Darren DarkBrother N/G Death/Peace/Change Greater Spheres: All, Necromantic, Animal, Protection, Combat, Astral, War, Creation, Time, Divination, Elemental (earth), Healing Minor Spheres: Animal, Thought, Charm, Guardian, Sun, Weather, Wards Holy Items: Rosebud, Earth, Butterfly Ability Req: WIS = 15, STR = 12, CON = 14 Turn Control = Special Cleric Name: Dark Knights Worshipers Align: N/G, L/G, C/G, N/N Weapons/Armor: Any blunt weapon / Any armor Granted Powers: Any weapon used by a knight of Darren who is proficient inflicts extra to hit and damage against undead. To hit is +1 for 1st level and increases +1 per 3 levels (+2 at 4th, +3 at 7th, etc.) to a max. of +5. They have a damage bonus equal to their current level. Dark Knights have this ability in place of turning, however when there is a "D" result they may use that ability instead. At 7th level, Dark Knights may specialize. Dark Knights roll save Vs spell to resist level drain attacks of undead. Special: Being a good god of death, undead are a specific affront to Darren, requiring His clerics to destroy them when they come across them. However, He is kind to non-evil undead, encouraging His clerics to put their souls to rest as opposed to destroying them outright. The Bearer of Souls to Dark Brother's realm is a giant butterfly named Mandoragalith. Myth Of all the denizens of the Heaven, Darren is the closest to the mortals. Perhaps because His faults seem more human, more real. Infidelity is a common human trait, after all, who among us has not had the least yearning for someone we cannot have? A young woman, in fact a disguised Anna, was lost in a forest. Scared and alone, as it seemed to Darren, He appeared to her as a lone woodsman to guide her to safety. Who could fault her reaction to such kindness? Who could fault His reciprocation? Ithican, God of Heaven, could. The damage done, Anna in Her cruelty, went to the Heavens to flaunt her victory. Showing the seed of Midren to all who could see, and Ithican, enraged at his soon-to-be father-­in-law's behavior, confronted Darren and challenged Him. They battled for generations of mortal men, but finally, betrayed by His own guilt, the Wind God Jelled the God of Earth with a blow across the bead. Ithican then stripped the power of Earth from His elder brother, giving it to His unborn, illegitimate son, Midren. Darren pleaded to His father, Elham, "for a God without power is akin to land without life. " "No, "replied Elham. "Concern Thyself no longer with life; death shall be thy power. For in Thy act of wanton lust, Ye hast become more human than God. So Ye shall be the vanguard of that portal, to watch them and then judge them according to their sins, for Ye now know more about sin than I." Grudgingly, Darren took that mantle, placed it upon His shoulders, and began to watch. Soon, He discovered that He cared. He rejoiced at mortal success and wept at his failure. He did not just pass judgement, but rather sought to find out why. When seen, for He is seen more than any other deity, He still carries the battle scar across His face, from temple to chin, to remind Himself His imperfection, or perhaps to remind you. Ithican FlightBrother "Righteous One" L/G Birds/Wind/Heaven/Truth Greater Spheres: All, Guardian, Astral, Healing, Combat, Law, Numbers, Divination, Elemental (air), Sun Minor Spheres: Creation, Elemental (fire), Protection, Time, War, Weather, Wards, Necromantic Holy Items: Sunrise, Sword/Shield, Griffin Ability Req: STR = 14, WIS = 13, CON = 12 Turn/Control = Turn Cleric Name: Aivas Worshipers Align: L/G, N/G, UN, N/N Weapons/Armor: Same as paladin preferred table + Crossbow Granted Powers: Murdok's Feathery Flyer 1/day Talk to Birds (as Speak with Animals) 1 /day per 3 levels of exp. After 2nd. Flight 1/day at 7th. Control winds 1 /day at 9th. Bonus Spells - Added to "All" Sphere 1st level Whispering Wind (x2 range) - as Mage spell 2nd Level Gust of Wind - as Mage spell 4th Level Airy Water - as Mage spell 5th Level Invisible Stalker - as Mage spell 7th Level Incendiary Cloud - as Mage spell Special: At 1st level all Aivas and paladins must take a vow of silence until 3rd. This does not interfere with spell casting. Holy symbols are assigned by social rank: Sunrise Medallion - Commoners Sword/Shield - Defender or resident Aivas Griffin - Adventurer Aivas 1st week of May is known as "Avas" which is a religious holiday where all worshipers take a meal only at noon for the week until the last day which is a great festival. This symbolizes when Ithican, carrying the sun, flew for an entire week