TEXT: Symbol:  Full moon partially eclipsed by a smaller crescent moon 
  Background and Goals: One of the smaller members of the Council of Abbots, the Church of 
  Pholtus makes up for the lack of membership with vocal and active participation in events 
  occurring in Verbobonc. The breakdown of common norms has shown the Pholtans that the 
  Church of Saint Cuthbert is incapable of effectively imposing law and order for any length of 
  time in the Viscounty. The Cuthbertine’s tolerance for the more chaotic faiths, like the Church 
  of Trithereon or the Church of Ehlonna, has undermined their authority in the land. And so 
  the Church of Pholtus seeks to establish its presence wherever possible to bring law into the 
  land and to vanquish chaos. 
  Members: Those that follow “the One True Way” are strident and vigilant against disorder and 
  chaos, and show no tolerance for those who do not give all for the cause of Law. Members do 
  not have much respect for those of other religions, especially chaotic ones. 
  The church has three ascending orders: Glimmering (preferring white garments), Gleaming 
  (preferring white and silver), and Shining (preferring white, silver, and gold). Clerics of the 
  Blinding Light are expected to bring the word to unbelievers, and brook no argument against 
  this practice. This quest means they must travel far from their churches, usually in groups 
  should unbelievers and heretics turn hostile. They smite chaos where they find it, and Evil 
  once chaos is rooted out. These clerics get along well with conservative paladins. When not 
  preaching, they act as judges, lawyers, and arbiters. 
  Members of the Church of Pholtus are typically priests. A priest is defined as a character with 
  more than 50% of base-class levels in the cleric, favored soul, or paladin classes. Non-priests are 
  eligible to become Congregants, while only priests may earn rank past Glimmering. 
  Type: Religious 
  Scale: 5 (Verbobonc) 
  Affiliation Score Criteria: Membership in the Church of Pholtus is open to any Verbobonc 
  character that has a lawful alignment. 
  church of pholtus 
  This certificate is the property of the Verbobonc Triad and may be 
  amended, changed, revoked, or rescinded at any time. The certifi-
  cate must be returned to the Verbobonc Triad upon request. This 
  certificate has $0 cash value and cannot be traded, sold, or given 
  away.  If access to the benefits on this certificate are lost, void 
  should be written across the text of this certificate.  
  This certificate certifies that 
  ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
  A character played by 
  _______________________________________________ ______________________________ 
  _________________________ 
  ____________ 
  Signature  of Player 
   
   
   
  RPGA Number 
  Date 
   
  AR 
  Has fulfilled the requirements for membership in this Verbobonc regional metaorganization. Membership must be renewed 
  annually at the beginning of each calendar year. Keep all previous certificates of membership along with this one so an 
  accurate account of your membership can be verified. 
   
  _________________________________________________  
  ___________________________ 
  _________________________ 
  Signature of DM 
   
   
   
