Druids of Taranis, Part I

Taranis

Gallic Thunder God

Tenets of Taranis

• Like the storm, espouse conflict as needed, striking thunderously
• Showing the Great Wheel
• Dominating the land with fire
• Enduring like the oak

Druids of Taranis

• Special: He is followed by druids. See Part II for Gallic druid options. Otherwise, simply treat them as clerics that abide by these rules.
• Allowed Weapons: Lance, spear, staff, dagger
• Allowed Armor: None
• Symbols: Thunder, Oak, Spoked Wheel, Fire
• Can Turn: Those who refuse to follow a specific one of Taranis's tenets in the correct manner. If not known, there's a 20% chance of it being the case.
• Emphases: Druids of Taranis can opt to emphasize one of his tenets. Those who do so always use that aspect instead whenever it would be determined at random.

• Mysteries of the Storm: Druids of Taranis have the ability to judge whether someone they speak with has failed to show Taranis the proper reverence. To do so, they need make a Wisdom check, and may even judge them to be wanting despite the check failing. His druids can make up to 1 attempt per day per level, though the ones they judge likely won't get any additional chances. Those who have been very disrespectful have a very good chance of experiencing a divine test, carried out by the druid himself.

Magical Side-Effects of Taranis

All must harken to the sounds of the high one, done in the proper ways for the Gallic god of storms. Roll 1d12. 

1. Thunder-Struck: Something must rumble, whether in weather or antagonism amongst men. If not, then the spell won't work, unless a fittingly bent, broken, or decapitated sacrifice is given, as if it had been rumbled itself.

2. The Wheel Turning: How best to know the cycle? Like the sun, until the spell's target makes a full rotation or an actual wheel is visible, the spell will be at just half power. Uncooperative types may need to be brought around.

3. Burn: Whether upon that which is usually flammable or not, there must be a fire present, even represented as intense bodily irritation if nothing else. The magic won't happen until it is, or unless the druid is particularly ablaze.

4. Oaken: As long as it is cast within a grove of oak trees (or at least in sight of one), the spell won't need to happen 1d12 hours later.

5. Place of Storms: For the next 1d12 rounds, all within a 120' wide wheel of an area have a 25% chance of taking a -2 penalty to all rolls if they fail to act in a particular manner that honors Taranis, whether (roll 1d4):
   [1] thunderous, [2] wheellike, [3] fiery, or [4] oaken.

6-8. Standard Casting: Though some aspect of one of Taranis's tenets may be shown (a 33% chance), the spell works normally for now.

9. Potency of Thunder, Oak, Fire, & Wheels I: If a certain one of those four are actually present when the spell is cast, determined at random, then the magic's effect, range, or duration can be boosted by 50%.

10. Potency of Thunder, Oak, Fire, & Wheels II: As above, but some strong mental, emotional, or bodily state that's akin to a specific one of them can also count as it being present, whether great tumult, stability, incitement, haleness, inflammation, or rumination, even if its physical match in the world currently isn't.

11. Potency of Thunder, Oak, Fire, & Wheels III: As above, but the spell's effect, range, or duration can be doubled instead if a certain aspect is present, in actuality or associated theme. 

12. Blessing of Taranis: The magic's effect, range, or duration is doubled and it is also not expended, so it can be cast again that day. Even more, if meant to help the magic's target, then it will grant them a +2 bonus to rolls related to thunder, confrontation, fire, or wheels for the next 1d2 hours, showing the primacy of the sky in which it all occurs. 

For example, if a druid of Taranis experienced Magical Side-Effect #10, he could improve his spell's range by 50% if thunder was nigh, whether in actuality or via a rigorous emotional, matching state. If the druid had a different emphasis, then it would be another of Taranis's aspects, if not rolled elsewise arbitrarily.

Next week: tests of Taranis & Gallic druids.