Ilion

The Deity
The Church
Clerics
Holy Warriors
Prestige Classes

ILION, goddess of Freedom and Inspiration

Often called "Fey Ilion", the daughter of Thandor and Shorral, (Wind and Fire) is wild, inquisitive and always restless.  She is the goddess of inspiration, madness, genius, prophecy and fortune.  

Associations

Ilion is the patron of madmen, outsiders, poets, thieves and fools. She is well regarded by many cultures, particularly elves and gnomes.  Her regard among human cultures depends largely upon the structure of the culture itself; she is most honored among young and vibrant cultures, while regarded with suspicion by those which are old and established.  

Alignment

Ilion is Chaotic Neutral.

Representations

Ilion is depicted with a thousand faces and guises.  Even within the same Wellspring (temple), she may be depicted in different forms.  A popular representation among the Successor States depicts her as a dark-haired woman with six arms, each bearing the symbol of an important aspect of life.  In the east, she is often shown as a tall, perfect blonde woman dressed only in the winds and fire of her heritage.  South of the Valesian Sea, she often has the head of a cat.

Among animals, Ilion is most closely associated with the cat, and it is for this reason that many sorcerers have cats for familiars, believing that they bring inspiration from Lady Luck.

Symbols for Ilion are as varied and infinite as her depictions.  Her priests often change the symbols they bear without apparent rhyme or reason.  Common symbols include a coin bearing the likeness of a smiling woman, a blazing spiral, and a sundered lock.  The symbol most commonly used by others (such as the Great Church) to represent Ilion is an open eye in a triangle.

Purpose

Ilion's sole purpose is to amuse herself.  She lives for new experiences, and encourages mortals to be daring, different and bold.  She has little patience for long-term planning and so has no long-term goals.  Her attention flits from one interesting event to another, and she shows very little interest in the ordinary.

She frequently chooses favorites and inspires them to achieve great things, or grants them unlikely insights into the workings of fate.  But her attention rarely stays with one individual for long, even as mortals calculate time - she simply hasn't the patience.

Of all the gods, Ilion has the least regard for the importance of the Ban, and breaks it whenever the whim strikes her.  However, since it is rare that her sojourns on the mortal plane have any lasting impact, and because there is little enough they could do about it, the other gods largely turn a blind eye to these ventures.  

During her times on Theeurth, Ilion has taken mortal lovers over the years, just for the change of pace.  Many believe that it is from her that the powers of sorcery have been blended into the blood of mortals.  The Borlamnians scoff at this idea.

Servants

 The number and kind of Ilion's servants is ever changing, as her interest in them waxes and wanes.  Yet among their number are some who are well known.

Vangerlin The Fool - This extraordinary being has confused and confounded mortal scholars who try to classify him.  Arguments abound as to whether he is an ascended mortal or a member of the Celestial Host.  He is the archetypal jester, entertaining the gods with merry pranks and elaborate jokes, all the while seeming to be possessed of a preternatural wisdom and insight that is often revealed only long after the fact.  He serves as Ilion's messenger and agent.

Camar The Redeemed - This jackal-headed celestial is also known as She Who Dwells on the Threshold.  She was once an Infernal, one of the evil host of Malbor.  But during the Second War she was confronted by Ilion, who recklessly and alone had infiltrated far into the pits of Azhran.  Impressed by the mad courage of the goddess, Camar threw in with the Celestials and revealed the hiding places of Caravok and Evaless.  After the war she repented of her sins and sued for clemency at the feet of Agaleus.  She was permitted to rejoin the ranks of the Celestial Host after an age of service to Ilion, but she found the chaotic nature of the fey goddess to her liking, and has remained ever since.  She is the patroness of reformed thieves and the condemned.

Oromadh, the Whisperer - This winged messenger is the one who whispers weighty oracles in the ears of prophets and madmen.  Ever faithful, he carries the ineffable pronouncements of his mistress and the prayers of her faithful.  When an oracle is difficult to understand, it is commonly said that Oromadh is in his cups.

THE CHURCH - The Wellsprings of Ilion

Church Description

The Wellsprings of Ilion exist to spread the words of their goddess, believing that to bring hope into hopeless places, change into static orders and freedom to the oppressed is the highest good.  The wild, loud and often scandalous celebrations for which these places are known make them enormously popular among the common people, and something of an embarrassment to those in charge.  Often, Wellsprings are not allowed within certain cities or parts of cities.  Nonetheless, the sight of a wandering Speaker is common throughout the length and breadth of Vatheria.

