Aroden


Lost Omens Campaign Setting General Discussion

Silver Crusade

What was Aroden the god of? how did he differ from Aroden? thanks

what was his "portfolio?"

thanks


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Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens Subscriber

Aroden was essentially the god of human culture, innovation, and history. That was his portfolio. You might also add the Patron Deity of Taldor, and later Cheliax (before its descent into diabolism). In terms of game setup, I believe his domains were Glory, Knowledge, Law, and Protection. That was the being who was the living god.

If by "differ" from Aroden the man, the man was the considered the last of the "First Humans" - the first civilized race of humanity to exist on Golarion. They were called the Azlanti, and one of his other names was the "Last Azlanti." Apparently, he was already immortal when the civilization was destroyed by the Starstone and the rest of the survivors died off over time.

After that, Aroden the man's life becomes murky. Somehow, he managed to raise the stone from the ocean and place it on the Isle of Kortos - creating Absalom and a means for any person to ascend to god-hood. When he did this, he himself ascended to his god status.

You'd have to read a lot of the bit details from different sources, but the impression I get is that Aroden was different from other gods when he arose. Maybe its because humanity rose with him (or vice versa), but it looks like Aroden spent a lot of time in direct involvement with the affairs of humanity. Besides affecting the development of Taldor and Cheliax, he seems to have had a hand (via Arazni and Iomedae) in the crusades against the Whispering Tyrant. It was only in the later that he became more removed from mankind's activity. Which is why his returned was prophised at one point before his death.

Hope that helps answer your questions. Do you need some sourceboook materials for reference?

Silver Crusade

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I think OP meant Abadar with the second "Aroden", but it's pretty much been covered.

And while he was a god of humanity, he also had non-human followers, including at least one elven cleric that was alive when he died. So he likely was no Zarus or God-Emperor of Mankind type, even if he has been described as less forward thinking than his successor, Iomedae.


Aragorn + Jesus = Aroden.

Shadow Lodge

Aroden

Hope that's helpful.

All the Best,

Kerney

Dark Archive

He does give me a God-Emperor-of-Mankind vibe, but less manipulative magnificent atheist bastard, more stodgy old know-it-all.

Elves and Dwarves have their personal gods, Aroden was Humanity's personal god. He was known as the last Azlanti because in mortal life, he was a scion of that race. Since he never died, and all the other azlanti interbred with various other ethnicities, aroden was the only "pure" one left.

Silver Crusade

Alex Martin, Mikaze, Evil Lincoln, Kerney and Rusty Shakford, thank you all for taking the time to anser my question. Mikaze yes I did mean Aroden and Abadar.

Alex Martin, thank you for laying all of that out for me.

Evil Lincoln thanks for the analogy, and Kerney thanks for the link

Rusty Shakleford, I suppose Aroden would be the human equivalent of say Torag, or perhaps in other campaign worlds Corellian Lotharan for the elves.


ElyasRavenwood wrote:


Evil Lincoln thanks for the analogy...

And here I thought I was being deliberately unhelpful. Well, I suppose the analogy is informative....

Dark Archive

Rusty Shackleford wrote:

He does give me a God-Emperor-of-Mankind vibe, but less manipulative magnificent atheist bastard, more stodgy old know-it-all.

Elves and Dwarves have their personal gods, Aroden was Humanity's personal god. He was known as the last Azlanti because in mortal life, he was a scion of that race. Since he never died, and all the other azlanti interbred with various other ethnicities, aroden was the only "pure" one left.

They say he has gone on a journey... into the land where men walk without footprints. He will not be found. Yet all men will find him.

Jon Brazer Enterprises

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I would love to play in the AP that answers the question of ... what exactly happened to him on that fateful day where his clerics lost their powers. You know, some remains, his spirit, a final boss that is part of him gone mad, something.

