Amazon Priestess

Priestess of Canem serve a special role within their society – they are the caretakers and moral compasses for an otherwise militarized society. Few, in Canem, look out for the equality of all people, men included, save the Priestess. Some Amazon Priesteses serve as handmaid for Amazon warriors and accompany them as they mature, giving guidance and providing moral guidance as they develop. These priestess can follow any faith path, usually the same as faith as their clan.

The priestesses of this god interpret the god's will for the Amazons, fight alongside them in times of combat, perform the usual service of guidance; and sometimes travel through the outer world in an effort to learn what they can of the world of men--in order to protect themselves from it, or to educate themselves and the outer-worlders to reduce misunderstandings between the cultures.

To abandon this kit, the character would have to renounce her Amazon citizenship... meaning that she would have to identify herself more strongly with another culture.

Role

In Canem, these priestesses are as highly-regarded as the warrior, and the warrior is the most-admired type of Amazon. Outside Canem, among male-dominated civilizations, the priestess is looked on as an even more unnatural sort of unnatural woman. Among player-character adventurers, the Amazon-priestess is likely to prove herself to be a doughty fighter and an effective spellcaster.

Distinctive Appearance

None

Special Benefits

Male opponents from cultures where women fighters tend to be rare will be amused, rather than cautious, the first time they confront an Amazon. Therefore, in a fight where such a warrior runs up against an Amazon for the first time, the Amazon gets a +3 to hit and +3 damage on her first blow only. This reflects the fact that her opponent's guard is down. This bonus doesn't work on any Warrior character of fifth level or higher, or a character of any other class at 8th level or higher; in spite of any prejudices he might bear, this character is too seasoned an adventurer to let his guard down that way. At the DM's discretion, he can give a wary, suspicious NPC an Intelligence check; on a successful check, he will see the attack coming and deny the Amazon the bonus. The bonus won't work on any male fighter who comes from a culture where women do regularly fight, or who has had fighting-women comrades or faced fighting-women opponents before, or even who has seen the Amazon hit someone else with this bonus earlier. It doesn't work on player-characters unless the player is role-playing honestly enough to admit that his character would underestimate the Amazon. Once the Amazon hits a character with this bonus, the target (if he survives) will never fall for it again. It can only be used successfully once per victim, ever. But if the Amazon misses a target with this blow, she continues to receive it against this target until she hits him once.

Special Hindrances

The Amazon receives a -3 reaction roll adjustment from NPCs from male-dominated societies. Player-characters do not have to demonstrate this hostility unless they want to do so for role-playing purposes, and even then it should fade as they come to respect her.

Class

Priest

Attribute Requirements

None

Barred Beliefs

None

Race Requirement

Human

Bonus Weapon Proficiencies

None

Required Weapon Proficiencies

None

Recommended Weapon Proficiencies

Spear, long bow; if possible, various axes and swords

Barred Weapon Proficiencies

None

Bonus Non-Weapon Proficiencies

Riding (Land-Based), Animal Training

Recommended Non-Weapon Proficiencies

Animal Handling, Animal Lore, Armorer, Bowyer, Hunting, Running, Survival, Tracking

Equipment

When an Amazon character is first created, she must buy her armor from among the following choices only: Shield, leather, padded, studded leather, brigandine, scale mail, hide, banded mail, bronze plate mail. Once she has adventured elsewhere in the world, she may purchase other types of armor according to her priest-class limitations.

Wealth Options

The Amazon gets the ordinary 3d6x10 gp as starting money