Working on a new heresy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Working on a new heresy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Bonzai
02-01-08, 02:42 PM A while back there was a post listing a bunch of potential heresies in the realms. Recently I had made an npc, and the more I started fleshing him out, the more I was drawn in to the concept.

The character was a hexblade who was fiercely devoted to besheba. He took his abilities to be a clear sign of "his" lady's favor. His philosophy was that bad luck was an important part of life, and necessary for some one to grow as a person. How do you learn who you truly are, if not by overcoming adversity? How do you learn what is truly important to you, if not by measuring it against the things you have lost? To him, misfortune and adversity were things to be welcomed, a gift from his lady. By overcoming adversity, he proves himself worthy of her gift, and became better for the experience.

So last night I got to thinking... Sounds like a the basis for a great heresy. So here is my first stab at it.

Heresy of the Grim Maiden

Views: The heresy's views of Besheba are markedly different from how the rest of the realms see her. Instead of being a fickle and malicious deity, they view her as being tragically misunderstood. When Tyche was split into two, they attest that it was Besheba who inherited the goddesses sense of love, and duty. Tyche knew, that bad luck and misfortune were necessary forces in the world. Without them, mankind would have long ago lost all purpose and drive. By providing men with challenges to overcome, she gave them sense of accomplishment. By throwing misfortune their way, mankind was forced to think, adapt, and grow stronger. By experiencing loss, men learned to truly value what they had.

So when the diety split in two it was Besheba, being the wiser and more dutiful of the two, who took on the burden of bringing misfortune to the world. While Tymora, being fickle and flighty, happily accepted the portfolios of good fortune, tempting man into sloth and complacency. While many view Besheba as a mean and fickle goddess, the heresy of the Grim Maiden believe that this is not the case. Besheba deeply cares for humanity, and does what she does, because it is necessary for their own good. She plays no favorites, and allows pure chance to decide who receives her blessings. Though she may seem cold and heartless, that is not true. She knows that what she does makes her feared and hated, but she does what she must with all the fierce resolve that a goddess can muster.

Dogma: Misfortune should not be feared and reviled, but seen as an opportunity to learn and improve ones self. When the Lady bestows her blessings, do all that you can to over come adversity, and prove yourself worthy of her attention. By doing so, you become stronger and wiser, and man kind as a whole may benefit from it.

Domains: Chaos, Fate, Luck, Trickery

Cleric Alignments: CG, CN, CE

Clergy: Clerics of the Grim Maiden tend to favor neutral alignments more than mainstream clerics of Besheba. While other clerics amount to little more than extortionists, preying on fear and superstition, clerics of the grim Maiden preach the exact opposite. They are often found rallying communities in times of trouble, encouraging them to rise to the challenge and overcome it. Clerics tend not to help people directly, instead they prefer to nudge them subtly into solving their own problems. As such, they act more as an advisor to their followers. Clerics are always the first to differentiate what was generally bad luck, and what was brought on by the followers themselves. Due to the church's worldly needs, the clerics do sometimes pray for intervention for a small donation, doing healings and such. However they will always ask the petitioner to reflect on what they have learned from their experience.

There are some extremists in the sect however. Evil aligned clerics sometimes take a Machiavellian approach, deliberately tormenting and bringing misfortune to some one, so that they may have the opportunity to overcome it. While good aligned clerics tend to lead by example, directly wading in, and showing their followers how to overcome their misfortune.

Opposition: The heresy’s biggest opposition comes from the church of Besheba it's self. While many of Besheba's cleregy may agree with the sects views on the goddess her self, the Heresy’s teachings are a threat to the churches power. Most clerics use fear to promote worship, and to gain power. The Heresy’s principle of welcoming misfortune with open arms is directly counter to that. So the main stream clerics tend to crack down on the heresy whenever they can. However the heresy generally gains more local support than the main stream clerics, so removing the heresy can be easier said than done at times.

The second biggest opposition to the heresy is the church of Tymora. While the heresy isn't as militant against them as the main stream church is, they still fervently oppose the church of Tymora. They believe that Tymora and her followers make things too easy for mankind, and threaten to undo Besheba's work. So the Heresy will take any opportunity to thwart and oppose the church of Tymora whenever it interferes too much.

So what do you think? Pretty good start?
18DELTA
02-06-08, 03:43 PM -:clap: :lightbulb :plotting: :evillaugh NICE!!!:D

18DELTA:cool:
Bonzai
02-06-08, 07:53 PM Thank you!

Like I said, I based it off a hexblade NPC that I had made a while back. Heh, a good snapshot of his personality can be found in the following exchange:

PC: {explaining the ordeals and trials he had to go through} ..."And so it seems as if the very fates themselves have conspired against us, constantly bringing ill fortune our way".

