Middle World and Spirit World Location Correlation

[Ryan Kent]

Last session, Vishi Dunn cast a Discorporation ritual outside of the Queeen's Tomb so he could scout out the spirits "haunting" it. I had difficulty narrating where he entered the spirit world and what he saw.  In the Middle World, the spirits were right there in the Queen's Tomb, but RQG provides:

"Usually, adventurers and shamans discorporating andvisiting the Spirit World begin in the Inner Region, its center. From there, they may voyage outward, using the Spirit Travel skill to navigate."

I assumed that given his intention, Vishi entered the spirit world where the Queen's Tomb was represented.  He saw the many spirits but not the earth and stone of the tomb. I had trouble imagining what he saw as a location in the spirit world.

How do you guys visualize and narrate this type of entry to the spirit world?

[David Scott]

Use the surrounding landscape. Firstly decide how rich the landscape is, look at RQG page 364 & 377 for very rich landscapes. Look at the map and draw the spirit world he can see on a sheet of paper.

There will be the Darkness vortex of Hound Knob, the spirit trees of Tarndisi's Grove, perhaps with the Great tree showing stronger, the spirit trees of the woods to the east. The vortexes of people in Fairjowl and Farvine. the vortexes of the two tombs attracting lost spirits of the dead (not many). Add the Dragonewt plinths and their pulsating magic road and the stream spirit by Fairvine. Underneath will be the spirit of the thunder hills (sleeping) and above occasional air spirits as clouds. Now add in the multitude of plant spirits that make up the flora, and the occasional beast spirits of the area (rabbits, bigger stuff if you want). Now describe it as colourful landscape, Use Mexican yarn paintings (nierika) as a guide.

I would suggest not adding obvious spirit markings to the exterior of the tomb that may give away plot, although an earth rune spirit vortex might be appropriate. 

Here's one that could be the queens tomb (from https://www.cactusfineart.com/collections/huichol/products/copy-of-huichol-indian-nierika-multicolor-yarn-painting-mexican-huichol-art-mexican-folk-art-cactus-fine-art?variant=38057701507246

: 

You can see the local plant, bird and animal spirits, the horned earth spirits, the dead spirits with their open mouths. The ceremonial path around the tomb (feet). There's a few air spirit spirals too.

[jajagappa]

13 hours ago, David Scott said:

Use the surrounding landscape. Firstly decide how rich the landscape is, look at RQG page 364 & 377 for very rich landscapes. Look at the map and draw the spirit world he can see on a sheet of paper.

I follow a similar approach.  When I picture a shaman entering the Spirit World at a given location, the view shifts into something that often looks very rich and magical - the colors are brighter, more intense, even psychedelic.  It's like a dreamscape that can rapidly shift from one thing to another.

But, there are also differences.  It's not exactly the same as the real world.  Maybe recent human settlements are non-existent, or appear stunted or negligible.  Maybe a Thunderstone sits atop a hill and wind spirits cavort around it.  Or there could be the home of a Hermit Spirit.  Or there is a City of Phantoms that no longer exists, but whose memory still lingers in the Spirit World.

And through that landscape are swirls, patterns, elements, that flow through (much like bubbles or liquids moving in a lava lamp).  It could be a vivid green flow that if you enter leads you rushing into the Green Garden.  Or it might be a dense mist through which you enter the Fog of Ignorance or Illusion (and amidst which you can find the Tower of Knowledge).  And then there might be specific and unusual spirits - the strands of Grandmother Spider's web that lead to the Wild Temple; or a horde of Spirit Shrews devouring everything in their path.