Medieval Clerics, Part I

Orders of the Medieval Age
Serve your faith, and it will serve you well.

Tenets of Medieval Orders

• Be virtuous
• Be pure (abiding by chastity & poverty)
• Doing one's duty (obedient)
• Denounce evil (especially magic!)
• Following the principles of one's faith (by angel or saint)

Medieval Clerics

• Special: Medieval orders are served by cleric-priests, cleric-knights, and cleric-monks. Since most medieval societies are monotheistic, orders can reflect various divinities and cults that have been subsumed in belief under one god, being seen as saints and angels instead. Other types of clerics can also be encountered that are considered pagan, animalistic, fey, druidic, wizardly, dark age, or even followers of something sinister (all detailed in Volumes I through V, as well as past and upcoming articles on this site), but they would follow different guidelines.
• Allowed Weapons:
     Cleric-priest: Mace, hammer, staff, club
     Cleric-knight: Sword, mace, lance, dagger
     Cleric-monk: Staff, club, sling
• Allowed Armor:
     Cleric-priest: Plate-chainmail (AC 4) or lighter
     Cleric-knight: Plate mail and shield or lighter
     Cleric-monk: None.
• Symbols: Per saint or angel, reflecting a divinity or cult (see Part III).
• Can Turn:
     Cleric-priest: Those held antithetical to their saint or angel, but rather than be repelled, they are only held at bay for as long as the cleric-priest brandishes his holy symbol.
     Cleric-knight: None.
     Cleric-monk: None.
• Mysteries of the Medieval Age: The various medieval cleric-types can gain talents to help them better serve their roles. Each may be used by them up to once per level per day.
     Cleric-priest: Can have an extra miracle (spell) that they know of a level that can occur for them, occur for them now.
     Cleric-knight: Can fight as a fighter with regards to-hit bonus, HD, and saves, for the next 6 rounds. They may also opt to access a medieval knight's special abilities too by giving up a daily miracle (see Part II).
     Cleric-monk: Can either resave against a failed save, attempt a failed ability score check again, or try to disarm a foe that they've hit in melee by making both an opposed Strength and a Dexterity check. They can pick which one they would like to use each time they access their mystery.

Medieval Miracle Side-Effects

Medieval clerics would never call what they do 'magic'- that would be the work of wizards and witches! Instead, they see the miraculous effects done at their behest as the benevolence of the divine in answer to their prayers. As such, these miracles are treated as spells for game purposes, though they are more subtle and slower to manifest. Being highly based on following one's moral code, medieval miracles have special benefits and requirements too.

Special Benefits: Miracles can happen whether the medieval cleric is able to move about and speak or not.

They also incur a -4 penalty to save against them when they would harm those who are generally not virtuous: those who defy the Tenets of Medieval Orders.

Roll 1d12, and also on the Virtuousness table following as needed. 

1. Forbearance: The miracle will come when the time is right, manifesting 3d12 rounds later; that is, if the medieval cleric has been virtuous. If not, then nothing will occur and the cleric should experience a medieval test too.

2-3. Temperance: Unless the medieval cleric has been virtuous, the miracle will only occur at 50% of its usual strength. In any case, it will happen 2d12 rounds later.

4-9. Patience: Apart from the wonder of divine providence's unfolding in the form of a miracle that reveals itself at the right time- 1d12 rounds later, nothing unusual occurs.

10-11. Diligence: If the medieval cleric has been virtuous, then the miracle's effect, range, or duration can either be increased by 50% or it can transpire here and now rather than after 1d12 rounds. Alternatively, one of those aspects can be improved by 100% and it can occur forthwith too if he also offers up himself for a medieval test.

12. Humility: Along with the miracle's effect, range, or duration being improved by 100% and coming to pass straight away, if the medieval cleric has been virtuous, then it isn't counted as against his daily limit and it can be called upon again that day.

Virtuousness 
Has the medieval cleric been righteous and holy or not? Roll on one of the following tables that matches his type to see if he has done what is required sometime within the last 4d6 hours. 

Special Requirements: Note that the cleric must also be abiding by the Tenets of Medieval orders too, and that anyone receiving benefit from the miracle must at least not be unvirtuous: one who acts in violation of those tenets. Conversely, those who do abide by those tenets will not be harmed. These all apply in addition to the specific virtuousness required by the roll below.

Cleric-priest (d6)

He must have...

1. Said prayers.
2. Assisted his flock.
3. Supported his church.
4. Preached about his order / divinity.

5. Tested one's faith, his own if no one else is available.

6. Encouraged one to give up something sinful, hopefully to drive the demons out.

Cleric-knight (d4)

He must have...

1. Only fought honorably.
2/ Stood up to an enemy of the faith (if one has been made known to him).
3. Maintained his arms, armor, and fighting skill.
4. Has kept his word and loyally serves his lord.

Cleric-monk (d4)

He must have...

1. Lived simply.
2. Avoided indulgence.
3. Humbly improved himself.
4. Engaged in meditation.

For example, if a cleric-priest had rolled a 2 as a Medieval Miracle Side-Effect and 3 on his Virtuousness table, then the miracle will be at only at 1/2 its usual power unless he had supported his church within the last 4d6 hours. 

On the other hand, if a cleric-knight rolled a 10 as a Medieval Miracle Side-Effect and a 4 on the Virtuousness table, then his miracle's effect range, or duration could be improved 50% if he has kept his word and loyally served his lord. If matters were dire enough, he could increase one of those factors by 100% instead if he chose to also undergo a medieval test.

In all cases, miracles will only work to aid the generally virtuous and defy those who are not.

Next week: Medieval tests and 2 new classes in Part II. 

RPG srd Middle Age Old School 1st ed AD&D