Scholar Priest

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).

Most Scholar priests don’t venture outside the boundaries of Xanthios - it is, after all, the center of spirituality in Alcirya and the holder of the most sacred artifacts in the world. However, rumors often persist of acquisitions not yet made, lost scrolls with holy addendums to the Codex, etc. The lust for these objects often brings the priest into the world.

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 for as long as he likes, but he can always re-enter the academic world.

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.

Distinctive Appearance

None

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 priesthood. 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 d6. 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.