From the Voice of the Serpent

[Gary V. Foss]

Taragin@Sprintmail.com wrote:

> "Bow down to his holiness now and spare yourselves from his wrath…"
>
> the serpent
> Heir of Azrai, the Great Snake
> Demipower of the Prime Material, LE

I don't know that I like the idea of the Serpent becoming a demi-god. I mean,
the Gorgon seems like the most likely candidate for ascenscion on Cerilia. The
Serpent might be a close second, but I don't know that the Magian or the Raven
are really that far behind the Serpent when it comes to power....

Gary

[Taragin@sprintmail.co]

Gary V. Foss wrote:
> I don't know that I like the idea of the Serpent becoming a demi-god. I mean,
> the Gorgon seems like the most likely candidate for ascenscion on Cerilia. The
> Serpent might be a close second, but I don't know that the Magian or the Raven
> are really that far behind the Serpent when it comes to power....
>
> Gary

I listed the Serpent as a demigod in my stats for the Powers of
Darkness only because he can grant up to 5th-level spells already. As I
was explaining to a friend of mine yesterday, the Serpent has several
thousand devout worshipers, believes himself to be the heir of Azrai,
can and does grant spells to his priests (the priesthood being the more
important part of my message), and has been on the path to godhood for
1,500+ years.
The Gorgon does not care about becoming a god; he wants to be Emperor.
Likewise, the Raven just wants to become the next Tsarevic of Vosgaard.
The same goes for the Magian, the Sphinx, the White Witch, and most all
of the Abominations (except maybe the Spider, and we all know of his
mental state…).

Alexander "the Rjurik Necromancer"

[Gary V. Foss]

Taragin@Sprintmail.com wrote:

> Gary V. Foss wrote:
> > I don't know that I like the idea of the Serpent becoming a demi-god. I mean,
> > the Gorgon seems like the most likely candidate for ascenscion on Cerilia. The
> > Serpent might be a close second, but I don't know that the Magian or the Raven
> > are really that far behind the Serpent when it comes to power....
> >
> > Gary
>
> I listed the Serpent as a demigod in my stats for the Powers of
> Darkness only because he can grant up to 5th-level spells already. As I
> was explaining to a friend of mine yesterday, the Serpent has several
> thousand devout worshipers, believes himself to be the heir of Azrai,
> can and does grant spells to his priests (the priesthood being the more
> important part of my message), and has been on the path to godhood for
> 1,500+ years.
> The Gorgon does not care about becoming a god; he wants to be Emperor.
> Likewise, the Raven just wants to become the next Tsarevic of Vosgaard.
> The same goes for the Magian, the Sphinx, the White Witch, and most all
> of the Abominations (except maybe the Spider, and we all know of his
> mental state…).

I remember reading somewhere that Raesene was angry that Belenik and Kriesha got
enough of Azrai's power to become gods while he, Azrai's Champion, did not. I'm not
sure where I read that.... His cardsheet, perhaps? I've always thought of the
Gorgon and the Raven as having slightly more attainable goals, maybe, but after
achieving earthly power I think they both would turn towards becoming powers. The
Magian definitely would as well. For that matter, who wouldn't? Sign me up for
godhood anytime there's an opening....

Anyway, another possible explanation for the Serpent's priests is that they are more
like generalized clerics, or that their spells are granted by some other god with the
Serpent masquerading as that deity. Perhaps, he has struck a deal with one of the
gods you mentioned in your original post about his demi-godhood. I don't recall
exactly where I read that priestly spells of 1st-4th level were learned by priests
without actual godly influence and that 5th-6th required the god's attention or one
of his spiritual underlings.

Gary

[Pieter A de Jong]

You know, I have one real problem with this. I don't intend to allow
anyone to achieve divine ascension without my players having a chance to
meddle and prevent it. After all, look at what happened in Greyhawk
when the Iuz the old started running around as on unrestricted demipower
on his home plane (From the Ashes boxed set). Trust me, it is not
good. That gate ability is just to much power to hand any regent in a
low-magic Cerilia. I might try it in a high-magic environment though.

Taragin@sprintmail.com wrote:
>
> "Bow down to his holiness now and spare yourselves from his wrath…"
>
> the serpent
> Heir of Azrai, the Great Snake
> Demipower of the Prime Material, LE
>
- --

Pieter A de Jong
Graduate Mechanical Engineering Student
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

[Kenneth Gauck]

Pg 9 of Dieties and Demigods explains that spells up to the 2nd level are a
product of learning and faith, after that a celestial power is involved,
though only lessor and greator gods can grant 6th level, and only greater
gods can grant 7th level priest spells.

For this reason, when non-priests have role-played an especially pious PC
and are serving the mythos directly (actually pretty rare) I have permitted
a wisdom check to see if they can cast a spell of my approval. I must
believe they know the prayer (spell) in question, and that its power will
advance the cause of the mythos in the style of the mythos against the
enemies of the mythos. I have never permitted cure light wounds.

Bless, Remove Fear, Sanctuary, Protection from Evil, and any 1st level
divination are all likely benifits of the truly pious in the service of
their God

Kenneth Gauck
c558382@earthlin.net

- -----Original Message-----
From: Gary V. Foss
Date: Monday, October 19, 1998 11:29 AM


>I don't recall exactly where I read that priestly spells of 1st-4th level
>were learned by priests without actual godly influence and that 5th-
>6th required the god's attention or one of his spiritual underlings.

[Gary V. Foss]

Kenneth Gauck wrote:

> Pg 9 of Dieties and Demigods explains that spells up to the 2nd level are a
> product of learning and faith, after that a celestial power is involved,
> though only lessor and greator gods can grant 6th level, and only greater
> gods can grant 7th level priest spells.

Ah, good. Thanks for the citation, Kenneth. Just to tweak the rules a bit (as
is my pathological need to do) I would suggest that this should be changed to
1st-3rd level spells in the 2nd Edition+ era of AD&D. My main argument for
this is because it fits nicely in with the "levels" of gods; demi-, lesser,
intermediate and greater. That is, a demigod could grant his priests 4th level
spells, a lesser 5th, an intermediate 6th and only a greater god could grant
7th level spells.

My other more oblique argument is rangers. Rangers can cast 1st-3rd level
spells. I've never played that a ranger must follow a particular deity, but
gets his spells from his adherence to the abstract, but rather spiritual,
concept of nature. Using the above break down of who can grant what spells
would not interfere with this set up. If 3rd level spells require a god to be
learned it would mean rangers would have to dedicate themselves to some
religion, which I don't really think should be a requirement.

Gary

[Taragin@sprintmail.co]

The offical rule for spell-level power granting by deities (from
Legends & Lore and On Hallowed Ground) is as follows:

Cults: upto 2nd level spells -- from pure belief
Demi-power: upto 5th level spells
Lesser power: upto 6th level spells
Intermediate power: upto 7th level spells
Greater power: any and all spells

Alexander