Posts
Unleash
the godsThe gods are fickle and petty in Servants of Gaius. What pleases Jupiter one day, might anger him the next. Use these optional rules to bring the gods into your campaign. They work off the pattern established in the Ritual Skill roll, but extrapolate for a wider range of scenarios.
The gamemaster should be careful when gods and player
characters interact. It is easy to opt for the best plot hook or most
interesting result. This can be an obstacle to fairness and to the integrity of
your setting. Sometimes it helps to have a mechanic mediate these sort of
in-game relationships so the outcome is never certain from the GM’s or player’s
point of view and to keep from playing favorites.
Anytime a player character accomplishes a heroic feat or performs a wicked act (see
description below) that would attract the god’s attention roll a d10. As a
general rule the god in question should be the most appropriate deity (even a
non-Roman one in some cases) to the situation. On a result of 1, the PC has
angered the god. On a result of 10 the god is pleased. In both instances you
roll once more to determine the extent of the god’s response. Results of 2-9 indicate divine indifference.If the god was angered, roll another d10. On a result of 1-9, the god merely issues a minor curse upon the player character (see effects below). On a result of 10, the god unleashes his wrath upon the character (see wrath below).
If the god was pleased, roll another d10. On a result of
1-9, the god issues a small blessing (see below). On a result of 10 the god is
so pleased he favors the mortal in some way (see below).
EffectsThe god takes a brief interest in the mortal, issuing a small curse that impedes his ability to function properly or produces embarrassment. This will have tangible effects such as tremors, persistent drooling or abnormal growths (horns for example). This imposes -1d10 penalty to skill group related to gods area of power. The curse generally lasts a month or so. This can get worse with time if the PC displeases the god again. If the mortal continues to displease the god, he may find his condition permanent.
Wrath
The god the god takes an immediate interest in the mortal
and singles him out for divine punishment, hounding him to the ends of the
earth. He may simply smite the poor
fellow on the spot (in very extreme cases) or he could send his minions to do
his dirty work over the course of months or years. In most cases the mortal
spends his remaining days evading the god’s wrath.
Blessing
The god takes slight interest in the mortal’s deed, granting
a minor blessing. This usually takes the form of something vague but palpable
such as greater clarity of mind or sharper sight. Blessings normally last about
a month and bestow a +1d10 to related skill group.
Divine Favor
The mortal is special and worthy of the god’s efforts. He
chooses the mortal for some special purpose, becoming his chosen. This is a
tremendous honor but usually comes with great risk. Being the servant of one
god can make a man the enemy of other gods. The exact nature of the special purpose will
vary from deity to deity.
Heroic Feats and Wicked Acts
Heroic Feats and Wicked Acts are exceptional. Simply saving
a person’s life is not a heroic feat, since it happens all the time and is
frankly of no interest to the gods. But saving the emperor’s life or
discovering a lost artifact after a long quest are heroic. A Wicked Act must
also be more than merely bad. It requires a level of malevolence and evil that
would attract the attention of the gods. Betraying an entire village so its
inhabitants are slaughtered could be a wicked act.
Remember heroic feats and wicked acts can both attract
either the gods’ pleasure or anger. A mortal who does something vile may be
rewarded for it but he may also be punished.
