Priests[]
Like the wizard, the standard AD&D game interpretation of the priest is poorly suited to the world of the Vikings. The powers wielded by AD&D game priest characters bear little resemblance to those described in Scandinavian tales. Therefore, priest characters (especially Christian priests), though retaining their spell-casting abilities, must be carefully adjudicated by the DM.
Player-character priests who follow Norse deities must consult the Legends and Lore tome for available spell spheres.
Of course, this does not mean there were no priests during the Viking age. Historically speaking, both followers of pagan beliefs and the expanding Christian influence were found. Among the Vikings, however, religion was often viewed as a personal matter. The gods were viewed as patron deities, to be dealt with by each man on his own. More often than not, each man was his own priest.
In those cases where a man was given the title of priest, the job was as much political as religious(if not more so). For example, in Iceland, the priests (godi or godar) functioned as chieftains. They ruled over districts, kept households of warriors, judged the court cases of those living in their district, and attended the Athing (national assembly), in addition to seeing that the proper rituals were performed and the sacred grounds protected. The position of godi was not one a character could simply choose. Instead the godi received his title by right of his bloodline, the respect of his neighbors, and the wealth he possessed. A poor man claiming to be the godi is as likely as a hobo announcing himself Emperor of the World.
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