non-stop to save his soon to be wife, Lyra, from the darkness of Anna. Myth A tall, strong guardian for truth and against immorality, Ithican embodied honesty and righteousness in all things. Doomed, He believed, to a lonely existence, for He knew perfection has no mate, He heard of a woman born to a noble King, named Amdia. It was said that her beauty was such that stones turned supple as not to bruise her feet and larks grew hoarse singing her praise. It was also said, that her demeanor was such that even the most decrepit and base of men would bow in her presence. He flew quickly to the kingdom. He appeared as a man, for he knew golden wings could frighten her father, whose consent he would need to lawfully wed. Approaching the throne, be bowed gracefully and asked the King fo rpermission to court his daughter. The King, recognizing that the man before him was no ordinary Prince, looked to the peacocks at his feet. He saw that the birds were paying rapt attention to this unnamed prince. He then noticed that all the birds in his throne room, for it was vast and open to the sky, seemed to be listening, quietly waiting for his response. The King then knew to whom he was speaking and began to shake; for he knew, as precious as his daughter was to him, she could not compare with a God. Not wishing for the God of Heaven to be wroth with him, he quickly composed himself and spoke thus, "Before courting, three trials must be met, for only the greatest among men deserve that honor. The first be to slay the fierce fire eating dragon, Zurafnin, for his destruction of mine land leaves mine daughter a shallow dowry. Ithican accepted. Out of the keep, Ithican assumed his true shape and flew to the lair of Zurafnin. A dark and ominous hole where fire would suddenly spurt, arching leagues into the air. Ithican knew he had to be cautious, for fire is stronger than air, just as air is stronger than water. He had to lure this flaming beast ftom his lair and so he flew to the home of his eldest brother, Darren. There he beseeched the then-Earth God to shake the lair and force the beast into the open. Darren agreed. The ground shook and cliffs fell, chasms appeared and the lair was torn open. Zurafnin burst from his lair like dawn. Bright, with flame for teeth and burning coals for claws, his scaley, impenetrable hide glowing with heat and where his tail swished, none but ash remained. But Ithican was ready. Taking the wind at his command, Ithican lifted him, spinning him, feeding him until the dragon was fat and bulbous, ready to burst. Then, taking his sword, Wyndschar, He sliced the gorging serpent from nose to tail. The flame that burst forth scoured the land for acres, leaving nothing but white ash. Even Itbican barely flew from its reach, but in the end the dragon was no more. Ithican took the now-empty carcass to the king and laid it at his feet. The king then said, "Drought has also swept my land, and to this end, and for my daughters dowry, thou must needs make canals throughout my entire kingdom, to irrigate my farmlands." And satisfied that he has set a task than not even a "God" could accomplish, the King went to bed Ithican went not to bed, but instead to his sisters palace, home of the Sea Goddess, Trixia. He implored his sister to help him with his dilemma and she suggested the use of one of her newest creations, she called the dolphin. "However, "she speaks to him, "They may be intelligent, strong, wise creatures, but they cannot live above the ocean, " Ithican knew of a way. Using his power over air, be infused them with breath and so theybreathed. With this new ability, they quickly swam up the rivers to the kingdom that was so parched. Using their knowledge and noses, they pushed and dug all through the night until at dawn, every farm in the kingdom had its own waterway. Ithican, again disguised, went to the king. The king, again surprised, said "And this be thy final task, young prince. Tis proper that a suitor give a gift, no small thing, a gift that will remind those whom thou art, that a girl may look upon fondly. I charge thee to find a gift that completelyencompasseth thee." And fearful, the king went to bed. Ithican, again, did not. First he flew to the icy mountain peaks at the roof of the world. There he found the snow lily. Purest white, sbadowed gently by pale blue. Strongstem, deep roots. "Surely this perfect flower encompasseth me". thought Ithican. Thus betook the bud, but as he broke the stem, it began to die, and Ithican knew it was imperfect. He flew then to the deepest grotto, with walls so high the