Dreamspeakers

=[|Dreamspeakers from the Unofficial White Wolf Wiki]=

The **Dreamspeakers** are a [|Tradition] of [|mages] consisting of individuals who practice [|shamanism], communing with [|spirits] as part of their magic and existing as intermediaries between the Mortal World and the [|Spirit World]. It is one of the most diverse Traditions, with those representing the ancient cultures of [|African], [|Native American], [|Inuit], and [|Aboriginal Australian] societies standing alongside practitioners of [|Shinto], independent spiritual savants, and descendants of other forgotten tribes and civilizations. Though originally shoehorned into a single group by the other, Eurocentric Traditions, the disparate cultures within the Dreamspeakers have found common ground in their respect for and dedication to the balance between physical and spiritual reality. As the [|Gauntlet] has grown thicker and the Spirit World more dangerous, the shamans' duties have become increasingly harder. But whereas other mages tend to overlook matters of spirit and [|Sleepers] forget them altogether, the Dreamspeakers were born to walk the middle round, to see and hear what others do not, and fill roles still very much needed in the modern world.

[|There are books available on the Dreamspeakers Mage Tradition], in addition to the following information.

At least one [|Counting Clouds] video, [|Spirit (Native American)] illustrates some of the (more to be added) attitudes of this tradition.

Animism
That Creation is essentially [|animistic] is central to Dreamspeaker philosophy and magic, and in fact, tends to reflects their daily lives. As shamans, they possess the ability to freely interact with the Spirit World to one degree or another, and are often called upon to resolve conflicts between [|spirits] or seek solutions to problems that can be felt in material and spiritual reality. Dreamspeakers realize that each reflects the other, and that by acting upon the Spirit World they can perform feats that are considered magic in the Material World. This can take the form of direct communication with spirits capable of making the desired changes, but just as often makes use of the Dreamspeakers understanding of spirit behavior and rules to know what rituals and acts upon the Material World will invoke the appropriate response from the Spirit World.

Tools and Practices
The most important part of shamanic magic is placing oneself in the correct state of mind to be able to perceive and influence the boundary separating the Spirit and Material World. Just about anything that helps a mage reach this ecstatic state of consciousness can serve as a focus, including drugs, exercise, music and dance, or simple meditation. Some Dreamspeakers believe that external tools are a crutch to be avoided or that artificially manufactured drugs and technological devices are counterproductive, but this is a matter of personal preference. When it comes to invoking spirits, anything that grants the shaman connection and power over the spirit in question can help, such as a symbol or crafted representation, names and other words of power, or rituals sacred to the spirit. Dreamspeakers are also cognizant of the fact that every tool has a spirit of its own that can be called upon to aid their magic.

History
The Dreamspeakers are a recent Tradition, being formed as a dumping ground for tribal mages by the Europeans. However, they are heirs the primal magic of ancient shaman. Their ancestors were the Apache, Cherokee, Iroquois, Zuni, Ojibwa, Hopi, Navajo, Inuit, Athapaska and Salish of the Americas, and the Fulani, Egyptians, Shona, Dogon, Ashanti, Masaii, Ibo, Zulu, Himba and San-!Kung peoples of Africa. They saw the rise of the Aztecs, Toltecs, Olmecs, Zapotecs and Mayans, of the Inca, Cagaba, Chibcha, Caribs, Musica, Quechua and Aymara. They were the primordial shamans of Siberia, China and Lappland, and the Mongols, Koreans, Hmong and Mien hill tribes of Thailand, the Ainu of Japan, followers of Wektu Telu in Indonesia and tribal Filipinos. They are the heirs to many a diverse spiritual ways from around the world.

Early History
See: //board of animal domestication and utilization//

Dark Ages
Can be associated with the [|Spirit-Talkers].

Renaissance
= Dream-speakers, c. [|1466]. =

The Dream-Speakers were officially formed as a Tradition in [|1466] at the [|Grand Convocation]. [|Naioba], an African dream priestess, and [|Star-of-Eagles], a Powhatan medicine man, saw the Tradition as a brotherhood of shaman. The Europeans saw it as a dumping ground for tribal magi; Native Americans from North and South America, the tribes of Africa's jungles and savannas, Australian Aborigines, Lappish and Siberian shaman, and the kahuna of the Hawai'ians, Maori and Polynesians were all lumped together in a single Tradition. Many magi, such as the [|Ngoma], saw this as racism and left the Convocation in disgust. Naioba and Star-of-Eagles assumed joint leadership of the new Tradition until Naioba's assassination. However, the Tradition suffered greatly as the ages of Exploration, Colonialism and Imperialism destroyed their peoples. The Spanish conquest decimated the Aztecs and Incas, and spread smallpox amongst the Mound Builders. Likewise, the Portuguese slave trade decimated much of West Africa. In response, nearly half the Dreamspeakers left the Council of Nine, led by a delegation of Iroquois medicine men.

