Arcadayn: Religions

Adventures in Arcadayn
Faerie Shamanism
By Tim Emrick

The Queen of the Faeries is the goddess Dananira, who is usually depicted as a pale woman dressed in white feathers and rainbow-colored robes. Swans and rainbows are sacred to her, as are albinos--who have the coloring of faerie creatures and thus are believed to have special insight into the workings of the realm and peoples of Faerie.

Dananira does not grant magic directly; instead, faeries (and their occasional half-human children) inherit the gift of Magical Aptitude from her, while some mortals receive the ability of World-Sight, which allows them to perceive the border realms of Faerie and to command incorporeal faeries to do their bidding. World-Sight is a rare, inborn trait which only manifests among certain mortals dwelling in areas where Faerie's influence is strong. All of the known "faerie shamans" have been born in Haldinibar, the Storm Isles and the Fey Isles, and many are albinos.

This religion has two recognized Holy Days, the Spring and Autumn "Feywalks," which occur one month after each equinox (i.e., 1 Greening and 1 Browning). At this time, Faerie is closest to Kemil (the "real" world) and faerie-related magic is strongest.

This "religion" has no organized priesthood, only individual shamans who learn their craft from others with the same gift. In Haldinibar, faerie shamanism will often co-exist with the worship of other religions.

Faerie shamans have no single symbol. However, they often show preferences for rainbows (associated with Dananira), white animals (albino faerie beasts) and portals of all kinds.

Faerie Shamans

Prerequisites include: World-Sight, Fast-Talk, Meditation, Occultism, Performance/Ritual.

Faerie shamans are the mortals most likely to know Hidden Lore (Faerie Lore) skill, but not all have this skill.

Faerie shamans gain Clerical Rank 1 [5], the only level in this religion, and should take Discipline of Faith (Mysticism) [-10]. There is no organized church, so Patrons and Duties are irrelevant. The two "Feywalks" (1 Greening and 1 Browning) count as Holy Days [2].

The "spirit world" perceived by World-Sight is the part of Faerie which overlaps the "real" world (Kemil). Seeing into Faerie is most easily done in Haldinibar, the Storm Isles and the Fey Isles; apply penalties in other lands, and bonuses in transplanted faerie lairs. These shamans may learn any of the shaman spells in GURPS Religion, but instead of "spirits," these spells affect incorporeal faeries. (A few spells, such as Banish, may affect faeries physically present on Kemil.)

Some faerie shamans have Magery [variable] or Second Sight [5] in addition to World-Sight. Faerie Empathy [10] and Albinism [-10] are strictly optional, but common, and are usually linked.

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