Rarer, they are still needed to help initiate and guide their hack-happy flock, showing how one truly grinds one.
- Treat them as clerics, except that they know and can cast just 1 spell from their divinity's list per day for each level that they could normally cast. For example, a 3rd level warrior-priest of the axe could cast just one 1st and one 2nd level spell from his list each day. What more do you want?
- Their allowed weapon is the AXE!
- They also cannot use their divinity's usual turn ability or mysteries, but they can do other things...
- They can turn those who are associated with 3 specific rival warrior cults, such as axe cults of a different color, or even different warrior-cults of the same or other colors. Warrior-priests can also turn those who act in ways like what those cults espouse, even if they aren't actual members. Such choices often reflect the divinity they follow. For example, a red axe warrior-priest of Perun might be able to turn those shadowy black axe cultists, purple axe cultists (who are often chaotic), and tyrannical red sword cultists, as well as all the scum who act like them.
- In addition, they can use axe cult abilities just as a fighter in the cult would, once per level per day. They still fight as clerics, but these become their new mysteries. So there!
- They often (50% of the time) experience axe tests instead of those of their divinity. Recheck every time one occurs. Both their divinity and their axe should be ok with that.
- Other warrior cults have warrior-priests too, though their allowed weapons are understandably different and much wimpier of course.
Club Cult Warriors
Similar, but more primal than axe cult warriors, they are quite fond of bashing things. The following ability can be used instead of any axe abilities that require a sharp edge, thus allowing for there to be red club cult warriors that can also rage and start fires, green club cult warriors that can be fertile and lucky, and the like. Still such primitives would insist that they're in a club all their own.
- Bonk: Those they hit must make a Constitution check or be unable to act for 1 round, 1d3 rounds if hit on the head, if they fail their check badly, or if the bonking is used for courtship.
Giant Cult Warriors
Two substitute abilities for axe cultists (as well as those of any warrior cult) are available, to either always be massive or to be able to become so. Though such changes can certainly help, they do have some drawbacks, not to mention all the ripped clothing- especially if they are of the transforming type. Note that females who have such an ability, though fearsome, can still be good wives and mothers too, with especially big hearts, and even more of them to love. And of course later in life, they can certainly make excellent battle axes.
- Giant-Sized: Permanently gain 1d2’ in size, as well as 1d2 Strength, Constitution, or HD, but lose 1d2 Intelligence, Wisdom, Dexterity, or initiative too- all determined at random each time this ability is used. Since it's ongoing, Giant-Sized automatically uses up at least one of the cult warrior's abilities each day, more if he wishes to be ongoingly larger. He will likely need new clothing, bigger equipment, and plenty more food too!
- Giant Form: For those who can grow and return to normal again, each change takes 1d3 rounds to complete and one ability use. Their axe conveniently grows with them as well, though any clothing will be stretched or torn apart. Those who wish to attain greater heights (and mass) may do so by expending the ability multiple times in the same round if they have that many available for the day, much as a giant-sized cult warrior who is always that way would. Whatever the case, after returning to normal size, the giant cult warrior must make a Constitution check, with a -1 penalty for every round that form was held, or be tired, taking -1d6 to all rolls for the next 1d6 minutes, wishing only to take a giant-sized nap.
- Other Drawbacks for Both: They’ll likewise have increasing trouble using items, fitting into spaces, avoiding being spotted, etc. if they use this ability more than once, growing even larger, along with the benefits. Such warrior cultists must also follow a divinity that supports such things, or have some giant, titan, or troll ancestry themselves (if not known, a base 5% chance).
For example, a 3rd level red axe cult warrior is permitted by Perun to take the Giant-Sized ability once, gaining 2' in height, along with +1 Strength and a loss of 2 Dexterity. It is ongoing, so in addition to needing to get a new pair of trousers, he would only be able to use 2 of his other red axe cult abilities a day, as 1 is now dedicated to maintaining his larger size.
On the other hand, a 6th level brown axe cult warrior-momma has tapped into her jotunn blood with Giant Form. When in need (like when orcs threaten her family), she will use it 4 times at once to grow to over 11' tall, enjoying +2 Strength, +1 Constitution, and +3 HD, albeit with -2 Intelligence, -2 Dexterity, and -3 to initiative. Since it's not permanent, it takes her 1d3 rounds to get that big, and she might be winded after returning to her usual size again, especially if smashing the orcs to a bloody pulp takes a while. Still, she'd have two other uses of her brown axe abilities for that day, whether in giant form or not.
Axe Cult Divinities
- (Dane Axe): any warlike Norse god can be honored when this weapon hacks into foes.
