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The paladin of Iomedae in my game has finally encountered other warriors of Iomedae by way of the church in Magnimar. She's a strange case, being a Janderhoff dwarf and having been called to service by a vision quest (giants and lamia, oh my!). Until last game she's been making it up as she goes, but now she has an opportunity to be part of a proper organization, a sisterhood of knightly service.
I've made the Magnimar church into a girls orphanage and martial school, headed by a few clerics and paladins. There's a strong sacred virgin/Joan-of-Arc/Sapphic vibe to the whole deal. It's intriguing without being played for salacious laughs (for the most part).
The church has promised an indoctrination ritual of 'first blood' after the dwarf vanquishes the lady of the shadow clock. I have a basic idea of what I want, but I'd like to pluck other GMs' (and the Paizo staff’s?) minds for ideas.
What would make a good ritual for Iomedae's chosen? Something memorable.
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Recite the Creed: Stolen from KOTOR. The candidate is prompted to recite the creed of the order. This should either immediately precede or immediately follow the starter suggested above. This makes certain the candidate knows what values they are expected to maintain. Actually, the more I think about it the more this belongs as the first thing...
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I'll steal the starter from John Norman's Gor novel. After she agrees that she's committed to the ritual, have her spearbearer guide turn and throw the spear at her. This is the first test; if you can't survive a single thrown spear, you aren't warrior enough to compete in the trials anyway.
Disclaimer: Overall, I don't like the Gor novels. After a while, you realize not only is the author using cardboard cut-outs for characters, he's using the same cut outs over and over and over... and if you feel the need to comment on the fact that I either don't like them or found a good scene, please PUT IT IN A DIFFERENT THREAD. Thank you.
Back to post:
Trial by Fire: See how much pain the candidate can tolerate, either told to 'stand here', or perhaps to rescue a child in danger. Fire can be real or illusionary.
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After each trial, there should be a rest period. If the trial is expected to injure the candidate, there should be healing, perhaps a varying amount based on the response of a question intended to test the same virtue as the test.
EXAMPLE: If the trial by fire could be used to test sacrifice, duty, or protection (just off the top of my head). When asked 'Why did you save the child?', more healing would be given for the proper answer, making the trials easier for candidates who are motivated for the proper reasons.
But without knowing the creed of their Order better, I don't want to venture guesses and then get laughed down because I'm an ignorant hillbilly of Pathfinder-verse (or whatever it's called).
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Do what the previous poster said, but keep pushing the candidate without rest and increasing the danger until the candidate dies. Make sure the candidate knows they can quit at any time, but will never be allowed to try again if they do. When they're raised, that's the final part of the ritual and after the candidate is back on their feet, there's a great feast and celebration, and the candidate is honored in front of all of the apprentices and given a sacred mantle/vestment/weapon of the faith in a long, elaborate ceremony designed to honor both the candidate and the deity in the most profound way possible. If you incorporate the ritual into the game as something that happens at level 3, this could also be how they get their aura of courage. "I have tasted death itself and know what awaits beyond. Nothing you could possibly do will cause me to tremble."
In fact, I now have the initiation ceremony for one of my LG deities!
