Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Review: Judges Guild Encounter Chart Fragments 2

[I actually found another couple of pages, including the first page (page 5). So I can finally credit these tables to "the prolific and talented Judicator, Richard T. Mueller, of the Iowa City Wargaming Confederation." I will add the full credits and information when I go back and review page 5.]

Enchanted Monsters

If a random wandering enchanted monster was encountered directly in my old campaign it was usually because they had escaped the control of their dead master/summoner/maker. Such creatures were almost always considered to be Enemies and thus have a natural hostile reaction to any creature capable of making/summoning them. [In my current game they would roll 1d6 on the the Reaction Table instead of 2d6, increasing the chance of a hostile reaction to the player characters, but not automatically attacking.] Elementals would be particularly destructive as they attempt to reduce the world to their elemental nature.

Two of my favourite enchanted monsters are the Infernal Machine (essentially a magical killer robot with all the endearing qualities of a Berserker from Saberhagen's stories), and the Animus (an immaterial spirit that possesses things and animates them, usually with great animosity). Eradicating the animus was quite difficult as it needed to be banished (either by a cleric or a magical spell). Breaking the object that it was animating simply frees it to find another body. Fighting furniture may seem quite farcical, but can actually be rather dangerous (said, as the chair runs off with the magic user).

Whilst "Statue" on this table is supposed to represent an enchanted statue, I felt that these were better placed as part of a Ruin, which was a different part of my own encounter tables (which included encountering locations). Not to mention that my Special Encounters lucky dip box was initially filled with the contents of the Wilderland's hex crawl locations (as more involved and less improvised encounters). So "Statues" (with a lesser probability) became an encounter with a petrified creature. Roll again on the encounter tables and see who had the misfortune to piss off a medusa or cockatrice (the basilisk in my game was poisonous - in that it would kill you stone dead).

ENCHANTED MONSTERSCTTNRDCLFR
Animus0305080706
Clay Golem1317181513
Flesh Golem2127262118
Stone Golem2735322521
Iron Golem3141362722
Statue8078704953
Homonculus8489775963
Infernal Machine8685806266
Invisible Stalker9190877278
Juggernaut9292928283
Efreet9393938586
Djinn9494948889
Air Elemental9595959091
Water Elemental9696969293
Fire Elemental9797979494
Earth Elemental9898989696
Salamander9999999897
Other0000000000
ENCHANTED MONSTERSHLMNRVSWJG
Animus0505040303
Clay Golem1011--0405
Flesh Golem1415080809
Stone Golem1617101010
Iron Golem1718111111
Statue4343374141
Homonculus5353475151
Infernal Machine5555545454
Invisible Stalker6767666969
Juggernaut7270747070
Efreet7777787575
Djinn8282828080
Air Elemental8585858383
Water Elemental8686959191
Fire Elemental8989--9292
Earth Elemental9292969494
Salamander9595979595
Other0000000000
ENCHANTED MONSTERSDSCOSEPSAE
Animus0208--02--
Clay Golem0416--03--
Flesh Golem0722--40*--
Stone Golem0826--05--
Iron Golem0928--06--
Statue18342455--
Homonculus2642--6508
Infernal Machine4150547638
Invisible Stalker5660649148
Juggernaut71706792--
Efreet7672729358
Djinn8175749468
Air Elemental8579809580
Water Elemental--869096--
Fire Elemental8888----90
Earth Elemental9191--97--
Salamander9593--9896
Other0000000000

Other suggestions for encounters: Demon Warriors, Demon of the Black Hand, and Familiars.

Huornings

This table was actually accompanied by an note (one of the few tables to have an explicit explanation of an entry).

"Note: Huorns are defined as all semi-aware plant life as might be affected by a speak with plants but otherwise non-communicative, non-mobile and relatively harmless."

There was also a helpful listing of various Carnivorous Plants (with OD&D stats) written by Greg Jacobs that accompanied this page of the encounter table in the Journal.

The revised tables I used in my campaign had a much greater listing of dangerous plants, based on the fact that an encounter shouldn't just be a passive meeting with something, but rather something that interacts directly with the party. For example encounter tables shouldn't provide an encounter with normal animals like a deer or a kangaroo. They may be frequently encountered whilst travelling but won't really interact with the party. Instead if the party wishes to interact with them they go on an explicit hunting expedition and depending on the hunter's abilities it determines what they come back with (and if the fumble their hunting roll, they get an encounter instead). Similarly if a character wishes to find a huorn, they can simply go look for one (I tend to use the Celtic Tree Calendar as a guide to the personality of each sort of tree).

