A brief note, whenever
this Lore discusses "Spirits", it refers to the
spirits of the dead, also known as wraiths. For more info on wraiths and the
Shadowlands, check out the Wraith: the Oblivion section of this site. It's
a whole other system from White-Wolf.
Another note is that generally, the difficulty to use these powers are
affected by the Shroud in the local area. The Shroud is the barrier between
the physical dead and the realm of the dead. It is higher in areas of life,
such as laboratories, shopping malls, etc, and lower in places of death, or
that are generally creepy; graveyards, creaky old houses, hospital emergency
wards, and so forth.
* Sense the Barrier
The Slayer is able to sense the relative strength of the barrier between the
physical and the spirit realms in the area as large as a city block, allowing
the demon to home in on regions where the boundary is exceptionally thick
or thin.
Torment: Monstrous demons can sense only areas where the barrier is weak,
drawn by the call of the spirit storm raging just beyond.
** Step Beyond the Veil
This evocation allows the Slayer to physically cross the barrier into the
shadow world, a lifeless mirror image of the mortal world. Doing so allows
the demon to travel vast distances in the shadow realm at the speed of thought
and return to the physical world at a corresponding location. Crossing over
also allows a demon to interact with the spirits of the dead that linger on
the other side. The evoker cannot take any "passengers" to or from
the spirit or living realms. Once over there, the demon can still use Lore
of the Spirit upon the dead.
Torment: Monstrous demons that cross into the spirit world create a "seam"
in the barrier that draws restless spirits into the physical world, resulting
in temporary but intense hauntings. This seam remains for several days.
*** Ghostwalk
This evocation allows the demon to exist simultaneously in both the physical
and spirit realms. She can interact with both mortals and spirits, and pass
through objects in both places. Upon successful evocation, the demon becomes
a hazy, insubstantial form, able to see and be seen by individuals on both
sides of the barrier. She passes through objects without harm, and vice versa,
though she can interact with one realm or the other at any given time through
force of willpower. This includes attacking (and being attacked). Lasts for
around a minute, and cannot be used to take others along with the demon.
Torment: When monstrous demons perform this evocation, it causes the energies
of the spirit storm to leak into the physical realm around her, causing wild
and unpredictable spirit manifestations and hauntings.
**** Reach across the Barrier
The Slayer can peer into and reach across into the spirit realm the same way
a mortal retrieves something from a cupboard, placing or retrieving items
between the realms at will. During the War of Wrath, this evocation was used
extensively to place powerful weapons or other items beyond the reach of the
Slayers' enemies. Many still remain there to this day, waiting to be found.
When used, the character can see and reach into the Shadowlands, her arm(s)
literally vanishing through the Shroud. She can place or remove any item that
can easily be lifted with one or two hands. Be warned though, there's no quicker
way to make an enemy than to steal a Wraith's most treasured item that he
brought across the Shroud with him at death, and the Lore of Death is not
particularly effective at killing dead people.
Torment: Monstrous demons who perform this evocation risk allowing traces
of the spirit storm to leak through into the physical world, causing surreal
and terrifying side effects, which would send mortals fleeing in terror.
***** Pierce the Barrier
This evocation enables a Slayer to create a temporary doorway between the
living and dead realms, allowing a handful of other demons to cross into the
Shadowlands if the portal's creator wishes. Non-Slayer demons in the Shadowlands
are at a disadvantage, being unable to move as swiftly as a Slayer, and feeling
the ravages of the spirit-storm more greatly. The portal created lasts only
a few seconds, and is one-way only. Another can be created to allow the demons
to return to the living world, but generally speaking, the dead cannot use
it.
Torment: Monstrous demons who perform this evocation cause the effects of
the spirit storm to rage in the physical world in the immediate vicinity of
the doorway, drawing spirits and causing horrifying manifestations to linger
for a number of days