  RPGA Number 
  Date 
   Rev. 2007-05-29 � Page 1 
  Score Title: Benefits and Duties (benefits and duties are cumulative) 
  3 or 
  lower 
  No affiliation; junior member in training 
  4-14 
  Congregant or Glimmering: You have been accepted into the One True Faith and are 
  expected to upon law and vanquish chaos in all form. Members that are priests are 
  known as Glimmering, while that that are not are known as Congregants.  
  � Associated Skills: The following skills are associated with the Church of 
  Pholtus: Intimidate, Knowledge [Religion], and Sense Motive. You receive a +1 
  circumstance bonus to skill checks made with these skills. You also receive an 
  equivalent circumstance penalty when dealing with members of the Church of 
  Saint Cuthbert or the Church of Trithereon. 
  � Equipment: You receive a 20% discount on the purchase of the following 
  equipment: bladefire A&EG, chain mail, farflame oil A&EG, holy text A&EG, 
  quarterstaff, priest’s bullet LM 
  � Influence: You may use your affiliation as influence with the Church of 
  Pholtus. Spending 2 Affiliation points earns you 1 standard Influence point with 
  the Church of Pholtus. 
  � Spellcasting: You may receive the casting of Open divine spells from the Player’s 
  Handbook of 1-3 level. Such spellcasting does not extend to other party members. 
  Service of the Church: Those of the One, True Faith are expected to render service to 
  the church and to provide monetary assistance to accomplish the fulfillment of goals. 
  You must spend 1 TU after any Verbobonc regional adventure or any VTF 
  metaregional adventure, and tithe 2% of any gold earned during an adventure (as 
  circled in the Level of Play section of your adventure record.  
  15-25 Gleaming: Your opposition to chaos has garnered you recognition within the One 
  True Faith, and you have risen to the rank of Gleaming. 
  � Associated Skills. Your bonus increases to +2.  
  � Divine Spellcasting:This now includes all Open spells of 4th level or lower. 
  � Dwelling: Should you move to a town in the Verbobonc Town Project, you are 
  provided a Residence [Simple House]. This house costs you 0 gp, however you 
  pay taxes on the house as if you had paid full price for it. For more information 
  on Residences, see Verbobonc Town Project: Player’s Guide and Sourcebook. 
  � Influence: Spending 1 Affiliation point now earns you 1 standard Influence 
  Point. Additionally, you may spend Influence Points to earn Affiliation points 
  using the same ratio. 
  � Prestige Classes: You may spend 1 Affiliation point to gain access to the 
  Shadowbane Inquisitor prestige class. You must spend 2 TU upon taking your 
  first level in this prestige class, and 1 TU each time you gain a level. Additionally, 
  you are considered to have discovered corruption for purposes of qualifying for 
  the Church Inquisitor prestige class. 
  26+ 
  Shining: A bastion of law, a Shining is nothing less than a the abolition of chaos 
  incarnate. Shinings are exemplars of Ph0ltus’ power and truth in the Viscounty of 
  Verbobonc. 
  � Associated Skills: Your bonus increases to +4.  
  � Dwelling: Your dwelling is upgraded to a Residence [Grand House]. You may 
  customize the residence as you see fit, provided that you include a Chapel 
  component. You are still required to pay all taxes on the residence.  
  � Divine Spellcasting:This now includes 5th level spells 
  � Influence: Spending 1 Affiliation point now earns you 2 standard Influence 
  Points. 
  Titles, Benefits and Duties: The Church of Pholtus requires all members to spend 5 TU in 
  contemplation of law  upon earning a new rank. You may not use any benefit if it would result 
  in demotion to a lower tier. 
  Criterion (One Time) 
  Modifier 
  Character level 
  +½ PC’s level 
  Levels in cleric, favored soul, or paladin 
  +1/level 
  Levels in barbarian, bard, or rogue 
  -2/level 
  Levels in Church Inquisitor CD , Radiant Servant of Pelor CD (Pholtus variant, 
  see LG Deities 2.0) or Shadowbane Inquisitor CV 
  +2/level 
  Ranks in Associated Skills 
  +½/rank 
  Possesses the True Believe CD feat (must choose Pholtus as deity) 
  +3 
  Criterion (Multiple Use) 
  Modifier 
  Plays a Verbobonc regional adventure or a VTF metaregional adventure as a 
  member of the Church of Pholtus 
  +½/round 
  Plays a Verbobonc metaregional adventure as a member of the Church of 
  Pholtus with the Church of Pholtus listed as a metaorganizational focus. 
  +2/round 
  Destroys a chaotic creature (1) 
  +¼ creature’s CR 
  Reports a lawbreaker, no matter the law or circumstance 
  +1 
  Converts an NPC to the faith of Pholtus 
  +2 
  Associates with non-lawful creatures(2) 
  -1 
  Associates with chaotic creatures(2) 
  -3 
  Acts against alignment(2)(3) 
  -10 
  Notes: 
  1. 
  This bonus overlaps (does not stack with) itself; if earned multiple times, only the 
  highest bonus applies. 
  2. 
  These bonuses overlaps (does not stack); only apply the highest bonus if both Criterion 
  are applicable. 
  3. 
  Cannot improve Affiliation score until undergoing atonement from a cleric of Pholtus 
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/3rd Edition (3.x)/RPGA/Living Greyhawk/Tuflik, Fals, and Velverdyva Trade Route/Verbobonc/Verbobonc Gazetteer/Verbobonc - Church of Pholtus 597.pdf