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WELCOME Welcome to the newest realm companion book for the NOTATION

Roltmartcr Funtcsy Role Pluying. Befcri. you dive right inio ~h~ chanicliEg Companion the standard notarion the book we'd like to give :he rtardard words of caution from other products in ths ~~h~~~~~~ line: Arms blu an3 warning where appropriate. - 3yell Eaw, Rolema~te: Fantasy Rolc ,P!ayins etc. Thcse prod-

1 his companion is similar to the c7hi.r comp-nions in ucts should be consulted for specific rzferenccs (e.g., the that it is ' theaLc" oriented. That is, i.icr:-thing within this iists the ~ ~ ~ / i L~~ abbreiiarions nota~iun Wc~comc book centers around the single theme of Channeling magic. in rhc speii clescriptior,sj. However, if an?; of the concepts prcsciitcd in this book are not appropriat. to your game, dii nor use them! Do i7ot presume whar is wrirten upon tnese pages is iau in the strictest sense. Instead think of it as a text from which you will learn how to incorporaec ctrtair, new concepts inro your game. It is entirely possible that wha.t ycu lcarn herc will contradict the things that yoc want to pursue in your game. Remember that when anything is in doubt, yo2 (the GM) and your game and players take prcccdcr,;c - no: \'he rules.

Everything within the Chanlzfling Co~npsl-rion is optior.al (the professions, the new speil lises, m . ) . As a G51, yoa must study all of what is presented here and decide if the concepts are appropriate to your gaming world. Adopting certain portions of this book into your game could change the power balance in your game. You (as the GM) must decide if this is good or bad for your game.

Although this book is theme oriznted, there is no reason why select parts of it cannot be used individually. For ex- ample, you may want to use the rules on D i ~ l n e Status, but not allow the new professions. This will halie no seri- ous effect on game balance. P,err,embcr that In the end, the GM (not the players) must decide to use (or not use) the material presented herein.

Players should keep the above discussion in mind when reading the Channeling Companion. The GM may decide that parts of this book are nat appropriate for his or her game. Pressuring the GM to a d o p ~ pieces of this tome that he does not want might not only result in a fracturing of a delicate game balance, but could wea!ten or undermine his concepts for the world he has created. There may be things about his world you dcn't know about that c,:uld be dras- tically affected by them. On the other hand, the GM has an obligation to his players to make clear what the physical laws of his world entail (i.e., the game rncchanics).

A GM must strive to be consistent in his decisions and in his interpretations of the rales (this inciudes decisions about which rules to include and uhic:; ;o excludej. With- oct isnsistcnc:;, the p1zjc.r~ ~ ~ + i i ! f;i~~:

. . . . - ccjnfiidciiie ir, the i';hf's bccision: 3ii.3 :-is ;;nL. &'"ti: ';;-(is haFpns , I., game loses mc:i I) :TS i ~ i ~ , : , , ~ ~ aiid appeal.

Note: F;jr pxpcsa cf:/"itad;itiii+, rrhi. ROCK .::t.~ i t ~ i : d ~ t d

mnscuiine ~rar:oilr;s ujhcr: n;firrl'irx ! J pc.rrcr:s 4 ;iecrircr':; ycr;der, l n SUCI: CGSCS, I ~ S C ~ T O ~ O U Y I - S arc ii7,:er.iJLd tc con- vey :hc ~ncunin~x: hc//sht, l i in;/hri: t :c,

Auraaw THANKS We would like to thank Susan Landgraf for her initiai

help. The Freelance Writers Guiid members and fel!ow authors for their i n p ~ : (Rich, Scott, Tim, Todd, etc.). Mainy thanks ro the group, the gang, the crew... you all know who you arc and have teen for up to almost twenty years in some cases. We would also like to thank our PBrniiies who never put down or discouraged our hobby. Lastly, thanks go to one without whom this companion would not have been possible; God.

Piqii'esters and role playing group members: Tony "You saw my dad naked?" Brarne, Rob "Ooh nooo!" Childs, Dave " K n Traitor" Easley, Chris "The 3iack Arrow, its 9:00" Eklund, Eric "Woaaa?" Kasnicii, Mikc "Ben Hur" Soiornon, Kclin "'Mindless i'<iiling :\dackineW Tesscriorc, Matc "@o~s9 ' -r3mscn, JCICjC "5 +;3J ijl j i"",'..il rn? ' . ' . . ,. ic r ui in, i~rid 'john "Qja3- Bio;k" ' " ,,.? ' . . - I

- Y LLI .QL. l l O i ? i .

