Character Classes: Theists (Family, Divine Order)

Theists are based on the Cleric and Shukenja of 1st Ed. Clerics divide into Votaries, who serve a single deity, and Reverends, who pay reverence to many gods. Reverends tend to be more common in smaller communities where there might be one shrine to all the gods. Their difference is that Votaries have a higher chance of calling down divine intervention but are beholden to more sect-based strictures and alignment expectations. Both cast Cleric spells. Syncretists hold that all the pantheons encountered in their wanderings are different sets of faces for the same gods. The sole Syncretist class is the Shukenja. Each Shukenja submits to a unique set of taboos upon taking the Spirit Pact. Like Reverends, they pay homage to a wide array of gods, but only those thought to be benevolent. Unlike Clerics, Shukenja hold goodness to be a higher authority than any god. In other respects, the Shukenja remains as described in Oriental Adventures.