Church Structure

There is no central structure to the church.  Each Wellspring determines its own leaders and structure.  Some are led by a charismatic Speaker, others by an Oracle or even by a layman whom others consider influential and up to the job.  Each individual worshiper is left to interpret the sayings of Ilion for himself.

Doctrine

The doctrine of the Wellsprings is founded on the many, varied and sometimes irreconcilable sayings, aphorisms and parables of the goddess and her many oracles.  Below are some of the best known.

"Is your heart new?"  The folk of Ilion seek ever to take on new projects, new experiences, new ideas.  Nothing wastes a life more, they say, than to think in only one way, to experience only what you experienced yesterday.    Invention, creation and innovation are the greatest goals of the Ilionites.

"Time fears nothing, not even the gods."  All things pass away, and he who becomes attached to things as they are will inevitably suffer.  Only by embracing change will you find happiness.  Also, do not delay until tomorrow that which you can enjoy today.  

"What is your will?"  Ilionites place a great deal of value on individual expressions of will.  No law is just, they say, if imposed from without.  Each mortal must listen to his own heart, and act accordingly.  The followers of Ilion believe strongly that for a law to be just, it must be one agreed to by the people.  This, of course, does not endear them to kings and emperors, to say nothing of the worshipers of Agaleus.  In the extreme, some worshipers are even anarchists, opposed to all forms of law and government. 

Holy Days

There are no standard holy days for the followers of Ilion.  They may or may not attend those of other religions.  They may proclaim a sacred day of reflection (or work, or revelry) at almost any time, as seems fit to them.  

Preferred Weapon

There is no preferred weapon of the Ilionites.  Each that needs a weapon chooses one that seems right to him or her.

CLERICS - The Speakers of Ilion

The Order

The Speakers of Ilion are as varied and changing as the goddess they revere.  Most do not serve in one position for long, even if they are life-long Speakers.  It is not uncommon to see a Speaker preaching in the fields, or along the highways as they move from town to town, from Wellspring to hamlet, from cottage to cavern to noble court.

The common image of a Speaker is a disheveled man in a robe of rags, full of speech half wise and half mad.  In truth, very few meet this popular stereotype, but most are eccentric in some way, and each is intent both on new experiences and on spreading the word of his mistress. 

Titles

Speakers spurn the use of titles, though some give themselves grandiose titles ("Supreme Commander of the Ancient Order", or "Prognosticant of the Sixteenth Undulation") as a joke.

Domains

A Speaker of Ilion may choose any two of the following clerical domains: Freedom, Inspiration, Luck and Oracle.

The Luck domain below is distinct from the one in the Player's Handbook.  The Luck and Freedom domains are the creation of Scott Nolan and are designated as Open Game Content.  The Inspiration and Oracle domains are taken (somewhat modified) from The Book of the Righteous by Green Ronin Publishing. 

Freedom Domain 

Granted Powers: Once per day, you can dispel any one magical, supernatural or psionic effect which inhibits or restrains the mind or body of another, such as hold person, charm person, orforcecage (but not one such as wall of stone, if merely impedes travel in one direction, or flesh to stone).  This is effected by a caster level check, exactly as described in the description of the dispel magic spell. 

Freedom Domain Spells:
1. Change Self                                       6. Word of Recall
2. Remove Paralysis                             7. Sequester
3. Nondetection                                     8. Greater Spell Immunity
4. Freedom of Movement                   9. Freedom
5. Break Enchantment

 

 Inspiration Domain 

Granted Powers: Once per day, you can inspire courage, exactly as the bard ability (see p. 28 of the Player's Handbook).  Perform is a class skill.

Inspiration Domain Spells:
1. Message                                           6. Insight***
2. Burst of Energy                                7. Insanity
3. Afflatus*                                             8. Avatar
4. Quick Learn**                                    9. Greater Afflatus*
5. Sending

* = Spells from The Book of the Righteous, by Green Ronin Publishing.
** =Spell from Relics and Rituals II, by Sword and Sorcery Publishing. 
*** = Unique Spell.  See Below.

 

 Luck Domain 

Granted Powers: Free Favored Destiny feat (See Path of Shadow, by Fantasy Flight Games.)

Luck Domain Spells:
1. Ilion's Touch***                                 6. Trust in the Gods**
2. Aid                                                       7. Spell Turning
3. Protection from Elements              8. Holy Aura
4. Ironheart*                                           9. Miracle
5. Break Enchantment

** =Spell from Relics and Rituals, by Sword and Sorcery Publishing. 
** =Spell from Relics and Rituals II, by Sword and Sorcery Publishing. 
*** = Ilion's Touch renamed from Tanil's Touch from Relics and Rituals

 

Oracle Domain 

Granted Powers: Free "Divination" feat.

