Editing FANGS: Appendix D - Priest (section)

==Priest Magic Inspirations ==

My inspirations for this priest magic system come from a variety of sources: from SF&F fiction, from some paper role-playing systems, and from books on various rituals that I have among pagan sources. 

'''Fiction Inspirations'''

The inspiration for the '''style and feel''' of the priest magic system is <em>Paksenarion</em> series by Elizabeth Moon and in particular a prequel called <i>Surrender None; The Legacy of Gird</i>. What is unique is how the author has used Saints in a D&D'ish world rather than pagan gods. In fact, I use the storyline of the prequel story of St. Gird almost verbatim as the story of St. Rhys. 

I also find the rituals of the <em>Deryni</em> series by Katherine Kurtz very powerful, and fit in well with the Paksenarrion style as it also refers to saints. In particular, the ritual in <em>Deryni Rising</em> for investing the king's power, and the rituals for dedicating a bishop in St. Camber to be useful. I also find the use of invoking the archangels (Gabriel, Michael, Rapheal, and Uriel) as aspects of the four elements in a pagan style ritual appealing, as well as the use of latin. There is a wonderful book called <em>Deryni Magic</em> that details much about the magic system, though I don't use the psionics part. 

As inspiration for the two-sides of St. Eva is a SF novel <em>Wrapt in Crystal by Shinn</em> in which there are two drastically different convents, one that celebrates the brighter sides of life, the other nurtures the seedier side of life. 

The ideas around "templing" of gods comes from <em>God Stalk</em> by P.C. Hodgell, which opens on the 'Feast of the Dead Gods' in which all the small gods of the world walk around free (sort of a halloween <img width=15 height=15 src="D.%20FANGS%20Priest%20Magic_files/image001.gif" alt=wink>

'''Role-Playing Game Inspirations'''

Probably the biggest influence among RPGs is from RuneQuest? and how they handle cults. In runequest you "sacrifice" POW to become an initiate of a cult, and that gives you the ability to get the cult to teach you minor magics. You can later qualify to become a rune priest, and then have access to higher magics. 

'''Pagan Inspirations'''

I've been fascinated when reading through a number of pagan books about how Christianity has co-opted a number of pagan rituals and practices. I have attempted to do do more of the same, turning interesting pagan ideas into pseudo-saint/angel references.