GURPS Classic: Spirits

131 Pages·201·11.736 MB·English

by  Steve Kenson

The creatures of the Other World are all around us.
Some were once alive. Some were created by human
imagination. And some are completely inhuman but
thirst for our souls. GURPS Spirits is a complete guide
to the spirit realm and its inhabitants. It includes a
catalog of spirits from around the world: GURPS Basic Set,Third Edition,
Revisedand Compendium I:
angels, demons, djinn, dryads, ghosts,
Character Creationare requiredto
loas, manitou, raksasha, and many,
use this supplement in a GURPS
many more. It is also a campaign campaign. The material in GURPS
Spiritscan be used with any rules
guide for characters who
system.
see spirits, serve them, use
them . . . or fight them!
THE LOST SOULS:
Also included: an expanded
version of the ritual magic
Written by Stephen Kenson
rules first seen in GURPS
Edited by Janice M. Sellers
Voodoo, as a system for
Cover by Philip Reed
spirit-mediated magic.
Illustrated by Paul Daly,
No horror roleplaying David Day,
Tom Fowler,
campaign is complete without
and Sean Murray
a ghostly apparition, the rattle
of chains in the dead of night, or Additional Illustrations by
Gerinaldo Colon
a malevolent spirit wreaking
and Zach Howard
havoc. And the creatures of
GURPS Spirits can be used in
many other types of campaigns, too
– from the questing knights of old to the
FIRSTEDITION
paranormal investigators of today to the
PUBLISHEDJUNE2001
galactic explorers of tomorrow!
ISBN 1-55634-516-X
9!BMF@JA:RSTPUUoY`Z]ZgZnZ`
®
STEVE JACKSON GAMES
SJG02295 6537 Printed in the
www.sjgames.com USA
The creatures of the Other World are all around us.
Some were once alive. Some were created by human
imagination. And some are completely inhuman but
thirst for our souls. GURPS Spirits is a complete guide
to the spirit realm and its inhabitants. It includes a
catalog of spirits from around the world: GURPS Basic Set,Third Edition,
Revisedand Compendium I:
angels, demons, djinn, dryads, ghosts,
Character Creationare requiredto
loas, manitou, raksasha, and many,
use this supplement in a GURPS
many more. It is also a campaign campaign. The material in GURPS
Spiritscan be used with any rules
guide for characters who
system.
see spirits, serve them, use
them . . . or fight them!
THE LOST SOULS:
Also included: an expanded
version of the ritual magic
Written by Stephen Kenson
rules first seen in GURPS
Edited by Janice M. Sellers
Voodoo, as a system for
Cover by Philip Reed
spirit-mediated magic.
Illustrated by Paul Daly,
No horror roleplaying David Day,
Tom Fowler,
campaign is complete without
and Sean Murray
a ghostly apparition, the rattle
of chains in the dead of night, or Additional Illustrations by
Gerinaldo Colon
a malevolent spirit wreaking
and Zach Howard
havoc. And the creatures of
GURPS Spirits can be used in
many other types of campaigns, too
– from the questing knights of old to the
FIRSTEDITION
paranormal investigators of today to the
PUBLISHEDJUNE2001
galactic explorers of tomorrow!
ISBN 1-55634-516-X
9!BMF@JA:RSTPUUoY`Z]ZgZnZ`
®
STEVE JACKSON GAMES
SJG02295 6537 Printed in the
www.sjgames.com USA
D E N I Z E N S O F T H E OT H E RWO R L D
By Stephen Kenson
Edited by Janice M. Sellers
Illustrated by Paul Daly, David Day,
Tom Fowler, and Sean Murray
Additional Illustrations by Gerinaldo Colon,
Zach Howard and Dan Smith
Cover by Philip Reed
Special thanks to ArtToday for the beautiful Edmund Dulac artwork.
