From:	Dustin Wood <cukoo@*****.NET>
Subject:	Re: How do you run totems?
Date:	Wed, 13 Sep 1995 19:54:06 -0700

>On Wed, 13 Sep 1995, Dustin McCraw wrote:
>> How does everyone run totems in their games? In my game they are not
>> exactly a single spirit but more of a collection of spirits working
>> together. They never manifest to any one but a shaman of that totem and
>> they are very subtle in what they do. They choose their shamans carefully.
>> A totem will never manifest as a specific spirit only as the totem itself.
>> All totems grow in strength as more shamans of that type exist but this
>> never spills into gaming. They are a cross between a way of life and god.
>
> Totems in my game are the Pattern of the souls of animals. From
>Earthdawn, a pattern is a manifestation of what's IMPORTANT to a
>creature. So, a manifestation of the stereotype, or ultimate dog is
>Dog...cat is Cat...etc. This means that Totems are spirits from Astral
>Space... I put 'em in different Demiplanes than the Horrors from
>Earthdawn. Actually...I put 'em as the opposite of horrors, which are
>the stereotypes of BAD things in man and other creatures.

I think totems should exaggerate all the qualities of that animal (or thing
in the case of some druidic totems) Dogs should be unfailingly loyal (and
vengeful if they feel someone has betrayed that loyalty) and single minded.
Of course, I also have a habit of role-playing by exaggerating a single
quality or quirk and turning it into a full character concept.