Ceremony (choose specific Immortal): A character with this skill knows how to honor an Immortal through ritual and ceremony; the skill allows a cleric character to perform normal rituals of his clerical order and could even (if the DM allows) permit a character to gain an Immortal’s attention (through devout prayer, fasting, sacrifice of possessions, etc.). This skill includes knowing the code of behavior and the rituals pleasing to the Immortal. In earlier D&D® game products, this skill was often referred to as “Honor (specific immortal).”
🛐 Racial Variants #
| Variant | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dwarven | The Foundation Rite | Dwarves honor Immortals through permanence. Their ceremonies often involve carving names into “The Book of Stone.” They gain a +4 bonus to maintain an Immortal’s attention during times of siege or physical hardship. |
| Elven | Harmonic Alignment | Elves view Ceremony as a song that must harmonize with the cosmos. Their rituals are long and tied to celestial events. A successful roll can “cleanse” a local area of spiritual corruption for 24 hours. |
| Halfling | The Shared Loaf | To Halflings, the divine is found in community. Their ceremony is a feast. If a Halfling performs a ritual for an Immortal of Home or Harvest, the entire party gains the benefits of a Bless spell for the first hour of the next day. |
🗺️ Regional Variants #
- The High-Catheral Hierophant (Metropolitan/Urban)
Trained in the grand, gilded rituals of the state religion.
- Specialty: Public Magnificence. They know how to use pomp and circumstance to move a crowd. A successful Ceremony roll doubles as a Leadership or Persuasion check for any NPCs witnessing the rite.
- The Hedge-Priest (Wilderness/Rural)
Honors the Immortals through simple, rustic signs—tying ribbons to trees or burying coins at crossroads.
- Specialty: Natural Omens. They can “read” an Immortal’s mood through nature. After a successful Ceremony roll, the character can ask the DM one “Yes/No” question about the party’s current path (similar to Augury).
- The Desert Pillar-Saint (Arid/Waste)
Trained in ceremonies of endurance—fasting and silence under the relentless sun.
- Specialty: Ascetic Focus. They are experts at gaining an Immortal’s attention through personal suffering. They receive a -4 bonus (making it easier) to their skill roll if they have gone without food or water for 24 hours.
- The Sea-Bishop (Coastal/Maritime)
Honors the Immortals of the Abyss and the Storm through “Tithes of the Deep.”
- Specialty: Appeasement Rites. Before a voyage, they perform a ritual of sacrifice (casting gold or wine into the waves). A successful roll allows the ship to ignore the first “Natural Hazard” or “Storm” encounter of the journey.
🕯️ The “Immortal’s Attention” Mechanic #
As per the rule, this skill can permit a character to gain an Immortal’s attention.
- The “Devout Petition” Rule: If a character succeeds on a Ceremony roll by 5 or more, they don’t just get the Immortal’s attention; they receive a minor Boon (e.g., a prophetic dream, a temporary +1 to a specific Save, or a glowing sign that guides their path).
- The “Code of Behavior”: Knowing the skill means the character never accidentally violates a taboo of that Immortal. If the party is about to do something that would offend the deity, the character gets a “gut feeling” (no roll needed).
⚖️ Synergy with Other Skills #
- Ceremony + History: The character can perform “Restoration Rites” on ancient, defiled altars, returning them to their former holiness and potentially uncovering lost information.
- Ceremony + Singing/Music: The character can lead a “Congregational Hymn.” If the rolls for both Ceremony and Music are successful, the duration of any divine favor received is doubled.
