Priest of the Church of Karameikos

This is a religion that preaches peace and life.

Acolyte (Available for Children)

Priest

Priest of Asterius

Priest of Kagyar

AChurch Lore (IN) (b): The acolyte is familiar with the organization, rules, and facts of the church itself.
Theology of the Church of Karameikos (IN) (b): The acolyte has a knowledge of the beliefs and practices of the church.
Turn Undead (MP) (b): The acolyte can, with an act of faith alone force the undead to flee, or be destroyed.
Faith in The Church of Karameikos (MP) (b): This is a measure of the strength of the faith of the worshipper.
Prayer (MP) (b): The worshipper knows the proper form of address to ask for aid.
Religious Ceremony (MP) (d): The priest can perform a ceremony of worship.
Benediction (MP) (e): The priest, after a prayer, can confer special bonuses to those who have faith.
Power Resistance (MP) (e): The priest can generate a protection against any but spiritual power.
Salary: 5 royals per month.
Cost: 18 HP.
Possible Exits: Leave the Church in disgrace (gain the detriment Despised by Thyatians (d) 7), leave the clergy (gain the detriment Bereaved (d) 7), remain as a Priest of Kagyar, continue on to Bishop.

Priest of Ilsundal

Priestess of Valerias

Church Lore (IN) (b): The acolyte is familiar with the organization, rules, and facts of the church itself.
Theology of the Church of Karameikos (IN) (b): The acolyte has a knowledge of the beliefs and practices of the church.
Turn Undead (MP) (b): The acolyte can, with an act of faith alone force the undead to flee, or be destroyed.
Faith in The Church of Karameikos (MP) (b): This is a measure of the strength of the faith of the worshipper.
Prayer (MP) (b): The worshipper knows the proper form of address to ask for aid.
Religious Ceremony (MP) (d): The priest can perform a ceremony of worship.
Benediction (MP) (e): The priest, after a prayer, can confer special bonuses to those who have faith.
Locate (MP) (e): The priestess can locate any specific object within the volume of effect. The level of success splits between the duration and volume of effect.
Remove Fear (MP) (e): The priestess can negate the effects of fear in an individual. The level of success is split between the number of individuals effected and the level of fear negated.
Ventriloquism (MP) (e): The priestess can make it seem as though their voice is coming from somewhere else. The level of success determines the range of the effect.
Salary: 5 royals per month.
Cost: 26 HP.
Possible Exits: Leave the Church in disgrace (gain the detriment Despised by Thyatians (d) 7), leave the clergy (gain the detriment Bereaved (d) 7), remain as a Priestess of Valerias, continue on to Bishop.

Priest of Vanya

War Priest of the Order of the Griffon

Church Lore (IN) (b): The acolyte is familiar with the organization, rules, and facts of the church itself.
Theology of the Church of Karameikos (IN) (b): The acolyte has a knowledge of the beliefs and practices of the church.
Turn Undead (MP) (b): The acolyte can, with an act of faith alone force the undead to flee, or be destroyed.
Faith in The Church of Karameikos (MP) (b): This is a measure of the strength of the faith of the worshipper.
Prayer (MP) (b): The worshipper knows the proper form of address to ask for aid.
Religious Ceremony (MP) (d): The priest can perform a ceremony of worship.
Benediction (MP) (e): The priest, after a prayer, can confer special bonuses to those who have faith.
Sword (MA) (b)
Dagger (MA) (b)
Lance (MA) (b)
Stealth (IN) (d)
Riding (PF) (b)
Mounted Combat (PF) (d)
Power Resistance (MP) (e): The priest can generate a protection against any but spiritual power.
Awareness (MP) (e): The priest cannot be surprised.
Remove Fear (MP) (e): The priestess can negate the effects of fear in an individual. The level of success is split between the number of individuals effected and the level of fear negated.
Condition—Noble (d): The War Priest is accorded the status of knight, without the title.
Salary: 5 royals per month.
Equipment: Uniform of the Order of the Griffon, Breastplate with the Crest of the Order (Heavy Armor over Torso and Shoulders), Chainmail for Arms, Shoulders, Torso, Hips, and Legs (Medium Armor), Closed Helm (Heavy Armor), Leather Armor for all but head (Light Armor), Sword, Dagger, Lance, War Horse with Chainmail Barding and spiked shoes (Hoof attacks are Extreme Thrusting).
Requirement: Must have spent at least three terms as a priest of one sort or another.
Cost: 37 HP.
Possible Exits: Leave the Order of the Girffon in disgrace (gain the detriment Despised by Thyatians (d) 7), leave the clergy (gain the detriment Bereaved (d) 7), remain as a War Priest, continue on to Holy Knight.

