Faith (sage study)
Faith is a sage study describing a philosophical theocratic approach to the character's belief in his or her chosen religion. Essentially, the character has come to realize that logic and reason have limitations regarding the explanation of events, and that in fact, the "mystery of life" cannot be understood. As such, the character has chosen to commit their actions and beliefs to the word of their religion as an act of trust and loyalty, relying upon theistic guidance alone.
The pattern of faith differs from religion to religion — but primarily, the highest commandment is selflessness. The character's needs and worldly importance are secondary to the greater truth: that, like the character, the world must be bent towards the greater good. This "good" compels a wider belief in the cleric's religion, the divine will and eternal compassion towards others of the same faith ... with, naturally, the understanding that those of other faiths must be enlightened or clensed.
The sage abilities below are those acquired by a character through the study, according to status.
Amateur Status
- Preach: the power to deliver a sermon, influencing an audience to adopt moral truth, right conduct and worthy leadership.
- Proselytize: the skill to speak with others and encourage them to adopt the cleric's faith.
Authority Status
- Bless Water: the power to sanctify water and make it holy.
- Holy Protection: a continuous protection from malevolence that surrounds the cleric, extending outwards for two combat hexes, that any ally of the cleric can enjoy.
- Make Token: the ability to fashion a holy symbol that provides some protection for a devout bearer.
Expert Status
- Counsel with Angel: enables the character to speak directly with supernatural beings of the upper planes of existence.
- Lay on Hands: the power to heal others, granting 2 hit points per level of experience, one time per day.
- Immunity from Disease: supernatural protection that preserves the cleric from any infection or bodily weakness.
- Scribe Holy Writings: the ability to create minor magical texts and scrolls for the employment of other persons.
Sage Status
- Make Avenger: grants the ability to fabricate a holy avenger weapon of the cleric's design.
- Scribe Tome: the ability to create major arcane books, tomes, phylacterys and the like.
- Transcend: obtaining a state of being that overcomes the limitations of mortality and becomes independent of it.