sunlit the bottom for only a moment a day. There the God of Heaven knew the purest gems lay. He found an emerald, as large as his fist and perfectly symmetrical. No flaw could be seen and Ithican thought, "This stone must be my match, "and then he flew to the sky, but as light struck the stone its green tinted shadow cast askew and Ithican knew it was fiawed. He flew, searching, growing more and more frantic. The purest song, the purest bird, rainbows, wines, jewelry but nothing that could match his own estimation. After weeks of flying to all the corners of the world, at last he returned to the king. This time Ithican did not disguise himself so the king replied thus, "You return, yet this time empty handed, "and the king smiled. Ithican grew enraged, for who was this mortal to find glee in his misfortune? But before he could smite the king and his kingdom, the king spoke "Thou mistakest me, lord of heavens. I smile not at thy failure, but at that ye failed.Dost thou not see? In this failure ye hast proven a flaw. Thou art not perfect. I could not allow a marriage of perfect to imperfect, for my daughter, love her as I dost, is imperfect. Now dost I grant thee my permission to court." Ithican thought on this and as he grew to understand the king's wisdom, the rage drained from him. So court Amdia he did and found her not to be perfect and those qualities he grew to love. And love her he did, for all her life and even unto her death and, say some, loves her still. Trixia SeaBlood "Trickster" C/N Sea/Gambling (luck)/Pranks Greater Spheres: All, Protection, Astral, Summoning, Charm, Weather, Creation, Necromantic, Elemental (water) Chaos Minor Spheres: Combat, Divination, Healing, Sun, Animal (sea), Thought, Travelers Holy Items: Cresting Wave, Dice, Black Cat Cleric Name: Seanix (slang- Pranks) Ability Req.: WIS 12 Turn DEX 13 CHA 14 Turn/Control: Turn Worshipers Align: C/N, C/G, C/E Weapons/Armor: Blowgun, Short Bow, Dagger, Trident, Whip, Harpoon, Short Sword, Knife/Studded or less Granted Powers 1st Level Gains Pick Pockets as thief same level 3rd Level Predict Weather 1 /day - as non-weapon proficiency 4th Level Water Walk 1/day - as spell 7th Level Part Water 1 /day - as spell Bonus Spells - Added to "All" Sphere 2nd Level Watery Double - as Mage spell 3rd Level Wall of Ice - as Mage spell 4th Level Airy Water - as Mage spell 6th Level Acid Storm - as Mage spell Bonus Proficiencies: Swimming and one of the following: Direction Sense, Fishing, Rope Use, Seamanship, Seamstress/Tailor Note: If a character gets Direction Sense, it is only 1 more slot for Navigation. Myth The ocean is calm and serene one moment, turbulent and white-capped the next. Flat, stretching horizon to horizon, yet deep with secrets and wonders that will never all be seen. So true is Trixia, Goddess of the Seas. A paradox, constantly contradictory to Herself,just when a definition can be established, She changes yet again, always redefining herself just as Her namesake. But if one thing is constant, it is Her wicked sense of humor. It is said that once Trixia met with the great Mephoustis, Giant of the Mountains, to define the boundaries of Her ocean, which be believed had grown too vast. Trixia found his constant limits and regulations boring and unimportant, and so, in the midst of night, cloaked in the form of a small black cat, she crept into his study and spiked his wine with salt. Mephoustis, returning from some errand that had left him parched, quickly grabbed the goblet and raising it to his thirsty lips, drank deeply. The desired effect occurred. Trixia, smiling softly to Herself, happily skipped away, the screaming and cursing following after. Of course She was not expecting retaliation, as the giant God, using his power of the mountains, caused them to erupt, spewing salt all across Trixia's precious ocean. To this day, Trixia has yet to clear the ocean. Perhaps She sees that as Her trophy to mark the moment of Her triumph. Or perhaps She lacks the power; for it is a vast body of water and a great deal of salt. One wonders if we will ever know. Taimion FlamesKeep "Merchant" L/E Trade/Money Greater Spheres: All, Wards, Charm, Travelers, Divination, Necromantic, Elemental (Fire), Guardian, Numbers Minor Sphere: Combat, Creation, Healing, Law, Sun, Protection Holy Items: Platinum, Dragon Ability Req: WIS = 11, CHA = 14, INT = 13 Turn/Control: Control Cleric Name: Dreygons Worshipers Align.: L/E, UN, N/E, N/N Weapons/Armor: Sword (any), Dagger, Cross Bow, Mace (any), War Hammer, Lance / Any Armor Granted Powers 1st Level Friends 1/day 