Is Pharasma technically an Outer God?

[Apanath Quillblade]

So first time I am posting, but the title says it all. Since Pharasma was the Survivor, existing before all the other Gods, even Asmodeus and Ihys, could she possibly be an Outer God in disguise? Or am I mistaken and she is merely a Goddess from a previous universe and the Outer Gods are disconnected from even that?

[MrCharisma]

The origin of the universe has at least 3 stories in Pathfinder:

PHARASMA

ASMODEUS

ABSU and TIAMAT (the page on Tiamat has a bit more information than the page on Absu)

Paizo has intentionally (I believe) left the beginning of the universe open to interpretation. They've give 3 contradicting stories - not as a factual accounting but more as inspiration for GMs to draw from when creating their own mythos.

The dragons at least come from a real ancient religion (the Assyrians if memory serves), and I wouldn't be surprised if the others have similar real world roots.

[Meirril]

The Outer Gods are all inspired by Lovecraft. All of them involve madness, and things Man Was Not Meant To Know. Nothing about them is straight forward. Everything about them approaches you from strange, non-euclidean angles.

Pharasma is a minor egnima, but she isn't the kind that drives people insane simply by being present. Even Groetus isn't the kind of madness that the Outer Gods are known for. Groetus is a different kind of mind shattering experience.

And Asmodeus would totally claim he was first.

[Claxon]

In the sense that Pharasma is a leftover being from a previous multiverse existence, then I guess. In the sense of Chthulu-esque mind bending madness, no.

[Yqatuba]

She's more like Galactus, minus the planet eating part

[MrCharisma]

It's worth noting that Pharasma is *Probably* the most powerful deity.

Pharasma decides what happens to Souls when people die, which directly empowers the other deities depending on where she sends them. Basically she decides who has the most power.

One of the Dev's hinted that the reason she holds this lofty position is that none of the other gods are willing to challenge her for it.

Caveats: The Outer Gods are a bit different (likely don't care about petitioners), so could be more powerful. Asmodeus always plays the long game, so he could be right where he wants to be for now. Absu and Tiamut are basically unconcerned with mortal souls (similar to the outer gods).

There are a lot of others who wouldn't challenge Pharasma even if they could, but there are still plenty of powerful players who definitely would if they thought it was viable.

[CorvusMask]

Outer Gods aren't just beings from outside the multiverse or from previous ones, they are also outside the Pharasma's cycle of souls while Pharasma isn't (she expects to be judged by her successor upon her death). Basically Pharasma doesn't have "If the die, they don't die" clause while Outer Gods do due to not being part of cycle of souls.