Usable by clerics. A holy symbol is a focus of clerical power. A holy symbol is always consecrated to a particular god, and can only be used by clerics of that god. Clerics of any religion are able to recognize a duly consecrated holy symbol. Any cleric can make a holy symbol with the first level clerical prayer Consecrate Object. The items in this section, however, are not mere consecrated objects, but items of significant clerical power.
Most of these holy items occur in the form of the religion's symbol, as listed in the conbook. Some are true relics---remnants of well-known sacred objects, artifacts from locations of religious significance, or preserved remains of saints. Whatever its appearance, a magical holy symbol is a source of specific clerical power. A holy symbol does not function for anyone other than a cleric of its religion. Any cleric of a deity other than the one to which the symbol is consecrated suffers 2D6 damage by default, with no saving throw, each round he deliberately grasps the object. (A GM with a magical holy symbol in his item list may alternatively specify the set of relationships between the item and members of other religions, but the default for other clerics is intolerance.)
A holy symbol enables its wielder to use one or more clerical prayers or prayer-like powers. Some powers are effective whenever the item is held. Many powers can only be used a certain number of times per day; such uses are renewed at whatever time clerics of the religion receive their prayer points. A holy symbol may rarely have a power that can be used only once, consuming the item in its use. A particularly potent item might even have the ability to function as a cleric itself. By default, a holy symbol must be held to be used.
The GM must include details for any holy item in his item list. A religious relic should have powers appropriate to its appearance and its background. If it can be used to cast prayers or related effects, the level at which it casts them (or the user's level, if applicable) must be specified in the item list. A holy symbol is the clerical analog of an intelligent magical sword---it should have a source, a history, and a purpose that suit each other. (A holy relic can actually be an aligned weapon; the weapon rules suffice for such items.) Holy symbols are generally unique, and each requires a full description.
Assigning levels to the myriad of possible holy symbols is an impossible task. It is up to the GM to gauge the power of such an item. The levels listed in the descriptions below are provided only as guidelines for leveling holy symbols.
Level variable. Granting a specific prayer (or prayers) is the most common type of holy symbol power. The effective level at which the prayer is cast and the number of times per day it can be used must be specified in the item list. Some prayers commonly found in holy symbols are Cure or Cause Wounds N, Protection from Evil N, Sanctuary, Bless (and Bless-type prayers), Cure Disease, and Dispel Undead N. Some prayers can only be cast under limited conditions or on certain targets. A general estimate for the level of the item is one less than the level of the prayer, but this depends on the exact prayer, the number of uses, and any other restrictions applicable. Any holy symbol of a religion available to PCs at PrinceCon with a level 6 (or higher) prayer must be approved by the Director in advance.
Level 2. This power seldom occurs alone in a holy symbol. If a cleric is killed while holding this holy symbol in hand, he may cast a curse upon his killer(s) at the moment of his death. The curse can only be used against a sentient killer who deliberately and directly (or nearly so) brought about the user's death. Should the user attempt to cast the curse upon anyone else, it has no effect. The curse is selected by the GM, who should exercise discretion in deciding its effect. The curse should be appropriate to the level of the user and, whenever possible, to the means by which he was killed. The effect of the curse on the killer is usually long-term; some possibilities are his falling victim to disease or insanity, the gradual loss of a requisite or saving throw score, or succumbing to one of the curses associated with other cursed items in this book (e.g., the Gem of Obvious Guilt or the Lightning Rod). This power can be used at most once per day.
Level 1. This item functions as a Holy Symbol of Piety. However, the possessor of the item is under the constant scrutiny of his god. The least misconduct by the cleric is noticed. Whenever the user commits any infraction, he loses all his clerical prayer abilities until he performs some appropriate atonement. This act can range from a few moments of penitent contemplation to a lengthy period of service, fasting, or whatever penance the GM deems appropriate. If the violation was extreme, the possessor may suffer some additional (physical) punishment as well.
Level variable. Whenever the user of this holy symbol casts the specified prayer, this item enhances its effect in a particular way. The enhancement must be clearly explained in the item list. Examples of such powers are turning a single-target prayer, such as Cure Wounds or Bless, into a Mass prayer; raising the caster's level for the level-dependent effects of a prayer such as Raise Dead or Dispel Evil; adding +1 to each die of Cure or Cause Wounds prayers; and applying a penalty to any target's saving throw against a prayer such as Cause Wounds or Quest. The level of this type of holy symbol depends on the net effect of the enhancement, but it is usually level 1 or 2.
Level 1. If the possessor of this holy symbol spends a round contemplating a specific action, he is made aware of his god's (and presumably his religion's) attitude toward this action. This item is, in essence, a means for the player to find out the GM's opinion of some activity he's considering for his character. The symbol has no divinatory power; the information is based strictly on the intent of the action and on its probable outcome. Overuse of this item (for example, to the point of irritating other players and the GM) may, at the GM's discretion, result in its functioning as a Holy Symbol of Divine Attention for a few hours.
Level 2. A cleric can use this holy symbol to ask his god's aid. In time of great need, the user may request divine intervention. This is a direct invocation of the deity, asking him or her to act in an extraordinary way, distinct from the cleric's prayers.
An attempt to invoke divine intervention has a base chance of 1% per level of the user of succeeding. For each of the god's followers in the cleric's party who is in immediate danger, the chance increases by 1%. At his discretion the GM may alter the probability of assistance for other considerations, but the percentage chance should never be greater than twice the level of the user. If the roll for divine intervention fails, another attempt cannot be made with the holy symbol for at least one month. Divine aid is usually sought to get a cleric (and his companions) out of some immediate difficulty or danger; frivolous requests always fail.
If the roll succeeds, the user's party is usually delivered from trouble in a manner appropriate to his deity. The cleric, however, must make an absolutely unmodified saving throw. If he fails, he and all his possessions are gone (exalted or consumed), unless the GM considers his staying more fitting. If the cleric is acting out of accordance with the tenets of his religion, whether or not he saves, the holy symbol disappears, and the cleric may suffer a suitable punishment.
Level variable. This holy symbol adds +N to the level of the user for all level-dependent effects of any prayer he casts. Weaker versions of this item only add +N for level-vs-level effects, or only apply to a specific subset of the cleric's prayers. This holy symbol has no effect on prayer point costs for the user. This item is difficult to level, since its power depends on the applicable set of level-dependent prayer effects, which vary with the religion and level of the user. For reasonable values of N, the level of the item is usually 1 or 2.
Level variable. This holy symbol provides up to N prayer points to the wearer; these can be used exactly like his "natural" supply. The prayer points of the symbol are renewed at the same time as those of the clerics of its religion. A 1 or 2 prayer point symbol is a level 2 item; a 3 or 4 point symbol is level 3; a 5 or 6 point symbol is level 4.
Level 1. This symbol adds +N to the user's charisma whenever he displays it. The item level is increased for values of N greater than 4.
Level variable. This holy symbol has one or more other powers. This item requires the user to exercise a saintly level of practice of the religion's virtues for any of its powers to function. GMs should not be lenient in deciding what "saintly level" entails.
Level variable. This holy symbol is a perfectly crafted miniature version of some object that is sacred or fundamental to the religion. Once per day, the user can transform the symbol into a full-sized functional version of the object. Common examples of such articles are weapons, tools, scythes, plants, and animals. The GM must specify in the item list how the full-sized version can be used, if at all, under what conditions it reverts to its original size, and any other limitations that apply. The level of a transforming holy symbol should be judged from the power of the resultant object.
Last Modified on September 25,1995.
ammulder@princeton.edu