Whirling DERVISHES!

DERVISH (#15/30, #227/365) [POT]

SKILL: 7

STAMINA : 8

ATTACKS: 1

WEAPON: Scimitar

ARMOUR: None

DAMAGE MODIFIER: None

HABITAT: Deserts, Wilderness, Plains

NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 1

TYPE: Humanoid

REACTION: Neutral-Hostile

INTELLIGENCE: High

The DERVISH is a holy person from the Scythera Desert or other arid wilderness from central Khul. Similar to the mystic Sufi of the Desert of Skulls in Allansia, the Dervish may be found wandering alone or as the priest of a band of desert nomads. They will usually be armed with a Scimitar, wear thick robes that protect them from the sun, and have a full waterskin and a holy symbol of their chosen deity. In addition, roll on the table below for 1-3 items of additional gear:

Roll Extra Gear

1 Steed (Roll: 1-2 Camel, 3-4 Donkey, 5-6 Mule)

2 Dowsing Rod

3 Prayer Beads

4 Bag of Sand

5 Vial of Anti-Poison

6 Pet (Roll: 1-2 Desert Scorpion, 3-4 Asp, 5-6 Saltsucker)

The type of god worshipped by a Dervish can vary widely; roll on the below table to determine the demiurge to whom they pay respects:

Roll Chosen Deity

1 Krsh (as Death)

2 Hazdur (as Glantanka)

3 Assamarra

4 Rikat

5 The Basilisk

6 Hermit (see Priests Companion, pp. 35-37)

The average Dervish will have a Devotion score of 7 (MAGIC 5 plus Magic-Priestly special skill of 2). Most Dervishes will be neutral in demeanor, or even friendly towards followers of similar gods, but those who follow evil gods such as Krsh, Rikat or the Basilisk will be openly hostile. Indeed, such is the nefarious reputation of Krsh-worshipping Dervishes within the Twin Sun Desert that the local Lauper population have crafted magical Daggers of Dervish-Killing with which to deal with them! 

Elsewhere, some Dervishes are known to guard hjdden shrines in the rocky wastes of central Khul. The most famous of these is the legendary Lost Cave of the Dervishes, whose fiendish traps protect the Stone of Shanhara; Shanhara was a Dervish of ancient times who found a large and beautiful diamond with enchanted properties - the stone that now bears his name. Recently, an adventurer called Jakor One-Eye was rumoured to have found the location of the cave, but before he could lead an expedition back there to retrieve the Stone of Shanhara, Jakor perished in the wilderness outside the desert town of Alasiyan. Some say this knowledge died with him, others that he passed his secrets on to the Hermit of the Hills...