GURPSSystem Design Steve Jackson
GURPS Line Editor Sean Punch
Production Manager Gene Seabolt
Production Artist Heather Oliver
Production Assistance Remi Treuer
Print Buying Paul Rickert
Art Direction Philip Reed
GURPS Errata Coordinator Andy Vetromile
Lead playtester:Matthew Michalak
Playtesting and additional ideas:David Ackermann, SD Anderson, Roland Bailey, CJ Beiting, Frederick Brackin, Michael Brewer,
John Buczek, David Cary, Benedict Chapman, Richard Cochener, Mark Cogan, Brandon Cope, Nelson Cunnington, Lee Davis, Peter Dell’Orto,
Thomas Devine, Christopher Dicely, Robert Dorf, David Edelstein, Christopher Emerson, Travis Foster, John Freiler, Richard Gadsden,
Andrew Garman, Jeremiah Genest, Daniel Glass, Brian Gross, Scott Harris, Joanna Hart, Kenneth Hite, Leonardo M. Holschuh, Daniel Howard,
Bob Huss, “Malachias Invictus,” Anthony Jackson, Hunter Johnson, Christopher Kirk, K. David Ladage, Jonathan Lang, Shai Laric,
MA Lloyd, James Maliszewski, Peter Martin, Phil Masters, Nigel McCarty-Eigenmann, Beth McCoy, Ian McDonald, David Morgan-Mar,
Ben Morley, Michael Newton, Remington Nobles, Nygaard, Stephanie Pennington, Richard Persky, Jeff Raglin, Daniel Rice, Craig Roth,
Charles Saeger, Andrea Scarpetta, Curtis Shenton, Scott Simpson, Emily Smirle, Brian Smithson, Brian Sniffen, Adam Solis, David Spitzley,
William Stoddard, David Stroup, David P. Summers, Ralf Tschulena, Chad Underkoffler, Earl Wajenberg, Joseph Weinmunson, and Simon Whateley.
Special thanks to:C.J. Carella, David Edelstein, Matthew Michalak, Sean Punch, and Janice Sellers for their contributions and hard work, and to
Christopher for putting up with me the whole time.
GURPS, Warehouse 23, and the all-seeing pyramid are registered trademarks of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated. Pyramidand Illuminati Online and the names of all
products published by Steve Jackson Games Incorporated are registered trademarks or trademarks of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated, or used under license.
GURPS Spiritsis copyright © 2001 by Steve Jackson Games Incorporated. All rights reserved. Some art copyright www.arttoday.com.
ISBN 1-55634-516-X 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
STEVE JACKSON GAMES
C O N T E N T S
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 SPIRITANDSYMBOLISM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Shamanism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
About GURPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Shamanic Initiation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Shamanic Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
1. THENATUREOFSPIRITS . .5
Shamanic Trance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
THEROLESOFSPIRITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 HISTORYOFSPIRITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Animating Force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Earliest Beliefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Guiding Force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Western Beliefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Higher Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Gnosticism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Archetype . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Eastern Beliefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Servant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Avatars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Spirit Seers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Guardian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 The Americas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Psychopomp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 The Middle Ages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Monster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Hierarchies of Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
The Age of Reason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Inner Spirit Worlds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
The Age of Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 The Faerie Veil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
The Modern World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Spiritual Time Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
TODAY’SSPIRITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Multiple Afterlives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Religious Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Net Shamans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Magical Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 CAMPAIGNSEEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Psychological Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Death Is Only the Beginning . . . . . . . . .31
Literary Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 The Dreamers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
CAMPAIGNSEED: ONCEWEWEREGODS .19 Adventures in Godshome . . . . . . . . . . .31
Pseudoscientific Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Morphogenesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 3. SPIRITABILITIES . . . . . . . . . . .32
2. WORLDSOFSPIRIT . . . . . . .20 FORMANDFUNCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
THENATUREOFSPIRITWORLDS . . . . . . . .21 Spirit Abilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
TYPESOFSPIRITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 One Realm or Many? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 MOTIVATIONANDROLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Nature Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 You Can’t Get There From Here . . . . . .21 Free-Willed Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Totemism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Mutable or Fixed? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Servitor Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Celestial Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Prison Worlds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Mindless Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Animism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 ENTERINGANDLEAVINGSPIRITWORLDS . .22 SPECIALPOWERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Human Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 The Shamanic Worlds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Alien Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Methods of Spirit World Travel . . . . . .24 Advantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Afterlife and Reincarnation . . . . . . . . . .11 OUTERANDINNERWORLDS . . . . . . . . . . . .25 New Advantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Souls and Resurrection . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Outer Spirit Worlds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Disadvantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Apotheosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 No Outer Spirit World . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 New Disadvantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Sustaining Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Where Spirits Live . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Other Disadvantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Spirit Disadvantage Table . . . . . . . . . . .43
Innate Spells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Inherent Magic (Knacks) . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Magical Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Psionic Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Ultra-Tech Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
FINETUNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Taboo Traits and Features . . . . . . . . . . .45
Quirks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Spirits That Aren’t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
4. SPIRITTEMPLATES . . . . . . . .46
ANGEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
ANIMALSPIRIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
APPARITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
ASCENDEDSPIRIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
DEMON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
2 CO N T E N TS
DJINN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Zar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
ELEMENTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Air Elemental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Earth Elemental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Fire Elemental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Water Elemental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
FAERIE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
GHOST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
PERSONIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
SPIRITOFPLACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
THOUGHTFORM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
ULTRATERRESTRIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Ancient One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Minion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
5. CHARACTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
CHARACTERTEMPLATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Sorcerers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 7. CAMPAIGNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Channeler/Medium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Ritual Magic Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
Charlatan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 LEARNINGRITUALMAGIC . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 CAMPAIGNSTYLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
Occultist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Magical Traditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 Realistic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
Priest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Ceremonial vs. Improvised Magic . . . .82 Cinematic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
Seer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 LEARNINGTHEPATHS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 Superhuman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
Shaman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Syncretism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 Silly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
Sorcerer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Ritual Magic Defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 GENRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
Spirit Combat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Ritual Aptitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 Fantasy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Spirit Hunter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Horror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
CONDUCTINGRITUALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
Spirit Warrior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Illuminati . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
RITUALELEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
SPIRITCHARACTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 Supers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
NEWSUPER-POWER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 Roleplaying Rituals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 Steampunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Spirit Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Mystic Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Cyberpunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Sacred Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Material Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Time Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Resistance Rolls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Mixed or Multigenre . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Combined Rituals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Conditional Rituals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 DEFININGSPIRITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Multiple Target Modifiers . . . . . . . . . . .89
The Spirit World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
COMBINEDEFFORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Spirits or Races? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
AREAANDDURATIONMODIFIERS . . . . . . . .91
Keeping It Mysterious . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Area Effect Modifiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Duration Effect Modifiers . . . . . . . . . . .91
Power Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
MAGICITEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91 Interactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Sample Magic Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Special Powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Charms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
USINGSPIRITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Fetishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Quantity and Rarity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Foci . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Spirit Servitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
RITUALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92 God Does Not Play at Dice . . . . . . . .118
The Path of Cunning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Creating New Paths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Spirits and Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
The Path of Dreams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
Spirits and Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
The Path of Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Spirits and Technology . . . . . . . . . . . .120
Physical Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
SPIRITFOES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
The Path of Knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Monsters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
The Path of Luck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Minions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
The Path of Nature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Villains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
The Path of Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
ADVANTAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 Magic and Ritual Magic . . . . . . . . . . .103 Antagonists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
NEWADVANTAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75 Creating New Rituals . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 SPIRITHEROES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
Psionics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 Improvising Rituals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 No Spirit PCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
Passing Beyond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
DISADVANTAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78 The Path of Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
All-Spirit Campaigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122
SKILLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78 Ritual Modifiers Table . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
Mixed Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122
SPIRITSPELLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
6. SPIRITMAGIC . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 EXAMPLESOFRITUALSINPLAY . . . . . . . .109 BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
TYPESOFMAGICIANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Adolphus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Priests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Little Chango . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Shamans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Psionics and Ritual Magic . . . . . . . . .109 INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
CO N T E N TS 3
INTRODUCTION
About GURPS
Steve Jackson Games is committed to full
support of the GURPSsystem. Our address is
GURPS Spirits is the continuation of work begun in a number of
SJ Games, Box 18957, Austin, TX 78760.
excellent GURPS books, particularly GURPS Voodoo and GURPS
Please include a self-addressed, stamped
Undead, both of which presented information on spirits and the spirit
envelope (SASE) any time you write us!
world for GURPS. But the scope of both books prevented them from
Resources include:
being guides to spirits and spiritual phenomena in general: Voodoofocus-
Pyramid (www.sjgames.com/pyra-
es on the particular campaign setting of the Shadow War, while Undead,
mid/). Our online magazine includes new
not surprisingly, focuses solely on spirits like ghosts and specters. Spirits
GURPSrules and articles. It also covers Dun-
is a generic guide for including spirits of all kinds in your GURPSgames
geons and Dragons, Traveller, World of
– ghosts, angels, demons, elementals, faeries, and many other incorpore-
Darkness, Call of Cthulhu, and many more
al beings. This book also includes an expansion of the popular ritual
top games – and other Steve Jackson Games
magic rules introduced in GURPS Voodoo, breaking them away from the
releases like In Nomine, INWO, Car Wars,
Shadow War setting and broadening them to include spirit magic through-
Toon, Ogre Miniatures, and more. Pyramid
out history and diverse human cultures, making the system truly generic
subscribers also have access to playtest files
and applicable to any campaign.
online!
