Path Skills: Medicine, Subterfuge
Virtues: Tradition and Innovation
Scent of the Divine: Rum and tobacco, with a drumbeat
Orisha Motif
Those who understand plants can use them in magic and medicine.
This Purview is shared by the Òrìshà and the Loa, allowing them to take possession of their mortal worshippers. Through sacred drumming and dance, worshippers enter into a sacred trance state that makes room for the Gods to enter into them. The Òrìshà use the Yoruba word for this possession, Gún, while the Loa refer to it as Cheval to describe the way they “mount” the possessed person, as though they were a horse.
Orisha Signature Purview: Cheval/Gun
Òrìshà and Loa possess willing (and, rarely, unwilling) humans in order to communicate with their flocks, generally at religious ceremonies with plenty of drumming and dancing to get an Òrìshà’s, Loa’s, ancestor’s, or other spirit’s attention. Haitians say the possessed’s ti bon
anj makes way for the spirit’s, letting the spirit make use of the possessed celebrant’s language, intellect, and body to communicate matters of spiritual import — and indulge in fine tobacco and liquor, which are hard to get in Heaven. This Purview confers the power to project one’s consciousness into another, to draw a spirit into one’s own form, and to detect (and counteract) possession in others.
Cheval/Gun Innate Power
You can tell whether any mortal you see is possessed by a spirit or deity and identify the nature of the possessing entity. You can attempt to drive out a possessing enemy with a Clash of Wills using Presence + Legend against its Resolve + Legend.
VIRTUES
Tradition vs. Innovation
The sacred practices of the Òrìshà are steeped in history and Tradition, but their devotion has perpetually changed through Innovation as historical progress and colonial oppression affected their worshippers. Which is more important: the old, or the new? Are they a harmonious dialectic, or are there places where the two come into conflict?
Orisha of Yourubaland
ESHU ELEGBARA, THE OPENER OF THE WAY
Aliases: Eleguá (Sp), Exû (Pt), Papa Legba (Fn/Kr), Papa LaBas (Kr)
LEGBA, WHO OPENS THE WAY
Aliases: Papa Legba, Papa LaBas, Atibon, Vye
Callings: Liminal, Lover, Trickster, Shepherd, Psychopomp
Purviews: Artistry (Storytelling), Chaos, Deception, Epic Dexterity, Fortune, Journeys, Magic
IBEJI, THE SACRED TWINS
Aliases: Taiyewo and Kéhindé, Edun, Adanjukale (Yr), Hohovi (Fn), Marassa Dosu Dosa (Kr)
Callings: Healer, Judge, Trickster, Shepherd
Purviews: Artistry (Dance), Beasts (Monkeys), Death, Fertility, Fortune, Prosperity
MOREMI, THE GREATEST YORUBA HERO
Callings: Guardian, Lover, Trickster, Shepherd
Purviews: Beauty, Deception, Fertility, Fire, Passion
OBATALA, THE KING OF THE WHITE CLOTH
Aliases: Aníyìkáyé, Òrò Oko Àfín Ení Shojú Shemú, Obàtarìshà, Aládé Shéshéfun, Òrìshà-Ńlá (Yr), Oxalá (Pt)
Callings: Creator, Leader, Judge, OUtsider
Purviews: Artistry (Sculpture), Health, Order, Sky
ODUDUWA, THE GOD-KING OF ILE-IFE
Aliases: Oòduà (Yr)
Callings: Creator, Leader, Warrior
