Priests High-level priests combine spellcasting abilities with combat power. Like warriors, priests equipped with magical armor and weapons are formidable in combat. Their primary strength, however, comes from their spells.

In addition, priests receive extra proficiencies and hit points through 30th level. Priests also have access to special skills beginning at 10th level.

Priests and 10th-Level Spells

All priests, even druids, gain the ability to cast true dweomers when they reach 20th level. (Although druids do not gain additional spells of levels 1û7 once they exceed 15th level, true dweomers represent a new approach to magic that very high-level druids can understand and use.) Note that the term ô10th-level spellö is something of a misnomer. For a priest, a true dweomer might be called an 8th-level spell, but a true dweomer cast by a priest functions just like a wizardÆs true dweomer does.

Unlike wizards, priests use divine power to create their true dweomers, and any true dweomer a priest casts must promote the deityÆs interests in some way. This requires a judgment call for the DM. When deciding if a priestÆs deity grants a true dweomer, consider the following:

The priest must be in good standing with the deity, having observed the requirements of both the characterÆs alignment and the deityÆs ethos. This is true of all priest spells, and a priest who has strayed too far from the path might not be able to cast any spells at all.

Any true dweomer that impacts on the deityÆs sphere of control or portfolio is likely to be granted unless it runs contrary to that powerÆs wishes. For example, a deity of agriculture is likely to grant a true dweomer that creates an abundant harvest unless the people who are going to benefit from the harvest have offended the deity. Similarly, a deity of war is very likely to grant a true dweomer that transports an entire army to a battlefield, whereas a deity of peace would be more likely to help transport troops away from a battle. The DM should always try to consider the problem from the deityÆs point of view.

When in doubt, check the spheres of normal spells the priest is allowed to cast. If the proposed true dweomer contains effects found in those spells, it is probably acceptable. For example, a priest with access to the creation sphere probably can use true dweomers from the create, conjure, and animate areas.

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