Lesser God, Common worship (Oeridian pantheon)
God of Chivalry, Honor, Justice, Valor, Daring
Crusader
| Symbol | Silver lightning bolt | |
| Alignment | Lawful Good | |
| Crusader Alignment | LG, NG, LN (rare) | |
| Plane | Seven Heavens | |
| Worshippers | Warriors, paladins, knights, soldier, heroes | |
| Race | Any (mostly human) | |
| Sex | Any (mostly male) | |
| Attributes | Strength 12, Dexterity 11, Charisma 13 | -1 |
| Proficiency Groups | Warrior, Priest, General | 5 |
| Bonus Proficiency | Battle axe | 2 |
| Preferred Weapon | Battle axe | |
| Allowed Weapons | Any | 10 |
| Armor | Any, any shield (nearly always chainmail or improved chainmail) | |
| Primary Sphere | Combat | 10 |
| Major Spheres | All, Guardian, Healing, Law, Sun | 33 |
| Minor Spheres | Charm, Divination, Necromantic, Protection | 20 |
| Additional Spells | ||
| Abilities | ||
| Turn Undead (1/2 level, rounded up) | 10 | |
| Normal crusader followers | 5 | |
| THACO and multiple attacks as fighter | 30 | |
| 3rd level | Base armor class of 9, or +1 to AC when wearing leather or padded armor | 10 |
| Expertise in battle axe | 1 | |
| 7th level | Base armor class of 8, or +2 to AC when wearing leather or padded armor, +1 when wearing chainmail/improved chainmail or lighter armors | |
| 11th level | Base armor class of 7, or +2 to AC when wearing chainmail/improved chainmail and lighter armors | |
| 14th level | Bolt of Energy (as for Heironeous, 1/day) 5 (1/day) + 6 (P6 in power) - 6 (14th level) - 0 (1 power) = 6 |
5 |
| Crusader gains as a saving throw versus dismembering or decapitating attacks, the save as hard metal against crushing blow, with +2 to the roll | ||
| Limitations | ||
| Reduced spell casting (1 less spell of each level, no 7th level spells) | -15 | |
| Hatred of priests of Hextor: Heironeous's crusaders will attack them on sight, and show no quarter | -2 | |
| Honor: the crusader must show honesty and valor, similar to the knightly code of chivalry | -3 | |
| Rainment | Silvered chainmail, dark blue garb with silver trim | |
| Animal | Eagle | |
| Holy Days | Prior to battle; fasting and prayer, with sacrifice of finely wrought items | |
| Notes | ||
| Worshippers of Heironeous are present in most
areas of the Flanaess, particularly in the Prelacy of Almor (where his
worship is the state religion) and in the Shield Lands. Most of the
paladins of Oerth follow Heironeous. Heironeous has a long and violent rivalry with his half-brother Hextor, this rivalry carries over to the worshippers of both. The armor class bonuses apply even when wearing magical armors or devices of protection |
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| Background | ||
| Heironeous's church closely resembles a
knightly order, with priests and crusaders mixed in equally -- the
church makes no distinction between the two save for the superior
fighting ability of the crusader, and the superior priestly power of the
priest. The head of a church can be either (in the case of Almor, the
Prelate is a priest).
Crusaders of Heironeous who knowingly commit an evil act must atone in the manner of a paladin, this atonement typically requires prayer, fasting, and a feat of great heroism. Success is no guarantee of atonement, the crusader must both feel contrition in the soul and test the body to the greatest extent possible -- but any who die in the act of atonement are brought into the fold of their god. |
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