Theories on the Peacock Spirit!

[samuraixsithlord]

Given the secretive nature of it's religious ceremonies and Pathfinder's love of all things cosmic horror, I believe that the "Peacock Spirit" is one of Nyarlahotep's many masks. I also believe that Xanderghul was the only one to know this fact and that the Crawling Chaos granted him his Mythic power.

Anyone else have any theories?

[Ashkar]

I put my money on Xanderghul. Considering all secrecy of Peacock Spirit religion, being High Priest of it (how convenient) and having possibly only a dozen of other underlings who knew the truth because of religion rules, it's quite easy for the most powerful Runelord to pull this plan (at least in his realm). After all, he was Runelord of Pride and master of illusion school of magic.
Possibly this fake religion thing boosted for 1-2 tiers his mythic rank. He, maybe, even have not had the mythic ability to grant spells. Xanderghul was known to manipulate and lie creatures like angels in his service (note - not binding them!), so I could see situations when some poor characters like these being send to Peacock followers to maintain, in one way or another, the charade that Spirit exists as a god.
And all religion dying after Earthfall... Well, we know that Runelords took measures to escape it. It's possible that Xanderghul is stuck like Karzoug somewhere in his private demiplane. His follower in Runeforge indicates that the pool newer flared with life "announcing" that Xanderghul is coming back. And he cannot influence the material plane in any way (artefacts like Revelation Quills, to have any form of contact with him, where rare and mostly lost/destroyed after Earthfall).
Or just he didn't care anymore - possibly this was the case for some time, until he realized he was stuck in his demiplane (and his followers died to get him out).
This could explain why Revelation Quill suddenly starts to answer - lot of questions about Karzoug could push Xanderghul to certain ideas (at least he would be happy to manipulate and help PCs in killing his rival, and then orchestrate his release).

[Malefactor]

Ashkar wrote:

I put my money on Xanderghul. Considering all secrecy of Peacock Spirit religion, being High Priest of it (how convenient) and having possibly only a dozen of other underlings who knew the truth because of religion rules, it's quite easy for the most powerful Runelord to pull this plan (at least in his realm). After all, he was Runelord of Pride and master of illusion school of magic.

Possibly this fake religion thing boosted for 1-2 tiers his mythic rank. He, maybe, even have not had the mythic ability to grant spells. Xanderghul was known to manipulate and lie creatures like angels in his service (note - not binding them!), so I could see situations when some poor characters like these being send to Peacock followers to maintain, in one way or another, the charade that Spirit exists as a god.
And all religion dying after Earthfall... Well, we know that Runelords took measures to escape it. It's possible that Xanderghul is stuck like Karzoug somewhere in his private demiplane. His follower in Runeforge indicates that the pool newer flared with life "announcing" that Xanderghul is coming back. And he cannot influence the material plane in any way (artefacts like Revelation Quills, to have any form of contact with him, where rare and mostly lost/destroyed after Earthfall).
Or just he didn't care anymore - possibly this was the case for some time, until he realized he was stuck in his demiplane (and his followers died to get him out).
This could explain why Revelation Quill suddenly starts to answer - lot of questions about Karzoug could push Xanderghul to certain ideas (at least he would be happy to manipulate and help PCs in killing his rival, and then orchestrate his release).

It also doesn't hurt the theory that in official artwork he is wearing peacock feathers, and James Jacobs has hinted in the past that Xanderghul had ambitions for godhood/ already thought he was a god.

[hjgz89]

My personal theory is that Xanderghul is the Peacock Spirit. He captured Melek Taus the Peacock Angel and has her locked up somewhere, siphoning her energy to fuel his Mythic power.
Freeing her would be key in Xanderghul's downfall.

[Fingers The Quick]

Hey im going to play the role of the necromancer and revive this dead thread.
Ive actually googled the peacock spirit on numerous occasions over the years. Ive finally decided how i was going to bring him into the game though. In alot of older 80s occultism animes the peacock is synonymous with a phoenix which makes alot of sense when you start reading the entries in pathfinderwiki on the
Peacock spirit, peacock angel, melek taus and szuriel horsemen of war. Im thinking melek taus was an archon magi that was defeated and bound to szuriel this the reason he is carryong her blackblade greatsword lamentations of the faithless.
The peacock angel melek taus then reincarnated into the peacock spirit, losing power as he lost faith and endentured to an archdaemon he grew bitter and fell from grace giving him his alignment shift to lawful evil in this state he was unarmed and became a wizard/monk using his might and magic in an effiecient martial arts style.
Eventually a time of peace ensued lwaving the newest incarnation of the horsemen of war in a weakened state while simultaneously his faith was stumbled upon this granted him some hope shifting his alignment to neutral lawful he took advantage of captors weakend state and broke his bonds. Once again reincarnating into the Peacock king where he almagated his previous forms into a more balance being. Taking it as a personal quest to correct his misguided worshippers views. Which consist mostly of scholars and monks that remain in his former temples, including the monks of the white feather.

In in my game we will be playing in a pocket dimension within golarions steaming sea and this dimension has just ended a century of civil war among the races and entered and era of peace. The peacock king has just arrived at a newly discover mega dungeon and has issued the dungeons completion as a challenge for all life. He says "I have escaped my bonds and been reborn by the actions of the races now help my faith be reborn as well, work together and conquer this challenge then i shall know" theres also one more catch this dimension has been a 2 way portal up until the issueing of the Challenge at which point it becomes a roach motel. After the dungeon i was thinking about either donning champions of the PK or setting them on a quest for the revival of the other fallen/dead deities. (Aroden might be in the bottom of the dungeon being tortured depending) theres also been a part where they interacted with acavna in mordant spire who mentioned lamashtu and the god former god of beast but alas the key to their freedom would be the king of rebirth. Just wanted to share this incase someone else has hit all the same leads as i did and didnt know where to go with it

[Mark Moreland]

For those curious about the Peacock Spirit, many questions about the mysterious entity and its faith will be answered in the forthcoming Return of the Runelords Adventure Path.

As for Melek Taus, there likely won't be much more on the subject, as that's a real-world angel with modern-day worshipers and probably shouldn't have made it into the game in the first place out of respect for the Yazidi religion.

[James Jacobs]

And confirming Mark's info to a certain extent:

Melek Taus has no connection to the Peacock Spirit other than sharing the word "peacock."

The Peacock Spirit has always been something else entirely; something I've been specifically saving to explore as part of Return of the Runelords.

[Fingers The Quick]

Ooooh such high levels of stoked on this!
Even got an official reply.
Shame you cant include melek taus, i can understand the implications of possible repercussions. Yet ive always so loved the concept of bringing foreign religious figures with a new spin. Its been done to the greek patheon so many times its almost boring yet games like final fantasy or shin megami tensei did it so well.
but yeah i get it.... best left for the homebrew