Clerics of Janus (Part I)

Janus

Lawful Roman God of Gateways, Beginnings, & Time

Tenets of Janus

* Evoke Janus before all others

* Preside over gateways

* See to the proper rituals for all beginnings

* See also to the proper rites of space, as well

Clerics of Janus

Special: Clerics of Janus are also known as priests and priestesses. Being a very Roman God, his clerics focus much on proper ritual, which often takes 1d6 turns at a time. What is more, those clerics who eschew all armor may assume a bicephalus (two faced) form for up to 1 round per day per level. See Lugh’s Divine Test #15 in Divinities and Cults: Volume II for how this ability would work.

Allowed Weapons: Rod, staff

Allowed Armor: Banded or lighter*

Holy Symbol: Two-face (Gemini), Key

Can Turn: Those who violate the laws of time or space (such as undead and summoned beings)

Janus Mysteries: Clerics of Janus gain a +2 bonus to all rolls related to doorways, gateways, space, time, and the like.

Clerics of Epona (Part IV)

Cleric Spells (Epona)

Eponian clerics have access to the following spells. Eponian druids (those considered a distinct class- see Divinities and Cults: Volume II for details) can substitute select spells with druid ones.

1st Level: Cure Light Wounds, Detect Evil, Light, Protection from Evil, Purify Food and Drink (if it is suitable for horses), Resist Cold, Sanctuary (can be cast on others in pastures or stables), Animal Companion^D (horse-kind only), Detect Snares and Pits^D, Faerie Fire^D, Speak with Animals^D (horses)

2nd Level: Augury, Bless, Delay Poison, Know Alignment, Find Traps, Hold Person, Holy Chant, Resist Fire, Charm Person or Mammal^D (horse-kind only), Horse Hide^D (as Barkskin, but more equine) 

3rd Level: Animal Growth (horse-kind only), Cure Blindness, Cure Disease, Dispel Magic, Prayer, Remove Curse, Hold Animal^D, Neutralize Poison^D, Horse Haste (as Haste*, but can only be used when mounted)

4th Level: Create Food and Water, Cure Serious Wounds, Detect Lie, Divination, Exorcise, Protection from Evil 10’ Radius, Summon Animal I^D (horse-kind), Hallucinatory Terrain* (horse-realm only)

5th Level: Atonement, Commune, Cure Critical Wounds, Dispel Evil, Commune with Nature^D (when in horselands), Summon Animal II^D (horse-kind)

6th Level: Find the Path, Heal, Summon Animal III^D (horse-kind)

7th Level: Restoration, Chariot of Epona (as Fire Chariot^D, but horses appear normal and untethered), Reincarnate^D

Mount Qualities

Though this table would serve well to generate a steed, it can also be used to determine qualities of other mount types, since Epona is concerned with fertility, as well. Roll 1d20 twice.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Mane Black Dark bay Bay Blue Roan Brindle Brown Chestnut Dapple Gray Dun Gray Fleabitten Gray Leopard Liver chestnut Palamino Pinto Rose gray Red Roan Salt and Pepper White A different color

Manner/ Qualities Aloof Clever Draft Gassy Mule Old Panicky Pleasant Pony Ragged Slow Social Special Parentage1 Stallion Stubborn Swift Young War Wild Reroll twice

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

¹Roll 1d6 to determine what special parentage the mount has. It then will have 1 special ability that matches, per Referee:

[1] Centaur

[2] Hippocampus

[3] Hippogriff

[4] Nightmare

[5] Pegasus

[6] Unicorn

Clerics of Epona (Part III)

Race Upon the Land

Epona shows her cleric the truth of riding through fertile bounty and overcoming those who would seize or destroy it.

Divine Tests

1-3. It is time for quiet reflection, at least 2d6 turns, though if mounted or in a place where horses dwell, she need only take 1d3 turns, none if at a Node (q.v.)

