1 THANATOPSIS -ASPECT OF THE DIVINE- Writer: Robert Brookes | Editor: Kolja Raven Liquette Assistant Writing Contributions: Kolja Raven Liquette eligion is a powerful force, a The Player’s Handbook offers a variety of driving power which finds its character classes that use divine power in one root in the hearts of creatures fashion or another, the paladin, the cleric, and the both mortal and immortal. To a druid. The THANATOPSIS Campaign Setting mortal creature, religion is offers the Templar class, while the Shugenja, something that offers Spirit Shaman, and Favored Soul are presented explanationsr to the mysteries of life and afterlife, in Complete Divine. These classes all manipulate an insight into what awaits them at the end of divine energies and though different in practice, their lives, and a moral compass by which to are united by the common source of their power. navigate their life in order to achieve this end. To This section covers variants to the standard immortal beings, religion is a force in an of itself divine classes as well as a new divine class, the within the fiber of their very being; angels, Priest. demons, and all other outsiders are literally infused with the essence of religious power, and Divine Variants for that they understand the true power of faith. Characters of the Cleric class are common throughout the world, though in some regions of The notion of religion isn’t something esoteric the world their skills vary in effect, this section in the multiverse, it is a tangible force; if enough details class variants of the standard divine creatures on an outer plane found their beliefs classes as well as details the regions from which shifted so strongly in a direction concordant to they are common. If you wish to create a that of the alignment of the plane they existed on, character with one of these class variants, check the plane would change around them, becoming with your DM for the variant’s availability. a part of a realm more in tune with their faith. The power religion and belief hold over the very fabric Each fully detailed variant has entries for one or of existence is staggering, and those who can more of the following topics. If an entry does not command the power of faith demand respect. appear, use the material for the class presented in the Player’s Handbook. This expansion of the THANATOPSIS Campaign Setting deals with the aspects of religion on Zodiac: Any special restrictions due to a Celestallia and delves into the Zodiac-Based character’s star sign. philosophies and their special training that has come to be common across the many continents Class Skills: Additions or subtractions to the of Celestallia. This book references material class skill list, and/or changes in the number of found in Book of Exalted Deeds, Revised skill points gained per level. Psionics Handbook, Complete Divine, and Complete Warrior as well as information in the Class Features: Changes, additions, or THANATOPSIS Campaign Setting and subtractions to the class’ features, including Thanatopsis: Way of the Warrior. spellcasting. DIVINE CHARACTERS 2 CLERIC VARIANT: THE ELEMENTAL CLERIC Animal Companion: The druidic avenger Proliferated across the continent of El, this does not gain the service of an animal variance of the Cleric class stems from the Time companion. of Darkness in El’s tragic past, where priests who Fast Movement (Ex): The druidic avenger’s were able to channel positive energy were base speed is faster than the norm for her race hunted and slain by servants of the Nightmare by 10 feet. This ability is identical to the barbarian King. For many ages, priests began to utilize their ability of the same name. powers in different fashions and denying their link Rage (Ex): An avenger can enter a furious to the positive energy plane, and instead tapping rage, identical to that of a barbarian. An avenger into the elemental planes through their unique can use this ability once per day at 1st level, and ties due to their zodiac sign to manipulate their once more per day for every five levels above 1st clerical powers. This variant of cleric does not level. channel positive energy, and instead channels A druidic avenger does not gain the greater elemental energy corresponding to their zodiac rage, indomitable will, or mighty rage abilities. sign. Spontaneous Casting: A druidic avenger may not channel spell energy to spontaneously cast Zodiac: A character’s elemental focus as an spells. Elemental Cleric must correspond to their star Tireless Rage (Ex): At 17th level the druidic sign. Fire Clerics must be of the Fire Zodiac, avenger is no longer fatigued at the end of her Water Clerics must be of the Water Zodiac, etc. rage. Wild Empathy: The druidic avenger takes a –4 Class Features penalty on all wild empathy checks. The Elemental Cleric has all of the standard cleric class features save for where noted