Literature, Poetry

This god is very much like the deity of arts (see Arts, above), but concerns himself with reading, writing, recitation, the chronicling of history, and the teaching of youth. Lesser gods of this attribute would involve themselves with only one of the above aspects.

The god's priesthood is primarily interested in the education of the young in reading and writing, and the promotion and support of writers and poets in their culture.

The god of literature and poetry is as likely to be male as female.

The priests of this god are on good terms with the priests of Arts, Community, Crafts, Culture, Divinity of Mankind, Light, Metalwork, Music/Dance, Sun, and Wisdom.

Alignment: The deity is neutral good. Regardless of his alignment, his priests may be of any good alignment. The flock may be of any neutral or good alignment.

Minimum Ability Scores: Wisdom 10, Charisma 12. Wisdom or Charisma 16 means +5% experience; Wisdom and Charisma 16 means +10% experience.

Races Allowed: Elves, gnomes, half-elves, halflings, humans.

Nonweapon and Weapon Proficiencies: Nonweapon Proficiencies Required: Reading/Writing. Nonweapon Proficiencies Recommended: Artistic Ability (Composition), Religion. Weapon Proficiencies Required: None. Nonweapon Proficiency Group Crossovers: Priest, General.

Duties of the Priest: Guidance, Marriage. Education: These priests must encourage and support members of their flock (or of the general population) who show signs of talent with prose or poetry. Vigilance: Literature and Poetry often offend those who do not understand them or those who disagree with the attitudes expressed in those works of art, and so these priests must be vigilant against the very human forces of censorship and repression.

Weapon and Armor Restrictions: Weapons Permitted: Bows (all), dart. Armor Permitted: None; no shields. Oriental Campaigns: Also daikyu. All together, this constitutes Poor combat abilities.

Other Limitations: These priests receive six-sided dice for hit points, not eight-sided.

Spheres of Influence: Major Access to All, Charm, Creation, Divination, Protection, Summoning, Sun. Minor Access to Animal, Elemental, Guardian, Healing, Necromantic, Plant.

Powers: Charm/Fascination (as per the Designing Faiths chapter). Language/Communication (as per the Designing Faiths chapter): Every level from 1st to 8th, the priest receives one extra language which he may choose (if you prefer, he receives an extra nonweapon proficiency slot which may only be used for languages); the languages chosen may only be those of sentient humanoid races. Soothing Word (as per the Designing Faiths chapter).

Followers and Strongholds: The followers are received at 8th level, and consist of three third-level priests and six first-level priests of the same order, plus one third-level fighter and two first-level fighters to act as guards, and twenty Normal Men and Women, each of whom has either Reading/Writing or an appropriate Artistic Ability nonweapon proficiency. The priest may take the following on adventures: Three priests (only one of whom may be third-level), one fighter, and four Normal Men and Women of his choice. The priesthood will pay for half of the cost of stronghold construction at 8th level. The stronghold must act as a meeting-place for writers and poets to exchange ideas; therefore it must be built with meeting rooms or even lecture halls dedicated to these, instead of priestly, doings.

Possible Symbols: Books, Scrolls, Pens.

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