Votary

   Description: Like Divinates, the devoutly religious Votaries function as soldiers of their church. But Votaries are far more militant, considering devotees of "false" religions as the epitome of evil. Additionally, Votaries follow an unusually strict ethos that includes vows of poverty and chastity.

   Requirements: Standard.

   Ministration: Church. A Votary rarely pledges fealty to a government, unless the government is subservient to her church.

   Role: The typical Votary is grim, self-obsessed, and quick to judge. She believes her church is the only true one and is suspicious of all other religions. She behaves with stony civility to priests of other lawful faiths and open skepticism to priests of neutral faiths. Followers of evil faiths, she believes fervently, deserve nothing less than death.

   The Votary maintains an ascetic, ordered life. She owns few personal possessions, avoids strong drink, and even declines to eat heavily seasoned food. She disapproves of gaming, dancing, and other entertainment as childish distractions. Concern for personal grooming is a distasteful affectation (and not a requirement of the Votary's ethos). Some votaries leave their hair uncombed and beards shaggy "as the deity intended," devoting only as much effort to personal hygiene as necessary for good health and minimal courtesy. Whereas a Votary is as susceptible to courtly love as any other paladin (see Chapter 7), she would never consider approaching the person she desires; her passion would likely manifest as guilt and shame.

   Many commoners admire the Votary for her dedication and discipline, but some see her as an intimidating, even frightening, fanatic. Her humorless outlook and self-righteousness attitude tend to discourage close friendships.

   Symbol: A Votary displays the holy symbol of her church only on her shield. She never carries a flag or banner except on official business, nor will she attach her symbol to her armor, mount barding, or other possessions; she considers such displays gaudy and vulgar.

   Secondary Skills: Groom, Hunter, Scribe.

   Weapon Proficiencies: Any.

   Nonweapon Proficiencies: Recommended: Ancient History, Endurance, Healing, Languages (Ancient and Modern), Religion, Tracking. Forbidden: Brewing, Cooking, Dancing, Etiquette*, Gaming, Jousting*, Musical Instrument, Poetry*, Pottery, Singing.

   Armor/Equipment: A Votary owns no possessions aside from her weapons, armor, and the minimal gear and supplies necessary to carry out her missions. She never purchases the formal attire described in the Clothing and Special Items section of Chapter 6, nor will she decorate her armor or clothing with jewels, gold trim, or ornaments.

   Bonded Mount: Any.

   Special Benefits:

   More Spells: Because of her intense devotion to his deity, the Votary has more spells than other paladins and learns them when she reaches 6th level. Table 22 details the spell progression.

Table 22 : Votary Spell Progression


Votary
Casting
Priest Spell Levels

Level
Level
1
2
3
4

6
1
1
-
-
-

7
2
2
-
-
-

8
3
2
1
-
-

9
4
3
2
-
-

10
5
3
2
1
-

11
6
4
2
1
-

12
7
4
2
2
-

13
8
4
2
2
1

14
9
4
3
2
1

15
9
4
4
2
1

16
9
4
4
3
1

17
9
4
4
3
2

18
9
4
4
3
3

19
9
4
4
4
3

20
9
4
4
4
4

Hated Faith: The Votary earns a combat bonus when fighting enemies of a particular evil faith. The evil faith must be designated at the outset of her career; only a single faith may designated, and once chosen it will never change. Acceptable choices include faiths of a particular being (such as an ogre religion) or region (a religion indigenous to a particular jungle or mountain range). A Votary earn a +4 bonus to her attack rolls when fighting priests or followers of the hated faith. The Votary must recognize the priests and followers of the hated faith in order to receive the bonus, identifying them by symbols, gestures, garb, or rituals.

   Special Hindrances:

   Reaction Penalty: A Votary displays obvious enmity toward priests of other faiths. Lawful good priests of faiths other than the Votary's suffer a –2 penalty to their reaction rolls; their reaction can be no better than Indifferent. Neutral priests suffer a –4 penalty; their reaction can be no better than Cautious.

   Extra Tithes: A Votary must donate 50% of all income to her church.

   Celibacy: The Votary must incorporate a vow of celibacy into her ethos.

   No Strongholds or Hirelings: By choice, a Votary never builds a stronghold; instead, she lives in a church, monastery, or temple. Nor does she hire henchmen or other hirelings, a wasteful expense.

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