Ephemera

Some magicians — those focusing on the Path of Summoning, Binding, and Warding — command spirits. Those who follow the Path of Ephemera seek a rela­ tionship of greater familiarity with them. To magicians

who use the Path of Ephemera, their relationship to spirits is more like family and friends than master and servant. When they call for a spirit, it’s an invitation, not a subpoena.

Instead of binding and commanding spirits, the Path of Ephemera allows the magician to negotiate with them. This process, called chiminage, is a give-and-take. Each spirit wants something different, related to their nature. The spirit’s request depends on the power of the spirit and the size of the task involved. Asking an Incarna to undertake a difficult and long-term task requires a lot from the magician, perhaps something only possible with a difficult quest of their own. Asking a Gaffling to do something simple that ties directly into their nature (e.g., asking a fire spirit to light a candle) would, conversely, require almost nothing of the magician, perhaps only the opportunity to do it. This process, naturally, has a steep learning curve. Most magicians find themselves on the worse end of a deal or two before they get a sense of it.

This Path almost always focuses on the Middle Umbra and, more rarely, on the Low Umbra. Rumors of versions that work with the High Umbra are persistent but remain nothing more than hearsay.

System

Modifiers: –2 to +2 difficulty depending on the spirit’s opinion of the magician.

Aspects: Metaphysical Weight and Spiritual Reach.

Spiritual Reach

•

The magician can sense spirits and get their attention but can do little else.

••

The magician is restricted to calling upon a general type of spirit

•••

Now specific spirits can be called through tailor-made rituals, and almost always show up unless the magician has offended them in some way.

••••

Spirits begin to approach the magician un­ prompted. The magician can see into the Penumbra, which increases the numbers and types of spirit they can interact with. The ma­ gician can also fight back against spirits if they need to, though most try to avoid it.

••••• The magician can now go to the spirits instead of needing them to come to the physical world. Though physical travel into the Umbra is still impossible, the magician can astrally project

25 Chapter One: Hedge Magic