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  1. #1
    Gary V. Foss
    Guest

    From the Voice of the Serpent

    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

  2. #2
    Taragin@sprintmail.co
    Guest

    From the Voice of the Serpent

    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"

  3. #3
    Gary V. Foss
    Guest

    From the Voice of the Serpent

    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

  4. #4
    Pieter A de Jong
    Guest

    From the Voice of the Serpent

    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

  5. #5
    Kenneth Gauck
    Guest

    From the Voice of the Serpent

    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.

  6. #6
    Gary V. Foss
    Guest

    From the Voice of the Serpent

    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

  7. #7
    Taragin@sprintmail.co
    Guest

    From the Voice of the Serpent

    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

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