Victorian Era
During the Victorian era, many tribal shaman found their lands being conquered and their people exploited. Native Dreamspeakers fought alongside the Lakota Nation, the Haitians, the Congolese, the Zulu, Afghan hill tribes, Australian Aborigines, and the Rhodesians. Many joined movements such as the Ghost Dance. There was also a growing number of European Dreamspeakers. Bolstered by the spiritualism craze and neo-Paganism, these mediums communed with ghosts, faeries and elemental spirits.

Modern Times
= = = [|Basic Information from Camarilla Wiki Project] =

//Approval: CA-CAN-LA-0703-70760// //Information on this page from Legacies: The Ancient pg 14-24//


 * Parent Path/Order**: [|Thyrsus] or [|Free Council]


 * Nickname**: Primals


 * Appearance**: Dreamspeakers prefer a practical style that favours their own cultural affliations and personal dreams. The stereotypical Primal has initiatory scars or tattoos, but these are mearly symbols of his social ties. Personal taboos can change a Dreamspeakers body language and speech; he might avoid walking in a straight line or will never directly name a thing that figures strongly in his Dream. Dreamspeakers often feel called to manipulate their gender indentities by cross-dressing or affecting an androgenous style.


 * Background**: This legacy is less of a discipline than a calling. Most mages become Primals because they fell as if they have no choice in the matter. They suffer what might be called a spiritual crisis, a psychotic break or both. Members can come from virtually any background.


 * Organization**: Communities determine how primals organize. A primal learns the cultural signs of a community from his tutor, establishing a lineage of common beleifs and practices. Dreamspeakers who share a tradition band together into medicine societies. These groups will share secret signs.


 * Suggested Oblations**:
 * Drumming or listening to drums or other rhythmic instruments
 * Dancing
 * Physical ordeals, such as suspension and controlled strangulation
 * Isolation in a sacred place.

= = =[|Dreamspeakers from NWoD Revised Project Wiki]=
 * Concepts**:
 * Fringe anthropologist
 * Psychologist
 * Charismatic preacher
 * Tribal healer
 * Ecastic oracle

The Dreamspeakers are tribal shamans, equally at home in the Shadow or the Dreamtime. Their ranks are filled by aboriginal cultures and disaffected urban youth alike, all seeking something deeper and more primal than the material reality they see around them.
 * Parent [|Path]: || [|Thyrsus] ||
 * Favored Arcana: || Spirit, Life and Mind ||
 * Inferior Arcanum: || None ||
 * Favored Attribute: || Presence ||
 * Favored Practices: || [|Unveiling], [|Compelling], [|Weaving] ||
 * [|Magical Style]: || [|Ecstatic] ||
 * Key Skills: || Survival, Empathy ||
 * Initiation cost: || •••• ||
 * Common [|Orders]: || [|Old Pact] ||



Initiation: Wake to the Dreamtime
Requirements: Thyrsus (Mind Inferior), Gnosis 1, Spirit 1, Mind 1, Survival 1

The questing Shaman gains the Favored Attribute of Presence, the Favored Practices of Unveiling, Compelling and Weaving, and Mind becomes a third Ruling Arcanum. The Dreamspeakers are an Ecstatic tradition.

First Attainment: Spirit Guide
Requirements: Gnosis 2, Mind 2, Survival 2 The mage permanently perceives, speaks with, and interacts with spirits, thought-forms and mental projections in the Shadow Realms as if they were physically manifest. He may also roll Wits + Composure anywhere as an instant action to shift his perspective into the Dreamlands, the portion of the Dreamtime that corresponds to physical locations, interacting with the Dreamlands as if they were physically manifest as well2. While there, he may peer into the Oneiros of any person sleeping nearby, scrying through the “bubble” of dream that their Oneiros projects into the Dreamlands.

Second Attainment: Waking Dream
Requirements: Gnosis 3, Mind 3, Empathy 3 The mage may induce a trance-like state to mentally enter the Oneiros of any person sleeping nearby. He may also meditate to project into the skein of his own Oneiros, whether he is awake or asleep. He may extend this to any sleeping target that he has a sympathetic connection to, by rolling Presence + Occult and achieving a number of successes equal to or greater than the target's Resolve. Finally, he adds his rank in the Mind Arcanum to his Presence, Savvy or Composure whenever dealing with or negotiating with spirits whose Rank is lower than his rank in the Spirit Arcanum.

Optional Arcanum: Spirit 3
With Spirit 3, you may invite any willing Spirit to follow you along through into the target's dream. You may also project into the dreams of a possessed mind to do battle with the possessing Spirit there – slaying the Spirit within the possessed victim's Oneiros ejects the Spirit from the mortal's mind.

Third Attainment: Walk the Dreamtime
Requirements: Gnosis 4, Mind 4, Survival 4 The shaman may enter a meditative trance, projecting his mind directly into the realm of the Dreamtime. While in Dreamtime, he follows all the normal rules for Astral travel – including replacing his Health track with his Will.

