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Could someone..preferably SKR...throw some light on which deities and cultures in Golarion allow plural marriage.
This arises from a PbP I'm involved in where my character is condidering resolving his woman troubles by marrying both of the young ladies he is attracted to
All parties concerned are Taldoran nobility..he worships Cayden Cailean..one girl worships Shelynn and the other follows Irori.As far as I can make out Cayden's priests wouldnt care how many wives he had as long as everyone was having a good time..Shelyn's would say love both marry both and Irori is a Vudrian diety originally so they may or may not allow it
All relatively sane contributions to this discussion will be considered
This could be an interesting discussion about fantasy worlds or it could devolve into a flameing debate about real world religion and morality, let's make an effort to keep it closer to the former.
Personally I am not familiar enough with the gods of Golarion, but maybe the fertility god(ess). Cultures whose leaders have harims may worship gods who encourage polygamy. And even if gods don't specifically endorse the concept, they may not condemn it outright.
Well, I don't know if you have noticed but Pathfinder itself seems fairly progressive on the issue.
Pathfinder #1 spoiler, sort of, not really.
I think it probably varies immensely by region and culture. Religion is bound to play a role, with more Lawful gods weighing in on the same types of "value" and "morality" arguments as we see in from right wingers in real life. Chaotic gods probably put passion and love above all.
Certainly, it is a roiling debate. I think you should play it in line with your own beliefs on the issue, but be sure to account for a spectrum of opinions and behavior when you do that, especially if there is friction on the issue amongst your players.
Polygyny is pretty common in the world's cultures, and not regarded as depraved by cultures that allow it as long as people behave in a responsible way.
It also depends how you want the campaign world to work, and how those cultures operate. Polygyny was practiced throughout Asia IRL, so it makes sense to allow Qadirans and Vudranis to practice it if you want those cultures to "feel" like a real-world analogue.
Taldor resembles late Roman or Byzantine culture. Christian Byzantium doesn't seem like it would take a liberal view of polygyny, and I don't think it was practiced in ancient Rome, either.
You could just have them elope to Absalom, where all the world's cultures are tolerated.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Well culturally, I see Taldor doing the 'Marriage for power, courtesans for love thing'.
Kind of OT Character background:
So part of the character's decision culturally would be 'who has the best pedigree' I think.
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The discussion of marriage came up and the first god I thought of was Erastil, and I can honestly see him going either way with this. He might have even approved of it(or disapproved) at one time and later came around to another way of thinking, much like how he became less "bloody" over the millenia.
But like a couple of the others, I think it will be mostly a cultural thing. I can kind of see rationalizing it as working in Taldor, but a part of me thinks they would reject it due to possibly bearing similarities to marriage arrangements in Qadira.
Now wife-and-a-mistress arrangements on the other hand, especially with so much of the nobility claiming royal blood, being decadent to begin with, and reminding me of pre-revolution France even if it wasn't meant to...I can easily see that option being socially acceptable or even expected.
I'm reminded of ol' King Louis XV, Queen Marie Leszczyńska, and Madame de Pompadour.
Sadly I can't claim that it's because I'm that learned when it comes to French history.
As for which countries polygamy is present...
Qadira and Vudra/Jalmeray are definites. Katapesh is anything-goes land.
Osirion...I'm not sure. As much as I love me some Ancient Egypt, I can't recall offhand whether multiple marriages happened frequently or not.
Mwangi Expanse and Mammoth Lords, I'd say it's definitely there, but it's going to vary from tribe to tribe. Same for Sargava, whoever is left in the Sodden Lands, and whoever is left in the WorldwoHAHAHA who am I kidding? They've got more important problems to keep them busy there.
I can see it popping up in some isolated rural communities in Varisia and Andoran. I don't see it happening with the Shoanti for some reason.
In the River Kingdoms, I see it differing from kingdom to kingdom, and probably changing with the rise and fall of whoever holds power this year.
Brevoy, no clue. I just realized that I need to read up on them.
Just as a sidenote. Out of respect for different cultures and religions, in Mexico you used to be able to have as many wives as you could (demonstrably) financially support. Now you can only have two.
I can easily see a wife-and-concubine thing going though.
Well I really cant imagine worshipers of Caiden Cailen being the marrying type.
You do us unjustice. I'm a worshipper of CC, and I'm Frank and Earnest to women - Frank in Korvosa and Earnest in Magnimar!
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I disagree, Frostflame. I don't see an oath of celibacy being required by Irori, nor do I see any reason a woman wouldn't see marriage and birth as a route to perfection and understanding of the body. In Kindred of the East one of the Dharma's specifically lists having a child as a way to gain enlightenment.
Indeed, in history one monk believed that getting out into the world was the only way to find the divine, and one nun wouldn't settle on any less a husband than him. ;-)