HUORNINGSCTTNRDCLFR
Huorns7264626135
Dryads7365636445
Carnivorous Plants7568686960
Ents8085838180
Shambling Mounds8288868587
Running Vines9593939397
Others0000000000
HUORNINGSHLMNRVSWJG
Huorns7272433230
Dryads7575483535
Carnivorous Plants8080635565
Ents8787736066
Shambling Mounds8989807070
Running Vines9696959095
Others0000000000
HUORNINGSDSCOSEPSAE
Huorns8259--07--
Dryads8361--08--
Carnivorous Plants8868------
Ents8978--98--
Shambling Mounds9080--99--
Running Vines9590------
Others0000--00--

Suggested others: Vampire Vine, and Vampire Tree.

Simians

This is table which was entirely too passive for my liking. Although I should state that "Monkeys" should be added to every encounter table. Both because they act in a similar manner to "Birds" (cf Avians below) that may alert others to your presence, but they can also be used to steal things and trash a party's camp looking for food. Plus they throw shit and can thoroughly be a bane to a party if they don't like you.

SIMIANSCTTNRDCLFR
Apes0507091015
Carnivorous Apes0609121725
White Apes1619222735
Yetis1720232938
Baboons1923265550
Chimps7976757560
Orangutan8988878580
Gorillas9090909090
Others0000000000
SIMIANSHLMNRVSWJG
Apes1715100810
Carnivorous Apes2525152020
White Apes3232252525
Yetis4045272626
Baboons5050354040
Chimps9090657070
Orangutan9595808585
Gorillas9696909090
Others0000000000
SIMIANSDSCOSEPSAE
Apes1010--03--
Carnivorous Apes2515--05--
White Apes3030--2197
Yetis--32--23--
Baboons5545--26--
Chimps8575--76--
Orangutan9080--81--
Gorillas9590--90--
Others0000--0000

Suggested others: Trogs, Mountain Apes, and Clakars.

Avians

Again the idea that an encounter should have a direct interaction with the party rather than simply be something the party passively meets had an effect here. In this case the bird species that are specifically named were all intelligent species in my old campaign (as a direct result of this table), and thus provided an opportunity for direct negotiation. Many could speak the common tongue (in fact a bird's tongue was the material for a tongues potion), although eagles generally didn't deign to converse with lesser creatures (unless they grovelled in appropriate awe of it's majesty).

The exception was storks, which were replaced by cranes as a symbol of good luck that granted you a Blessing. [I also added a few more mythical birds such as Firebirds to my version of the encounter tables.]

Birds was a fun one, because, unless you were suitably stealthy, they would raise a clamour which might alert others to your presence and location, increasing the chance for a subsequent encounter.

AVIANSCTTNRDCLFR
Birds1309111314
Crows3829313329
Eagles4345384036
Great Eagles4547414339
Harpies4750454846
Ravens5760555856
Rocs6265616361
Stirges6772697071
Storks8284797576
Swan Maids8385807677
Giant Owls8486827882
Flightless Birds8587848384
Owls8790898994
Vultures8993949497
Gulls9598999999
Others0000000000
AVIANSHLMNRVSWJG
Birds0201201310
Crows1111321816
Eagles2123392320
Great Eagles3031423630
Harpies3636484646
Ravens4545585656
Rocs5656616161
Stirges6666717374
Storks6969817676
Swan Maids7070827777
Giant Owls7777848484
Flightless Birds7979858585
Owls8686909595
Vultures9696939797
Gulls9999999999
Others0000000000
AVIANSDSCOSEPSAE
Birds1404143020
Crows2416193535
Eagles3123263742
Great Eagles3426293845
Harpies3932313948
Ravens4342364558
Rocs5545394666
Stirges6255444767
Storks6462545474
Swan Maids6564555575
Giant Owls6865575878
Flightless Birds7868--59--
Owls8378586481
Vultures9684596589
Gulls9999999999
Others0000000000

Suggested others: Finnish Eagles and Melnibonean Owls.

Saurians

There are lots of reasons for me to dislike this one, and as a result it was the first table I modified. In fact I removed the dinosaurs and created a Lost World table that featured a lot more dinosaurs. In fact I eventually created two, one for Pleistocene megafauna as well. I believe a lot of my source material was the excellent Chivalry & Sorcery supplement Saurians.

