Divine Tests (Britomartis)
The Good Maiden loves her faithful, though even they can get caught in her nets.
1-4. Struggling in the waters, pursued by Minos (whether
metaphorically or not), the priestess takes a penalty to all her rolls equal to
her divine test result (-1 to -4), double (-2 to -8) if she is actually trapped
or being pursued by a man. In any case, the penalties last for 2d3 hours.
5-9. Great Goddess, how to make things right with you? The priestess
will find out, losing access to some of her spells (50% chance for each)
including possibly her turn ability. Roll 1d6 for each to determine what she
needs to do in order to be able to use it again. Each require 1d3 hours:
[1] Spend time in an area where there are only women (preferably on an island).
[2] Worship at a
temple of Artemis or similar goddess, or even before a priestess
of one.
[3] Engage in
commerce (i.e. shopping).
[4] Hunt.
[5] Assist fishers,
sailors, hunters, or others who make their living from the mountains.
[6] Be followed
around by 1d3 huge, vicious sacred dogs. They won’t harm the
priestess and are actually overly protective, attacking any adult males that
come within 30’ of her. Treat them as black bears.
10-14. For better or for worse, the priestess merges with Britomartis,
becoming more like her goddess from now on. Roll 1d3.
[1] Like mountains
rising above the sea, so too does her bosom expand. The priestess gains +2
Charisma, but also -5’ speed and -1 Dexterity, due to its new bearing and weight.
[2] The sea nets of
Britomartis can be ensnaring. From now on, any who stand next to the priestess
and is romantically compatible must save vs. spell or become charmed by her scent, also suffering a
-1 penalty to all rolls for the next 1d6 turns.
[3] Some take
Britomartis to be a nymph and so too now do they take the priestess. She becomes
immune to any ill effects of climate (often barely clad to emphasize that fact)
and gains a further +2 Charisma bonus with regards to attractiveness. Still,
she now also suffers a -1 to all rolls unless she spends at least 1d6 turns
each day in a watery or mountainous environment.
15-17. The priestess experiences one of the three paths of Britomartis. Roll
1d3.
[1] Way of Britomart:
A true virgin warrior maiden, she can now wear any type of armor but will
suffer a divine test if she ever violates her chastity and takes a -1 to all
rolls for the next 1d6 turns if she even considers doing so.
[2] Way of Diktynna:
A queenly Minoan bull priestess, she can now wield two Labryses or other types
of axes at a time and gains a +2 bonus to all rolls related to women. On the
other hand, she must always bear her breasts bare, suffering an AC penalty of 2 and stares from those unfamiliar
with Minoan ways, as well as a -10 penalty to resist or escape nets of any
type.
[3] Way of
Aegina-Aphaia: A mysterious river nymph, she can now breathe water at will,
swim at double speed, and detect treasure within 60’, though a person may
become jealous of her wealth or she might be carried off by Zeus to a random
island to bear his child (a base chance each day of 20% with the former; 3%
with the latter).
18+ Her nets draw her down, her mountains rise as she struggles to be
free. The priestess remains confined to the nearest body of water for 1 day per
divine test total over 17, unable to escape during that time. She can then only
be moved by fishermen or similar types until the test’s duration is over.
Next week: Priestesses of Britomartis concludes with Part IV!
