Adventures in Arcadayn
The desert tribes of the Sandmarch worship many gods which are recognized by other religions. However, the gods of their "pantheon" differ from their forms in other lands in several ways. First, all Desert Men deities are worshiped in the forms of totem animals found in the great desert, and the tribes are divided along totemic lines (one god and animal per tribe). Second, the gods choose their clerics through the gift of Limited Magery; nomads who are recognized as mages are then invested as priests of the appropriate deity. Third, these gods often "bless" favored followers (not necessarily cleric-mages) with the ability to shapeshift into the god's animal form. Clerics of religions who worship Tanduzi gods under other names and forms usually find the Desert Men religion keenly disturbing.
This religion is known as "Tanduzi" by the Desert Men; the name approximately translates as "way of the desert sorcerors." The clerics are called "desert sorcerors," or "duz" ("duz" is both the singular and plural form). Tanduzi has eight gods, corresponding to the eight nomadic tribes; the symbol of each tribal cult is the totem animal itself:
| God (Sex) | Sphere | Corresponding God [Religion] | Holy Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antelope (Jin-Kashahadin) (M) | herd animals | Canthor [Druidic] | winter solstice |
| Camel (Jin-Jama) (M) | fire, the sun and the desert | Uralor [Celestian & Elemental] | summer solstice |
| Cat (Jin-Mubik) (F) | truth, secrets and prophecy | Rashira [Celestian] | vernal equinox |
| Eagle (Jin-Muzad) (M) | night and the stars | Phaor [Celestian] | (none) |
| Horse (Jin-Dakaran) (F) | warfare and bravery | Drumagira [Bloodletter] | Festival of Berserkers (18 Heatblight) |
| Jackal (Jin-Hustan) (M) | the moon, alertness and stealth | Doshonor [Celestian] | winter solstice |
| Lark (Jin-Heshik) (F) | song, dance and beauty | Pranira [Quadralunic] | 1 Harvestmonth |
| Mantis (Jin-Kaghad) (M) | luck, patience and cunning plans | Kobor [Quadralunic] | 1 Greening |
Prerequisites include: Meditation, Survival (desert), Theology (with specialization).
Desert sorcerors (Duz) are born with a form of Limited Magery which depends on the god which bestowed it; some also bestow other advantages (see table below). Once a Desert Man is recognized as a Duz, he gains Clerical Rank 1 [5]; there is no higher rank. He is also Blessed with the ability to cast Divination at IQ [10]. The form of Divination depends on the god (see table below; if more than one is listed, choose only one).
| God | Limited Magery | Other Advantages | Divination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antelope | One-College Only (Animal) | Animal Empathy | Haruspication |
| Camel | Sun-Aspected | (none) | Pyromancy or Libranomancy |
| Cat | Dance-Aspected | (none) | Galactomancy (p. G60) |
| Eagle | Star-Aspected | Absolute Direction | Astrology or Aeromancy |
| Horse | * | * | * |
| Jackal | Moon-Aspected | (none) | Lunomancy |
| Lark | Musical or Song | (none) | Oneiromancy |
| Mantis | Solitary Magery | (none) | Chiromancy |
* Horse's clerics are actually Bloodletter Priests.
These clerics should take Discipline of Faith: Mysticism [-10]. Most also have Duty or Sense of Duty to their tribe.
Spheres of influence: Spell access is not limited, since Duz spells are learned as regular mage spells. Divine magic cannot be learned, and Consecrated Items and Sacred Vessels (pp. R104-105) are unknown. Because Duz have non-clerical magic, Tanduzi holy days (see above) have no effects on spell use, except for the Divination granted by the Blessed advantage. Because of the severity of this limitation, holy days have no point cost. (Horse Duz get the normal Bloodletter holy day.)
Shapeshifting: Some Duz have learned versions of the Shapeshifting spell appropriate to their totem animal, while other Duz--as well as some lay tribesmen--are natural weres. For details, see the following table:
| Totem (Shi-) | Shapeshifting (Spell) | Shapeshifter (Were) | Favored Familiars [M2+ only] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antelope | use Weredeer stats (P. CI 44) | (not known) | any desert animal |
| Camel | normal camel (p. BE38) | (rumor only?) | any desert animal |
| Cat | Caracal (p. AN95) | (rumor only?) | cat; caracal |
| Eagle | see pp. M25, 110 | see p. M110 (rumor only?) | any bird of prey |
| Horse | use Werehorse stats (p. CI 44) | see "Shapeshifters" | N/A |
| Jackal | normal jackal (p. BE18) | (unknown) | any small canine (jackal, fox, etc.) |
| Lark | ST 3, DX 15, IQ 4, HT 12/4, Flying Speed 18 | (unknown) | songbirds |
| Mantis | (rumor only?) | (unknown) | (unknown) |
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This page last updated 11/5/2003 by Timothy E. Emrick. | Copyright 1998-2003 Timothy E. Emrick.