Character Class Preview: The Gakusho

Today we present the Gakusho (or priest). This class represents the Shinto or Buddhist type priest of the Ruins & Ronin setting. They are able to cast away evil / unclean spirits (much like turn undead) and are powerful spell casters (though not very powerful offensive spells). 

GAKUSHO

Requirements:   WIS 8

Prime Requisite: WIS

Hit Dice: 1d4

Maximum Level:   None

Gakusho are priests of their chosen religion (such as the followers of the 8 Million Gods, or the Path to Eightfold Enlightenment, or a religion of your GM’s own creation). They minister to their followers, and some wander the land with their robes and copper offering bowl, preaching enlightenment or tending to the thousands of shrines dotting the land.

Gakusho cannot wear any armor, and are unable to use most weapons. They are restricted to the long staff (bo), and short staff (jo).

Special Abilities

Spell Casting: Gakusho can cast a number of spells each day based on their level. All spells from the Gakusho list are available, but must be determined at the start of each new adventuring day. Once the spells available for the day are cast, they cannot be cast again until after the Gakusho rests for 6 hours (sleep or meditation).

Banish Spirits: Gakusho have the ability to cast away or banish evil or unclean spirits by holding forth a holy item (be it some personal token or holy script that has been blessed by a member of their temple) and confronting the spirit forcefully. Use the Banish Spirit Table to determine success or failure by rolling 2d6.

Ritual Purification: Their spiritual training has given Gakusho the ability to attempt to purify (remove curse) people, places, and things. This purification ritual can be performed only one time by the Gakusho, until a new level of experience is reached.

Spiritual Fortitude: Once per day (per level of experience) a Gakusho can rely on his spiritual energies to add +3 to any saving throw attempt.

Establish Temple/Monastery: Starting at 9th level, a Gakusho can clear an area of land and build a temple or monastery for his faith. He will be joined by a faithful group of followers determined by the GM using the Domain section of the rulebook.

Gakusho Advancement Table
Experience	Level	Hit Die (d6)	Ritual Purification	Spells / Level
				1	2	3	4	5
1,225	1	1	10%	1	-	-	-	-
2,450	2	2	15%	2	-	-	-	-
4,900	3	3	20%	3	1	-	-	-
9,800	4	4	25%	3	2	-	-	-
19,600	5	5	30%	3	2	1	-	-
39,200	6	6	35%	4	3	2	-	-
78,400	7	7	40%	4	3	2	1	-
156,800	8	8	45%	4	3	3	2	-
313,600	9	9	50%	5	4	3	2	1
627,200	10	9+2	55%	5	4	3	3	2

Banish Spirits Table
Spirit HD	Gakusho Level
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
1	7	5	3	T	T	D	D	D	D	D
2	9	7	5	3	T	T	D	D	D	D
3	11	9	7	5	3	T	T	D	D	D
4	-	11	9	7	5	3	T	T	D	D
5	-	-	11	9	7	5	3	T	T	D
6	-	-	-	11	9	7	5	3	T	T
7	-	-	-	-	11	9	7	5	3	T
8	-	-	-	-	-	11	9	7	5	3
9	-	-	-	-	-	-	11	9	7	5
10+	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	11	9	7