Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Clerics of Sif, Part I

Sif
Neutral Norse Goddess of Wifehood, the Harvest, & Blondness

Tenets of Sif
* Be a good wife, putting your husband and family first
* See to the earth’s bounty, fighting to protect it and yours if need be
* Show off your beautiful, blond locks

Clerics of Sif
Special: Sif is served by female clerics and priestesses who are always fair-haired.
Allowed Weapons: Longsword, spear, axe
Allowed Armor: Chainmail or lighter
Holy Symbol: Sheaf of Grain, Lock of Blond Hair, Upturned Sword
Can Turn: Thieves, Barbers
Mysteries of Sif: Up to once per day per level, a cleric of Sif can immediately cast one of her spells on a target that she hits with her sword.

Magical Side-Effects
The magic of Sif can be light and loving, though it may require the harvest scythe too. Roll 1d12.

1. To Reap and Sow: It is time for what has been given to be returned. Either the spell’s recipient (if beneficial) or the cleric (if not) takes 1d4 damage, though 1d6 inches of blond hair or 1d6 sheaves of grain would count instead.

2. For Bounty’s Sake: The spell’s target must have taken care of his or her spouse, family, and/or land within the last 24 hours, otherwise he or she may only receive harm from the spell.

3. Loki-Shorn: It seems that the Trickster has crept in, robbing the cleric and leaving her nearly bald! She suffers a -6 penalty to all her charisma-related rolls until her hair grows back the next day.

4. Amber Waves: The cleric must be in a field or have at least two other blondes nearby. If not, then the spell only has 50% of its usual effect.

5. Fair Place: A 120’ radius from where the spell is cast becomes blessed by Sif, bestowing to all who are there a +3 bonus to saves when it is touched by sunlight.

6-8. No Side-Effect: The magic works normally now.

9. In Loving Fields: The cleric must be with her husband and/or stroll nude around fields for 1d6 minutes at her earliest opportunity, though the spell gains a 50% bonus to its effect, range, or duration right away.

10. Virtue Wife: If she is married and has remained faithful, then the cleric’s magic works with 50% extra effect, range, or duration.

11. Sword Maiden’s Cry: As long as the cleric holds her sword aloft and yells (making it very obvious to all that she has cast the spell), then it works for double its normal effect, range, or duration.

12. The One with Golden Hair: Thanks to the grace of Sif, the cleric’s hair grows more shimmering bright, permitting the spell to have double its effect, range or duration, as well as it not being expended that day. In addition, it grants her a +2 bonus to all charisma-related rolls for the next 1d6 hours thanks to its radiance.

DCC RPG Conversion notes:
Can turn= Unholy creatures
Charisma= Personality
Spell not expended that day= +2 bonus to its spell check


Next week: clerics of Sif, Part II!



Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Clerics of Heimdall, Part. III

Cleric Spells (Heimdall)
Clerics of Heimdall have access to the following spells:

LABYRINTH LORD
1st Level: Command, Cure Light Wounds, Detect Evil (or any invaders), Light (appearing rainbow-colored or white), Protection from Evil (+2 vs. those who are also invaders), Purify Food and Drink, Remove Fear (reversible), Resist Cold, Sanctuary, Detect Snares and PitsD, Faerie FireD, Enlarge* (also turns target pure white for the duration), Hold Portal*

2nd Level: Augury, Bless, Delay Poison, Find Traps, Know Alignment, Hold Person, Holy Chant (by blowing his horn), Reveal Charm, Silence 15’ Radius, Spiritual Weapon (appears wielded by a phantom sentinel), Detect Invisible*, Arcane Lock*, Strength* (on defenders only)

3rd Level: Continual Light (rainbow or white), Cure Blindness, Cure Disease, Dispel Magic, Rune of Warding (as Glyph of Warding), Locate Object, Prayer (by blowing his horn), Remove Curse, Striking (on weapons used by defenders), Clairaudience*, Clairvoyance*, Infravision*

4th Level: Create Food and Water, Cure Serious Wounds, Detect Lie, Divination, Exorcise, Neutralize Poison, Protection from Evil 10’ Radius (+2 vs. those who are also invaders), Arcane Eye*, Fear* (vs. invaders only)

