Ralishaz The Unlooked For (RAL-ih-shaz)

Intermediate Powers

(The Unlooked For), CN (CE) intermediate god of Chance, Ill Luck, Misfortune, and Insanity

Ralishaz is the deity of chance, ill-luck, and misfortune. He is looked to as the one who causes unforeseen events which bring woe more often than weal. He is also the deity of chance and randomness and so is regarded as the patron of gamblers and those who take unusual risks (although his intercession is unlooked for).

Ralishaz most often appears on the Prime Material Plane as an ancient and oddly dressed mendicant — sometimes male, sometimes female. Ralishaz will beg or gamble in this guise. At other times he will appear as a jester or idiot. In his (or her) true form, Ralishaz is quite awful to behold, for at one moment the face and body of the deity are handsome, the next wrinkled and ugly, then that of a scabby beggar, next that of a beautiful maid. During all, however, an aura of unease pervades, for the randomness of Ralishaz is most disturbing to all.

The only weapon Ralishaz ever uses is of wood — sometimes a club, other times a staff; both are actually the same item.

In addition to the powers normal to a High Priest (18th level) and a Spellbinder, Ralishaz has the following powers.

— The power to put a person to sleep with his gaze

— The power to age a person with his touch

— The power to curse a person

Few formally worship Ralishaz, although there are a handful of small shrines and temples in large cities and out-of-the-way places. Clerics of Ralishaz wear varicolored robes of differing materials. It is noteworthy that these clerics never seem to suffer misfortune or ill-luck — unless it is very, very bad indeed.

The ceremonies of worship of Ralishaz involve random notes on musical instruments, babbling paeans, the frequent casting of augury devices, and wildly varying conditions of light and darkness, noise and quiet, heat and chill.

Ralishaz (RAL-ih-shaz) is ever-changing (hideous to beautiful, female to male), but he usually appears as an oddly dressed beggar. He carries nothing but his wooden staff; his holy symbol is three sticks of bone, derived from divination and gambling tools, He rewards or punishes those that rely on chance or take great risks, seemingly at random. He is the god of insanity; many debate whether his appearance and whims are truly random or just madness. He shuns other gods, although he does not seem to be hateful of them.

Order does not exist, only randomness and chance, and the odds are stacked against you. While you may have a good run against the odds, eventually the universe will bal ance itself out against you. Randomness and insanity go hand in hand, and sometimes those who are the most insane are the ones who are closest to the true nature of the universe. Kindness and prosperity are illusions, as misfor tune comes to all sooner or later.

Clerics of Ralishaz are a curious combination of fatalism and recklessness, stoicism and wild endeavor, depending upon how they feel their place is in the world at that moment. They live charmed lives, although when misfortune hits them it hits hard. They preside over places of gambling, although most patrons are unsure if their presence wards off bad luck or draws it. They travel when their divina tions indicate they should, or at the roll of a die. They are often mean-minded or cruel, not seeing the point of friendliness to someone who will eventually be cursed by bad luck.

Domains Chaos, Destruction, Luck; Weapons quarterstaff, wooden weapons

Ralishaz is the Power of chance, ill-luck, and un expected misfortunes. He is also the patron Power of gamblers and those who take unusual risks. Most often, Ralishaz will not reward the latter, but if he does, the rewards may be great indeed.

Ralishaz is portrayed in a variety of forms. He may appear as an idiot or dolt, a hideously wrinkled old man, a scabby beggar, or even as a beautiful maid. He employs only wooden weapons, usually a staff. He is a formidable purveyor of curses and magical aging, and has a gaze that can cause sleep.

Victims of misfortune may try to placate Ralishaz; gamblers invoke him; those in peril beseech him; those planning speculative, high-risk adventures will make offerings to him. His cult has grown somewhat during and after the war. Services to Ralishaz include playing semi random note sequences on musical instruments, babbling paeans, the casting of augury spells, and wild interplays of light and darkness, heat and light, noise and quiet.

AL Chaotic Neutral (Evil WAL Any, but usually chaotic; SoC Chance, I11 Luck, Misfortune; SY Three bone sticks; CR none; PN Limbo

Ralishaz, the Unlooked For, is the deity of randomness and madness. Most people in the Flanaess see him as the entity responsible for unforseen events which bring woe more often than weal. He is the patron of gamblers and those who take unusual risks-his intercession is never looked for. He has few worshippers, although a handful of small shrines and modest temples can be found in large cities and out-of-the-way places. Services to Ralishaz include random notes played on various musical instruments, babbling paeans, frequent castings of various augury devices, and wildly varying conditions of light and darkness, noise and quiet, heat and chill.

