true_name

A spirit's true name is a complex and abstract arcane formulation that represents the totality of the spirit's essence and nature, and which is believed to come into existence when a spirit becomes free. While the true name is an intricate and abstract description of forces and concepts foreign to human minds, once it is identi- ed, anyone with the skill can translate it into recognizable human symbols and terms in the form of a spirit formula. A spirit formula is a powerful magic instrument that grants anyone that possesses it the ability to command the spirit. For this reason, few fspirits are willing to tolerate the existence of multiple copies. There are several methods of learning a free spirit's formula:

Firstly, it is widely believed that a representation of the true name is discreetly imprinted on an object, person, or possibly even place in the spirit's vicinity when it first manifests. T his is recognizable in the same manner as an astral signature (though spirits have been known to quickly but quietly relocate this physical representation to a safe place at the rst opportunity). is true name may be translated into a spirit formula. A bound spirit can assist in this task...The formula takes a form appropriate to the magician's tradition: a thaumaturgic formulation for a hermetic, a totemic statuette for a shaman, a complex mandala for a Buddhist magician, or a jade gurine for a Shinto, and so on.

Secondly, an initiate may attempt to learn the spirit's true name through a metaplanar quest to the spirit's home metaplane—which may be obvious or obscure. For example, it's easy to guess that the cyclonic conagration that incinerated your new moped may be native to the Plane of Fire. Lacking such subtle clues as to an origin, the character must assense the spirit or an astral signature the spirit has left. You can anticipate a metaplanar quest of this type is an appropriately harrowing and dicult experience. It may even require a spirit guide in order to reach the appropriate plane. A successful quest etches the true name in the magician's mind's eye with such clarity that if he has the skill he is able to translate it into a spirit formula at any time thereaer.

Lastly, if a metaplanar quest is out of the question, a magician who has very carefully observed the free spirit's aura can attempt to design a functional spirit formula from scratch. Doing so is time consuming and dif- cult...