Theism in the World of Golarion

Religion is a very intrinsic part of any Pathfinder campaign.

This is another post adding upon the framework set up for converting Pathfinder Campaign Setting content to a GURPS system. This post discusses the finer details of religious conduct.

Devotion

The following mechanisms of worship of religions in this campaign are inspired by a model put forward by my friend in his The Empress of India GURPS campaign. While a believer of a religion has faith that he is in grace, a certain strength of mind will be afforded to the character. When a believer thinks he is in sin or impure, there is a certain weakness of mind.

Theism

Characters can choose to be a Theist, which is a new advantage that defines the framework for a religion and its beliefs.

Theist [5] Advantage
You acquire +1 Will whenever you feel you are pure and in the good graces of your religion. When considered to be impure or in sin, you are instead at -1 Will. You must select a Code of Honor of a religion of Golarion.

The religions of Golarions and their beliefs are not intended to be full arrays of disadvantages. However, it is still encouraged that players who have stronger tendencies towards certain behaviors should look into respective disadvantages.

Churches of Golarion

Belief in a religion does not necessarily imply that a character is involved in the doings of that deity’s churches. As this is more of a social notion, and to represent further involvement and responsibility of a character, this will be modelled using traditional GURPS advantages (and disadvantages) where appropriate.

In this case, players are encouraged to consider the following:

• Claim to Hospitality (Church of Deity) [5] (B41),
• Clerical Investment [5] (B43),
• Contact Group (Church of Deity) [Varies] (B44),
• Contact (in the Church of Deity) [Varies] (B44),
• Patron (Church of Deity) [Varies] (B72), and
• a Rank (in the Church of Deity) [Varies] (B29).

Faiths

This is a brief enumeration of most of the deities and philosophies of Golarion and corresponding, associated Codes of Honor disadvantages. Divine Spheres (see this) that are relevant to a given deity are also listed.

Furthermore, there are a number of suggested disadvantages to consider if a character possesses more extreme behavior. The latter of these are not required rules for the faithful of a religion, but are inspiration from which to draw from in the process of character generation. Players are encouraged to seek other resources for more information on a given deity. For all faiths, Fanaticism [-15] (B136) is always an option for those extremely faithful to a religion or organized worship.

Other deities or philosophies can be added by request.

Major Deities

Abadar is a patient deity of Golarion known for his strong neutral stances. Abadar generally seeks to perpetuate order in the world and the strength of civilization. Worshipers place law and perfection in high regard ¹.

Abadar

Code. Code of Honor (Abadar) [-5] — A believer must follow all facets of the law to the letter and consider all ethical problems as a neutral adjudicator.

Spheres. Earth, Control, Fortification.

Suggested Disadvantages. Congenial [-1], Intolerance (Rovagug Faithfuls) [-1], Intolerance (Lamashtu Faithfuls) [-1], Honesty [-10].

Asmodeus is an archdevil of Hell and the most powerful among eight others. He is credited with penning the contract of creation. His faith is strongest in Cheliax and comprises a belief that the strong should rule the weak ².

Asmodeus

Code. Code of Honor (Asmodeus) [-5] — A believer is strongly of the mind that the strong should rule the weak, the strong are most fit for survival, and that morality is not a simple matter of moral principles.

Spheres. Fire, Control, Deception.

Suggested Disadvantages. Callous [-5], Intolerance (Rovagug Faithfuls) [-1], Proud [-1], Dislikes Equality [-1], Intolerance (Class) [-10].

Calistria is a goddess held in high regard by elves; she is a capricious woman of many guises. She is extremely vengeful, vindictive, and lustful. Those who support her typically deal in trickery, mischief, and encounters of the flesh and knowledge ³.

Calistria

Code. Code of Honor (Calistria) [-5] — A believer is someone that believes vengeance is the word of the law, lust is a natural part of life, and that trickery and mischief are virtues.

Spheres. Presence, Lore, Deception.

Suggested Disadvantages. Lecherousness [-15], Mischievous [-1], Cogenial [-1], Staid [-1].