Spirits contains guidelines for adding a spiritual dimension to any
New supplements and adventures.
setting, from traditional and urban fantasy to horror and even futuristic
GURPS continues to grow, and we’ll be
science fiction. The spirit templates in this book can be used for NPC spir-
happy to let you know what’s new. A current
its or as player characters in a spirit-based campaign. There are also tem-
catalog is available for an SASE. Or check out
plates for mortal characters who deal with spirits, from magicians to spirit
our Web site (below).
hunters and more – everything needed to make spirits a part of your
Errata. Everyone makes mistakes,
GURPScampaigns.
including us – but we do our best to fix our
errors. Up-to-date errata sheets for all GURPS
releases, including this book, are available
from SJ Games; be sure to include an SASE.
Or download them from the Web – see below.
Gamer input. We value your comments,
for new products as well as updated printings
of existing titles!
Internet.Visit us on the World Wide Web
at www.sjgames.com for an online catalog,
Using this Book
errata, updates, Q&A, and much more.
GURPS has its own Usenet group, too:
To skip right to the rules part of the book, go to Chapter 3 for infor-
rec.games.frp.gurps.
mation on the abilities of spirits and how they’re represented in GURPS.
GURPSnet.This e-mail list hosts much of
Chapter 4 has racial templates for many different kinds of spirits, allow-
the online discussion of GURPS. To join, e-
ing you to put them to use quickly. Chapter 5 has templates for mortal and
mail [email protected] with “subscribe
spirit characters, along with new advantages, disadvantages, and skills for
GURPSnet-L” in the body, or point your Web
mortal characters. Chapter 6 has a complete system of magic for GURPS,
browser to gurpsnet.sjgames.com.
ritual magic, harnessing the forces of the spirit world. To use Spiritsas a
The GURPS Spirits web page is at
source book, check out the information in Chapters 1 and 2 for discus-
www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/spirits/.
sions about spirits and the spirit worlds, then see Chapter 7 for how to
include spirits in your campaign and some of the issues to consider
Page References
regarding them. Then look over the other chapters for the rules on spirits
and characters involved with them.
See GURPS Compendium I, p. 181, for
a full list of abbreviations for GURPS titles.
About the Author
Any page reference that begins with a B refers
to GURPS Basic Set Third Edition Revised;
Steve Kenson has been a freelance RPG writer since 1994 and has
e.g., p. B144 refers to page 144 of Basic Set.
contributed to numerous game lines including FASA’s Shadowrun and
CI refers to Compendium I, CII to Com-
Earthdawn, Last Unicorn Games’ Star Trek, White Wolf’s Aberrantand
pendium II, G to Grimoire, H to HorrorSec-
now GURPS. He has also contributed many articles to Pyramid. GURPS
ond Edition, M to MagicSecond Edition, P to
Spiritsis his first GURPSbook. Steve has been an avid gamer since 1981.
Psionics, R to Religion, and VO to Voodoo.
His other interests include comic books and working with a local youth
group. Steve lives in Merrimack, New Hampshire with his partner,
Christopher Penczak.
4 I N T RO D U C T I O N
Chapter 1 NATURE
THE
SPIRITS
OF
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And
the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the
face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the
waters.
And God said, “Let there be light: and there was light.”
– Genesis 1:1
TT
he term “spirit” refers to an entity that is incorporeal, not a
being of matter, although many spirits are tied to the material
world or are capable of assuming material form. Some spirits
interact with the physical world, while others are far
removed from it, appearing only to those who leave the physical
world behind.
Spirits come in many different types, and every human culture
has some beliefs about them. They point toward realms beyond the
physical and to the possibility of a much larger universe.
T H E N AT U R E O F S P I R I TS 5
The Roles of Spirits their descendants, although they can also become angry and
vengeful as a result of past or present slights. People turn to
the spirits for advice, aid, and guidance in times of need.
