Shou Hsing (LL)

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==Shou Hsing (intermediate god)==
Shou Hsing is the god of longevity and the arbiter of life spans. He possesses a set of tablets upon which he has inscribed the date of everyone's death. As these dates are written in stone, they are supposedly immutable. However, the god has been known to "juggle the writing" and change the dates favorably for those who treat him especially well.
In his true form, Shou Hsing is an aged man with a pure white beard and eyebrows. He has an enormous, egg-shaped bald head. Shou Hsing usually supports himself with a large, rough stick, and carries a P'an T'ao—one of the peaches of immortality—in his free hand.
Role-playing notes: Although he has no formal temples, Shou Hsing enjoys being worshiped. Many people maintain a shrine to him in their homes and regularly offer him barley cakes and wine. Members of such households seldom suffer the infirmities of old age, but those who neglect such sacrifices seldom age gracefully. Omens from Shou Hsing include signs of premature aging, such as graying hair, loss of hearing or sight, and unexplained arthritic aches.
Statistics: AL en; WAL any; AoC long life; SY peach.
==Shou Hsing's Avatar (wizard 16)==
Shou Hsing's avatar is an aged bald man of cheerful disposition. He can draw his spells from the necromancy, invocation/evocation, and enchantment/charm schools of magic.
: Str 18/52
: Int 18
: MV 15
: AC 2
: #AT 1	
: Dex 16
: Wis 19
: SZ 6'
: HD 16
: THAC0 5	
: Con 15
: Cha 16
: MR 25%
: HP 128
: Dmg 1d6+5(staff) +4
Special Att/Def: Shou Hsing's avatar carries a walking stick that is a +5 magical weapon and also functions as a staff of withering. In addition to the normal powers of such a weapon it can cause any living creature to age 5dlO years instantly. This special power can be used once per day and, although an attack roll is required to hit the target, no saving throw is allowed.
==Duties of the Priesthood==
Priests devoted to Shou Hsing devote themselves to protect and comfort the elderly. They are often called upon to preside over parties thrown to celebrate the 50th, 75th, and 100th birthdays of long-lived individuals.
Requirements: AB standard; AL any; WP staff; AR a; SP all, astral, charm , combat, creation, healing, necromantic, protection; PW 1) priest only ages one year per two; 10) priest no longer ages; 20) priest can halt the aging of others at the costs of one point of his own Constitution; TU turn.
==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:
* Shou Hsing: Major: Time; Minor: Chaos.