May RPG Blog Carnival Late Entry: Oaths - The Beguine/Beghard Class for OSE and Shadowdark

Ok, here we are on May 32, and I'm right on time to contribute to the month's Blog Carnival. This time hosted by Tabletop Curiosity Cabinet and themed, "Oaths." So let me share a small introduction to a historic religious community, as well as a player class (OSE and Shadowdark) inspired by them:

The beguines (and their male counterparts, the beghards) were religious lay-communities most active during the 13th - 16th centuries. While not formally monastic in nature, the members typically took vows, most commonly chastity, as well as of charity and religious devotion. Members were also able to quit the role, and return to secular life. 

The communities were typically self-supporting, with their members taking part in cottage industries. These beguinages could be as small as a shared house up to a walled compound. Larger examples contained shops, hospitals, breweries, and cloth mills.

Because many of the beguines came from middle- or upper-class backgrounds, many were literate and wrote treatises and poetry reflecting their faith and the visions that they experienced during contemplation and prayer. This mysticism was a common theme among the communities, as well as the idea of sharing these "visions" through religious or secular texts. Because these publications were outside the orthodoxy and independent of Church doctrine, they were often criticized or suppressed, with the most egregious example being the burning at the stake of Marguerite Porete as a relapsed heretic by the Inquisition.

After all, there is nothing more frightening than a financially independent, literate woman interpreting religious dogma.

For an overview of these communities, and a few of their notable members, feel free to check out these videos from Dr. Justin Sledge of Esoterica:

Onward:

Below are player classes inspired by the historical beguine/beghard communities. The classes highlight the literacy and healing skills that the communities were known for, as well as a mechanic of "visions" inspired by the mystical reputation of many beguines. Visions in this case are abilities to cast out demons, foretell the future, and divinely heal. I chose repelling demons over turning undead because clerics are dime-a-dozen, and demon-possession has been an attributed cause of maladies for centuries.

OSE Version:

Download Me Here

Shadowdark Version:

Download Me Here

Beguines have shown up as NPCs in my campaign, setting up a small beguinage in a frontier town to assist refugees from Chaos incursions. They will likely appear again, as Chaos continues to encroach, and there is a need for community aid and centers of faith.