Although spirits in RPGs are generally associated with
Spirits are also viewed as guardians of morality, particu-
magic, spirit is an intensely religious concept. The terms
larly when they are agents of a higher power. The faithful peti-
“religion” and “spirituality” are often used interchangeably
tion these spirits for aid and guidance to follow their moral
today. Modern psychological models of spirits acknowledge
examples and to protect them against temptation – or the lure
their religious roots. In a campaign, it is important to know
of evil spirits.
the different roles spirits play.
Higher Power
Animating Force
Raised above material concerns, spirits may have great
In most belief systems throughout history there is an
power. In many belief systems, the dividing line between a
extra “something,” an integral component of living things,
“spirit” and a “god” is blurred. All noncorporeal beings are spir-
that is the difference between living and nonliving matter. It
its, even the most omnipotent of gods. Such powerful spirits
is an intangible force that gives life to all things. Early scien-
may be anthropomorphic, animistic, or not personified at all.
tific efforts to prove the existence of a “life force” studied the
In general, GURPS Spiritsdeals with spirits that can be
difference in weight between a living creature and a dead
quantified in game terms.
one, in the belief that something departed from a living being
Spirits often serve a “higher power.” This includes the
when it died.
vast hierarchies of angels and demons found in Christian
In an animistic belief system, spirits are present every-
mythology, Odin’s Valkyries, and the innumerable spirit
where, even in inanimate matter such as rocks or buildings.
courtiers of the Celestial Bureaucracy in Chinese myth. There
Items are imbued with spiritual or living properties. It is pos-
may be many different levels of spirits, ranging from the most
sible to contact, and even communicate with, the spirits of ani-
powerful and exalted to the weakest and most “earthly.”
mals, places, and items. In other belief systems, the presence
Mortal servants of a higher power may receive aid from these
of spirit is limited to only living things, only animals but not
spirits, or be granted the ability to summon or command them.
plants, or only certain types of living things (e.g., humans).
Spirits can sometimes be directed to enter into normally life-
Archetype
less matter in order to animate it or to bring a dead creature
back to life (or animate it as undead).
Spirits can also be seen as archetypes. Plato’s philosophy
included a realm of Ideals, which contained the perfect arche-
type of everything in the physical world. Psychologist Carl
Jung described spirits as archetypes from the universal uncon-
Unless defenses exist against them, spirits are
scious. Likewise, a spirit may embody a particular idea, con-
cept, or thing – “jealousy,” “America.” Often this is just a
nearly perfect spies, able to go
metaphor, but spirits are associated with different archetypes.
anywhere and observe or influence A spirit that embodies an archetype often has great
power within its particular field but serious limitations out-
events without being seen.
side it. The spirit may also be tied to the strength of its arche-
type; its power increases or decreases as belief in the concept
waxes or wanes.
Servant
Guiding Force
Spirits are often shown as servants, particularly in fanta-
In addition to its role as animating force, spirit is often
sy literature, where powerful wizards command legions of
seen as a guidingforce, directing people, creatures, and events
elementals, demons, or similar creatures. Spirits may be ser-
toward a particular purpose. Many beliefs claim spirits direct
vants of higher powers or they may be summoned (or even
everything: the development of life, the destiny of humanity,
created) by mortals to serve them.
and natural phenomena like the weather and the movement of
Dealing with spirits (particularly demons) is a dangerous
the sun and the moon. In other beliefs they are limited to
business, as evidenced by Mephistophilis in Christopher Mar-
affecting only certain things. Spirits may also be part of the
lowe’s Doctor Faustus. The djinn of Arabian myth were often
“divine plan” of an even greater spirit or spirits, in which case
bound to grant their summoner wishes or other services but,
they are guided as much as anyone else.
like demons, could be treacherous servants.
One example of spirits as a guiding force is the venera-
Unless defenses exist against them, spirits are nearly per-
tion of the spirits of one’s ancestors. Many cultures believe
fect spies, able to go anywhere and observe or influence
ancestor spirits (both human and nonhuman) watch over their
events without being seen.
descendants. They have an interest in protecting and aiding
6 T H E N AT U R E O F S P I R I TS
Spirit Seers
The ability to see, hear, and interact with spirits has usually in the form of blight and plague. Although the
long been considered a special gift (or curse). Spirits are church condemned them, the Benandanti maintained they
normally invisible and intangible to the material world. The were not evil and that they were doing God’s work against
ability to see them is relatively rare and usually indicates a the forces of evil. Only under torture did any of the
person with the potential to become a magician of some Benandanti confess to being in league with the Devil.
sort. Advantages that allow characters to see and interact The Benandanti may have had the Astral Projection or
with spirits are described in Chapter 5. Spirit magic is Spirit Projection abilities (see Chapter 5), allowing their
discussed in Chapter 6. spirits to roam far from their sleeping forms. A fantasy cam-
paign can be based on a group of Benandanti (who might
The Benandanti
live some distance from each other in the physical world).
