Savage Legba - Tribal Healers

These rules are kinda long, the Savage legba can be played by just going through the magic section, the promotions and the summary... ...

~ Background:

The legba is a Savage healer, the priest of the elements and the link between the gods and the tribe. In battles and during hunts, they stay between the warriors and the archers (in case of sneak attacks from behind) to provide much needed healing from behind the scenes. The legbas did their best to heal the defenders of the tribe when the enemies approached but their efforts were in vain due to the stronger spell powers of the advocates aiding the knights... ...

~ Overview:

As Savages, the legba has keen senses, especially about their surroundings. They draw their powers from the surroundings through specially crafted staves. Like their fellow tribesmen, the legba wants revenge on Gorash and will not stop until justice is done... ... for clearer picture, refer to Savage rules... ...

~ Class Restrictions:

The Savage healer, the legba, can only be sorcerors as they require huge amounts of spiritual energy (mana) to sustain the sacred link to the gods. The Savage legba subclass is designated by (SAV) at the end of their name as they are part of the Savage tribe.

Headgears: Only thinking caps are allowed as any headgear would affect their use of their spiritual energies. Royal Circlet may be worn after attaining rank of Ultimate xxx to show their newly acquired status.

Armour: Use of armour prevents free movements of their hands, legs and body, thus only cloaks and capes may be worn.

Shields: Shields prevents free movement of their hands, so disallowed.

Weapons: Only staves, the natural weapon, is allowed, plus the uniques.

Prefixes/Suffixes: Any except those that adds to strength (+ to all is NOT okay). Such items will cause a disruption to their physical movement and cause them to break their concentration. Also, Savages will never allow their bodies to be manipulated or humiliated, so items of Corruption and items which -life, -vitality, -strength or -all are not allowed. Arch Angel prefix may only be used upon gaining title of Savage Angel. King's prefix is not allowed (you can't be the King).

Uniques: Only the Civerb's Cudgel (primitive club) and the Bonesaw (primitive sword) may be used.

Scrolls: Able to comprehend the arcane language of scrolls, the legba may use scrolls (but with restrictions... see below).

Books: Magical powers of the book transmits to the Savage through the gods... i.e. can use.

Potions: Suspicion of the potion's contents means no pots until communication quest is complete... villagers will explain to the Savage.

Shrines/Cauldrons: The Savages are strong believers in gods and shrines should be prayed at (except those detrimental to self). Goat shrines and cauldrons are evil and corrupted things and must be avoided.

~ Currency:

- The Savage begins the game with absolutely NO knowledge of the currency system and as such would not know the importance of gold. He will only start to understand the value of gold after completing the communication quest and killing King Leoric. Before that, he may not touch any gold. Any gold picked up by accident must be returned to the ground.

~ Weapon Mastery:

As the Savage is proficient with all staves and the two primitive weapons allowed, there is no need for weapon mastery rules, but if some variant combos require a different weapons, the Weapon Mastery rules of the Savage tribe applies.

~ Armour and Shield Usage:

- Being familiar sights back in the tribe, the Savage can immediately equip cloaks or capes he finds.

~ Observe and Learn:

The Savage starts of with no knowledge of currency (drop your 100 gold piece on the ground) and is unable to understand the language of the townfolks. Gradually, he will learn about the way of life of the people around him and be able to communicate. Similarly, he can learn some special abilities through observing the enemy... ... (see the quest/training section for more details). His keen sense of observation means he can learn and use the spell "Search".

However, he may SPEAK TO ADRIA as he can converse with her in ancient arcane language.

Spells represent the aid given to the legba by the gods. They are classified into five categories:

Casting of spells follows strict rules. The Savage legba, starts with no proficiency in any of the magic type. To master a magic type, the Savage legba must:

	Find or purchase (if you start with the staff, it counts as well) staff of <*>, where <*> is any spell of the type the legba is attempting to master,
	Kill a number of unique depending on the number of magic types already known (natural ability doesn't count). If you know nothing, you only have to kill 4 unique monsters. If you know one, you have to kill 8; if two, you have to kill 8 (on at least nitemare); and if three, you have to kill 8 (on at least hell). These uniques have to be killed USING the spell in the staff you found in (i), Note: This is to prepare a special feast for the gods to prove sincerity.
	There is specific requirements for each magic type as well (kill the monster for their blood): - light magic: nothing... - fire magic: blood of a unique fire clan goat (be it melee or archer), - air magic: blood of a unique flying monster (familiars, winged demons etc), - dark magic: blood of Laz or the Dark Lord.
	Defeat King Leoric, when holding the staff to complete the ritual. The bones of the Skeleton King has great magical powers and must be slain in MELEE combat to keep the bones intact.

