When all else is lost, pray to the Dark Lords for salvation...

ACOLYTE (#14/29, #45/365) [POT]

SKILL: 8

STAMINA: 7

ATTACKS: 1

WEAPON: See below

ARMOUR: See below

DAMAGE MODIFIER: None

HABITAT: Towns, Towns (sewers), Dungeons, Ruins, Caves, Hills, Forests, Wilderness, Deserts

NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 1-6

TYPE: Humanoid

REACTION: Unfriendly-Hostile

INTELLIGENCE: High

Whereas cultists are furtive and secretive fervent disciples of a deity their fellow peoples may abhor, and initiates, devotees and novices are believers in acceptable mainstream gods, ACOLYTES are followers of the Dark Lords of Evil and Chaos, who openly proclaim their worship because their temple or settlement is tolerant of such deviancy. Acolytes are thus found in small bands or sects, overtly proselytizing questionable demiurges and practices in borderland settlements, strange religious communities, war-torn states, and decadent and immoral cityports.

To determine the type of Acolyte, roll on the table below:

1 Acolyte of Decay: Armed with Dirks (equal to an Elven Longknife) and wearing Crocodile-skin armour. Worship the Dark Lord Decay, being particularly prevalent in the lands of the Inland Sea in Khul, and across the Scythera Desert to the cursed beggar-city of Shakuru.

2 Dark Disciple: Armed with iron-bladed Sickles. No armour but wear dark brown robes. Dark Disciples hail from the Lost City of Vatos in the Desert of Skulls, where they worship the Dark One, who they think is an amalgam of the three Dark Lords, but is in fact is Elim, the original god of Evil.

3 Acolyte of Pain: Armed with spiked whips and flails but no armour, and their robes are often torn and bloody. Secret followers of Trabaten, God of Exenteration, but commonly seen in Ruddlestone, Brice, Femphrey and Gallantaria, where they bully bystanders they dislike by calling them unbelievers and forcing them to undergo excruciating tortures, including the Test of the Wheel, the Test of Scorpions, or the Test of Burning Coals.

4 Grey Acolyte: Armed with heavy serrated daggers or iron-banded fighting staves and wearing grey robes. Grey Acolytes are followers of the Night Dragon, and are active in northern Allansia and the isolated settlements of the Dragon Reaches

5 Acolyte of Disease: Armed with a spiked iron-censer on a chain (equivalent to a Morning Star), and wearing the skin of their last victim as a Leather Cuirass. Found anywhere there is plague and pestilence, aiding and abetting the spread of their dread lord Disease.

6 Death Acolyte: Armed with a dagger and wearing black robes. Death Acolytes typically hail from Bathoria and are followers of the first Dark Lord. They are often carrying nefarious magic, including Black Steel daggers, vials of Spectrebane, or an Orb of Amethyst, all of which they will use to defend themselves.

Other Acolytes could include followers of different gods and powers, including deities such as the Darkthorn or the Malice, or even the Demon Princes themselves. In addition to any equipment listed above, Acolytes often wear thick robes and a hidden Holy Symbol of their god. To determine the spiritual power level of an encountered Acolyte, roll on the following table to determine their ability (see Combat Companion, pp. 7-10):

1 Civilian

2 Novice

3 Competant

4 Veteran

5 Expert

6 Master

Being god-botherers, Acolytes will have advances in MAGIC, Religion Lore, Magic-Priestly, Second Sight, and Demon or Undead Lore, in that order and depending on their chosen god, among other skills and talents.

For larger devout cells of such folk, roll twice for groups of two or more. The higher roll will represent the most powerful Acolyte in the group while the lower roll will reflect the abilities of the remaining followers. If the rolls are the same, the followers are the next step down on the table.