Every cleric a saint

 "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes."

--Psalm 82

Folk here talk to things, and they become real. If they give their faith, the receiver has power. Worship makes godlings and spirits. There are thousands of them, and they live a very long time, even after the worship ends and memory fades.

Belief is how each river has a godling. Forgetfulness is why the Chimera is so bitter.

Faith is like gravity: gather enough of its weight, and you are a god in truth. As a god you are not wiser, but rather more powerful, deeper, more Real than real. You gain the Sight. Gods and spirits have one foot here, one foot in the Realm Beyond.

No one knows why ascension occurs: that is the central mystery of faith. Faith is a sword that beheads the world. Numberless are the myriad powers of gods and spirits, for faith can accomplish miracles.

Clerics do not pray for power: we are on the journey to ascension. Every cleric is a minor saint. Our names are invoked by farmers to bless a meal, or protect a lamb.

Wisdom and Charisma are a cleric's core attributes: the first to sense divine opportunity and danger, the second to convince others to believe in our heroism and piety. We clerics have a divine patron to be sure, but waiting for miracles is chancy. If we want to change the world through our will, through 'spells' and rebuking the undead, we need faith. We need followers.

Maybe we started out the hero of our village or the last hope of a family of bandits. Maybe we spun tales so well in school that their lies hemmed in power, drawing in friends like flies.

A few is enough, if the faith is pure.

When clerics come back from the dungeon, cash in hand, we go looking for folks to hear our legend. We share our money, share our tales, use our power to empower and heal people. Every mended bone is faith that this holy magic works, a blessing returned tenfold over time.

"Faith is acting on what you believe in."

You are a young cleric, St. Agwen. If you want to acquire more powers, survive greater perils, discover new spells? Evangelize yourself. Get more believers--spend your silver on the poor, the faithful, above all the needy and the gullible. Don't hide your light: tell them who is saving them, and how great you are. If they first hear of your patron through your sermons, all the better.

Be the saint they want to see in the world. Their expectations are your morality, their lies about you, reality. Become a legend, and pray your followers continue in good health and happiness. Defend them from all ills.

With enough time, you will become a demi-god, standing by your divine patron in the minds of many. Powerful clerics only die when the faith of their followers is broken. Every cult leader is Rasputin.

Godhood is within reach. With enough faith, you will move mountains.

-- An translation, from Tradespeak, of an excerpt of a letter to St. Agwen, from the Matriarch of Nomon, 12 Nightsmonth