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rather than a crime. Imbedding a creature of minimal
self-awareness such as a “lower” animal, particularly if it
was already dying, may raise no qualms. Likewise certain
types of Elementals have negligible sentience, and will
not even remember being imbedded once released, so
may be considered fair game for temporary imbedding.
Of course, some beings may voluntarily submit to
imbedding, either to further their own beliefs and goals or
because they have been convinced by a persuasive caster.
(For instance, Paladins of an order dedicated to protecting
religious shrines might, on their deathbed, volunteer to be
imbedded into Constructs for some defined period to
serve as temple guardians.) Most casters will have no
problems justifying such voluntary imbedding. Some religions
may disagree vigorously with any imbedding, deeming
it to be a blasphemous meddling with the natural order
of life, death, and the after-life.
GMs may choose to accentuate the moral ambiguities
inherent in imbedding, and may wish to use them as an
ethical in-game reason for controlling access and/or use
of the Empowerment spell lists.
7.2
ENDOWING SENTIENCE
Each of the three methods of granting intelligence to
Golems and Constructs will be considered
in turn.
CONSTRUCT COMPANION
7.2.1 SELF EMPOWERMENT
This method draws upon the caster’s
own intellect to grant a Golem or a Construct
a temporary mind. It requires the
caster to have access to the Sentience spell
list. It can also be combined with the
imbedding techniques to boost the intelligence
and abilities of a resident Spirit,
Demon, Elemental, or Life Essence.
There are several advantages to using
the Sentience spell list. Perhaps the
most important is that there are no
moral issues about obtaining and utilizing
the spiritual essences and
minds of other beings. The “minds”
inhabiting such enhanced entities
are manifestations of the caster’s
own mind, shadowy reflections
temporarily animated by magic.
Secondly the creator can share
appropriate skills and knowledge
with the entity – but can
choose what and how much is
learned by the entity. Thirdly
the spells are temporary when
not used on an imbedded spirit
– if the entity goes rogue, the
caster can end the spells prematurely.
The most obvious disadvantage
is that the spells on
the Sentience are all temporary
(unless applied to resident spirits) and can be dispelled
by more powerful spell users. Secondly (as indicated
by the special notes accompanying the spell list),
the maximum effects of the spells are limited by the
caster’s own mental prowess, knowledge, and skills.
Thirdly if the Sentience spell list is used to empower
resident spirits, the benefits to them are permanent
which is fine so long as they remain obedient, but gravely
dangerous should they rebel.
Creators from the Mentalism Realm of Power favor
the Sentience spell list.
7.2.2 SPIRIT EMPOWERMENT
Spirits were perhaps the first type of being to be
imbedded as sources of intelligence for Golems and
Constructs. Certainly almost all types of Spirits have
been known to possess artificial entities by accident.
Nature abhors a vacuum and the mental vacuum within
entities is very attractive to wandering spirits. More
deliberate imbedding of Spirits requires access to the
Spirit Empowerment spell list.
This method has several advantages. Most Spirits can
be reasoned with; those immune to persuasion can be
forced by magical might. The Spirit Empowerment spells
can summon any chosen spirit type and level – and can
control or banish any spirit. Some types of Spirits can be
persuaded to accept imbedding voluntarily – and fortuitously
these happen to be the
most useful Spirits in terms
of potential intellect. Finally
summoned Spirits can be
used for other purposes.
In terms of disadvantages,
imbedded Spirits do not have
the potential to bestow limited
magical abilities to their entity
bodies. (Certain priests and shamans
can use other spell lists to
fashion temporary spirit-powered
magical items.) Further,
imbedded Spirits cannot use
their possession, emanation, or
inundation attacks when inhabiting
an entity – they are already
possessing the Golem or Construct
and its creation magic
inhibits the other attacks. Lowlevel
Spirits have limited mental
abilities – creators may need
to resort to the Sentience spell
list to boost these if they are
unwilling or unable to summon
greater Spirits.
The greatest disadvantage of
Spirits is that incorporation
within a physical body places
them at great risk of accumulating
“taint levels”. As described
in Channeling Companion,
Spirits desire purity of
thought, emotion, or ideal, and
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