Hello people,
I am working on a sandbox campaign entirely located inside the city of Westcrown, Cheliax' former capital. I am not following adventure path canon and am more or less using the city as its older LE self, decaying and corrupted as before the beginning of the Council of Thieves AP.
I am trying to define what are the religious cults that could be active inside the city, and where they land in regard with the law and cultural acceptance.I know the church of Asmodeus is the state religion, but it is hinted all over the campaign setting that this isn't as true for the common folk as it is for the nobility. I am interested in knowing which cults are allowed, which are tolerated under conditions, and which are outright banned.
The gods I am most interested in are :
The other gods of the Godclaw : Iomadae,Torag,Abadar,and Irori
Pharasma
Shelyn
Serenrae
Norgorber
Zon-Kuthon
Erastil
My idea was that every religion that is allowed might have been somewhat twisted by Cheliax' culture. For instance, I was thinking of having Torag's clergy run Victorian era style workhouses to have unemployed citizens ''better themselves through hard work''.
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I am trying to define what are the religious cults that could be active inside the city, and where they land in regard with the law and cultural acceptance.I know the church of Asmodeus is the state religion, but it is hinted all over the campaign setting that this isn't as true for the common folk as it is for the nobility. I am interested in knowing which cults are allowed, which are tolerated under conditions, and which are outright banned.
Generally speaking, all Chaotic religions are outright banned, and all Lawful ones are at least tolerated, with Neutral faiths somewhere in the middle (but toward the 'tolerated' end). That's been made explicit a few time, I believe.
Your list is probably about right for which faiths of the Core 20 are tolerated.
My idea was that every religion that is allowed might have been somewhat twisted by Cheliax' culture. For instance, I was thinking of having Torag's clergy run Victorian era style workhouses to have unemployed citizens ''better themselves through hard work''.
This, however, cannot happen. Unlike in the real world, a faith simply cannot depart this far from the teachings of their God, since as soon as they do, they lose all Divine magic. You could have a solitary con man or Divine Sorcerer or something doing this, but not the whole faith, as workhouses are straight up LE, and that's outside the remit of what Torag will tolerate. In fact, workhouses of the Victorian sort fall very much under Droskar's domain and are thus something Torag would be vehemently against.
Now, Torag could sponsor a 'workhouse' that actually treated its employees fairly and paid them a fair wage for their work (with fair deductions for their room and board), but one of his Anathema is 'cheat someone' and if you don't think forcing people to work in poor conditions for no wages is cheating them, well, I think Torag would disagree.
Which is not to say certain elements of the faith might not get a little twisted (Torag being portrayed as more of a Champion of Law and Patriotism and and emphasis on his Anathema against leaving the enemies of Cheliax alive, for example), but they'd still be LN at worst or they stop being real followers of Torag.
Likewise other deities.
Having Asmodeus/Zon-Kuthon have 'Madeline Laundries' and 'Homes for Wayward Girls' would no doubt fit quite well. Hammer rebellious young ladies into shape. No doubt for extra cruelty, shove halflings into them so they become proper slaves.
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Having Asmodeus/Zon-Kuthon have 'Madeline Laundries' and 'Homes for Wayward Girls' would no doubt fit quite well. Hammer rebellious young ladies into shape. No doubt for extra cruelty, shove halflings into them so they become proper slaves.
Pretty sure the Sisters of the Golden Erinyes do this canonically.
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Have a church of Droskar pretend to be one of Torag with it's workhouses being cruel behind the scenes. Like on the outside they appear stern but fair but when the doors close it's all horrible.