Heretic

The Heretic is a Dark Priest/Evil Cleric class. It starts out as a member of The Church of Albion (as an Acolyte), but at fifth level renounces the Church and becomes an adherent of Arawn, the lord of the underworld who was introduced in the Shrouded Isles expansion. Heretics are able to use flexible weapons, but are restricted to cloth armor as well as small shields. As evil Clerics, they fit into the hybrid category, with both the use of combat styles and high-damage focus spells.

The Heretic's specialization spell lines are unique in Dark Age of Camelot. Where the Cleric and Friar classes have Rejuvenation baseline/Rejuvenation specline and Enhancement baseline/Enhancement specline spells, the Heretic will have Rejuvenation baseline spells and Arawn's Fire specline spells, as well as Enhancement baseline and Cthonic Accretion specline spells. This allows the Heretic to spec high in their offensive damage line, while receiving the benefits of a high Rejuvenation/Arawn's Fire spec for the Rejuvenation baseline spells. The Arawn's Fire spec includes single target and area effect focus damage spells. Strategically, that means the Heretic will start attacking a target, and while their damage will start off slowly, it will eventually ramp up over the course of 10-20 seconds to match that of a pure damage dealing caster. Arawn's Fire also has lower damage, uninterruptible versions of the focus damage spells, as well as a focus DD/Snare and an insta-cast snare for escape purposes. Rounding out the line is a twist on the basic resurrection spell where the Heretic can raise a dead realmmate - but as a horribly twisted creature that can do damage to enemies for a period of time before reverting back to normal form with only a small number of hit points remaining.

## Abilities & Specialization

Cloth
**Weapon**
Staves Crushing Flexible Shield (Small)
Banelord Perfecter
**Sub Classes**Disciple Elementalist Fighter Mage Rogue
Armorcraft
Basic Crafting
Bountycraft
Clothworking
Fletching
Gemcutting
Herbcraft
Leatherworking
Metalworking
Siegecraft
Spellcrafting
Tailoring
Weaponcraft
Woodworking

## Realm Abilities

### Realm Rank 5 Ability

 **Effect** | All Heretic groupmates who are able to bind at a keep or tower lord receive a reduction in all spell damage taken for 45 seconds.

## Lore

Long ago, Arawn perceived unrest among those who served him. The Inconnu too often ventured to the Deadlands, tempted to disturb the souls that roamed there out of spite. This angered the Lord of the Dead, and in response he created the Heretics. Part internal security force and part inquisitors, the Heretics were feared and respected throughout the ranks of Arawn's minions. Charged with maintaining strict discipline and unquestioning loyalty, the Heretics were empowered by the Lord of the Dead to investigate any reports of corruption, possession or betrayal and carry out the necessary punishment and re-education.

In creating the Heretics, Arawn made one mistake. In order to better allow him to carry out his duties, he infused each newly-made Heretic with a fraction of his own power. This had an unintended side effect, which was discovered by one of the high-ranking Heretic Captains named Mal'Azak. During a foray into the Deadlands, Mal'Azak felt his powers grow dramatically. He realized that, like Lord Arawn, he could draw strength from the souls of those who had died. Mal'Azak suspected that if he could rally enough of his fellow Heretics to his cause, he might be able to overthrow Arawn and take his place. The plot was discovered, however, and Arawn, unwilling to risk another insurrection, destroyed the entire Heretic force.

When the Crypt of the Inconnu came under attack by a mysterious evil force lurking deep under the ground, Arawn was faced with a dilemma. His forces were already spread thin aiding the realm of Albion against the Drakoran in Avalon, and there is little hope of withstanding a direct assault against the Inconnu citadel without additional aid. Believing he has no other choice, Arawn has decided to bring back the Heretics. This new breed of Heretic, however, will be markedly different than the first. Arawn's new order of Zealots will be fearsome warrior-mages, able to channel their devotion to Arawn into righteous power.

At Lord Arawn's command, trainers have been dispatched to Albion, Avalon, and the Crypt of the Inconnu to prepare the next generation of Heretics for battle. Whether this fearsome addition to Arawn's forces will be enough to repel the invading army of Inconnu thralls remains to be seen.