Clerics of Perkwunos, Part I

Perkwunos
Proto Indo-European Thunder God

Tenets of Perkwunos

• Strike Hard and Strong like Thunder!
• Slay the Serpent to Let the Rains Flow!
• Honor the Great Oaks & Mountains!
• Wield Your Mighty Weapon!
  
  

Clerics of Perkwunos

• Special: He is mainly served by clerics and fighter-clerics (link). Many Proto Indo-European warriors, barbarian swordsmen, axemen, and clubmen honor him too (see Part II).
• Allowed Weapons: Hammer, axe, mace, club, adze- made of bronze, copper, or stone
• Allowed Armor: None
• Symbols: Thunderbolt, Slain Serpent, Forested Mountain, Smashing Weapon
• Can Turn: Those who defy the cleric's emphasis- see below (if not known, a base 20% chance). For clerics with multiple emphases, roll to see which one applies in each encounter.

• Mysteries of the Storm: Clerics of Perkwunos can gain a +2 bonus to one of their rolls when acting in a manner that fits their emphasis, once per day per level.

Emphasis 

His followers can have one or more. Roll d12.
   1. Strike hard and strong (Ghwen)

   2. Thunder (Peruhnos)

   3. Strength (Moghtis)

   4. Slay the serpent (Hengwis)

   5. Let the rains flow (Dhew)

   6. Virility (Hyewdh)

   7. Honor the great oaks (Perkwuniyo)

   8. Honor the mountains (Bhergh)

   9. Endurance (Deuh)

   10. Wield your mighty weapon (Melh)

   11. Battle (Koryos)

   12. Stormy, stony skies (Hekmon)

Magical Side-Effects of Perkwunos

Replace the Perkwunos words with the cleric's emphasis. Roll d12

1. Perkwunos Strike: Either the target of the magic (if beneficial) or the cleric (if not) takes 1d4 damage as he hits with his weapon. Still, a sacrifice worth 1d6 gold pieces per spell level or engaging in something related to the cleric’s emphasis at the time would do too.

2. The Gentle Caress of Perkwunos: Perkwunos pummels the spell’s target, causing 1d2 damage to an ability score that has to do with the cleric’s emphasis. They may save vs. death/ make a Will save DC 10 to resist it, but then won’t receive any benefits from the spell. Those who do take such damage recover at a rate of 1d2 per day. 

3. Perkwunos Nap! The cleric falls unconscious for d30 minutes unless there is combat or his emphasis in play. His thunder needs recharging.

4. Time for Perkwunos’s Fitness: The cleric must do 4d6 rounds of action that's related to his emphasis sometime before the next dawn, gaining 1d2 Strength for 1 hour afterwards.

5. Perkwunos’s Tale! Storms have a 25% chance of erupting, granting a +1 bonus to all rolls to hit within 120’ for the next 1d3 rounds for those acting in ways that match the cleric’s emphasis. In addition, there’s a 50% chance of triggering a random encounter too. 

6-8. Standard Magic: The spell works without side-effect for now, although something to do with the cleric’s emphasis might be shown (a 33% chance).

9. Let us Feast & Perkwunos... Though the magic works with a 50% bonus to its effect, range, or duration, it will take some 1d2 extra rounds to take place. The target of the magic (if beneficial) or the cleric (if not) will be required to consume any meat that is to be had while honoring the cleric’s emphasis! 

10. Fell Monsters & Foes of Perkwunos! If the spell would help those fighting monsters or would harm those who work against the cleric’s emphasis, then its effect, range, or duration can be improved 50%.

11. The Might of Perkwunos Shall Now be Witnessed! The cleric flexes his muscles and shows off his weapon. What is more, if he regales others of his many adventures related to his emphasis (as well as those of Perkwunos, of course) for the next 1d3 rounds, then the magic’s effect, range, or duration can be improved x2!

12. Blessing of Perkwunos: Thunder erupts and Perkwunos makes the spell occur at double its usual effect, range, or duration. In addition, it is not expended so it can be cast again that day. He grants the one effected 1d2 additional Strength as well for the following 1d2 hours when being used in a way that matches the cleric’s emphasis.

For example, if a cleric of Perkwunos emphasized thunder, then he could gain a +2 bonus to his rolls when being like it, loud and intense. Magical side-effect result #3 could become Thunder Nap! or Peruhnos Nap!, staying awake if that or a fight is at hand.

Next week: tests of Perkwunos, Proto Indo-European warriors, barbarian axemen & clubmen, heroes, and folk variations

 RPG srd Old School 1st ed AD&D Thor Proto-Indo-European Thunder God Cleric Domains Priest Spheres PDF Yamnaya