Malkar – Religious Symbols and Relics

To many people the religions of Willowstar and Malkar are the same; at least what they represent is the same. Those non-zealots who go about their work and pay no heed to the two religions perceive that Malkar (or Willowstar) do not affect them so they don’t need to bother with the details. These people are wrong. Malkar in particular has been successful in infiltrating (perhaps a strong word but it serves) all aspects of the daily lives of the many lands of Grayhawk. Politics, commerce, farming, royalty – all areas where Malkar has sought to gain influence and credibility.

This influence has brought with it followers. These followers then sustain the religion and make it grow – give it more power. Some areas are fanatical about the new religion whilst others have a healthy scepticism and are not afraid to question the agents of Malkar. Humankind is diverse and the religion reflects the changing attitudes of its worshippers.

The main religious centres in any kingdom are the temples. These not only represent the base of power and headquarters of the local priesthood, but they also possess a tangible force that gives comfort to all who enter…priests, soldiers of god and worshippers alike. When in the central pentacle of any temple (close to the altar) it is possible to feel Malkar himself…and to communicate as though he was beside you.

Next are the shrines that can be seen littered across Grayhawk. These come in all shapes and sizes and can be as small as a few stones in the road or as grand as a small building. It depends on the personality of the priest involved. All priests can create a shrine whereas only a High Priest (9^th level) can create a temple. A shrine is not just an homage to Malkar it has both religious and physical benefits to the priest. Some priests feel safer when they create a shrine, some say that their thoughts are guided by Malkar whilst others swear that their luck improves in such a place. A Malkar shrine will increase the rate of healing by 1 point per day for the purposes of wounds sustained. Even if the recipient does not follow the faith he will be able to reap the benefits of Malkar providing the priest is present and giving guidance!

The smallest religious symbol is the relic. This is a symbol worn by the priest and is his personal statement to the world – it is a badge of belonging that says clearly: I serve Malkar! In the various regions of Grayhawk Malkar has many different symbols but the most popular is the White Sword on a dark background. Paladins of Malkar will invariably have something white attached to their blade (a scarf, a white leather hilt or even steel made to look milky white in the sun). Regional variations though extensive will all display a hint of white – Malkar is perceived to be pure and fair and kind – though not by his enemies!

The individual relic (holy symbol) can be anything chosen by the priest…it doesn’t have to be a weapon either. This relic will then gain power as the priest gains experience points, actually becoming a magical item very shortly after it’s consecration. I will allow 1^st level priests to have gone through this consecration process so they start the game with their own relic. All you have to do is choose what you want for a symbol. If this relic is destroyed they can get another one but to do so they must have it blessed by a High Priest in a temple.

The Hierarchy of Malkar

Again there will be minor regional variations depending on where the priest is based but the following is broadly correct throughout most of Grayhawk.

1^st level – The Acolyte – initially all priests start out on the path to enlightenment and they are viewed as novices by the population at large. Even other priests, whilst respectful, realise that the newbie priests have a lot to learn.

2^nd to 4^th level – Journeymen – at these levels the priest has gained some experience in the field – be it accomplishing tasks given to him by the local High Priest or by striking out on his own in the world of adventuring. These priests are many and varied and will be the most common form of priest met throughout Grayhawk. Some never actually lose this status as their lives are full of minor tasks and seemingly demeaning ventures.

5^th to 7^th level – The Professional – Upon achieving these levels the priest is now someone to be reckoned with. Experienced enough to know what he’s talking about he is given the more arduous and dangerous tasks. Professional priests are now at the nexus point in their lives – even the relics they now carry will start to exhibit magical (or spiritual) properties. Professional priests carry the greatest burden of expectation and the general populace will realise that these men and women are salvation, counsel and protectorate all rolled into one.

8^th level – The Nae Priest – This is the penultimate step before the priest reaches the Hierarchy. It is often the most difficult stage in the priests development – where he will learn the skills necessary to become one of the chosen…a High Priest. Most Nae Priests will start to accumulate followers who will later be the bedrock of their temple staff.

9^th level – The High Priest – This is the point where Malkar smiles upon the priest and grants him the most feared of his powers. At this point the priest has the ability to create his own sacred temple (though not all High Priests do this) and in doing so will attract worshippers from all over, depending on how well inhabited the area in which the temple is situated. Now all the priests’ prayers are heard by Malkar. The full power of the religion is behind the High Priest’s edicts.

13^th level – The Bishop – A bishop is the next step along the hierarchical trail. A priest who attains this level is able to instruct and control many High Priests. Some larger cities have more than one temple so a bishop will be on hand to ensure correctness and fairness (and the will of Malkar) prevails.

17^th level – Nae Prelate – The most difficult ladder in the Hierarchy of Malkar. At this level the priest is left in limbo, not able to gain further experience points. This is the waiting room where the priest must let the will of Malkar, and Fate, decide the next step. There can be only 1 prelate – the highest order of Malkar – and Malkar must decide personally who that prelate will be.

18^th level – The Arch Prelate – Malkar’s version of the Pope. It is a unique position because the prelate can call the direct aid of Malkar at any time and at any location. Of course it is up to the deity to decide what action he will take but most kings respect this position across Grayhawk. Upon achieving this level the Arch Prelate can increase in levels (theoretically there is no limit to the level an arch prelate can attain).

The Mechanics of Priests and Spells

Priests do not have magic points like sorcerers, their power is granted directly from Malkar himself. A priest is able to cast 1 spell above their level – so at 2^nd level they can cast 3 spells, at 3^rd they can cast 4 spells etc. There is no limit on the level of spells they can cast. To regain spells the priest must prey to Malkar. For every hour of prayer they can cast another spell. If they are high level they can recover all their spells by putting in a full 8 hours of contemplation (this is equivalent of a night’s sleep for a sorcerer). This is only relevant if they can cast more than 8 spells.

A priest does not have a finite capacity for the spells he can cast. Sorcerers, for example, have a repertoire – if they exceed their spell limits they must write down these spells or forget them! Priests never forget spells…it is part of their religious study and once gained a spell can only be taken away by Malkar himself.

Spells can be augmented by the religious symbol the priest carries. The symbol acts as a focus for the spell cast – some symbols are more capable than others are. For instance, if a priest had a sword as a relic he could focus and target the results of that spell better. Conversely if the relic was a cloak he may be able to enhance the capabilities of a bless spell. It depends on how the relic develops. One that has seen lots of action (used extensively by the priest at every opportunity) will be more susceptible to this than a relic that is only brought out of the box on holy days!

Priests will develop a special relationship with their relics. The better the relationship the more augmentation they can expect at higher levels.