A group of spirit seers existed in medieval Italy. Cler- They work together on certain nights of the month to pro-
gymen there stumbled upon a folk tradition of people called tect their unsuspecting neighbors from the hazards lurking
the Benandanti (meaning “good walkers” or “doers of in the spirit world, while avoiding the notice of the church,
good”). Each of these people was born “under the caul,” that which would surely condemn them for heresy.
is to say, with an intact amniotic sac covering his face or
Animals and Spirits
head. This indicated they were Benandanti, and most of
them kept part of their caul as a talisman. From the ages of Animals are often accorded the ability to sense spirits,
20 to 40, the Benandanti were sometimes summoned in domestic animals in particular: dogs begin barking, cats hiss
their sleep to travel in spirit form to a distant place. and arch their backs, and so forth. This is usually the case
They fought enemies called the Malandanti (“evil with “unnatural” spirits like ghosts (p. 59), but it may extend
walkers”), including witches, werewolves, and other crea- to other types of spirits as well. This ability may result from
tures of the night. The spiritual Benandanti wielded fennel spirits with the disadvantage Frightens Animals (p. CI97) or
stalks as weapons. Their battles helped drive away evil certain animals having advantages like Awareness (p. CI33),
influences and ensured the harvest would be a good one. but the ability of animals to detect them may simply be
When the Benandanti lost a battle, misfortune occurred, considered a Feature for some spirits (see p. 45).
Advisor Many people believe they have a “guardian angel” or similar
spirit that watches over them, and the ancient Romans believed
As beings beyond the physical, spirits may have great in the concept of the geniusor personal guardian spirit.
wisdom or insight. Mortals call on spirits to ask their advice,
such as shamans seeking spirits while in trance. Psychopomp
Spirits are also known to visit mortals and impart impor-
tant information, such as messages from God. Such messages A “psychopomp” is a guide and guardian of the spirits of
are not always clear, often being couched in riddles or cryptic the dead. Able to bridge the gap between the physical and
metaphors. Spiritual messages may also be contradictory, at spirit worlds, spirits often guide the souls of the dead to the
least on the surface. Evil and mischievous spirits have been afterlife. The Norse Valkyries took the spirits of brave war-
known to trick the unsuspecting into believing lies (or jokes). riors to Odin’s hall of Valhalla, angels guided souls to heaven
Even in a world where spirits exist, people can also have delu- while demons dragged sinners down to hell, and the spectral
sions or visions, believing they are in contact with spiritual boatman Charon rowed the spirits of the dead across the River
messengers when they are not. Styx in Greek mythology. Shamans (living and dead) also
serve as psychopomps.
Guardian Those able to travel into the spirit worlds may be able to
speak with the spirits of the departed and possibly even bring
A spirit may be assigned to protect them back into the world of the living (if not back to life).
a particular person, place, thing, or even
concept. Spirits may protect the priests Monster
or faithful of a religion, watch over an
important family, guard a sacred reli- In some stories, particularly in fantasy literature, spirits
gious site, or protect an ideal in the are simply terrible monsters for heroes to overcome, from
physical world. Spirit guardians of lost ghosts and specters to demons and elementals. These spirits
temples and other sites are common in exist primarily as obstacles for the heroes of the story. The
fantasy literature and mythology. Ring-Wraiths from Tolkien’s The Lord of the Ring are an
Ancestor and totem spirits often guide example of such monstrous spirits, as is Sauron, their
and protect particular families or tribes. demigod master.
T H E N AT U R E O F S P I R I TS 7
Types of Spirits
Totemism
Spirits can be classified according to place of origin and
Totemism is the veneration of the embodiment of a
then further by purpose and abilities. Nature spiritsare tied to
primordial ancestor or patron spirit. It is particularly com-
the Earth and natural phenomena. Celestial spiritscome from
mon in tribal cultures that practice ancestor worship. The
a realm outside of Earth (heaven, hell, Asgard, etc.), often
totem is represented by a physical symbol, either a craft-
seen as “above” or “below” the physical world. Human spir-
ed object (like a carving or statue) or a living animal or
its are the spirits of human beings (and, perhaps, of other
plant. In the latter case, the living totem is considered
intelligent creatures).
sacred. It is forbidden to kill a living totem, or it is per-
mitted only under certain ritual circumstances, where the
Nature Spirits
totem is eaten to take in its special qualities. This may
grant the consumer special abilities in some campaigns.
