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Why does the planet Golarion have two sun goddesses, when there's only one actual sun?
Yeah, I know Sarenrae is worshiped in the Inner Sea region, while Shizuru is worshiped in Tian Xia. But if there's only one sun, can't only one of them have absolute domain over it? But I guess the same could be asked of why there are two mostly different pantheons for different parts of the world.
Of more immediate concern, how do worshipers of the two sun goddesses view each other, and the other goddess?
I'm actually thinking of doing a Shizuru worshiper for PFS, and I was wondering how such a character traveling to the Inner Sea would react to all the Sarenrae worshipers all over the place. Even if you don't count Kyra, the busiest adventurer in Golarion, Sarenrae is one of the most popular deities for Society clerics, not to mention all those Dawnflower Dervishes and other worshipers.
Would there be a rivalry between the two sun goddesses? Or just mutual respect, as fellow good deities who have the sun and slashing weapons in common?
That's because gods and goddesses don't have "absolute domain" over anything. Gods are powerful beings, but the sun will function without them. That means that there is room for more than one sun goddess. And on top of that, we have Nurgal, the Demon Lord of the sun and warfare. And others, I'm sure.
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It seems that most Golarion gods can be gods of a thing, without actually being that thing, or having total dominion of that thing.
Abadar's the god of law. Lots of other gods are lawful, and seem to think of themselves as 'gods of law' to an extent, including Asmodeus and Iomedae (who is *also* a 'sun goddess!').
Nethys is the god of magic, and yet, he's not the first, or the only. An Azlanti magic goddess preceded him, and he's currently sharing the title with Qi Zhong in Tian Xa as well. (As well as assorted other gods with heavy Magic associations and the Domain thereof, like Asmodeus and Urgathoa.)
Gozreh shares dominion over storms and sea and sky with Hei Feng, and, to a lesser extent, Rovagug.
Cayden, god of freedom, shares some of that with Desna, who actually has the Liberation domain, which he does not!
Aroden and Irori were both gods of history, at the same time. (Until Aroden shot himself in the head with a loaded crossbow. While tied to a chair. Three times. "Worst case of suicide I ever saw...")
I prefer less gods to more, and for their not to be sun gods and death gods and magic gods for every single culture, race, continent, etc. (lest we end up with stuff like that 2nd edition book with a god of liches and a god of dolphins and whatnot), but that's the way it's been since Greyhawk and the Realms, and settings that tried to move away from that (Dragonlance, Kingdoms of Kalamar, Scarred Lands) didn't really take off.
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Yeah, Gods lack absolute authority over, well, anything. Sarenrae, Shizuru, Nurgal, and a number of other Gods are all solar deities, but killing one or all of them wouldn't put out the sun. Nor would destroying the sun necessarily kill them. They're affiliated with it more than they are masters of it. Ditto deities of war, or magic, or whatever.
As for how a worshiper of Shizuru would feel about those of Sarenrae...probably pretty good, actually. The two deities have a fair bit in common, really. Shizuru is a lot more focused on honor and tradition, as well as following one's ancestors, and less concerned with mercy and redemption, but the two are both nice people and would probably get along pretty well.
Creative Director
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There are actually more than 2 sun deities. There's also, for example, the demon lord Nurgal, who's also a sun deity, as folks mentioned above.
And as folks mention, there's a lot of overlap with the gods. Generally not among gods of a like pantheon, so you don't see multiple sun deities in the core 20 for Inner Sea, or the core 20 for Tian Xia, or among the demon lords.
There are actually more than 2 sun deities. There's also, for example, the demon lord Nurgal, who's also a sun deity, as folks mentioned above.
And as folks mention, there's a lot of overlap with the gods. Generally not among gods of a like pantheon, so you don't see multiple sun deities in the core 20 for Inner Sea, or the core 20 for Tian Xia, or among the demon lords.
I happily throw in the Burning Hate alongside Nurgal!
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My first PFS character (back in season 1, before Ultimate Combat) was a Paladin from Minkai. She used a "naginata" which in technical terms was a glaive and a "katana" which was a long sword, which matched the interpretation in the Adventurers Armory. She was blessed with her power by the Sun Goddess which the Barb--people of the inner sea called Sarenrae.
This interpretation I played until her round in the retirement arc.
I would say you could have--
Total ignorance, which I played with, (especially since an official Shirizu hadn't been published and she might be LN or LE since she was presumably based off Amatarasu Amakami).
Considering the other "heretics/misinformed" which would work very well with hard core Sarenraeites.
Polytheistic syncretism i.e. worshipers perceiving both goddesses one in the same but with different faces.
I would decide your characters view and let the other players/gms decide how their PCs/NPCs play off that.
Leave the actual answers as a big unknown, as in, since it's PFS it's unlikely this issue will be addressed.
