DM Note: The following applies to Clerics of Kostris (all flavors,) Bala, SOME Non Human Deities and SOME Zamoran Deities. Different, but similar, rules apply to the remaining Non Human and Zamoran Deities as well as the Red Faith. NONE OF THIS applies to Druids or Elven ‘clerics’ (Druids.)
Holy Water
Made by almost all the ‘Good’ Faiths (most commonly the Church of Kostris (All three.) To battle the scourge of the Undead.
Holy Water is made in a special Basin in a Temple or Holy Shrine. The average Village Chapel is NOT equipped to make Holy Water.
It cannot be stored in a wineskin or some other profane container. Most typically it is stored in a consecrated glass, crystal, silver or gold containers.
Glass Vials of Holy Water
This is the Adventurer’s staple. It contains about 4 ounces of Holy Water and costs (the non believer and those not paid up members of the local Temple) 25gp each. GENERALLY a Cleric of the SAME Faith can receive 1 vial of Holy Water free every day.*
The vials may be reblessed and reused if they are not broken.
Used in blessings, consecrations and as a material component in many cleric spells.
Splashed or thrown at an Undead it will cause 2hp damage for a Splash 2-7hp (D6+1) for a dirct (breaking) hit.
Crystal Vials of Holy Water
These are larger, usually about 8 ounces up to 32 ounces and are used in particular religious rituals. The big ones are used to transport and store Holy Water for those chapels unable to make their own. These are always reused, they can be employed to splash a target, but if thrown they usually do NOT shatter except against stone or similar. The Crystal Vials range from 75gp to 500gp IF the church will sell one. (Not likely.) Nor do they loan them out to adventurer clerics!
Splashed on the undead they cause 3pts per splash.
Silver Flasks
These are the mainstay of traveling clerics. They are often ‘Gifted’ by a Temple when a Cleric reaches 3rd level. They hold 16 ounces of Holy Water and can be refilled at no cost to the cleric.* If he or she must buy one, they typically cost 100gp empty. Gold versions are no different in stats, but represent a higher ranking cleric. 500gp
They do not break when thrown, but can be used to splash for 3pts damage to the Undead.
* FREE Holy Water is not a license to hoard or resell. Abuse of the privilege will get it revoked!
Holy Water Sprinkler
This non-magical bar-mace has a hollow head, which is revealed by sliding away a hinged cap. When filled with liquid, the fluid will run through small holes and down ridges of the mace. The mace is designed for clerics sent to fight the Undead. A single glass vial of Holy Water can be poured into the head, coating the mace and doing additional damage. When used in such a manner, the mace does 2 additional points of damage when hitting creatures susceptible to holy water. Even when the cleric misses his attack, spraying water will do 1 point of damage to the target. After 2d4 rounds, the water will have drained and the mace will act as normal. These are often given to new Clerics who vow to go forth and battle the scourge of the Undead. Cost of the basic version of this weapon = 16gp
A Silvered/Iron version is sometimes gifted by the Temple to particularly successful Clerics (At least 3rd level) who have demonstrated courage and prowess vs the Undead. These cost 160gp.
Evil clerics have been rumored to use similar items, with more nefarious liquids placed inside
Holy Symbols
A clerics Holy Symbol, regardless of material, must have had the spell ‘Holy Symbol’ cast on it. For new Clerics, and those still unable to perform the spell on their own, this is down at their Ordination Ritual.
Wooden Holy Symbols
Wooden Holy Symbols are often given away by Temples to the Faithful on Holy days and at certain life events. (Consecration ceremonies, Vows, etc) They are also available at a minimal fee in many religious shops affiliated with Temples. Street vendors are known to sell them as well, but many feel that such purchases are sacrilegious.
Iron (Bronze) Holy Symbols (Kostrin)
Temples will sometimes give these out to a child when he or she completes religious schooling. Also to new Initiate Clerics, Temple Guards and to adult Faithful at important events (Marriages, Child birth, Funerals…) They are also available at a minimal fee in many religious shops affiliated with Temples. Street vendors are known to sell them as well, but many feel that such purchases are sacrilegious.
Silver Holy Symbols (Kostrin)
These are usually gifted by a Temple to a Cleric who achieves Adept (2nd level) although there is nothing to keep a 1st level cleric from buying one. They are also given by the Temple to wealthy or Noble members of the Faithful at important events (Marriages, Child birth, Funerals, major Donations…) They are also available at a minimal fee in many religious shops affiliated with Temples. Street vendors are known to sell them as well, but many feel that such purchases are sacrilegious.
Balan Holy Symbols
These vary, they are either a representation of the Stone of Power (a consecrated piece of rock said to be the type The Stone was formed from) if they are Truelian Clerics. Or a gold (plated) miniature of The Tablet of Laws if a Jhiddan Cleric. When the Cleric reaches 3rd level, and has distinguished themselves, the Temple will give them a holy symbol of gold. Painted wooden tablets are distributed to the common people (wealthy individuals will often have gold.)
Weapons (Kostrin Clerics)
There is a long standing restriction in the Kostrin Churches against the use of bladed, edged and pointed weapons. Teachings say that this prohibition is the result of a command by Kostris to ‘Not Shed the Blood of Thy Neighbor…’ (He did NOT say don’t kill!) Traditional battle maces often have flanges around the heads, so early Church Leaders adopted a version of an old and simple Dwarven weapon, the Bar Mace. (See weapon description for details.)
A Kostrin Bar Mace will have the shaft engraved on all sides with holy symbols, various scriptures and prayers. Such a mace is given to every Kostrin Cleric upon ordination.
Silvered versions are often awarded to clerics that prove particularly courageous against the Darkness.