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E!ror Biack:r,co: stcrtd on tkc hl!i crcst cccriooki~g- :he l o z s n a r r m tallcy b~2U.z~. Bodlcs and zhirr b c n ~ s littered theforcst jf~or,?i.om a battle t f d had rayd sir,:c cad? ;hat morniny, rl ta t f i r tka f cociinued still.

The ,Y~cr;rnancc; Caulric had ra is~d a c undead army and set cu:;C;.r the f i e land: zith his miciaes, intcnt on destroying the t o : ~ z s a zd ~.iliagcs K ir.crccse rhi. sizc s,f:fAi: C T I Z ~ bcfnri he rcachi.c' the capitcl city, S i z ~ ~ t ~ s t l i a . Eltor and h i s conpcnijny, G rexcmncd 2rdj.p cf f:cru'c: in :,hi; :;cz film, AGF! ,+~iiA 121th ;jCc x ~ j ; : p.il;ec in tlzi ?LinsHi:;: o,f Xindcsi and dcsisezl a dispcprate plan c,?"de$nie. Three separate compar;ies, iuio cri !and crid ~ r . e ;.n sea, were all nl;-icg o;, each other to prcvail.

Ilith mud G,? ihr kinpIdci;;'s nab?: rrijplid ?uz :c? saLotaAr, hi$kclc b5lhalgan had tiathi;c;id tc2ctAi;rr the Zcgcndary Sindcstlfar, Pirctes. Thq uauid h i , ; . tc AclZ an ar:;~adc; i;; bcy en ;At :crsti.rr: cacst. L

4

/Z c o n y e r e , c r r . e a c r e o no a c , 2 u p G a j ..., .. h d n t ~ ~ s , rangers ~ n d i'j:':s in iiLe castcrn h rc~ t : . C$ hik :k;c? did KG.' ~zufibcr bcycnd :ht hundreds t h i r hit-c;;:d-rue foctics 4

C

1 zncrld hope full^ dccirna ft thc invadixg xndtad am?;.

d l c n j zcith ~ ~ c r t of the ,%c;eg?hclr Kzightx, c small grsup of C T U S L ~ C P . ~ a n i many Pakdif is 3~772 the z;arious ctzurchcs of Sizdcst, Eltor &as at the head ofthe lar~cst unitedgrouedj5rcc kr~own to ?naniiir,d.. ar:d it za s r,ot going 13 be e n o q h tc hold thc tidi Lack. itfa,+iy of the usual csgir,~: o , f xar had !$tic cr ?;o ;#~ct on fhe l n c q troops. ils;i;cs and ballO:a had prozsed Inefictii'e ;n the mummics and zombies and w ~ u l d p a s s r kh t i h roqh the ~keletons in mcst cases. Ecen swords did not prove as capable as :hey would azainst l i v i q foes. Only blun; weapcxs cr:d larger tujo hacded mapons were h l l y ej%.aivc and ca:upzlts had . hne zc;c,Il. Bu: d i e e z e w :hey f ~ c c d /,ad no netd ofrcst, sleep, o ~ f i i c i Tire? did not&ar death, $r even $the> s:illpcsstssed mind$, t h y zerr dread' dead. .As the bouidcrs rained doun from the hil!s and the fror~t liscs o fE1tor i army destroyed dozens of esemie: for cverj single mar, that it lost, i: uias not enough.

J Israted thcir enemies Eltor did not know bz t it surely za s not with their empty or rutting eye-sockcts. His troops would not be able to see, bccoming separated and ensib surrounded. E ~ v n the most cxpcrienced t;poopr could lose moralr, panic, snd j7ee in those circumstances. The enemy had no appcrcnt i:cedfL?r communication. Either they received orders magically or they were simply relying on sheer numbers to overpower Eitori arny. A plan that zould ecentually succeed.

