Ch'eng Huang (LL)

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==Ch'eng Huang (demigods)==
The Ch'eng Huang are place gods, divine guardians of specific localities. Most often these localities are villages, cities, or towns, but they have been known to guard bridges, mountains, and other areas of importance. Sometimes known as the "Gods of Walls and Ditches," they are charged with protecting the inhabitants of the town in which they are honored. Usually, Ch'eng Huang are spirits of mandarins or bureaucrats who served the town well during their mortal life, and who were subsequently nominated by a Celestial Bureaucrat for the honor of protecting it in the Afterlife.
Role-playing notes: The responsibilities of the Ch'eng Huang are not limited to protecting their places from outsiders. They are frequently consulted by the local governor or prefect to learn the identity of notorious thieves, to ask advice in making crucial decisions, and for guidance in any difficult task. Most often, the Ch'eng Huang deliver their responses in the form of poems heard in dreams.
Statistics: AL usually lawful and/or good; WAL any; AoC specific locality; SY varies.
==Ch'eng Huang's Avatar (fighter 8-10, priest 8-10)==
When the Ch'eng Huang's avatars are seen, they usually resemble the mortal from whom they were created. For their spells, they can draw upon a wide variety of spheres (though seldom more than three at a time) that will reflect the nature of the place sacred to them.
: Str 9-19
: Int 9-18
: MV 12-15
: AC 5 to 0
: #AT 3/2	
: Dex 9-18
: Wis 9-18
: SZ 4-7'
: HD 8-10
: THAC0 11-13	
: Con 9-18
: Cha 9-18
: MR 5-15%
: HP 64-80
: Dmg 1d8 (sword) + 2-8
Special Att/Def: As a rule, any Ch'eng Huang avatar can assume wraithform at will. Even when not in such a state, they can only be hit by +1 or better weapons and magical spells.
==Duties of the Priesthood==
There is no established order for worshipping the Ch'eng Huang and thus they generally have no priests. Rather, the duty of worshiping the god of a given place falls on the shoulders of the entire community. If the governor or prefect happens to be a priest, he may dedicate himself to his locality's Ch'eng Huang and receive spells and powers as outlined below.
Requirements: AB standard; AL any; WP varies; AR varies; SP all, charm, divination, elemental, guardian, healing , protection; PW 1) commune with Ch'eng Huang spirit once per day; 10) detect lie (always active); TU varies. 
==Sage Advice (Dragon Issue #200)==
These are unofficial suggestions for using the optional spheres of priest spells from the Tome of Magic with the deities of the Chineese pantheon in Legends & Lore:
* Ch'eng Huang: These local deities might grant minor access to any one of the following spheres: Time, Travelers, or Wards.