This is probably a bit late to be asking for this, but what the hey.
I'm collecting references in Pathfinder products to neutral religious organizations, neutral knightly orders, and similar groups associated with the neutral deities of the campaign setting. I want to be sure we don't miss any obscure sources.
If you know of any, please post them here.
I don't want to hear anyone complaining that I missed Pharasma's Chicken Lickers (don't worry, I'll include them). :)
Also, if you're running a paladin of Abadar, what do you want to see as the basis for the faith? No guarantees it'll make it in, but I'd love to integrate stuff on request.
Are you doing True Neutral religious organizations? Just curious: I'm apathetic about them...
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Also, if you're running a paladin of Abadar, what do you want to see as the basis for the faith? No guarantees it'll make it in, but I'd love to integrate stuff on request.
He's the god of cities, merchants, wealth and the law. Protection of cities, communities, trade-routes, honest merchants and general upholding of the law would seem to be their schtick.
Bandits would be their most hated foes, attempting to choke the lifeblood of civilization, bringing hardship, famine and privation to honest hardworking people at both ends of a trade-route.
Are you doing True Neutral religious organizations? Just curious: I'm apathetic about them...
First: Ho ho!
Second: Really, any neutral along the ethical axis - from lawful to chaotic - would be appropriate.
He's the god of cities, merchants, wealth and the law. Protection of cities, communities, trade-routes, honest merchants and general upholding of the law would seem to be their schtick.
Bandits would be their most hated foes, attempting to choke the lifeblood of civilization, bringing hardship, famine and privation to honest hardworking people at both ends of a trade-route.
Perfect. No, seriously, perfect.
He's the god of cities, merchants, wealth and the law. Protection of cities, communities, trade-routes, honest merchants and general upholding of the law would seem to be their schtick.
Bandits would be their most hated foes, attempting to choke the lifeblood of civilization, bringing hardship, famine and privation to honest hardworking people at both ends of a trade-route.
Perfect. No, seriously, perfect.
The recent thread on an Inquisitor using Intimidate to get a merchant to pay what the Inquisitor considered a fair price for goods got me to thinking.. if this was an Inquisitor of Abadar, he probably would not even need to roll... and leaning on the merchant would be sort of the "bad cop" approach, as it would generally be the Inquisitor's job to report/fine/chastise merchants who do not "give good weight".
It strikes me that Abadar's Paladins would be the "good cop" in the same scenario. possibly full of warning tales of merchants who became ensnared by Mammon through cheating trade, and so on.
He's the god of cities, merchants, wealth and the law. Protection of cities, communities, trade-routes, honest merchants and general upholding of the law would seem to be their schtick....Bandits would be their most hated foes, attempting to choke the lifeblood of civilization, bringing hardship, famine and privation to honest hardworking people at both ends of a trade-route.Perfect. No, seriously, perfect.
I've got a story coming up in Wayfinder 4 that deals with that exact subject in some interesting ways. Its about a priestess who lost her faith and became an ex-cleric...and the story deals with how she goes about atoning for her sin to renew that faith.
Also, I've been playing a cleric of Pharasma in a play-by-post game here on the messageboards for awhile, just trying to explore various elements of what might make worship of the Lady of Graves unique. Since she has access to the Water domain, I've used a lot of references about fate being similar to the ripples caused by people's choices falling into the proverbial water of life. Water can give life and it can also take it. And, I really like how Dave Gross characterized the water/baptism ritual in Prince of Wolves with the candles signifying the lives that snuff out once they touch the water, before those carrying them re-emerge on the other side.
So, I'm really interested in seeing what you do for both of those faiths. Many of the neutral-aligned gods are the most fun to explore (e.g., Nethys, Irori, Shelyn, etc.).
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Also, I've been playing a cleric of Pharasma in a play-by-post game here on the messageboards for awhile, just trying to explore various elements of what might make worship of the Lady of Graves unique. Since she has access to the Water domain, I've used a lot of references about fate being similar to the ripples caused by people's choices falling into the proverbial water of life.
My immediate thought was that, particularly in Osirion, she'd be tied to some sort of metaphorical river that stands between the shores of life and death, like the Egyptian Duat. A cleric of Pharasma who channels positive energy might see herself as pulling people out of the water, like a lifeguard who drags people out onto the 'shore of life.' One who channels negative energy might see himself as pushing people under and 'drowning' them in the dark waters.