C As darkness began to fall, Elto? could see the campfires wink into rxistcnce, much closer to the mcuth o f the valley than they had been ?he night befare the undead armies had arrived. During the daytime alone they had lost too much groznd, the night-time would prove the final biou. It 70.3s over Alany countless battles had been w o n they hadhrfeiicd almost none of them. B u t the war was losf. There was no hope, o n h more lhcs aouid be sacrificed. Therc was lit:/< more Eltor could do, no new trick or secre; weapons that he could bring to bear. Only one thing was [ep; it wc;s small thing but it was all Eltor could think of: Betueen his flagbearer and signale); Eltor Knelt on :he so& ground and began to pray for his mcn. If ever thcrc was a time to seek spiritual aid, now was it.

N 7 ~ e r $hose who have died here r o d q no: do so in ::ailz, f i r though they .have 39; succrcdttd in holding bac.k :he,firccs of 1 k ezii : h q haw s a i d x a n y i;on Weasr h i b J 7 ~ d a n . i%3:k!ale asdJcriin ruccied iukcrc ii.c hcie/c.iid i , ~ stopping Caulries 4 I armies, and ovengc 0x7 fate." E h r o p m d his cyrs t~ find both rhcj'iagbcarer and t h c signaler kneeling to either side of h i m 4 1 find $r n brieficco;;d r rmiC touched k? :Ips. T k c xi,;,. Lri ii jo in d c 5-ont limx f i r dc f iat ' rniryirnent " 1 4

d a;- As they gave the rail to march and bi"g3n dour[ the hill into !he- vdley the stars zoc;-ejust beginning to heconx visible. He 7 hnd l i x d a long iij; it zuas no: so bad to die in scri;ice to G grcatc: good. Bu t all thc athers, the mcr! and women who had

to 5;z'e a lastfireueil his conpanions so far auajJrorn cacli other, zi,cn he noticed the stars sccmcd to be mozirq In just

I gitien thcir liz;es or; the,%eld icday, kow,full had tkeir liucs been? Z7i;h a sigh Ekor glanccd up to :hc stars again, thinking 7

the lest j;rz xecor~ds hundreds of them had apk'cand c,ld t h j serrrxd to be ... faliirr~, .+It first z/!:or sll;;ply took this as. c sign,

r obtiiaus Ac;: thi'si zcrc cot stars (it a//, but scrnej75ing cr~atrlrcs. As ;r~r i-ntn cr211ed kiln began to ncticc thk also thr gmilp

4 a rctzrn y~re.-ti~ce-wcli.' Bu t the :.tars Ergan fc i:it brighter and closer. TOC sky almost sccmed to 1igh:cr: c bit. Soon it uas i

- came to a s/ozc S ~ C J # S~~*~;O[F starizg at ti:(. niL-fc:' sk3. I d:

7 . i t , s i n ~ . G :;peiir rLccirb i a c i ~ i j c t :n !cr.$liL cs G ~ ~ ( z i k i ~ i ~ iiqJ :hi cC?i;cr cr;ai.i ~ : c ~ p c d . h i w o d U;TC ~ i i d ~ e s ~ c d Eltc; ~ i i i n h ; 1 1 " C h a ~ n ~ i c n ro the $rccs of .ymd, Lo,~d E k o ~ B/a~-kmoar ~ h c K w c ~ f ~ . ~ ~ ; ~ K n i$s, '" his :one izdic~:ccl that if ZL?S ZJ? c C quts:icz. i k

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PMT I CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction. ............................................................................... 6 4.0 Weii~ion. ................................................................................. 10

2.0 Sources Of Mortal Power. ............................................................................ 2.1 Divine Power S

........................................................................... 2.2 Demcnic i3cwer S ........................................................................ 2.3 Naturai Sources E:

............................... ............................. 2.4 Spheits of Infiiience .. 8 ................................................................................... 2.5 LVorshipers 8

.......................................... 3.0 Sources Of Immortal Power. 9

......................... ................................. 3.1 Spheres Of Infhenct. .. 9 ................................................................................... 3.2 Worshipers 9

............................................... ....................... 3.3 Examples .. 9

4.1 Fo!ioweis Ar.2 h?in:ons .......................................... 10 4.2 LVorshipsrs ........................................ 10

........ ........... ..................... 4.3 Cl;ar.cellcrs ar.d Priests ... .. 10 4.4 Champicns ar.6 Sainrs .................................... .... ............... 11 4.5 Creaticns azd Servitcrs ................... ... ........................ 11

4.6 Avztars ........................................................................................ I! ................................. 4.7 Religious Orders ............................... .. I1

