Priests & priestesses, as well as the other cleric types described in Volume II, commonly follow Greek divinities. Two new ones described here do so as well. Though exceptions may occur, certain ones typically follow certain gods and goddesses as their patron.
Aphrodite: priestesses, mystics
Apollo: clerics, mystics, priests, seers
Ares: clerics
Artemis: clerics, druids, druidesses, shamans
Athena: clerics, priestesses
Demeter: priestesses, druids, druidesses, mystics
Dionysus: clerics, mystics, seers, shamans
Hades: clerics, mediums, priests
Hecate: clerics, priestesses, mediums, seers, witches
Hephaestus: clerics, priests
Hera: clerics, priestesses
Hermes: priests, mediums, mystics, hermetic wizards
Hestia: priestesses, seers
Pan: clerics, druids, druidesses, mystics, shamans
Poseidon: clerics, priests
Zeus: clerics, priests
Greek Cleric Type Dispositions
Along with the Cleric Encounters described in Volume II, use the following tables either as a general guide, to randomly determine what a particular clerical magic-user's focus is (or isn't), or to see what specific activities they are engaged in at a particular time.
Greek Clerics
The most martial cleric type will usually (select or roll d4):
1. Adventure in the name of doing their patron deity's will.
2. Defend their temple, whether physical or philosophical.
3. Amass treasures for their deity and cult.
4. Per priests & priestesses, below.
Greek Druids?
For Referees who wish to include them, druids and druidesses can serve Artemis, Demeter, and Pan, especially in areas that border the Celts. If Celts aren't nearby (and for sticklers), they can be known as 'nature priests' and 'nature priestesses' instead and otherwise follow the druid rules in Volume II.
In any case, the focus of Greek druids is usually on serving their patron god or goddess by (select or roll d6):
1. Keeping a natural area that's sacred to their deity sacrosanct.
2. Questing to help defend a natural area that's sacred to their god or goddess.
3. Administering to the plants & wildlife sacred to their divinity.
4. Communing in natural areas.
5. Experiencing the power of their deity in a natural area (5% chance of encountering one of their avatars too).
6. Per shamans, below.
Greek Priests (Hiereus) & Priestesses (Hiereia)
Being more ceremonial, Greek priests and priestesses more often (select or roll d6):
1. Serve their god's or goddess's will in the world.
2. Determine their deity's will through prayer and omens.
3. Make appropriate offerings based on their divinity's interests.
4. Undergo a unique experience, depending on their patron, due to how Greek divinities enjoy taking a more direct interest in the affairs of their mortals (5% chance of encountering one of their avatars in the process).
5. See to the maintenance of their god's or goddess's temple.
6. Assist a follower or even temple of another Greek deity, if that is the will of their patron and of Zeus. serving the Pantheon as a whole.
Greek Mediums
Mediums: as they deal mainly with spirits of the dead, treat
them as clerics, except that they fight as magic-users, including
their HD and inability to wear armor or use shields. In addition, any who witness them casting a spell for the first time must save vs. death or be unnerved (-2 to all rolls) for the next 1d6 rounds due the presence of ghosts. In return, they can see and communicate with ancestral and undead spirits at will, though they themselves must save vs. death when one is present (a base 5% chance at any location), or else they themselves will become unnerved...
Otherwise, Greek mediums usually (select or roll d6):
1. Speak with spirits for their own purposes.
2. Avoid spirits who bother them.
3. Speak with spirits on behalf of mortals.
4. Speak with spirits in accordance with the will of their patron deity.
5. Are ridden by spirits related to their divinity, granting them a +1d6 bonus to a random ability score, but also causing them to lose control of their actions for a time.
6. Per seers, below, though spirits are at work.
Greek Mystics
Seeking a more direct connection with their deity, and hopefully apotheosis, they will (select or roll d6):
1. Be (or work to be) a member of a Greek mystery cult.
2. Commune directly with their deity (base 5% chance of being heard).
3. Contemplate deeply.
4. Use their deity's particular guidance to work towards enlightenment, which may be different than what priests of the same deity practice (base 15% chance of it being seen as heretical).
5. Undergo trials, whether self-imposed or not.
6. Per druids or seers, above or below, though the reasons for their actions will be to have a more direct connection with divinity.
Greek Seers (Mantis)
Seers: since they can receive glimpses into the future, treat them as clerics, except that they fight as magic-users, including
their HD and inability to wear armor or use shields (just like Mediums). What is more, they must save vs. death or be disoriented whenever they cast a spell for the next 1d6 rounds due to the many visions they see. In addition, they cast all of their non-divinatory spells at 1 lower level caster level too. In return, they are able to cast any divination spells
(whether on their divinity's spell list or not) and at 1 higher caster level than normal. In addition, they may also reroll any roll they make up to once per level per day, deciding which result to keep, since they are so attuned to prophecy and fate.
Otherwise, Greek seers often (select or roll d8):
1. Stare off into space, being shown prophetic events.
2. Interpret entrails to determine the will of their deity.
3. Babble/ speak in tongues (save vs. spell to those who wish to interpret it correctly).
4. Pronounce one's doom, as determined by the Fates.
5. Inhale cave vapors (or the like), seeking inspiration by their god or goddess.
6. Sit as an oracle.
7. Travel about, either to where destiny guides them or to where others need them (which could be the same).
8. Per mediums, above, though the spirits enable prophecy.
Greek Shamans
In the tradition of Orpheus, along with more primitive types, Greek shamans usually (select or roll 1d6):
1. Journey, including to otherworlds, whether solely mentally or in actuality (equal chance of either).
2. Dance, working with the spirits sacred to their god or goddess (50% chance of chanting too).
3. Drum (50% chance of chanting too).
4. Partake of hallucinogens, becoming better able to commune with the spirits (whether real or not).
5. Engage in a sacred hunt (and meal) of a beast that's sacred to their divinity.
6. Per mediums or seers, above.
Greek Witches
Workers of dark and mysterious magic, Greek witches almost always follow Hecate, though they wisely respect the other Greek gods too. In any case, they often (select or roll 1d6):
1. Brew potions via occult methods.
2. Assist petitioners if it is the will of their goddess.
3. Plot the demise of others who stand in her way.
4. Dance nude under the moon.
5. Work their way into greater power.
6. Assemble useful components for spells.
Curse for Harming a Priest, Priestess, or other Cleric Type
Last, harming a cleric type is often ill-advised since they are sacred to the Gods. Depending on the divine standing of the cleric type vs. the offender, those who raise a hand to a cleric, druid, druidess, priest, priestess, medium, mystic, seer, shaman, or witch will suffer a divine test from the god or goddess of the cleric type being harmed. Divine standing is of course adjudicated by the Fates, by having both attacker and attacked roll any die to see who is victorious.
Next week: Satyrs!
