Spirit vs. Spirit combat

[Squaredeal Sten]

Let's say we have two spirits fighting each other: For instance an allied spirit vs. another random spirit or vs. a wyter, or the regimental wyters of two mercenary units:

If one of the spirits gets low on magic points, tries to disengage but does not succeed in that round's  spirit combat roll, then it won't be able to disengage (RQiG p.370).  it is clearly in trouble!  But what sort of trouble?

Such a losing spirit could be reduced to zero magic points.  In that case, can it be controlled by the winning spirit?  I ask because unless I'm missing something,  the rules only speak to control of a corporeal being by a spirit (p.370, possession), or control of a spirit by a discorporate shaman (p.368), or a corporate person binding a spirit using Spirit Binding magic (RQiG p. 249, p.265). 

Or does the losing spirit simply retreat into the spirit world, to gradually recover its MPs?  What if it is a wyter, which is incapable of recovering its own magic points (RQiG p.287, first full paragraph)?

 

Edited November 1, 2021 by Squaredeal Sten
grammer, spelling

[David Scott]

5 hours ago, Squaredeal Sten said:

Let's say we have two spirits fighting each other: For instance an allied spirit vs. another random spirit or vs. a wyter, or the regimental wyters of two mercenary units:

If one of the spirits gets low on magic points, tries to disengage but does not succeed in that round's spirit combat roll, then it won't be able to disengage (RQiG p.370).  it is clearly in trouble!  But what sort of trouble?

Such a losing spirit could be reduced to zero magic points.  In that case, can it be controlled by the winning spirit?

Not, unless that spirit is a shaman per page 368 or has the spirit power Control (RQB page 166).

5 hours ago, Squaredeal Sten said:

I ask because unless I'm missing something,  the rules only speak to control of a corporeal being by a spirit (p.370, possession), or control of a spirit by a discorporate shaman (p.368), or a corporate person binding a spirit using Spirit Binding magic (RQiG p. 249, p.265).

Or does the losing spirit simply retreat into the spirit world, to gradually recover its MPs? 

Yes, but if the spirit has any relevant spirit powers per RQB page 165, they could potentially come into play such as Control  (see above) or relevant spirit or rune magic

5 hours ago, Squaredeal Sten said:

What if it is a wyter, which is incapable of recovering its own magic points (RQiG p.287, first full paragraph)?

The priest of a wyter would be pretty stupid to get into this situation. Most will keep it in its object / animal, or have Distraction ready to cast.

[Squaredeal Sten]

1 hour ago, David Scott said:

......The priest of a wyter would be pretty stupid to get into this situation. Most will keep it in its object / animal, or have Distraction ready to cast.

Stupid?  How about disadvantaged? Am I wrong in saying that It only takes one side to go into spirit combat -  so a more powerful spirit could press the attack, and the priest of the less powerful wyter would just be stuck with that wyter suffering an attempted possession?  

Having Distraction ready to cast certainly sounds like a good tactic if you have Distraction. But most will not, CHA is not infinite so you can't have every spirit spell for every contingency.  It does look like good advice for the priest though.

Edited November 1, 2021 by Squaredeal Sten
last sentence

[David Scott]

34 minutes ago, Squaredeal Sten said:

Am I wrong in saying that It only takes one side to go into spirit combat

Yes, but the Wyter spirit is in an animal / object. Most of the time a wyter will be in its "home" (likely in a temple or other safe place), unless directed by its priest. An attacking spirit would declare in the previous round that it was beginning an attack on the Wyter animal / object, spending the round becoming doing so. As it becomes visible, anyone present may attack the spirit with appropriate weapons or spirits. Don't forget that spirit combat occurs on SR12 of the following round and attacking a spirit with a weapon is the exception to this happening on usual strike ranks:

Round 1 - Spirit materialises. Opportunity to attack the spirit.

Round 2 - Spirit attacks on SR12. Opportunity to attack the spirit.

34 minutes ago, Squaredeal Sten said:

-  so a more powerful spirit could press the attack, and the priest of the less powerful wyter would just be stuck with that wyter suffering an attempted possession?  

Don't forget the other members of the Wyter are likely to be around.