Discerning the Will of Deity by Inspiration
A message from the gods is worth more than a plot of land. A wise party will seek these messages when possible, as they can greatly aid them on their dangerous travels. Messages of…
- …coming blessings from a deity
- …warnings against certain actions or plans
- …judgement against the party or their enemies for an offense
- …indictment for what the party has done wrong
- …instruction on what to do next
…are extraordinarily valuable. Unfortunately for the party, messages from the divine are few and far between for the common person. Even if they were to receive such a message, its meaning would be totally lost on them—they do not have the proper training! All is not lost however, as the gods are not limited in their means of communication.
Official Prophecy
Any king worth his weight in whatever is his most lucrative export is going to sponsor prophets. These prophets are no ecstatic or dreamer, oh no; these are professionals trained in cultivating prophecies and communicating the messages of the gods above. A wise king has many prophets representing many different gods, for where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory.
These prophets are the king’s advisers, who communicate to the king important information from the gods regarding politics, war, and religion. Besides this, the king has certain responsibilities, such as maintaining justice and caring for the dispossessed with his domain. A word from above can give the guidance necessary to bring success to the king in these responsibilities. And when the king is successful, everyone is successful.
Employing an Official Prophet
An official prophet has little need to work with such commoners as the party. Even if the party should be successful and gain lands, herds, flocks, and servants, the king is far greater, and the king is the prophet’s sponsor. The prospect of successfully buying an official prophet’s prophecy has a 1-in-10 chance.
However, all is not hopeless. Should a party member be of a noble background, the chance increases by 2. Should a party member be of a religious background, the chance increases by 1. If that same party member happens to be a strong follower of the same deity of the prophet, the chance increases by 2. In the right circumstances, the chance of successfully buying an official prophet’s prophecy in a 4-person party could be as high as 9-in-10.
That being said, it is a rare case indeed for such a high chance. The best way for the party to gain an audience with an official prophet is through the big guy himself: the king. Kings often give incredible gifts to loyal and proven servants, and a prophecy from an official prophet can be of great worth in the dangerous occupation the party has chosen.
Informal Prophecy
The gods don’t always use the “official” lines of communication. They are mysterious and their activities are hard to discern; that they use ecstatics and dreamers from both priests and laypersons is not surprising. Despite their lack of training and inability to cultivate messages from the gods regularly, their prophecies are no less important or informative.
A wise king has a few ecstatics in his care at all times. They are not reliable in their frequency, but are more like hot springs in the deserts: they do nothing for long periods of time…and then a sudden burst of energy from the divine! These do not function as the more learned ones, but enjoy the hospitality of the palace, if also experiencing some hostility from the temple.
Employing a Dreamer or Ecstatic
Dreamers and ecstatics are not always in the king’s care. Often they are found within the community the party finds themselves in. However, employing them for the purpose of prophecy is a gamble that may never pay off. Should it, the party will gain what they seek: a message from the gods. Should it not, the party will have naught more than a leech on their resources. Any offer above the current living conditions of the dreamer or ecstatic should be enough to gain their employ.
Those NPCs designated dreamers have a 5-in-100 chance of gaining a message from the gods during their rest. Those NPCs designated ecstatics have a 1-in-100 chance of gaining a message from the gods normally. When ecstatics are in a heightened state, whether through drugs, sex, or some other means, the chance increases to 5-in-100. Both dreamers and ecstatics will know the proper interpretation of their messages.
Those within the party have a 1-in-100 chance of receiving a message from deity when they rest or achieve a heightened state. Those of an academic, magical, musical, or religious background have a 2-in-100 chance instead. However, they will not know how to interpret the message from the gods, for the symbolism is deep and requires intense knowledge of their meanings. The party will need to gain the service of a temple consultant to discern its meaning.
Incubation
The party has another means of gaining a message from the divine, but the means of doing it are incredibly dangerous for anyone other than the king or his highest officials. If the party can enter the sacred space of the deity they wish to ask a question—that deity’s temple, garden, or ziggurat—and sleep there overnight without being killed for their irreverence and sacrilege, they have a 1-in-10 chance of receiving a message in the form of a dream.
It would be safer to gain entrance into the sacred space rather than sneak in. Gaining entrance is hard, but the best way to gain it is as a gift for services given to the temple or palace. Along with the gifted opportunity to incubate will come the offer to then interpret the dream’s message. As always, it is best to be in the good graces of the king and temple priests.
Other Means
There are other ways of discerning the will of deity, but that is through deduction, not inspiration. For a truly inspired message, directly from deity to man, one must use prophets, dreams, or periods of ecstasy. There simply is no other way to get a direct message from above.
— Discerning the Will of Deity by Inspiration – Stepped On a d4
Alas, that blog is gone, and the Internet Archive does not have a copy of this blogpost. I have copied the entire text here for posterity.