Paladin of the Order of the Griffon

Sword (MA) (b)
Dagger (MA) (b)
Lance (MA) (b)
Stealth (MA) (d)
Turn Undead (MP) (b): The acolyte can, with an act of faith alone force the undead to flee, or be destroyed.
Faith in The Church of Karameikos (MP) (b): This is a measure of the strength of the faith of the paladin.
Prayer (MP) (b): The paladin knows the proper form of address to ask for aid.
Condition—Noble (d): The Paladin is accorded the status of knight, without the title.
Religious Ceremony (MP) (d): The paladin can perform a ceremony of worship.
Benediction (MP) (e): The paladin, after a prayer, can confer special bonuses to those who have faith.
Salary: 5 royals per month.
Equipment: Uniform of the Order of the Griffon, Breastplate with the Crest of the Order (Heavy Armor over Torso and Shoulders), Chainmail for Arms, Shoulders, Torso, Hips, and Legs (Medium Armor), Closed Helm (Heavy Armor), Leather Armor for all but head (Light Armor), Sword, Dagger, Lance, War Horse with Chainmail Barding and spiked shoes (Hoof attacks are Extreme Thrusting).
Cost: 23 HP.
Possible Exits: Leave the Order of the Girffon in disgrace (gain the detriment Despised by Thyatians (d) 7), remain as a Paladin, continue on to Holy Knight.

Holy Knight

As War Priest, or Paladin
Battlefield Command (MP) (e): This power allows the Holy Knight to communicate with all friendly forces on a battlefield at will for the duration of the battle

Cost: +4 HP

Bishop

Church Lore (IN) (b): The acolyte is familiar with the organization, rules, and facts of the church itself.
Theology of the Church of Karameikos (IN) (b): The acolyte has a knowledge of the beliefs and practices of the church.
Turn Undead (MP) (b): The acolyte can, with an act of faith alone force the undead to flee, or be destroyed.
Faith in The Church of Karameikos (MP) (b): This is a measure of the strength of the faith of the worshipper.
Prayer (MP) (b): The worshipper knows the proper form of address to ask for aid.
Religious Ceremony (MP) (d): The priest can perform a ceremony of worship.
Benediction (MP) (e): The priest, after a prayer, can confer special bonuses to those who have faith.
Command of Asterius (MP) (e): This power allows the bishop to exert control over other individuals. This produces a -3 mystical detriment.
Blessing of Kagyar (MP) (e): This power allows the bishop to temporarily make an item magical. This produces a -12 mystical detriment.
Truesight of Ilsundal (MP) (e): This power allows the bishop to see the true state of a target. This produces a -15 mystical detriment.
Persuasion of Valerias (MP) (e): This power allows the bishop to change the minds of others in a crowd. This produces a -24 mystical detriment.
Vanya's Call to Victory (MP) (e): This power allows the bishop to increase the level of skill of a military unit. This produces a -24 mystical detriment.
Salary: 6 royals per month.
Requirement: Must have spent at least three terms as a priest of one sort or another.
Cost: 23 HP.
Possible Exits: Leave the Church in disgrace (gain the detriment Despised by Thyatians (d) 7), leave the clergy (gain the detriment Bereaved (d) 7), remain as a Bishop, continue on to Patriarch (if there is a vacancy).