- Esus: Gallic, creating, destroying, cutting wood.
- Forseti: Norse, golden battle axe, rowing stranded lawspeakers to shore, create a healing spring.
- (Francisca): any warlike Frankish god might be represented with it and its wrath.
- Perkunas: Baltic, thunder god, is armed with an axe and arrows to create lightning.
- Paul Bunyan: Amercian, giant, focuses on using his axe for utility and getting more food.
- Perun: Slavic, thunder and lightning, his mighty axe returns to his hand after being thrown, summoning storms.
- Potnia: Minoan, ceremonial, curvaceous, and sacrificial use.
- Tuirbe Tragmar: Gaelic, throwing of axes, holding back the sea.
- Ukko: Finnish, sky god, uses an axe (or hammer) to create lightning.
- Viridios: Roman / Britonnic, green, virile, chopping.
- Zeus: Greek, uses the labrys (or pelekys) to invoke storms, and Hephaestus used one to free Athena from Zeus’s head.
Club Cult Divinities
- the Dagda: Gaelic
- Dunor: Anglo-Saxon
- Heracles: Greek demigod
- Ogmios: Gallic
The Blood Spurts, and It is Good
Axe cult encounters
"Hey friend, where are you going with that axe in your hand?" Roll 1d4.
[1] Undergoing his initiation into their axe cult.
[2] Enjoying a night on the town.
[3] Experiencing a (very intense) axe test- reroll on that table to see if they're at the point where their axe is talking to them yet.
[4] Unsuccessfully coping with the natural beauty of...
[2] Enjoying a night on the town.
[3] Experiencing a (very intense) axe test- reroll on that table to see if they're at the point where their axe is talking to them yet.
[4] Unsuccessfully coping with the natural beauty of...
What is the manner of the encounter? Roll 1d12.
1. A madman (with a red axe) is rampaging through the area. His main interest is (roll 1d4):
[1] shedding (and possibly even drinking) blood
[2] making a flurry of enraged strikes
[3] lighting fires!
[4] putting out fires created by goblins who have taken over a northern land and mismanaged its forests. He has a shiny red helm to match the color of his axe.
[1] shedding (and possibly even drinking) blood
[2] making a flurry of enraged strikes
[3] lighting fires!
[4] putting out fires created by goblins who have taken over a northern land and mismanaged its forests. He has a shiny red helm to match the color of his axe.
2. A blue-bladed axe emerges out of nowhere, striking a nearby tree. Those who stick around to investigate will find (roll 1d3):
[1] another axe thrown at them.
[2] a profound feeling of despair as another axe is thrown at them.
[3] quite a chill, and even some numbness, especially if another axe is thrown at them.
[1] another axe thrown at them.
[2] a profound feeling of despair as another axe is thrown at them.
[3] quite a chill, and even some numbness, especially if another axe is thrown at them.
3. The place here is noticeably distinct, with (roll 1d3):
[1] many trees being felled, and a few strangely look to have once been monsters. Riotous singing can be heard in the distance as more fall over.
[2] libidinous folk of the opposite sex eye the party, hopefully they have at least average Charisma scores, wishing to 'axe' them out.
[3] the green axe fellow at work here challenges a party member to a game of chopping on a table, seeing how close and quickly he can avoid hitting their fingers... if he's lucky.
[1] many trees being felled, and a few strangely look to have once been monsters. Riotous singing can be heard in the distance as more fall over.
[2] libidinous folk of the opposite sex eye the party, hopefully they have at least average Charisma scores, wishing to 'axe' them out.
[3] the green axe fellow at work here challenges a party member to a game of chopping on a table, seeing how close and quickly he can avoid hitting their fingers... if he's lucky.
4. A woman in white named Molly with quite a buxom and curvaceous body approaches the party, with a white hatchet in hand, she (roll 1d3):
[1] is bloodstained and would like to 'operate' on the next person who happens to hold still.
[2] checks to see if any of them are dirty- if so, she either begins to slash them or herself (if she misses twice) to cut the filth away in any case.
[3] swings it around wildly, illuminating both the area and the need to duck.
[2] checks to see if any of them are dirty- if so, she either begins to slash them or herself (if she misses twice) to cut the filth away in any case.
[3] swings it around wildly, illuminating both the area and the need to duck.
5. Clad in black with both a hood and large axe to match, this warrior (roll 1d3):
[1] just performed an execution, but the party may encourage him to do another one now.
[2] is up to no good, whether laughing maniacally or not (a base 50% chance).
[3] is looking for goblins to decapitate- do you know where he can find them?
[1] just performed an execution, but the party may encourage him to do another one now.