4.6 Rcligion azd the Characrer ................... .. ...................... 12

Grog hoMiny u l o r y club-like bone looked to the sky in awe. A ny5- terious objttct had 6cym to block out the s m ' s light, cocering it and c!/ the land in n ,arn:i;;.qz darkiress. T h e U L -

p1ct;ni.d attack t h y nsC decided to make on rhc nei'hboring clun wax ;r.- ceiving hclpjircm ce :in- ~xpected and obciou~lj: uerq powerful beiag. A rrookcci smile spnoa' across hic dirty jkct a s he grzr::cd to the ~t/:ers t h ~ t thcj uculd sa i r un:i l tht durkm:: 3 s : . 6 ; [i S &(F(.J~, :,12('$ :!LL:,:,

z c 1 3 u j i ai;ack ir; ihe c,, , J -

,;us:,7r 2j" ( t26 at/?(,;- cid~;, T: r, ,.ii~q LUOL ld ;?eel- cbrctc a:xnG ?lLc CaiTg-

j f ~ ~ L / K C G ; ; ; L ' K ~ c,f t,74 ir cc;c;Gur;d br iicfkctcr.

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As its name implies, Channeling 1s a pyocess of receiving 3hi:r t intervention is 'i;?il ncxt n~ajor subjec: that will po\ver f r o n other 3c:ngs into one's self, :hen channellr,g be zove:d. Liithi,~, yo.; will find same rules to use as that power to "cast sp~lls." Channtl;ng magic is spiriyiiai piiJe!incs for w5en a cha:actcr or par:Iv7 gets themselves

Concepts g Premises and rehgious in nature. .A cscr of :h: Channsiing rea!r.~ ir.to such a decp hoie t ; ~ t T.G mo;tal heip is going to get

does not get his powe:- saints and s~e i i s in :he same way as ,;hen? ost. Yc,: wiii also ,:!.isccber how a character's situa- an Essence user. An Essznce Qser pulls energy directly f;e;rL ticn, acticns, attitude, ant! inten: will affect ihat plea for the Essence around him and molds it into s2tlis. A hclp. Channeler is, in effect, petitioning his deity for the power There are four new professions included. There are two to cast Channeling spells and far the spells thcmselvcs. h:brid spell users (one for each other realm) and one semi- This does not often require active zooperation of thc deiry, speii cser. Rules for crezting Priests of difhrent religions especially when the Channeling user is using relatively weak are aisa introduced. To support the concept rhat all Priests or subtle spells. !"Pore powerful and significant spells (dearh shouid not look ahkc; a iarge set of Priest base lists has spells, or the revival of the dead) may require the activc been inc!uded. They are iisabie by Channeling characters cooperation of the delts to make their Priest w~tique to the deity they serve.

The Channeier derives his power from another being, Aiso included, arc "1 new Training packages, a discus- and is in its debt. If not fcr his deity: the Channeler wol;id sion of Fate Points, a treatise on the spirit world, and new have no power himself. This is how a Channeling spell talents and flaws especially fcr Channeling characters. user should view his power and abil;@-. Also, w o new Holy Critical Strike Tables are included.

The Channeling Compani~ni main focus wi!i be on Chan- The:; y~liii have rnaliy uses u~ithin the reairn of Channeling neling characters. TI-.? purpose of the book Is two-foid. miigic, incicdinp co:rilption, holy spells, and criticals against The first purpose is to provide additional flavor and r'nique- specific enemies. ness to Channeling spell csers by allowing Garr,emasters to One last -vvorS cf warning before you jump in. The Chan- tailor the professions of a given deity's religion to reflect neling Companion is written with the "good" Channeling the nature of the deky ,?iiselE. charac:cr in mind. 'There are a few examples of evil (Kec-