4-9. All steeds must return to pasture or stable at times and so too must the druidess of Epona. She experiences a reduction in spells available (50% chance for each one), possibly including her turn ability, for the rest of the day. Roll 1d6 for each spell lost to determine what she needs to do in order to get it back before then:

[1] Ride a willing mount for at least 1 hour

[2] Run free for the next 2 hours

[3] Stop to graze upon oats and forage foods for 1d6 rounds at a time, whenever new ones become available, for the rest of the day (she will be able to digest them)

[4] Promote fertility, whether in herself or in others (a base 50% chance of success for each attempt)

[5] Repel or slay a humanoid invader or other foreigner to the land

[6] Put a tyrant or despoiler of nature in his or her place: any will do, but it will most likely earn his or her ire (a 95% chance)

10-12. Epona rides far and her horse cult has similarities to a number of other divinities. Rather than experiencing a Race Upon the Land, reroll and consider this test to actually be for one of the following instead (roll 1d4):

 [1] Artemis (see Vol I)

[2] Danu (see Vol. II)

[3] Eostre (bonus Divinity- contact Dan for the link)

[4] Manannan (see Vol. II)

The Referee should feel free to adjust any results to make them more ‘Gallic’. See the Appendix of Divinities and Cults: Volume II for guidelines, though Epona is quite gentle and strong.

13-17. It is now best for the druidess of Epona to be changed in order to better experience fertile freedom. Each one lasts for 4d6 hours per instance of this test. Roll 1d4 to determine what the alteration is:

[1] Be changed into a horse in all regards except for her mind: the type is determined by the druidess’s nature (per Referee; even a unicorn or pegasus if over 5th level).

[2] Turn into a Gallic centaur mare, granting her +1 HD and the speed of a horse, while still being able to speak and use her upper body normally. Still, she will also get some strange looks from others (a 65% chance), as well as a -4 penalty to casting rolls.

[3] Become a Godivan nymph: she must remain mounted and unclad and any ‘peeping toms’ that look at her at first must save twice to avoid blindness and even death! The rest just avoid taxation.

[4] Merge into the land itself as some sort of Gallic genius loci. She will be aware of what goes on in a 1d20 x 10 yard radius area, leaving a hill figure-type chalk representation upon the ground, even being able to cast spells within the place. Others may attempt to Commune with her, as per the spell during this time, though she may not leave.

18+ Some Races Upon the Land face challenges, and this is one of them. Whatever strangeness befalls her, the druidess must remember that all occurs for the sake of fertility. Roll 1d4.

[1] In eponymous fashion, the druidess’s name now becomes associated with the general locale that she is standing in when this test occurs, causing likely confusion when discussed from now on (a base 75% chance), even possibly hostility from strangers (a base 20% chance).

[2] All horses within her presence now talk, causing those unfamiliar to save or become hostile to either the steeds (a base 25% chance) and/or to the druidess herself (a base 75% chance). Luckily, they are likely to stop talking once she departs: a 85% chance, minus 10% per instance of this test.

[3] Rainbows, bright colors, hearts, glitter, and unicorn horns adorn any mounts that the druidess of Epona rides or is within 60’ feet of for the next 1d6 hours. All those of a masculine disposition that witness such a fey effect must save or suffer a -3 to all rolls during this time, due to manly disgust.

[4] Though the druidess would only do what is right for her people and would expel invaders and despoilers, they are misled and do not see it that way. Via a vote (or the like) she is denied the next leadership role that she would have.

Clerics of Epona (Part II)

Magical Side-Effects (Epona)

Like the Great Mare that she is, Epona provides stable, strong, and steady support for those who honor her equine ways and the lands that sustain her people. Roll 1d12.

1-2. Free to Range: Those who would enslave, harm the land, or replace Epona’s folk must be stopped. The cleric’s magic will only work in this case on those who would mete out justice upon such fell ones within at least 1d6 hour’s time, or else harm those fell ones directly.

3. The Land Provides the Greatest Succor. The magic will only occur if  outdoors or in some other place where horses are housed or dwell, hopefully with plenty of oats and other grains around.

4. Bareback: Horses travel best when they run free, unbidden by restraint and so should the magic’s recipient if it's meant to help them. He or she must be free of garb for the next 1d6 turns, even gaining a +1 to all rolls for the following hour if Godiva-mounted during that time, though chaffing might become a problem (a base 33% chance).

5-8. Standard Spell: The  magic works without a side-effect this time.

9-10. Stable Magic: If within 1d6 x 10’ of a horse, pasture, or horse dwelling when the spell is cast, then the magic has a 50% bonus to its effect, range, or duration, 100% if more than one apply.

11-12. Blessing of Epona. The spell's effect, range, or duration is doubled. In addition, if meant to be helpful, its recipient gains a +2 bonus to all rolls related to horses and defending the land for the next 1d6 hours. What is more, if he or she is specifically working against tyrants, despoilers, and/or invaders, then the recipient gains an additional +2 bonus in those situations as well, for a total of +4.

