Religions and the gods of Nine Gates The gods are in the main remnants of ancient beasts and

giants, now buried in th e earth. Some, like the Beast Below or the Rock Brothers have influence in the w orld through dreams and magic, some, like Sphinx, Pelle and Ka and Karn, are act ively worshipped. LEVIATHAN Other Names: Great One, Ocean Mother, Mother of All Holy Symbol: Pearl, coral or other semi-precious material retrieved from the sea Clerical restriction: Sacrifice all wealth to the ocean once a year Clerical bonus: Free action as per the spell in sea water Leviathan is a beast of the deep, whose domains are the ocean, hidden things, tr easures and that which is lost. SPHINX Other Names: Desert Guardian, the Monolith, The First Word Holy Symbol: A golden amulet, a staff or a piece of lapis lazuli carved in a 'O' shape. Clerical restriction: Petition the desert monolith once per year and follow its dictates Clerical bonus: Sense undead 50', perfect mental calculator. Sphinx is the desert guardian of the dead, an abandoned monolithic statue of gre at antiquity buried in the desert sands. A spark of divine power still resides w ithin and is tended by a zealous clergy. Sphinx holds sway over funerary rites, machinery, magic and numeracy. ROCK BROTHERS Other Names: Mountain Kin, Vast Ones, First Brothers Holy Symbol: A cross of iron beaten into shape Clerical restriction: Climb a mountain every year, as pilgrimage. Tradition has it that it must be taller than the previous mountain. Clerical bonus: Interpret dreams as an augury spell 1/day (2/day at 6th level) The Rock Brothers are a range of mountains in the north, said to be a family of giants deep asleep. Their dreams touch certain clerics and sensitives. They hold dominion over dreams and madness, and bring the snows of winter. ORC MOTHER Other Names: Mother Rock, The Rock, Bountiful One Holy Symbol: A plaited length of hair from a priestess of the Orc Mother Clerical restriction: Challenge any other orc cleric to a foot race Clerical bonus: +4 to Initiative rolls Orc Mother is a huge rock outcrop in the western wastes, worshipped by the orc t ribes. Little is known about her worship or any powers she might grant her follo wers, but she favours musical talent and athletic prowess in her priesthood. PELLE Other Names: The River, Smiling Shadow, Your Mother's Voice Holy Symbol: Blue water tattoos Clerical restriction: Cross-dressing required at all ceremonial occasions, and w hen sacrificing for spells Clerical bonus: Cannot drown, can sacrifice for Change Self spell as a 1st level spell Pelle is the mighty river that feeds Nine Gates and has formed the backbone of t he city for time immemorial. Pelle is neither male nor female but ever changing.

The followers of Pelle worship its changing nature, and it grants powers of cha nge, sex and fertility with trickster s glee. Over the years the clergy of Pelle h ave assumed roles of power and influence in Nine Gates and few are concerned any more with the supposed 'teachings' of the god and its goals. For this reason th e clergy of Pelle take a very dim view of holy men and women touched by the god, who claim special revelation or inspiration from the holy river. THE GREAT FOREST Other Names: The Green, Greenheart, World's Centre Holy Symbol: Some living green, or a recent cutting Clerical restriction: Always spend at least one hour per day under open sky Clerical bonus: Know direction unerringly towards the heart of the Great Forest, +4 save vs. madness, confusion and paralysis The Great Forest at the source of the Pelle grew over the resting place of a gia nt. Its bones and flesh fed the trees and its spirit imbued the forest with its magical nature. Those with a connection to the forest may draw on powers of grow th and change, and are subject to wild ecstatic madness. KA AND KARN Other Names: Fireheart and Smoking Man, The Twins Holy Symbol: Igneous rock carved to resemble two human figures joined at the han ds and feet Clerical restriction: Sacrifice gold to the volcanos or a forge on holy days Clerical bonus: +4 to saving throws vs. fire and heat. Take half damage from fir e and heat in any case Ka and Karn are the twin volcanoes in the north. Their worshippers command fire and earth. Priests of the Twins are often great blacksmiths. DWELLER IN DARKNESS Other Names: Unseen Friend, The Voice in Your Ear Holy Symbol: A piece of black silk, tied in an intricate pattern of knots Clerical restriction: Greet every stranger with a brief blessing Clerical bonus: Sharp hearing and sense of smell, heal twice as fast as an ordin ary person Dweller in Darkness, sometimes confused with the Beast Below, is a dark figure f rom the catacombs, whose dreams plague the sensitive and vulnerable. It holds sw ay over the deepest dungeons of the old city and its crazed followers wish the s urface only woe. It grants its worshippers black magic and THE BEAST BELOW Other Names: The Hungry Maw, One Who Dies, Baaleth Holy Symbol: A defaced coin or damaged silver jewelry Clerical restriction: Eat meat at every meal Clerical bonus: Cause Fear 1/day (2/day at 4th level, 3/day at 7th level) The Beast Below is the devil figure of Nine Gates, an unspeakable horror from th e depths of the underworld. Only the depraved would consider the Beast worthy of worship. The cult of the Beast is involved in the trade in earthblood somehow. THE HOLY WORD Other Names: The Word Before Words, The Hand that Writes Itself Clerical restriction: Must follow written instructions signed with the authorizi ng glyph of a high priest Clerical bonus: Read magic at will, and cast any spell from a scroll The Holy Word is a divine script, writing that is imbued with holy power. Worshi p is done by writing and painting the script, teaching the words and spreading k

nowledge far and wide. Priest of the Holy Word wield powers of communication, or atory and command.