'The second purpose is to provide a series of rules that romancers, Uiicl~es, etc.), bat the evil or neutral view of relate to Cha~nekng magic that makc t$,e cnique. fir tspics preser.t,ia hcr~i;; 2.r,? no'; ;:ways dis;ussec! specifi- exampie, Channeling is the only rcaiii :hat yequires the caste; cally. You may have necd :0 .;se this material for an 'evil' to behave in a very specific wayT according to the gdi~~ates of religion, and for the cvii Cha~nelers in it. In addition, in another being. Sections covering divine status have been in- mosi wc~rids there are not only good and evil, but many cluded to make sirre that the character is acring ir, line with shades of gray rhat w;il need to be addressed as well. Just the \ ~ . ~ s ~ c s of the being that p r o ~ i i 3 ~ ~ the Channelcr xs;rh his chanSc %ha; you to rsficnst a;iy GU;!Sok, Whc;hSr f i ~ ; ~ - powzr. Chaniielc[s ale \iiatchcd by thek reysegjvc. &cries, some- eL;i, Or c.thtlr. Holy ccu]J b2 re2d as unhoiy, cre2turcs times \v"atched -.-mr bt.2 ~ i o s c i ~ , -7 . - - art% uiil fail under nies thar wlil "of darkness" would becop.c crearnrss "of iight," etc. measure their conduct, If thec beh;tvc an$ se:-vi_. th$ir dci3 we!:, i: b"ii become wortb,whiie for recisofis orilsr than just role playing their character correctly.

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THE ORIGINS OF CHANNELING MAGIC

Where ths deities came from no one really knows. The stories of how they came to be are widely varied. They may have been born in the fiery furnace of creation. Per- haps they were mortals that gained great magical knowl- edge and achieved their position on their own. Some of them may be embodiments of the forces of nature. Maybe they were created by the first worshipers of the world by the unknowing mental power and worship of people's be- liefs. They could simply be extraordinarily inteiligent be- ings for their time or maybe they are of a different world. Depending on what world, religion, or even person you ask there will be a different explanation. It seems that the deities have always existed. It seems that they were there before the races covered the world and will probably al- ways be here.

Deities in many worlds are often grouped into panthe- ons (groups of deities with similar beliefs and purposes) or sometimes they all have independent goals. It is the GM's job to decide how many and what deities there are in the world, and what their roles are. When a GM has a diverse and interesting group of deities present and working in his world, it adds a great flavor to the campaign.

The most common definition of Channeling magic fol- lows: At some point in the history of the world, a relation- ship arose between mortals and deities. This relationship is called worship. It is the main means by which deities gain their power. The Channeler, as he worships, actually gives p x t of his Essence to the deity through daily prayer, sacrifice, and other forms of worship. The more worship- ers that a deity has, the more powerful he is.

The deities can be thought of as incredibly powerful beings, independently powerful and needing no external soxce for their spells and abilitiss. A deity has the natural ability to gather this coliective Essence from his worship- ers and direct that power outward to affect the physical world. He is also able to channel this power out to his followers in the form of spells. In rare instances, he will use his power to directly intervene in the affairs of one of his worshipers.

This relationship grew down rhrough the years and even- tually developed into the realm of Channeling. Today, there are highly structured churches where anyone can go, and become a foliower of a d e i ~ . The followers are offered protection, i~;struction, and social cohesion with other fol- lock-ers of the faith. If proper!y invested, a foi!sv~er can become a Chunneiing spcli aser, cnCcrinp intc the above relueionship with ; dei:y, - !he reiatic;ishi~ ~brtween u-orshipcr and deiq; has grown as :he years have goiic by. T h c Chani~eler must adhew to thc principles and practices of tne d c i ~ . Tk,cy aiso rniisi spread the wo;d of the deitys powcr, gain nev\, worshipers, watch over and protect the current ones, and pcrform spe- cial missions as the dcity directs. The deity is expcsted to give J ppcri-ion of his pcw,ue;- to his invested fo~icwcrs a:?d guldc ~ h c chti;ch ;h:o-agi: :IS Isadcrs. It becc:~-,cs u cq i !~ci process, r.o.orc f~llowers providc more pow?: for .:he deip. which i:7 turn granis incre power to his rbii~\i.ei~, etc.

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SOURCES OF MORTAL POWER ,%cd~n .Vat Lir s t ~ o d in the cintc: s,fI.iis grs;c draws-

i~;,-p,:ztrfrc?r~ fht ,c/ari~s and anl'ma/x o,f the firtst . / I s kc 2 ~ i l a d t i c PO;L?CT inti himse/,f rind channiltd If izts c: ;i-

Concepts g pPeinlses ablc$wcci. thc Druid; ener;:y cntc~cd the cicarir;,o. Black

clcilds bLil;r. to r ~ f l abcvc and :hundir roiicd across tlic skizr as thr dari: drake c a l ; ~ fully inti: ciezu. Suddenb ,~haricx tirnu, h i s hands joric..nrd, fingers outstreiched to- z ~ r d : iiic drake ar:d a rrio cf1igh;nir;y bolts burrtfr~ra rhc cloud2 ar,d s~rdck thc crtatun ir u n i ~ o n ...

