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We all know that Aroden did not come back when it was prophethized he would. By not returning, he broke one of the worlds most powerful prophecies, thus creating the Age of Lost Omens. I have speculated on why Aroden choose to do this - considering his power and the prophecy, I think it must have been a choice. And in the Doomsday Dawn, I have found the reason!
If there is a prophecy that is stronger than the one about Aroden's return, it is the prophecy of the Doomsday Dawn. Foretelling the end of the world as we know it, this was a future Aroden absolutely could not accept - and which relied on the same power of prophecy that would allow Aroden to ascend to an even higher level of existence! Upon learning of the Doomsday Dawn, which he would do in the visions accompanying his supposed accession, he must have realized that the one way of avoiding the Doomsday Dawn was to break the power of prophecy. Thus, he martyred himself to falsify the prophecy of his own accession, in order to give (meta)humanity a chance to defeat the Doomsday Dawn!
This raises the question, once the Doomsday Dawn has been defeated, will Aroden Return?
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This is a conspiracy theory, nothing more. It fits the facts of the fiction as I know them, but it in no way originates with Paizo.
I've always despised prophecy as a narrative tool. So your theory is neatly in line with my own about why and how Aroden never appeared.
This raises the question, once the Doomsday Dawn has been defeated, will Aroden Return?
No, because Aroden died to emphasize the importance of player choice in RPGs.
But, setting aside the meta-narrative...
I'm sure there are many other prophesied doom scenarios that have yet to unfold. The conversation with the Ashen Man in When the Stars Go Dark all but confirms that. Meaning that Aroden will have to stay dead in order to break all of them.
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Aroden will come back at the End of Time, when all prior prophecies of doom have been avoided, but the final end of the universe is inevitably approaching because it is foretold strictly by the harsh laws of physics and not by any supernatural prophecy.
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Aroden was always simply an avatar of Pharasma, and everything is playing out according to plan. Aroden's failed prophecy is simply a feint by the mistress of fate.
I wouldn't exactly say thermodynamics is that unstoppable in PF.Aroden will come back at the End of Time, when all prior prophecies of doom have been avoided, but the final end of the universe is inevitably approaching because it is foretold strictly by the harsh laws of physics and not by any supernatural prophecy.
On a local, temporary basis -- sure.
On the cosmic scale -- it is ultimately unstoppable.
Pretty sure it was established in AP #100 that Aroden was flat out murdered, but who knows if that'll get retconned in PF2.
Pretty sure it was established in AP #100 that Aroden was flat out murdered, but who knows if that'll get retconned in PF2.
* Looks up AP 100
Aroden was always simply an avatar of Pharasma, and everything is playing out according to plan. Aroden's failed prophecy is simply a feint by the mistress of fate.
Yea, this is what was brought up in the Lucifer/Vertigo comics. Everything has already been decided by Destiny/Fate/Fluffy Blue Things from Alpha Centari.
Bob:I want to go get a hamburger
Pharesma:Bob goes out for a hamburger, but gets run over by a yak.
Yak:Grunt!
Bob:Aieee!
There is no scenario where Bob sleeps in, cooks a burger at home or is a vegan. From the beginning of everything it was decided that he got run over by a yak.
I wouldn't exactly say thermodynamics is that unstoppable in PF.Aroden will come back at the End of Time, when all prior prophecies of doom have been avoided, but the final end of the universe is inevitably approaching because it is foretold strictly by the harsh laws of physics and not by any supernatural prophecy.
On a local, temporary basis -- sure.
On the cosmic scale -- it is ultimately unstoppable.
How can the net amount of entropy of the universe be massively decreased?