Rolondo

Moot God of Protectors

Dear Claudius:

I have found some interesting texts regarding the Esmeraldan Gods of the Halfling Moot. The original texts are quite damaged and written in the obscure dialect of the Puddlefoots of Shookberry. Thank Verena, however, the Baronette's cook, Frauline Ada Zehenkraus, knows a little Puddlefoot and has been of immeasuable assistance deciphering the documents. The first one I completed described the Cult of Rolondo and an interesting halfling career, the Sheriff.

Description

Rolondo is Esmeralda's serious and martial husband. He is the God of Halfling Protectors: Husbands, Sheriffs, and Militiamen. He protects halfling hobbles, villages and farms from the deprivations of Big Folk and Wild Things. In times of strife or war, he provides his followers with the strength and fortitude to persevere through the troubled times. He is most often portrayed as a stout, serious halfling male wearing a breastplate, a pot helmet and carrying a small round shield and a spear. He is often also depicted as a badger and badgers are revered by all of Rolondo's followers.

Area of Worship

Rolondo is primarily worshipped in the Moot. Halfling warriors who have left the Moot often venerate him.

Temples

Rolondo has no temples, although almost all halfling hobbles have a small statue of Rolondo near the door where he can guard against intruders.

Friends and Enemies

Rolondo is on good terms with all other members of the halfling pantheon except Ranaldo the Trickster (who he sees as a neer-do-well and troublemaker). He is cautious about the deities of Big Folk, especially any dedicated to War. His enemies are anyone who would harm the halfling race or seek to destroy the halfling way of life.

Holy Days

During Pie Week, one day is set aside for Rolondo called Boys' Day. All halfling boys and men are honored on Boys' Day with gifts (usually martial in quality like slings and spears) and a Boys' Day Parade. An male adult is choosen to lead the parade dressed in the typical style of Rolondo. The parade concludes with a mock Battle against the Big Folk, wherein the parade leader must fight a duel with his enemy, the Big Man.

The Big Man is represented in pantomime by two halfings, one sitting atop the other's shoulders. The Big Man first runs into the street, disrupting the parade and scattering all the participants. He then steals a pie, knocks down a mock-hobble, and attempts to carry off a sheep. The Parade Leader chases the Big Man around the village square, sometimes losing his spear in the process. Finally, he either strikes the Big Man down with his spear or runs the Big Man out of town with the help of the militia by throwing pies at him. Once the Big Man is dead or driven off, the Battle ends and the halflings triumphantly carry the parade leader around the village on a shield or large platter, ending up at the Feast. Then they eat until they keel over.

Alignment

Rolondo is Neutral.

Symbol

Rolondo's symbol is a spear emblazoned vertically over a small shield. His clerics will always possess a shield or buckler with this symbol on the boss.

Cult Requirements

The cult is open to any halfing male who has completed one of the following careers: Gamekeeper, Herdsman, Militiaman, Roadwarden, Soldier, Watchman, Woodsman, or halfling Sheriff (see below).

Strictures

All initiates and clerics of Rolondo must abide by the following restrictions:

Never allow Big Folk to abuse, bully, or take advantage of a halfling or a halfling's property.
Always put the needs of those you protect above your own.
Never steal.

Spell Use

Clerics of Rolondo are able to use the following Petty Magic spells: Curse, Gift of Tongues, Glowing Light, Magic Alarm, Magic Lock, Marsh Lights, Open, and Reinforce Door . They may use any Battle Magic spell with the following proviso: these spells will never target, harm or hinder another halfling who is in good stead with Rolondo or Esmeralda. Such halflings are totally immune to the spells' effects.

In addition, Clerics of Rolondo can gain the following spells:

Trueflight

Spell Level: 1

Magic Points: 2

Range: Special

Duration: Instant

Ingredients: None

This spell allows the next missile weapon thrown or fired by the caster to strike its intended target almost automatically. When the weapon is next used, the caster's effective BS is doubled. Only weapons powered by the caster's own hand can be Trueflighted (spears, slings, thrown knives, and bows; guns and crossbows cannot be used). The weapon must be thrown or fired immediately after the spell is cast. This spell has no effect on the range or damage of the weapon.

Returntrue

Spell Level: 1

Magic Points: 2

Range: Special

Duration: Instant

Ingredients: None

Returntrue causes a missile weapon to instantly return to the casters hand after it has been fired. The weapon must have been thrown or fired by the caster using Trueflight at any time in the past and the weapon and caster must be within the weapon's maximum range of each other for the spell to work.

Badgerform

Spell Level: 3

Magic Points: 8

Range: Self

Duration: Until sundown/sunrise or until dispelled

Ingredients: A badger tooth or claw

Badgerform turns the caster into a badger:

Badger-form

M WS BS S T W I A Dex Ld Int Cl WP Fel

5 33 0 2 4 8 * 1 -- * * * * --

*caster retains his attribute scores for these characterstics.

Skills

Clerics of Rolondo have a slightly altered advance scheme, adding a +10 per (level-1) advance to WS and BS (eg, +10WS/+10BS at second level, +20WS/+20BS at third level, and +30WS/+30BS at fourth level).

Trials

Trials set by Rolondo always involve saving halfling dignity, lives or property. usually from the wrongs committed by Big Folk. For example: dispersing a pack of wolves threatening the sheep fields; freeing a halfling from unjust servitude to a member of the Big Folk; punishing a Big Folk bully; guarding a village without sleep for a week.

Blessings

Skills favored by Rolondo are: WS, BS, and Dodge Blow. Tests favored by Rolondo are: Listen, Observe, Cl tests, Ld tests, and WP tests against magic or sleep.

New Advanced Career: Halfling Sheriff

The Halfling Sheriff is responsible for managing and training a halfling villages' militia, forming possees, keeping order, and maintaining peace among the hobbles. Although often something of a honorary title, the halfling sheriff becomes the de facto leader of the entire village when trouble threatens. In times of war or invasion, the Moot's sheriffs elect one of their number to become the High Sheriff, to whom all other sheriffs report. When the trouble is over, the High Sheriff vacates his position and returns to the peace of his hobble. All sheriffs command the respect of their peers, if not for their impressive fighting skills, but for their willingness to be the ones who stick their necks out when Big Folk outlaws come to town. Only halflings may normally become sheriffs of halfling villages. Sometimes a dwarf or gnome who has lived within a halfling community and built a strong relationship with his neighbors might be elected to the position. However, humans and elves are just too big.

Entrances

Militaman, Watchman, Roadwarden, Cleric (of Rolondo) (halflings only [usually], the career must be completed)

Exits

Initiate (of Rolondo), Cleric (of Rolondo), Freelance

Advanced Scheme

Halfling Sheriff Advance Scheme

M WS BS S T W I A Dex Ld Int Cl WP Fel

+20 +20 +1 +1 +3 +10 +1 +10 +20 +10 +20 +10 +10

Skills

Concealment - Rural, Dodge Blow, Law, Marksmanship, Public Speaking, Read/Write, Ride (Pony), Secret Language - Battle Tongue, Silent Move Rural, Strike to Stun, Specialist Weapon - Buckler, Specialist Weapon - Net, Specialist Weapon - Sling

Trappings

Spear, small shield or buckler, sling, badge of office, breastplate, helmet, pony, 2D6 halfling militiamen, guardsmen, or roadwardens.

Created by Claycle