The Surrounding Terrain exception was made a part of the initial terrain type determination. Along with coasts (CO), rivers (RV), ships passengers (PS), and aerial encounters (AE). The lizard and snake types were expanded so the nature of the snake was immediately determined. Amphisobeana and Hoop Snakes were added (of course). Crocmen were added (which are much more like the pictured Lizard Men - my Lizard Men were lithe and fast and great dancers and very aboriginal). Probabilities were altered to embrace Australian sensibilities.

Still it is interesting to see what was considered "Saurian" back in the day.

SAURIANSCTTNRDCLFR
Basilisks0101010202
Brontosaurus------0304
Bulette--02020505
Cockatrices0203030707
Couatls--------08
Crocodiles----------
Elasmosauri----------
Frogs1915181522
Gargoyles2118211826
Giant Crocodiles----------
Giant Frogs--------27
Giant Lizards------1928
Giant Sea Snake----------
Giant Snake------2029
Giant Toad------2130
Giant Tortoise------2231
Kopoacinth----------
Lizards4128313746
Lizard Men4331344049
Manticoras4442354251
Medusae4543364453
Monitor Lizards----374655
Mososauri----------
Mottled Worms----------
Plesiosauri----------
Pterodactyls4644384757
Purple Worms4745394858
Ropers4846404959
Salamanders----------
Sea Ropers----------
Sea Snakes----------
Stegosauri------5061
Toads5856506066
Tortoises6866607071
Triceratops------7576
Trolls7373677781
Turtles8883828286
Tyrannosauri------8388
Snakes9393939898
Other9595950000
Surrounding Terrain000000----
SAURIANSHLMNRVSWJG
Basilisks0303020102
Brontosaurus----070809
Bulette0404----10
Cockatrices0707080911
Couatls0808091012
Crocodiles----191919
Elasmosauri----20----
Frogs1818283131
Gargoyles2323293232
Giant Crocodiles----3233--
Giant Frogs----353838
Giant Lizards2424363940
Giant Sea Snake----37----
Giant Snake2626384042
Giant Toad----3941--
Giant Tortoise----40----
Kopoacinth----41----
Lizards4646454646
Lizard Men4747494850
Manticoras5050514951
Medusae5353535053
Monitor Lizards5656545154
Mososauri----------
Mottled Worms----------
Plesiosauri----------
Pterodactyls6161555255
Purple Worms6262565356
Ropers6363575457
Salamanders--64------
Sea Ropers----58----
Sea Snakes----59----
Stegosauri----626060
Toads6868676565
Tortoises7370706767
Triceratops----727070
Trolls7878837979
Turtles8888898282
Tyrannosauri----948989
Snakes9898989898
Other0000000000
Surrounding Terrain----------
SAURIANSDSCOSEPSAE
Basilisks0301--01--
Brontosaurus--04------
Bulette0505------
Cockatrices0806--0225
Couatls0907010328
Crocodiles--0902----
Elasmosauri----17----
Frogs1019--04--
Gargoyles1520190558
Giant Crocodiles--2120--
Giant Frogs--222106--
Giant Lizards16232207--
Giant Sea Snake----27----
Giant Snake--24--08--
Giant Toad--25--09--
Giant Tortoise1726--10--
Kopoacinth----31--
Lizards69403413--
Lizard Men70554964--
Manticoras7356--6573
Medusae7457--66--
Monitor Lizards7758--67--
Mososauri----64----
Mottled Worms----65----
Plesiosauri----80----
Pterodactyls7959816893
Purple Worms8160------
Ropers61--69--
Salamanders83------98
Sea Ropers----83----
Sea Snakes----88----
Stegosauri64------
Toads8567--72--
Tortoises8869--77--
Triceratops--74----
Trolls--75--84--
Turtles--789893--
Tyrannosauri--81------
Snakes9888--98--
Other0090000000
Surrounding Terrain--00------

Suggested Others: Lybits, Remorhazi, Typhoonagators, Fire Snakes, Winged Serpents, Finnish Black Snakes, Dragon Lizards, and Ice Worms.

Sunday, May 6, 2018

Review: Judges Guild Journal Encounter Fragments 1

Having recently uncovered some badly degraded copies of the Judges Guild Journal which contained the encounter tables that were the original basis for my old campaign's encounter tables, I thought I'd do a quickie review, page by page, for those who are interested in the sort of These are the three encounter tables from page 7 (these reviews will be badly out of order and pieces will be missing).