Cayden Cailean, also known as the “Accidental God”, was challenged during a bout of drinking to try the Test of the Starstone for divinity and succeeded. He strongly believes no man should power over another, has an incredible love for the drink, holds adventure in high regard, and opposes tyranny ⁴.

Cayden Cailean

Code. Code of Honor (Cayden Cailean) [-5] — A believer has a strong appreciation for the prospects of celebration and drink, opposes tyranny, and considers adventure a welcomingpath of life.

Spheres. Presence, Control, Planes.

Suggested Disadvantages. Compulsive Behavior (Carousing) [-5], Dislikes Killjoys [-1], Responsive [-1].

One of the first deities of Golarion was Desna who spent her time building the heavens. She is a goddess of freedom, luck, travel, and journey and is predominantly worshiped in Varisia. Desna is often described as a very beautiful elven woman with butterfly wings ⁵.

Desna

Code. Code of Honor (Desna) [-5] — A believer considers themselves to be part of the quilt of fate and that luck comes to those that are faithful. He also believes freedom is a human right and that travel and journey allows one to see wonders of life.

Spheres. Life, Planes.

Suggested Disadvantages. Obsession (Travel) [-10], Intolerance (Lamashtu Faithfuls) [-1], Sense of Duty (Companions) [-5], Broad-Minded [-1], Dislikes Slavery [-1], Dreamer [-1], Response [-1].

One of the oldest of deities is Erastil whose religion dated back before the Age of Darnkess. He is the god of hunt and farming and prefers followers to free themselves from social constraints ⁶.

Erastil

Code. Code of Honor (Erastil) [-5] — A believer sees a lifetime of virtue in the life of the hunt. They also see that social contracts bind and hinder.

Spheres. Nature, Control, Life.

Suggested Disadvantages. Disciplines of Faith (Monasticism) [-10], Intolerance (Abadar Followers) [-1], Intolerance (High Class) [-5], Sense of Duty (Family) [-5].

Gorum is the god of battle, a divine embodiment of prowess, and is typically worshipped by half-orcs and barbarians  ⁷.

Gorum

Code. Code of Honor (Gorum) [-5] — A believer sees the worth of  a warrior.

Spheres. Control, Fortification.

Suggested Disadvantages. Berserk [-10] or Bloodlust [-10] or Bully [-10], Impulsiveness [-10], Obsession (Battle) [-10].

As long as the winds have blown, and the waters have moved, Gozreh has existed. His faithful are almost as part a nature as he is. His portfolio involves nature, weather, and the sea  ⁸.

Gozreh

Code. Code of Honor (Gozreh) [-5] — A believer holds in high regard the natural world and all of its aspects.

Spheres. Air, Nature, Water, Weather.

Suggested Disadvantages. Sense of Duty (Nature) [-15], Vow (Vegetarianism) [-5], Humble [-1].

Iomedae is the goddess of valor, justice, and honor. She espouses the idea of righteousness in the defense of good and in the battle against evil  ⁹.

Iomedae

Code. Code of Honor (Iomedae) [-5] — A believer is assertive in their vow and vigilance in the fight against all evils, the righting of all wrongs, and in the furthering of the virtues of love, devotion, and companionship.

Spheres. Life, Lore, Fortification.

Suggested Disadvantages. Charitable [-15], Disciplines of Faith (Ritualism) [-5], Fanaticism [-15], Honesty [-10], Intolerance (Monolithic Evil) [-5], Intolerance (Evil Deity Followers) [-5], Pacifism (Cannot Harm Innocents) [-10], Selfless [-5], Sense of Duty (Righting Wrongs) [-10], Truthfulness [-5], Vow (Challenge All Evil) [-15], Attentive [-1], Dull [-1], Proud [-1].

Mostly worshipped by monks, Irori is the god of enlightenment and self-perfection by a life of virtue, absolute physical perfection, and complete mental balance  ¹⁰.

Irori

Code. Code of Honor (Irori) [-5] — A believer is assertive in training of the mind and physical body, and in attaining perfection of self.

Spheres. Life, Lore, Presence.

