Spirit combat question

[Chalupacabra]

If a character is "pulled" into the spirit world by say a disease spirit, while the combat occurs, would their body go limp and fall as if unconcious?

The same result would, I assume, be applicable for a spirit walker to discorperate themselves in order to attack a nearby and seen spirit. They would loose control of their body (Thump as they hit the deck) until the combat is done or am I thinking of this the wrong way?

In a controled, normal spirit world excursion to gather spirits for binding, preparations would be made, but this is in combat. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

 

[Loz]

Yes - if a person's soul is dragged into the spirit combat by, let's say, a disease spirit, a mundane world observer would observe the following.

1. The victim's eyes roll into his head.
2. His body starts to crumple
3. Horrible boils/rashes/spots start to form all over his body, fading or increasing as the spirit combat takes place
4. If the victim defeats the spirit then all the symptoms disappear and he regains his senses, possibly with a really healthy glow about him...
5. If he is defeated the body is ravaged by the physical disease and it kills him. Said body is now highly contagious.
6. If the spirit controls him, it could decided whether or not to manifest its symptoms, but the victim would still be horribly contagious - perhaps with an unhealthy pallour.

The only ones who won't fall into a limp lump will be shaman who, through spirit walking, lapse into a controlled trance usually in a sitting or prone position. They'd most likely exhibit some physical manifestation of their battle, as above or in some other way. At the end, if the shaman has won, he'll regain his senses as normal.

 

[PhilHibbs]

Yes, if the spirit succeeds in its Discorporate, you're a dead man (unless you are surrounded by friends who can guard your body).

Of course the rules as presented are, presumably, the Gloranthan-style default. Your setting may have a different cosmology, in which Spirit Combat may be possible while your mind is still in the mundane world, or maybe in which your body is transported to the Spirit Plane for the duration of the struggle.

 

[Chalupacabra]

Thank you for the excellent response. Even though I was a bit unclear, (am at work and my mind is not in game mode) you understood exactly what I was looking for. I like the approach of representing the battle with physical evidence. Spirits are nasty buggers!

But you say if the spirit (Sickness, not disease, I suppose) wins, it could instantly kill the possessed. Is that true in all cases? I thought it would manifest the effects of the illness, which in fact might be instant death only if that's within the realm of the sickness it mimics. I'm having trouble accepting an instant death sickness. (Ability to cast spell, not so much a problem!)

I also like the thought of it having the choice to hold back the effects, yet still be contagious, like a carrier. Though a little pallor or a just don't feel well.

 

[PhilHibbs]

But you say if the spirit (Sickness, not disease, I suppose) wins, it could instantly kill the possessed.

I'm surprised that the spirit could just kill the host (other than through the slow process of disease), but during spirit combat anyone can just shove a sharp object into your body unless someone else stops them.

 

[PhilHibbs]

Here's an interesting quote from Arcane Lore - Heroquests and Heroquesting. When a shaman enacts a Discorporation ritual and leaves the circle, "his body disappears from the Natural World and he is in the Spirit World."

I think it's quite odd, and doesn't make Gloranthan sense, for a spirit to be able to instantly overcome the barrier between worlds that usually takes an elaborate ritual to achieve.