Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Freya Encounters, Part I

Followers of Freya

FREYAN PHILOSOPHY
Though her followers may heed all her tenets, some may emphasize one most of all. This choice not only focuses the fashion of their faith, but it can also alter the mysteries, magical side-effects, and divine test results available to them from Volume I.

Main Emphasis (d16)
1. Spread love (Gef)
2. Enjoy all that life has to offer (Horn)
3. Master the arts of passion (Mardoll)
4. Master the arts of magic (Galdor)
5. Master the arts of battle (Hild)
6. Bring beauty into your life (Skjalf)
7. Totemic focus: cats, falcons, or boar
8. Practice witchcraft/ shamanism (Seidr)
9. Anglo-Saxon, Gothic, or other Germanic tradition (Freo - link, Hretha- link)
10-16. (No special emphasis)

For example, if a cleric of Freya's focus is to master the arts of battle, she could gain a +2 bonus to one of her spell rolls when fighting, rather than gain the Charisma bonus as listed in Volume I. Similarly, rather than needing to disguise herself like Thor did (for Magical Side-Effect #2), the spell's recipient might only be healed if they had been wounded in battle.


CLERIC-TYPE OF FREYA GENERATOR

Female Classes (90% chance, d20)
1-6. Cleric 
7-13. Priestess
14-17. Volva/ Seidkona (shamaness/ witch, see below)
18-20. Valkyrie Shieldmaiden (mortal, see below)

Male Classes (10% chance, d12)
1-5. Cleric 
6-10. Priest
11-12. Seidrman (shaman)

Hair Color (d10)
1. Platinum blond
2-3. Golden blond
4-5. Dark blond
6-7. Red
8-9. Brown
10. Black

Build (d6)
1. Slender
2. Athletic
3. Stocky
4-6. Voluptuous

(See also the What is so Attractive table in Volume I.)

Complexion (d8)
1-6. Fair
7. Medium
8. Tanned

Garb (d6)
Beauty is reflected in a Freyan's clothes, sometimes not even requiring them.
1-3. Robes
4-5. Furs
6. Nude

Special Possessions (percent chance each)
- Beautiful jewelry: worth roughly 1d4 x 100 gold pieces (10% per level)
- Feather cape: allows flight, per the spell, up to once per day, but for just 1d6 turns (5% per level)

Main Weapon (d4)
1. Longsword
2. Staff
3. Bow
4. Dagger

Special Qualities (percent chance)
- Vigorous fylgja (15%): their spirit guardian is particularly active in the matters of love, fighting, and magic, granting a +1d3 bonus to 1d3 rolls that involve at least one of them per day. The fylgja is otherwise generally supportive, like those that other people have.


Sample Cleric-Types of Freya


Armod HroaldottirLvl 5 Norse priestess of Freya, Align: N, MV: 40’, AC: 9, HD: 5, HP: 27, Atk: 1 (longsword), Dmg: 1d8, SP: priestess abilities, spells prepared (1st: Cure Light Wounds, Detect Magic, Light (as aurora borealis), Purify Food & Drink,  Remove Fear, Sanctuary, Charm Person*, Fetch* (as Unseen Servant, but looks like the ideal mate or totem animal of the cleric- a cat), 2nd Level: Bless, Reveal Charm, Snake Charm (ahem), Spiritual Weapon (held by a Valkyrie), Levitate*, 3rd Level: Clairaudience*, Summon Animal I (D, cats, falcons, or boar only), SV: C5, Mor: 9, Items: holy symbol, robes, beautiful jewelry, long sword, 27 gold pieces, feather cape (see above). Main Emphasis: Master the arts of passion (Mardoll), Appearance: fair complexion, red hair, voluptuous.

Sigrid GærhialmdottirLvl 3 Norse valkyrie shieldmaiden of Freya, Align: N, MV: 35’, AC: 4, HD: 3, HP: 24, Atk: 1 (spear), Dmg: 1d6+1, SP: choose slain, inspire heroism, also must save to not slay a foe, SV: F3, Mor: 10, Items: chainmail, shield, spear, dagger. Appearance: fair complexion, golden blond hair, athletic build. 

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Valkyrie Shield Maidens (mortal)
Warrior women who pledge themselves to Freya and Odin, taking on much of the power of their spirit/ immortal counterparts. 
* They fight as fighters (using their bonus to hit, HD, and saves), but gain no weapon specialization or other special abilities. They can wear chainmail and fight with spear, sword, and shield.
* In return, they can gain 1 of the following abilities for every odd level they have (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.) Selecting the ability more than once compounds its effects or number of times per day it can be used:
     > Choose Slain, 3/day: gain +2 to all rolls vs. 1 foe for one battle.
     > Cure Light Wounds, 3/day: only works on battle wounds though.
     > Inspire Heroism, 3/day: grant +2 to all combat-related rolls to all allies when within 30' for 2d6 rounds.
     > Fly, up to 1d6 total turns per day: per the spell but requires a mount to do so.
* What is more, they must save vs. death/ make a Will save DC 10 to not slay a foe if given the chance, for they are (mortal) choosers of the slain, after all.


Volva/ Seidkona (Norse Seeress/ shamaness/ witch)
* Treat as clerics, except that they fight as and have the armor and weapon restrictions of magic-users.
* In return, they can cast any divinatory spells that would be available to spellcasters of their level in lieu of any other spells that they may have prepared from their divinity's list. This ability allows them ongoing access to such magic.
* Still, they must also roll for Volva Magical Side-Effects when casting any spells (see below) in addition to their divinity's ones. These results can be adjusted based on the Volva's tradition, per Referee.
(Note that men who practice seidr will suffer great shame, considered unmanly, especially if caught by other Norsemen.)

Volva Magical Side-Effects (d6)
The volva must do 1d3 of the following to make the spell work (roll a d6 three times, repeat rolls indicate that less requirements are needed).
1. Go into a trance, being unable to defend herself for 2d6 rounds.
2. Sing to the spirits.
3. Drum, rattle.
4. Hold a distaff.
5. Sit on a raised platform seat.
6. Move on to a new place the next day.


Next week: Temples of Freya in Part II!