Vision Quest... what's in yours?

[Felix]

One of my characters is a barbarian/Forsaker coming from a tribe of people ruled over by druids. He knows quite a lot about the natural world, and is a dabbler in herbology, gardening, and poisons. Meaning he knows a little bit about what mushrooms and natural plants will make your head light, and which frogs one ought not to lick.

The other session I asked my DM about the presence of a vision quest in that society similar to the vision quests in Native American society, and he said, sure, not a problem.

So this is a two-part question:

When did native americans go on vision quests, for what purpose, and what were the conditions surrounding their, um, trip (where did they go, what did they take with them, how long did they stay... that sort of thing).

Secondly, what would you all do on your Vision Quest, if your DnD character were going on one? What kinds of revalations would you give your player if you were DMing it? What kinds of challenges exactly would an experience like this entail? If this were designed as a side quest similar to a paladin finding his holy avenger, what would the questor come away with besides a, heh, good trip?

Fire away!

 

[Krieg]

1. Individual undergoes purification ritual, usually in a sweat lodge.
2. Individual travels alone with no provisions or equipment to a sacred place.
3. Individual fasts & meditates for a period of time (usually several days). May practice self-mutilation, smoke or use hallucinogens.
4. Individuals goes into a trance (sleep, water & food depravation will do that to you, not to mention the hallucinogens! ) wherein individuals encounters a spirit guide (usually in animal form) and/or received valuable information.
5. Weak & hungry individual stumbles home.

That is of course a gross generalization, but you get what you pay for.

 

[Turanil]

After having read many books on some Native Americans, I would make a RPG vision quest as follows. However, I want to first precise something: this is a rpg suggestion, certainly NOT a description of Native American religion.

1) When faced with a very important problem for which he has no idea about what to do, one may opt to go for a Vision Quest. However, in doing so he will ask the Spirits / Deities. Hence, a Vision Quest is not undertaken lightly, and never for trivial purposes. One undertakes a Vision Quest whenever he chooses to, but only when very important matters are involved. That is, you don't undertake a Vision Quest to know where you lost your +1 sword, but you could if you were to multiclass but don't know if you should better become a Druid or a Ranger for example (because choosing a new class normally involves your life, and its possible impact on others). Some people have only undertaken a Vision Quest once or twice in their life, others as much as a dozen times in their lifetime.

2) Normally it involves the help and guidance of (in this case) a Druid. One may not undertake a Vision Quest alone. The Druid prepares a ceremony in which the character will be purified (could be a "sweat lodge"), and which may involve the relatives / friends of the character.

3) Once the ritual finished and the character "blessed" by the Druid, he goes alone, in a sacred wilderness place, where he prepares a place to remain awake, without drinking and eating for four days. Sometimes he dig a hole in the earth where he will remain, but you could invent other methods, such as hanging from a tree over a pond for all that time (remember about Odin?). During this time he is totally alone. He can only pray, and ask his question all the time.

4) Result: Three things may happen, usually at the end of the four days. In some cases, nothing at all happens. In rarer cases, the Spirits /Deities are angry at the character and will punish him in some ways. However, if the character is worthy, and his question really important, the Spirits / Deities will come in person to the character to give him advice. Treat this as a Commune or Legend Lore spell at the very least.

Note that for enduring the four days in prayer, awake, without drink and food, may require some Fortitude or Will saves.

 

[Tonguez]

I use 'vision quest' type things to give new feats or familiars/animal companions

Three things could be done in the case of a Barbarian
1. An annual vision ritual which puts him in touch with his beast spirit and allows him to rage for another year (the beast might also give hints about future adventure hooks)

2. A spirit showing the barbarian a distant activity of relevance (ie cutscene to the activity in Mordor)

3. Do it everytime your Barb multiclasses