from which few have the
goodness or willpower to return. The
wicked spiritualists can become roving
adversaries as deadly as any ghost
vampire.
Reclusive
Many people with the gift of spiritual
powers quickly become convinced that
they have no place in the land of the
living. While they do not develop an
affinity for dead things, they do become
detached from and resentful of living
society. These mediums often leave
behind civilized lands and seek patch
of wilderness to call their own, such
dark glades or twisting caverns, when
they become secluded.
I have heard of cases where would
be hermits sought and obtained
admission into monastic orders,
granting them the solitude they desire
while allowing them to remain (a bit)
in the company of other humans. With
strangers and visitors being rare, the
mystics are free to explore the
limits their powers and establish rapport with
the inhabitants and minions of the
spirit world.
There is a major advantage this
way of life. Recluses spend so much
their time in contemplation and inner
study that they are able to harness
every last fraction of their mystical
abilities. They learn the subtle
nuances of their talents and become
as knowledgeable in following the
paths of the undead as any ranger is
in the tracking of game. As a rule,
recluses are in much better control of
their powers than any other type of
medium.
The drawback to all of this is fairly
obvious. Recluses sever almost every
contact with the outside world. They
often despise the people they have
behind and may actually become
violent if forced into meetings with old
acquaintances.
It is always a good idea to approach
such mediums cautiously, for they can
be dangerous. In addition, they often
palce traps or other wards around their
lairs. The most powerful among them
might actually call upon the spirits of
the dead to watch over their isolation.
Unworthy
Some mediums find the weight of their
powers greater than the strength of their
will. They begin to feel a sense of
depression and anxiety over their studies.
Such individuals see their gift as a
burdensome responsibility and rapidly
come to believe they are not worthy of it.
They become more depressed and
comprehensive as time goes by. As a
rule, the greater their power, the more
rapid the pace of their mental collapse.
In the end, these mediums are often
overcome by depression and sink into
inescapable mental disintegration of
insanity or complete despair. Those who
into the latter category are found in
their comatose or catatonic states,
will no will to live. As might be
expected, they often succumb utterly to
their mental weakness and die. In rare
cases, under the care of a talented
hand, they may be nursed back to
sanity to adopt a more stable demeanor
in the future.
Those who cross over the line into
lunacy can be terrible and frightening.
For some reason that I have not yet
been able to discern, so-called
unworthy mediums often become more
powerful upon reaching madness. My
speculation is that these people find the
ability to draw upon their full reserves of
power once they abandon their feelings
of inadequacy, but I cannot prove this to
the case.
Insane mediums become tools of
power of death and darkness. They
have much in common with those who
morbid, but they are devoid of
compassion for the living. They regard
life as a foul aberration and do all in
their power to end it. As one might
expect, so vile a mentality is dangerous beyond words; when linked with the
power of a skilled medium, a terrific
enemy is created.
The Vistani
I have no love for the gypsies who
travel our land. It was their treachery
that saw my son taken from me and
made into a night-stalking vampire.
Because of them, both my beloved child
and my dear wife are now dead. My
advice in dealing with the Vistani is
simple: These wild people are not to be
trusted at any time.
Still, my discussion of contacting the
undead would not be complete without
some mention of the Vistani. These
nomadic people have long been an
enigma to me. Though I have tried to
study them and learn something of their
ways, I remain mystified by them.
Vistani women are gifted with at
least traces of mystical power, I believe.
They sense things that normal folk
cannot, and they live as if they were in
constant possession of a sense I cannot
define. Some folk say the Vistani are
more than mortal, but I have seen them
die as might any other person.
The Vistani have a word for their
unusual sensitivity to the supernatural: karatakasta. This translates into my own
language as the waking dream, and it
describes all manner of extrasensory
perceptions and supernatural senses. To
the Vistani, these mysterious talents are so commonplace as to be taken for
granted.
The "Vistani Plan"
Some say the Vistani work toward a
greater purpose, that all the things these
gypsies do are carefully plotted and
have an ultimate aim that we cannot
fathom. Perhaps this is true, although I cannot support the idea. The belief that
an entire race of people could undertake
a project demanding absolute secrecy
and subtlety on the part of all its
members seems absurd (and, at the
very least, highly unlikely).
If this was the case, then I must
believe that the great chaos into which
my life was hurled following the death of
my wife and son was a part of some
grandiose gypsy scheme. I have tried to
examine this hypothesis with a cool and
calculating mind, but I found nothing in it
to make me believe that it could be true.
I must put this entire idea down as
wishful thinking on the part of those who
would find a romantic side to these
chaotic wanderers.
I admit, however, that the idea of a
grand Vistani plan is appealing, even to
me. I would like to think that the death
of my son served some greater
purpose. True, it did set my feet on the
path of vampire hunting and lead, in the
long run, to my writing the book you
now read. My efforts at battling the
undead have been, I hope, beneficial to
all humanity.
Does this show that the Vistani
planned this from the start? I think
Rather, I think that the company of
gypsies who stole my family from me
and who so altered my life did so
instead out of a love for the gold
promised them by the foul vampire
Baron Metus. There was no greater
or purpose to it.
Aid to Adventurers
From time to time, the Vistani
actually interested in helping
adventurers. Even I must credit the
with saving my life on no fewer that
three occasions. In reflection, however,
find no steady and reliable method
which their help might be obtained. In
cases where the Vistani have worked
with me, they contacted me first; I do
not seek them. Thus, I believe the help
of a gypsy is not generally available
the asking. If they desire one's help,
they will seek out that person and the
person alone.
Still, it is possible to hire a Vistani
medium for brief periods of time,
though few do it. As a rule, the medium
provides one or two card readings or
similar prophetic sessions for a person
before ending all contact. When a
Vistana does agree to help, her
karatakasta is an incredible tool for
gathering information about the present
past, and future.
I must again repeat my warnings,
however. I do not trust the Vistani. They
are too mysterious and secretive for my
tastes. If they do have some master
plan according to which they live, we
have no assurance that it is a scheme
for the good. Might it not just as easy
be for evil?