The ability to possess great skill in the creation and use of shrunken heads
Also Called[]
- Head-Shrinking Proficiency
Capabilities[]
Users of this ability are skilled at creating shrunken heads, which may or may not end up having magical powers depending on the specific verse - in many universes once created a shrunken head becomes the vessel for the spirit of the victim and indeed in many headhunting societies the creation of such items were designed to grant the headhunter power over the spirit of the deceased as well as prevent the spirit exacting revenge.
Shrunken heads can be created in a variety of ways, often with a wide array of esoteric skills that are hidden from many in order to create the illusion of true magic (in some more advanced cases the witch doctor actually possesses real magic, allowing them to create shrunken heads almost at will).
Applications[]
Variants[]
Limitations[]
- While considered magical by practitioners (and indeed may develop true supernatural powers) shrunken heads are not always true magic.
- The practice may be outlawed or taboo due to both the obvious murderous implications and the magic being seen as forbidden by some.
- many magic systems have laws of exchange, requiring a sacrifice for power and misuse of magic can corrupt an individual.
- the souls of the deceased can become vengeful if not contained properly and may do harm to the magician.
Associations[]
- Archetype:Headhunter
- Black Shamanism
- Esoteric Power System
- Jungle Magic
- Voodoo (while not a traditional part of voodoo the stereotype has merged, especially in the case of witch doctors and bokors.)
Known Users[]
- Dimitri (Hollands Hoop)
- Doctor Facilier (Princess and the Frog)
- Queequeg (Moby Dick)
- Dreamcatcher (Skylanders series)
- Amazone Tribe (Tintin and the Broken Ear)