Hierophant

"I will act as the gateway between this life and the next, and hopefully the gods will see fit to grant me the power I need to protect all who come to serve them. Make no mistake, a god is infinitely powerful, but even a being as great as that needs a little help now and then."
——Master Rowlan Timitus, Hierophant

A Hierophant is a divine caster who has made their life and their divine calling one in the same. They have given over everything they are to the purpose of their chosen deity, and in doing so gain tremendous power and understanding over the magic they wield. Hierophant’s are possibly the most well known and public of powerful figures, for the nature of their work almost requires them to be in the public eye. Such individuals often take up the role of Head of the Church, a Prophet, or even a temporary Avatar of the gods themselves. While this carries the benefit of being able to gain followers and spread their message quickly, it can also make them a target. Just as many can come to revere a Hierophant for their beliefs and connection to the upper planes, an equal number of people will revile and despise them for what they stand for, always seeking to dethrone or even murder them. For this reason, a Hierophant must not only be pious under their god’s edicts, but also be as strong and unbreakable as the force that they serve.

The Hierophant is a three-stage Talent.

Hierophant I

The Hierophant is a trusted shepard or feared master, depending on the nature of their religion. When interacting on behalf of their god and especially with others who worship the same deities, their social abilities are greatly increased. The Hierophant takes their first steps towards increasing their connection to the divine, and gains new ways to manipulate the magic of their god for greater efficacy, as well as increase their reserves of energy

Prerequisites

  • Mental Rank 3
  • Divine Rank 8
  • Religious Arts Rank 10
  • Cost: 3 Destiny Points

Features

♦ Pillar of the Church
With other members of your order, you are considered to have a starting Disposition of Rank 3 Trust and Rank 3 Fondness or Fear (as appropriate to the order).
♦ Voice of the Divine
When speaking on behalf of your deity, gain a +5 bonus to all Social Skill checks.
♦ Font of Energy
You gain an energy reserve equal to half your Divine Rank. This reserve replenishes whenever you take a short rest. When you cast an Divine Prayer that has an energy burn cost, you may pay part or all of the cost using this reserve.
♦ Hierophant Training
When you take this talent, choose one of the abilities from the Hierophant perks list (see below) for which you qualify. Once chosen, the ability may not be changed.

Hierophant II

The Hierophant’s connection to their god grows more intimate, and they are granted access to a font of Karma from a divine host that can be used in dire circumstances to power their mightiest spells. They also expands in their knowledge of divine powers and learn another ability to increase their divine skill.

Prerequisites

  • Hierophant I
  • Divine Rank 9
  • Cost: 2 Destiny Points

Features

♦ Font of Karma
You gain a reserve of karmic energy equal to 1/3 your Divine Rank. This reserve restores a single point whenever you complete an extended rest. When you cast an Divine Prayer that has a Karma cost you may use points from this reserve to pay all or part of the cost. This reserve may not be used in any other way.
♦ Hierophant Training II
When you take this talent, choose one of the abilities from the Hierophant perks list for which you qualify. You may not choose the same ability twice. Once chosen, the ability may not be changed.

Hierophant III

Their connection to their god at its apex, the Hierophant chooses to focus their energy on divine study and learn two more abilities, maximizing their powers under their god and becoming a living, breathing divine instrument.

Prerequisites

  • Hierophant II
  • Divine Rank 10
  • Cost: 2 Destiny Points

Features

♦ Hierophant Training III
When you take this talent, choose two of the abilities from the Hierophant perks list for which you qualify. You may not choose the same ability twice. Once chosen, the ability may not be changed.

Hierophant Perks

♦ Ultimate Prayer Mastery
You master an Ultimate Divine Prayer of your choice (you must meet the prerequisites as normal).
♦ Ultimate Prayer Memorization
You gain an Ultimate Divine Prayer memorization.
♦ Divine Alacrity
Reduce the Casting Time of any Divine Prayer you cast by 1 (minimum of 1).
♦ Endless Energy – Divine Energy Reserve cleric specialty
Your Divine Energy Reserve replenishes one point per round.
♦ Steadfast Prayers
Increase the Saving Throw of your Basic and Advanced Prayers by 1d10 [STP 1d10].
♦ Burn Reduction
Reduce the Burn cost of any Divine Prayer you cast by 1 (minimum of 1). This does not reduce an Energy Burn cost paid by a creature other than you (such as with some Healing prayers).
♦ Distant Touch
When you cast an Divine Prayer with a range of touch, increase the range to 30ft.
♦ Reclaim Karma
When you miss all targets of an Ultimate Divine Prayer and there is no other effect, reduce the Karma cost of the spell by 1 (min 0).
♦ Prayer Swapping
During a Short Rest, you may swap out any of your Memorized Prayers for other Prayer memorizations.
♦ Mastered Memorizations
When you cast an Divine Prayer memorization, you may utilize the Master Augments at your [Divine Rank - 4].
♦ Perfect Healer – Healing Sphere
When you cast an Divine Prayer with the Healing keyword, you may maximize any variable healing granted (i.e. dice rolled).
♦ Undeath Bane – Sun Sphere
Reduce the Recovery Time of the Turn Undead prayer by 2 segments. Additionally, when you the Destroy Undead augment, you affect targets of your Divine Rank or less (instead of [Divine Rank - 4]).