below. NEW CORE CLASS Turn/Rebuke Undead: The Elemental Cleric forsakes the ability to channel negative or PRIEST positive energy to turn/rebuke undead and There is no greater glory than to become the instead gains the ability to turn elementals that conduit of something far greater than yourself, to oppose his zodiac sign (Fire clerics turn water speak words that reverberate with the supremacy elementals, water clerics turn fire elementals, of a higher-power, and to command with absolute Earth clerics turn Air elementals, and Air clerics authority two of the most powerful weapons in turn Earth elementals) and gain the ability to existence—faith and knowledge. When divine rebuke or command elementals of his star sign. might alone is not enough to manifest the will of gods, a subtler vessel is chosen to spread a Spontaneous Casting: The Elemental Cleric deities influence—their priests. Good or evil, loses the ability to channel positive or negative priests are devoted to their god through study, energy, but instead gains the ability to meditation, and above all else, belief in the divine spontaneously cast any spell with an energy link between gods and mortals. In the never- descriptor that matches his star sign ([Fire] for ending search to widen that connection, priests Fire, [Acid] for Earth, [Cold] for Water, and learn to unlock their spontaneous divine magic. [Electricity] for Air. Elemental Clerics also gain a bonus domain of either Earth, Water, Air, or Fire Adventures: Priests are strong proponents of that matches their star sign. supporting their church or temple, but realize after spending years cloistered away with DRUID VARIANT: DRUIDIC AVENGER manuscripts and tomes, that their spontaneous The Druidic Avenger is a savage protector of connection to divine magic is better served by the natural world, a lone force of natural power experiencing the world around them (the ultimate that seeks to crush those who would despoil the expression gods). Good priests help others natural world. This raging power though, comes discover their own connection to the divine at a price—the druidic avenger forsakes a portion through selfless acts of kindness, and often by of their connection to the animals of the world, example. Evil priests look for the fastest way to even though within they have become more of encourage cruelty and deceit in others, using the animal themselves. greed as an enticement. Class Skills: Add Intimidate to the Druidic Priests are linked to their god in a way that is Avenger’s class skills, and remove Diplomacy constant and unwavering, and so look for omens from the list. in the world around them, in their dreams, and even in their own random decisions, that could Class Features indicate guidance from a higher-power. In many The druidic avenger has all of the standard ways, a priest goes adventuring to search for druid class features save for where noted below. these portents. It is not uncommon, or even unusual, for priests to feel like their god has 3 Alignment: Despite being spontaneous spellcasters, priests arrive at their abilities through committed devotion and scholastic study, and so are restricted to any non-chaotic alignment. This does not prevent priests from worshipping a chaotic god, however, as the alignment of a priest can be one step away from their respective deities in alignment. Additionally, a priest may not be neutral (that is, neutral on both the good-evil axis and the lawful-chaotic axis) unless their deity is also neutral. Religion: If a deity is known to mortals, then there are priests who worship that deity, permitting them to follow any religion. Priests that embrace the church of their god or philosophy are eventually sanctified by superior members of that organization, giving them status in surrounding communities but not without a host of responsibilities. These organizations expect the priest to comport themselves in all matters befitting the collective beliefs of their church. There are a few priests, although exceedingly rare, who unlock their spontaneous potential not through religious devotion, but introspection, tapping into a divine source of power. Even so, such individuals have learned to control the random variances of their mind through self- analysis and meditation. These characters wield magic in the same way that priests who identify with a specific god do, but have neither lived within a religious institution, nor regularly worshipped a particular deity. Background: A priest has usually existed within specifically given them instructions. This is not to a church or temple organization for years, say that priests are devoid of free will. Many gradually becoming a prominent figure in that believe that their actions are already being hierarchy, although conversions to a religious guided, and therefore do not resist that direction way of life can occur at any time.