PRIEST-CLERIC KIT

Zealot

Description:  Zealots are extremely moralistic, narrow-minded, and exclusive 
adherents to a single faith.  They perceive all other deities as inferior to 
their own, and they even tend to look down on priests and worshippers of their 
own deity who are not themselves Zealots as wishy-washy fence-sitters.  They are 
extremely devoted to their deity, but their excruciating piety and exclusive 
attitudes tend to make them rather unpopular outside their own circles.  They 
are, however, generally respected by those of their own religion who are not 
Zealots, as such folk often see in the Zealot a strident zeal that they wish 
that they themselves could display.  

Only lawfully-aligned faiths have Zealot members, as non-lawfuls simply cannot 
bear the sanctimonious rigidity of the Zealot's world-view.  Not all races are 
cut out for the fanaticism that characterizes a Zealot, and in fact only humans, 
dwarves, half-elves, half-orcs, and aasimar can select this kit.

Weapons & Armor:  As per the deity in question.

Special Benefits:  Similar in many ways to a Cleric or an Orthodox Priest but 
far more extreme, a Zealot's reputation for ardent service to the faith grants 
many benefits for Church Affiliation over and above those an Orthodox Priest 
could expect.

 - Receive free room and board at any temple (even a non-Zealot temple) of his 
   or her faith for the Zealot and any companions.

 - Demand a loan of up to 300 g.p. per level for up to 30 days, although any 
   remaining balance on such a loan after 30 days must be paid back twice over, 
   with any balance doubling each 30 days thereafter.

 - Demand obedience from any lower level Zealots, Crusaders, or Templars of the 
   faith, expect any orders to be instantly carried out.  Lower level priests of 
   other kits generally will follow the Zealot's instructions, though not with 
   the same verve.

 - Demand military aid from the church once per level, in the form of either 2d4 
   0-level soldiers, 1d4 1st level Templar Fighters, or 2 1st level Crusaders 
   (any kit) for every level of experience.  These defenders of the faith can be 
   held in service to the Zealot for 1 day per level.

 - Demand the services of a priestly assistant, who will always be another 
   Zealot of one-half the Zealot's own level (rounding down; hence, a 1st level 
   Zealot cannot request an assistant), up to maximum of 4th level, and he or 
   she will serve for up to 1 week per level.  This can be done only once per 
   experience level.

The DM will have to determine exactly what types of potential allies are 
available when a Zealot attempts to gain the services of one (i.e., if a temple 
has a very small staff, a Zealot may not be able to request a large force of 
guardsmen).

Special Hindrances:  The Zealot's intense religious fervor incurs several 
disadvantages.  They must immediately and without question follow the orders of 
any higher-level Zealot of the same faith, unless they directly contravene a 
still higher-level Zealot's orders or the strictures applied by the Zealot's 
deity.  Barring this situation, any failure to obey of such a command results in 
immediate excommunication (see Ceremony under the Cleric description).  A truly 
penitent Zealot can attempt to seek atonement for this crime, especially if he 
or she was forced to disobey by another, though even in the case of full 
successful atonement they are generally not fully trusted by other Zealots, 
functioning at only half their true level with respect to their Church 
Affiliation benefits.

Zealots are also fanatical in their devotion to their deity as the 'one true 
way' and are highly intolerant of others.  Their haughty bearing applies a -1 
reaction penalty to all encounters, and this penalty increases to -3 if the 
Zealot speaks to the creature being encountered for more than a single round.  
Non-Zealots of the same faith will suffer only a -1 reaction penalty, but 
priests of other faiths react with double the usual reaction penalty (triple if 
they are also Zealots).  As a side note, Zealots consider visual representations 
of their deity sacrilegious and will only depict their deity in symbolic form, 
and they may become highly agitated when confronted with examples of what they 
feel is sacrilegious behavior.

Finally, Zealots are encouraged to be frugal with their own purchases and to 
donate all excess to the church.  Hence, all Zealots must tithe 50% of their 
income to their church organization; this does not mean giving money to the 
poor, but money to support the church hierarchy and to fund the projects 
undertaken by those at the top.  In addition, if a Zealot has money left over at 
first level after buying his or her equipment, he or she must give all but 3 
g.p. back to the church.  If a Zealot has insufficient money to purchase 
equipment, he or she can make a loan as described above.

Required Proficiencies:  Ceremony/Ritual, Debate, Religion
Preferred Proficiencies:  any Priest proficiencies
Forbidden Proficiencies:  any Psionicist, Rogue, Warrior, or Wizard proficiencies