Re: [HOE] A few questions

[Abdullah Oblongota <toadpooka@juno.com>]

On Tue, 08 Aug 2000 16:07:25 -0300 Pat Gamblin <shosuro@nbnet.nb.ca>
writes:
> At 02:44 PM 08/08/00, you wrote:
> >>>>Anyhow, on to the questions. For most of these, I don't need 
> hard stats or anything, just an idea as to what they are or what is
meant. I 
> can work up stats of my own until I get the books, but it's nice to
have the 
> core ideas for inspiration. I'm including spoiler space for those in
digest 
> mode who may see the responses. : }
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> >>>Four of the five "pollution" spirit types are polluted 
>You'd think that Doomsayers would tend to attract a lot of rad 
> spirits, but in general the two factions (Doomsayers and Toxic Shaman)
don't 
> seem to like each other.
> 
> Hm. Maybe the Glow keeps rad spirits away. Either it keeps them away 

Well, firstly, Doomsayers don't go around causing radioactive pollution
that much (at least not the purple variety); as rads are still more
likely to kill you than mutate you.  Second, there's a major difference
in theology between the two groups that I think was intentional in the
writing: Doomsayers see the Glow as a semi-sentient force, similar to
Taoists, while Spooks are dealing with personified entities, like, well,
Shamans.  The two ways of seeing radiation are mutually exclusive.

> >>Are the toxic spirits evil, or do they just hate what humankind 
> did to the planet (re- the 'kill humans' bit).
> >
> >With the exception of Insect Spirits, toxic spirits aren't 
> inherently  "good" or "evil."
> 
> Are Insect Spirits evil, then? Interesting. I'd've lumped them in 
> with 
> general animal spirits.

No, toxic spirits love what humankind did to the planet.  They're trying
to make the world and the Hunting grounds more suitable for them to live
in, which means they would be terrible places for people to live in. 
They tend to exterminate people as an after-effect, but they're not out
to get anyone specifically.
Insect spirits are just normal animal spirits, but they ARE out to get
people.  They're sick of being squashed, stepped on, and generally
destroyed by humans.  They've sided with the toxic spirits because
they're the closest to their agenda.
Now, "insect spirits" includes things like spiders, pillbugs and
centipedes, but not things like butterflies.  As they use the term in the
book, it's the spirits of "bugs," that humanity has been trying to
eliminate for centuries.

> 
> >Cleanser-shamans are...sorta good, as they try to transfer 
> pollution from the real world to the spirit world (where toxic spirits
there feed 
> on it).  Corruptor shamans (sorta evil) try to pollute the real world 
> more However, the two groups are not directly opposed to each other 
> according to the book (which strikes me as a little odd, but oh
well...).
> >Apparently one group is okay with the other reversing all the 
> progress it's made. *scratches head*

Corrupter Shamans are evil in that "Captain Planet" sort  of way.  The
things they do make the world a worse place, even if it is already 4/5 of
the way to Toxic Hell as it is.
And I don't know what book Steve's been reading, but the Cleansers and
Corruptors HATE each other.  The same spirits help both of them, but the
two groups are diametrically opposed.  Read the archetype descriptions
and the section on Corruptors to see how true this is...

From Whom It May Concern,
Rich A Ranallo

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