Patriarch

Church Lore (IN) (b): The acolyte is familiar with the organization, rules, and facts of the church itself.
Theology of the Church of Karameikos (IN) (b): The acolyte has a knowledge of the beliefs and practices of the church.
Turn Undead (MP) (b): The acolyte can, with an act of faith alone force the undead to flee, or be destroyed.
Faith in The Church of Karameikos (MP) (b): This is a measure of the strength of the faith of the worshipper.
Prayer (MP) (b): The worshipper knows the proper form of address to ask for aid.
Religious Ceremony (MP) (d): The priest can perform a ceremony of worship.
Benediction (MP) (e): The priest, after a prayer, can confer special bonuses to those who have faith.
Command of Asterius (MP) (e): This power allows the bishop to exert control over other individuals. This produces a -3 mystical detriment.
Blessing of Kagyar (MP) (e): This power allows the bishop to temporarily make an item magical. This produces a -12 mystical detriment.
Truesight of Ilsundal (MP) (e): This power allows the bishop to see the true state of a target. This produces a -15 mystical detriment.
Persuasion of Valerias (MP) (e): This power allows the bishop to change the minds of others in a crowd. This produces a -24 mystical detriment.
Vanya's Call to Victory (MP) (e): This power allows the bishop to increase the level of skill of a military unit. This produces a -24 mystical detriment.
Commune (MP) (e): The Patriarch can communicate directly with an Immortal from the pantheon.
Requirements: There must be a vacancy (there has not been one for ten years). The patriarch needs to have been a bishop for at least three terms.
Salary: 8 royals per month.
Cost: 25 HP.
Possible Exits: None.

Notable Members of the Church of Karameikos

Lord Oliver Jowett, head of the Order and Chief Patriarch of the Church of Karameikos.
Magdel, Assistant to the Patriarch.
Alfric Oberbry, Opposition Leader. A fanatic who runs a fundamentalist movement in the Church.