5th Level: Atonement, Commune, Cure Critical Wounds, Dispel Evil, Flame Strike (appears as a rainbow bridge striking), Quest, Plane Shift, True Seeing, Secret Chest* (which need not be expensive), Wall of Stone* (can also be used to make bridges)

6th Level: Blade Barrier, Find the Path, Heal, Word of Recall, Guards and Wards* (can be used to guard any area, not just strongholds)

7th Level: Astral Projection, Gate, Holy Word (by blowing his horn), Restoration, Symbol, Wind Walk (a rainbow bridge appears underneath), Prismatic Wall*


DCC RPG
1st Level: Blessing, Detect Evil (or any invaders), Food of the Gods, Holy Sanctuary, Paralysis, Protection from Evil (+2 vs. those who are also invaders), Resist Cold or Heat (cold only), Second Sight, Word of Command, Sequester*, Ward Portal*

2nd Level: Banish, Cure Paralysis, Divine Symbol, Neutralize Poison or Disease, Restore Vitality, Color Spray*, Enlarge* (also turns target pure white for the duration), Detect Invisible*, Locate Object*, Scare* (vs. invaders only), Strength (on defenders only)

3rd Level: Bolt from the Blue (appears as a rainbow bridge striking), Exorcise, Remove Curse, Spiritual Weapon (appears wielded by a phantom sentinel), True Name (can then be evoked by blowing his horn), Dispel Magic*, Planar Step*, War Horn of Valhalla* (as War Horn of Elfland, but summons Einherjar- Norse warriors with similar stats- instead)

4th Level: Sanctify, Levitate* (via summoning a rainbow bridge to walk upon), Ward Bridge* (as Ward Portal, but works on bridges too), Wizard Sense*

5th Level: Righteous Bifrost (as Righteous Fire, but is rainbow destruction), Whirling Doom, Magic Bulwark* (appears prismatic)




Avatar of Heimdall
Align: L
MV: 35’
AC: -2
HD: 22
Atk: 1 sword
Dmg: 7d8
SP: Heimdall cleric spells/abilities (caster level 22)
Magic Resistance: 50%
SV: F22
Mor: 12

Ever vigilant and noble, a Heimdall avatar appears as a very white norseman in both complexion and garb, though he may disguise himself to test the senses of the faithful from time to time. In any case, he is often sent to check on key clerics, priests, and other guardians, making sure they stay true to their wards and also if they need any assistance, which he will happily render if the former is the case. If not, then it is the guardian who will need to more closely watch himself!

DCC RPG stats: Init: +10; Atk sword +30 (7d8 +15); AC 24; HD 22d10; MV 25’; Act 2d24; SP Heimdall cleric spells/abilities (caster level 22), crit on 20-24; SV Fort +24, Ref +18, Will +24; AL L. 



Heimdall Encounters
1. The party comes to a 2d6 x 10’ long bridge that is made of (roll 1d6): [1-3] stone, [4] wood, [5] iron, 
[6] rainbow energy. There is a 75% chance that a follower of Heimdall is present to stand watch. If not, then he has either been overrun or will be back within 1d20 minutes (equal chance of either).

2. Unfortunately, a random, unlucky party member is challenged by 1d4+1 guards who are faithful to Heimdall. He or she has a base chance of being brought into custody depending on his or her alignment, modified of course by any other ‘interactions’ that might occur: Lawful (25%), Neutral (50%), Chaotic (99%).

3. Beyond all reason, a non-Bifrost bridge rainbow that touches the ground is found. It (roll 1d6): [1] has a singing frog playing a banjo, [2] can be walked upon, allowing (unguarded) travel to Asgard, [3] has 2d3 people acting very ‘argr’, [4] causes the party to debate for 1d6 turns about where the rainbow actually ends (save negates), [5] has singing, gnome-like beings who like falling houses and fear witches, [6] marks where a pot of gold with 1d4 x 100 coins is. In all cases, followers of Heimdall will not be pleased.

4. A pale norseman clothed in white watches over this area. He turns out to be a (roll 1d6): [1-3] Heimdall cleric, [4] Heimdall paladin, [5] Heimdall priest, or [6] Heimdall avatar. No matter the situation, he will certainly take a dim view of any invaders or others who are not where they should be.

Next week: clerics of Sif, part I!