.c scurzc i f Channeiir,g pcxirer fcr charac-rers is 21- some fo;n; 0;' highci power. Ir. nwst cases, th;s is a b ~ t o::~er sources c;n be used by a character to pal:?

i7 ,,, : c ;?owe:. Thc:e are three main sources of Channriing

Fowcr: Divine Pswer, Derrionic i>o\vtlr, artd Sat-sral Sources. 0 t h - sources of power will be diswsscd as u d l . Without one of rhese sources of power, a Channeler is without any way to cast sp~i!~ .

DIVZNE POWER ,Most of he time, characters will be receiving their power

from a deity oof L: piirticuiar Sphere of Inilucnce (see Sec- tion 2.4). This is what is called divine power. The charac- ter is onr of wiirs~liperS of a par:iciilar dciqb- -%ELo nels them powtr and the ability to cast their spells. Many of thcse spells v;i!i reflect tne na.t*are of the d t l i ~ , while others will be generic spells thzt are often sent to worship- crs of s : ~ d c i ~ . Most Channeling characters described in Roirmcstcr will draw power this way frorn a divine beiilg.

RB.&moVNIc ib POWER Deals arc cftsn struck with Demons ,cir other supernatu-

ral forces to gain or obtairi power. This can range aiy- where from prornisii~g monerary or sacrificial offerings to servina the crttity and doing its bidding. The problem with t;",is scurce of Mower is that the Dtmon may grow to see .this pe:-scn as expendable, 2nd might fail them or bctr;; .i .,-- - .,-;.-- .. .,, ,.,)I ,,..: ;i i:; con.,,c.r.ie:?: .:,J di; so. Thcrc i.r-r: .:;so De- .7-,c-,c , -% ,<., .'

. . ,i,, d k ~ , - iioij. .ind il?:.;;:tain 2. :;:.;ge groLp of a o r s h i ~ t r s

. - '%rii L:&!-cli. i-;l2E;.(.r ds 2 drzi't3-. '-!-p.<, k: . ,., LP.~.:: of pciixr can rr:r,gc to c i h r sorts r?f suyir-

>-. ..,.. -. $- c:;. 3 zeli-~gs ' ~ c s l j e s 3ems11:.; it co2:i ~-tcli;dc cixrtei?riI . . . . - :ci-vJ:lrs c: (;:I> o ~ ~ - ~ c r power:<, >i:ng rm:ii; anG:Kci- pia;;,c.

- . Rh;L,S. ii;ii! , :iaJ:c;. c!ldrs-- ,LC:- d:-+i~ power iror-: n Dcmosic ?;c:irc< {but 13t;hzrs a S~;cerer 2r 2 SLZ-.mor:er miglzt). b'y:esr ,;< :;F:C i.i;nc, these thj.: ~: i t ize DLmoric ps:vc arc:

C\il:.

NATUML SOURCES This is -the area of the Animist,, Druii , and shaman-type

L~arzcters. This area is very dependen: on the world view cf the Gsrne,vaster. 3ependiag on how he sees it, the Ch3c;;eler rr,q, draw power from, and worship, a nature deity or s ~ i r i ; in :he same w;? as a divine po.l:;eiF. I 'he GM may also rule that rhc Channe!cr may actuaily be drawing pcwer from the environment itseif (giant life, animal life, spirits, e.tc.1. in this case, the Channelcr is said to be draw- ing p w e r from a Sphere of Infiuence, in a similar way :har 3 aeiq dces (SCC Section 3.1).

Treat this rype of Channeler as any other for the pur- poses of casting speiis, but there is one drawback. There is obviously no rea! being to intervene and help :he Channeler if he shouid ever ask for he!p. This type of Channeler may have a bit more fiexibiiity with his behavior, but suffers a severe pcnalty when calling for Dibine Intervention.