You know, just incase any of the Paizo staff is reading. *hint, hint*


Dale McCoy Jr wrote:

I would love to play in the AP that answers the question of ... what exactly happened to him on that fateful day where his clerics lost their powers. You know, some remains, his spirit, a final boss that is part of him gone mad, something.

You know, just incase any of the Paizo staff is reading. *hint, hint*

I have a few ideas of my own on this. In my campaign world, Aroden did indeed return 100 years ago, but as a mortal. He does not succumb to old age, but he can be killed, and that's also why his clerics are no longer recieving spells. With the turmoil his return caused, he's biding his time, waiting for the proper time to reveal himself and his purpose.

Of course, when that time DOES come, the Whispering Tyrant lashes at his prison walls with renewed vigor. Taldor and Cheliax will likely go to war over who gets the honor of his patronage (regardless of whom Aroden actually wants to bless with the privilage)

Rahadoum won't be pleased, and based on their philosophy, Andoran will probably develop similar sentiments. All in all it makes for a grand old show and a lot of interesting politics.


Dale McCoy Jr wrote:

I would love to play in the AP that answers the question of ... what exactly happened to him on that fateful day where his clerics lost their powers. You know, some remains, his spirit, a final boss that is part of him gone mad, something.

You know, just incase any of the Paizo staff is reading. *hint, hint*

I think the staff is leaving that squarely in the hands of the GM, to cater it to their own needs and campaigns.


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Dale McCoy Jr wrote:

I would love to play in the AP that answers the question of ... what exactly happened to him on that fateful day where his clerics lost their powers. You know, some remains, his spirit, a final boss that is part of him gone mad, something.

You know, just incase any of the Paizo staff is reading. *hint, hint*

Jacobs has teaser revealed in a paizo chat a while back that what happened to Aroden was caused by the machinations of an as yet unrevealed plot/being that will eventually come to light in a much later product of some type.


Abadar is the Lawful Neutral God of Cities and Civilization, mostly cities, comerse and such. Check out Abadar under the Pathfinder Wiki when you check out Aroden ;)

Silver Crusade

thank you everyone for your posts.

I think that some mysteries when explained are not nearly as interesting. I think it is a good idea keeping the mystery of why Aroden died well a mystery.

That leaves us to "make up" our own reasons in relation to our own campaigns.

I think in Eberon, the big mystery there was, what wiped out the nation of Cyre and created the "morn lands". Im glad that was never explained.

again thanks for your posts


IF this thread could be resurected, I have faith that Aroden could be...


Oh ye of little faith! You take a short vacation and your whole home country goes straight to hell - quite literally.

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Lost Omens, Pathfinder Accessories, Rulebook Subscriber

I'm fascinated with this entire concept of the (im)mortal man that is uplifted to godhood and then dies, and what exactly it means to the cultures involved, as well as the metaphysics of godhood.

I'm currently developing my own particular story to this plot line - I'm not sure if I *want* Paizo to fill in the details, or just leave it as an open question. perhaps it's more interesting that way - once you know the truth, it changes the story to something definite and somehow less faith-reliant. How do Aroden's clerics *know* he's dead, just because he won't talk to them? Maybe he's just pissed at them for their own decadence?

Of course, I *do* want to know what the Paizo storyline is, if it's already been determined :).

Contributor

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We just sent Pathfinder Player Companion: Humans of Golarion to the printer today.

That's relevant because there's a whole article all about Aroden in there. Might be worth taking a peek at.

Jon Brazer Enterprises

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F. Wesley Schneider wrote:

We just sent Pathfinder Player Companion: Humans of Golarion to the printer today.

That's relevant because there's a whole article all about Aroden in there. Might be worth taking a peek at.

Have I mentioned lately that I'd love an AP that delves more into what exactly happened to him or deals with the remnants of his followers?

Sczarni

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When I think about it, Aroden's plan was to descend from his plane to rule an empire in the Prime Material Plane directly. There's probably a reason that gods don't get to do that.

