Editing Ezra (section)

==The Zealots==
The youngest of the sects, the Zealots were not taken seriously at first; an apocalyptic and militant interpretation of Ezra's faith, their founder was seen as a doomsaying crackpot - until the destruction of Il Aluk in the Requiem. Then people began to take him more seriously.

The Zealots are defined by this apocalyptic belief - they've actually absorbed more than a little dogma from [[The Eternal Order]], their primary rival faith in Darkon. They are obsessed with destroying evil and saving souls, not helped by their inherited predeterminism from the Home Faith. To this end, they conduct torturous investigations and dissections of captured monsters, and have the absolute worst relationships with other faiths, whom they see as agents of evil striving to lure souls into damnation by turning them against Ezra.

For this reason, they were one of the only two sects to get a proper dogma writeup in the 3rd Ravenloft Gazetteer, which neatly summarizes just what they believe and how they should act:

''"The mortal Ezra was a healer and guardian who faithfully defended her people from the monstrous Legions of the Night that taint this world. Unable to find a worthy successor, Ezra merged with the Mists of Death to watch over her faithful. In the First Epiphany, she sappeared to Yakov Dilisnya, the first anchorite, and bid him to spread her word. The Mists greatly limit Ezra's power, however, so she cannot protect those who do not open their hearts to her message. The Great Upheaval was an unsuccessful attempt by the Mists of Death to expel Ezra from their ranks, the first omen of a coming time when Legions of the Night will overrun the land. Disgusted by the flood of corruption, the Mists of Death will scour the world clean. This Time of Unparalleled Darkness will come in less than 20 years, yet all is not lost. Ezra will save her truly faithful, but in the end days the jealous Legions of the Night will seek to drag down her chosen people. To protect Ezra's innocent flock, the Legions of the Night - be they monster or mere temper - must be ruthlessly destroyed."''

In AD&D, a Zealot anchorite's Shield of Ezra grants total immunity to all mind-affecting magic.

Likewise, its Major Spheres are All, Charm, Divination, Guardian and Healing, whilst its Minor Spheres are Law, Protection and Wards. Its unique Minor Sphere is Combat.

In 3rd edition, a Zealot Anchorite's Shield of Ezra grants them a +10 to all Will saves against mind-affecting spells and effects. Its favored secondary domain is Destruction.