2nd Level Produce Flame 1/day 4th Level Charm Person 1/day, Friends 2/day, Flame Walk 1/day, Protection Vs Fire 1/day 7th Level Charm Monster 1/day, Charm Person 2/day, Friends 3/day Bonus Spells - Added to "All" Sphere 1st Level Affect Normal Fires - as Mage spell 3rd Level Fire Charm - as Mage spell 5th Level Forest's Fiery Constrictor - as Mage spell 6th Level Malec-Keth's Flame Fist - as Mage spell Bonus Proficiencies: 1st Level Appraising Special All Dreygons start at social rank of at least MMC. (middle, middle class), use following table: All Weapons, armor and necessary items are at least x2 in cost. 1-15 MMC, 16-50 UMC, 51-90 LUC, 91-99 MUC 100 UUC Myths It is said that when the world was new, men did not need pieces of metal to exchange for service or product. As ludicrous as that seems, to the ancients, it was just as strange to price everything with a "value." If a farmer needed shoes, he went to a caliber with a sack of wheat. But then a being appeared. He watched this system of bartering and shook his head. He first went to the farmer and spoke thus "Ye who hast toiled in this unrelenting ground for many months to produce that sack of grain, trade it for those shoes that took but days?" The farmer thought, and not being a cobbler and did not know the care and attention that must be paid to make a pair of shoes, he grew enraged. Then this being went to the cobbler and said 'A sack of grain that ye couldst have collected thyself in exchange for well crafted shoes that shall protect his feet for many seasons?" The cobber thought, and never had dug the earth or planted seed, he grew enraged. Soon this being had effected riotous anger across the land. Elham himself came to the stranger and demanded he put it aright. The stranger looked to Elham and a small smile appeared on his lips and a twinkle to his eyes. 'Allow myself membership to thy Godhood and I shall correct this. " Elham thought and debated within his mind and to the other Gods but, at the last arrived to the conclusion to allow this stranger to sit at the Gods' table. And so the stranger, now calling Himself Taimion FlamesKeep, went to the men of ancient time and instructed them to use a forge and smelt the more rare and valuable ores, gold, silver and the like, into coins, which then can be exchanged for items of value. Thus the term "Money" began. Fitting that so did Taimion's term as a God. Denard TallMoon "The Vain God" L/N Beauty/Art Greater Spheres: All, Charm, Creation, Sun, Divination Minor Spheres: Guardian, Healing, Law, Numbers, Plant, Wards, Protection, Astral Holy Items: Denard's Likeness, Swan, Nymph Ability Req.: WIS = 10 COM = 13 Turn/Control No Cleric Name Patron Worshipers Align: Any Non-Chaotic Weapons/Armor: Cross Bow, javelin, Short Sword, Trident, Scimitar, Rapier/Any Armor Granted Powers 6th Level May blind as nymph by uncovering head 9th Level May kill as nymph by disrobing (This only effects demihumans and humans) Bonus Spells - Added to "All" Sphere 1st Level Fascinate - as Mage spell 3rd Level Suggestion - as Mage spell 4th Level Charm Monster - as Mage spell 5th Level Dominate - as Mage spell Special All patrons are MMC. or higher, use following chart: 1-50 MMC. 51-80 UMC 81-95 LUC 96-99 MUC 100 UUC Myths When the first God son was born His mother, the mortal Amdia, looked upon him and spoke, "He is beautiful." His father, the God of Heaven, looked upon Him and spoke, "He is beautiful. " Those were the first words heard by Denard TallMoon. And that is what He became, so much so that it began to become an obsession. Even in infancy He would cry and fit until His father put a mirrored canopy above the crib, then He would lay quiet, studying Himself As He grew older this infatuation grew also, branching out to include not only Himself but all items of beauty. He was surrounded by near perfection through adolescence and even unto the time He assumed the mantle of Godhood. And so it came to pass that His father took Him before the other Gods for recognition of the mantle and they asked "What shalt thou reign?" Denard, full of pride and attention replied 'Myself and all other items of beauty." This pronounced many snickers and jests, most notably from His cousin, Tralix. This upset Denard and he spoke "Shut Thy guffaw. Where would this world be without beauty? The dreams and the breath?taken? When mortal man looks to a flawless crystal or stained glass when the light is right or a new born child, dost he not live a little better having seen it? A little lighter in his step, a smile on his mouth? Tell me, how dark a world