Question Spirits around town

What spirits might be lurking around the average non Mythos saturated town?

If the town has an especially prominent industry or theme, there might be a spirit or two relating to that. So a logging town might have a spirit relating to trees or craftsmanship, whereas a town that runs on tourism might attract or develop spirits that relate to traveling, performance, or exhibition. If the current focus of the town is new, you'll want to think about what the town used to be like and how that might influence the spiritual landscape. So for example, a rust belt town that's reinventing itself as a college town might still have spirits of industry lingering. How are they reacting to the new paradigm? Are they embracing and encouraging the spirits of meditation, experimentation, and growth that are being drawn in by the college and revitalizing the area, or are they butting heads with the upstarts and trying to strangle the town's rebirth in a futile attempt to reclaim their glory days?

Another thing to look toward are any special geological or ecological features. A town built along a lake might have lake-related spirits (fish, beaver, reeds, leaches, frogs, ducks, water elementals, mud elementals, etc.). Also, think about what features the location used to have before all those pesky humans showed up. Did they drain a swamp to create farmland? You might have a bunch of crusty old swamp spirits roaming around making trouble and getting into fights with the agricultural spirits that followed in the humans' wake.

On a related note, factor in the age of the town. A newer town is going to have more nature-related spirits and fewer civilization-related spirits than an older town. The older the town and the longer the populace's culture and traditions have been in place, the more impact they'll have had. If the town's had an annual pumpkin festival for two hundred and fourteen years, it would not be surprising if they had a pumpkin spirit hanging around. It would be surprising to find a spirit relating to the Silly Selfie Contest that only started up three years ago.

And of course, you can't forget the Native Americans (assuming your town is in America, that is). Find out which tribes once lived there (and whether they still do, or if they've been driven out or killed off), then see what sorts of spirits they had. Those spirits might still be around in their original forms, or they may have shifted with the times to become something a bit different. There's a lot of room for fun reinterpretations. Also, depending on the story you're telling, you might not have to actually admit that you're reinterpreting something, in case you're concerned about potentially offending people by getting details wrong or violating some taboo you didn't know about.

Some other stuff to think about: sports teams, music scene, cleanliness or lack thereof, weather patterns, immigrant communities (and any foreign spirits they may have brought with), inter-city rivalries, old families, historic events, and local legends.

Another thing to think about is to look at the tech level of the previous inhabitants of the area.

Most of the pagan gods had an aspect that was directly related to the crafts that were used by their worshippers; Vulcan for smithing; Ptah for metalwork, architecture, hydraulics, and, irrigation.

This would also be of use both for mages, shamans, and, priests, each of which will have a different relationship with the spirits, according to their own roles/functions within their own societies.

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As an engineer who practices forms of mysticism, i find it delicious to consider the type of spirits that would be based around the workshops in Whateley...

Thanks guys, I need to do some research but I have a few ideas already.

Still POed raptor spirit from when there were raptor hunts at what now is a bird sanctuary, the local haunted house's resident spirits, earth and water spirits from a cave system who are a little irked but flattered by the intrusion of surface dwellers oggeling their home.a blending of Native American and Germatic views of nature spirits, with encrouchment from other cultures brought in by the collage.

And I have ideas on how to improve my 'reflective plain' with reflections of the past that a traveler could get lost in if they aren't careful.

Ok, worked out a few spirit ideas that may show up in town, but for what ever reason I'm stumped, save for a Vomit 'Elemental", what might be around an amusement park, like Six Flags, Dorney, or Hersey.

Something like that would probably attract the sorts of spirits that feed on fear, thrill, and excitement.

What about the earthy fertility spirits that would be found near compost heaps, or sewage farms...?

Mister D wrote: What about the earthy fertility spirits that would be found near compost heaps, or sewage farms...?

Mushroom and cherry tomato spirits Pizza!

Meh. What worries ME is the spirits found around the DVLA or other government agencies...

Brit-to-Murican translation: DVLA -> DMV

Sir Lee wrote: Brit-to-Murican translation: DVLA -> DMV

Wouldn't they be spirits of Sloth, Inaction, and Obscurantism, for the negatively aspected ones.

Spirits of meticulousness, accuracy, and, tidiness, for the positive aspects.

NB: The MMORPG Anarchy Online had a character class called Bureaucrat, where one of the movement de-buff's that they could use was named "Blizzard of Red Tape."

Had a thought: There are stories of people getting caught up in Fairy parties, I'm thinking I do that, girl wakes up in the park the next day, maybe messed with Midsomer's Night style, but picks up a lesser Sidhe spirit. Goblin or something.

Y'know, every time I read 'Spirits around town', I immediately think of very chic spooks, who dress well, hold their liquor, and are seen at all the very best haunts

Bek D Corbin wrote: Y'know, every time I read 'Spirits around town', I immediately think of very chic spooks, who dress well, hold their liquor, and are seen at all the very best haunts

Anything like William Gibson's "The Belonging Kind"?

Mister D wrote: What about the earthy fertility spirits that would be found near compost heaps, or sewage farms...?

Or ones like the Nymphs in Tales of MU (NSFW)... though that probably belongs under the Bad Ideas thread, especially if they have the same clothing ban. Doubly so if an Avatar student bonds with her...

Hmmmn, pardon me, I have a micro-scene coming on... or at least an Overheard, not sure yet.