Creation Myths

I've been wondering for a while about creation myths in the setting, both for Golarion itself, and the multiverse as a whole.

I know that there's the stuff in Princes of Darkness on how the multiverse began, but let's say that the source on that seems very... partial. I was wondering if stuff had been played out elsewhere.

On Golarion itself, given the approach to the Material Plane I suspect that how it actually formed is through a process similar to this, but chances are that such knowledge hasn't really developed amongst the inhabitants.

Thoughts?

I wouldn't mind finding some info out on this, as well.

I'm sure that, for creation myth, different cultures of Golarion would have different myths -- or, at least different versions and flavor for a very similar myth.

I'm sure the Varisian gypsies have a different mythology than the Qadirans.

"In the beginning, in a universe full of promise, the darkness surged around her, and she lifted herself up from the primordial darkness, and flapped her wings. With each stroke, glittering lights of many colors fell free, and became the stars, and as Desna moved through the eternal night, they wheeled and burned in her wake, while below her, the darkness grew first lonely, and then angry..."

When I was creating my own world, I had imagined an absent 'father' who had given life to The Mother. She, in turn, gave birth to four daughters: Spring, Sumer, Autumn and Winter.

From there I kind of bogged down. I was not sure under which season to place other domains.

Here's what happened:

Before the tumour called "the multiverse" or "the Great Beyond" existed (note that before isn't really a fitting word, since time is a concept from within the multiverse, so temporal definitions don't really make sense if you talk about "outside"), there was a riot of possibilities. No staticity, no rules, nothing fixed. Only ever-lasting change and wonder. It was always and everywhere (though, just as time, space is not really the same "outside").

In this maelstrom of potential, beings frolicked, constantly forming their surroundings into new hues and shapes, inventing properties (you'd call "laws of nature") to see what they'd do - for just an instant, and then they'd create something different.

Now, sometimes, a being becomes enchanted by its creation. The creation is "perfect" (which is a lot less nice than it sounds, because it means the death of change and potential). They don't immediately "destroy" their creation to remake it into something new a moment later, but keep it and play in it.

And sometimes, other beings notice these perfections. And sometimes, those who notice them will like them, too. So they join the creator and play along.

When this happens, they make themselves subject to the rules that were meant only for the creation. They shackle themselves to the creation. When enough beings do that, these tumours of perfection can grow large indeed.

The multiverse you know is one such tumour. And it has grown very, very big - starting with one creator, it has managed to attract billions, trillions of others who willingly imprisoned themselves within its confines and its rules, further shaping it, but only within the rules they set for themselves. They probably forgot long ago what they really are.

But this is temporary. These tumours, though they can grow large and gather many beings and a huge set of rules and staticities, will never be able to freeze all of the maelstrom into changelessness.

For the maelstrom itself eventually notices those tumours who grow too big as to be permissible to exist. And it calls for them who will free their brothers.

These beings also take on the rules of the reality, but only partially, and only to destroy it from within. They stop being beings of all forms and take on specific shapes - how and what they become depends on what works best to destroy the tumour, and it takes many tries to find the perfect form - for the staticity and changelessness of the rules means that you can take on the perfect set of attributes to be able to shatter this prison of potential.

This reality calls these "antibodies" proteans. There are three known forms they appear in (they're called naunet, imentesh and keketar) at present. They are not the first, nor will they be the last. But sooner or later the form perfect for this reality will be found, and when that happens, it will finally be destroyed, its rules erased, its shackles broken, its skies shattered.

Of course, all this could just be a big, fat, lie. And if it is, is it better than the lies everyone else tells?

"the Great Beyond"

What does the land outside the Great Valley have anything to do with Creation Myths of Golorian?

I know that there's the stuff in Princes of Darkness on how the multiverse began, but let's say that the source on that seems very... partial.

Whaaaat? Asmodeus is Totally reliable.

Really, though. This is a fun idea, we just haven't come across a good outlet for this kind of information. Mythology like this fits into that whole subset of in-world, National-Geographic-style details - like fashions, recipes, music - that don't really have a good (or, at least, reliably consistent) place in our current product lines. But if the chance ever comes up, like maybe in a Pathfinder with an adventure delving into those sorts of ancient history details, a collection of such myths might be fun.

Enlight_Bystand wrote:

I know that there's the stuff in Princes of Darkness on how the multiverse began, but let's say that the source on that seems very... partial.

Whaaaat? Asmodeus is Totally reliable.

Really, though. This is a fun idea, we just haven't come across a good outlet for this kind of information. Mythology like this fits into that whole subset of in-world, National-Geographic-style details - like fashions, recipes, music - that don't really have a good (or, at least, reliably consistent) place in our current product lines. But if the chance ever comes up, like maybe in a Pathfinder with an adventure delving into those sorts of ancient history details, a collection of such myths might be fun.

Could make an interesting novel too if you can find the right author to pull it off. A pathfinder traveling the world looking to compile and compare the creation stories

F. Wesley Schneider wrote:

Enlight_Bystand wrote:

I know that there's the stuff in Princes of Darkness on how the multiverse began, but let's say that the source on that seems very... partial.

Whaaaat? Asmodeus is Totally reliable.

Really, though. This is a fun idea, we just haven't come across a good outlet for this kind of information. Mythology like this fits into that whole subset of in-world, National-Geographic-style details - like fashions, recipes, music - that don't really have a good (or, at least, reliably consistent) place in our current product lines. But if the chance ever comes up, like maybe in a Pathfinder with an adventure delving into those sorts of ancient history details, a collection of such myths might be fun.

Could make an interesting novel too if you can find the right author to pull it off. A pathfinder traveling the world looking to compile and compare the creation stories

Good idea, but it would possibly struggle with a single narrative trying to tie it all together.

An anthology of Short stories however...

Whaaaat? Asmodeus is Totally reliable.

Is that one of those statements like "I always lie."?

And I'm one to talk, yes.

How about that the prime material plane was created as a prison for Rovgaraug (sp?) not just the pit.

I think that idea of game worlds created as prisons for deities was repeated a few times and it won't neccessarily be good for Golarion (I am not sure, but think that Monte Cook's Ptolus and a few less known settings for d20 were based on that concept).

F. Wesley Schneider wrote:

Whaaaat? Asmodeus is Totally reliable.

Is that one of those statements like "I always lie."?

And I'm one to talk, yes.

I'm a compulsive liar. I swear, it's true!