would it be to toil his life away amongst the ordinary, never knowing what is better than this or that, because no comparison is available? Tell me beauty hast no purpose and I shall find another to satisfy you." None could, and so Denard took upon Himself charge of all that is beautiful. Midren IronFist "The Bully" N/E War/Blacksmiths/Strength Greater Spheres: All, Protection, Combat, Sun, Elemental (Earth), War, Guardian, Healing Minor Spheres: Chaos Elemental (Fire), Law, Necromantic, Weather, Summoning, Death Warrior (L/E), Skull Warrior (C/E) Holy Items Hammer (N/N), Scorpion (C/E), Gaunleted Fist (L/E) Cleric Name Red Warrior (N/N) Ability Req.: STR = 15 CON = 13 WIS = 9 Turn/Control: Control Worshipers Align.: Any Non-Good Weapons/Armor: Any/Any (But "the bigger, the better!") Granted Powers Berserker Rage - Successful save Vs spell on fighter table (+ WIS bonus). Takes 1 full round of concentration and for every round they try, they receive a cumulative +1 to save. The effect of the Rage is Strength increased by 2 points, exceeding even racial maximums. Also HP are doubled. While in the grips of the Rage, rational thought is very difficult, the cleric must attack all enemies until all enemies are down and not moving, (DM may allow WIS check to avoid truly disastrous situations such as attacking a fire elemental with bare hands, etc.) Once all enemies are down, the cleric comes out of the Rage and has I round to cast spells, take a potion, etc., until the damage he has received that round takes effect. So, if the berserker has exceeded his normal HP total in damage while raging, he has I round until he dies. (This makes Berserking at high level very dangerous to the cleric, for the more HP, the more he will potentially have to heal in that one round.) Fear saves are at + 1 at 1 st and every odd level is an additional + 1, up to + 5. Exceptional strength - Clerics may have exceptional strength and gain a + 1 d 10 points. per level to racial maximum. Bonus Proficiencies: Blacksmiths Armor and Weapon smithy at -1 slot. May choose from Fighter NWP table without penalty Bonus Spells - Added to "All" Sphere 3rd Level Dig - as Mage spell 4th Level Pass Wall - as Mage spell 5th Level Glassee - as Mage spell 7th Level Glassteele - as Mage spell  Special Clerics of Midren cannot be Assassin/Clerics Darren lost his control of earth when he betrayed his wife by creating Midren with Anna. That control of earth was transferred to Midren. Myths Might makes right is a common slogan to hear around temples dedicated to this, the strongest and fiercest of the Gods. This made the berserkers of Midren the most feared of enemies to receive in battle. As their renown grew, so did their numbers. Entire villages were deserted fields left unattended, flocks left unhearded Midren smiled. But then came a time when they needed to eat and no villages nearby to loot, no animals nearby to hunt and the Great Red Army began to starve. Midren pushed His men harder, for hunger is a weakness and those that fell He considered too weak for His army. Then a man came, walking unmolested through the ranks of this, the most feared of armies. Recognizing His father from the scar across his face, Midren spoke 'Why dost thou come here, father? Attend to those who mine army hast slain, for then they art thine. Wilst they live and fight, they are MINE!" Darren, God of Death, replied "Son, for thou art my son, and for this I shalt give thee a warning. Stop, lest I force thee. " "Stop?" Midren raged, I hast the greatest army of all and to prove mystrength I shalt challenge even Elham himself, shake the One Tree until he falls to the ground and acknowledges My might!" Tbe patron god of humanity looks to Midren's men and a tear comes to his eye. "So be it, " he says and then is gone. The next day, as the army continues its march, they are confronted by a small score of men, wielding pitchforks and hoes. Midren cries His battle cry and His men charge the lesser farmers. Half fall from hunger and exhaustion before they reach their enemy, the others spent the rest of their energy and stand before the farmers on wobbly feet. The farmers make short work of the soldiers, all the while Midren is amongst the carnage, crying, for His first loss. More The Heavens of Rothgar An AD&D Resource Introduction Greater Gods Intermediate Gods Lesser Gods Back to Masters of Role Playing #7 Table of Contents Back to Masters of Role Playing List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1999 by Chalice Publications. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com