Beliefs of the Church of Karameikos

Asterius is the leader of the pantheon. Thousands of years ago Asterius became an immortal after destroying an artifact of Thanatos that would have resulted in the destruction of the world! Asterius is the patron of merchants. He is seen as the protector of Karameikos. He gets along well with all of the others of the pantheon, this is the reason for this leadership of them. Asterius can manifest as a middle-aged black-haired and corpulent man in ancient robes with a smile that does not touch his eyes.
Kagyar became an immortal who created the dwarven race. He is the patron of artisans, he also represents the earth and the mountains. Kagyar gets along best with Ilsundal, but he finds Valerias to be too subject to her emotions. Kagyar manifests as a hairy and gnarled man deep-set and beady eyes wearing a hooded gray robe and carrying a hammer in one hand and a chisel in the other.
Ilsundal became an immortal with the creation of the first Life Tree, a magical metaphor that gives power to the faithful. He is the patron of elves and represents nature. Ilsundal gets along best with Valerias, who does not deny her inner nature. He finds Vanya too willing to destroy. Ilsundal can manifest as a wise and aged elf.
Valerias' origins as an immortal are lost in the depths of history. She is the patroness of love and passion. Valerias gets along best with Vanya who expresses her passion directly. She finds Kagyar to be too serious. Valerias can manifest as an alluring and awesomely beautiful woman.
Vanya became an immortal by being the finest warrior of her day. She is thus the patroness of warfare and conquest. She gets along best with Kagyar, who is as demanding in his excellence as she is in hers. She find Valerias too interested in small things. Vanya can manifest as a woman of medium height with long brown hair in a single braid wearing red dragon leather armor, long boots, spurs, and both a shortsword and a normal sword.
The forces of chaos are embodied in the Dimension of Nightmare and the beings that come from there.
Faith is the force that allows priests to gain their powers from on high.
Nature is composed of five spheres of power; Matter, Energy, Thought, Time, and Entropy.
The Crystal Halls of Asterius is the place where the faithful will go upon their deaths. The specific path of the faithful will be chosen by one of the immortals of the pantheon.
The faithful may receive divine inspiration upon a successful prayer.
The faithful will receive divine protection only if successfully praying in the face of the servants of Thanatos.
Assault, abuse, murder, theft, lying, adultery and living together without the sanctity of matrimony are sins. Sins stain the spirit. To cleanse the spirit the sinner must perform ceremonies of purification of severity appropriate to the sin. No sin is too great to be cleansed. In theory. a lesser sin requires the saying of a few prayers. A moderate sin requires a days vigil and fasting under the supervision of a priest. A greater sin requires, in addition to secular punishment a greater ceremony of purification. This may include a long and dangerous quest and in severe cases might require the sinner to spend his whole life performing this task.
If the sinner is unwilling to cleanse his spirit, this is also a sin. This is punishable by separation from the church.
Your role in the afterlife is determined by the amount of stain on your soul. Asterius will lead the pure to spend eternity in his crystal halls. The stained must roam Limbo, risking becoming slaves of minions of evil.
It is the responsibility of the members of the church to bring the benefits of the church philosophy to the unbeliever and to remain present in hostile lands, so that the benefits of the Church be denied to no one who desires them.
That magic ritual with no confirmed basis in formal magic or clerical magic constitutes ignorant superstition and is a waste of time and effort.
The forces of Thanatos are present in the world, it is the duty of the Order of the Griffon to seek them out and destroy them.
The purpose of life is to live well in purity and in harmony with nature.
People suffer when impure thoughts and deeds invade their lives.
People die when they are called by one of the pantheon, or when they are taken by Thanatos or one of his minions.
The doctrines of the Church are set out in The Book of Jowett, written through divine inspiration by Oliver Jowett. This book sets down the theology, beliefs, prayers, and ceremonies of the Church of Karamiekos.
At the head of the Church is the Patriarch. To assist the Patriarch there are Bishops. Each Bishop is in charge of several Priests who in turn have their acolytes.
The Traladarans mistrust the Church and see it as an instrument of the Duke.
The Thyatians appreciate the Church and see it as reminder of their ancestral home in the Empire.
The Darine do not trust the Church.
The Callarii are always helpful. Some have joined its ranks.
The Highforge gnomes pay the Church little mind.
The Stronghollow dwarves appreciate the Church, and some are even members.
The halflings do not like the Church, they feel vaguely threatened by it.
The orcs admire the Church.
The Church respects both the Church of Traladara and The Cult of Halav.
The Church of Karameikos was founded by Oliver Jowett in 979 AC.
The Holy Symbols of the Church are a pendant with the image of the moon, a brooch with a crossed hammer and chisel, a pin in the shape of an oak tree, a pin with a delicate rose, and a pin with a vertical lance crossed at the top by two short swords.
Worship is done through intense prayer while holding the Holy Symbol of the Church. Such prayer is performed at dawn and at dusk.
There are special rituals for the following purposes: Burial of the dead in honor, Claim a servant of Thanatos, and Blessing before Battle.
The following additional rituals can be learned: Invoke the Powers of Bargaining, Invoke the Powers of Craftsmanship, Conjure the Hammer of Kagyar, Conjure the White Elf, Invoke the Power of Love, Conjure the Scent of Valerias, Invoke the Power of War, Conjure the Sword of Vanya.
Priests can only be invested by a Bishop. Bishops can only be invested by by a Patriarch, a White Elf, or one of the Immortals. The Patriarch can only be named by Asterius.

Established Prayers

Prayer for Strength
The level of success of this prayer allows the priest to recover from power detriments at the level of success.
Prayer for Asterius
This is a prayer to gain divine intervention for acts of bargaining and trade.
Prayer for Kagyar
This is a prayer to gain divine intervention for acts of craftsmanship.
Prayer for Ilsundal
This is a prayer to gain divine intervention for acts involving nature.
Prayer for Valerias
This is a prayer to gain divine intervention for acts of love or lust.
Prayer for Vanya
This is a prayer to gain divine intervention for acts of warfare or fighting.