[2] is up to no good, whether laughing maniacally or not (a base 50% chance).
[3] is looking for goblins to decapitate- do you know where he can find them?
6. Talking to his gray-bladed axe, the older man doesn't seem especially unhinged, he's merely (roll 1d3):
[1] conversing with the spirit of his long-dead great granduncle once removed.
[2] is attempting to endure one of his wounds via squeezing his axe alone.
[3] is fighting an enchantment that's been put upon him- who's askin'!?
[1] conversing with the spirit of his long-dead great granduncle once removed.
[2] is attempting to endure one of his wounds via squeezing his axe alone.
[3] is fighting an enchantment that's been put upon him- who's askin'!?
7. With the sound of thunder, a yellow-clad warrior lays into a foe up ahead with his axe. The foe (roll 1d3):
[1] is armored, so those who approach have a 25% chance of being shocked too, not just startled.
[2] flees, with a trail of the same color behind, showing his terror.
[3] wishes to attack the warrior's companion, but their attention keeps being drawn back to the warrior, whether via his yellow axe or all his carrying on.
[1] is armored, so those who approach have a 25% chance of being shocked too, not just startled.
[2] flees, with a trail of the same color behind, showing his terror.
[3] wishes to attack the warrior's companion, but their attention keeps being drawn back to the warrior, whether via his yellow axe or all his carrying on.
8. Word is, savage raiders are in the area. Those who encounter them will find them to be brown axe cultists that are (roll 1d3):
[1] akin to wolf barbarians.
[2] quite interested in breaking things!
[3] damaging to their enemies' weapons and armor. Those who intervene just might be flirting with disaster.
[1] akin to wolf barbarians.
[2] quite interested in breaking things!
[3] damaging to their enemies' weapons and armor. Those who intervene just might be flirting with disaster.
9. What work is commencing here? The bearer of a bronze axe demonstrates against his foes with / by (roll 1d4):
[1] powerful attacks that unfortunately put him off-balance.
[2] an ideological, martial display.
[3] offering heads and severed limbs to the Gods!
[4] enacting justice upon the traitorous playwright who perverted Homer's epic. The vile man changed characters and even gods in offensive ways. By doing so, he shows that he certainly wishes his own people to have "no land".
[1] powerful attacks that unfortunately put him off-balance.
[2] an ideological, martial display.
[3] offering heads and severed limbs to the Gods!
[4] enacting justice upon the traitorous playwright who perverted Homer's epic. The vile man changed characters and even gods in offensive ways. By doing so, he shows that he certainly wishes his own people to have "no land".
10. Strange sounds can be heard ahead. It is a fellow with a purple-bladed axe who (roll 1d4):
[1] is creating visceral art on the wall (literally) as he pauses to use his weapon to pretend to play a lute aggressively.
[1] is creating visceral art on the wall (literally) as he pauses to use his weapon to pretend to play a lute aggressively.
[2] insists the weapon is magical, and would like to test it on someone to find out!
[3] has a strange, purple wound on himself, likely from getting too close with his weapon.
[4] is overly interested in giving free haircuts and shaves (with his axe).
[3] has a strange, purple wound on himself, likely from getting too close with his weapon.
[4] is overly interested in giving free haircuts and shaves (with his axe).
11. Beguiling and incredibly shapely, a woman strides into view. Brandishing a golden axe, most eyes are quickly moved elsewhere. Roll 1d3:
[1] upon her, for she is captivating (having very large... heads to her axe).
[2] away from the shimmering axe, for it is blinding.
[3] upon their own coin purses, for this woman seems to know their wealth!
[1] upon her, for she is captivating (having very large... heads to her axe).
[2] away from the shimmering axe, for it is blinding.
[3] upon their own coin purses, for this woman seems to know their wealth!
12. A juggler tosses silver-bladed axes in the air for all passers-by to see. He asks for volunteers to assist. Those who do will find (roll 1d3):
[1] if he misses one, then he can deftly catch another one instead.
[2] he can toss them very quickly, making catching them all the more perilous- a Dexterity check or take 1d6 damage!
[3] he suddenly switches personalities, thinking he's a fertility god. Perhaps he should stick to using his axes to fight rather than entertain...
[1] if he misses one, then he can deftly catch another one instead.
[2] he can toss them very quickly, making catching them all the more perilous- a Dexterity check or take 1d6 damage!
[3] he suddenly switches personalities, thinking he's a fertility god. Perhaps he should stick to using his axes to fight rather than entertain...
Next week: warrior cults of the sword
RPG srd Old School 1st ed AD&D Fighter Battle Low Magic Conan Greek Gaelic Minoan Teutonic PDF
