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This article was partially informed by the concept of regio as presented in "Ars Magica" (kudos to Mark Rein-Hagan and the other designers who have made that particular game such a success over the years). My purpose here is to examine the gaming possibilities presented by the various highly occult areas found in the Known Worlds, and their effects on the occult abilities manifested by sentients within their bounds. This was initially intended as an extension of the rules presented elsewhere on this site for domain management and macro-scale play in Fading Suns. As the ideas were churned however, it became clear that the concepts which informed that particular premise were easily applicable to even normal Fading Suns campaigns.

Note for the benefit of any foaming, inbred bible-belt rednecks who have accidentally been allowed onto a computer and might be viewing this page: any reference to occult abilities or regions in this article is in connection with the mythos of the fictitious universe presented in the role-playing game "Fading Suns" by HDI. It does not claim to be, and is in no way intended as, some sort of Paganists or Satanists primer for the real world ("Gosh, two uses of the word occult in a single sentence; these role-players really must be demon-worshippers after all!")...

The geomantic power either created or destroyed by the process of terraforming is a recurring theme in the Fading Suns setting. The Sirocco of Pentateuch, the shifting lands of Pandemonium and the Stigmata of J'waltan (on Stigmata) are all significant locales. The concrete effects of this energy on the planets where it is found have never been disclosed, often it is left as one more mystery to be solved. The connections between geomancy, the Symbiot Lifeweb and the terraforming engines required to keep many planets stable has been hinted at in published material however.

Geomantic energy is believed to flow and accumulate in particular areas according to certain, rather esoteric, laws. It supposedly springs from the interactions inherent in the functioning the geosphere as laid down by the Pancreator. These energies are supposedly amplified by those of the biosphere (living mass) and noosphere (thinking elements) present on a world. All this accumulating energy can, according to clues gleaned by Eskatonic and Engineer scholars from the scattered notes left by the masters of the terraforming art, be directed into channels or used as a power source by those who possess the technical and/or spiritual knowledge required. Such lore was never widely known however and has, since the Fall of the Republic, been regarded by the Universal Church as best-forgotten hubristic dabbling with the Pancreator's laws. Finding information on geomancy in the Known Worlds of the 50th century is all but impossible. To paraphrase "Weird Places": the science of terraforming died with the fall of the Second Republic, as an art it was born and died with Doramus.

Much like a drainage system or canal network which is left unattended, the geomantic channels created on the planets of the Known Worlds by Doramus and his contemporaries have functioned largely unattended for centuries. However, the neglect necessitated by the Fall and the rise of new value systems and social priorities has meant that the safeguards implemented by the more long-sighted worldbuilders have often fallen into disrepair and dereliction over the course of time. Industrial development, mining and pollution can all disrupt the flow of geomantic energy through an area, gradually leading to the malfunctioning of the great terraforming machines which make many planets livable, or have unforeseen physical or spiritual complications.

There are numerous possible locations for geomantic 'hot spots' throughout the Known Worlds. Some of these, indeed most, will be reflected by some form of man-made or natural signifier of their importance. Others however, will be nondescript. For example: perhaps one venerable tree in Woodytree Forest is revered as "The Tree-Father" or "Grandfather Oak" by local Gjartins. They attribute powers of healing, prophecy and protection to this tree and claim a wise(wo)man of virtue can share its powers. If the tree is harmed the power disappates. Likewise the cave on Grail where Amalthea healed the Prophet may allow miracles of healing to occur for reasons ineffable to the faithful. Both locales function by having the faith of the pilgrims to that location tap the geomantic energy present.

Perhaps the most curious thing about these focal locations is that they gradually take on the tone of the people who believe in them. Over time they become more spiritually supportive to people who share the beliefs which inform the site, and antithetical to those who believe otherwise. To cite one example which I have used in my own campaign: the ruined Temple of Anikrunta on Criticorum is still a place of great spiritual power to the Ukari (who often make forbidden pilgrimages to it), but makes humans who visit the ruins uneasy. Obun avoid that particular locale like the plague, due largely to the 'bad vibes' it gives off.

Often one religion will come to dominate an area on the ruins of another. Being focused by the belief of the people living there the aspect which a particular focal area's geomantic energy takes can shift in a dynamic process over time. As the dominant faith of an area moves from one religion to another (due to persecution, mass conversion, migration, etc.), the geomantic tone often changes as well, although very slowly at times (vide the previous example of the Temple of Anikrunta. Even though it has been deserted and unused for centuries no rival religion has taken control of the geomantic power in the area...). The process of 'converting' a geomantic focal point can be greatly accelerated if the focus becomes part of the mythos of the new dominant religion. For example: a shrine to the Prophet means a great deal to both Kurgans and Universalists, but nothing to Gjartins/Erdgheist believers. Vice-versa for Grandfather Oak: to the 'Zebulonites' he's just a particularly old tree covered in pagan fetishes and juju. If, on the other hand, the tree becomes famous as a site where the Prophet taught...

Perhaps the best way to institute geomantic foci in play is to treat them as areas where certain characters are able to replenish their Wyrd at a greatly accelerated rate, similar to a stationary Wyrd Tabernacle or Soul Shard. The primary rationale for this is that I interpret Wyrd as the energy used to manipulate the spiritual and numinous howsoever it occurs in Fading Suns. I suggest the following mechanics for using these sites:

• The character must make a Psi/Theurgy test to sense the nature of the power operating in the area (usually Extrovert + Focus, although various Sixth Sense powers or Eskatonic Order rites may be susbstituted).
• A mystically aware character who shares the belief system of the area may then attempt to draw the power. To do so he/she makes another test which varies depending upon the nature of the area. Eg: an Orthodox Theurge might have to make a Faith + Focus roll in a shrine to the Prophet, a Favyana Psycher would make a Psi + Focus roll on the location of the old Phavian Institute campus. The VPs rolled on this check determine the amount of Wyrd drawn by the character.
• There should be limitations on the amount of Wyrd that can be channelled based on the character's Faith/Ego or Psyche/Theurgy scores. Anyone exceeding these limits in a day/week/month might have to make an Urge/Hubris test...
• Each area will have a Wyrd score similar to the Wyrd total of Soul Shards or characters. Points used by Psychics, Theurges, etc. will be regained at the same rate as a normal character (see Rulebook, pg 136). Most inhabited or regularly visited areas will therefore have constraints upon who can draw on their power.

An exception to the rule about the nature of the dominant faith in the area governing who can draw power from a locale should be made for Annunaki artefacts such as Gargoyles and monoliths. These artefacts, being inherently Occult in nature, are usable by any belief system (hence their huge value and the wars which break out whenever one is found).

• Blood magic (like in Shadowrun's "Aztlan" or the Antinomian section of "DbtS") where the psycher/theurge/antinomist extracts Wyrd from someone else using blood-related or sympathetic magic (elements of Voodoo) as foci to power his rites.
• Highlander-style quickenings where it is possible to inherit a dying/dead person's mystical abilities through ritual cannibalism, etc.
• The Symbiots could become something similar to the Awnsheighlen - creatures twisted out of shape by the power of the Wyrd/Lifeforce running through them...
• The whole Birthright "king and the land as one" thing makes for great Fisher King-Holy Grail tales...

The ideas presented above may turn FS a little bit too mystical for some tastes. I would advise those people to stick to the game world as written by HDI, who get paid to think about the effects this stuff has on game balance and what-not. To everyone else I would advise caution, but emphasize that the ideas presented in this article have the potential to make for a fun and differerent-tasting Fading Suns campaign.

This file last modified 29/06/2000.