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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

From: "Dark Thought Publications." <JEK5313@*****.TAMU.EDU>
Subject: New totem.
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 93 09:33:26 CET
Drum roll, please. . . . .



Dove:

Characteristics: Dove is thin and austere. She is flighty; quick in
motion and in thought. She seems naive and inexperienced, often jumping to
conclusions and believing in people's better natures. She avoids combat
actively, and is primarily a healing totem. She is fastidious in dress,
though often wearing simple and functional clothing. The Dove totem is the
totem of those who practice the healing traditions of the ancient Christian
sects, and in fact is one of very few totems to be openly espoused by the
Catholic Church.
Dove is a healer. It is her prime motivation and reason for being.
She will refuse healing to none, oftentimes even healing her enemies.

Environment: Urban
Advantages: +2 dice Healing, Semi-empathy(see below); +2 dice for
conjuring any specific Spirit of Man (shaman's choice).
Disadvantage: -1 die for casting any non-stun spell. A Dove shaman cannot
refuse healing to *anyone* who requests it. A Dove shaman will not tolerate
evil or ignoble actions. Also, see below.


Notes:
Dove shamans posess, almost as a side effect of their "choice" of totem, an
heightened awareness of others' feelings. This does not allow them to read
minds or to broadcast/receive others' emotions in any real sense, but instead
allows the Dove shaman an infallable sense of when someone is in pain, even
being capable of use as a locator. This form of empathy allows the Dove shaman
to avoid physically damaging someone, as to do so is almost as painful to the
Dove shaman as it is to the victim. The Dove shaman must use Willpower to
resist a deadly stun with a Target Number of 4 if she witnesses a death due to
violence.



Real World Notes:

Yes, I know that those of you out there who fancy yourselves combat mages are
saying to yourselves: "Pansy, wimp, hoser, etc." The Dove totem is an
unique roleplaying challenge designed to fit the needs of one of the members of
my group. I feel as if this is a good outcome, not as nasty as those from
White Wolf, and not entirely benign either. (You should see her whip out a
damaging manipulation against insect spirits.) Add her to a vampire in the
party, and watch the fireworks and preset misconceptions fly. Dump in one
pinch of militant vampyr-hunting Jesuits, a gram of insect spirits, three cups
of general mayhem, and still until smooth. Chill and serve.
(Oh! Did I mention that it's raining?)

-Ethan Court

(So tell me, guys; did I forget anything?)

(Since we've yet to handle the copyright issue to everyone's satisfaction, let
me spell this one out: use at will, but if you ever make any moeny off this
poor old idea [doubtful] please just put something to the tune of "thanks to
the gang at hearn" or the like.)

Disclaimer

These messages were posted a long time ago on a mailing list far, far away. The copyright to their contents probably lies with the original authors of the individual messages, but since they were published in an electronic forum that anyone could subscribe to, and the logs were available to subscribers and most likely non-subscribers as well, it's felt that re-publishing them here is a kind of public service.