In Bestiary 2 we introduced a new race of neutral outsiders, the aeons. But we weren't satisfied with only one race of neutral outsiders—especially since aeons don't fit perfectly into the Boneyard, Golarion's true neutral Outer Plane. With the article on Pharasma in the second volume of Carrion Crown, we revealed a second race of neutral outsiders—ones that specifically serve Pharasma and dwell in the Boneyard itself. The psychopomps.
In Pathfinder Adventure Path #47, we'll present full stat blocks for two psychopomps—both of which are illustrated here in this blog post: the fearsome skeletal vanth and the cute little four-winged nosoi. We'll be presenting more of these creatures in the future, but I'm already quite pleased with how they're turning out. To the extent that I wouldn't mind having a nosoi pet. Those guys are so cute!
Illustration by Kieran Yanner
Illustration by Lake Hurwitz
Anyway, while I'm not quite ready to reveal any full stat blocks yet for psychopomps, I can do the next best thing—here are the rules for psychopomp traits!
Psychopomp Traits
The gears of the multiverse turn through the constant motion of mortal souls. Although Pharasma is the ultimate judge over the dead, a grand bureaucracy serves her and overflows with able record-keepers, prosecutors, investigators, and guardians. They are psychopomps, the right hand of death. Psychopomps, also known as reapers in some circles, are neutral outsiders who serve death and ensure the steady flow of souls into the cosmic cycle. Few care for the concept of balance so much as for duty and the rightful progression of life to death and beyond by any and all means necessary. As enforcers of mortality and the cosmic cycle, psychopomps universally loathe undead. Although they vary widely in appearance, all psychopomps bear an elaborate funerary mask as a mark of their place in the cycle of life and death.
Psychopomp Traits: A psychopomp possesses the following traits.
Darkvision 60 feet and low-light vision.
Immunity to death effects, disease, and poison.
Resistance to cold 10 and electricity 10
Except where otherwise noted, psychopomps speak Abyssal, Celestial, and Infernal.
A psychopomp's natural weapons, as well as any weapon it wields, are treated as though they had the ghost touch weapon special ability.
Spiritsense (Su) A psychopomp notices, locates, and can distinguish between living and undead creatures within 60 feet, just as if it possessed the blindsight ability.
I mean, it makes sense why there would be something besides the aeons, but isn't Pharasma in a sense already a giant aeon? Birth and death in one deity, the perfect antithetical duality that aeons represent?
I mean, it makes sense why there would be something besides the aeons, but isn't Pharasma in a sense already a giant aeon? Birth and death in one deity, the perfect antithetical duality that aeons represent?
All the known True Neutral deities are, in a sense, already giant aeons - Nethys is creation and destruction, Gozreh is Mother Nature and Nature, Red in Tooth and Claw.
That said, I'm excited about Psychopomps. I wonder how well they'll stand up to Astradaemons in the inevitable fights over souls.
... the fearsome skeletal vanth and the cute little four-winged nosoi. We'll be presenting more of these creatures in the future, but I'm already quite pleased with how they're turning out. To the extent that I wouldn't mind having a nosoi pet
I think the vanth cute. I wouldn't mind having a vanth for a pet.
Oh sweet, I like these. These will also work perfectly as servants of Kelemvor in the Forgotten Realms setting :D Kelemvor needs neutral death-like outsiders to serve him
As a note, the Pharasma entry lists two other psychopomps, the yanakeion and the amzranei to be added to Pharasmin Summon Monster lists, and it says that they can be found in #44. I'm guessing this is meant to be 47 also? (it also says that the amzranei is on the Summon Monster 11 list).
Given all the lethal mayhem that happens in the typical Pathfinder/fantasy RPG campaign, I am kind of surprised that it took this long for outsiders who serve as escorts/guides of the dead to show up.
These guys look like a good idea and I hope we see more on psychopomps in the future.
For creatures who hate the undead serving a deity that abhors undead, the Vanth looks awfully like an undead creature...
A vanth is no more undead than a thanadaemon is. They're outsiders, embodiments of states and ideals, and those related to the powers of death are definitely going to skew toward morbid appearances.
Ultimately, Pharasma knows the difference even if "Joe Mortal" can't tell.
As a note, the Pharasma entry lists two other psychopomps, the yanakeion and the amzranei to be added to Pharasmin Summon Monster lists, and it says that they can be found in #44. I'm guessing this is meant to be 47 also? (it also says that the amzranei is on the Summon Monster 11 list).
This has been addressed multiple times in the Carrion Crown forums, but (working backwards), that's supposed to be summon monster VI, the volume reference should city #47, and - as you'll see in the descriptions for these two - their names have changed from what was noted in that sidebar to what you'll see in #47. So, yanakeion = nosoi, and amzranei = vanth. And again, for folks who don't keep this post handy, that's noted in their write-ups.
As a note, the Pharasma entry lists two other psychopomps, the yanakeion and the amzranei to be added to Pharasmin Summon Monster lists, and it says that they can be found in #44. I'm guessing this is meant to be 47 also? (it also says that the amzranei is on the Summon Monster 11 list).
This has been addressed multiple times in the Carrion Crown forums, but working backwards), that's supposed to be summon monster VI, the volume reference should city #47, and - as you'll see in the descriptions for these two - their names have changed from what was noted in that sidebar to what you'll see in #47. So, yanakeion = nosoi, and amzranei = vanth. And again, for folks who don't keep this post handy, that's noted in their write-ups.
Awesome! I'm expecting to probably play Carrion Crown, so I don't head into that subforum, but I do read every deity article (they are always amazing) and check the blog posts. At least now if anyone reads this blog post and is inspired by how cool the art and concept is to do a Ctrl+F for psychopomp in their Pharasma article, they'll have this response readily available. Thanks Wes!
Ha! I didn't get what you meant when I read this first, but now that you mention it. Awesome.
The angels would make great psychopomps, and that kind of inscrutability is totally what I'm going for with these guys!
Any NGE vibes in Golarion are greatly appreciated. You guys made me feel warm and fuzzy with your gracious nods to Castlevania, now it just gets better.
Well, in this case it's really nothing more than coincidence, but you're welcome! All I asked for for the nosoi was a whippoorwill with four wings wearing a plague doctor mask. That that mask came out looking similar to one of the angels from NGE, really just a weird similarity. Funny how things work out like that sometimes.
The angels would make great psychopomps, and that kind of inscrutability is totally what I'm going for with these guys!
That's awesome, and gives me ideas... :)
F. Wesley Schneider wrote:
Well, in this case it's really nothing more than coincidence, but you're welcome! All I asked for for the nosoi was a whippoorwill with four wings wearing a plague doctor mask. That that mask came out looking similar to one of the angels from NGE, really just a weird similarity. Funny how things work out like that sometimes.
I wouldn't be surprised if the makers of Evangelion also based that one Angel's look on such a mask (they did a fair amount of research, albeit with huge artistic license), so maybe it's not a coincidence.
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