Meness
Baltic Moon God
Tenets of Meness
- Attune with the Moon
- Espouse Lunar Ways & Folk
- Drawing Upon Moonlike Things
Priests of Meness
- Special: Also known as Mēness and Menuo, he is generally followed by priests and priestesses, many of which are more animist, pagan, or practitioners of folk magic (their Emphasis Approach, see below).
- Allowed Weapons: Spear, staff, sword, dagger
- Allowed Armor: None
- Symbols: Moon, Stars, Sword, White, Blue, Silver
- Can Turn: with a pagan emphasis approach only, see below.
- Mysteries of the Moon: See below.
Emphasis Approaches to Mysteries of the Moon
As with Saule, his cleric-types can be more animist, pagan, or folk magical. Those without a set tendency make a different selection each day at random.
- Animist: Can negotiate with resident spirits, taking 3d6 rounds in a new place to find and coax them to relay information about the immediate area. If somewhere with the moon in view, then it only takes 1d6 rounds, and the spirits can even grant hints about otherworlds / possibilities related to the place. Animist priests may do so a total of once per day per level.
- Pagan: Like those of other pantheons, pagan priests and priestesses can turn. Those who follow Meness can repel those who would work against agriculture, loving ways, or alternate possibilities, or who are dark and endanger Baltic folk (if not known, there's a base 1 in 6 chance of being able to). In addition, once per day per level, they can gain a +2 bonus to a roll when acting in a moonlit place or manner.
- Folk Magic: Like hedge wizards (link), they can prepare 1d3 of their spells as they do, once per day per level. The rest are often cast with certain ingredients, per Emphasis Approach Magical Requirements further below.
For example, a 3rd level pagan priest of Meness could turn those dark ones who would harm Balts. What is more, he could gain a +2 bonus to one of his rolls when acting in a place that's illumed by moonlight or when doing so in some lunar manner, thrice per day.
Magical Side-Effects of Meness
Replace the Meness words below with one of the priest's emphasis approaches or listed terms that follow. Roll 1d12.
1. Rites of Meness: How best to honor the Moon God? An offering, spoken words, or allowing time to pass? The priest will have to see, following 2 of the 3 requirements below (#2, #3, #4) in order for the spell to work.
2. Left for Meness: Something should be given in a manner that corresponds with the priest's emphasis approach, whether at a specific place, in name of a deed, or a certain type of thing. If not, the magic will only be at 50% of its usual power.
3. Resourceful Meness: What to say? The priest must make a Charisma check (DC 15) and perform the requirement of his emphasis approach. If not, then he can try again 1d3 rounds later, rolling until he succeeds so that the spell can proceed.
4. Meness 's Rise: The Moon God and his spirits will say when it's right for the magic's effects to happen. 1d12 turns are needed unless the priest's emphasis approach is met. If so, then it takes just 1d3 rounds.
5. Realm of Meness: The immediate 120’ area is cast in a strange, lunar light. This grants a 25% chance of providing a portal to an otherworld (see Part II). It lasts for the next 2d6 rounds, though those who wander off may be gone for much longer.
6-8. Standard Casting: The magic works normally this time even though there’s a possibility of the priest’s emphasis approach also being shown in some way (a 33% chance).
9-10. Meness Magic I: The priest may decide to abide by the requirement of his emphasis approach for the spell to happen, gaining a 50% bonus to its effect, range, or duration.
11. Meness Magic II: The potency waxes, and the priest can decide to boost the spell's effect, range, or duration by 100%.
12. Blessing of Meness: The magic happens for x2 the effect, range, or duration and is not expended so it can be cast again that day. What is more, if it’s meant to be of benefit to the target, then Meness grants a +2 bonus to them for 1d2 hours to rolls when doing things that match the priest’s emphasis approach.
Emphasis Approach Magical Requirements
Meness's animist, pagan, or folk magic aspects can require different things to make their magic work. Roll a d12 under their approach below to determine what it is. Those who don't pick an emphasis approach can roll to see which one is to be used in each situation.
I. Attune with the Moon (Animism)
Make a Charisma check* to negotiate with the local spirits while attuning at a sacred grove (alka) or...
1. At a certain phase of the moon: new, crescent, gibbous, or full- roll d4 to see which one is needed
2-3. In a familiar land under the moon
4-6. While facing the moon anywhere
7-10. In any place where the moon can be seen
11. Roll per Paganism
12. Roll per Folk Magic
*Animists can add their level to their roll. If they fail, they may retry the following round.
II. Espouse Lunar Ways (Paganism)
Support moonlike philosophy by...
1. Using a sword or plow, standing in a chariot, by lovemaking, or by having been in a sacred grove (alka) sometime within the last 1d12 hours- determined at random each time this result is rolled
2-3. Enticing fertility amongst Balts and similar folk while also encouraging fidelity- especially by women and wives (which might trigger sunny types)
4-6. Removing darkness, whether by stars and sphere illumination or by making war against dark folk
7-10. Spreading love, fertility, or alternate possibilities
11. Roll per Animism
12. Roll per Folk Magic
Support moonlike philosophy by...
1. Using a sword or plow, standing in a chariot, by lovemaking, or by having been in a sacred grove (alka) sometime within the last 1d12 hours- determined at random each time this result is rolled
2-3. Enticing fertility amongst Balts and similar folk while also encouraging fidelity- especially by women and wives (which might trigger sunny types)
4-6. Removing darkness, whether by stars and sphere illumination or by making war against dark folk
7-10. Spreading love, fertility, or alternate possibilities
11. Roll per Animism
12. Roll per Folk Magic
III. Drawing Upon Lunar Things (Folk Magic)
Use moonlike components, such as a...
1. Group of at least 1d3 other lunar Baltic folk that's around
2-3. Rarer substance like something from an alternate place or silver from anywhere- that's taken with the spell, or 1d3 lunar types of folk who are at least similar to Balts
4-6. More common ingredient like a symbol of love, chariot, the moon, stars, or a sword- expended afterward
Use moonlike components, such as a...
1. Group of at least 1d3 other lunar Baltic folk that's around
2-3. Rarer substance like something from an alternate place or silver from anywhere- that's taken with the spell, or 1d3 lunar types of folk who are at least similar to Balts
4-6. More common ingredient like a symbol of love, chariot, the moon, stars, or a sword- expended afterward
7-10. Fight, plowing, or romantic encounter- roll d3 to determine at random each time this result is rolled
11. Roll per Animism
12. Roll per Paganism
11. Roll per Animism
12. Roll per Paganism
For example, an animist priest of Meness might need to leave an offering in a familiar land under the moon, negotiating with the spirits there, to prevent the spell from only being at 1/2 power, calling Magical Side-Effect #2 Left for the Moon when paired with Emphasis Approach #2-3.
In comparison, for Magical Side-Effect #10, a pagan priest might call it Espouse Lunar Ways Magic I, and be obliged to provide love, fertility, or other possibilities to others so he can increase his spell's effect by 50% if he rolled #7-10 as the Emphasis Approach.
In comparison, for Magical Side-Effect #10, a pagan priest might call it Espouse Lunar Ways Magic I, and be obliged to provide love, fertility, or other possibilities to others so he can increase his spell's effect by 50% if he rolled #7-10 as the Emphasis Approach.
Next week: tests of Meness, his folk variations, and otherworlds.
RPG srd Old School 1st ed AD&D Lunar Deity Latvian Lithuanian Cleric Domains Priest Spheres PDF
