Priestesses of Laima, Part I

Laima
Baltic Fate Goddess

Tenets of Laima

• Attune with Fate
• Accept Fated Ways & Folk
• Drawing Upon Fated Things 

Priestesses of Laima

• Special: Also known as Laimė, she is followed by priestesses who focus on her animist, pagan, or folk magic aspects (their Emphasis Approach, see below), as well as žynės (Baltic seeresses, see Part II) 
• Allowed Weapons: Staff, dagger
• Allowed Armor: None
• Symbols: Weavings, Linden Tree, Besom, Distaff, Cuckoo, Swan
• Can Turn: Those who defy fate (if not known, a base 1 in 6 chance)

• Mysteries of Fate: See below.
  
  

Emphasis Approaches to Mysteries of Fate

What will the focus be for each of Laima's priestesses? Animist, pagan, or folk magic? What they choose affects what mysteries they have. Those who don't decide are given one each day at random. 

• Animist: May interact with local spirits of fate and laume fairies, receiving some sense of the future. As a result, such priestesses can grant a +1d3 bonus to one of the next 1d12 rolls of a Baltic child, mother, or member of a married couple, or to those of a related folk. The recipient may then use it once, and the priestess may allow up to one per day per level to be bestowed, though all is predetermined in the end regardless.
  
• Pagan: Gain a +2 bonus to one of the priestess's rolls to aid and comfort Baltic children, mothers, husbands, and wives, as well as those of similar folk directly, helping them to accept their destiny. These priestesses can do so up to once per day per level.
• Folk Magic: Being more like hedge wizards (link), they can (and must) prepare 2d3 of their spells as that class does, once per day per level. They are also well known for their poultices, talismans, and charms. Any normally prepared spells that they cast will be quite folksy too.

For example, an animist priestess of Laima could arrange for a one-time use of a +2 bonus to a child on the 4th roll she makes, thanks to the spirits aiding in her future. One of her pagan priestesses could instead gain that bonus to assist the child herself.

Magical Side-Effects of Laima
Replace the Laima words below with one of the priestess's emphasis approaches or related words that follow. It then modifies the side-effect too. Roll 1d12. 

1. Ceremony of Laima: Time to prepare, so an object given, said, or patience is needed. The priestess must follow 2 of the 3 requirements below (#2, #3, #4) to allow her spell to function.

2. Something for Laima: It is now a matter of knowing what Laima would like. Based on what's necessary for her emphasis approach, should it be left at a certain type of place, something to do with her legends, or have a special ingredient? If not, her magic will only be at 1/2 its usual potency.

3. Laima's Whispers: Saying the correct words can make all the difference. The priestess needs to make a Charisma check (DC 15) and follow a requirement of her emphasis approach so that the spell may commence. If initially unsuccessful, she may try again 1d3 rounds later, rolling once more to see if she needs to try another spirit interaction, bit of pagan lore, or special spoken blessing to go with something folkish. 

4. Fated Through Laima: The Fate Goddess and her spirits know when the magic's effects shall happen. It takes 1d12 turns to occur. If the priestess does her emphasis approach, it will only take 1d12 rounds. Like her goddess, she may still weep for the unfortunate.

5. Presence of Laima: The feeling of destiny can become palpable, making everyone in the 120' area have a 25% chance of seemingly being assisted with their luck. They gain a +1d3 bonus to any one roll they choose, as long as it occurs sometime within the next 2d6 rounds. Once used, then that instance of assistance expires, even if when and what it is are in the cards already.

6-8. Standard Casting: The magic works normally this time even though there’s a chance of the weavings of fortune being shown in some way too (33%).

9-10. Laima Magic I: Fate dictates whether the priestess will follow the requirement of her emphasis approach for the spell to occur with a 50% bonus to its effect, range, or duration- or not, and it be simply a standard casting. There's an equal chance of either.

11. Laima Magic II: What will come to pass with this spell? As above, the priestess may do either, the bonus is 100% this time instead.

12. Blessing of Laima: With the backing of destiny, the magic occurs at double the effect, range, or duration, as well as not being expended so it can be cast again that day, triple if cast as a fated spell too (see Part III). What is more, if it’s meant to help the recipient, then Laima grants them a +2 bonus to their rolls for 1d2 hours as long as they are accepting their fate at the time.

Emphasis Approach Magical Requirements

Does one work with the spirits more directly, call upon Laima herself, or simply create things in her name? Roll a d12 to see what the priestess is to do under the matching category, or if unknown, determine that at random too.

   I. Attune with Fate (Animism)
    Make a Charisma check* to negotiate with the local spirits of fate or laume fairies while communing at a sacred grove (alka) or...

      1-2. A linden tree.
      3-4. A great stone.
      5-7. Any tree.
      8-10. A body of freshwater.
      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 Fated Ways (Paganism)
    Support Laima's traditions by being at a sacred place, or by...

      1-2. Using a large symbol with weavings, regarding good fortune, or happy births, or with the presence of an actual linden tree, distaff, large stone, cuckoo, or swan-  roll d8 to determine at random which one it is each time this result occurs.

      3-4. Blessing 1d3 Baltic children (for Dēkla) and parents (for Kārta), or those of similar folk, helping to determine their fate, even guiding them to find happiness, well being, and luck within it.

      5-7. Honoring those who have come before by either observing a burial or visiting a grave.

      8-10. Having been in a sauna during the last 1d12 hours, or going into one within the next 1d12 rounds.

      11. Roll per Animism.
      12. Roll per Folk Magic.

 III. Drawing Upon Fated Things (Folk Magic)
   Use prophetic components, such as...
      1-2. A group of at least 1d3 other Baltic mothers that's around.
      3-4. Unique things involved in fate, whether amber or for birth, marriage, or death- that's taken with the spell, or 1d3 mothers who are at least similar to Balts.
      5-7. More common things for a better fate, such as crops, stones, libations, or animals- which are expended afterward.

      8-10. Chant, drum and/or sing about fate for 1d6 rounds.
      11. Roll per Animism.

      12. Roll per Paganism.

For example, a folk magic priestess of Laima might need to leave an offering of amber and also wait 1d12 turns for her spell to work, but only 1d12 rounds if she has a baby's basket or 2 Norse, Slavic, Finnish, or Teutonic mothers around with Magical Side-Effect #1 when paired with Requirement #3-4, calling it Ceremony of Fated Things or Ceremony of Folk Magic. Of course, being much a hedge witch herself, she must often prepare her spells as components as well.

On the other hand, for Magical Side-Effect #12 a pagan priestess might be obligated to have been in a sauna (Requirement #9) sometime within the last 4 hours or going to one soon, so she can double one of her spell's effects, as well as have Laima grant a +2 bonus to the recipient's fate-accepting rolls for the next hour, not to mention not expend the spell this time.

Next week: tests of Laima, her folk variations, and Baltic divinations.

 RPG srd Old School 1st ed AD&D Fate Deity Baltic Latvian Lithuanian Cleric Domains Priest Spheres PDF