Lifeforms · Ethereal · City/ Ruin
Absent Companions
Sometimes, the places remember. Where Destiny's threads intertwine, echoes of the past live again.
Where the centuries pile one upon the other, like falling leaves in autumn, the petty magics of men pile up as well.
The Loose Threads
Before a master mage attempts any great work, he must purify the area from magical contamination, lest his conjuring be ruined. Master mages know this, but not every worker of cantrips realizes that the principle applies to them as well. The petty magic of hedge wizards and lesser conjurers, worked day after day, begins to add up. Stray tendrils of magic soon work their way loose from the places of these wizards, drawn to where the threads of destiny are tightly woven: The gathering places of men and other races.
Few are aware of this.
A Touch of Destiny
"You're back!" cried Ilsa, the taverner. Her smile lit the room as she shouldered her way through the alehouse's crowded patrons, toward Gullrick, the soldier that had stolen her heart when he was last stationed in Alkenford. Looking at her, Gullrick smiled, his old gaptoothed smile the same as ever.
Winning past the crowd, she looked for Gullrick, but he had vanished.
There are some men for whom destiny has chosen a special role. Long before they find fame, the wise can sense a special meaning to their deeds, a potential lying dormant within them. The stray strands of magic that surround everyone seem to cling to them, taking their measure and remembering their passage. This phenomenon is well-known to the students of Destiny.
The implications of this are also known to few.
The melee raged furiously as the last few soldiers of the Hephaestus Legion struggled against the hordes of the invaders. Too stubborn to die, too proud to surrender or flee, it was clear that they were doomed.
Suddenly, on the ridge above the troops, a band of Imperial cavalry appeared, their banners fluttering brightly in the blood-reeking breeze. The invaders fell back, fear filling them at the thought of fresh Imperial reinforcments arriving. The horsemen began their charge, slamming into the enemy line... Then vanishing like soap bubbles as they hit. Shaken by the uncanny visitation, the invaders turned to flee.
The Misunderstood Magic
The visitations known as "Absent Companions" are a curious form of bilocation, uncanny echoes of the past that reappear when circumstances repeat themselves. Unlike the strange phantoms of the dead that sometimes appear, replaying moments of their lives over and over, these unnerving phenomena are often echoes of living beings. They are able to interact meaningfully with their environment, so they will discuss things with those around them, make requests or answer questions. They don't seem aware that they aren't the person whose form they wear, and often react indignantly to those who suggest such. Despite this, they are limited in their ability to physically interact with the people around them. While they are apparently substantial, often able to do things like open doors or drink ale, these spirits often vanish at the touch of another living being. Apparently, their pattern is determined when the wayward tendrils of wild magic first "take their impression": Only the objects and people present at that moment can interact with them. To anything else, they are insubstantial, vanishing when disturbed. As an example, an absent companion mimicking a married man might be able to caress his wife (or slap her, for that matter), but might vanish if he touched a tankard that wasn't in the room when his impression first formed.
In rare instances, entire groups have been mimicked, such as the Imperial Heavy Cavalry that appeared at the climax of the Battle of Coven Hill. Other, rarer instances have involved animals or monsters, such as the perennial appearances of the Yenith Hound (... much to the dismay of the real hound's master, Lord Yenith)
Different magical colleges and religious groups have conflicting interpretations of what these sendings may signify. Some consider them to be a sign of the mimicked one's imminent demise, while others see them as a sign of divine favor.
Scrolls
Twists, chapters, and details meant to stream with the submission — not general discussion.
No scrolls yet — leave one if you have a twist worth keeping.
Sign in to plant an idea scroll.
Enjoyed this? Sign in and cross blades for Wulfhere — five clashes, up to 25 XP.
Sign in to cross the blades.
Discussion
Reader talk, questions, and feedback — not scrolls.
No comments yet — be the first voice in the hall.
Sign in to join the discussion.
Retellings
No Retellings yet — the best compliment on the Citadel is a Retelling.
Bonds
Curated bonds across the Citadel — sign in to bind a bond. Kindred Favors are another thread in the same weave.
No bonds yet — be the first to bind one.
I like this approach, a ghost but not a ghost. A neat aberration. Also something weird to toss in at the end of a magic battle (the lingering build up magic triggers it) that no player will be expecting :)
You could entwine this deeply into a plot based around an area or building. Every time magic is used here, something strange happens afterward, a battle scene suddenly appears, a glorious bride shuffles down the isle towards her marriage, past echoes of things that happened in that building, you recognize, from other echoes, the man she walks towards, her groom, is in league with dark shrouds of tales yet to be told.
Yeah I could see this go places.
Very interesting. Perhaps someone might harness this as a spell, if the mage was studious enough. Perhaps he'd take an 'imprint' of someone he knew, and then use them as a summonable/castable weapon-soldier. Iiiiinteresting possibilities.
It could probably have a bit more to it, but not much. I like it.
Ah, Wert, bring me another pinch of wolfsbane for this spell, Grindelwald stumbled, Wert had been dead a number of years and no matter how many times he called the priest to purify his tower, the apparition kept returning. The old alchemist shuddered but returned to grinding at his mortar. The strange thing, the thing he would never tell the priests was that sometimes the appration of Wert would take up his old tasks, sweeping out the ground floor, mixing reagents that had settled in their jars, but only the oldest of the jars and always his old broom. The old man put down the pestel and wiped at the tears streaking his haggard face.
Nicely done Wulf.
Another great way to add layers to a campaign. If you use the same world long enough, shades of old PCs could be wandering around...
An explanation for many events, some of which will be historical, others will be Deus ex machina. It would pay for the PCs to learn a little history, as this might improve the chances of such events happening.
In Antioch/ Arth, excess manna floats about, empowering the starstone dust in the soil. That helps create the elementals that sometimes appear in the city. Manna Fleas and Ogone flies deal with the same floating bits of left over magic (or radiant magic). It is fun that these things exist, showing that magic is part of the world.
You should have these events slowly absorb the loose magic and the stronger magic threads. The more destiny has to intervene, the less magic is left in the world.. the apparitions eventually making things "mundane"/ non magical.
Most has been already said. I will just add that this reminds me of the Clochardshire Shambler in terms of emotional impact, but offers more for roleplaying, and makes for a cool magical, but also natural effect.
A solid idea, that seems to inspire many more, and begs to be used. I like it.
The stray strands of magic that surround everyone seem to cling to them, taking their measure and remembering their passage nice line!
I like this. Echoes of living beings. Its all been said. A nicely layered campaign nuance, and twist on "spirits". It can be used for flavor or to kick off an actual adventure.
Bump!
I accidentally remembered one renown movie example: Valeria from Conan the Barbarian. Fits the role perfectly.
Have loved the title on this one. You need to sub again Wulf!
A brilliant idea good for use in any world with a magic-rich environment.
I bet there are occasionally doppelganger scares when one of these occurs when the original person is present.