wavescrest writes "Pholtus is well known as a highly critical deity whose idealistic moral code is nearly impossible for mere mortals to live up to in its entirety. When a high-ranking Pholtan nears death, it is usually a Sin Eaters that is called upon to perform
Final Absolution. This article details these unique characters.
Pholtus is well known as a highly critical deity whose idealistic moral
code is nearly impossible for mere mortals to live up to in its entirety. When
a high-ranking Pholtan nears death, a Sin Eater is usually called upon
to perform Final Absolution. According to ancient texts kept in the
libraries of Ogburg, this ritual is said to bring a dying worshiper closer to
acceptance by Pholtus through the taking of food and wine in their presence.
This act is viewed as a symbolising the “eating" of their sins,
allowing their spirit to ascend into the Blinding Light unblemished.
Sin Eaters are regarded as an oddity by others
in the clergy of Pholtus. Their rites are not viewed as heretical, yet many of
them are almost mystical in nature - lone, reclusive figures that are prone to
“talking with Pholtus”. Indeed a lone Sin Eater has a sixth-sense of where
Pholtus intends for him to travel in his duties.
The Four Deadly Sins of Pholtus
The Scrolls of the Sin Eaters also mention the Four Deadly
Sins of Pholtus, and the Sin Eaters are quick to act either through
sermon or deed of arms, to combat the spread of these iniquities.
Cowardice - One must have courage in the face of danger, and the
strength to stand with valor against those who oppose the One True Path. To
show a lack of courage in the face of adversity or to avoid exposing oneself to
danger or pain when one is called to are considered terrible sins.
Avarice - Worldly goods distract one from following the One True Path.
They are but temporal, while the Path is spiritual. In death, the spirit
ascends to a higher plane, leaving all mortal possessions behind. To
avoid wanton cupidity and material attachments, Sin Eaters usually possess
little more than their robes, their holy symbol, their staff and
accoutrements, as well as any equipment necessary for travel.
Self-Indulgence - The pleasures of the flesh are a distraction from the
pursuit of perfection in Pholtus’s image. Indulging one's desires
without thought for others is a great sin. Gluttony, promiscuity and so forth
are all considered negative concepts and a true follower of the Path is
expected to never fall prey to their clutches.
Self-Will - To flaunt the will of others, especially one's superiors,
and carry out one’s one desires is a sin. Pholtus is a highly lawful deity. He
expects unity in his followers at all times, and brooks no bickering when
action is called for. A divided flock is easily subverted by evil
and chaos.
Only truly devout followers of Pholtus become Sin Eaters. These are
usually clerics, although a few high-level paladins and
warrior-clerics have also answered the calling. Paladins of Pholtus may
take this class without suffering the usual penalty for changing classes.
He reached into his pack and pulled out a flask of a golden liquid, and
a loaf of bread. These he placed on the dying man’s chest, and he stood by
Valdar’s prone body muttering words, which I made out to be of the Old
Oeridian tongue. Somewhat fearful of what I was seeing, I felt I
dared not shirk my duties to fetch the kindling for the dying man’s pyre.
The Greatest Sin Eater
Pholemius Brightmantle, a cleric of Pholtus based in the Theocracy of
the Pale, is regarded as perhaps the most powerful and widely recognized
of the Sin Eaters. While based in Ogburg, he could be encountered almost
anywhere in the Flanaess on missions either for the Church in Wintershiven or
for the Sin Eaters themselves. Recent rumors place him in the Domain of
Greyhawk.
Pholemius is influential, and rarely travels
alone. He stays away from the petty politics of the Council of Nine, yet he has
many friends in the Pholtan Clergy across the Flanaess and in the Pale’s
Church-Militant. His numerous disciples include Beramane (LN male
human Clr8) and Ragaer (LN male human Ftr5/Clr5) a former member of the Church
Militant who became a Sin Eater after a company led by Pholemius saved him from
a fiend in the Gnarley Forest six years ago.
Pholemius Brightmantle, Male Human Clr 13: AL LN.