Ralishaz's Priests

Priests of this Power are said to suffer misfor tunes only rarely, but when they do, they are grave indeed. The priests tend to alternate between stoicism and wild endeavor. Casting augury spells plays a great role in their lives. They are often mean-minded or deceitful folk.

Clerics of Ralishaz wear multicolored robes of varying cuts and materials. They seldom suffer misfortune or ill-luck, but when they do, it tends to be very, very bad. They avoid taking chances whenever possible. “Tempt not Chance” is their byword. When clerics reach 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th level (roll ld4 for each cleric) they gain the ability to put a victim to sleep (as the spell) by gazing into the eyes of their victims, once per day (save vs. spells negates).

Requirements: AB Std; AL CN, CE; WP wooden weapons only (staff 1st), sling*; AR leather; RA robes of mixed, clashing colors; SP Chaos, Charm, Combat*, Divination (minor), Guardian (minor), Healing*, Numbers, Summoning*, Thought*, Creation, Protection; SPL protection from misfortune; PW 3) sleep by gaze, range 30 yards, one target creature, duration 3 turns, save versus spells negates; 5) may reduce damage from one melee blow against the priest to half; 7) fumble (W4 9) gain saving throw (base 18) versus spells which normally allow no save; TU nil; ADD vicissitude, commune, reincarnate, confusion.

Link to explanation of Priests abbreviations

Ralishaz’ Avatar

HD 15; THACO 10; SpA CL/MU 16/7; MV see below; AC see below; hp 70; #AT 1; Dmg ld20 +2; MR see below; SZ M; Str 18 (281, Int 17, Wis 18, Dex 17, Con 16, Cha 8

Ralishaz usually appears as an ancient and oddly dressed mendicant, sometimes male, sometimes female. He begs or gambles in this guise. At other times, he appears as a jester or idiot. At still other times he appears in a semblance of his (or her) true form, which is awful to behold. At one moment the deity’s face and body are handsome, the next wrinkled and hideous. During all these shifts, whether the countenance is that of a scabby beggar or beautiful maid, an aura of unease pervades, for Ralishaz’ randomness is palpable and disturbing. His weapon is always wooden-a staff or club. His avatar is hit only by magical weapons. In keeping with his random nature, the enchantment varies form day-to-day. Roll 1d4-the result is the required “plus.”

Ralishaz can sometimes reverse the effects of attacks:

d20roll	Result
1	Attack affects both Ralishaz and the attacker
2-19	Attack affects Ralishaz
20	Attack affects attacker

The avatar has the followingpowers, usable once per day, cast at 18th level. Casting time is instantaneous. Saving throws do not apply, but magic resistance does.

Gaze-Causes sleep (as spell) for ld20 rounds, one creature per round. Any creature can be affected. Range 10 feet.

Curse-As spell, with one of the following effects:

1: Always loses games of chance

2: Miss next luck (save or similar) chance

3: Two abilities of unequal rating switch places

4: Always surprised during the next ld20 encounters

Ralishaz always carries the same weapon, but its appearance varies. It inflicts 1-20 points of damage, plus the wielder’s strength bonus, if any, and is equal to a + 3 weapon.

Additional Spell

Vicissitude (Conjuration/Summoning)

Level: 2

Range: Special

Duration: Special

Components: S, M

Casting Time: 1 seg.

Saving Throw: None

Area of Effect: Special

This spell allows the cleric to bend fate, but not without risk. When faced with any situation involving chance the cleric need only make the mystic passes of this spell to receive a + 10% bonus to the die roll, (cf., stone of good luck). However, each time this spell is used there is a non- cumulative 5% chance that it will backfire and produce the worst possible result for the caster.

When applied to saving throws, this spell grants the caster a + 2 bonus to the die roll (a roll of “1“ always fails), but if a natural “20” is rolled, disaster strikes and the cleric suffers maximum damage from the attack.

The cleric must be alive to use this spell and must have Ralishaz’ three bone holy symbol openly displayed.