Will expel
**of Note**
warriorsf0 a C t i n g throw one’s life away pointlessly.
The Fathers may go into battle with the Sons, but their primarily responsibility is to prepare the plans. Most Fathers are veteran Sons sufficiently wounded to become liabilities in combat, though some simply do better laboring with their minds than with their hands. They tend to lead much more settled lives, taking the time to understand the life of a particular district, state or nation in great deal.
It can take years to trace out lines of dependence, flows of resources, concentrations of assets and the other things that good warriors must know before they fight.
The Father with the best record of success becomes the new Grandfather, leader of the whole society, when the old one dies or steps down. Grandfather Townland brought thirty years’ worth of devastating precision strikes against Technocratic operations in the American Midwest and Rockies to bear upon his accession in 1996, and under his leadership the Red Spears enjoyed renewed success. Small numbers suffice when the planning and execution are wise.
Names: Makers, Awakeners, Junk Dealers (derogatory) History: The link between smithing and shamanism is extremely ancient. Spirit Smiths look to numerous legends, like the tales of the shaman Vainamoinen and his smith companion Ilmarinen in the Finnish Kalevala, as proof that shamans and smiths are often allied or one in the same.
In the most ahcient times, the art of smelting ore to yield metal and the secrets of forging and casting metal into jewelry, tools and weapons were considered magical acts. Shamans spoke to the spirits of the rocks, coaxed the metal out and persuaded it to take on useful forms. When priests replaced shamans and instituted the worship of gods, smiths ceased to be revered, but they continued to perform their secret magics. Many smiths traveled, seeking better ores or new markets for their wares. As a result, smiths all over the world shared their knowledge and techniques. In some places smiths formed guilds, secret societies or even religious mystery cults to safeguard their knowledge.
While cultures transformed around them, the position of smiths rarely changed. Their valuable skills rendered them largely immune from the horrors of even the most repressive states. As empires rose and fell, they continued to practice their craft and refine their skills.
All of this changed when the Craftmasons joined the Order of Reason. This radical sect of Spirit Smiths discarded what they considered to be the foolish superstitions of the past. The Craftmasons were no longer interested in creating handcrafted, spiritually awakened items. Instead, they sought ways to make radical improvements in their techniques and began a rigorous process of investigation, where they worked to determine and create regular rules of manufacture that had little to do with smithcraft’s shamanic roots.
The Craftmasons’ early work eventually spawned Iteration X, the Industrial Revolution and mass production. Through all of that, in isolated villages, remote tribes and even in the heart of industrial cities, the Spirit Smiths continued to practice their ancient arts. As technology advanced, many of them ceased working as black, gold or silversmiths, and learned newer trades.
While some Spirit Smiths have kept their old ways, today others have learned auto mechanics, become found-object sculptors or even creators of specialized homebuilt electronics.
The coming of the Avatar Storms was less of a disruption for the Spirit Smiths than for many, for few Makers spent large amounts of time in the Umbra. Still, some of their oldest and most skilled shaman-crafters were killed or exiled beyond the Gauntlet. As a result of these changes, the younger and more innovative Spirit Smiths are now free to experiment with new technologies. Today, this faction is more active than ever.
Recently, the leaders have even begun making open alliances with some of the younger and more flexible members of the Sons of Ether and the Virtual Adepts.
Spiritual Path: While their methods and crafts may differ, most Spirit Smiths are now passionately devoted to the re-enchantment of the world. By creating various spiritually awakened items, they hope both to help Sleepers to look beyond the gray industrial uniformity that surrounds them and to learn to see the many spirits that share their world. Most Spirit Smiths also want to bring benevolent spirits back through the Gauntlet by creating special shrines where they can live.
In addition to these long-range goals, almost all Spirit Smiths are also deeply devoted to crafting fine one-of-a-kind items, and to repairing and improving the objects that people will use and treasure. Spirit Smiths attempt to awaken any item that they create or repair. Also, most Spirit Smiths will only create items for specific individuals. Instead of simply creating beautiful handcrafted knives, component-built computers, or one-of-a-kind automobiles, Spirit Smiths make items that are designed for use by one specific person. As a result, going to a Spirit Smith to have something made can be a lengthy process.
First, a Spirit Smith must ascertain that the person coming to the smith is worthy; then the Maker must get to know the person well enough to be able to create an item that is perfect for the client. Spirit Smiths are not simply trying to create improved items, like the modern heirs of the Craftmasons. Instead, they want to create items that are physical and spiritual allies to the owner.
Spirit Smith weapon makers speak of how their weapons fight alongside their owners.
Spirit Smiths never rely on mass production to create the items they awaken. Instead, they craft all of their creations by hand forging and casting metal, carving horn and wood or blowing glass. Spirit Smiths who work with more modem materials handcraft their devices out of basic components. Most Spirit Smiths will also awaken items they repair and improve - the process of repairing a mass-produced device normally involves substantially rebuilding it with handmade components, and carefully modifying it so the device works better than it ever did before.
While most people know nothing of such hand-built items, a few Sleepers in specialized occupations treasure them. Although they normally have no idea that they are receiving spiritually active items from a powerful willworker, Sleepers ranging from fine chefs and skilled martial artists to assassins, hackers and drug runners have all learned that a few select people can build and repair fine specialty items that are far better than anything that can be bought commercially. Spirit Smiths who are masons and construction workers are much in demand by people who are looking for buildings created with proper Feng Shui or correct spiritual alignment.
Training: Becoming a Spirit Smith generally involves a prolonged apprenticeship, where the student must learn to work with, appreciate and love their chosen craft. While they generally only take on apprentices who seem on the verge of Awakening, learning to be a Spirit Smith is not a rapid process. Some students are trained for up to a decade before their master feels that they are ready to learn the true magic of what they are doing. Spirit Smiths believe that this long apprenticeship allows the student to learn the craft fully without becoming distracted by the wonders of willworking.
Once the student has Awakened, the apprenticeship continues. Most Spirit Smiths will not admit that their student is fully ready to become independent until she has complete a "masterwork" that proves her true skill with her chosen craft. In return for all of this work, Spirit Smiths $[ usually maintain close contact with their former students. s They are often willing to help out if the student runs into serious trouble.
Style of magic: Spirit Smiths often learn many Spheres, but most tend to emphasize Spirit, Matter and Forces. While some Spirit Smiths prefer to use their Talismans, Fetishes, and Awakened items they are all fully capable willworkers. Most will not hesitate to use their powers.
Spirit Smith magic always involves the use of an item.
Tinkering with guns or cars to entice them to perform better, throwing a rock at the rotor of a helicopter to cause it to fail catastrophically and even writing a short computer program , Spirit Smiths generally try to avoid ade or unique items. Instead, most will attempt to take such devices from owners who misuse or mistreat them and either keep them or find them new and Organization: In addition to being the smallest of the various Dreamspeaker factions, the Spirit Smiths are now also one of the best organized. They have fewer than 200 an half of whom are static shamans (see e their organization is not particularly y all keep in regular contact with one ani 8 " " f R C c