After mastering the magic type, the Savage legba must learn the correct sequence of movements (of hands and feet) in order to cast the spell properly. To do so, the Savage legba must:

	Obtain a book of that spell and keep it in the inventory (for reference),
	Find or purchase a scroll or staff of that spell, (you MAY NOT do repeated Adria runs to get this item)
	Kill any unique with a spell in the magic type you wish to master (i.e. Holy Bolts to kill a unique in order to learn Heal Others).

Note that you still cannot USE the spells until you complete the relevant quest (5, 6 or 7). You may LEARN the spell first though.

Casting a spell also has restriction. As a Savage legba draws his energies from the surroundings through his staff, he may only cast spells of a certain magic type when he is using a staff of a spell of that magic type. Obviously, the Savage legba may not cast spells (except for Natural abilities) when using unique weapons.

For example, if the legba wishes to cast a Flame Wave spell, he must be using a staff of a fire magic spell (such as Firebolt).

The quick-learning ability of the Savage enables him to learn things and use it against the enemies.

The quests must be completed in order from 1-8.

This quest represent the epitome of bravery and skill and may be attempted only by a Savage Angel. After defeating Diablo, in all three difficulty levels, the Savage Angel will seek to do the ultimate task of the Savage tribe -- to defeat Diablo in the total darkness of hell.

The Quest Itself:

The Savage Angel attempts this quest in hell difficulty level. Everything is as per the normal game, the difference only comes when you throw the second skull lever in the two-lever room of dlvl 16. Diablo will immediately cast a Darkness spell over the level, engulfing you in total darkness. To represent this, switch off your monitor and proceed with the attempt to kill Diablo. You may only switch the monitor back on when either you or Diablo have been defeated (sound is VERY important here). if you lose in the fight, nothing happens (this is a VERY difficult task). You may even make another attempt, just that once you enter dlvl 16, you must switch off the monitor (to represent the darkness) again.

Title Upon Completion: Ultimate Savage Angel (i.e. add "Ultimate" in front of any titles you have attained).

Rewards: Ability to wear Royal Circlet.

~ Honour:

Savages have a high level of discipline and honour. A Savage becomes dishonoured when: (i) he loses a Savage weapon (if he recovers it, it doesn't count), or (ii) he touches a cauldron or goat shrine. The gods will be enraged by the dishonorable behaviour of the Savage and will strip him of ALL his weapon proficiencies (so he may only use his bare hands). He regains those proficiencies only when he has cleansed himself. During this period, he may not attempt to master any weapons.

Cleansing: (i) first, touch a Purifying Spring or Holy Shrine to rid yourself of evil, (ii) nect, seek out 3 different non-random unique boss and kill them, to appease the gods and (iii) lastly, defeat Butcher and King Leoric naked to show your sincerity and determination to change. These three steps should be done in the order shown.

~ Phobia:

As the Savage mixed into civilization with the sole purpose of seeking revenge, he will co-operate with others but will not accept gifts from them. The only exception is LOL's who live off the land, just like the Savages in the past, so LOL's are treated as trusted companions and gifts from them can be taken.

Furthermore, even when he learns the value of gold, he may still not purchase weapons/armour from the townfolks due to their distrust for civilization and the items they produce (prefer to get their own items). Repairs, identification, free healing, potions and books may still be obtained as the townfolks are the only feasible method.

No armour except for cloaks and capes are allowed.

No shields or headgears, except for Thinking Cap (Royal Circlet later).

Only staves, Civerb's Cudgel and the Bonesaw allowed.

Each magic types must be mastered and each spell learned individually before casting.

Magic spells may only be cast if a staff of that magic type is equipped.

Special Rules:

- The Savage starts with nothing except his weapons (drop all gold/potions).

- He may pick up nothing he cannot use except for magical/unique weapons (this includes gold and potions).

- He may not speak to any villagers (so NO healing from Pepin), except Adria until communication quest completed.

- Weapon mastery is not required as the legba is already proficient in all the weapons he can use

- Magic types may be mastered and spells learned at any time after appropriate requirements are met.

- May not cast spells of a magic type until the quest is complete.

- Equipment restrictions should be strictly adhered to.

- Promotions done in the order shown.

- Special Event: The Blood Feast.

- Diablo and Gorash should both be killed with staves or spells.

- The Destiny Quest represents the ultimate challenge for members of the Savage tribe.

- Optional rules add some role-playing elements into the Savage gameplay and is recommended.

Michael John Wybo II, "The Priests of Africa" (in Dragon Magazine #209).