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Clerics of Heimdall, Pt. II

Divine Tests (Heimdall)
Long bridges make for good neighbors, especially when such bridges are well-guarded.

1-4. Hark! Who goes there? The cleric of Heimdall need be ready, taking a total of 1d4 damage along with a penalty to all his rolls equal to his divine test result (-1 to -4). The former can be healed via normal rest; the latter reduces by 1 for every intruder that he is first to notice and challenge.

5-9. To better understand guardianship, Heimdall sequesters some of his cleric’s spells (50% chance for each one) including possibly his turn ability. The cleric must do one of the following in order to be able to use each one again. Roll 1d8.
[1] Sleep less than a bird, taking a –2d6 penalty to all his rolls for the rest of the day, due to tiredness.
[2] Happen to spot someone at a great distance.
[3] Notice a faint sound.
[4] Send an invader back to their homeland (or appropriate afterlife if they resist).
[5] Return an expensive item back to its rightful owner, thus maintaining social station.
[6-8] Guard a bridge or other boundary for at least 2d3 hours.

10-14. Now the Bridge Lord takes a more direct interest in the cleric, empowering him to be an even more capable sentinel. Roll 1d5 to see what permanent change occurs.
[1] White Guardian: Like his god, the cleric turns pure white and shimmers in an ivory light, appearing larger and gaining a +2 CHA bonus when dealing with goodly folk, but also a -6 penalty to remaining hidden.
[2] Watchman’s Sense: The cleric can see and hear with a +6 bonus, though he must save vs. spell in order to enter an area in which he would clearly be intruding.
[3] Rainbow Divide: As with Great Bifrost above, the cleric can now detect the presence of bridges and other portals within 120’ at will, though he must save vs. death to avoid also having to guard said bridge or portal for the next hour. The bands of the rainbow only appear when separated; vigilance requires they be kept apart.
[4] Gullintanni & Gulltoppr: The cleric’s teeth and hair turn golden, allowing him to pick one spell that he knows and reroll any roll for it up to once per day. In return, he cannot learn the next spell that he would have learned upon gaining a new level or the like. Such is the need to protect what is already had and known at the expense of change.
[5] Born of Nine Sisters: Sent across the Rainbow Bridge, the cleric will vanish to reside in a random Norse Otherworld for the next 24 hours (see Volume I). Upon his return, he can now sense which world he is on at will, as well as determine from where another hails. So much the better for keeping watch against intrusion.

15-17. Who will guard the pass? At the next bridge or other borderland, the cleric (and his allies, if any) will be attacked by invaders that will pursue unto death unless slain first. Roll 1d4 to see who he must attempt to send back to the shadows:
[1] 1d2 Hill giants
[2] 1d3 Trolls
[3] 3d4 Foreign warriors
[4] 3d4 Orcs or goblins

18+ Gjallarhorn will resound to wake the Gods to make ready for Ragnarok. The Heimdall cleric hears it, though only in preparation, for vigilance is essential for when that day truly comes. For now, he is sent to Bifrost to make ready for 1 day per divine test total over 17. What is more, he only has a 75% chance of returning after each day, for the Rainbow Bridge is where he would most wish to dwell. Roll for each day gone, also granting the cleric 1% bonus experience for each day if he does return, though just one failure means that he doesn’t.

DCC RPG Conversion notes:
Turn ability= Turn unholy ability
Save vs. death= Will save DC 10
Save vs. spell= Will save DC 15


Next week: clerics of Heimdall, Part III!


Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Clerics of Heimdall, Part I

Heimdall
Lawful Norse God of Borders, Bridges, & Guardianship

Tenets of Heimdall
* Ensure that folk remain in their place, whether it be homeland or caste
* Assist guardians in bridging the worlds to defeat monsters
* Remain ever vigilant against incursion


Clerics of Heimdall
Special: Heimdall is served by clerics, paladins, and priests.
Allowed Weapons: Sword (any), spear, horn (as club), dagger
Allowed Armor: Chainmail and shield or lighter
Holy Symbol: Horn, the color White, Rainbow Bridge
Can Turn: Invaders
Mysteries of Heimdall: Being quite stalwart, clerics of Heimdall gain a +1 bonus per level to all saves and detection rolls when defending an area.