SPHERES OF INFLUENCE There are a few izst ways in which a Channeier can gain -.

power. 'l'he first is if a Channeler worships a general idea or theme such as "good" or "love." The Channeler is said ro be drawing power directiy from a Sphere of Influence, in a sirniiar way as that of a deity. Treat this type of Channeler as any other for the purposes of casting spells. However, nct oaiy 1s there no reii being to intervene and help rh:: Chanr~eicr, but if the idea that he worships ever disappears frorn his world, or grows wesk, his power will .b;nish with it. k r exz~aple, if a world is becoming increas- ingly cold hearted, and: love begins to disappear, then a Channcler that worsl~ips rhe Sphere of infiuence of love will suffer from a lack of power.

, . x . Jyile !Last fi~~!;:l;-.r:.lin2 sagice of pov,,sr for i:c

L : ~ . ! . T ~ C : O ~ T C ~ :".IT ~fiouid ~ l i c ~ sol-<;;?eone to gain 2 o w e ~ and . ., " g;.c,~ \-c De,cci;t;. ,; i r iQ ri2erfisLi\;cs. ~f :h\: ,'$2rc.,,caljs:er

. - . su~SCr i~3Cj to :.>.eZ;y that dc.hies ~ J ; ~ T C :-,Io:~J~s th21 habe >s,-enJed ic; tj-Leir positioi-;, 3 bCinG'j po~~ber cowid bc li: the

&A - 4 . .

growing m a 12crnln~ ~ h a s e , ssme.,,vncrc betu.ccn i??czal and dei.ty. Suck n bci:~g cc;llii. naae a mass of woi-shi~crs suppoiting 1-,in;, sIouiy learning to use t n a ~ p x e r to his ai\,-n;age whlie still 2 mortal. This sor;rcc shcuid never bc ;,t.ilzid b5 ,;i;.;. t-lay;.crc-s, L L ~ C O ~ ] d b; ii-i G S ~ bJ- 5 i,e:-y

- 2 . . ,>~l>, .~~. ; , , l i c-C'?*>.-~l:t? ';':'!:,;, 9; ;c'.;ci-.~

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SOURCES 0% IMMORTAL BOWER Arcs, ;he God of Wac ~ i e z t d :hr battle that r u e d cc- 3,2 low, ir exhilarctior.. Such an immense conflict cozld oonij.

bring h im rr,orcpiwcr. Xeccrmind uho u;on, that u9as i rr~l - WORSHIPERS concepts mant although uorthj o,f some uttt.n:icn, i w c r all, great 8 Premises zarriors xould make great Jroliouers. The Crusad~rs each tZ'o;shipers are a much more powerf~l and direst way of

receivinp power. Most deities have a large following of hu- uould suallow up dozens afthe undead arm;;'s troops o w manoid worshi;;ers who, when added together in large num- courx cf the battle. B u t in th; ind, shcer numbers could ~

=ion thc d q . I: u : ~ u l d be intcri',ciinz to see which z~ou!d x r s , piye rhe dcity an enormcus amount of power. What a deiry's worshipers receive in return for worship p r o x thr 2reatt.r advan:a~e ...

(in addition tc speils) cart vary greatly frcm deiry to deity. The sources of power for deities are Spheres of 1nfii;- F~~ exampie, a jei5 of susteaance may ensure that farms

ence and worshipers. Spheres of Influence are ari idea that ,,d fields are kept watered and keep insects from a dei::; re~resenrs from which he receives power. "Norship- eating A jeiw of if^ :r,ay allow his .sorshipers ers sre externai beings whose collective Essencc Is givcn tu to live j,,, a bit longer. T~~ benefit of having direct war- a deity through worship. shipers, as opposed to only a Sphere of Influence, is that

worshipers can bring abom immediate c h ~ n g e in the world,

3.1 by starting wars, retrieving lost objects, and even convert- ing more followers so the deity may gain a larger power

PT E Y e!rewwrmr SPEERES Or E~FLUE~WCE L---, udbL.

