History Main / WillingChanneler

A type of [[BodyAndHost Host]] that "willingly" allows him/herself to be possessed by someone or something. Usually a cultist or Spirit Medium like that of a shaman, the trope has been used more commonly in fantasy settings in conjunction with DemonicPossession from an evil spirit or magician of BlackMagic. When a Willing Channeler is possessed by such an entity, they evolve into becoming a LivingBodysuit. The opposite form of spirit however, being possessed by a ''benevolent'' force, is simply called Channeling, as it is more or less a mutualist [[TheSymbiote Symbiotic]] relationship of a spiritual nature, and rarely does the "virtuous guest" force anything upon the host without consent and/or necessity.

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* ''Serroquettes'' from TheFallenKingsCycle are prostitutes who allow ghosts to use their body for one last [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean encounter]] with a loved one.

A type of [[BodyAndHost Host]] that "willingly" allows him/herself to be possessed by someone or something. Usually a cultist or Spirit Medium like that of a shaman, the trope has been used more commonly in fantasy settings in conjunction with DemonicPossession from an evil spirit or magician of BlackMagic. When a Willing Channeler is possessed by such an entity, they evolve into becoming [[CthulhusTux Cthulhu's Tux]]. The opposite form of spirit however, being possessed by a ''benevolent'' force, is simply called Channeling, as it is more or less a mutualist [[TheSymbiote Symbiotic]] relationship of a spiritual nature, and rarely does the "virtuous guest" force anything upon the host without consent and/or necessity.

* Ryuusei Cartwright in ''AdventureQuest'' freely allows the Devourer The'Galin to manifest in his body. Curiously, he retains the ability to shift into this form after The'Galin had left.

* If you spared the Rachni Queen in ''MassEffect'', you'll meet her channeler in Mass Effect 2 on Illium. While Shepard is sceptical, the channeler insists that she volunteered.
* BioWare also used this in JadeEmpire with Wild Flower and her "guardian" Chang Ka. Wild Flower is a sweet-natured small child no more than ten years old, and Chang Ka is a ''massive,'' shaggy demon. [[spoiler: Of course, he's not the only one that's possessing Wild Flower]]. It ends up being justified in that the Guardian needs a host to tie him to this plain of existence and help the [[PlayerCharacter Spirit Monk]], and Wild Flower's happy because [[spoiler:she should be ''dead'' and Chang Ka's possession gives her a second chance.]]

* In ''StargateSG1'' an entire group of the normally AlwaysChaoticEvil (at the time) BigBad race elected to [[DefectorFromDecadence become this trope]].

* In an episode of ''StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', Kira let herself to be possessed by an EnergyBeing. The possessor even explicitly declared (when in her body): "This vessel is willing." (On the other hand, its ''evil'' opponent ''forcibly'' possessed the body of Jake Sisko.)

* Practitioners of the Kurain Channeling Technique, most notably Maya Fey (and Pearl Fey when Maya is unavailable), in the ''PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'' games. Unusually, this technique also allows the host to take on the approximate ''physical'' form of the dead person being channeled. The only physical trait that remains the same is hair color and style (and a person's hair isn't alive...). The users can also change in age and size (Pearl, a young child in the clothes of a young child, channeling Mia, an adult is the [[MostCommonSuperpower most noticeable example]])

* BioWare also used this in JadeEmpire with Wild Flower and her "guardian" Chang Ka. Wild Flower is a sweet-natured small child no more than ten years old, and Chang Ka is a ''massive,'' shaggy demon. [[spoiler: Of course, he's not the only one that's possessing Wild Flower]]. It ends up being justified in that the Guardian needs a host to tie him to this plain of existence and help the [[PlayerCharacter Spirit Monk]], and Wild Flower's happy because [[spoiler:she should be ''dead'' and Chang Ka's possession gives her a second chance.]]

* Practitioners of the Kurain Channeling Technique, most notably Maya Fey (And Pearl Fey when Maya is unavailable), in the ''AceAttorney'' series. Unusually, this technique also allows the host to take on the approximate ''physical'' form of the dead person being channeled. The only physical trait that remains the same is hair color and style (and a person's hair isn't alive...). The users can also change in age and size (Pearl, a young child in the clothes of a young child, channeling Mia, an adult is the [[MostCommonSuperpower most noticeable example]])

* Practitioners of the Kurain Channeling Technique, most notably Maya Fey (And Pearl Fey when Maya is unavailable), in the ''AceAttorney'' series. Unusually, this technique also allows the host to take on the approximate ''physical'' form of the dead person being channeled. The only physical trait that remains the same is hair color and style (and a person's hair isn't alive...). The users can also change in age and size (Pearl, a young child, channeling Mia, an adult is the most noticeable example)

* You spared the Rachni Queen in ''MassEffect'', you'll meet her channeler in Mass Effect 2 on Illium. While Shepard is sceptical, the channeler insists that she volunteered.

* In the StarTrekExpandedUniverse, the energy beings known as the Fates can enter into a being's mind and control their body while their own consciousness is inert. The being has to be a) the right sort of person with the correct genes or mental abilities, and b) willing. Astraea, the leader of a Cardassian religion based upon worship of the mysterious "good" Fates led by Oralius, is the best example of the truly WillingChanneler. See: TerokNor and StarTrekTheLostEra. The EvilCounterpart to Oralius, Uramtali (leader of the Night Spirits) shows up in the StarTrekTheLostEra novel ''Well of Souls''. She cheats a bit; she ensures her host is "willing" by placing him in a situation where if he refuses his child suffers.

* Voluntary Controllers in ''{{Animorphs}}'', who make up a minority of the [[PuppetMasters Yeerks']] hosts (known as Controllers). When separated so the Yeerk can feed in the Yeerk pool, the willing hosts are rewarded with the privilege of getting to sit in a lounge-type area, watch TV, and generally hang out, instead of being locked in a cage for the duration like the unwilling majority.

* In ''StarGateSG1'' an entire group of the normally AlwaysChaoticEvil (at the time) BigBad race elected to [[DefectorFromDecadence become this trope]].

* In the last book of ''TheBartimaeusTrilogy'' [[spoiler: Nathaniel becomes on of these to Bartimaeus, though never of them is fully in control]].

* BioWare also used this in JadeEmpire with Wild Flower and her "guardian" Chang Ka. Wild Flower is a sweet-natured small child no more than ten years old, and Chang Ka is a ''massive,'' shaggy demon. [[spoiler: Of course, he's not the only one that's possessing Wild Flower]]. It ends up being justified in that the Guardian needs a host to tie him to this plain of existence and help the [[PlayerCharacter Spirit Monk]].

* ''{{Kannagi}}'' - Zange is [[spoiler: also a ''kami'', in possession of a body named Haruka. She sometimes [[TalkingToThemself has conversations with her host.]]]]

* In the [[WebGames flash RPG]] ''{{MARDEK}}'', the [[IdiotHero titular character]] shares a consciousness with Rohoph.

* In the StarTrekExpandedUniverse, the energy beings known as the Fates can enter into a being's mind and control their body while their own consciousness is inert. The being has to be a) the right sort of person with the correct genes or mental abilities, and b) willing. Astraea, the leader of a Cardassian religion based upon worship of the mysterious "good" Fates led by Oralius, is the best example of the truly WillingChanneler. See: TerokNor and StarTrekTheLostEra. The EvilCounterpart to Oralius, Uramtali (leader of the Night Spirits) shows up in the StarTrekTheLostEra novel ''Well of Souls'' She cheats a bit; she ensures her host is "willing" by placing him in a situation where if he refuses his child suffers.