The World of Xoth

Undetectable Alignment

I’ve never cared much for the “alignment” system that has been a part of our favorite roleplaying game from the early days.

Therefore, in the World of Xoth campaign setting, just like in our own world, the behaviour of individuals are shaped by their culture and personal beliefs, ambitions and ethics, rather than by some artificial “alignment” system that divide people conveniently into groups of good and evil. Having characters act according to their own motivation creates far more interesting situations than a simplistic “I’m good, you’re evil” worldview.

Think of it as “shades of grey” rather than “black and white”.

The Sign of Xoth

“At another house, where people were stirring, he asked questions about the gods, and whether they danced often upon Lerion; but the farmer and his wife would only make the Elder Sign and tell him the way to Nir and Ulthar.”

— H. P. Lovecraft: The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath

Many spells and other rules are based on alignments, and they need some adjustment when the alignment system is not used.

Let’s start with Protection from Evil. In the World of Xoth, this common warding spell is called Protection from Witchcraft, and is also known as the Sign of Xoth.

The spell is identical to the description in the rulebook, except replace all instances of “evil creatures” with “magic-using creatures and supernatural creatures”. Note that any spellcaster is a “magic-using creature” under this definition. A “supernatural creature” is a creature that has one or more supernatural (Su) or spell-like (Sp) abilities.

Magic Circle against Evil is called Magic Circle against Witchcraft (or simply Magic Circle).

The Cultist class

The Cultist class is a variant character class for the PathFinder RPG, based on the Oracle class from the Advanced Player’s Guide (APG).

A Cultist is a member of a religious organisation devoted to the worship of a powerful entity, such as a god or demon. The Cultist starts out as an acolyte, whose duties include studies of the cult’s secret texts, as well as guarding the cult’s temple and protecting its interests. As he rises in the ranks of the cult, the Cultist becomes a teacher of acolytes, standing at the center of rituals of worship and sacrifice. Eventually, he may become high priest of the cult, with full and undisputed control over its temples, treasures, relics and priests.

Class Features

The Cultist class is identical to the Oracle class, except for the differences described below.

Cult Membership (Ex): At 1st level, you must select a cult. Assuming that you pass the Initiation Rite (see below), you become an acolyte of the cult. As an acolyte, you receive free food and shelter in the cult’s local temple, and receive a +2 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy and Intimidate checks in areas where your cult holds power, as long as it is apparent that you belong to the cult.

At 7th level, you become a cult priest. You gain Leadership as a bonus feat, with followers drawn from the cult’s acolytes. You can stay as long as you want in any temple belonging to your cult, and you can also bring up to one guest per Cultist level, who will receive basic food and shelter for free. Your circumstance bonus to Diplomacy and Intimidate rises to +4.

If you leave the cult, you lose all cult-specific benefits, including Cult Spells and Cult Secrets. If you try to join another cult, you are declared anathema and no member of your old cult will rest before you are dead.

[This class feature replaces Mystery.]

Initiation Rite: Before you can become a proper Cultist, you must undergo the cult’s initiation rite. This is different for every cult; see the cult’s description for details. Until the rite has been successfully completed, you cannot use any Cultist class features, except the hit dice, base attack bonus, saving throw bonuses, weapon and armor proficiencies, and class skills that are not cult-specific.

At the end of the initiation rite, a sufficiently high-level cult leader has the option of casting a special Mark of Justice spell upon you, to ensure your loyalty to the cult. This works as per the spell description, except that your own spells (such as Break Enchantment cast by you) are always ineffective against it.

[This class feature replaces Oracle’s Curse.]

Cult Secret: As you advance in levels as a Cultist, you learn new secrets that grant you powers and abilities. At 1st level, 3rd level, and every four levels thereafter (7th, 11th, and so on), you select a new secret from the list of cult secrets listed in the cult’s description. Unless otherwise noted, activating the power of a cult secret is a standard action.

[This class feature replaces Revelation.]

Cult Spells: At 2nd level, and every two levels thereafter, you learn an additional spell taught by your cult. These spells are in addition to the number of spells given on the Spells Known table. They cannot be exchanged for different spells at higher levels.

[This class feature is similar to the Bonus Spells feature of the Oracle’s Mystery.]

Cult Hierarch (Ex): At 20th level, you become the leader of your cult, with full control of the cult’s temples, treasures and relics, and you can command the lesser cult members as you desire. As a cult hierarch, the social circumstance bonuses you receive on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks increase to +8.

If there is already a 20th-level Cultist in your cult, you must defeat him to gain your title and privileges. Likewise, you must be prepared to defend your position against those that rise in the ranks below you.

[This class feature replaces Final Revelation.]

Cults

Each cultist must choose a cult. For examples of cults, and their initiation rites and secrets, see the cults in the World of Xoth.