Shipyard Locked
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One of my favorite bits of class flavoring in D&D was the idea of giving the wu jen (or wu shi if you prefer) from Oriental Adventures mystic taboos. As per the original text:
Honestly, this sort of thing works pretty well in occidental spellcaster myths too (especially for fey creatures), no need to limit it geographically. Anyway, as part of a long-term exercise in making my modern, science-filled brain think more 'magically', I'm going to think up a list of taboos.
- Cannot remove jewelry once it is put on.
- Cannot let his shadow fall upon a child.
- Cannot sleep on anything but grass (dry or living).
- Cannot speak above a whisper.
- Cannot ride in a wagon, carriage, chariot, or any other sort of drawn vehicle (riding an animal directly is fine).
- Cannot intentionally look into an artificial mirror.
- Cannot remove a splinter from his skin or anyone else's.
- Cannot be within 100 feet of a woman giving birth.
- Cannot witness the sunset.
- Cannot use eating utensils of any kind.
- Cannot lie about history (events older than a year) to the best of his knowledge.
- Cannot use hostile magic against widows/widowers.
- Cannot drink anything before high noon.
- Cannot sign documents with his name.
- Cannot turn down an opportunity to debate theology.
- Cannot use magic to deceive supernatural beings.
- Cannot expose his hands to strangers (hides them in voluminous sleeves).
I'll come back to this later, anyone got some ideas in the meantime?
Taboos: To maintain their supernatural power, wu jen must abide by certain taboos that might seem inconsequential to other characters but are vitally important to the wu jen. If a wu jen violates one of her taboos, she cannot cast any more spells that day. A wu jen must choose one taboo at 1st level, and one additional taboo every time she learns a spell secret. Possible taboos include:
- Cannot eat meat.
- Cannot own more than she can carry.
- Must make a daily offering (such as food, flowers, or incense) to one or many spirit powers.
- Cannot bathe.
- Cannot cut her hair.
- Cannot touch a dead body.
- Cannot drink alcohol.
- Cannot wear a certain color.
- Cannot light a fire.
- Cannot sit facing in a certain direction.
Honestly, this sort of thing works pretty well in occidental spellcaster myths too (especially for fey creatures), no need to limit it geographically. Anyway, as part of a long-term exercise in making my modern, science-filled brain think more 'magically', I'm going to think up a list of taboos.
- Cannot remove jewelry once it is put on.
- Cannot let his shadow fall upon a child.
- Cannot sleep on anything but grass (dry or living).
- Cannot speak above a whisper.
- Cannot ride in a wagon, carriage, chariot, or any other sort of drawn vehicle (riding an animal directly is fine).
- Cannot intentionally look into an artificial mirror.
- Cannot remove a splinter from his skin or anyone else's.
- Cannot be within 100 feet of a woman giving birth.
- Cannot witness the sunset.
- Cannot use eating utensils of any kind.
- Cannot lie about history (events older than a year) to the best of his knowledge.
- Cannot use hostile magic against widows/widowers.
- Cannot drink anything before high noon.
- Cannot sign documents with his name.
- Cannot turn down an opportunity to debate theology.
- Cannot use magic to deceive supernatural beings.
- Cannot expose his hands to strangers (hides them in voluminous sleeves).
I'll come back to this later, anyone got some ideas in the meantime?