Oracle Domain Spells:
1. Pattern of Sibyllic Fate*                   6. Legend Lore
2. Augury                                               7. Vision
3. Divination                                           8. Discern Location
4. Scrying                                               9. Foresight
5. Commune

* = Spell from The Book of Hallowed Might, by Malhavoc Press.

 

INSIGHT

Divination
Level: Inspiration 6
Components: V, S
Casting Time: standard action
Range: Self
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

The spell opens up the cleric's mind to a realm of unseen possibilities, the raw stuff of inspiration, where madness lives side by side with the mundane, and folly goes hand in hand with wisdom.  If the cleric can open his mind and hear the muse, he may catch a momentary flash of insight into some situation that currently vexes him.  Or he may hear nothing but mad or random babblings.  

The DM secretly rolls a Wisdom check with a DC of 30, minus the caster's level.  If the roll fails, the cleric receives only random or misleading gibberish.  If the roll succeeds, the DM reveals some hidden fact, useful suggestion or interesting detail about the cleric's current situation or dilemma.  

 

Spells

The spells of the Speakers may be found here.

Alignments

Speakers of Ilion may be Chaotic Good, Chaotic Neutral, or Chaotic Evil.

Those who are Chaotic Good strive most for the happiness and freedom of the Mortal Races, seeking to free the minds and bodies of the oppressed from all forms of arbitrary impediments.  These are the sort most often found holding services and serving communities at the Wellsprings.  

Those Speakers who are Chaotic Neutral care little for the travails of the ordinary man, and instead wander from place to place, opposing order and seeking to undermine established governments, churches and social orders.

Evil Speakers believe that there is no taboo which must not be broken, and that in fact, by violating the very strictures of the established churches, they best reflect the will of their goddess.  Wild orgies, unspeakable crimes, unions with demons - all are thought to best express the wild, unfettered nature of the goddess.  These Speakers are abhorred by the main branches of the church.

HOLY WARRIORS* - The Adori Brotherhood

The Order

The Adori brothers and sisters, known as the Adoris or the Ecstatics, are those who feel the joyful freedom of Ilion in their very beings.  Known for their colorful rituals and whirling dances, these philosopher-warrior can attain and maintain a state of euphoric joy in which they feel that they are touched by the soul of the goddess.

The Adori see themselves as the conduit between their goddess and the oppressed. They travel the world, championing those with no power and bringing low the mighty who would oppress others with their own tyrannical rule. 

With their colorful dress and often comic demeanor, the Adori are often underestimated.  They are brash, bold, and sometimes mocking, but capable of great feats of compassion, subtle observation and heroism.

Titles
As with other orders among the worshipers of Ilion, ranks have little meaning to the Adori.  However, even they recognize those in whom the power and joyful abandon of the goddess runs most true.   These (Adoris of 12th level and higher), they honor with the title "Great Brother" or "Great Sister".

Races - Any race may choose to be a member of the Adori Brotherhood.

Hit Die - d10

Class Skills - The Adori's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are: , Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Disguise (Cha), Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Knowledge (Religion) (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex).  

Weapon and Armor - Adori are proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with light, medium and heavy armors, and with shields.  

Untamable Heart - The Adori is immune to any magical effort to alter his emotional state against his will.  This includes charm, fear, suggestion, emotion, and calm emotions, but it extends to any other spell or magical effect in which the caster seeks to change the Adori's feelings (for instance, a succubus' seduction powers).  The Adori may submit to these effects if he likes, such as emotion(hope).  Further, he is very practiced at keeping himself under control emotionally, and receives a bonus to his Willpower saving throws equal to his Charisma modifier against natural emotional effects (like natural fear of enormous creatures).  The simple rule to follow: He is immune to spell-like and supernatural emotion effects, but receives a bonus against extraordinary emotional effects.

Overthrow Tyranny - The Adori can, once per day, call upon his goddess' will to smite tyrants for one round.  When fighting a member of the forces of tyranny (slavers, corrupt guards, soldiers from a totalitarian empire, etc.) the Overthrow Tyranny power allows the Adori to add his Charisma modifier to all attack rolls and his Adori Brotherhood level to all damage rolls during the round.  This ability only works against a tyrant or tyrannical forces the Adori is attempting to overthrow and, as such, may only be used against those who are somehow oppressing members of the divine races descended from Shorral.  Activating this ability is a free action.

