The Alphabet of Outer Beings - G is for Geas

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G is for Geas

A geas (sometime geis, plural geasa) is a vow or taboo requiring, or prohibiting, a certain behavior. A geas can be a societal or supernatural and the consequences of breaking such a geas will vary greatly depending on the source. The breaking of a societal geas can result in dishonor for being rude, or ma y even result in imprisonment as though a law was broken. The breaking of a supernatural geas can result in spiritual or physical weakness, or any number of other potential effects. Below are several options for supernatural geasa and the ramification of breaking them. These may be gained via a powerful Curse spell, at the hand of a powerful witch, wizard, or other magic users, or even be the result of an angry god or dealings with the lords and ladies of the fae.

Table G1: Type of Geas (roll 1d8 & 1d6 then continue to Table G2)

The oath-bound is ...

1. ... prohibited from consuming the flesh of ...
1. Dogs
2. Chickens
3. Fish
4. Goats
5. Cows
6. Sheep
2. ...  required to repay ...
1. all debts
2. any slight or insult
3. kindness
4. violence
5. gifts
6. fines
3. ... prohibited from lying to ...
1. Children
2. Women
3. Siblings
4. Witches
5. Royalty
6. Virgins
4. ... required to accept ... 
1. offered hospitality
2. offers of surrender
3. all gifts
4. the first offer (cannot bargain)
5. their fate (may not re-roll dice, and the character cannot try to change prophesied events)
6. legal judgements
5. ... prohibited from fighting with ...
1. Thrown weapons
2. Swords
3. Maces
4. Clubs
5. Knives
6. Bows
6. ... is required to ...
1. observe celestial events (solstices, eclipses, etc.) with appropriate rituals
2. tithe 3d3x10% of their income to their lord or deity
3. follow all orders from those of higher station
4. introduce themselves with their true name 
5. remain silent unless they pay somebody to listen
6. accept all challenges laid upon them
7. ... prohibited from consuming ...
1. Alcohol
2. Sweets
3. Caffine
4. Eggs
5. Preserved foods (e.g. salted, canned, etc)
6. Mushrooms
8. ... prohibited from entering a home without ...
1. gaining permission from the owner
2. wiping your feet
3. offering a gift
4. removing headgear
5. removing one's weapons
6. washing one's hands

Table G2: Effects of a Broken Geas (roll 2d6 + Luck Modifier)
All effects are permanent unless otherwise noted or the character undergoes a lengthy process to make restitution for breaking the geas. The oathbound will generally have some idea of the strength of the geas that has been laid upon them.

1. (or lower) Instant Death! No save. 
2. Crippling weakness! The oathbound suffers permanent 2d6 Stamina damage, and 1d6 Strength and Agility damage.
3. Weakness! The oathbound suffers permanent 1d6 Stamina damage.
4. Major Curse! The oathbound suffers a permanent penalty of -2d3 to all rolls. 
5. Minor Curse! The oathbound suffers a permanent penalty of -1d4 to all rolls. 
6. Fate's Torment! The oathbound becomes an immortal pox upon his very race. Forevermore those he meets will be struck with bad luck, and only by removing themselves from the society will they be able to prevent their curse from targeting others. They are cursed to live forever alone. 
7. Fate's Target! The oathbound is fated to die by the whims of fate. Every day there will be a minimum of 2d4 times when the character will need to escape death's grasp. This can take any form, from a ship sinking, to an attack of brigands, a rival's assassin, or slipping in the bath. 
8. Amnesia! The world forgets you entirely! The oathbound is wiped from the minds of every person who ever knew them except deities and the person or being that laid the geas upon them. They may no longer call upon bank accounts, lands, titles, or the like. Favors owed to them are no longer remembered and those to whom they owed favors are inexplicably hostile
9. Transformation! Over the course of the next month the character slowly and painfully transforms into an animal, losing their sentience and intelligence last. 
10. Destitution! The oathbound loses everything they owned. Weapons and armor break, money or valuables are immediately lost or stolen. Lands are lost or become worthless. The oathbound is reduced to a penniless pauper. The geas remains in place and the oathbound will suffer this result every time they break the geas. 
11. Major Bad luck - The oathbound automatically fail their next 2d4 rolls, or takes the minimum result. The geas remains in place and the oathbound will suffer this result every time they break the geas. 
12. Minor Bad luck - The oathbound automatically fail their next 1d3 rolls, or takes the minimum result. The geas remains in place and the oathbound will suffer this result every time they break the geas. 
13. (or greater) The character is struck unconscious for 1d3 hours. The geas remains in place and the oathbound will suffer this result every time they break the geas.