SHR Main Page | Opera Propria | Vestiges in Sand Introduction
Since the days before Islam, there have been jinn who have sought either to amuse themselves or to pass wisdom onto mankind by possessing members of Arab tribes. Those possessed in this way have often found themselves becoming sha'irs (poets) or kahins (soothsayers), as the jinn that have possessed them speak with their borrowed voices. According to some accounts, when he first began to receive the Divine revelation, Muhammad himself feared that he had been possessed by a jinni, and had to be reassured of the truth of his mission by the angel Gabriel and his wife, Khadija.
Possession is a new jinn power, supplementing those listed in Blood and Sand, pages 83-7. Like other jinn powers, it is given a Rating between 1 and 20, and follows the rules given on page 83 of Blood and Sand with regard to Magic Resistance, time of expiry and so on. A jinni may attempt to possess any character with whom it makes eye contact.
If a jinni's attempt to possess a character overcomes any magic resistance, the victim should make a stress roll, modified by Intelligence, Stamina and any suitable Virtues, Flaws and Personality Traits. This roll is compared to a stress roll made by the jinni, also modified by its Intelligence, Stamina and any suitable Virtues, Flaws and Personality Traits. If the jinni rolls higher, it has successfully possessed the character, otherwise the attempt fails. If the jinni possesses a character, it may use the character's body as if it was its own, although it initially suffers a -3 penalty to all rolls involving physical action while it becomes acclimatised to the new body. This penalty is reduced by one each round until it eventually reaches zero. While in possession of the character's body, the jinni may also access the character's memories in order to find out information, although only very prolonged and repeated possession (for weeks or months) will allow the jinni to start making use of the character's Abilities. The possessed character may roll again each round following that in which the jinni took possession in order to regain control of their body and eject the jinni, but at a cumulative -1 penalty for each round that it has been in control. The possession lasts until the jinni voluntarily leaves, is ejected or the following dawn arrives. Naturally, the jinni may attempt to possess the character again; indeed, sometimes jinn will possess individuals for years on end.
A character may allow a jinni to possess them, in which the jinni's attempt automatically succeeds, and no subsequent rolls are made to eject it (unless the character changes their mind). In such cases, the jinni may choose to "share" the body with the character, only asserting control at agreed times.
Copyright © Niall Christie 2003.