Last night the party was adventuring in *Curse of Strahd*.  

In the previous session they had acquired the module-specific magic item

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>  Icon of Ravenloft
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and given it to an NPC accompanying them,

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>  Donovich
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In last night's session the NPC was able to *attune* to the item, unlocking among its other powers the ability

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> **Bane of the Undead**. You can use the icon as a holy symbol while using the Turn Undead or Turn the Unholy feature. If you do so, increase the save DC by 2.
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As I understand it, this power [can be used only by those who already can *Turn Undead*](https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/182066/magic-item-grants-an-ability-or-not). And this particular NPC does not have the *Turn the Undead* feature. At first I thought this was because he appeared to be a named NPC [Acolyte](https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/acolyte), a 1st level Spellcaster, while PC Clerics don't get *Channel Divinity (Turn the Undead)* until second level. So I checked the [Priest](https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/priest) Stat Block, since another important NPC

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>  Father Lucian Petrovich
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uses the Priest Stat Block. I was surprised to find that, as written, the standard Priest NPC does not have the *Turn the Undead* feature either. Nor does the War Priest NPC in *VGtM*.

I am, in general, wary of giving NPCs PC abilities, as the game should be focused on the PCs as exceptional individuals. And I don't think that *every* NPC Priest needs this ability. However, these particular priests follow the Morninglord (Lathander), a deity who is opposed to undead. And given the setting (Barovia), protecting their congregations from undead is a central part of their ministry. Thus I think it is reasonable to give this particular NPC Priest the ability, as usable by PC Clerics (one use per long or short rest). For the NPC Acolyte, I am considering granting him the ability to *Turn Undead* by expending a spell slot, as a sort of reverse case of the "Harness Divine Power" found in *TCoE*.

So, what am I missing? **Is granting the ability to NPC Priests and Acolytes to *Turn Undead* in setting-specific instances unbalanced?** Normally unbalanced would mean the new power would justify an increase in their CR but as these are not PC-antagonists here it might mean that the ability will somehow detract from the experience of the players or reduce the challenge to them significantly. **Are there any complications I should be aware of?** For example something specific to this module that would make this a bad idea. A good answer will provide official examples of other NPCs or monsters who *do* have this ability, either in standard Stat Blocks or module-specific adjusted ones, if there are any.