Pretending to worship... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Pretending to worship... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
LittleCarp04
09-09-07, 10:09 PM In a upcoming campaign my main BBEG is going to be a priestess of Shar pretending upon all outward appearances to be a priestess of Oghma. How would that work, would other low-mid ranking Oghman priests instantly be able to tell, as a child she lived in an Ohgman cathedral with her father, so she understands/have knowledge of the basic Oghman daily activities, but how would it work were she to interact with other true worshipors of Oghma?
godbeepit
09-09-07, 10:31 PM I would assume that it would be incredibly difficult to tell from which deity a cleric specifically draws his power from. I believe its even been said that Cyric accidentally gave spells to a cleric of Bane without either realizing it. I would say that it'd be pretty easy except for the evil part, but even that can be easily avoided by a smart character.
LittleCarp04
09-09-07, 11:04 PM yeah and she has the knowledge domain so that might help her blend more
MarkHall
09-10-07, 04:31 AM I'd say that, in the given case, it would be almost impossible to tell. Oghma has evil priests, she has the knowledge to carry out the ruse, and there's no spell that specifically identifies your patron.
Zandilar
09-10-07, 06:09 AM Heya,

Only problem you'll run into is the fact that many, if not most, divine spells require the priest's holy symbol as a Divine Focus. I read that to mean they must at least touch their holy symbol to cast spells - it is a focus, after all.

So she'll be fine, just as long as she doesn't cast spells.

Edit: And you have to factor in the meddlesome nature of gods. If Oghma was aware of her deception, there is a chance he'd alert/warn one of his faithful (via omens or dream visions, which may not necessarily be 100% clear, but still)... Only Shar herself would be able to stop him from noticing. (Hmm interesting... God of Knowledge vs Goddess of Secrets...)
MarkHall
09-10-07, 06:16 AM Slight of hand. Shar's symbol wouldn't be that difficult to conceal somewhere on the body, or even palm behind Oghma's. I had a priest of Bane pretending to be a priest of Siamorphe (whom I was under the misapprehension was male) by constructing a false holy symbol, even.
Zandilar
09-10-07, 06:20 AM Heya,

Slight of hand. Shar's symbol wouldn't be that difficult to conceal somewhere on the body, or even palm behind Oghma's. I had a priest of Bane pretending to be a priest of Siamorphe (whom I was under the misapprehension was male) by constructing a false holy symbol, even.

Hmm... that could work. :) Though I still think you'd have to be one impossibly tricky mortal to fool the god of Knowledge.

As for Siamorphe, her portfolio is inherited... just like Divine Right. The previous Siamorphe was male - the current one is definitely not, though. ;)
BadCatMan
09-10-07, 09:00 PM Gods are a little unreliable. Their actions are by DM fiat. Would Oghma necessarily bother to tell anyone in his church about it, or would he think that letting his priests uncover such a secret on their own steam be a good thing?

After all, this is the same god who still hasn't told his followers what happened to the former Patriarch in the ToT, a mystery that has the split the church into at least two opposing factions.

(I have a NPC Leiran priestess telling tales to a PC Oghmyte, saying that the Patriarch had switched to their side.)

As for the symbol, it could be cunning disguised, like in the Sharran's clothes (purple swirls on black, or a purple buckle on black belt), or as jewelry (black pearl in purple frame). Or it could be invisible or disguised as Oghma's symbol, like with a Hat Of Disguise.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
LittleCarp04 09-09-07, 10:09 PM	In a upcoming campaign my main BBEG is going to be a priestess of Shar pretending upon all outward appearances to be a priestess of Oghma. How would that work, would other low-mid ranking Oghman priests instantly be able to tell, as a child she lived in an Ohgman cathedral with her father, so she understands/have knowledge of the basic Oghman daily activities, but how would it work were she to interact with other true worshipors of Oghma?
godbeepit 09-09-07, 10:31 PM	I would assume that it would be incredibly difficult to tell from which deity a cleric specifically draws his power from. I believe its even been said that Cyric accidentally gave spells to a cleric of Bane without either realizing it. I would say that it'd be pretty easy except for the evil part, but even that can be easily avoided by a smart character.
LittleCarp04 09-09-07, 11:04 PM	yeah and she has the knowledge domain so that might help her blend more
MarkHall 09-10-07, 04:31 AM	I'd say that, in the given case, it would be almost impossible to tell. Oghma has evil priests, she has the knowledge to carry out the ruse, and there's no spell that specifically identifies your patron.
Zandilar 09-10-07, 06:09 AM	Heya, Only problem you'll run into is the fact that many, if not most, divine spells require the priest's holy symbol as a Divine Focus. I read that to mean they must at least touch their holy symbol to cast spells - it is a focus, after all. So she'll be fine, just as long as she doesn't cast spells. Edit: And you have to factor in the meddlesome nature of gods. If Oghma was aware of her deception, there is a chance he'd alert/warn one of his faithful (via omens or dream visions, which may not necessarily be 100% clear, but still)... Only Shar herself would be able to stop him from noticing. (Hmm interesting... God of Knowledge vs Goddess of Secrets...)
MarkHall 09-10-07, 06:16 AM	Slight of hand. Shar's symbol wouldn't be that difficult to conceal somewhere on the body, or even palm behind Oghma's. I had a priest of Bane pretending to be a priest of Siamorphe (whom I was under the misapprehension was male) by constructing a false holy symbol, even.
Zandilar 09-10-07, 06:20 AM	Heya, Slight of hand. Shar's symbol wouldn't be that difficult to conceal somewhere on the body, or even palm behind Oghma's. I had a priest of Bane pretending to be a priest of Siamorphe (whom I was under the misapprehension was male) by constructing a false holy symbol, even. Hmm... that could work. :) Though I still think you'd have to be one impossibly tricky mortal to fool the god of Knowledge. As for Siamorphe, her portfolio is inherited... just like Divine Right. The previous Siamorphe was male - the current one is definitely not, though. ;)
BadCatMan 09-10-07, 09:00 PM	Gods are a little unreliable. Their actions are by DM fiat. Would Oghma necessarily bother to tell anyone in his church about it, or would he think that letting his priests uncover such a secret on their own steam be a good thing? After all, this is the same god who still hasn't told his followers what happened to the former Patriarch in the ToT, a mystery that has the split the church into at least two opposing factions. (I have a NPC Leiran priestess telling tales to a PC Oghmyte, saying that the Patriarch had switched to their side.) As for the symbol, it could be cunning disguised, like in the Sharran's clothes (purple swirls on black, or a purple buckle on black belt), or as jewelry (black pearl in purple frame). Or it could be invisible or disguised as Oghma's symbol, like with a Hat Of Disguise.