The Greatest Enemy: In
585 CY Pholemius was involved in the banishment of Xazivort, a unique Tana’ari
unleashed on the Gnarley Forest by foolish adventurers. The party of
adventurers, led by Pholemius, tracked the Tana’ari and found it had possessed
Ragaer, the member of the Church Militant who had been dispatched from the Pale
to investigate and deal with the fiend.
Although banished, Xazivort is not dead and
certainly seeks a way back to the Prime Material Plane. If the Tana’ari
achieves this he will most assuredly seek revenge on Pholemius, Ragaer and the
adventuring group who were responsible for his banishment. Certainly
enterprising DMs could engineer a scenario where the PCs either prevent his
return or must save Pholemius and Ragaer from the Tana’ari. To go head-to-head
with Xazivort, they would certainly need to be a high-level group, but
this is definitely a scenario for would-be Sin Eaters seeking training.
Man Down: Sin Eaters
are encountered all over the Flanaess, wherever followers of Pholtus have
fallen. They are often eager to hire powerful bodyguards, especially if they
are followers of Pholtus, or seem interested in being converted. Not being too
interested in their temporal possessions, they often pay good money for what
seems little more than an escort job. Of course, the Sin Eaters may
neglect to mention what it was that killed the person they seek, and the people
they seek were often powerful clerics and warriors in their own right.
Temptation: It is rare
but some Sin Eaters are seduced by the very sins they are supposed to resist.
The remaining Sin Eaters are often only too happy to offer large rewards for
their treacherous brethren alive or dead. One such Sin Eater is Luther Brewent,
who is believed to have struck a pact with a Tana’ari and become one of the
Blackguard. It is said he has a lair in the Rakers. Parties are being sought in
Ratik and the Pale by incensed Sin Eaters.
Join the Sin Eaters: A
PC may wish to become a Sin Eater, or accompany a would-be Sin Eater. This
involves a pilgrimage where the Sin Eater is to travel to a site of importance
to Pholtus, along the way taking care not to commit any acts of the deadly
sins. Enemies of the Sin Eaters, such as demons and devils would like nothing
more than to see an initiate fail on their path and may arrange for several
“temptations” along the path.
“You should not mourn your friend,” he said simply, “for tonight he is
with Pholtus.”
He turned slowly, silently, and set his face
southwards, into the deeps of the forest. In a hushed voice he muttered to
himself and left our company. We never saw the fellow in this world again.
Requirements
To qualify to
become a Sin Eater of Pholtus, a character must fulfill the following criteria:
Alignment:
Lawful Good or Lawful Neutral
Religion:
Pholtus
Race and Sex:
Any (typically human or half-elf however)
Feats: Iron Will
Knowledge
(religion - Pholtus) Ranks: 7
Spellcasting:
Ability to cast 3rd-level divine spells
Special: The
would-be Sin Eater must go on an extensive pilgrimage in the name of Pholtus.
During this pilgrimage the Sin Eater must act with virtue in keeping with the
tenants of Pholtus’s religion and strived to be pure of the four deadly sins of
Pholtus.
Class Skills
Skill Points at
Each Level: 2+Int modifier
Class Features
Weapon and Armour Proficiency: A Sin
Eater of Pholtus is proficient in all simple weapons and with all types of
armor. However, Sin Eaters are expected to wield only a staff, the preferred
weapon of a cleric of Pholtus, even if not a cleric of Pholtus.
Continued Spell Advancement: The Sin
Eater continues to gain new divine spells upon advancing a level as a Sin
Eater. Thus a 13th-level Cleric/3rd-level Sin Eater gains
the same number of spells as a 16th-level Cleric, while a 12th-level
Paladin/1st-level Sin-Eater gains spells as a 13th-level
Paladin. The Sin Eater does not improve his ability to turn undead.
Final Absolution (Ex): Through knowledge
of the ancient texts the Sin Eater can perform the rite of purifying a person
of their sins. The ability to perform this rite will earn the character respect
among the clergy of Pholtus while it has no immediate in game benefit.
Detect Sinner (Su): As per the Paladin’s
ability Detect Evil, the Sin Eater may detect those who wantonly and
intentionally commit acts of the four deadly sins of Pholtus. The exact sin is
also specified, so for example a brigand who robs to fill his own coffers would
show up as committing an act of avarice, a soldier who sows discord in the
ranks of his unit would show as committing self-will.
