Favored Soul RP
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2016 10:52 pm
There seems to be some confusion around Favored Souls and their RP (not just here, but in nwn2 as a whole). A lot of people seem to think they are chosen by a god at birth/born of a god, like some sort of divine emissary. Also, a few people I've spoken to seem to think Favored Souls don't need to follow the deity who sponsors them, or some such. This is likely the fault of whoever wrote the description of Favored Soul in game, as it is just plain horrible and doesn't tell the full story.
Since I can't link the Complete Divine due to copyright reasons, I'll instead use Realms Help (which is the same thing, for those of you who haven't read the Complete Divine).
http://www.realmshelps.net/charbuild/cl ... soul.shtml
"Scholars wonder if favored souls have traces of outsider blood from unions, holy or unholy, centuries ago and generations removed. Others suggest that divine training of the proper type awakens the ability, or that favored souls are simply imbued with their gifts by their gods when they begin the cleric's path. In any case, favored souls cast their spells naturally, as much through force of personality as through study. Though this gives them extraordinary divine abilities no normal person could ever match, they see their gift as a call to action, and so in some ways may lag behind their more studious colleagues."
NWN2's description presents one theory, and likely the least plausible theory on Favored Souls. Like many other lore tidbits (thinking about you, warlocks), there is an element of ambiguity present. Personally, I find the traces of outsider blood to be the most plausible story for Favored Souls, as if a divine sorcerer [outsiders can cast divine spells inherently too]. But, that is up to the DM, the character, etc. In this case, it is up to the individual player and the DMs if they should decide to make a ruling.
There also seems to be some confusion around them not having to follow their deity. I've heard that around, though, I'm not sure where that rumor spread either.
"Favored souls are often loners, wandering the land serving their deities."
Mechanics aside, right off the bat we've got this little tidbit here. They serve their deity (deities, as FR is a polytheistic land).
"They are welcomed by their churches but treated as unusual and are sometimes misunderstood. They are emissaries of their deities and outside the church's command structure - respected mystics not requiring the support normally crucial to a priest's success. This makes them sometimes revered and sometimes envied by their cleric cousins. While favored souls are occasionally disrespected for their perceived lack of discipline..."
They don't exactly have to fit in with their church. In fact, they are often shunned from it in a similar manner (likely) that wizards might shun sorcerers. They still need to fit in with their deity.
"...devout worshipers know that they are a powerful message from, and indeed a living manifestation of their deities."
Addressing this last note as well, as it may have been related to some of the confusion regarding favored soul's origins. Every single spell a cleric casts is a manifestation of their deity. Don't take that too literally, its not an overly special thing in FR.
"Unlike clerics, favored souls are not able to devote themselves to a cause or a source of divine power instead of a deity."
Not a forgotten realms thing, but, further proof of that deity-to-cast-spells connection (again, forgetting the fact that you need to choose a diety, the one who sponsored you as a favored soul, on your character sheet).
A couple ending notes:
--A favored soul needs to be one step away from their deity's alignment and needs to worship their deity to receive their spells. That should imply something! They may not need their deity's approval for every single spell, but they still need to follow their deity.
--Chosen are FR's equivalent to a Jesus figure, they are the real special ones. Favored Souls are not, despite being accused of such often (it seems).
Since I can't link the Complete Divine due to copyright reasons, I'll instead use Realms Help (which is the same thing, for those of you who haven't read the Complete Divine).
http://www.realmshelps.net/charbuild/cl ... soul.shtml
"Scholars wonder if favored souls have traces of outsider blood from unions, holy or unholy, centuries ago and generations removed. Others suggest that divine training of the proper type awakens the ability, or that favored souls are simply imbued with their gifts by their gods when they begin the cleric's path. In any case, favored souls cast their spells naturally, as much through force of personality as through study. Though this gives them extraordinary divine abilities no normal person could ever match, they see their gift as a call to action, and so in some ways may lag behind their more studious colleagues."
NWN2's description presents one theory, and likely the least plausible theory on Favored Souls. Like many other lore tidbits (thinking about you, warlocks), there is an element of ambiguity present. Personally, I find the traces of outsider blood to be the most plausible story for Favored Souls, as if a divine sorcerer [outsiders can cast divine spells inherently too]. But, that is up to the DM, the character, etc. In this case, it is up to the individual player and the DMs if they should decide to make a ruling.
There also seems to be some confusion around them not having to follow their deity. I've heard that around, though, I'm not sure where that rumor spread either.
"Favored souls are often loners, wandering the land serving their deities."
Mechanics aside, right off the bat we've got this little tidbit here. They serve their deity (deities, as FR is a polytheistic land).
"They are welcomed by their churches but treated as unusual and are sometimes misunderstood. They are emissaries of their deities and outside the church's command structure - respected mystics not requiring the support normally crucial to a priest's success. This makes them sometimes revered and sometimes envied by their cleric cousins. While favored souls are occasionally disrespected for their perceived lack of discipline..."
They don't exactly have to fit in with their church. In fact, they are often shunned from it in a similar manner (likely) that wizards might shun sorcerers. They still need to fit in with their deity.
"...devout worshipers know that they are a powerful message from, and indeed a living manifestation of their deities."
Addressing this last note as well, as it may have been related to some of the confusion regarding favored soul's origins. Every single spell a cleric casts is a manifestation of their deity. Don't take that too literally, its not an overly special thing in FR.
"Unlike clerics, favored souls are not able to devote themselves to a cause or a source of divine power instead of a deity."
Not a forgotten realms thing, but, further proof of that deity-to-cast-spells connection (again, forgetting the fact that you need to choose a diety, the one who sponsored you as a favored soul, on your character sheet).
A couple ending notes:
--A favored soul needs to be one step away from their deity's alignment and needs to worship their deity to receive their spells. That should imply something! They may not need their deity's approval for every single spell, but they still need to follow their deity.
--Chosen are FR's equivalent to a Jesus figure, they are the real special ones. Favored Souls are not, despite being accused of such often (it seems).