PLAYING A BLESSED
Blessed are people who have been granted supernatural abilities by mysterious and distant powers of good. Some are priests or actual clergy while others are simply chosen for the nobility of their struggle or their soul. Though most are enlightened and good by nature they don’t have to be—sometimes the light chooses even troubled souls to carry out its will.
Most folks on the frontier pay lip service to God—or Allah, or the Spirits, or whoever drives the wagon in their particular hallelujah hayride—but they don’t really stop sinning
unless they’re about to meet him face to face. A few chosen souls are nobler. They live the ideals of their faith and are beacons of hope for others. These are collectively called the “blessed.” Not all blessed are preachers or nuns. The Lord truly works in mysterious ways, and sometimes the most ornery cusses seem to inherit the divine wind, so to speak, while the local padre can’t even light a candle without a match.
Sometimes blessings are bestowed because the soul beneath the surface is pure, other times because a particular person just happens to fit the Almighty’s divine—though
often obscure—plan.
SIN
The blessed make their lives an example to
others and abstain from sinful ways. The
information on what constitutes a sin to
Christians—the most common religion on
the frontier—is a good guide for what rules
apply to other denominations.
SINNIN' TABLE
| Severity |
Example |
| Minor |
Taking the Lord’s name in vain,
getting drunk, lying, refusing
aid to those in need, envying
another’s possessions. |
| Major |
Theft, turning away from those
in dire need, failing to take
communion (for a Catholic). |
| Mortal |
Adultery, killing other than in
self-defense, blasphemy (denial
of faith). |
TRAPPINGS
Blessed powers are always subtle if not
outright imperceptible—usually so much so
that only the effects are visible.
The blessed are chosen by the divine
beings of “goodness” as their champions. Yes,
there are divine beings of good in Deadlands,
they just have to work through humanity
rather than clash with evil themselves. We
don’t make the cosmic rules, amigo, we just
tell you about ’em.
BLESSED EDGES
TRUE BELIEVER
REQUIREMENTS: Novice, Spirit d10+, Arcane Background
(Blessed), Faith d6+
This holy roller seems to have the ear of
his deity. He gets a free reroll on Faith rolls.
FLOCK
REQUIREMENTS: Veteran, Arcane Background
(Blessed), Persuasion d8+
The greatest prophets and preachers
are attended by followers. These men and
women have found salvation of one sort or
another in the blessed, and devoted their
lives to his cause.
Flock gives your padre five followers who
serve at his side in whatever capacity you
choose. They have the stats of Townsfolk
(see page 151), though like any other Allies
they may Advance (see Savage Worlds). They
come with nothing but the clothes on their
back and a few dollars, but can be armed and
outfitted however the blessed sees fit.
Members of the Flock who perish are
slowly replaced over time (usually by giving
a “revival”). The Edge may not be taken more
than once until the blessed is Legendary. At
that point he may take it as many times as
he likes (as well as the Followers Edge, if he
so chooses).
