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Message no. 1
From: Matthew Johnson <mjohnson@*.ARIZONA.EDU>
Subject: Spirits and astral entities
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 1997 18:29:52 -0700
A GM I know maintains that if someone has astrally active objects (active
spell lock, active focus, anchored spell, etc.), spirits/elementals will
attack these things and/or the owner in order to gain power.
How exactly does an elemental/spirit come by its power? will a spirit
attack another spirit? will the conquest of one spirit by another gain it
power? Why and in what cases might a spirit attack someone or something
that is astrally active?

---------------------------
Matthew Johnson
mjohnson@*.arizona.edu
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~mjohnson
ftp://150.135.184.121 login: anonymous pw: email
----------------------------
Message no. 2
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Spirits and astral entities
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 11:30:18 +0100
Matthew Johnson said on 18:29/ 1 Dec 97...

> A GM I know maintains that if someone has astrally active objects (active
> spell lock, active focus, anchored spell, etc.), spirits/elementals will
> attack these things and/or the owner in order to gain power.

Maybe in his Sixth World they do...

> How exactly does an elemental/spirit come by its power?

That's never explained anywhere, I think.

> will a spirit attack another spirit?

If ordered to, sure.

> will the conquest of one spirit by another gain it power?

It'll much more likely lose power, or Force, from doing so -- SRII page
143 has the rules for spirit combat, and if they directly oppose each
other, they both roll Force dice and the loser's Force is reduced.

> Why and in what cases might a spirit attack someone or something
> that is astrally active?

The only reasons I can think of are because someone orders the spirit to,
or because (if it's a free spirit) it likes to attack magical items.

--
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Message no. 3
From: GRANITE <granite@**.NET>
Subject: Re: Spirits and astral entities
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 10:13:30 -0700
> A GM I know maintains that if someone has astrally active objects (active
> spell lock, active focus, anchored spell, etc.), spirits/elementals will
> attack these things and/or the owner in order to gain power.

Well..I do know that Strain III actually gains power in this
way..although -controlled- spirits lose power in spirit combat..

>...will a spirit attack another spirit?

certainly..but I don't really think they go around attacking each
other for no reason..

>...will the conquest of one spirit by another gain it power?

See above...

> Why and in what cases might a spirit attack someone or something
> that is astrally active?

When ordered to do so by a controlling mage or shaman..or to further
their own ends..And who can fathom the motivations of a free
spirit...
--------------------------------GRANITE
"Rock Steady"
===============================================
Lord, Grant Me The Serenity To Accept The Things I Cannot Change,
The Courage To Change The Things I Can,
And The Wisdom To Hide The Bodies Of Those People I Had To Kill
Because They Pissed Me Off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ShadowRunner's Serenity Prayer
===============================================
Kind of a bummer. Gettin' your butt kicked by a dead guy.
- Lt Col McQueen
Message no. 4
From: "J. Keith Henry" <Ereskanti@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Spirits and astral entities
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 14:53:46 -0500
In a message dated 97-12-02 08:14:09 EST, gurth@******.NL writes:
> Matthew Johnson said on 18:29/ 1 Dec 97...
>
> > A GM I know maintains that if someone has astrally active
objects (
> active
> > spell lock, active focus, anchored spell, etc.), spirits/elementals will
> > attack these things and/or the owner in order to gain power.
>
> Maybe in his Sixth World they do...

Hey, the idea is an interesting one with a nasty possibility, especially if
beings like Mentor (Threats Book) are kept in mind. A "Magical Siphon",
similar to Essence Drain for Vampires. Target numbers would be similar, with
the item having to be astrally active at the time to do so. Number of points
stolen becomes an "energy pool" not unlike that of Free Spirits. Or, the
points could be treated as "karma" that could go towards the Free Spirits
advancement of energy and thus it's eventual increase in Force.

However, I can see a magician's "gang bang" once word of this got out...

> > How exactly does an elemental/spirit come by its power?
> That's never explained anywhere, I think.

Not in whole, no. Such beings just have these abilities, being aligned to
the differing "levels" or "planes" that they are. Increasing Force is
a
matter of Karma after that and is explained somewhat in the Grimoire (both
editions).

> > will a spirit attack another spirit?
> If ordered to, sure.

Or if one intrudes upon the domain of another with harmful intent. I could
see Domovoi (Paranormal Animals of Europe) getting awfully testy if an
intruding elemental or watcher were to drift into it's "domain."

> > will the conquest of one spirit by another gain it power?
> It'll much more likely lose power, or Force, from doing so -- SRII page
> 143 has the rules for spirit combat, and if they directly oppose each
> other, they both roll Force dice and the loser's Force is reduced.

Hey look...Force Drain, a power for "Vampiric" Spirit types. I could this
power idea possibly even working against Astrally Active/Projecting Magicians
(I see a plot device developing here).

> > Why and in what cases might a spirit attack someone or something
> > that is astrally active?
> The only reasons I can think of are because someone orders the spirit to,
> or because (if it's a free spirit) it likes to attack magical items.

Ignoring some really twisted plot devices, the above sound the basic reasons
to me as well.

-K
Message no. 5
From: Bull <chaos@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Spirits and astral entities
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 15:25:31 -0500
At 10:13 AM 12/2/97 -0700, GRANITE wrote these timeless words:

>>...will a spirit attack another spirit?
>
>certainly..but I don't really think they go around attacking each
>other for no reason..
>
>>...will the conquest of one spirit by another gain it power?
>
Actually, I think they can't normally gain power from each other, with one
exception... Free Insect Spirits (From Target: UCAS). This seemed to be
a unique ability for them, to be able to "Feed" off of other spirits, and
presumably other astrally active objects... <ohhh, my "Spirit Sniper" for
spell locks just got nastier:)>

Bull
--
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Message no. 6
From: HAUPT ULRICH FB08 <sandman@****.UNI-OLDENBURG.DE>
Subject: Re: spirits and astral entities
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 1997 10:54:38 MEZ-1MESZ
> will a spirit attack another spirit?

IMHO I would answer the all time answer: it depends on ...

What motivations do spirits have to attack another one? Though they
are different beings than humans its no very difficult say that they
will not kill themselves (or do they ?). Spirits - especially low
level spirits - are not too smart IMHO. They search for a task they
can fulfill. For most free spirits and elementals that would be to
protect their home. And this is my next point. Usually elementals and
other spirits seem to be lazy ! They hide in the vulcano for a
couple of years until the heros stumble in. Why do they attack
another being ? Because they are disturbed. Thats what almost all
literature say. A water elemental will never meet an air spirit
because they have different domains. Only those sorcerers manage to
force spririts to leave their natural domain. Why else should a herd
spirit attack an air elemental. The air elemantal - normally - just
wants to get out of that building right into the sky.
See what I mean ?
Starting from the point that a spirit wants to live- what ever that
means to a spirit - I think it is very unlikly that a force 3 spirit
attacks a force 4 focus just because it is in its domain. It would
die in most cases. Maybe it starts a barking attack to drive the
other one away but what for should it start a self killing action ???

Though I must say that I would rule that a water elemental and an air
elemental would attack each other in most cases because they are
opposite.

Sandman

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