The faith would be a natural fit for some sort of baptism ritual.
The faith would be a natural fit for some sort of baptism ritual.
Have you read Dave Gross' Prince of Wolves? There's a scene in it where one of the protagonists observes a Pharasmin ritual outside the window of some building where the priests are all wearing their robes and carry candles. They walk in a single-file line into a pond or lake, extinguishing the candles as they go under the water. And then they all walk out on the other side. It's supposed to signify the crossing between life and into death. I thought it was a very poignant way to describe such a ritual. At least, it really stuck with me afterward.
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So, I'm really interested in seeing what you do for both of those faiths. Many of the neutral-aligned gods are the most fun to explore (e.g., Nethys, Irori, Shelyn, etc.).
Lots of good stuff from Neil (I also enjoyed the ceremony); however, Shelyn doesn't really fit there. She is NG and will be in the good gods book.
Calistria doesn't have an organization so much as a network. It has the likes, dislikes, petty feuds, seething hatreds and grand romances you find in any organization.
Note that there is a background trait called Temple Prostitute in the APG, but it doesn't require a temple in the traditional sense. You can find many "temples" in many styles, from the classic "den of iniquity" to bookstore/coffee shops to bardic ensembles accompanied by pulsating Dancing Lights that changes venue every night. (Can I get a what what?)
Irori is the God of Self Perfection mind and body :) and he is also the God of Knowledge :) His Clerics could be found in Libraries as well as Monesteries practicing Martial Arts. Perhaps training Wizards and Bards in Lore....
Also a Lawful Nertral Druid might become a Monk as well... liking Irories perfection of self with the Green Faiths tenants of Survival of the Fittest and other Laws of Nature aspect of Druidism. While the Druid wouldnt Worship Irori per se he might train with one of the monks :) Becomming Fit in body and mind... becoming graceful and strong like a hunting cat. She would be great at meditating under waterfalls and Climbing trees and becomming One with nature ;)
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Gorum, the Lord in Iron and God of War. Chaotic Neutral, and a great choice for the classic barbarian or amoral mercenary.
Sure and there's Nethis the Neutral God of Magick :)
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Along the lines of Gorum, some note on the issue of Lastwall Gorumites' unease at being faced with orcish Gorumites from Belkzen would be appreciated. That whole budding conflict is ripe for exploration.
This book sounds like a great place to confront the issue of Pharasma's undead-hating and having the Death domain, along with providing some setting appropriate replacement features for that domain(hell, some actual non-evilish subdomains for Death would do the trick)
(and more love for Irori plz)
Yay Irori, Yay Mikazi Goddess of Good aligned Orcs, and there is the Irorium where they do arena fighing in the arena above and have a training monestary below the arena. Dont remember witch city its in though...
The Gnomes of Golarion have lots of Neutral Deities :) And a society of Wonderseekers witch is a bacically neutral group of gnomes dedicated to saving the gnomes from the bleaching...
The Pathfinder Society is a Neutral organization! They take peoples of any alignment and class dedicated to the colection and preservation of Knowledge.
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Along the lines of Gorum, some note on the issue of Lastwall Gorumites' unease at being faced with orcish Gorumites from Belkzen would be appreciated.
I imagine no unease, more of a cry of: "Yes, finally we will be tested in the cauldron of battle by worthy foes. No quarter given and none taken. To Gorum, we pay tribute in holy combat!"
Along the lines of Gorum, some note on the issue of Lastwall Gorumites' unease at being faced with orcish Gorumites from Belkzen would be appreciated.I imagine no unease, more of a cry of: "Yes, finally we will be tested in the cauldron of battle by worthy foes. No quarter given and none taken. To Gorum, we pay tribute in holy combat!"
Yeah, this is what I feel they'd be saying myself.
I was looking mainly for groups associated with various churches, but I've incorporated a number of these ideas. And yeah, I think Gorum's people would just be delighted that they could prove themselves against someone who boasts of their mettle. They would neither ask nor give quarter, but neither would they be cruel in their in their victory over a fellow Gorumite.