Hope that was helpful,
Kerney
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Well, Shizuru has real stats now. She's LG, with katana as her favored weapon, which has stats in Ultimate Equipment. Used two handed, it's a martial weapon - it's only exotic when used one handed. So if I do go with her for my paladin idea, I'll be able to use it two handed without having to take Exotic Weapon Proficiency. 1d8 is a little less than some two handed weapons, but that 18-20 crit range is nice, and smite damage gets doubled.
I'm still deciding exactly what I'm doing with this character. I know I want a paladin with a two handed weapon, and I want to avoid the typical Iomedae that most paladins go with, but other than that, I'm still exploring my options.
Shizuru and her lover, Tsukiyo, are both LG, and would let me focus on a Tien character in a way I haven't before. My only other Tien character I've played is a nagaji, so his race has taken priority over his geographic background in RP, though I do play it up a little by having him in the Lantern Lodge originally, and still talking about his homeland sometimes. Ironically, his patron actually is Iomedae. He's a battle oracle, so I didn't have to declare it, but I have a story to go with that one.
I'd say I'm leaning towards Shizuru over Tsukiyo, and not just because I prefer her katana to his longspear as a favored weapon. The whole goddess of swordplay goes well with a martial character, though I still haven't come up with a personality and story for this guy. I'm also considering Shelyn as a possible patron, and she's apparently as major in Tian Xia as in the Inner Sea, so I could still do a Tien character that way. But I think I'm leaning towards Shizuru as my top choice.
I'm still deciding exactly what I'm doing with this character. I know I want a paladin with a two handed weapon, and I want to avoid the typical Iomedae that most paladins go with, but other than that, I'm still exploring my options.
Shizuru and her lover, Tsukiyo, are both LG, and would let me focus on a Tien character in a way I haven't before. My only other Tien character I've played is a nagaji, so his race has taken priority over his geographic background in RP, though I do play it up a little by having him in the Lantern Lodge originally, and still talking about his homeland sometimes. Ironically, his patron actually is Iomedae. He's a battle oracle, so I didn't have to declare it, but I have a story to go with that one.
I'd say I'm leaning towards Shizuru over Tsukiyo, and not just because I prefer her katana to his longspear as a favored weapon. The whole goddess of swordplay goes well with a martial character, though I still haven't come up with a personality and story for this guy. I'm also considering Shelyn as a possible patron, and she's apparently as major in Tian Xia as in the Inner Sea, so I could still do a Tien character that way. But I think I'm leaning towards Shizuru as my top choice.
I had a player who was a paladin of Shizuru in my Jade Regent AP.
One change I brought was that this paladin's smite evil ability worked on Onis (native outsiders) instead of evil subtype outsider for the +2 dam/lvl on his first attack.
I have a paladin of Shizuru as well as an oracle who is a devout follower of Sarenrae.
I never really thought of them as particularly comperable until you pointed out the whole Sun diety thing.
I think it's how I focus on different aspects with the characters...
For my paladin of Shizuru, it's about honor and legacy - specifically how your actions to improve the world will honor your ancestors and make the world a better place for your descendents. In his case, he strives even harder given that he believes he is living penance for father who gave in to the temptations of the Worldwound and the dishonorable mother who bore him.
For my follower of Sarenrae, it is more about temperance in actions and being less the force of change, and more the fulcrum. He feels that the Dawnflower would want him to learn from her lessons that passion is an excellent thing, but that sometimes it can cause you to be led to misfortune by your enemies. Temper always your penchant for violence with vigilance in recognizing your motives, but never quell your desire to give aid and comfort to your allies or the victims of evil.
Were the two to ever meet, I think they would both be interested in seeing how the other seeks to better the world they live in and those they call allies & friends.
Tsukiyo is an interesting diety as well. I'm with you on the uninspiring longspear (wish they had gone with something a bit more flavorful, like a Naginata, but eh), but the Lawful Good diety with the Darkness, Madness & Repose domains can make for some evocative character concepts. I was pondering an aasimar follower of Tsukiyo with a sort of "guardian in the night" or "slightly crazed undead hunter" touched by the higher planes concept, but I doubt I'll get to play it before the cut next month.
-TimD
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Yeah, Tsukiyo's domains could make for some interesting character concepts, but I'd rather go cleric than paladin following him. This time around, I want to make a paladin (I already have 3 clerics in PFS).
I was considering the other gods mentioned instead, but I think I've settled on Shizuru for a paladin, with the primary focus on her honor and swordplay elements. Her katana favored weapon may not be quite as powerful as some possibilities, but it's certainly flavorful, and the bonuses will affect damage more than the die used.
I'm starting to flesh out the idea for the character a little, and I'm picturing a Tien aasimar version of Duncan MacLeod.