Clerics of Epona (Part I)

Epona

Neutral Gallic Goddess of Horses, the Land, & Fertility

Tenets of Epona

* Honor horses and all that they bestow

* Enjoy the fertile bounty of the land

* Stand up to tyranny and despoilers

* Protect your homeland from invaders too

Clerics of Epona

Special: All clerics of Epona are female and are also known as druidesses or priestesses.

Allowed Weapons: None

Allowed Armor: None

Holy Symbol: Horse, Foal, Cornucopia, Bowl

Can Turn: Tyrants, Invaders, Despoilers

Eponian Mysteries: Clerics of Epona can gain a +2 bonus to one of their casting rolls when mounted or when otherwise near a horses or horses, up to once per day per level.

Clerics of Svarog/ Slavic Clerics Pt. IV

(illus: Viktor Vasnetsov, 1898)

Cleric Spells (Svarog)

Clerics of Svarog have access to the following spells:

1st Level: Command, Create Water (as rain), Cure Light Wounds, Detect Evil, Light, Protection from Evil, Purify Food and Drink, Remove Fear (reversible), Resist Cold, Sanctuary, Divine Weather^D, Heat Metal^D, Burning Hands^D

2nd Level: Augury, Bless, Delay Poison, Find Traps, Hold Person, Holy Chant, Resist Fire, Produce Flame^D, Pyrotechnics^D

3rd Level: Continual Light, Cure Blindness, Cure Disease, Dispel Magic, Locate Object, Prayer, Remove Curse (reversible), Striking (on iron weapons only), Clairaudience*, Clairvoyance*, Gust of Wind*

4th Level: Cure Serious Wounds, Detect Lie, Divination, Exorcise, Neutralize Poison, Protection from Evil 10’ Radius, Enchant Arms*

5th Level: Atonement, Commune, Cure Critical Wounds, Dispel Evil, Flame Strike, Plane Shift, Fly*

6th Level: Animate Objects, Control Weather, Find the Path, Heal, Stone Tell

7th Level: Astral Projection, Holy Word, Restoration, Wind Walk, Control Weather (Greater)^D

Slavic Countryside Encounters

Much goes on beneath the great domain of Svarog, though here is just a smattering.

Locale (roll 1d10)

1. Kapishche (outdoor sacred enclosure): 25% chance of having a volkhv of Svarog present, level 1d3.

2. Idols or cemetery (50% chance of being foreboding)

3. Logging camp

4. Beautiful overlook (with a nice view of the Sky, Svarog’s domain)

5. Forest Clearing

6. Hut or Cabin (50% chance of having a bath house)

7. Forest path

8. Marshy area

9. Open field

10. Farm

Inhabitants (roll 1d10)

1. None (area is deserted)

2. Animals only (20% chance of being dangerous, per Referee)

3. 1d6 Folk enjoying the countryside (+1 on Disposition Table below; 35% chance of being attractive women)

4. 1d8 Workers (-1 on Disposition Table below)

5. 1d4 Tradespeople

6. 1d6 Travelers (See Odin section in Divinities and Cults: Volume I for table)

7. 1d4 Nobles guarded by 2d4 levels of fighters

8. 1d6 Vagabonds (See Loki section in Divinities and Cults: Volume I for table; 25% chance of being bandits too)

9. 1d3 Spirits (See Orcus section in Divinities and Cults: Volume II for details; 65% chance of being mischievous; 35% chance of being dangerous)

10. 1d4 Monsters (great beasts, demons, humanoids, giants, undead, or fey)

Disposition (roll 1d8)

1. Angry!

2. Gruff

3. Depressed

4. Reverent

5. Peaceful

6. Happy

7. Boisterous

8. Celebratory!

Divinities and Cults: Volume II for DCC RPG is now available!

Enjoy!

(click the picture for product page)

EVEN MORE CLASSIC DEITIES FOR DCC RPG!

Have you unleashed the mighty power of Divinities and Cults in your game yet? 

Divinities and Cults: Volume II covers the Gods and Goddesses of both the Celtic and Roman Pantheons, as well as a number of Evil Cults. Like Volume I, this work provides detailed tenets, special cleric considerations, healing side-effects, numerous divine tests, and custom spell lists for all 19 of them. What is more, optional rules and random tables abound, organized by  Divinity, of course. This excellent book is compatible with the Dungeon Crawl Classics Roleplaying Game™! 