A nature spirit is one that springs from the natural or
In some cultures totems are shared among family
physical world, or that dwells primarily in the physical world.
members and everyone knows what totem spirit is associ-
Nature spirits are the most common spirits found in myth and
ated with what tribe or family. In others, totems are high-
legend. They are especially common in animistic belief sys-
ly individual, and each person must go on a quest to find
tems, which invest every part of the world with some kind of
his own. This “vision quest” usually takes the form of a
spirit. Nature spirits are often seen as willful and flighty.
solitary spiritual journey into the wilderness. There the
questor undergoes rituals of fasting, trances, and purifica-
Animal and Plant Spirits
tion and may use sacred herbs or other hallucinogens to
Since they are already alive, it is a small step to invest ani- spark visions. The quest continues until a totem spirit
mals and plants with spirit. Many cultures believe all living appears, and questors who fail often die in the wilderness.
things possess a spirit, and that animals and plants are no Those who return home without a totem spirit are often
different from humans in this respect. Some beliefs draw a considered dead anyway.
distinction between animals and plants, or between animals A totem may be considered a vital secret; speaking
and humans, but belief in animal and plant spirits is common. openly about it offends the totem spirit, which departs.
Animal and plant spirits are often called on to provide food Knowing a person’s totem may serve as a source of mag-
and other necessities. People honor the spirits when hunting and ical power or influence over that person (or simply a
harvesting, and shamans speak with the spirits to ensure the sur- source of blackmail, if he believes his totem may abandon
vival of the tribe. Animal and plant spirits are often portrayed as him). In other cultures, totems are talked about openly.
anthropomorphic, having near-human (or better) intelligence, a In campaigns where totem spirits are real and grant
humanlike form, or both. Powerful animal and plant spirits may benefits to their people, characters should take the appro-
be totems in a culture (see Totemism, right). priate advantages related to their totems. See Chapter 5
for more information.
Elementals
Elementals embody the essence of the primal elements of
nature. In Western mythology, the major elements are earth,
oddly colored skin. Faeries are strongly associated with the
air, fire, and water. In Eastern thought they are fire, water,
natural world and with humans and human habitations (e.g.,
earth, metal, and wood. An elemental may embody a specific
brownies and other spirits that dwell with people). Most cul-
subset of an element, such as storms, lightning, rivers,
tures consider faeries proud and capricious. They must be
streams, etc. Elementals typically have personality traits asso-
treated with proper respect and ritual or they can become
ciated with their element – fire elementals are passionate and
angry and vengeful. Faeries are known for playing elaborate
literally hot-tempered, while earth elementals are slow and
pranks, as well as for abducting mortals into their realm,
ponderous but patient and nurturing. Elementals are associat-
which usually lies hidden inside a natural formation like a
ed with primal nature spirits like dryads, sylphs, and similar
tree, hill, or lake.
beings. Modern literature and RPGs have considered the exis-
tence of elementals of technological things like concrete, Personifications
steel, glass, and electricity.
Animistic cultures sometimes attribute human qualities to
Faeries natural forces, personifying them in the form of spirits. Ele-
mentals (above) can be considered a kind of personification,
“Faerie” is a broad term for a wide variety of anthropo-
anthropomorphizing the elements. Personifications can
morphic nature spirits. It usually refers to nature spirits from
embody nearly anything, from natural features to abstract
Indo-European cultures, particularly the Celts, but its use in
ideas or emotions. They are seen as humanlike in thought and
this book covers similar spirits from cultures all over the
emotion and often in appearance as well. They exist primari-
world.
ly to support and further whatever they embody, so disease
Faeries are generally humanlike in appearance, although
spirits spread illness, spirits of desire inflame mortal hearts,
they may be much larger or smaller. They often have animal
etc. Powerful personifications may be considered deities (see
or elemental traits, such as fur, horns, leaves instead of hair, or
Celestial Spirits).
8 T H E N AT U R E O F S P I R I TS