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Religions and the gods of Nine Gates
The gods are in the main remnants of ancient beasts and giants,
now buried in the earth. Some, like the Beast Below or the Rock
Brothers have influence in the world through dreams and magic,
some, like Sphinx, Pelle and Ka and Karn, are actively
worshipped.
LEVIATHANOther Names: Great One, Ocean Mother, Mother of AllHoly
Symbol: Pearl, coral or other semi-precious material retrieved from
the seaClerical restriction: Sacrifice all wealth to the ocean once
a yearClerical bonus: Free action as per the spell in sea water
Leviathan is a beast of the deep, whose domains are the ocean,
hidden things, treasures and that which is lost.
SPHINXOther Names: Desert Guardian, the Monolith, The First
WordHoly Symbol: A golden amulet, a staff or a piece of lapis
lazuli carved in a 'O'
shape.Clerical restriction: Petition the desert monolith once
per year and follow itsdictatesClerical bonus: Sense undead 50',
perfect mental calculator.
Sphinx is the desert guardian of the dead, an abandoned
monolithic statue of great antiquity buried in the desert sands. A
spark of divine power still resides within and is tended by a
zealous clergy. Sphinx holds sway over funerary rites,machinery,
magic and numeracy.
ROCK BROTHERSOther Names: Mountain Kin, Vast Ones, First
BrothersHoly Symbol: A cross of iron beaten into shape
Clerical restriction: Climb a mountain every year, as
pilgrimage. Tradition hasit that it must be taller than the
previous mountain.Clerical bonus: Interpret dreams as an augury
spell 1/day (2/day at 6th level)
The Rock Brothers are a range of mountains in the north, said to
be a family ofgiants deep asleep. Their dreams touch certain
clerics and sensitives. They holddominion over dreams and madness,
and bring the snows of winter.
ORC MOTHEROther Names: Mother Rock, The Rock, Bountiful OneHoly
Symbol: A plaited length of hair from a priestess of the Orc
MotherClerical restriction: Challenge any other orc cleric to a
foot race
Clerical bonus: +4 to Initiative rolls
Orc Mother is a huge rock outcrop in the western wastes,
worshipped by the orc tribes. Little is known about her worship or
any powers she might grant her followers, but she favours musical
talent and athletic prowess in her priesthood.
PELLEOther Names: The River, Smiling Shadow, Your Mother's
VoiceHoly Symbol: Blue water tattoosClerical restriction:
Cross-dressing required at all ceremonial occasions, and when
sacrificing for spellsClerical bonus: Cannot drown, can sacrifice
for Change Self spell as a 1st levelspell
Pelle is the mighty river that feeds Nine Gates and has formed
the backbone of the city for time immemorial. Pelle is neither male
nor female but ever changing.
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The followers of Pelle worship its changing nature, and it
grants powers of change, sex and fertility with tricksters glee.
Over the years the clergy of Pelle have assumed roles of power and
influence in Nine Gates and few are concerned anymore with the
supposed 'teachings' of the god and its goals. For this reason the
clergy of Pelle take a very dim view of holy men and women touched
by the god,who claim special revelation or inspiration from the
holy river.
THE GREAT FORESTOther Names: The Green, Greenheart, World's
CentreHoly Symbol: Some living green, or a recent cuttingClerical
restriction: Always spend at least one hour per day under open
skyClerical bonus: Know direction unerringly towards the heart of
the Great Forest,+4 save vs. madness, confusion and paralysis
The Great Forest at the source of the Pelle grew over the
resting place of a giant. Its bones and flesh fed the trees and its
spirit imbued the forest with itsmagical nature. Those with a
connection to the forest may draw on powers of growth and change,
and are subject to wild ecstatic madness.
KA AND KARNOther Names: Fireheart and Smoking Man, The TwinsHoly
Symbol: Igneous rock carved to resemble two human figures joined at
the hands and feetClerical restriction: Sacrifice gold to the
volcanos or a forge on holy daysClerical bonus: +4 to saving throws
vs. fire and heat. Take half damage from fire and heat in any
case
Ka and Karn are the twin volcanoes in the north. Their
worshippers command fireand earth. Priests of the Twins are often
great blacksmiths.
DWELLER IN DARKNESSOther Names: Unseen Friend, The Voice in Your
Ear
Holy Symbol: A piece of black silk, tied in an intricate pattern
of knotsClerical restriction: Greet every stranger with a brief
blessingClerical bonus: Sharp hearing and sense of smell, heal
twice as fast as an ordinary person
Dweller in Darkness, sometimes confused with the Beast Below, is
a dark figure from the catacombs, whose dreams plague the sensitive
and vulnerable. It holds sway over the deepest dungeons of the old
city and its crazed followers wish the surface only woe. It grants
its worshippers black magic and
THE BEAST BELOWOther Names: The Hungry Maw, One Who Dies,
BaalethHoly Symbol: A defaced coin or damaged silver
jewelryClerical restriction: Eat meat at every mealClerical bonus:
Cause Fear 1/day (2/day at 4th level, 3/day at 7th level)
The Beast Below is the devil figure of Nine Gates, an
unspeakable horror from the depths of the underworld. Only the
depraved would consider the Beast worthy ofworship. The cult of the
Beast is involved in the trade in earthblood somehow.
THE HOLY WORDOther Names: The Word Before Words, The Hand that
Writes ItselfClerical restriction: Must follow written instructions
signed with the authorizing glyph of a high priestClerical bonus:
Read magic at will, and cast any spell from a scroll
The Holy Word is a divine script, writing that is imbued with
holy power. Worship is done by writing and painting the script,
teaching the words and spreading k
