Medium

Medium
Last Updated:	2/4/2023
Character Skill Roleplaying Skill

Masters of the spirit realm, where sparks cling to the world of the living unwilling to let go. Mediums are many things, but they share one common trait: the ability to communicate with ghosts. Some believe this ability is a divine touch- a curse bestowed by the Stranger or a gift from the powers of Darkness. Others see it as a natural talent, like any other skill, and seek to be trained in it like a mystical art form. Some even attribute it to traumatic experiences, such as near-death encounters or being hit on the head on a child. Any of these situations could explain why a person can communicate with ghosts.

The question is: now that they can, what will they do about it?

Description

Mediums can see Sparks, both in the living and in the dead. Their connection to sparks is so strong they can even speak with spirits and hear what they have to say. Many Mediums use this gift to try to help spirits move on, viewing it as maintaining the natural order. Others choose to exploit this for personal advantage; some consider the ability to see sparks and speak to ghosts nothing more than a curse.

Up until very recently ghosts were invisible to all but mediums. Around the year 1601, something changed that and now everyone can see ghosts, though mediums are still the only ones capable of conversing with them.

Mechanically Mediums can speak with the dead, reap and move sparks easier, hold seances to allow others to speak with the dead and compel spirits to do their bidding.

Medium Roleplay Skills

Medium 1 (Beginner)

The medium can speak to and hear spirits. To use this ability, they need to simply communicate in some way with the spirit to indicate that they are a medium; any roleplaying that will make it clear to the NPC playing the spirit in question that they are a medium will do. From there, they may converse with the spirit like any other NPC.

The medium may also sense if a character has the Sparkless, Damaged Spark, or Stolen Spark conditions from a distance of no more than 5 feet away. To do this, they need to indicate to the other character that they are a medium and ask them about any spark conditions.

Medium 2 (Trained)

The medium may cast Reap Spirit with no incant and no power point cost once per event per level of Medium obtained.

The medium can also return reaped sparks to their owners without killing the person with the Stolen Spark condition. To do this touch someone with the Sparkless condition and the character with the Stolen Spark condition who has their spark. Roleplay ending both conditions at once. All participants must be willing or Helpless.

Medium 3 (Proficient)

The medium gains 2 prevention shields that can be used to stop any 2 attacks from spirits. Unlike most prevention shields, they are not required to use these on the first two attacks to affect them but can use them on any attack of their choosing that comes from a spirit.

They may also lead a 'Seance' once per event. This is like a ritual, but there is no paper documentation or components required. The medium may roleplay the ritual in any way they deem appropriate for their character. Once performed, any individuals they allowed to participate in the seance with them may hear and speak to spirits for the next 10 minutes.

Medium 4 (Expert)

The medium gains 10 power points that aren't affected by cap, which may be used to cast any Compulsion spell up to level 3. You do not need to know the spell to cast it. Add the word 'Spirit' to the call for any tag bags made (for example Pin Spirit! or Silence Spirit!).

This means that the spells aren't treated as compulsion effects and can be used on spirits, who are normally immune to compulsion.

Medium 5 (Master)

Work with the Rules workgroup to come up with a custom ability for your character.

Sample Master Medium Abilities

Dominate Spirits

With an incant, the medium may cast the Dominate Spirits spell twice per event with no power point cost. This generates 2 tag bags that call for Dominate Spirit!.

Protection from Ghosts

Gain 4 additional uses of the prevention shield gained at Medium 3.

Speak With the Dead

Speak With the Dead is a touch range spell which is cast only on characters have the Dead condition. The spell requires an incant but costs no power points to cast. It has a ten-minute duration and can be used four times per event.

Once successfully cast, Speak With the Dead allows the medium to communicate with the dead character, inflicting the Truthful condition on them and forcing them to respond.

Because this is a spell, anything that would stop a spell will stop this ability (such as Anti-Magic Shield on the body of the person they cast this on).

Transubstantiation

The medium may ignore Detect Life calls and enter Sanctified or Unhallowed fields at will.

Categories: Skills | Role-Playing Skills