Magical Side-Effects
Those who provide sentry in the name of Heimdall must watch over their charges carefully, but they can also be granted greater aid in doing so. Roll 1d12.

1. Guardian’s Debt: A true protector must be willing to sacrifice much. 1d4 damage is taken, either by the spell’s recipient (if beneficial) or by the cleric (if not). Otherwise, an object worth 1d6 gold pieces per spell level would be acceptable.

2. Shame unto Trespassers: Heimdall’s horn resounds and the spell’s target must save vs. death or take 2d2 damage to their Charisma from the embarrassment. Those who do save won’t gain any benefits from the spell though.

3. Hljóð Given: Like the Allfather did with his eye, the cleric must surrender either his voice or an ear for the next 1d6 hours. In the former case, he can say nothing, but can still cast spells by blowing his horn. In the latter, he suffers a -6 penalty to all hearing-related rolls.

4. Sentinel of Himinbjörg: The cleric must be at a boundary area or the spell must deal with the same. Otherwise, it only works at 50% its normal strength. 

5. Bridge Lord’s Warding: The area becomes watched over by Heimdall, granting a +2 AC bonus to all within 120’ of the casting.

6-8. Standard Magic: The spell functions without side-effect this time.

9. Huscarl Spell: Though the magic works with a 50% bonus to its effect, range, or duration, the cleric may not initiate any attacks for the next 1d6 minutes unless his lord or land are under direct threat.

10. Honor Unto Sentry: If the spell would provide protection or otherwise help those guard an area via divination, then its effect, range, or duration can be bolstered by 50%.

11. Gjallarhorn: If the cleric blows his horn, then the spell works for double effect, range, or duration.

12. By Bifrost’s Light: The great rainbow bridge shimmers above, allowing the spell to work for double its effect, range or duration, as well as it not being expended that day. What is more, Heimdall grants the recipient a +1 bonus to AC and a +6 to listening and hearing–related rolls for the next hour if the spell is meant to help them.

DCC RPG Conversion notes:
Can turn= Unholy creatures
Charisma= Personality
Save vs. death= Will save DC 10
Save vs. spell= Will save DC 15
Spell not expended= +2 bonus to its spell check


Next week: clerics of Heimdall, Part II!

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Tiamat Encounters

19th and last in the Divinities and Cults: Volume III series, we have Tiamat, Mesopotamian demon lord of abomination & monstrous tyranny.

1d12
1. How abominable can one get? The party will find out in the next encounter. Whether monsters, animals, people, or something else, each will have at least 1 mutation, granting them (roll 1d6): [1] a +2 bonus to certain rolls, [2] +1 HD, [3] the ability to make an extra attack for 1d6 damage each round, [4] as 1 and 2, [5] as 2 and 3, [6] as 1, 2, and 3. See Volume III for specifics on mutations. What is more, they will likely be especially vicious and insane (a base 75% chance).

2. Mutant! An NPC that the party knows turns out to have been corrupted by Tiamat. As a result, he or she is now abominable (as per encounter #1 above) and will also (roll 1d8): [1] try to kill the party at the earliest opportunity, [2] lure the party into a trap and then try to kill them, [3] as 1 or 2, but will also stop to eat his or her first victim too, [4] seek to spread his or her mutation to others via unnatural acts, [5] begin worship of Tiamat in earnest, [6] flee the area, [7] chop off the mutation, causing the loss of 1d4 x 25% hit points, [8]reroll 1d6 twice.

3. Egads! A random, unlucky party member gains 1 mutation. As in encounters #1 and #2 above, he or she will become abominable and likely take some sort of dastardly action, though Chaotic party members are twice as likely to be selected as Lawful or Neutral ones for this result. Those of the latter alignments can also save vs. death to resist the urge to go mutant-crazy, but chopping off the altered part would still be a viable option.

4. An Everlasting Change that We Must All Believe In (or Else) occurs immediately before the party’s very eyes! Encounter #1, #2, or #3 above happens, but those witnessing it must also save vs. death or (roll 1d8): [1] think it’s just fine, [2] flee in terror for 2d4 rounds, [3] flee in fear for 1d3 rounds, [4] become nauseated (unable to act) for 1d4 rounds, [5] wet themselves, taking a -2 to all rolls until cleaned up, [6] pass out in shock for 4d4 rounds, [7-8] become morally outraged, gaining a +2 bonus to hit the mutant for the next 2d3 rounds. Lawful individuals gain a +1 bonus to this encounter roll, treating a result of 9 as 8 instead.

