Scholar Priest

Description

This character is a researcher. He's most at home when he's poring over books, scrolls, papyri, clay tablets and other old writings. He's not forbidden from fighting, but is more likely to try to straighten out a bad situation with reason, personal charisma, or even trickery than with a weapon. His life is dedicated to the assimilation of knowledge and, usually, the transmission of that knowledge to new generations.
A scholar priest must have an Intelligence ability score of 13 or better.
This kit cannot be abandoned. A scholar can break off correspondence with other scholars, can choose not to teach, can decide not to do any studying or writing ror as long as he likes, but he can always re-enter the academic world.

Barred

Priests of the following gods, forces, and philosophies cannot take this kit: Competition, Fertility, Life-Death-Rebirth Cycle, Strength, and War.
Priests of the following types are most appropriate for this kit: Arts, Crafts, Culture, Divinity of Mankind, Literature/Poetry, Music/Dance, and Wisdom

Role

In the campaign, this priest is motivated by his desire for knowledge. He'll often be tempted by adventures where he's likely to be able to learn something. If an adventuring party is going to a ruin where a famous library once stood, he'll eagerly join on the faint hope that some scrap of that library still survives. He'll be part of expeditions to visit famous sites or ancient beings who might tell him stories of the past or solve old mysteries. He might be part of an adventure just so that he can chronicle it and preserve its events in history.

Weapon Proficiencies

Required

None

Recommended

Any appropriate to the priest's actual priest-class.

Non-weapon Proficiencies

Bonus Proficiency

Reading/Writing

Recommended

General

Artistic Ability, Etiquette, Heraldry, Languages (Modern).

Priest

Ancient History, Astrology, Languages (Ancient). Local History

Equipment

The scholar-priest must always have writing material, quill and ink with him. If ever he loses them, he must regain or replace them as soon as possible. and in the meantime will be recording his experiences in any fashion he can find. Other than that, this kit makes no demands on the way he spends his money.

Special Benefits

The Scholar Priest can "spend" any of his Weapon Proficiency slots on Non-weapon Proficiencies instead. He doesn't have to; he can adhere to the normal pattern of proficiency choice that is appropriate to his priest-class. But if he wishes he may turn Weapon Proficiency slots into Non-weapon slots and thereby become a very skilled character.
Also, the Scholar receives a +3 reaction bonus from other scholars, admirers of scholastic concerns. writers, journalists, and people who imagine that they are scholars. Because of this, when the party thinks it is in a situation when no one is willing to help, it may turn out that the mousy clerk, antagonistic king or homely witch they met is an admirer of or even correspondent with the Scholar Priest and will help them.

Special Hindrances

Many scholars are egotistical, and debates between scholars can become very heated and personal. Whenever the DM rolls a reaction check from another scholar. he should first roll 1d6. On a 1, the player-character scholar gets a -6 reaction adjustment instead of a +3, because at some time in the past (or even the present) he argued or disagreed with this scholar's pet opinion and offended him completely.

Wealth Options

The Scholar Priest gets the standard 3d6x10 gp starting gold.

Races

No special limitations.

[Complete Priest's Handbook]