Just something I fished out of the google cache of Nothingland that I wanted to revisit. I'm still working on tweaking this, and I've added to it since reposting it at Nut Test and Limperland. This site seemed like fertile ground for criticism and revamping it, so I think any future development I do on it will be here. Comments, suggestions, and criticisms are welcome!
The homebrew system is thusly: at the beginning of the day a shaman petitions the animal spirits for his spells. He may petition as many spirits as he dares, but must make a roll each time he petitions one. The first spirit petitioned takes a Fortitude save, difficulty 10. Each subsequent spirit is another Fortitude save, modified by the cumulative ratings of all prior spirits.
For example if he starts by petitioning a spirit rated at 5, his next save is at difficulty 15. If he makes that and the spirit he petitioned was rated 3, his next roll to petition a spirit would be difficulty 18, and so forth. If a roll is failed, no further spirits may be petitioned.
Spirits carry their own requirements, both in petitioning and in how the shaman carries himself during the day. For example, the pantheon of spirits I've come up with so far:
Beetle
Rank: 1
Spells Beetle grants two levels of spells.
Domains: Beetle's spells must be picked from the Earth and Death domains, and shamans walking with Beetle gain the granted powers of these domains.
Restrictions: Beetle requires a burnt offering of simple grubs found under rocks to petition him. He will not walk with Spider or Sparrow.
Dragonfly
Rank: 1
Spells: Dragonfly grants two levels of spells.
Domains: Dragonfly's spells must be picked from the Air and Travel domains, and shamans walking with Dragonfly gain the granted powers of these domains.
Restrictions: Dragonfly demands a libation of swamp water, which must be gathered the morning of the petition. Dragonfly will not walk with Toad or Trout.
Sparrow
Rank: 1
Spells: Sparrow grants two levels of spells.
Domains: Sparrow's spells must be picked from the Animal and Plant domains, and shamans walking with Sparrow gain the granted powers of these domains.
Restrictions: Sparrow asks an offering of earthworms, which the petitioner must consume live. Sparrow will not walk with Cat or Squirrel.
Rat
Rank: 2
Spells: Rat grants five levels of spells.
Domains: Rat's spells must be picked from the Luck and Trickery domains, and shamans walking with Rat gain the granted powers of these domains.
Restrictions: Rat requires petitioners to rub themselves in strong-smelling garbage. The petitioner may not bathe for the duration of the day. He will not walk with Snake or Owl.
Spider
Rank: 2
Spells: Spider grants five levels of spells.
Domains: Spider's spells must be picked from the Destruction and Knowledge domains, and shamans walking with Spider gain the granted powers of these domains.
Restrictions: Spider asks that those that walk with her find an intact spider web, and weave it carefully into their hair, where it must remain for the day. Spider will not walk with Hornet or Mantis.
Snake
Rank: 2
Spells: Snake grants five levels of spells.
Domains: Snake's spells must be picked from the Sun and Law domains, and shamans walking with Snake gain the granted powers of these domains.
Restrictions: Snake requires petitioners to carry one of his children with them during the day. It may be a harmless snake, but it must be kept and protected the entire day. Snake will not walk with Eagle or Mongoose.
Bear
Rank: 5
Spells: Bear grants ten levels of spells.
Domains: Bear's spells must be picked from the Healing and Strength domains, and shamans walking with Bear gain the granted powers of these domains.
Restrictions: Bear requires an offering of salmon and honey worth no less than ten silver pieces, which the shaman must consume on the spot. He will not walk with Coyote or Raven.
Owl
Rank: 5
Spells: Owl grants ten levels of spells.
Domains: Owl's spells must be picked from the Good and Protection domains, and shamans walking with Owl gain the granted powers of these domains.
Restrictions: Owl asks that those who walk with him petition the night before, when they offer him a freshly killed rat and a bauble worth no less than five silver for his nest. The rat must be healthy, with no sign of disease or filth. Owl will not walk with Cat or Cuckoo.
Coyote
Rank: 5
Spells: Coyote grants ten levels of spells.
Domains: Coyote's spells must be picked from the Chaos and Magic domains, and shamans walking with Coyote gain the granted powers of these domains.
Restrictions: Those that walk with Coyote are compulsive liars, even to those they consider friends. There is no predictable fashion to who they lie to and when; they might be truthful one moment and deceitful the next, and the difference is rarely obvious. Such is Coyote's whim. Coyote will not walk with Wolf or Eagle.
The number of spell levels granted by each spirit is kept in seperate pools, which are spent after petitioning the spirit. Thus, two spell levels may be spent as either two first-level spells, or one second-level spell, within the domains the spirit grants.
The spells per day progression ramps up naturally with levels as the shaman gains better fortitude saves, while still providing a random element that could give a lucky shaman extra spells in a certain day.
I was also thinking on potentially retooling this ruleset as a Voodoo class for d20 Modern. Here's a shot at some Loa (Voodoo gods) for this purpose:
Ayizan
Rank: 1
Spells: Ayizan grants two levels of spells.
Domains: Ayizan's spells must be picked from the Death and Protection domains, and Houngan ridden by Ayizan gain the granted powers of these domains.
Restrictions: Aziyan is summoned by tossing a handfull of coins into a fountain. Houngan ridden by Aziyan are forbidden from consuming alcohol.
Maman Brigitte
Rank: 2
Spells: Brigitte grants five levels of spells.
Domains: Brigitte's spells must be picked from the Death and Protection domains, and Houngan ridden by Brigitte gain the granted powers of these domains.
Restrictions: Brigitte's favor is gained by sacrificing a black rooster in a cemetary. Those ridden by Brigitte speak colorfully, their language laden with obscenities. They are forbidden from ever desecrating a grave marked by a cross.
Erzulie
Rank: 2
Spells: Erzulie grants five levels of spells.
Domains: Erzulie's spells must be picked from the Water and Luck domains, and Houngan ridden by Erzulie gain the granted powers of these domains.
Restrictions: A Houngan ridden by Erzulie must wear three wedding rings, obtained by whatever means neccessary. They must also perfume themselves. They almost always dress in finery.
Papa Ghede
Rank: 5
Spells: Ghede grants ten levels of spells.
Domains: Ghede's spells must be picked from the Death and Trickery domains, and Houngan ridden by Ghede gain the granted powers of these domains.
Restrictions: Ghede's favor is gained by draining a bottle of liquor at a crossroads at midnight. The bottle does not need to be full, and Ghede is more likely to show kindness on those brave enough to drink the cheap rotgut he himself enjoys. Those ridden by Ghede always wear black, frequently with a tattered top-hat. They chain-smoke the entire time they are ridden, and are fond of cigars. A houngan ridden by Ghede will rarely pass up an opportunity for a lewd comment.
Ogoun
Rank: 5
Spells: Ogoun grants ten levels of spells.
Domains: Ogoun's spells must be picked from the Strength and War domains, and Houngan ridden by Ogoun gain the granted powers of these domains.
Restrictions: Ogoun is summoned by a Houngan being buried up to his neck, to await the favor of the Loa of war and iron. When Ogoun rides the Houngan, he gains the strenght to burst from the ground. Those ridden by Ogoun may never turn down a fight.
Shangó
Rank: 5
Spells: Shangó grants ten levels of spells.
Domains: Shang's spells must be picked from the Law and Weather domains, and Houngan ridden by Shangó gain the granted powers of these domains.
Restrictions: Shangó is summoned with a sacrifice of a ram just before a thunderhead breaks. Those ridden by Shangó cannot bear the sight of cheating or lying, and when witnessing it deal with it harshly.