Sorcerers of Krampus, Parts I & II

Krampus

Neutral Germanic True Spirit of Yule

Tenets of Krampus

* Punish those who have been naughty

* Give practical things to those who have been good

* Destroy gaudy baubles and silly ornamentation!

* Dwell alone and grim, especially on Yule

Sorcerers of Krampus

Special: Krampus bans clerics from his service for being too prone to merriment, allowing only sorcerers and some shamans to follow him.

Allowed Weapons: Staff, mace, spear, whip (for the naughty)

Allowed Armor: Hides, furs

Holy Symbol: Broken Ornament, Chains, Horned Old Man

Can Turn: the Naughty (per Referee), the Merry, and Purveyors of baubles and ornamentation

Krampus Sorcery: Being a true spirit rather than a divinity, his followers practice sorcery which can be quite unpredictable. Krampus sorcerers must achieve one higher level to cast spells than clerics of other gods do (for 2nd level spells and above). For example, if using Labyrinth Lord rules, they need to be 4th level in order to cast 2nd level spells (rather than 3rd), 6th level to cast 3rd level spells (rather than 5th), etc.

In return, they have a 50% chance of being able to cast each of their spells an extra time each day (roll after a spell is cast to see).

What is more, a Krampus sorcerer’s spells might even go off when he doesn’t wish them to! Whenever under stress- whenever he sees something overly merry, garish, or the naughty not getting their just desserts- there is a base 5% chance of one of his spells being cast on a random target in range. If this occurs, treat it as if the sorcerer cast it himself.

Krampus shamans will experience the same, though they have different spell selections, even requiring communion with the land to access specific terrain spells (if using Ukko’s rules). Otherwise, see Divinities and Cults: Volume II for other guidelines for  that class.

  

Magical Side-Effects (Krampus)

The magic of Krampus is grim and not at all jolly. Roll 1d12 to see what might happen whenever a Krampus sorcerer casts a spell.

1. Walking in a Krampus Wonderland... Chill winds blow and trampling, phantom reindeer abound, causing all non-followers of Krampus within 30’ of the spell’s casting 1d4 damage, double if they are particularly merry or are drunken grandmothers.

2.  Merry is Very, Very... Wrong! Krampus requires immediate placation. 1d4 presents must be taken away from those who have been naughty or who otherwise peddle nonsensical Yule baubles and ridiculously priced greeting cards and be burned in sacrifice, either before the spell is cast or soon after! Those being so punished likely won’t appreciate it (a base 85% chance). If no such presents are available, then the sorcerer will simply whip the next person he sees for 1d3 damage instead.

3. Wreck Your Halls: The magic will work, but only if it is used to punish the naughty, destroy ornamentation, or silence irritating mirth.

4. It’s the Most Grimmest Time of the Year! Where people got the idea to be jolly in the dead of winter and make nonsensical purchases all for the benefit of tinsel obsessed and crooked merchants is beyond Krampus. In any case, the spell needs to be cast when it’s cold, dark, and/or generally grim. Otherwise, it only has 50% of its normal potency.

5-9. No Side-Effect: The spell works normally.

10. Sinister Bells: You better watch out! Krampus’s disturbing chains jangle, causing all within 60’ to save vs. spell or flee in righteous Yuletide fear. If the spell’s target then remains, he or she experiences 50% extra effect from it.

11-12. Krampus Cheer: The target experiences the spell’s full effects (a save can still apply though). In addition, if it would be used to punish those who have been naughty or who are being ‘merry’, then the spell has twice the effect!

This is a special Yuletide double posting. Next week: Sorcerers of Krampus, Part III!

Priestesses of Britomartis, Part IV

What spell shall we cast next, dear? Oh, those men love to watch!

Spells (Britomartis)

Priestesses of Britomartis have access to the following magic:

1^st Level: Create Water, Cure Light Wounds, Detect Evil, Protection from Evil, Purify Food and Drink, Remove Fear, Sanctuary (when near mountains or nets), Entangle^D (appears as ropes and nets), Allure*

2^nd Level: Bless, Find Traps, Hold Person (appears as a net), Charm Person*

3^rd Level: Cure Blindness, Cure Disease, Dispel Magic, Locate Object, Remove Curse (reversible on men only), Snare^D, Water Breathing^D

4^th Level: Create Food (fare from the mountains or the sea), Cure Serious Wounds, Lower Water (reversible), Neutralize Poison, Protection from Evil 10’ Radius, Polymorph Self* (butterfly)

5^th Level: Atonement, Commune, Cure Critical Wounds, Dispel Evil, Faithful Hound*, Commune with Nature^D (mountain and aquatic environments only)

6^th Level: Animate Objects (ropes and nets only), Find the Path, Part Water, Word of Recall (to a watery or mountain area)

7th Level: Astral Projection, Regenerate, Restoration

Avatar of Britomartis

Align: N

MV: 40’ (swim 100’)

AC: 2

HD: 17

Atk: 1 net or bow

Dmg: 3d8 (bow)

SP: Net entangles those within a 10’ area; priestess of Britomartis spells/ abilities (level 17); immune to harm from women, mountains, or the sea

Magic Resistance: 17%

SV: C17

Mor: 10

Enjoying her nets and mountains, an Avatar of Britomartis appears as a beautiful and free-spirited woman. She's thrilled to meet fishers, trappers, hunters, and others who make their living from the mountains or sea. In fact, any she meets will be granted a +1 to all rolls for the next 1d12 hours, thanks to her Good Maidenly love. Those who would harm women though, such as Minoan kings chasing them into the sea, will instead receive a curse.