5. The corrupt salt waters of Tiamat flow into the area, causing her to birth two encounters in a most unnatural way- reroll twice on this table. In addition, all within 240’ who aren’t aquatic have their movement reduced by half until they leave the area, thanks to the presence of her waist-deep fluid and foul, floating miasma.

6. Doom! This area has been overrun by Tiamat’s progeny. Roll 1d8: [1] 1d2 seven-headed hydras, [2] 2d3 bull men, [3] 3d3 lion men, [4] 4d3 dog men, [5] 5d4 scorpion men, [6] 4d4 fish men, [7] a monstrous Kur!, [8] reroll twice. See Volume III for stats for these monsters.

7. A procession passes by, promoting ‘Variety, Love, and Acceptance’. Of course, these are Tiamat cultists who actually practice the exact opposite of what they preach, though if the party doesn’t have any faithful of Marduk amongst them, they only have a base 50% chance of attacking. The procession includes [1] 1d4+1 Tiamat clerics, [2] 1d3 +1 Tiamat priests, [3] 1d3+1 Tiamat shamans, [4] 1d2+1 Tiamat witches, [5] 2d6+2 Tiamat cultists, [6] reroll twice. Each also has a base 33% chance of being abominable (hidden of course; otherwise see encounter #1 above).

8. Throwing off any veneer of civility, the faithful of Tiamat have begun to subjugate and destroy the local populace, causing genocide in the name of ‘Progress’. See encounter #7 above for the numbers of cultists involved, though each also has a 66% chance of now having a visible mutation/deformity with advantages as per encounter #1 to assist in their monstrous tyranny.

9. Not all give into Tiamat’s destruction so easily! A group of 2d4 Marduk followers (or similar local divinity) has assembled to espouse usurpation, storms, and protection of empire! They have knowledge of a Tiamat enclave 2d4 miles away, though they will happily slay any followers of that demon lord (or other mutants) they encounter along the way.

10. Tiamat’s words may be honeyed, but they never bring the paradise promised. Treat as #6 above, except roll twice to determine which offspring of Tiamat are now fighting each other. Wise party members would avoid the battle completely or else risk getting caught in-between such likely disputes between her children.

11. The Tablet of Destinies ordains that 1d4 class abilities be removed from an unlucky party member, whether it is a spell that can be cast, an ability achieved at level, or even a weapon that can be wielded. The only way to regain the use of these abilities is to slay a disciple of Tiamat, just as Marduk recovered the Tablet by slaying Kingu, the original unskilled laborer.

12. Some mistake Tiamat’s true nature. The truth is much worse: her tentacles can permeate through all manner of fell cults, creating a Multicult of sorts that works in tandem, at least until the humans have been destroyed! Roll again twice: once on this table and once on that of another fell entity that is currently allied with Tiamat, such as (roll 1d4): [1] Apep, [2] Dagon, [3] Set, or [4] Nergal. The party will then likely wish it was only a multi-headed dragon they had to deal with.


Sample 4th Level Cleric of Tiamat
Align: C
AC: 6
HD: 4+1
Atk: 2
Dmg: 1d6+1 (+1 club) and 1d6 (bird claw) or 1d6 (spear)
SP: Tiamat turn ability, mysteries, Hairy neck: CON bonus, Bird hand: extra attack (divine tests), -1 INT & WIS, 50% chance of being easily identified as a monster
Spells prepared:
1st level: (3+2) Create Water (saltwater), Cure Light Wounds, Entangle (x2, as tentacles), Charm Person*
2nd level: (2+1) BarkskinD, Scare*, Stinking Cloud*
SV: C4
Mor: 9
Possessions: Scale mail, +1 club, spear, 38 gold pieces, scrolls to post advocating the superiority of hybrids.



Next week: we head north again to explore Clerics of Heimdall!


And upcoming work: The print versions of Volume I are ready (both for DCC RPG and Labyrinth Lord) and I’ll be ordering proofs to double-check them soon!