[I think I have another complete copy of this issue somewhere (plus a few others), but I thought I'd take the advantage of encountering these whilst going through boxes of papers to review them (and take a break from sorting boxes and boxes of old papers).]

The Great Races

I like the idea of having a Great Races table, even if creatures will also appear on other encounter tables (for example there is a Dragon encounter table for when you need Dragons and a True Giants encounter table for when you need giants). In particular if you need to know who is sovereign in a particular area (such as the nature of the village, castle, temple, army, or patrol you just rolled on the Master Encounter Chart(s), then this table is the one you would probably consult.

The encounters are by terrain type. So wilderness style terrains tend to be inhabited by non-humans, which is appropriate. But one of the things that is great about this chart is that you can also encounter races outside what might be considered their natural terrain. And this is where you really get to generate stories from encounter tables, explaining why you would find a group of ents in the city. I suspect that this is the reason why it was eventually determined that the Named Giants came from outside the World and were just travelling through it. The only "natural" giants were the Hill Giants who their kin considered degenerate brutes. It was suspected that if a giant spent too long in the World, they would eventually degenerate into a hill giant (albeit one with more natural HD).

I once worked out what the missing entry on the table had to be, but have since forgotten it.

THE GREAT RACESCTTNRDCLFR
Chromatic Dragon0101010101
Vampires0202020202
Trolls0303030305
Ogres0404040410
Gnolls0505050511
Hobgoblins0606060612
Orcs0708081022
Kobolds0809091126
Goblins0910101227
Mithril Dragon1011111328
Red Dragons1112121429
Blue Dragons1213131530
Green Dragons1314141632
Black Dragons1415151733
White Dragons1516161834
Werewolves1617171936
Cloud Giants1718182037
Fire Giants1819192138
Frost Giants1920202239
Stone Giants2021212340
Hill Giants2122222441
Weretigers2223232644
Wererats2425242748
Wereboars2527252851
Leprechauns2728262953
Platinum Dragon2829273054
Golden Dragons2930283155
Silver Dragons3031293256
Bronze Dragons3132303357
Copper Dragons3233313458
Brass Dragons3334323559
Titans3435333660
 3537343770
Storm Giants3638353871
Werebears3740363979
Gnomes3942384080
Hobbits4247405284
Elves4754485494
Half Elves5464587097
Dwarves5869617298
Humans0000000000
THE GREAT RACESHLMNRVSWJG
Chromatic Dragon0101010101
Vampires0202020202
Trolls0403121313
Ogres0505131514
Gnolls0606282930
Hobgoblins0909293131
Orcs2024495145
Kobolds2525505347
Goblins2727515553
Mithril Dragon2828525654
Red Dragons3131535755
Blue Dragons3333545856
Green Dragons3434555959
Black Dragons3535596361
White Dragons3636606462
Werewolves3739616563
Cloud Giants3840626664
Fire Giants3941636765
Frost Giants40436468--
Stone Giants4144656966
Hill Giants4746667067
Weretigers4848677171
Wererats4949747776
Wereboars5050757878
Leprechauns51517679--
Platinum Dragon5252778079
Golden Dragons5353788180
Silver Dragons5454798281
Bronze Dragons5555808382
Copper Dragons5858818483
Brass Dragons5959828584
Titans6060838685
 6161858889
Storm Giants6262868990
Werebears6363879091
Gnomes7878889192
Hobbits79799092--
Elves8080919393
Half Elves8181939494
Dwarves9696949595
Humans0000000000
THE GREAT RACESDSCOPSSEAE
Chromatic Dragon0101010101
Vampires020202--03
Trolls03040302--
Ogres050504----
Gnolls06080503--
Hobgoblins07090704--
Orcs09141205--
Kobolds101514----
Goblins121716----
Mithril Dragon1318170604
Red Dragons1419180707
Blue Dragons1720190810
Green Dragons1821200913
Black Dragons1922211016
White Dragons2023221119
Werewolves212423----
Cloud Giants222524----
Fire Giants232625----
Frost Giants242726----
Stone Giants252827----
Hill Giants262928----
Weretigers273029----
Wererats283130----
Wereboars293231----
Leprechauns303332--40
Platinum Dragon3134331341
Golden Dragons3235341443
Silver Dragons3336351563
Bronze Dragons3441362566
Copper Dragons3742372669
Brass Dragons4043382772
Titans4144392882
 424641----
Storm Giants4347422900
Werebears444843----
Gnomes45494430--
Hobbits46514631--
Elves47544932--
Half Elves49575333--
Dwarves51595434--
Humans00000000--

