Unholy Magic

Unholy Magic is the magic of Demons and Demonesses, of which there are many. They are pure, perfect beings of darkness and evil, and all true Unholy Clerics should aspire to be as close to Demonly as possible. This is easier outside the temple than in.

The Demons and Demonesses are busy with their own affairs and pay little attention to mortal cares. So if you're an overgrown Boy Scout (not that there ARE Boy Scouts in this world...), you can still be an Unholy Cleric. You just can't cast any Holy spells. Gods and Demons alike will notice if someone switches sides, and will not be pleased. To get back in the Demons' "good" graces after being purified takes a hell of a lot of corrupting, and usually requires you stick around the temple for quite some time, to prove your devotion and remove you from temptation to fall again. Even then, expect to be watched by others of your order.

Still, there are perks to being an Unholy Cleric, i.e. the ability to cast those who displease you into Damnation and Perdition for all eternity. Unholy Clerics usually have a reason for wanting the generally destructive powers of demonkind on their side, but it's not necessary. You could just like blowing $#!% up.

Playing an Unholy Priest/Cleric

Keep in mind that being an Unholy Priest/Cleric only means you can't cast Holy spells. Your personality is still whatever you decide, although most newly-vested, fresh from the temple clerics are likely to be a bit darker (and/or self-righteous - yes, even unholy clerics are self-righteous) than those who have been wandering the world a spell.

Unholy Clerics are somewhat more likely than their Holy counterpoints to take up other magic schools, as they generally LIKE having more and more power.

A vested Cleric/Priest/Priestess (one who has graduated from an unholy temple; the term "cleric" is used for a priest/priestess who is not living in a temple - either wandering, or living on their own) is Level 4; Levels 1-3 are the still-learning stages of neophyte, apprentice, and journeyman (respectively). Levels 5-8 are simply progressions and bring with them no change in rank on their own (although temples may promote/demote at their discretion). Level 9 is High Priest, and Level 10 is Unholy Master. The difference is that High Priests are generally in charge of a temple, maybe overseeing two or three if they're close together. Unholy Masters are more likely to be hermits or wandering chaos-makers. Even a Level 1 neophyte can still see a black sort of "glow" outlining Unholy or Cursed objects or people, but cannot detect the "aura" or "glow" of other magic types unless they've also studied those. The "glow" is not visible on oneself unless one is actively working magic at the time, and fades when the spell is cast or otherwise ends.

Unholy Temple Rules

Also known as Temple Code. These rules are enforced more or less strictly depending on the temple. For example, Darak Nil Temple holds strictly to these rules, whereas Medinova is more relaxed. Aldaara...well, it's a special case.
Unholy Temples generally engage in animal husbandry, to raise animals (and fatten them) into worthy sacrifices, though they do raise a few animal feed crops.

Meat everyday, freshly hunted, usually served rare. All other food to be obtained in tribute from surrounding villages/towns/cities.

(Medinova buys their meat, as does Aldaara; the latter has quite a nice tribute though.)

Use of alcohol and stronger stimulants/chemicals required.

You can drink kava and/or tai if you wish, but they're considered weak - and you likely will be as well. In an Unholy environment, signs of weakness usually mean you can expect a good thrashing sometime soon, if not outright death.

You must read from the scrolls every day.

Darak Nil adds a weekly hallucinogenic group trip and ritual sacrifice.

Priests, clerics and paladins may marry, so long as their intended is not a Holy devotee.*

*You'd be surprised how often this rule gets broken, actually.

Expensive clothing, modesty not required, preferably dark leathers.

The "costly thy habit as thy purse may buy" rule - initiates are forced into terribly itchy clothes until they can earn (or, more likely, steal) enough money to buy better ones. You are supposed to look dark, sinister, and intimidating, after all.

As with most magic schools, you buy your Level of magic with points. In the case of Holy/Unholy spells, your level decides what spells you know and what strength those spells are. Buying level 1 costs 6 points, level 2 costs 5, levels 3 - 8 cost 4 points each, level 9 takes 5 points and level 10 takes 6 again. Keep in mind that if you take Unholy Magic, you CANNOT take Holy Magic.

.:Unholy Spells Alphabetically:.
.:Unholy Spells by Level:.
.:Main Index:.