Totem Tests
1-9. The eagle requires overcoming that which might hold you. The follower loses access to some of his spells or special abilities (50% chance for each one) until he takes action. Roll 1d5 for each one lost to see what needs to be done.
[1] Defeat something serpentine.
[2] Defeat something dark.
[3] Defeat some other that might hold you.
[4] Otherwise spread your wings for at least 1d6 turns.
[5] Commune with eagle spirits, doing nothing else but drum, dance, chant, or the like for 2d6 turns.
[1] Always take the higher ground unless ready to swoop in.
[2] Attack dark things on sight.
[3] Attack serpentine things on sight.
[4] Always announce his presence when entering a place: the more eaglelike, the better.
14-16. Become the eagle. The devotee turns more visibly aquiline now, acquiring some eagle trait along with a cumulative 10% chance of causing fear and/or revulsion in any non-eagle types who notice it. Such a transformation also increases the chances of experiencing the totemic side-effect Dark Eagle by one by replacing another totemic side-effect with it too. Roll 1d4 to see which trait is bestowed, rerolling if the same is rolled more than once, as the devotee increasingly becomes an eagle hybrid.
[1] Splendid: gain +1d3 Charisma, but also -1 Constitution too.
[2] Eagle-eyed: gain the excellent eyesight of the eagle. If the devotee already has such ability, then he can also spot hidden shadowy or snakelike beings at will.
[3] Winged: can glide at twice one's normal land speed, from one high point to another, though normal armor and capes cannot now be worn.
[4] Aerie Avenger: gain an eagle's head, allowing a bite attack for 1d6 + Strength modifier damage. 50% chance of also gaining eagle's talons that allow 2 claw attacks for 1d3 + 1/2 Strength modifier damage. Each also adds 10% to the chance of horrifying non-eagle types.
17+ Doom comes to the eagle follower. Roll 1d4 to see what it is- and he better be ready!
[1] A giant snake arrives within 1d6 turns to fight to the death. It's HD is equal to the follower's + 1d3 per totem result over 16.
[2] The follower is turned into an eagle for 1 week per totem result over 16.
[3] A giant spider or other dark thing arrives within 1d6 turns to fight to the death. It's HD is equal to the follower's + 2 per totem result over 16.
[4] The follower is sent to some Eagle Otherworld for 1d3 days per totem test result over 16, his body lying comatose and his spirit hopefully returning- a base 85% minus 10% for every 1d3 days gone.
Next week: Totems: Eagle, Part IV!