True Giants

True Giants are the traditional enemies of Rangers! And yes, anything on this list could be a Favoured Enemy of Rangers (definitely including Humans). A True Giant encounter is more likely to be a more traditional (and probably hostile) "wilderness" encounter. If I roll on this table I'd probably use only 1d6 on my Reaction Table (which means that when encountered these creatures would be Unfriendly at best, and even have a chance of Attacking Immediately (a Hostile reaction would consider the odds and situation and react accordingly). And yes, I've had a lone goblin berserker charge a player (with the inevitable consequences) as a result. And so was born the Goblin Suicide Cult.

TRUE GIANTSCTTNRDCLFR
Pixies (*Nixies)0101010101
Leprechauns0303030303
Hobbits0709090809
Kobolds1114141112
Gnomes1519191415
Goblins2002021920
Dwarves2531312425
Humans5142425030
Marshwiggles5243435131
Orcs5749505937
Half Elves6457586947
Elves6964657759
Hobgoblins7268698264
Gnolls7471728366
Trolls7674758468
Ogres7877788672
Yetis7978798773
Bugbears8180818875
Cyclopi8382838977
Ents8586869184
Umber Hulks8787879287
Cloud Giants8989899389
Hill Giants9191919491
Fire Giants9393939593
Frost Giants9595959695
Stone Giants9797979797
Storm Giants9898989898
Titans9999999999
Other0000000000
TRUE GIANTSHLMNRVSWJG
Pixies (*Nixies)0101010101
Leprechauns0202030202
Hobbits0404080303
Kobolds1212130404
Gnomes2021180505
Goblins2728220606
Dwarves3636260707
Humans3737270808
Marshwiggles3838445850
Orcs4747526160
Half Elves5555606261
Elves6161666362
Hobgoblins6767716565
Gnolls6868766767
Trolls6969827775
Ogres7373848484
Yetis77778585--
Bugbears7979878686
Cyclopi8181898787
Ents8282908888
Umber Hulks8484928989
Cloud Giants8686939090
Hill Giants8989949191
Fire Giants9191959292
Frost Giants9393969393
Stone Giants9595979797
Storm Giants9797989898
Titans9999999999
ther0000000000
TRUE GIANTSDSCOPSSEAE
Pixies (*Nixies)01010140*45
Leprechauns0202034950
Hobbits030507----
Kobolds060811----
Gnomes081115----
Goblins131520----
Dwarves181925----
Humans745751----
Marshwiggles75675250--
Orcs807257----
Half Elves817664----
Elves827969----
Hobgoblins838172----
Gnolls848374----
Trolls858576----
Ogres878778----
Yetis888879----
Bugbears----80----
Cyclopi919082----
Ents--9186----
Umber Hulks929287----
Cloud Giants9393895959
Hill Giants949491----
Fire Giants959593----
Frost Giants969695----
Stone Giants979797----
Storm Giants9898989090
Titans9999999999
Other0000000000

The possible others that they suggest might be encountered include (but are not limited to): Light Elves, Dark Elves, Nissies, Black Seers, Pan Tang Warriors, Myyrrhm, Ribhus, Indian Ogres, Hyborean Frost Giants, Greek Cyclopi, Satyrs, Norse Storm [presumably Giants], Norse Dwarves, Norse Stone Giants, Norse Rock Giant, Aliens, Mist Giants. Delmains, Chinese Fairies, and Homo Superiori.

Undead

Undead being unnatural creatures can appear anywhere. Actually one change I made when I adopted these tables was to give the chance of an aerial encounter with a Morkoth, or rather the Morkoth spiral, since I always considered it to be far more effective when viewed from above. There was one particularly shallow sandy bay that was dotted with many Morkoth lairs, including a big one for the Dire Morkoth at the centre. Nobody sailed or flew over the bay, although it was rumoured that a certain corsair had mapped the lairs had a hidden base on an island in the bay, full of treasure.

UNDEADLANDSEAAIR
Skeleton15----
Zombie30----
Ghoul45----
Lacedon--25--
Wight55----
Wraith63----
Mummy73----
Special Mummy7630--
Spectre825530
Morkoth--80--
Shadow869050
Vampires89--70
Ghost929690
Other000000

The suggested others include: Ollam Onga, Red Shadows, and Ghouls of Yaniadar.