The one drawback to receiving power from worshipers Whether a deiw, a Demon, or something else, a higher is rhat they are targets for a plagus or a rival religion's

power will usually have a Sphere of Influence. A Sphere cf cr-asads against them. They can zlso be converted to an- Influence is, in its simplest form, a theme, idea, or subject. other faith. Some good exarnpics would be Magic, Nature, 'Fortune, Travel, Life* Death, E re , Luck, Fear, War, Wind, E ~ v e , Peace, or a host of other themes. Deities can gain power from these Sphcres of Influence. The act of war could

3.3 create and "channel" power to the deify of war just as all EXAMPLES the wilderness (and its inhabitants) covering much of the ~ ~ ~ , i ~ , the deity of a if^ gains her power fron, both her wcrld couid provide the deity of Nature with a large power sphere of ~ ~ f l ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ and her fo~lowers, H~~ sphere of ln- base. fkilence (Life) gives her power as her worshipers give of

This can create count!ess deities and pantheons ir. a their lives to further ker and ;ives of world without the prerequisire of having foliowers or wor- ;maliavs foliowers give her not only iin the form of shipers. T'ne drawback is that deities vv.:;ithout worshipers lvorship an J but also in the form of sacrifices and would rer.d to be weaker or less powerfui, as they wosia ,,tions that p~otect ;ife. s-,--;F--. C ~ L I ~ ALCU L I form ii; time, rLoney, not hsve the ability to bring &out direct change into a or great deeds, this powel is channeied Po ~ ~ ~ ! i ~ , who world without doing it themselves. A deity of n'ature, if he nost of it back her u,ors;-tipers in the form of had no follcwers, would have to reiy or. the devices of his spells to heal, cndea$, and perform jifcgiving ritu- plants, animals, and other natural eiements. 31s. These followers then use ihat power to further protect

A Sphere if Infiucnce wiii not aiwaqs reflest rhe na~ilse life, thereby serving their dei@ and their own of the deity. A deity of Death may not necessarily be evil: ,f all soc;ls m a t find their ultimate resting place in death, hfaetaran, the deity of ~ ~ ~ k , F ~ ~ ~ , and F ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ , gains and t h ~ t deity might oniy be there to help ii? that journey. hi, the fate of :he is plzved out. ~i~ is a Likswikc, 2 dirl+ of FOrtui-,c :r:j;q ::o: necb:ssaKii:; kc 5-coJ

. , hrge sphe~c, crtd rrs such it givcs hirr. im,~.cr.se power ro 3; chi;; deit3 m;:; S'eK lo KecF rverqcne k'o;-ii ge,r:i:g ruic ~vc:- ihc fat;: of ,::hCrS, j-ik foi!owcTs v;.;ors&ip and vc .y - . - - , , : T iiiil,t2 the> s;jnt, Lieti khe;cc;rc anj;. > c~:cs . - sc; t:,-$ J . L . & ~ - L A ' . .

~i.:;.' :-,ii??, arbd pro..Ji&i: vgitl-L fLr;ktcr , J ~ M . ~ I . , kl;c[ai-an . . . ;;r;j?:; Of F , ;Q~ fo r . idn~ ,btCPr ;fiCJ 'thXfl~'(h ~ U ( ~ ~ ( T ~ J / ~ J ; 32s.: . -

. . gives :hi: p0;vcr LJi'i< ;c. h:: fG:jotpc;S 2 1 ~ G ihiS ;s miish, if :lo.( ir:ore, ~ - ~ i ~ f ~ : t ~ n ~ a]c:ig ~ h t : ,*.a;. 1;cji::r to :o l~t rc i dcstirt:, of cirraii: people that sees 3~ ;cs~;~;~TIcc!.',~~! to tihc fate of ;h< worid, whe:l^ier they ;re g , ~ o d c: -52, and u~hctb.er !P.ey ;;,orship him er :.tot.

Brakitas the deity of Combat, gains great power from the wars cf the ' ~ ~ o r l d . Eis Sphere ili' I~~f l cenc? gives him

1 . t;o~;Lr 9,p+i-,t:iysv~r c;;,c;-<, 1s \;a:. i-iii fo~johc:s 5-i~: iliEl ;GT,\~: , ,

- 3 , . ;;-;;I. ;r,\,,!,~; cj-iarri ire,; ,:sfi?;-,! n:ghcs; fDrm ;f W""bJi-"&" L. d - v;2;s b.ip sraj<l.. . P ~ S . i i t b - Y i . J r:x ;c

' - ' FG\GCT ;?a:i; to his ~ o ~ I G w -

erL iL,< [,.rin *f <.--, ]I< ,;- ' r-:'.,,-, . , .. ... - ,,.c ju,,~,,..ce 2u;i;;g Isr;t";res. ri.s

,'olE;o~~e:-s usc rilis power to ba;ris rhe ezemics of their 3e- ity.

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