• Detailed rules for playing clerics of 7 Celtic and 7 Roman Gods and Goddesses
• Full rules for also playing clerics of 5 Evil Cults
• 20 pieces of unique artwork by Luigi Castellani (note: some Goddesses are depicted partially nude)
• 11 Random encounter tables
• 7 Other random tables
• 20 Optional rule & sidebar sections
• An Appendix that offers guidelines for making over 20 additional Divinities, as well as  having cultural variations for clerics of the various Divinities, such as Ionian, German, Etruscan, Gallic, etc.
• And much more!

Updates

In case you didn’t get the message from Drive Thru RPG, Divinities and Cults: Volume II has been updated. I’ve fixed a couple of typos and other minor issues in it over the last few weeks, as well as adjusted some of the Healing Side-Effects in order to give recipients a tad more benefit.

Also, as a special ‘thank you’ for purchasing the book, I’ve added a link to a bonus Divinity: Eostre. If you didn’t get the link or the update, let me know!

Last, I’ve sent the DCC RPG version to Mr. Goodman for his review. Hopefully, I will hear back from him soon and be able to upload it for purchase...

Clerics of Svarog/ Slavic Clerics, Pt. III

Sky Fire

Svarog will illuminate for his faithful all that sparks underneath his great domain.

Image: Life of the East Slavs by Sergey Ivanov, 1908.

Divine Tests

1-3. Gaze upon all that Svarog has forged! The cleric must do so for the next 2d6 turns, except if a smith’s fire or beautiful skyscape is available for his viewing (a base 25% chance in appropriate areas). In this case, the cleric then need only gaze for 1d3 turns.

4-8. The volkhv experiences a reduction in spells available (50% chance for each one) for the rest of the day. Roll 1d6 for each spell lost to determine what he needs to do in order to regain it before then:

[1] Make sure a marriage is monogamous (a base 50% chance that it is not already so). If not, then he must take steps to correct it!

[2] Administer at a Kapishche for 2d6 turns (Slavic outdoor sacred enclosure). If not available, a new one can be built with the assistance of 1d4 others and 1d20 in gold pieces for double that amount of time.

[3] Consult omens for 1d3 turns, though the spell only has a 50% chance of returning in this manner (if it was a bad omen!)

[4] Engage in a ritual lasting at least 2d6 turns, requiring 1d6 other participants, a good fire, and either a lawful land or the open sky (or both).

[5] Make an offering of harvest foods that reflect the nature of the spell lost (per Referee).

[6] Make a living sacrifice that matches the nature of the spell lost (are there any missionaries around?)

9-12. As Sky Father, Svarog has many children. Rather than experiencing Sky Fire from Svarog directly, reroll and consider the Test to actually be for one of the following Divinities instead (roll 1d4):

[1] Dazbog (as Apollo: see Vol I)

[2] Svarožič (as Vulcan: see Vol II)

[3] Perun (as Thor: see Vol. I)

[4] Lada (as Freya: see Vol. I)

The Referee should feel free to adjust any results to make them more ‘Slavic’, especially until those Divinities can be given their own, unique entries in a later work.

13-17. Whether it be Chernobog or some stone-stealing duck, the priest of Svarog becomes preternaturally intolerant of dark, primitive, and/or deceitful beings. Even if it might seem foolhardy at the time, he must now save or attack such creatures and individuals on sight until they’ve fallen, though he also now gains a bonus to all other rolls made against them, as well, by becoming more (roll 1d4): [1] bright, [2] windy, [3] fiery, or [4] lawful-smith-like. For every Sky Fire result over 12, increase the difficulty of the save by 2 and the bonus to all other rolls by 1 (for -2 save/ +1 to all other rolls for #13, -4 save/ +2 to all other rolls for #14, etc.) Though the effect is permanent, additional instances of these results may only adjust the priest’s visage and modifiers to different types and values: they do not accumulate.

18+ Svarog forged this world and it might come to an end at any time! The cleric realizes this truth and the next adult being he looks at (that could be considered ‘an encounter’) has a 50% of ceasing to exist! If that being continues to exist, then the next one he looks at has a 50% chance of ceasing to exist, and so on. This Test continues until one being ceases to exist for every Sky Fire result over 17. The cleric would be wise to avoid reflective surfaces during this time...