Clergy: Priest (Advanced) (TP)

The Clergy represents those who devote their lives to working within religious institutions. The Clergy are respected members within the social hierarchy in regions where their religion is prominent. Clergymen make effective orators, acolytes, and religious crusaders.

• Skill Proficiencies: Choose one from History, Insight, Intimidation, Medicine, Persuasion, Religion.
• Languages: Choose one standard and one of: Abyssal, Celestial, or Infernal.
• Equipment: A holy symbol, a prayer book or divine text, vestments, and 15 gp.

Priests lead the common people in the teachings of their deities. They are the figureheads and leaders in the temples and shrines where they preach, providing guidance, atonement, and hope for the downtrodden. Priests often hold positions of considerable influence within their communities, and are treated with reverence among common folk and nobility alike.

• Skill Proficiency: Religion.
• Additional Equipment: 5 sticks of incense and an alms box, religious medallion stamped with the divine word.

Upon spending an hour proving your knowledge of the divine, and succeeding on a mediumDC Intelligence (Religion) check, you can find a contact within the local clergy. This contact begins as friendly to you and will answer questions you have regarding religion, the clergy's agenda, and local religious matters.

You were taken in by a modest parish, where you assist in religious services and ceremonial duties such as lighting altar candles and distributing prayer books to the congregation. The priest also educates you in religious scripture and doctrine.

Holdings:

• You have knowledge of a senior clergy member whose teachings undermine the faith, preying on the wayward for personal gain.
• Free lodging at your local temple of the faith.

Progression: You are recommended for priesthood by a senior clergy member who has overseen your study of divine texts. You will be given a religious task that you must complete.

You oversee a local parish with a substantial following, where you perform rites, sermonize on the teachings of your deity, and provide spiritual guidance to followers whose faith has waned. You use your modest influence to inspire the virtuous, uplift the downtrodden, or incite fear.

Holdings:

• You have a modest parish that you oversee, including humble lodgings, and regularly receive locals for confession.
• You have knowledge of a wealthy noble who possesses a first edition book of scripture that the church greatly desires.

Progression: You must either expose the senior clergy member exploiting the faith for personal gain, or acquire the first edition book of scripture.

In recognition of your service to the faith, you have risen to the title of Bishop, taking up residence in your own diocese in a major city. You oversee a number of senior clergy who seek your counsel and spiritual guidance in all aspects of the divine. Bishops are elected from senior priests in their Order and retain the title for as long as they remain true to the doctrine.

Holdings:

• You are the steward of the largest temple of your faith in your region, and receive well-appointed lodgings nearby.
• You oversee your own diocese in a major city, speaking on behalf of the faith and supervising the clergy there.

Progression: You become Cardinal in the event that a Cardinal passes away or retires, and the head of your faith appoints you in their stead due to your outstanding commitment to the faith.

As a Cardinal, you answer directly to the head of your faith. You oversee the diocese within your province, to root out corruption and heresy from on high. Cardinals are appointed by the head of their faith, and as such have their ear in all matters of spiritual and political adjudication.

Holdings:

• A number of dioceses that you oversee within your province.
• Free lodging at any parish or diocese that recognizes your appointment, and any institution under the control of the faith.

Profession Dice are the in-game advantages provided to characters by their background profession. Characters can add their Profession Die to skill or ability checks according to any Talents they have selected. In addition, a character always adds their Profession Die when rolling for Profession Abilities. A character's Profession Die is determined by their rank, and shown in the table below:

Profession Die Table:

Talents are unique dispositions, experiences, or characteristics your character has picked up due to their time working in their profession. This is represented by allowing characters to add their Profession Die in unique situations that highlight the skills gained through their profession. A character may select a Talent from their corresponding Talent list when they select their profession, and select an additional Talent whenever they rank up within a profession.

Whenever you make a Wisdom (Insight) check while trying to detect a lie from Aristocrats, Criminals, or Common Folk, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.

Whenever you make an Intelligence (Religion) check to recall information about Celestials, Fiends, Fey, or Undead, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.

Whenever you make a Charisma (Persuasion) check to reveal a secret or ask a favor of anyone who follows the same religion or deity as you, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.

Whenever you make an Intelligence or Intelligence (Forgery Kit) check to forge or create a document, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.

Whenever you make an Intelligence check to research a subject, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.

Whenever you make a Charisma (Intimidation) check while issuing a command to an individual of lower rank within your background, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.

Whenever you make a Constitution check to determine if you will throw up, pass out, or how severe a hangover is, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.

Whenever you make a Charisma (Persuasion) check while interacting with Common Folk, you may add your Profession Die to the roll.

Whenever you make an Intelligence (Religion) check to recall information on religious or cult-related symbols, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.

Whenever you make a Charisma (Intimidation) check to extract information from an enemy who is restrained, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.

Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check to determine the history of an item, location, or cultural phenomenon from the same region as you, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.

Whenever you make a Charisma (Intimidation) check, and are interacting with Academics, Common Folk, or Seafarers, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.

Whenever you make an Intelligence (Arcana) check to recall information on Aberrations, Constructs, or Elementals, you can add your Profession Die to the result.

Whenever you make a Charisma (Performance) check to influence an Academic, Military, or Clergy member, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.

Whenever you make a Wisdom (Medicine) check to diagnose or treat a disease, add your Profession Die to the roll.

Whenever you make a Wisdom (Medicine) check dealing with Grievous Wounds, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.

Whenever you make an Intelligence (Investigation) check to investigate a crime scene, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.

When you make a Charisma (Persuasion) check and you are interacting with members of your background, you may add your profession die to the roll.