Date: Sun, 24 Oct 1993 15:59:33 -0400 From: "Mike \"Kurgan\" Phillips" <[m s phil] at [BIRDS.WM.EDU]> Subject: mythus-l: Jupiter's priests The ever-dutiful scribe is turning his attention this installment to Jupiter, the so-called "King of the Gods". Known to the Greeks as Zeus, Jupiter (improperly also called Jove, from the Latin Iupiter, Iovis) was essentially soverign over the other Greco-Roman gods, after deposing Saturn (Kronus), his father. Jupiter married his sister Juno, although this was in no way a commitment to fidelity, as he was known to have affairs with many beautiful mortals and even the other goddesses. By agreement with Neptune and Pluto, Jupiter was given dominion over the sky and storms. Jupiter's priests (no priestesses allowed) often learn the spear, although after much service they may be granted special weapons or command over lightning. Though sometimes married, they are not required to be chaste. Unlike their patron, they are often unable to escape the full consequences of infidelity, however. Grade I: WEAPONSPARK CHARM Time: 1 CT per 10 STEEP Other Heka Costs: Area: One object R&D: 10:1 per additional D3 Distance: Touch Other: Nil E/F/M: This Charm allows the priest of Jupiter to add a slight spark whenever the weapon strikes an opponent. The sparking will cause an additional D3 of electrical damage, and this may be increased to a maximum of 1D3 per 10 STEEP possessed by the Caster, at a cost of 10 Heka per additional D3. The weapon should be appropriately consecrated to Jupiter. ROLL OF THUNDER CHARM Time: Instantaneous Other Heka Costs: Area: See below R&D: Nil Distance: See below Other: 10:1 per addition thunderclap E/F/M: By means of this Casting, the priest is able to cause a thunderclap to sound, as if there were a storm approaching or already upon the area. The sound can be heard normally, as if the storm really were there, yet there need not be a cloud in the sky. This is occasionally used by priests of Jupiter when coordinating something, or when demonstrating that they really are priests of Jupiter. The Casting will cause most normal animals to immediately seek shelter from the "approaching storm", regardless of other indicators, and it has been known to spook some particularly easily frightened animals. Additional thunderclaps can be summoned at a rate of 1 per 2 CT's, at an additional cost of 10 Heka per additional thunderclap. The Caster has control over the sound of the thunder (i.e. if it is a deep, rolling sound or if it is a sudden, cracking sound, or somewhere in between). Multiple thunderclaps do not need to have the same sound. Grade II: ENCOURAGE INFIDELITY CANTRIP Time: 1 BT per 10 STEEP Other Heka Costs: Area: One creature R&D: Nil Distance: Touch Other: Nil E/F/M: This Casting will allow the priest of Jupiter to break down normal inhibitions concerning fidelity and infidelity in marriage, and even encourage it if the natural inhibitions are not particularly strong. While originally intended to mimic one of Jupiter's natural tendencies, some priests have used it to assist them in bedding any female they choose, regardless of current state. The priesthood is working on supressing the Casting in order to not make their reputation any worse than this Casting has made it. THUNDERVOICE CANTRIP Time: 1 BT per 10 STEEP Other Heka Costs: Area: One creature R&D: Nil Distance: Touch Other: Nil E/F/M: This Casting allows the priest to make someone's voice as loud as thunder, deep, rolling, and capable of being heard over great distances (although with some delays due to the speed of sound!). It has been used to allow generals to speak to the entire army, or priests to speak to really large gatherings. It has no significant effect on those nearby the speaker, although some people's ears will ring for some time afterwards if they stand too close. Grade III: MASK ADULTERER FORMULA Time: 1 AT per 10 STEEP Other Heka Costs: Area: One creature R&D: Nil Distance: Touch Other: Nil E/F/M: The Priest using this Casting can make an adulterer temporarily appear as someone else, a stranger, thereby making an escape easier, or a search more difficult. There is rumored to be a higher-grade version of this Casting, intended to be used to mask someone intending to perform adultery as an appropriate person (such as the woman's husband) for the evening, not unlike the legend of Uther and Ygraine. Note that this disguise, while very good, lasts barely long enough to make an escape and can not be placed on the priest performing the Casting. LIGHTNINGSTRIKE CANTRIP Time: Instantaneous Other Heka Costs: Area: 25 yard long, 2 yards wide R&D: 20:1 per additional D6 Distance: 1 chain per 10 STEEP Other: Nil E/F/M: This Casting causes a lightning bolt to fall from the sky at a designated target, and then speed along the ground for a distance of up to 25 yards. The bolt is around 2 yards wide, and can be summoned to any point up to 1 chain per 10 STEEP away from the Caster. The base damage is 1D6 points of electrical damage, which can be increased to a maximum of 1D6 per 10 STEEP at a cost of 20 Heka per additional D6. Grade IV RAINCALL RITUAL Time: 1 hour per 10 STEEP Other Heka Costs: Area: Special R&D: Nil Distance: Special Other: Nil E/F/M: By means of a lengthy ritual that takes half an hour to perform, and includes many acts taken from legends and myths, a priest is able to cause a goodly rainstorm in the region that will last at least one hour per 10 STEEP. If the area is particularly prone to rain, and was on the verge of raining anyways, this time may well be tripled, and if in an area that is very much not prone to rain, it may be halved. The Casting is capable of easing the effects of droughts, and often can restore normal weather patterns to an area that is experiencing unusual weather (JM's option), although the rain gathered will not be enough to make a very dry area bloom into a very wet area. The Casting is fickle, though, and repeated use in the same area may result in the storm's effects being malevolent instead of benign, or perhaps a drought extended. The ritual is completed by sprinkling specially-blessed water over the area that will serve as the center of the storm. Grade V: THUNDERSTORM RITUAL Time: 1 hour per 10 STEEP Other Heka Costs: Area: Special R&D: Nil Distance: Special Other: Nil Special materia cost: 10,000 BUC consecrated water vessel, plus other special accoutrements amounting to an additional 5,000 BUCs E/F/M: This Ritual, which requires a full hour to work to maximum potency, is much like Raincall (q.v.), but it causes a full, raging thunderstorm to sweep across the area. This deluge will relieve droughts of up to two months long, and can provide enough water for a desert settlement to last for several weeks. In areas particularly prone to storms (such as semi-tropical coastlines), this can build to a full hurricane that could take weeks to run its course. It will never disrupt the normal weather patterns for an area, but it has been known to restore them to their normal cycle after being tampered with or in an unusual year, perhaps because of a metaphysical "cleaning" effect. No priest of Jupiter can call this Casting forth without adequate justification, because it is releasing a significant amount of Jupiter's fury upon the world for a time. Feedback is of course welcome, and if these little tidbits find a home in your campaign, do let me know! I love mail! I also love hearing that my modest efforts are useful to others. Mike Phillips [m s phil] at [birds.wm.edu] Time to do the last of the Big Three.....