[More reviews to come.]

Sunday, March 4, 2018

C&S Alignment

A Quick Review of C&S First Edition Alignment

The first edition of Chivalry & Sorcery actually had an Alignment attribute. This meant that it was possible to roll alignment (although most C&S gamemasters would allow a player to pick an alignment for their character). It featured the original Law/Chaos dichotomy of original D&D, but represented this as the Good/Evil morality of the medieval European mindset. As with many attributes in first edition C&S, it was accompanied by a brief description of what the number actually represented (for example a character with a 14 Wisdom was "Discerning," which meant that "the character reads other men’s characters well and tends to make sound decisions").

What I find interesting is comparing it to more modern interpretations of alignment as morality. In particular how selfish behaviour generally is shifted much more to the chaotic end of the spectrum. I mean how many people would classify "law-abiding" as neutral behaviour. But really, it is. Similarly a lot of people would classify the "base" behaviour as being fairly neutral (heavily-weighted self-interest).

Die
Roll
Lawful Alignment
1Saintly: The character will take Holy Orders or join a Fighting Order. Wisdom is a predetermined 15+. He is an implacable foe of all Chaotics and “heretics.”
2Devout: The character will take Holy Orders or join a Fighting Order. Wisdom is a predetermined 13+.
3Good: The character chooses the “right” path at all times, eschewing the ways of evil and temptation.
4Virtuous: The character seeks the “best” path and, though he fails at times to do the right thing, he makes restitution afterward and does penance.
5Worthy: The character tries to live by a high standard but slips on occasion.
6Trustworthy: The character has flaws in his moral fibre but attempts to meet his commitments and do his duty out of a firm sense of self-respect.
7Honourable: The character can be counted on to do the honourable thing.
 Neutral Alignment
8-9Law Abiding: The character is tempted by self-interest but does the “socially correct” thing, particularly with respect to all matters governed by custom and legality.
10-13Wordly: The character is knowledgeable in the ways of the world and sees moral issues in the grey half-tones of his self-interest. He will not be a party to truly evil conduct but sees no real impediment to a little larceny or mayhem if it brings a profit.
14-15Corruptible: The character sees his duty as beginning with himself. He is not evil, but he has his price.
 Chaotic Alignment
16Unscrupulous: The character has no real scruples when it comes to his picking a pocket or slitting a throat. If he can he will try to weasel out of any of his obligations or cheat his friends. Yet he also cares about his reputation.
17Base: The character will stoop pretty low on occasion, pays lip service to all of the conventional prattlings about good and decency, and never lets himself be blinded to a profitable deal when he sees it.
18Immoral: The character is corrupt to the core; Capable of great iniquity and depravity, he enjoys every minute of it. This is the character of the true “robber baron.”
19Villainous: The character is capable of real depths of evil and no moral code or conscience worth speaking of. If he has any friends they have learned to count their fingers after shaking hands with him and never leave their backs unguarded in his presence.
20Diabolic: The character is the complete Chaotic — so utterly void of any sense of right and wrong and devoted to hellishness in all its forms that there is no crime, no atrocity, no sacrilege that he will refrain from committing. This malevolent personality is true Evil Incarnate, so fiendishly demoniacal that even the Dark One is ashamed of his excesses at times.

Since this was replaced by the more abstract Piety characteristic in the second edition of C&S, I felt it was worthy of a quick review.

[Aside: My current alignment system uses a Pollution/Corruption mechanic. If you have no Pollution or Corruption you are Holy. However to stay free of spiritual Pollution requires considerable effort (depending on the actual tenets of your faith many things might cause Pollution), but in return you automatically get the status of Blessed. If you have Pollution (the normal random amount is 3d6), you are Worldly, which means you have taken no special efforts to avoid minor spiritual pollution and to cleanse yourself of it. For example as a Christian you might have "coveted your neighbour's ox." Note that if you are not actually trying to purify yourself there is no need to keep track of your spiritual pollution during actual play. A Worldly character can generally pay for a temporary Blessing (and this is commonly done before embarking on a venture, such as travel or childbirth). A character that has even a single point of Corruption is considered Unholy. They have usually made a deal with the demons who are trying to overthrow and replace the gods, or done something equally heinous against the gods. whilst the gods are generally unwilling to help their worshippers (beyond extending a Blessing), the demons are often willing to reward their servants directly.]