Difference between revisions of "Belerin's Codex Of The Planes 2"

Latest revision as of 13:47, 19 January 2003

2

The first, and most common type of directed contact with the Dream often
begins in the shamanistic traditions of primitive tribes.  In these tribes,
there is a shaman, or holy man, who generally has some small influence in
the magics of a particular element, or as a sort of fledgling druid.  Having
discovered some few tricks of an element, the shaman often seeks more, but
lacks the discipline (and, frankly, the resources) for the concentrated
study provided by formal training a scholar.  The shaman, hungry for more
mystical experience, will turn to the most obviously "magical" thing in his
life -- his dreams.  Most of us have had dreams of flying, or other such
wondrous things, and to the accepting mind of the neophyte magic-user, it
may very well seem only logical that dreams are a gateway to a world where
magic is more powerful.  

So, the shamans will constantly seek out more control, or time spent in the
dream realms, often augmented by a touch of magic or certain hallucinatory
drugs.  The time spent in dreaming is to the shaman's advantage, of whom
some will learn the trick of remaining in the Dream for longer periods, as
well as increased control.  There is an element both of inborn aptitude for
this, along with one of experience.  

Individuals who have mastered this art have been called by various names
throughout history.  Some of the most common are "dream walker", "dreamer",
"dream voyagers, or even dream worms" (a shuddeni expression).  Access to
the Dream by these individuals is a sort of entry of mind and spirit
(something like the projection spell used by spirit scholars) across the
planar divide.  

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