Vestments, Robes and Talbards
Vestments are primarily worn during religious ceremonies. The exact colors, cuts, designs and decorations vary not only by faith but by the Cleric’s rank in that faith. Vestments are rarely worn outside of Temple or Chapel (except during an outdoor ritual like a wedding, funeral or prayer service.) They are kept clean, safe and undamaged. They are always worn over Robes, preferably CLEAN Ceremonial Robes.
Temples (of all the faiths) will give a cleric a full set of appropriate robes and vestments at ordination, then replace the Daily robe and Talbard once a year. Ceremonial robes and Vestments are expected to last. The Temple will replace them every ten years, or when the cleric goes up in level. Any additional robe replacements come out of the cleric’s pocket.
There are two types of robes for most clerics in most faiths. Daily wear and Ceremonial. The Daily wear robe is the day to day uniform of the cleric. Cut and color may vary from faith to faith. Accessories and accouterments may differ. But this is the robe that most of the Faithful see the cleric in, most of the time.
The Ceremonial robe is worn during actual services and special events. Like the Vestments they are kept clean and safe the rest of the time.
A cleric’s Talbard is a garment worn over armor to display the cleric’s rank and allegiance. It’s colors and patterns are similar to the Daily wear robes, which are too cumbersome to wear with most armor.
Kostrin Clerics
Orthodox clerics wear a dark blue robe piped with white. The colors are in all the robes, Daily, Ceremonial and Talbard.
Reform clerics wear a solid dark blue robe. The Reform cleric’s robe set includes, Daily, Ceremonial and a Talbard.
Darrian clerics wear plain brown robes and eschew ceremonial robes or talbards.
Followers of Balan
Balan Clerics wear black robes, if from the ‘Truel Tradition’ (Trusk) and ash gray if they are of the ‘Jhidda Tradition’ (Ilshar.) Though the cleric may own multiple sets, they are all the same in appearance. They are generally of good quality cloth, but lack obvious ornamentation. Symbols are often embroidered onto the cloth in black. Black on black. Distinguished by thickness, texture and sheen.
Replacing Robes. et al.
Temples (of all the faiths) will give a cleric a full set of appropriate robes and vestments at ordination, then replace the Daily robe and Talbard once a year. Ceremonial robes and Vestments are expected to last. The Temple will replace them every ten years, or when the cleric goes up in level. Any additional robe replacements come out of the cleric’s pocket.
Prayer Books (Missals)
All clerics (regardless of the ethics of their faith) have at start a basic Prayer Book or ‘Common Missal’ that contains all the ‘Standard’ prayers, rituals and formulas of their Faith. This is a ‘starter’ volume. It does not contain advanced, secret, forbidden or rare rituals. The Missal contains information that a low level cleric cannot utilize, but that will become clear as levels and understanding increases. The Basic Missal will allow ‘comprehension’ and understanding of rituals (spells) up through 3rd level. The value of the book, if it must be replaced, is 500gp.
(NOTE: Some spells in the PHB and UA are NOT listed here. Those spells either do not exist or, are not available to good aligned clerics. EX: Animate Dead.)
Common Missal
Bless, Ceremony, Combine, Command, Create Water, Cure Light Wounds, Detect Evil, Detect Magic, Endure Cold/Heat, Invisibility to Undead, Light, Magic Stone
Penetrate Disguise, Portent, Precipitation, Protection from Evil, Purify, Remove Fear, Resist Cold ,Sanctuary
Aid, Augury, Chant, Detect Charm, Detect Life, Dust Devil, Enthrall, Find Traps, Hold Person, Holy Symbol, Know Alignment, Messenger
Resist Fire, Silence 15′ Radius, Slow Poison, Snake Charm, Spiritual Hammer, Withdraw, Wyvern Watch
Cloud Burst, Continual Light, Create Food & Water, Cure Blindness, Cure Disease
Death’s Door, Dispel Magic, Feign Death, Flame Walk, Glyph of Warding, Locate Object
Magical Vestment, Meld into Stone, Negative Plane Protection, Prayer, Remove Curse, Remove Paralysis, Speak with Dead, Water Walk
High Missals
These contain Advanced Rituals (Spells of 4th, 5th and 6th level) A copy is presented to a Cleric when he or she is almost ready to begin understanding them. (6th level) so there is time to study and achieve comprehension.
The value of the book, if it must be replaced, is 5,000gp.
Abjure, Cloak of Fear, Cure Serious Wound, Detect Lie, Divination, Exorcise, lmbue With Spell Ability, Lower Water
Neutralize Poison, Protection From Evil 10’Radius, Spell Immunity, Spike Stones, Sticks to Snakes
Tongue, Air Walk, Atonement, Commune, Cure Critical Wounds, Dispel Evil, Flame Strike, Golem, Insect Plague, Magic Font, Plane Shift, Quest, Rainbow, Raise Dead, Spike Growth, True Seeing
Aerial Servant, Animate Object, Blade Barrier, Find The Path, Forbiddance, Heal, Heroes’ Feast, Part Water, Speak With Monsters, Stone Tell, Word of Recall
Exalted Missal
These contain Extremely Advanced Rituals (Spells of 7th level) A copy is presented to a Cleric when he or she is almost ready to begin understanding them. (15th level) so there is time to study and achieve comprehension. The value of the book, if it must be replaced, is 10,000gp.
Astral Spell, Control Weather, Earthquake, Exaction, Gate, Holy (Unholy) Word, Regenerate, Restoration, Succor, Svmbol, Wind Walk
Other Missals
Every religion has secret books, access to which is restricted even to their own members. Others have been lost, or hidden. Some are considered Heretical others are Forbidden practices of Fallen Clerics.
Missals of other faiths are often collected by Temples for research purposes. They generally have minimal cash value when turned in, but may ‘count’ towards future spell castings or gifts.