Non-Religious Clerics: Part 2

In which I imagine a cleric-class without a religion, Part 2. 

Hermit

Sometimes the crime is betraying your vows
and condemning two loving innocents to
a terrible curse that can only broken during
an eclipse, but I'm just generalizing.  

In an attempt to achieve enlightenment, to deal with mental illness, or as some for of punishment (self-imposed or otherwise), these people have cut themselves off from the world, living as recluses, ascetics, survivalists and beggars on the very fringes of civilization.

Possible Source(s) of Their Magic: Sometimes, through a spiritual awakening, or a severe mental break, or through some otherworldly intelligence transmitting on a frequency so low that only the truly alone can perceive it, they gain access to strange powers.

Edged Weapons: Not as a rule. Most will use practical weapons such as a staff or cane if they use weapons at all. That is not to say that the unwashed beggar who lives by the old waterfall wasn't once a great knight, who just might have his old blade stored in a well-oiled bag buried under the floor of his hovel...

How They Turn: Hermits live on the fringes, which co-incidentally is where many monsters live. Any hermit who expects to survive the first full moon learns quickly how to deal with the shadow-things.

Doctor/Medic
Seems a little obvious in retrospect, but there have always been those who have dedicated themselves to the healing arts, why not just use clerics as doctors. While it might appear to regulate them to the roll of medic,

Possible Source(s) of Their Magic: Doctors may be dedicated to the healing of the body, but that doesn't mean they disdain or distrust magic. Their magic is more likely to depend on some form of 'lifeforce', which can be given willingly, or taken forcefully.

Edged Weapons: Oh yes, indeed. The sharper the better. Knives, saws and needles would be common, with the occasional rapier or sword-cane, but larger, more obvious weapons such as long swords would be seen as vulgar.

I've been this guy. Not gonna tell you which one. 

How They Turn: Attune to the energy force that is within all living things, they can feel its lack in the undead, by projecting it through a talisman or foci, they can use it to push back or even destroy the undead.






Naturalist

For twenty-five years this is how I pictured Eldrond. 

Men and women who have become aware of the natural powers of the ecosphere. Defenders of all that is natural and wild. Be aware that natural rarely means 'safe', or 'fair' or 'gentle' or 'kind'. Often it means sickness and death, hunter and prey, but no matter how they define it, all naturalists worship one thing, life itself.

Possible Source(s) of Their Magic: Naturalists are able to draw upon the very life-force of the planet.

Edged Weapons: Sickles and scythes certainly. Also staffs, shillelaghs, cudgels and clubs.

Yay for nature!

How They Turn: The life-force of the planet finds the void in itself created by undead as abhorrent and will always attempt to repel or destroy such creatures.














Cultists
Those who have sublimed their indenty into that of a group dedicated to a cause greater than themselves. Converts and zealots to the core, they would sacrifice everything to their cause and in return they are surrounded by the love of their fellows.

Possible Source(s) of Their Magic:  In return for their devotion, Cultists are are allowed access to esoteric and forbidden knowledge. Sometimes these powers are frauds and forgeries formed from half-baked ideas. Others are ancient brotherhoods who have stood unbroken for a thousand years. It is alost impossible to tell the difference. Regardless, in the hands of true zealot, that weaponized belief becomes a powerful force indeed.

Edged Weapons: This one is completely dependent on the nature of the cult.

How They Turn: Sheer faith, often focused through a 'holy' talisman, can be powerful enough to drive away the unholy things (even the old ones are repelled by the undead for they too are alive, in a way).

Inquisitors

Beware the Witchsmeller!

Those who have taken up the cause of exposing and then eradicating a great evil from the world, while protecting innocents from its effects. There is very little they would not do in service to their most important cause. Just because the methods are distasteful, it does not mean that the cause is not righteous, or critical to the very fate of the world.

Possible Source(s) of Their Magic: Like cultists, the sheer power of their devotion gives them the ability to cast spells at will.

You were all expecting it.

Edges Weapons: In small doses, delicately used. Inquisitors prefer to fight with words and faith, and kill with fire and pain.

How They Turn: The strength of their devotion, focused through a talisman of faith is powerful enough to repel the undead.