Britomartis Encounters

There are many ways to include Britomartis and her followers in one’s campaign. Here are just a few. Roll 1d4:

1. The party arrives at an isolated enclave consisting solely of Britomartis worshippers. These women need some help with fixing various things... and with breeding.

2. A Britomartis priestess casts her net on the party, trapping all those who fail to avoid it. She is accompanied by 1d4 amazon warriors (see Divinities and Cults: Volume I) and will kidnap any women in the group for their secret rituals, leaving the men behind.

3. A false cult claiming to follow Britomartis wishes to force her ways upon an entire land. The party might need help from real followers of Britomartis to stop it and restore traditional ways again.

4. An attractive woman is spotted up ahead. She either follows the Path of Britomart, Diktynna, or Aegina-Aphaia. She also has a 10% chance of actually being an Avatar of Britomartis!

Next week: we spread some Yuletide cheer with a sinister being!

Priestesses of Britomartis, Part III

Divine Tests (Britomartis)

 The Good Maiden loves her faithful, though even they can get caught in her nets.

1-4. Struggling in the waters, pursued by Minos (whether metaphorically or not), the priestess takes a penalty to all her rolls equal to her divine test result (-1 to -4), double (-2 to -8) if she is actually trapped or being pursued by a man. In any case, the penalties last for 2d3 hours.

5-9. Great Goddess, how to make things right with you? The priestess will find out, losing access to some of her spells (50% chance for each) including possibly her turn ability. Roll 1d6 for each to determine what she needs to do in order to be able to use it again. Each require 1d3 hours:

[1] Spend time in an area where there are only women (preferably on an island).

[2] Worship at a temple of Artemis or similar goddess, or even before a priestess of one.

[3] Engage in commerce (i.e. shopping).

[4] Hunt.

[5] Assist fishers, sailors, hunters, or others who make their living from the mountains.

[6] Be followed around by 1d3 huge, vicious sacred dogs. They won’t harm the priestess and are actually overly protective, attacking any adult males that come within 30’ of her. Treat them as black bears.

10-14. For better or for worse, the priestess merges with Britomartis, becoming more like her goddess from now on. Roll 1d3.

[1] Like mountains rising above the sea, so too does her bosom expand. The priestess gains +2 Charisma, but also -5’ speed and -1 Dexterity, due to its new bearing and weight.

[2] The sea nets of Britomartis can be ensnaring. From now on, any who stand next to the priestess and is romantically compatible must save vs. spell or become charmed by her scent, also suffering a -1 penalty to all rolls for the next 1d6 turns.

[3] Some take Britomartis to be a nymph and so too now do they take the priestess. She becomes immune to any ill effects of climate (often barely clad to emphasize that fact) and gains a further +2 Charisma bonus with regards to attractiveness. Still, she now also suffers a -1 to all rolls unless she spends at least 1d6 turns each day in a watery or mountainous environment.

15-17. The priestess experiences one of the three paths of Britomartis. Roll 1d3.

[1] Way of Britomart: A true virgin warrior maiden, she can now wear any type of armor but will suffer a divine test if she ever violates her chastity and takes a -1 to all rolls for the next 1d6 turns if she even considers doing so.

[2] Way of Diktynna: A queenly Minoan bull priestess, she can now wield two Labryses or other types of axes at a time and gains a +2 bonus to all rolls related to women. On the other hand, she must always bear her breasts bare, suffering an AC penalty of 2 and stares from those unfamiliar with Minoan ways, as well as a -10 penalty to resist or escape nets of any type.

[3] Way of Aegina-Aphaia: A mysterious river nymph, she can now breathe water at will, swim at double speed, and detect treasure within 60’, though a person may become jealous of her wealth or she might be carried off by Zeus to a random island to bear his child (a base chance each day of 20% with the former; 3% with the latter).

18+ Her nets draw her down, her mountains rise as she struggles to be free. The priestess remains confined to the nearest body of water for 1 day per divine test total over 17, unable to escape during that time. She can then only be moved by fishermen or similar types until the test’s duration is over.

Next week: Priestesses of Britomartis concludes with Part IV!

Priestesses of Britomartis, Part II

Just what does Britomartis require for this spell? (Illus: Brons)

Magical Side-Effects (Britomartis)

Britomartis favors some, but is not especially harsh. Roll 1d12.

1. Sacrifice: What have you gathered in your nets and upon your mighty rises? A 1d3 round ritual and offering worth 1d6 gold pieces per spell level are required. But if it is bounty from the sea, hunting, or mountains, then no ritual is needed and any offering is fine.

2. Sisterhood: If helpful, then the spell will only work on females. If harmful, it will only work on males, as well as those of unknown sex.

3. Devotion: Like a good maiden, the priestess of Britomartis must kneel and offer praise to her goddess for the next 2d6 rounds, and if the spell is beneficial, then the recipient must do so too! In any case, including lyric poetry (requiring a CHA check or the player quickly making up an original one) will grant the spell +50% effect.

4-8. Standard Casting: The magic occurs without side-effect.

9-10. Diktynna Way: The spell works normally. If the priestess would also like it to have a 50% bonus, she can either become a wooden cult statue (unable to move or speak, but cannot be easily harmed) or stuck in nets (unable to move and can be harmed, but can speak). Whatever form she chooses, it lasts for the next 1d6 turns or even provides double the benefit if she opts for it to last for 2d3 hours instead.

11-12. Love of Britomartis: The spell can be cast for double its usual range, duration, or effect. What is more, if it involves maidenhood, nets, wild places, or hunting, then it is not expended and can be cast again that day. 

Next week: Priestesses of Britomartis, Part III!