NPC: ..... "Lucky bastard!".

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Bonzai 02-01-08, 02:42 PM	A while back there was a post listing a bunch of potential heresies in the realms. Recently I had made an npc, and the more I started fleshing him out, the more I was drawn in to the concept. The character was a hexblade who was fiercely devoted to besheba. He took his abilities to be a clear sign of "his" lady's favor. His philosophy was that bad luck was an important part of life, and necessary for some one to grow as a person. How do you learn who you truly are, if not by overcoming adversity? How do you learn what is truly important to you, if not by measuring it against the things you have lost? To him, misfortune and adversity were things to be welcomed, a gift from his lady. By overcoming adversity, he proves himself worthy of her gift, and became better for the experience. So last night I got to thinking... Sounds like a the basis for a great heresy. So here is my first stab at it. Heresy of the Grim Maiden Views: The heresy's views of Besheba are markedly different from how the rest of the realms see her. Instead of being a fickle and malicious deity, they view her as being tragically misunderstood. When Tyche was split into two, they attest that it was Besheba who inherited the goddesses sense of love, and duty. Tyche knew, that bad luck and misfortune were necessary forces in the world. Without them, mankind would have long ago lost all purpose and drive. By providing men with challenges to overcome, she gave them sense of accomplishment. By throwing misfortune their way, mankind was forced to think, adapt, and grow stronger. By experiencing loss, men learned to truly value what they had. So when the diety split in two it was Besheba, being the wiser and more dutiful of the two, who took on the burden of bringing misfortune to the world. While Tymora, being fickle and flighty, happily accepted the portfolios of good fortune, tempting man into sloth and complacency. While many view Besheba as a mean and fickle goddess, the heresy of the Grim Maiden believe that this is not the case. Besheba deeply cares for humanity, and does what she does, because it is necessary for their own good. She plays no favorites, and allows pure chance to decide who receives her blessings. Though she may seem cold and heartless, that is not true. She knows that what she does makes her feared and hated, but she does what she must with all the fierce resolve that a goddess can muster. Dogma: Misfortune should not be feared and reviled, but seen as an opportunity to learn and improve ones self. When the Lady bestows her blessings, do all that you can to over come adversity, and prove yourself worthy of her attention. By doing so, you become stronger and wiser, and man kind as a whole may benefit from it. Domains: Chaos, Fate, Luck, Trickery Cleric Alignments: CG, CN, CE Clergy: Clerics of the Grim Maiden tend to favor neutral alignments more than mainstream clerics of Besheba. While other clerics amount to little more than extortionists, preying on fear and superstition, clerics of the grim Maiden preach the exact opposite. They are often found rallying communities in times of trouble, encouraging them to rise to the challenge and overcome it. Clerics tend not to help people directly, instead they prefer to nudge them subtly into solving their own problems. As such, they act more as an advisor to their followers. Clerics are always the first to differentiate what was generally bad luck, and what was brought on by the followers themselves. Due to the church's worldly needs, the clerics do sometimes pray for intervention for a small donation, doing healings and such. However they will always ask the petitioner to reflect on what they have learned from their experience. There are some extremists in the sect however. Evil aligned clerics sometimes take a Machiavellian approach, deliberately tormenting and bringing misfortune to some one, so that they may have the opportunity to overcome it. While good aligned clerics tend to lead by example, directly wading in, and showing their followers how to overcome their misfortune. Opposition: The heresy’s biggest opposition comes from the church of Besheba it's self. While many of Besheba's cleregy may agree with the sects views on the goddess her self, the Heresy’s teachings are a threat to the churches power. Most clerics use fear to promote worship, and to gain power. The Heresy’s principle of welcoming misfortune with open arms is directly counter to that. So the main stream clerics tend to crack down on the heresy whenever they can. However the heresy generally gains more local support than the main stream clerics, so removing the heresy can be easier said than done at times. The second biggest opposition to the heresy is the church of Tymora. While the heresy isn't as militant against them as the main stream church is, they still fervently oppose the church of Tymora. They believe that Tymora and her followers make things too easy for mankind, and threaten to undo Besheba's work. So the Heresy will take any opportunity to thwart and oppose the church of Tymora whenever it interferes too much. So what do you think? Pretty good start?
18DELTA 02-06-08, 03:43 PM	-:clap: :lightbulb :plotting: :evillaugh NICE!!!:D 18DELTA:cool:
Bonzai 02-06-08, 07:53 PM	Thank you! Like I said, I based it off a hexblade NPC that I had made a while back. Heh, a good snapshot of his personality can be found in the following exchange: PC: {explaining the ordeals and trials he had to go through} ..."And so it seems as if the very fates themselves have conspired against us, constantly bringing ill fortune our way". NPC: ..... "Lucky bastard!".