Commune (Su): The Sin Eater may commune
with Pholtus once per week as per the divine spell.
Stalwart against Sin (Ex): The Sin Eater
opts to be impervious to temptation of one of the four deadly sins. The Sin
Eater adds his level to any Will-based saving throw that would force him to
perform one of these sins.
Cowardice –An example of this would be when a fear spell is
cast on the Sin-Eater.
Avarice –An example of this would be when a disbelieving an illusion
of a pile of gold, or resisting the effects of a cursed item.
Self-Indulgence –An example would be the charm of a succubis.
Self-Will – An example of this would be the charm of a mage
if she to turn him against the rest of his group.
These bonuses are given at the DM’s discretion, and he has the final
decision. The Sin Eater cannot receive the benefit of more than one Stalwart
against Sin ability for any situation even if two sins are applicable7.
Detect Pholtan (Su): As per the
Paladin’s Detect Evil ability, the Sin Eater can detect those who follow the
tenants of Pholtus’s religion. It also reveals whether the worshipper follows
the Lawful Good or Lawful Neutral schools of thought (though this is not
necessarily indicative of the person’s alignment).
Smite Sinner (Su): Once a day when faced
with one who has committed an act of one of the Four Deadly Sins and shows no
remorse the Sin Eater may smite the character as per the Paladin’s ability to
Smite Evil.
Preserve Body (Su): Some times the rites
of the Sin Eater can go on for days after the death of the recipient. To prevent
the decay of the body the Sin Eater may preserve the bodies of deceased
worshippers of Pholtus with his touch, as per the spell Gentle Repose.
This can be used to preserve the corpses of the faithful for Resurrection
if Pholtus deems the person in question should live once more. This ability can
be used on up to 5 bodies per day.
Locate the Dying (Su): The Sin Eater,
through his closeness with Pholtus, can be made aware of the location to travel
to where he shall encounter a dying follower of Pholtus. This location is
within in a 100 mile radius per level. The Sin Eater cannot consciously elect
to use this power however; the revelation of the location of the dying is given
by Pholtus alone, as is the extent of the information the revelation gives (thus
these are left to the DM’s discretion). However, if a revelation is given the
Sin Eater is expected to act upon it if reasonably possible.
Atonement (Su): This ability is
identical to the 5th-level spell Atonement. At will the Sin
Eater may return the powers of a cleric or paladin of Pholtus who has been
stripped of them because of committing an act of the deadly sins. He may only
do so providing the recipient is genuinely deserving of it in Pholtus’s eyes,
and if they have acted in a way that proves their repentance (a quest or act of
pure virtue).
Resist Death (Su): Sin Eaters regularly
deal with death during their duties, and develop an understanding of it unheard
of in other Pholtan sects. Once a Sin Eater has become so experienced in the
rite of Final Absolution they gain the ability to resist its call. As such,
once per month, if a Sin Eater is dealt a lethal blow (one that reduces them to
–10 hit points or below) they survive the blow, being reduced to –9 hit points
and appearing dead to their attackers.
Sin Eater
Level
|
Attack
Bonus
|
Fort.
Save
|
Ref.
Save
|
Will
Save
|
Special
|
1
|
+0
|
+2
|
+0
|
+2
|
Final
Absolution, Detect Sinner
|
2
|
+1
|
+3
|
+0
|
+3
|
Commune,
Stalwart against Sin
|
3
|
+2
|
+3
|
+1
|
+3
|
Detect Pholtan
|
4
|
+3
|
+4
|
+1
|
+4
|
Stalwart
against Sin
|
5
|
+3
|
+4
|
+1
|
+4
|
Smite Sinner
|
6
|
+4
|
+5
|
+2
|
+5
|
Preserve Body,
Stalwart against Sin
|
7
|
+5
|
+5
|
+2
|
+5
|
Locate the
Dying
|
8
|
+6/+1
|
+6
|
+2
|
+6
|
Stalwart
against Sin
|
9
|
+6/+1
|
+6
|
+3
|
+6
|
Atonement
|
10
|
+7/+2
|
+7
|
+3
|
+7
|
Resist Death
|
"