Medium (Proficiency)

This proficiency allows characters to invite selected spirits to temporarily possess them. The usual reason for a character to seek possession is so that a certain spirit may be easily conversed with. The spirits thus contacted are usually benign spirits, with whom the character's community has a steady relationship, as inviting an unknown spirit to take part in the possession could be very dangerous.
Many tribal shamans routinely contact the ancestors and other key spirits this way, in order to establish why some hardship has befallen the tribe or to seek advice in a political matter. In some tribes, the spirits are routinely contacted whenever a person falls sick or suffers any minor misfortune. In these circumstances, the spiritual possession is regarded as something quite mundane, and other senior tribesmen, besides the shamans, might have this proficiency.
In order to use this proficiency, a character ?e must spend one round in quiet meditation on the target spirit. If the spirit wishes, it simply enters the shaman's body, causing it to move around and speak as the spirit desires. The character acting as the host for the spirit may not converse with it, and so another must put questions to and speak U with the spirit.
Successful use of this proficiency depends not only on the proficiency check, but also the pres- Pence of at least one spirit within 150 feet of the medium, either in the spirit world or prime material world. Spirits are most easily found at their "home" or attending important festivals.
The advantage of this, over the shamans' usual method, is that it may be used to selectively contact only one spirit, whose words are publicly heard.
Any spirit in the area, even one different from the one a shaman wishes to contact, may attempt to possess him or her. The shaman can sense that it is not the desired spirit and can resist the attempt if a successful saving throw vs. paralyzation is rolled. A malign spirit could easily use the shaman's body for murderous ends.
Finally, if the characters are ever unwillingly possessed, the Medium proficiency allows them a greater chance of regaining control from the spirit. The character attempts a saving throw vs. paralyzation at the end of the first round after the possession takes place, and then at the end of the next turn, at the end of the day, the end of the week, and so on (month, year, decade, century, etc.). If any of these rolls succeed, the spirit is expelled, and may not attempt to possess the character again.
Category:Shaman Proficiencies