Optional Arcanum: Spirit 4
With Spirit 4, he may likewise project his spirit into the Spirit World, walking among the Spirits as one of them and replacing his Health track with his Morale. While he is so far away from his body, it is easily possessed – it is advisable for the Dreamspeaker to leave it guarded by beings that can defend it from hostile or opportunistic ephemera.

Call to the Brothers (Spirit ••, Vulgar)
Roll: Presence + Persuasion + Spirit + 3 (Ritual only) Cost: 1 Mana The Dreamspeaker may summon any local spirit by calling to it in a low chant.

Nature's Army (Life ••, Vulgar)
Roll: Presence + Persuasion + Life + 3 Cost: 1 Mana By calling to the local spirits, the Dreamspeaker calls forth the local flora and fauna to do battle. Plant life and insects may be granted a will, attacking and impeding anyone in the area. The spell controls an area with a radius equal to his Gnosis times his rank in the Life Arcana. The spell's Potency determines the area's attack dice pool per turn.

Warden of the Wild (Life ••, Vulgar)
Roll: Presence + Survival + Life + 2 (Ritual only) Cost: None The Dreamspeakers believe that it is their duty to maintain the balance of nature. With this spell, a Dreamspeaker may heal environmental damage in his vicinity by chanting and dancing. Each success restores one bashing or lethal health level of damage to a non-sentient animal, or heals and encourages plant growth within an area of terrain with a radius equal to his Gnosis times his rank in the Life Arcana in yards.

Run with the Wolves (Life ••• + Mind •••, Vulgar)
Roll: Stamina + Survival + Life + 2 (Ritual only) Cost: 1 Mana The Dreamspeaker may transform himself into a single type of natural animal, chosen when this Rote is first purchased. Any natural Median creature may be chosen; the mage must gain one success per +1 or -1 Size, with each additional success grants one scene of Duration. To learn this spell, the Dreamspeaker must hunt and slay an animal of the appropriate type, and wear its skin or hold a ritually prepared piece of its body while casting the rote.

Deep Medicine (Life ••• + Mind •••, Covert)
Roll: Resolve + Medicine + Life + 1 Cost: 1 Mana By spending 1 Mana, the Dreamspeaker may exchange Health for Will on a one-for-one basis. Each point of Will regained causes one point of resistant bashing damage. This may even be done while in the Astral Realm, allowing the Dreamspeaker to tap into their body's reserves of health to replenish the integrity of their Astral Body.

Call my Brother by Name (Spirit •••, Covert)
Roll: Presence + Empathy + Spirit + 3 (Ritual only) Cost: 1 Mana The Dreamspeaker whispers to an object, plant, or animal sacred to him, and rouses its spirit into wakefulness. The first time this spell is called, the roused spirit possesses a total Influence equal to the mage's Spirit dots. Subsequent castings “reawaken” the same spirit, which can grow with time. The spirit awakens for one day per success. || ||
 * = **//[|Mage]// [|Traditions]** ||
 * > **[|Obrimos]:** ||= [|Celestial Choir] · [|Kali's Daughters] · [|Perfected Adepts] · [|Sons of the Aether] ||
 * > **[|Acanthus]:** ||= [|Children of Danu] · [|Seers of Chronos] · [|Heralds of Endings] · [|Dionysus's Dancers] ||
 * > **[|Mastigos]:** ||= [|Akashic Brotherhood] · [|Disciples of Solomon] · [|Transhumanist Engineers] · [|Psychonauts] ||
 * > **[|Thyrsus]:** ||= **Dreamspeakers** · [|Wyck] · [|Children of Proteus] · [|Blessed Ones] ||
 * > **[|Moros]:** ||= [|Reverent Ones] · [|Architects of Thoth] · [|Golden Alchemists] · [|Ragnarok's Soldiers] ||
 * > **[|Orphan]:** ||= [|Geniuses] · [|The Improved] · [|Reaper Men] · [|Tremere] · [|Banishers] ·[|The Sowers of Discord] · [|Nihili] ||
 * > **[|Ecstatic]:** ||= [|Seers of Chronos] · [|Akashic Brotherhood] · **Dreamspeakers** · [|Perfected Adepts] · [|Dionysus's Dancers] ||
 * > **[|Theurgic]:** ||= [|Celestial Choir] · [|Kali's Daughters] · [|Children of Danu] · [|Wyck] · [|Reverent Ones] ||
 * > **[|Ritualistic]:** ||= [|Disciples of Solomon] ||
 * > **[|Technognostic]:** ||= [|Architects of Thoth] · [|Sons of the Aether] · [|Golden Alchemists] · [|Geniuses] ||
 * > **[|Freeform]:** ||= [|Nihili] ||
 * > **[|Left-Handed]:** ||= [|Nihili] · [|Tremere] ||