Suggested Disadvantages. Charitable [-15], Disciplines of Faith (Asceticism) [-15], Fanaticism [-15], Honesty [-10], Pacifism (Self-Defense Only) [-15], Selfless [-5], Stubbornness [5], Truthfulness [-5], Vow (Attain Enlightenment) [-5].

Nethys is the god of magic torn between destroying and saving the world. He is mostly worshipped by wizards and mystic theurges ¹¹.

Nethys

Code. Code of Honor (Nethys) [-5] — A believer worships all magic and considers the arcane the channel through which to perform miracles.

Spheres. Craft, Lore.

Suggested Disadvantages. Attentive [-1], Dreamer [-1], Curious [-5], Megalomania [-10].

Pharasma shepherds all recently-departed souls to the afterlife and makes no decision of whether death is wrong or right. She is the goddess of fate, death, prophecy, and rebirth ¹².

Pharasma

Code. Code of Honor (Pharasma) [-5] — A believer understands death is another journey, that the undead are abominations, and looks upon life with a very objective eye.

Spheres. Death, Life, Lore, Water.

Suggested Disadvantages. Callous [-5], Careful [-1], Disciplines of Faith (Ritualism) [-5], Dull [-1], Intolerance (Undead) [-2], Lifebane [-10] in exceptional cases.

Sarenrae, the Dawnflower, is a goddess that treasures temperance, patience, compassion, and peace. She heavily believes in the redemption of those on the wrong path and swift justice to those that are unable to be forgiven ¹³.

Sarenrae

Code. Code of Honor (Sarenrae) [-5] — A believer patiently encourages the view that compassion and peace are virtues, delivering justice when evil is unforgivable.

Spheres. Fire, Life.

Suggested Disadvantages. Charitable [-15], Honesty [-10], Intolerance (Monolithic Evil) [-5], Sense of Duty (Redeemable) [-5], Truthfulness [-5], Proud [-1].

Shelyn is the goddess of love, beauty, art, and music.

 Shelyn

Code. Code of Honor (Shelyn) [-5] — A believer encourages testing limits, in creativity, and to delight in the gift of others.

Spheres. Air, Music, Craft, Presence, Fortification.

Suggested Disadvantages. Broad-Minded [-1], Chummy [-5], Curious [-5], Distractible [-1], Dreamer [-1], Imaginative [-1], Impulsiveness [-10], Pacificism (Reluctant Killer) [-5].

The stoic and serious god that values honor, planning, and steel is Torag. He is a god of creation and protection, most often worshipped by dwarves ¹⁴.

Torag

Code. Code of Honor (Torag) [-5] — A believer considers the forge to be a sacred place, planning to be a virtue, and values honor above all other things.

Spheres. Craft, Earth, Fortification.

Suggested Disadvantages. Attentive [-1], Careful [-1], Dull [-1], Honesty [-10], Incurious [-5], Killjoy [-15], Proud [-1], Truthfulness [-5], Workaholic [-5].

Philosophies

Only divine related philosophies will be discussed in this section.

Atheism is a rejection of the deities, a denial that the gods are truly divine, and the belief that such supernatural beings are unworthy of worship. It is often looked down upon in Golarion but is enforced on a state level in some nations, most notably in Bachuan of Tian Xia ¹⁵.

Atheism

Code. —

Spheres. —

Suggested Disadvantages. Careful [-1], Callous [-1], Careful [-1], Denial [-1], Megalomania [-10], Overconfidence [-5], Social Stigma (Atheist) [-5].

Diabolism is an understanding and promotion of the hierarchical structure of Hell, that it is the most perfect structure imaginable, and that all of Golarion should become mirrored to it. This is most popular in Cheliax ¹⁶.

Diabolism

Code. Code of Honor (Diabolism) [-5] — A believer promotes the ideals of Hell.

Spheres. Control, Presence, Fire, Planes.

Suggested Disadvantages. Intolerance (Total Intolerance) [-10], Disciplines of Faith (Diabolism) [-5], Fanaticism [-15], Hidebound [-5], Megalomania [-10], Obsession (Hell) [-10], Overconfidence [-5], Paranoia [-10], Sadism [-15], Social Stigma (Diabolical) [-5].