Since he died just as his return was about to occur, it seems likely that some other deity (or consortium of deities) immediately took advantage of his change in status from divine to physically incarnate, to slay him for his presumptuousness. And let's face it, "I'm going to come back and rule the world in person" is pretty presumptuous, in a game world that's otherwise constantly balanced between opposing deities fighting over it.

If a god could come rule the Prime Material Plane in person from the center of a physical/geographic empire, then they'd all try to do it. What keeps them from doing it is likely that such a step makes you potentially subject to dying (which they are not so long as they remain in their Outer Plane). The Prime Material Plane is constantly in a "Mexican standoff" situation between all of the outer deities. That's what makes the game multiverse fun.

Dale McCoy Jr wrote:
Have I mentioned lately that I'd love an AP that delves more into what exactly happened to him or deals with the remnants of his followers?

As I understand it, most of Aroden's followers went over to Iomedae, his herald at the time. That's why she's called "the Inheritor."


So I have been playing a character for some time now, who believes himself to be Aroden returned. He believes that he gave up god status to prove to the other gods that humanity will one day outshyne even the gods.

This is his perspective.

Aahz

A brief history

While Aroden was communing with the other deities, many of his ideals were not well received. Often discussions became argument. Eventually Aroden grew tired of these circular arguments which he saw as proving his point that humanity has endless potential and compacity to learn especially from there mistakes. Gods on the other hand are stagnant and stuck in there ways.

Believing in humanities potential to out shine even the gods he agreed to allow himself to be made mortal again.

As usual, in there prideful wrath some of the other gods decided to stack the deck in there favor. They had him reincarnated as an aasmir so he would never truly be human again but always just one step away. Then to add insult to injury they gave him amnesia and designated him Aroden, Azlanti. Humanities Zenith. Leaving him only a note, a shield, and a ring with the winged eye on it.

Aahz as he is now known wandered the world for nearly 100 years before he started to dream of his past life and slowly piece together his history.

Aahz now having a firm grasp on who he is has set forth to nurture the ember that has ignited from humanites spark and guide them and their cousins towards their true potential.

More recently Aahz is faced with what to do about his wayward children and how to comfort those who felt abandoned by him. It is his greatest wish that they should take full advantage of there new found independence and honor themselves and each other, not then go find another deity to use as a crutch. Sadly this was not the case. Some went to his apprentice and others still found solice in deamon lords.

What to do about cheliax.


I find it funny that I actually just found this discussion today while looking for ideas on what my character should do about cheliax as he is being confronted with some of their spies. This character has been created for us calling shackles campaign He is in as mere human ScionLife Oracle.

Any and all advice is welcome.


You can't handle the truth...

The truth is, there NEVER WAS an Aroden...


So was Iomedae a full god at the same time she was Aroden's herald?

Liberty's Edge

Aroden is my favorite Golarion god!

Was it ever revealed why he was immortal by the time of the fall of Azlant?
And I remember someone theorizing that he was the son o Xin... Is there any evidence to back it up?


KtA wrote:
So was Iomedae a full god at the same time she was Aroden's herald?

Demigod, I suspect.


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Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber
Paladinosaur wrote:

Aroden is my favorite Golarion god!

Was it ever revealed why he was immortal by the time of the fall of Azlant?
And I remember someone theorizing that he was the son o Xin... Is there any evidence to back it up?

Well, the simplest would be him being the 20th level Wizard who chose Immortality as his 20th level discovery.

I have never heard a rumor that Aroden was Xin's son. Given everything I have read about Xin, it seems highly unlikely.


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Irnk, Dead-Eye's Prodigal wrote:
Paladinosaur wrote:

Aroden is my favorite Golarion god!

Was it ever revealed why he was immortal by the time of the fall of Azlant?
And I remember someone theorizing that he was the son o Xin... Is there any evidence to back it up?

Well, the simplest would be him being the 20th level Wizard who chose Immortality as his 20th level discovery.

Or he was already Mythic and took the Mythic Longevity path ability.

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