Religious Magic—Clergy and Their Abilities

Clergy are the direct servants of divine beings in the physical world. Guidelines on how to create actual religious orders are in the GM Guide. Within those constraints, here are the guidelines for creating religious skills and powers.

Prayer (MP) (b)

This is the same ability as stated in Religious Magic—Fundamentals of Worship. There may be many specific prayers that are learned by clergy that are not available to worshippers. These will be prayers that are specific to the divine being that is worshipped.

• Prayer for Damage Absorption, the result is split between the HP equivalent to decrease the damage done by attack and the duration of the effect for the faithful. It is possible that religions whose deity is known for combat can decrease the damage done by those not initiated at one third the normal rate and duration.
• Prayer for Endurance, the result is split between the HP equivalent to improve Endurance and the duration of the effect for the faithful. It is possible that religions whose deity is known for physical enhancement can improve the Endurance of those not initiated at one third the normal rate and duration.
• Prayer for Fear, the result is split between the HP equivalent to produce the effect Fear and the duration of the effect. This fear weffect may be used as an attack against one or more targets.
• Prayer for Healing Wounds, the result is the HP equivalent to reduce the severity of wounds for the faithful. It is possible that religions whose deity is known for healing can heal those not initiated at one third the normal rate.
• Prayer for Improving Strength, the result is split between the HP equivalent to improve Strength and the duration of the effect for the faithful. It is possible that religions whose deity is known for physical enhancement can improve the Strength of those not initiated at one third the normal rate and duration.
• Prayer for Stout Attack, the result is split between the HP equivalent to incrtease the attack skill and the duration of the effect for the faithful. It is possible that religions whose deity is known for combat can improve attack skills for those not initiated at one third the normal rate and duration.

Religious Ceremonies (MP) (b)

These ceremonies form the bulk of the duties of the clergy. Often there are only certain religious ceremonies available to each level of responsibility. These rituals are available to all clergy within the religion under this power. To start with you know the standard Worship Ceremony: This is an hour long ceremony performed once per day at a particular time. This serves to raise the mood of the faithful and to conduct their feelings of faith as a gift to the divine subject of worship. Here are some others that may apply to the religion of the character:

• Birth: This one-hour ceremony blesses the newborn, acting as an initiation into the religion.
• Ceremony of Excommunication: This is only available to clergy at a level higher than priest. 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.
• Coming of Age: This one hour ceremony is performed when the adolescent becomes an adult (possibly when the child becomes an adolescent).
• High Worship Ceremony: A one-to-three hour long ceremony performed only on holy days or other special occasions. This ceremony carries a protection from magic for all faithful participants for twenty-four hours at the level of success.
• Initiation: When an adolescent (or older individual) enters the religion, this one hour ceremony serves as official recognition.
• Investment of an Acolyte: This hour long ceremony results in the investment of an acolyte.
• Investment of a Priest: This is only available to clergy at a level higher than priest. This is a two hour ceremony that invests an acolyte with the powers of a priest.
• Marriage: This one hour ceremony acknowledges the link of two people within the eyes of the religion.
• Sacrement: This ceremony brings those initiated into closer contact with the divine being worshipped. This gerants a bonus to all areas controlled by the deity, the level of success is split between HP for the effect and the duration of that effect.
• Secret Ceremonies: Many religious orders will have secret ceremonies that are very powerful, but only the most trusted members of the clergy are allowed to participate or learn them. Such ceremonies will duplicate magical intentions that are specifically oriented along the lines of the divine powers associated with their faith. Here are some examples:
  • Ceremony of Healing Aura
  • Ceremony of Planar Travel to the Realm of the Deity
  • Ceremony of Protection

Here are some examples of specials for Religious Ceremonies:

• Ceremony to call divine aid, this would conjure a spiritual servant to do your bidding.
• Ceremony to manifest divine will, this would allow the priest to perform one religious magic appropriate to the area(s) of power of the divine.

Benedictions (MP) (d)

Benedictions are the direct blessings of a divine power. They may be used to grant temporary powers to individuals, to bless items, or to bless places. The ground on which a temple is to be built must be so blessed. No temple can be complete without a blessed central item (usually an altar to lead worship ceremonies at). Common benedictions are:

• Blessed Vestments: The priest may bless holy vestments that will assist in religious ceremonies and benedictions. The level of success is split between HP spent on the bonus and the duration of the bonus.
• Blessing: This benediction allows the priest to help the faithful. The level of success is split between the effect (a number of difficult MP pips that act as a general die roll modifier), the number of the faithful who receive this benediction, and the duration of the effect.
• Consecration: This allows the bishop to sanctify a place as holy ground. This must be done before a temple may be built.
• Create a Blessed Weapon, the level is split between the duration and level of success. The result is a weapon that will assist the faithful and will be seen as a divine attack upon the enemies of your faith.
• Create 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. The priest may not use the power pool from a holy symbol in the creation of a holy symbol. Once the benediction is made there is a -3 power detriment.
• Install a Gaurdian Spirit to protect a specific place.
• Install a personal Guardian Spirit.

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