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moonvoiceBasic Rules/Laws of the Otherworlds
1. Never give your true name (the name given to you by birth, or a name gifted to you by gods). Do not expect to be given 'true names' by others either.
2. Carry food and drink on your person. You will often be asked to dine or partake with food with other spirits and gods, but this is not generally considered wise. It is often considered polite then to respectfully decline by offering your own fare.
3. Treat all living and non-living entities of the otherworlds with respect. This might be as simple as asking a rock permission before sitting on it. Or as complex as not letting your fear govern a rude response to a god or demon.
4. Exercise vigilance. Use your brain. Don't speak without thinking first. Instinct is good in the otherworlds, impulse is not.
5. Do not expect that everything will want to give you attention. If you signal that you wish to speak with an entity and it ignores you, then leave it alone. If it signals back, approach respectfully, do not invade its space (leave a distance equal to your height between you), act with courtesy. You may be talking to a god in disguise.
6. Do not lie. In the cases where you have to give 'false' information, be creative. If you are asked where you live, it is acceptable to say 'in a house by the road' (if that's true), but do not say 'on the moon.' If you are asked for your name, do not give a false name, give a nickname that you have been called in the past, or give a name that you have given yourself for these circumstances.
7. Unless you are in the presence of certain deities, try not to indicate irrational fear. Normal fear - such as that which you might present a snarling bear - is fine, but irrational fear leaves you extremely vulnerable, and will end up with you earning a somewhat contemptuous reputation.
8. Learn to master your ego. Do not ever boast of what you can do to other entities if you can't do it when they ask you to. Do not ever brag to gods.
9. If an entity indicates a wish to travel with you, you are obliged to accept. If you feel your path may be dangerous, indicate this.
10. If an entity does you a favour, is a temporary guide, or helps you in some way, it is considered appropriate to repay it in some way. You can ask how, or travel with pre-prepared gifts. If you feel an entity is offering to do something for which you cannot offer appropriate payment, show the gifts you have available and say 'this is all I have right now, but if you can indicate to me what you would like, I can let you know if it is possible for me to give.' You will not ever be able to give an appropriate gift to every creature that helps you. There will be cases where you end up in the debt of other entities (and they end up in yours). This cannot be avoided if you plan on long-term journeying.
11. If you are asked to give a favour, and it is within your power to do so. Give it freely, and do not expect a reward. The law of the otherworlds indicate that they will be in your debt anyway, so asking for a reward or favour is simply rude and ignorant.
12. Do not make promises you can't keep.
13. Do not indicate deadlines you can't meet.
14. If an entity plays a trick on you, or hurts you, brace yourself before fighting back. Petty anger has little place in the otherworlds.
15. Don't preach to, or assume you know what's best, for any other entity in the otherworlds. This also includes wounded soul fragments. They have their own innate knowing, and if they don't come back with you, it may not be a slight on your own character, it may simply be the soul fragment doing what is best.
16. If you are ever offered a token, say thank you and accept it. If you are worried it may be a curse, place it in a 'safe place' or 'neutral place' in the otherworlds. Never decline a gift, no matter what it is, whether it be animal gore, or treasure. If given an article of clothing or jewellery however, do not put it on.
17. Ugly people can be helpful. Beautiful people can harm you. As in the real world, 'beauty' is not a true reflection of character.
18. Compassion, canniness, a generous spirit and wit can get you very far in the otherworlds.
19. Remember, if you feel you are faltering, or don't know what to do next, always ask your spirit helpers, guides, totems, ancestors for help. If they are absent, ask them for a sign or indication. If they have left you because you have offended them somehow, get out of the trance state as quickly and as safely as you possibly can. I find a quick method to get out of the trance state is to have a pin in my 'pack' which I prick my finger with (which in the real world rests under my right index finger). The physical shock of such an 'awakening' is preferable over the dangers you can be in unprotected and unsupported in the otherworlds.
1. Never give your true name (the name given to you by birth, or a name gifted to you by gods). Do not expect to be given 'true names' by others either.
2. Carry food and drink on your person. You will often be asked to dine or partake with food with other spirits and gods, but this is not generally considered wise. It is often considered polite then to respectfully decline by offering your own fare.
3. Treat all living and non-living entities of the otherworlds with respect. This might be as simple as asking a rock permission before sitting on it. Or as complex as not letting your fear govern a rude response to a god or demon.
4. Exercise vigilance. Use your brain. Don't speak without thinking first. Instinct is good in the otherworlds, impulse is not.
5. Do not expect that everything will want to give you attention. If you signal that you wish to speak with an entity and it ignores you, then leave it alone. If it signals back, approach respectfully, do not invade its space (leave a distance equal to your height between you), act with courtesy. You may be talking to a god in disguise.
6. Do not lie. In the cases where you have to give 'false' information, be creative. If you are asked where you live, it is acceptable to say 'in a house by the road' (if that's true), but do not say 'on the moon.' If you are asked for your name, do not give a false name, give a nickname that you have been called in the past, or give a name that you have given yourself for these circumstances.
7. Unless you are in the presence of certain deities, try not to indicate irrational fear. Normal fear - such as that which you might present a snarling bear - is fine, but irrational fear leaves you extremely vulnerable, and will end up with you earning a somewhat contemptuous reputation.
8. Learn to master your ego. Do not ever boast of what you can do to other entities if you can't do it when they ask you to. Do not ever brag to gods.
9. If an entity indicates a wish to travel with you, you are obliged to accept. If you feel your path may be dangerous, indicate this.
10. If an entity does you a favour, is a temporary guide, or helps you in some way, it is considered appropriate to repay it in some way. You can ask how, or travel with pre-prepared gifts. If you feel an entity is offering to do something for which you cannot offer appropriate payment, show the gifts you have available and say 'this is all I have right now, but if you can indicate to me what you would like, I can let you know if it is possible for me to give.' You will not ever be able to give an appropriate gift to every creature that helps you. There will be cases where you end up in the debt of other entities (and they end up in yours). This cannot be avoided if you plan on long-term journeying.
11. If you are asked to give a favour, and it is within your power to do so. Give it freely, and do not expect a reward. The law of the otherworlds indicate that they will be in your debt anyway, so asking for a reward or favour is simply rude and ignorant.
12. Do not make promises you can't keep.
13. Do not indicate deadlines you can't meet.
14. If an entity plays a trick on you, or hurts you, brace yourself before fighting back. Petty anger has little place in the otherworlds.
15. Don't preach to, or assume you know what's best, for any other entity in the otherworlds. This also includes wounded soul fragments. They have their own innate knowing, and if they don't come back with you, it may not be a slight on your own character, it may simply be the soul fragment doing what is best.
16. If you are ever offered a token, say thank you and accept it. If you are worried it may be a curse, place it in a 'safe place' or 'neutral place' in the otherworlds. Never decline a gift, no matter what it is, whether it be animal gore, or treasure. If given an article of clothing or jewellery however, do not put it on.
17. Ugly people can be helpful. Beautiful people can harm you. As in the real world, 'beauty' is not a true reflection of character.
18. Compassion, canniness, a generous spirit and wit can get you very far in the otherworlds.
19. Remember, if you feel you are faltering, or don't know what to do next, always ask your spirit helpers, guides, totems, ancestors for help. If they are absent, ask them for a sign or indication. If they have left you because you have offended them somehow, get out of the trance state as quickly and as safely as you possibly can. I find a quick method to get out of the trance state is to have a pin in my 'pack' which I prick my finger with (which in the real world rests under my right index finger). The physical shock of such an 'awakening' is preferable over the dangers you can be in unprotected and unsupported in the otherworlds.