Purviews: Darkness, Earth, Order, War
OGUN, THE GOD OF IRON
Aliases: Oggún (Sp), Ogûm (Pt), Gu (Fn), Ogou (Kr)
OGOU, WHO WIELDS IRON
Aliases: Ogou Feray, Ogou Sanjak
Callings: Creator, Hunter, Warrior
Purviews: Earth, Epic Strength, Epic Stamina, Forge, Passion (Fear), War
ORISHA -OKO, THE GOD OF AGRICULTURE
Aliases: Zaka (Fn), Kouzen Azaka Mede (Kr)
Callings: Hunter, Judge, Sage
Purviews: Beasts (of Burden, Birds), Fertility, Fortune, Order, Prosperity
ORUNMILA, THE POWER OF DIVINATION
Aliases: Ifá (Yr), Orúla (Sp)
Callings: Healer, Judge, Sage
Purviews: Fortune, Sky, Stars, Wild, Magic
OSANYIN, THE GOD OF HERBAL MEDICINE
Aliases: Àròni (Yr), Ossaim (Pt), Ossange (Kr)
Callings: Healer, Hunter, Sage
Purviews: Beasts (Birds), Epic Stamina, Fertility, Fortune, Health, Wild, Magic
OSHOSSI, THE BOWHUNTER
Aliases: Ochosi (Sp), Oxóssi (Pt), Age (Fn)
Callings: Hunter, Liminal, Judge
Purviews: Beasts, Epic Dexterity, Prosperity, Wild
OSHUN, GODDESS OF COOL SWEET WATER
Aliases: Ochun, Yalorde (Sp), Oxûm (Pt), Aziri (Fn), Ezili (Kr), Erzulie (USA)
EZILI, WHO STRUGGLES AND LOVES
Aliases: Ezili Dantò, Ezili Freda
Callings: Healer, Lover, Sage
Purviews: Beasts (Bees), Beauty, Fertility, Fortune, Frost, Health, Passion (Love), Prosperity, Water
OYA IYANSAN, GODDESS OF THE RIVER NIGER
Aliases: Àràká (Yr), Iansã (Pt), Avesan (Fn)
Callings: Guardian, Liminal, Warrior
Purviews: Beasts (Bull), Epic Strength, Epic Dexterity, Death, Prosperity, Sky, Water
SHANGO, THE KING WHO DID NOT HANG
Aliases: Jakuta, Obà Kòso (Yr), Hebiosso (Fon), Changó (Sp), Xangô (Pt)
Callings: Leader, Lover, Warrior
Purviews: Artistry (Drums, Dance), Beauty, Epic Strength, Fire, Order, Passion, Prosperity, Sky, War, Magic
SONPONNA, GOD OF SMALLPOX
Aliases: Obaluaiye, Ile-Gbigbona, Ile-Titu, Olode (Yr), Babalu Ayé (Sp), Obaluaiê, Omulu (Pt), Sagbata, Sakpata (Fn), Sabata (Kr)
Callings: Healer, Hunter, Liminal
Purviews: Death, Earth, Health, Passion (Spite), Wild
YEMOJA-OBOTO, QUEEN OF THE SEA
Aliases: Olókun, Yemòó (Yr), Yemayá, Iemanja, Stella Maris, Lasyren, Mami Wata
LASYREN, WHO SINGS IN THE SEA
Aliases: None
Callings: Creator, Guardian, Leader
Purviews: Beasts (Cetaceans), Epic Strength, Epic Stamina, Fertility, Frost, Journeys, Water
ERINLE, GOD OF HEALING AND HUNTING
Aliases: Àbatàn, Erele, Inle
Callings: Hunter, Liminal, Lover
Purviews: Beauty, Epic Stamina, Epic Strength,
Passion (Love), Prosperity, Water
LOA
THE BARONS, WHO WAIT IN THE GRAVEYARD
Aliases: Baron Cimetière, Baron La Croix, Baron Samedi, others
Callings: Judge, Guardian (Cimetière/La Croix) or Lover (Samedi), Sage (Cimetière/La Croix) or Trickster
(Samedi)
Purviews: Chaos (Samedi only), Darkness (Cimetière only), Death, Epic Stamina, Fertility (Samedi only), Fortune (La Croix only), Health
DAMBALLA, THE ANCESTOR
Aliases: Danbala Wèdo
Callings: Creator, Leader, Sage
Purviews: Beasts (Snakes), Earth, Fertility, Order,
Sky, Water
KALFU, WHO WALKS AT NIGHT
Aliases: Carrefour, the Devil at the Crossroads
Callings: Liminal, Sage, Trickster
Purviews: Chaos, Darkness, Fortune, Journeys, Moon