Class Feature Friday: Godclaw Mystery (Oracle Mystery)
As-written, oracles are expected to worship a pantheon, rather than any one god. Whether you adhere to that is up to you, but today we’re looking at an oracle mystery that is specifically tied to one pantheon in particular!
In the Golarion setting, more specifically the nation of Cheliax, there exists several orders of the broad group known as Hellknights, regimented mercenaries that cleave to the philosophy that Hell itself represents a perfect ordered society, and should be used as the model for all societies. As such, Hellknights only accept contracts that specifically pit them against dissidents, rebels, and those that are dissatisfied with the lot society has given them.
I could go on a long tangent about the validity of this philosophy and the hubris of thinking mortals could work with the powers of evil and think they are the ones in control, but that’s not what we’re here to do. Today we are looking at an oracular mystery common to the signifers (broad term for hellknight spellcasters) of the Hellknight Order of the Godclaw, which is a highly religious order dedicated to the lawful gods considered “major” in the Inner Sea region: Abadar, Asmodeus, Iomedae, Irori, and Torag.
These five gods, each forming a single finger of the “Godclaw”, each provide their core tenants to the overall philosophy of the pantheon (even though most religious texts confirm that aside from their mutual dedication to order, they have little association with each other). And it is this philosophy that oracles of the Godclaw draw upon for their power, working ever closer towards that dream of an orderly society ruled by a firm hand.
The magical spells granted by this mystery certainly suit the hellknight’s dominating philosophy, including spells that inspire fear, stun foe and paralyze foes, unleash the wrath of law, shatter enthrallment, push foes back, ward against chaos, and even trap foes in otherworldly prisons.
Beyond that, they have several revelations to choose from, some drawing upon specific deities in the Godclaw.
For example, with Abadar’s blessing, these mystics can commune with objects of exceptional quality to learn information.
Asmodeus, on the other hand, blesses their spells to be especially fearsome, causing those who are harmed by them to feel the fear of the powerless standing before a tyrant.
Wearing signature armor and gear like a badge of honor, some oracles are hard to influence while they wear hellknight plate or a signifer’s mask.
Some oracles are so devoted they can benefit from the blessings of obedience. However, unlike others, they can choose to divide their obedience among the deities of the Godclaw, choosing not to gain greater boons each day to instead gain the lesser blessings of other deities as well.
A Hellknight is ever ready to fight for order, and these mystics can learn to cause a suit of armor to rapidly teleport fully donned onto their person with a touch, or even store such an armor in extradimensional space for later retrieval.
The goddess Iomedae blesses some of these mystics with the ability to call upon her for courage, bolstering their attacks and defenses against fear.
As the vessels for an incredible force of order, some can issue mind-bending orders that are particularly insidious against chaotic foes, and which are bolstered by their symbols of authority.
Irori is famed for his resilience of body and mind even before ascending to godhood, and some of these oracles call upon him to resist powers that would weaken them.
Powered by their convictions, oracles that fight on the front lines can fight on despite their injuries for a few brief moments.
The final god of the Godclaw, Torag’s blessing allows these signifier oracles to project a shield around themselves, warding against attacks, though chaotic attacks can pierce it to some extent.
Finally, at the full zenith of their ascension, such mystics become avatars of their philosophy, gaining various useful otherworldly senses. Furthermore, they wear even the heaviest armor like a second skin, and can summon forth a projection of a spiked gauntlet to crush and smash foes, the symbology of their faith made real.
Associated philosophy and lore aside, this mystery contains a lot of useful boons for playing a combat caster oracle, gaining a lot of combat buffs, but also a lot of control options for keeping foes under duress and the battlefield in a shape of their liking. I suggest you build accordingly.
The existence of this mystery may be inexorably tied to that particular philosophy, but it does open up the door for an entire wave of other oracle mystery ideas where an oracle can be tied to a specific pantheon, each member potentially contributing some form of blessing to the caster, making it a useful model for your homebrew.
The party is set with a dangerous task: escort a gnome fugitive who is on the run from hellknights. It won’t be easy, as this particular group is especially zealous, led by a man blessed with dark power by his pantheon.
Hellbent on taming the wilds, an order of hellknights has arrived to support a loggers camp that has been beset by fey of all sorts, including colonies of bagiennik in the river they wish to use to float their logs down. The party has the opportunity to aid the fey in repelling these despoilers, but doing so will mean running afoul the dark priest that leads the knights.
In other realms, other pantheon mysteries exist, like the mystery of the open palm, blessing oracles with the gifts of all goodly gods. They work alongside paladins and other goodly priests to safeguard the land against the depredations of evil, but also serve to aid the people during peacetime.