Religious Ceremonies

Worship Ceremony
An hour long ceremony once per day. This serves to raise the mood of the faithful.
High Worship Ceremony
A two hour long ceremony performed only on holy days. This ceremony carries a protection from magic for all faithful participants for twenty four hours at the level of success.
Marriage
This is a two hour ceremony during which time the couple exchange vows and devotions.
Absolution
This is a half-hour long ceremony during which time the priest hears the confessions of the worshipper and is able to remove the taint of sins the worshipper is sorry for.
Burial of the Dead
A solemn hour-long ceremony that has a two-fold purpose. First, it consecrates the dead depending upon how the dead lived their lives. The second purpose is to keep the dead from being drawn to the service of Thanatos. Any attempt to contact the dead, animate the dead, or otherwise disturb their rest will have a detriment equal to the level of success.
Exorcism
This is a six hour long ceremony (one of the modifiers must be either Endurance or PF). The result is the level of spirit that can be cast out of a person, place, or object.
Ceremony of Indoctrination
This hour long ceremony brings someone into the Church of Karameikos.
Invest Acolyte
This hour long ceremony results in the ability for a member of the Church to become an acolyte.
Ceremonies of Asterius
Invoke the Power of Bargaining
This two hour long ceremony results in the priest being allowed to use or enhance the skill Bargaining (IN) (b). The level of success is split between effect and duration.
Ceremonies of Kagyar
Invoke the Power of Craftsmanship
This two hour long ceremony results in the priest being allowed to use or enhance a specific Craftsman (MA) (b) skill. The level of success is split between effect and duration.
Conjure the Hammer of Kagyar
This ceremony has two variants. The first requires a hammer and after an hour of prayer and hymns to Kagyar the weapon will be temporarily sanctified. The level of success is split between the effect (damage add) and the duration of the sanctification.
The second variant is that it will physically conjure a sanctified hammer to the priest. This is identical to the first variant, except that the level of success is the duration, there is a -20 detriment and the weapon automatically does Extreme damage.
Ceremonies of Ilsundal
Conjure the White Elf
This ceremony, after an hour of prayers and hymns to Ilsundal, allows the priest to conjure a White Elf, a noble spirit who serves Ilsundal. The level of success is the duration of service. There is a -20 to perform this ritual. Faith must be one of the modifiers.
Ceremonies of Valerias
Invoke the Power of Love
This two hour long ceremony results in the priest being allowed to use or enhance the skill Love (MP) (e). This skill allows the priest to cause two people to fall in love. The level of success is split between effect and duration.
Conjure the Scent of Valerias
This ceremony, after an hour of prayer and hymns to Valerias, allows the priest to conjure a potion called The Scent of Valerias. This potion acts as a perfect aphrodisiac. The level of success is split between the duration and effect.
Ceremonies of Vanya
Invoke the Power of War
This two hour long ceremony results in the priest being allowed to use or enhance the skill War Fighting (IN) (e). This skill is knowledge of fighting styles, tactics, strategy, logistics, and all aspect of war fighting. The level of success is split between effect and duration.
Conjure the Sword of Vanya
This ceremony has two variants. The first requires a sword and after an hour of prayer and hymns to Vanya the sword will be temporarily sanctified. The level of success is split between the effect (damage add) and the duration of the sanctification.
The second variant is that it will physically conjure a sanctified sword to the priest. This is identical to the first variant, except that the level of success is the duration, there is a -20 detriment and the weapon automatically does Extreme damage.
Ceremonies of Bishops
Excommunication
This is a drastic step that must be carefully considered. This is an hour long ceremony that severs an individual's connection to the church.
Invest Priest
This is a two hour ceremony that invests an acolyte with the powers of a priest.
Ceremonies of the Patriarch
Invest Bishop
This four hour ceremony results in a priest being elevated to the status of bishop.
Patriarchal Proclamation
This is a two hour long ceremony resulting in a change in doctrine for all of the faithful.

Benedictions

Blessing
This benediction allows the priest to help the faithful. The level of success is split between the effect (a bonus to die rolls), the number of the faithful who receive this benediction, and the duration of the effect.
True Holy Symbol
This benediction allows the priest to use their personal holy symbol as a vessel of power. Whenever this benediction is performed the result is power pool that is added to the holy symbol. This power pool is drawn by power detriments. When the pool reaches zero, then the detriments begin to effect the priest. When performing this benediction the priest may not use the power pool, and the result is a -3 power detriment.
Benedictions of Bishops
Consecration
This allows the bishop to sanctify a place as holy ground. This must be done before a temple may be built.

Organization

The Partriarch is served by a staff of four bishops and ten priests in his temple in Specularum. There is also a Bishops in Kelvin with a staff of three priests and a dozen acolytes. There are major temples in each town and village operated by a priest and up to eight acolytes. There are numerous shrines along roadsides and in the countryside operated by a priest and as many as three acolytes.To return to the Mystara page.

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