I am developing an orphanage of Pharasma in Ustalav for my campaign and seek thoughts about (and citations to published) orphanages elsewhere in Golarion.
If you recall a particular orphanage (or would like to describe one that you've developed), please share it.
I read this thread, which religions are most likely to build orphanages, which was useful, but I thought to start a new thread because I am particularly interested in learning about specific published orphanages. For example, Rule of Fear, at page 23, discusses an unnamed orphanage in the town of Ardagh, County Odranto.
(After rereading Rule of Fear, I plan to review the Carrion Crown AP and then search through the ISWG, but I thought the subject might interest others.)
My thought sketch of a particular orphanage of Pharasma follows:
In a land haunted by its ruined past, this orphanage is well known amongst the Ustalavic nobility as a discrete place to hide their indiscretions. Overseen by its abbess and staffed by clergy, midwives, and other oblates of the Pharasmin Penitence, the orphanage tirelessly trains its wards to promote Kavapesta's penitential doctrine that suffering in this world balances the scales of judgment toward one's benefit in the afterlife. Contingent on their talents, orphans are raised to know their place in Ustalav as clergy, inquisitors, common warriors, etc. -- all in service to the Lady of Graves and her church in Ustalav. Every so often, however, a noble family requires an orphan's return to the family, which the abbess is willing to accommodate in exchange for adequate tithing or bequests.
Perhaps with this incentive in mind, the abbess and her oblates work hard to ensure the safety of all their charges, and to inculcate their sincere devotion to the teachings of Sister Sorrow and her servant on Golarion, Bishop Bavhulameta Ulametria of Cryptgate Cathedral. Accidents happen, of course, and injury amongst the wards often results from their many feuds: very few of them know of their noble bastardy, yet some suspect the truth of their strange situation, and the remainder split between youthful rebellion against the self-mortification that the abbess promulgates, or stoic obeisance to it.
There is an orphanage/school/academy in Sandpoint, described very briefly in the AP.
It's run by a former adventurer (wizard). No deity attached, AFAIK.
Ruyan.
I don't know why but for some reason I always have the Hellknights running orphanages in my version of Golarion.
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Absolutely, Broken. There are many, many Asmodean orphanages. Isger, in particular, has a number of them run by many organizations, most notably the Sisters of the Golden Erinyes, as a result of all the orphans left after the Goblinblood Wars.
(Incidentally, I always like describing Asmodean charity. It just feels wrong, but I'm quite positive that Asmodeans are likely among the most charitable of faiths in Golarion. For their own reasons, of course.)
Dot.
While there are ALOT of orphanages mantained by the clergy of Asmodeus (as well as the clergy of other evil beings) please remember that the clergy of Iomedae operates quite a few in Cheliax themselves (as her worship is at least tolerated by House Thrune; for now it seems). Or am I mistaken on this?
I can see Asmodean orphanages. So many young minds to mold into the service of The Father. Children need lots of guidance after all(Spare the rod...) Consider it to be an investment by Cheliax for future Hellknights,Clerics and Inquisitors.
Imrijka's writeup might help a bit, considering she hails from a Pharasman Orphanage in Ustalav.
Thanks all. This has been super helpful, especially Imrijka's writeup.
If anyone has further citations, or would like to share other orphanages (or characters with orphan backgrounds), please do!
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Well, not too specific, but Cayden Cailean's god article explicitly states that orphanages are a big deal in his faith, basically their primary charity activity. Children from such orphanages often take Cailean as a surname, and it's speculated that the god himself may have been an orphan. No other god article pays the subject nearly as much attention.
So barring any other specific citation, I'd assume unspecified orphanages are Caydenite.
Also, to me, it seems that Erastilians would have a big thing for Orphanages, what with his heavy focus with family and community.
The thing with Cayden is really interesting - I'd not read that. Awesome!
The other thing that I half-remember from somewhere (though I don't know that it's official) is that Calistria's temples sometimes function as orphanages... for the "correct" kind of person, that is.
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Also, to me, it seems that Erastilians would have a big thing for Orphanages, what with his heavy focus with family and community.
I actually disagree, Erastil seems like he'd be all for adoption, but not much for the kind of artificial living situation orphanages seem to have. I suspect his followers would be more inclined to adopt the children themselves (or guilt others into doing so) than fund orphanages per se. This is especially true given his nature as a rural god, where few villages have enough orphans and extra labor to make a real orphanage. I can see a rural Erastilian coming to a city, seeing an orphanage and being appalled in a "Don't they have any families to take them in?" sort of way.
The thing with Cayden is really interesting - I'd not read that. Awesome!
Yeah, it's one of those neat little details that reminds you that Cayden Cailean isn't just some drunk, he's a great guy. Happy to have informed you. :)
Contributor
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Also, to me, it seems that Erastilians would have a big thing for Orphanages, what with his heavy focus with family and community.
The thing with Cayden is really interesting - I'd not read that. Awesome!
The other thing that I half-remember from somewhere (though I don't know that it's official) is that Calistria's temples sometimes function as orphanages... for the "correct" kind of person, that is.
In Renaissance Venice, the children of courtesans were raised in specially built "orphanages."
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Absolutely, Broken. There are many, many Asmodean orphanages. Isger, in particular, has a number of them run by many organizations, most notably the Sisters of the Golden Erinyes, as a result of all the orphans left after the Goblinblood Wars.
(Incidentally, I always like describing Asmodean charity. It just feels wrong, but I'm quite positive that Asmodeans are likely among the most charitable of faiths in Golarion. For their own reasons, of course.)
Tangental
I actually got a mansion and converted it to an Orphanage. One day they were lamenting about Shad having an army of thralls. The DM laughed and said, "You just gave him an orphanage full of impressionable minds, and you're worried about his psionics?"
I just smiled, evily.