Slip Bonds - The Adori cannot be contained by normal means; the power of Ilion makes him free from any but the most extreme restraint.  He gains Escape Artist as a class skill, receiving a number of ranks equal to his Charisma modifier (although it may not exceed the maximum ranks for a character of his level).  Whenever making an Escape Artist skill check, he may add his Charisma modifier to the roll as a sacred bonus.  Also, whenever he is imprisoned or intentionally locked into some sort of confinement, he may use his Escape Artist skill to open the lock as though it were the Open Lock skill.  He retains the Charisma modifier bonus on these rolls.  Allies observing him when opening such locks not that he is in a trance while do; he can't replicate the skill unless he is actually being held against his will.

Clarity -  With a touch, the Adori of 2nd level or greater may cut through anything altering the mental capacity of another, removing insanity, confusion, charm, loss of intelligence or wisdom, or other mind-altering effects for one round per Adori Brotherhood level.  A the end of this time, if the effect on the touched person is permanent or has remaining duration, it returns.  However, if it is an effect for which a negating saving throw was possible when it first took hold, the touched party receives an additional saving throw at the end of clarity's duration, this time with a bonus equal to the Adori's Charisma modifier.  Clarity may be used on naturally occurring effects, such as drunkenness, exhaustion's effect on mental clarity, or natural insanity.  However, the affected party does not receive a saving throw at the end of clarity's duration, and instead, reverts to his original state.  Clarity does not aid those affected by alterations to their emotional states (barbarian rage, fear) or perceptions (illusions, blindness, deafness).

Slippery Mind - The Adori is immune to all effects, whether magical or otherwise, that directly alter his mind.  He is immune to all of the following spells or spell-like effects that yield these results (not a complete list): Otto's irresistible dance, insanity, dominate person, feeblemind, mind fog, confusion, Tasha's hideous laughter, hypnotism and daze.  He cannot be driven mad by any natural force short of his goddess abandoning him.  He cannot lose his memory, have a memory implanted, or in any other way have the integrity of his mind assaulted short of a god's will or a wish spell.  He has extraordinary defenses against psionic attacks.   

Insight - At 3rd level, the Adori Brother or Sister gains a mystical insight into any one thing of his choice.  Essentially, Ilion provides him with the keys to fully understanding that thing - a skill or a weapon.  He may choose one of the following abilities: He may permanently gain double his Charisma modifier as an insight bonus to a skill in which he has ranks, he may gain his Charisma modifier in skill ranks of a skill in which he has no ranks (and may, from that point on, purchase ranks in that skill as a class skill) - though he may not exceed the maximum possible skill ranks for  a character of his level; or he may gain a +1 insight bonus to his attack rolls with any one weapon.  If he chooses an insight bonus to a skill, it will increase or decrease if his Charisma modifier increases or decrease, but if he chooses skill ranks, they do not change.  If he chooses the insight bonus to attack rolls, the bonus stacks with similar bonuses such as weapon focus.  The Adori need not pick the nature of the insight when he first receives this power; often the insight comes in the middle of an adventure, when it is most fortuitous.  Once the insight is chosen, however, it is permanent and may not be altered.

Gifts of Ilion
Beginning at 6th level, the Adori can fill those around him with hope, as the spell (emotion (hope)), as per the spell, with a caster level equal to his class level.  He can use this ability twice per week at 9th level).  Emotion (hope) is a spell-like ability for the Adori.

Beginning at 12th level, the Adori may use emotion (hope), as above, or he may choose to use his Gift of Ilion to cast freedom of movement as per the spell.  He can use either ability more often as he advances in levels (four per week at 15th level and five times per week at 18th level).  Freedom of movement is a spell-like ability for an Adori.

Spells
Beginning at 4th level, the Adori gains the ability to cast a few divine spells, listed here.

Mount
At 5th level, a member of the Adori Brotherhood may call to his side an animal companion, usually a celestial cat (usually one native to the region wherein the Adori lives), who watches over him on the road.  The animal companion gains all the bonuses a holy warrior's mount receives.

Code of Conduct
In keeping with the teachings of Ilion, the Adori have no one code of conduct; the very concept is anathema to them.  However, like the Speakers, they are guided by the words and spirit of the goddess, and generally adhere to most of the following, most of the time:

• Free those oppressed by others.
• Befriend those oppressed by their own beliefs.
• Help those too full of themselves to see the humor in their own actions.
• Live life to its fullest, and spare no opportunity to enjoy it.
• Question all that is said by those in authority.

Associates
The Adori like best those of a chaotic nature.  Rogues, barbarians and bards are their most constant companions.  He generally associates with those who enjoy the simple pleasures of life, and who place little value on the letter of the law.

Alignments
All members of the Adori Brotherhood are Chaotic Good.

PRESTIGE CLASSES

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* The Holy Warrior Class is derived from The Book of the Righteous by Green Ronin Publishing.  Details can be found here.