SS’Ressen Arcane Casters

If you look at the statements about the Shaman Background, it specifically says Ss’ressen males have to be dedicated to Jeggal Sag.

From a more narrative perspective, the ss’ressen are (as far as we know) the only group which officially recognizes the worship of a ‘minor being’, and this acceptance probably means more people will forged pacts with this being than with other nature spirits.

Similarly, we only get to see a few tens of thousands of Black Talons in this game, with fewer thousands of Ghost Scales and Ashen Hides. This is a fairly small and rather geographically isolated group, which means that there is a strong sense of community and community control. While it may be metaphysically possible for Ss’ressen to be shamans of other powers, it is vanishingly rare among the populations the players can play.

As noted 4 ranks in Arcanum (Primal) is going to be a struggle. Maybe come at it from the other end.

What Paths and other skills/talents does she want to use in addition to casting?

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3 ranks in Primal looks easy with some variation.

4 ranks: Expert or Arcane, Female Black Talon, Shaman or Exile, skill rank (note needs casting unlock at either Archtype or Background step)
3 ranks: Arcane, Female Black Talon, skill rank (lose background)
3 ranks: Arcane or Expert, Exile/Shaman, skill rank (lose race due to Male or Ghost Scale Female)

Am I missing something? Black Talon females don’t get a rank in Arcanum (pg 117), they get Wilderness Lore and any Interaction skill. I checked the Errata 4.3 and didn’t notice any changes to this. Is it written somewhere else? I checked the Ghost Scale and the errata for the Codex as well.

If I’m right then it’s impossible to start with 4 ranks in Arcanum when playing a Ss’ressen.

You can get 3 ranks via Arcane/Expert, Exile, and skills (if going female) probably best for Eldritch
or 3 ranks via Expert, Exile/Shaman, and skills (if going male) probably best for Primal

Yes and no.

Nothing exists in a vacuum. Humans have traditions of worshipping nature spirits and these shamanistic traditions are handed down from teacher to student, generation after generation.

The ss’ressens do not have this type of tradition. To them, worshipping the stream or a river is nonsense, as it is a foreign belief. They are taught (referring to Black Talons here) that all power comes from either “sorcery” or their gods. A ss’ressen cannot recieve power from anywhere else.

Females rule the social system and are thus granted priviliges and responsibilities not grated to males – among these is the right to be priests of the Fire Dragon.

Some males (as well as females) are “contacted” by Jeggal Sag and become its disciple. He is not a Big “G” god in the eyes of the ssethrics and so following his mystical teachings is viewed by the priestesses as slumming, for lack of a better word. In the social pyramid of the Black Talons (as well as other ss’ressen egg clutches) the Disciples are better low on the totem pole.

Does that answer your question?

Thanks for putting this all in perspective Henry. At present Beth has two character concepts she’s happy with, a female Arcane caster and a male Primal caster. We found a way to make it work and especially in the female case a hook to get her to the First City. As well as a reason for my Ss’Ressen to be with her (should we choose that option.

Hello,

Primal casting is considered to be something relegated to males, given that they are not allowed to practice “major” magic, like Divine and Eldritch magiic.

Obviously, this is a role playing thing, but it should be noted.

Additionally, if she wishes to be a Primal caster, she’s pigeon holed herself into a Discpile of Jeggal Sag.

So I think before you crunch numbers, I think Beth should settle on what social role she wants to belong to.

Can’t male Ss’ressen do Divine casting via Templar or other “back” channel? They are just forbidden from being Arcane or Divine Archetype but I don’t remember seeing anything barring them from using divine magic.

…uh no. I admit I am sometimes wrong about these things but as I understand it the male Templars/Holy Champions are usually male and can potentially be taught at least some divine spell casting. Politically they are subservient to the female Initiates/Annointed Priests. And of course they (males) can’t take the divine (or arcane) archetypes.

Ok, I’ll also include the standard disclaimer of no one official. The purpose behind game mechanics is to as best as possible explain the world as it’s envisioned. In practice it also defines as well as explains, but I feel the core purpose takes priority.

It is my belief that male ss’ressen templars, initiates, etc. cannot become spell casters with the couple already defined exceptions. Male eggs are not matured enough to be able to handle it. It is a physical limitation. The physical limitation doesn’t change because of training. If that were the case then all spell casting limitations are strictly a social construct. Henry’s made clear that’s not the case.

So the natural counter is “what about the exceptions?”

The primary exception is Primal. The description of Primal though is it is done through pacts with “lesser beings” in this case Jerral Sag. The dragon is somewhere between a valinor and a god in power. Given that it’s been established that he can provide this power, probably closer to Kassagore than your average valinor. Presumably making the pact with Jerral Sag makes the changes necessary to channel Primal power. The question of Divine power at that point is moot.

The other exception is the brood of Ven val’Sosi. They were infused by the power of a valinor and only have access to psionics. If you look at the story Henry wrote dealing with them, most don’t survive.

This doesn’t prevent there being Templars & Holy Champions. While the mechanics open the door to divine spell casting, it does not grant or provide it.

With a sweep of his hat,

Paul

If true, I know there are a number of characters that violate this (including Ss’kethis). There is nothing anywhere in the rulebook or errata barring male Ss’ressen from taking DSC that I can find (just from being Arcane or Divine archetype).

My understanding was always the same as Eric’s – male Templars can take DSC but they are subservient to the female Priestesses.

I’ve seen Ss’kethis in action…there’s no way my characters are going to tell him he can’t cast divine spells…

It was mentioned by Henry in another discussion thread over a year ago. That errata has never made it into the official documents (like a lot of other things).