1-11. Curved flowing reflects Bendis' endeavors. Roll 1d6 to see what the cleric should do, for she loses access to some of her spells (50% chance for each one), possibly including her turn ability, until each one is resolved.
[1] View the moon, or at least something very similar and deep, for 1d6 turns.
[2] Hunt for 2d6 turns, whether for sustenance or fertile succor.
[3] Spend 2d6 turns in the mountains, or at least view them, or even something very similar and majestic.
[4] Copulate or encourage others to do so - all in appropriate ways of course- for 2d6 turns.
[5] Help the local land's vitality, whether via one or more of the approaches above or some other way, for the next 3d6 turns.
[6] Administer to their children for 2d6 turns or if not, act joyously to make more.
12-17. The goddess calls from greater heights for the next 1d6 hours, affecting all within 1d12 x 60' if a range is needed. Roll 1d6.
[1] 1d6 satyrs (link) and maenads (link) arrive within 1d6 minutes, remaining until their fertile ways have been satiated with those affected. Much bending is likely in order.
[2] The moon comes fully into view, causing all in the area who follow Bendis' ways to gain a +3 to all rolls, bowing often, while all others suffer -3.
[3] Heaven & earth: the cleric must decide. For the duration, she will only be able to work magic to affect one or the other, things ephemeral & celestial or things physical & terrestrial. At least she'll gain a +2 to all rolls to the one she picks for that period in any case.
[4] Time for a hunt. All nearby are called to the nearest mountain (save vs. spell/ Will save DC 15 negates). If they reach it in time (while the duration lasts), they each will have a 5% chance of finding something valuable to them, though what that may be is up to Bendis.
[5] Fertility herself, the cleric gains the capability to spread life fluid to all who might be appropriate and conceding, just as the great goddess does. Along with any physical changes, if currently a cleric or nature priestess, she becomes a priestess and vice versa. If this change is discovered, followers of stricter divinities will attempt to imprison her during this time instead.
[6] Reroll 1d5 and apply that result, but each individual so affected also has a 1% chance of causing some great calamity too. It may then take much life as Bendis normally gives, whether via a (roll 1d4):
[1] landslide, [2] tornado, [3] great flood, or [4] volcanic explosion, reflecting such mountainous elements.
[1] landslide, [2] tornado, [3] great flood, or [4] volcanic explosion, reflecting such mountainous elements.
18+ Have you heard of a torch race on horseback? Reroll for results #12-17 above, but increase the area affected (if any) and duration by a factor equal to the divine test result minus 16 (x2 for 18, x3 for 19, x4 for 20, etc.) What is more, torches will be born by those experiencing the test, and mounts provided, spreading the goddess's fire and lance-riding, with better results the more the participants surrender.
Folk Variations
Select guidelines, magical side-effects, divine tests, and spells of similar divinities can be substituted for and with those of Bendis to provide additional options.
Aphrodite / Venus: fully involved in passion and beauty, whether more wanton or appropriate.
Artemis / Diana: ever the maiden, she is generally not licentious and focused on hunting and helping animals and innocents instead.
Danu / Rhiannon: the requirements of rulership call for trials of tribe or courtship, along with a focus on nature itself or horses.
Danu / Rhiannon: the requirements of rulership call for trials of tribe or courtship, along with a focus on nature itself or horses.
Dionysus / Bacchus: wild abandon, like Bendis, though focusing on inebriating imbibement rather than mountain air.
Freya / Freo: magic beauty that sees such fertile acts more as means for greater love than so much as ends themselves.
Hecate / Trivia: deep, mysterious ways, harnessing fecundity for greater magic might.
Mokosh: moister and softer, more of the home, though no less curvaceous and fertile
For example, a druidess of Danu could have the same turn ability, some of the same magical side-effects, tests, and spells as a cleric of Bendis, and vice versa.
Thracian Peltasts
Light, skirmishing warriors, Thracian peltasts originated the technique and are especially skilled at hurling their javelins and then escaping counterattacks in a similar manner to other types of peltasts (link). Thracian peltasts too can make a Dexterity check, but with an extra +1 bonus per level to avoid a resulting melee attack (hopefully) when fighting in this manner if there is enough room. In return, since they tap into greater primal power, they have a 25% chance each time they use this ability of needing to roll on Bendis' Magical Side-Effect table in order to make it work as well, changing any reference to spells or magic to their attack and hit-and-run abilities. If successful, just like other peltasts, Thracian peltasts then end up 1d3 x 5' away from the attacker at the end of the attacker's turn.
For example, a 1st level Thracian peltast could make a Dexterity check with a +2 bonus to try to run away from a charging monster that he just hurled his javelin at. He checks for a magical side-effect, and one is needed, so he rolls on Bendis' table. He gets #2 The Hunt is On, so he must have been aware of his target at least 1d3 rounds before he attacked. If not, then it only works at 1/2 its usual strength. In addition, there's a 25% chance of triggering a divine test unless he decides to be unable to attack in this manner for the rest of the day. If he succeeds at the check and follows the side-effect, then he will end up 1d3 x 5' away from the monster; that is, if there is somewhere to escape to.
Otherwise, Thracian peltasts cannot wear any armor heavier than leather and can only bear pelta shields. The latter grant a +2 AC bonus vs. just one foe per round, so it behooves them to get out of the way after attacking their foes!
Peltasts generally worship divinities associated with ranged attacks, such as Apollo and Artemis, or rustic deities, such as Pan, Dionysus, Hermes, and, of course, Thracian peltasts often worship Bendis.
Next week: spells of Bendis and a Bendis encounter!
