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One of the things I love most about Golarion is that there is a ton of stuff left unwritten. It allows me to expand on things in my games and invent new things to further enrich the game world. A part of the setting that always interests me are the divine being they have and how the interact with their followers and each other. On one of the Pathfinder FB pages I play a little game of creativity where I ask about what kind of character you would make to follow a god. This week I'm looking at Iaozrael, the Infernal Duke of authority, hubris, and lies.
Sitting at our theoretical gaming table, our GM turns to us and says, "All of the characters must be followers of Iaozrael, although they do not need to be divine casters." What character do you make? Who is he? Why has he chosen the Untarnished Angel as his patron? In what ways does he further the Infernal Duke‘s goals? Why would he be attracted to this beings doctrine?
Iaozrael's devotees are men of means - power, ability - who have little regard for those who are not successful.
They manipulate and steal - skirting the edge of the law but never overtly breaking it, and always act for personal gain.
Iaozrael's favorites are those who attract attention to themselves, all must live under the sun, and know it is there, but dare not stare too long at its greatness. The lies and excesses of Iaozrael's cult are overt, blatant, and done with little shame, for his faith is too proud to bother with the excuse, or the explanation. The sun burns ever, it does not set, for the setting of the sun is the illusion, not the sun itself. There is little artifice in that, at least.
Iaozrael's faith builds grand monuments to itself, and places secret shrines in places where eyes are commonly drawn. Thus, even those who shun such vile behavior must pay witness to the Untarnished Angel.
It is not a cruel church, but it has little time for pity. Those who choose not to be strong and powerful and beautiful are failures, and not worthy of the time or attention of the strong. Intellectuals, scholastics, and any who seek to bring truth or understanding to the world are similarly shunned, if not openly mocked and debased. The weak, the poor, the needy... none of them should dare approach the terrible, gilded, symmetry of Iaozrael.
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Iaozrael's lies are the most seducing of all the devils, for he speaks of the past with reverent tones, extolling the virtues of days gone by and which may yet come again.
But once and again, his own sigil betrays him, to those who might know where to look, for doth the sun ever truly set?
He bears a great tome, which he carries proudly - it is named NOSTALGIA - and its contents are miraculous, in that they are a history of whatever delights the reader the most. Iaozrael's light illuminates this path into the fanciful past.
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There are no churches, or temples, or holy places of Iaozrael. He demands no homage, no fealty, no sacrifice. There is no clergy, no holy days, no tithes, or gathering places. None meet in his name.
Iaozrael's most faithful denounce him, or deny his existence. They claim adherence, however muddled, to the most ancient and revered deities and churches of whatever nation they may be, although they are never, or rarely and then, briefly, seen paying this obeisance.
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All great information but it doesn't tell me what kind of character you would make that would take Iaozrael as a patron. If you had to make one that is, if that was the one qualifier for the character you are going to make for your next campaign.
aristocrats, Bards, brawlers, fighters, all make for good adherents of the Untarnished Angel.
Wizards, druids, monks, and clerics are poor choices. Alchemists and Investigators are uniquely poor fits.
Mesmerists in particular are a good choice, b/c they can convince their audiences that that lies are facts, and facts are lies.
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These are great choices but still. What character would YOU make if you had to make a follower of Iaozrael. And not just race class combo. What in their background would make them a follower of the infernal duke.All great information but it doesn't tell me what kind of character you would make that would take Iaozrael as a patron. If you had to make one that is, if that was the one qualifier for the character you are going to make for your next campaign.aristocrats, Bards, brawlers, fighters, all make for good adherents of the Untarnished Angel.
Wizards, druids, monks, and clerics are poor choices. Alchemists and Investigators are uniquely poor fits.
Mesmerists in particular are a good choice, b/c they can convince their audiences that that lies are facts, and facts are lies.
As I said, there are no (or extremely few) followers of the Infernal Duke. Not intentionally.
The Prophets of Error, as they are known to their enemies, do not do homage to Iaozrael. They proclaim, loudly and overtly, their adherence to the most traditional and widely followed worship/church in their society. This is, as all things are in their lives, a lie. They worship nothing but themselves, and in so doing, are performing a devotion to the Untarnished Angel.