I honestly think not enough attention is paid to the fact in the world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Golarion, that ALL temples to the god Cayden Cailean are bars. Combined with his popularity among people of almost all classes (being a god of revelry, freedom, and adventure in addition to alcohol, and one of the few mortals to ascend to godhood), and I almost wonder if a fully secular bar might only exist in Rahadoum, where ALL religions are outlawed by the state!
Same thing with Calistria, the goddess of lust, trickery and vengeance. As far as I'm aware, virtually all of her temples function as brothels, and given the goddess' other aspects almost any sex worker who joins the clergy has a built-in union to stab people who try to exploit them. Secular sex work establishments would probably have a hard time competing with an institution like that...
The god Abadar's church created the concept of banking and requires all lawyers where it operates to be licensed by them. Every forge can effectively be a shrine to the dwarf god Torag, even if you yourself aren't a dwarf.
Religion plays a MUCH bigger role in the everyday goings-on of Golarion when so many places for work and leisure can be owned and operated by various churches, but I feel sometimes that gets barely touched on, even WHEN you're playing a cleric!
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A little late for @owlcatober, but better than never, right?
[Ao3 Link]
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In some ways, being a god was not so different from being a mortal.
Iomedae grimaced as she looked at the map of the Worldwound and the regions around it again, updated before her eyes as she could watch the individual battles waged. Even if gods did not need such tools to be aware, it was still useful when interacting with their heralds or other servitors. Watching worlds turn onwards, all to try and figure out how best to aid those under her charge within the limits placed on her.
And as she watched the triumph of Drezen, the culmination of fate, opportunity, and no shortage of mortal courage, she should have been happy. The demons had been thwarted at Kenabres, and having lost so many fighters while the main crusader army was unmolested they had been vulnerable. Queen Galfrey had seen the opportunity, and committed everything she had to it - even her own power as she elevated a new Knight-Commander.
It was the exact kind of thing that Iomedae herself had prayed for as a mortal, when she had ruled a besieged Kantaria. For the enemy to overcommit, be broken, and then to exploit it to put them on the defensive. To take the initiative from them. Yet now, in Aroden’s position, she felt only frustration.
After all, as she looked at the Knight-Commander, she saw what her mortal followers had done. She had heard their thankful prayers for deliverance at long last, and the questions of those who wondered what took so long… or the one mortal who should have been her chosen, had Iomedae chosen someone at all. It was a surprise for her.
After all, she only knew Knight-Commander Elaina as one of her paladins, no different than Irabeth Tirabade whose valor, leadership, and ability to organize chaos had rallied Kenabres’ defenders to give her supposed chosen the chance to save the Wardstones. No different than Seelah, that rising errant who if Iomedae was to be objective could have easily filled the same role. If anything, Iomedae would have chosen Galfrey: the queen for a century who had sacrificed her own mortality long past the point she should have been able to pass the duty on, who had been praying for any guidance on what to do beyond ‘hold the line’.
Someone else had created a false chosen, and she was at a loss as to who had done so. Yet, it had delivered the first genuine victories over the Worldwound’s hordes in many years.
It never should have come to this. And she still wondered if it was her fault that things had degraded so far. She should have been able to figure out something better than the Wardstones. They should not have had to wait for circumstance to finally work in their favor.
“We gave them the tools they needed. It is not your fault that they cannot use them.”
Iomedae looked up at the armored dwarf standing at the door, gilded plating over his red blacksmiths’ apron and clothes. Torag, ever punctual, was early to the strategy meeting.
“You know better than me that demons are a far different beast than orcs.”
Torag grimaced at the snapped rebuttal, but did not immediately answer as he walked towards his spot at the map and summoned an image that Iomedae had been focusing on.
“This is true,” he finally conceded as he looked at the new Knight-Commander. “What is your plan, then?”
“That is where I am at an impasse. I should tell her the truth, even if privately. The Hand has already asked that I clarify the situation, and he will not wait to seek out Lariel’s sword. I will have no better chance.”
“So why not tell him, then, if it eats you so?”
“Because all I would do is undermine the first victories Golarion has had against the Worldwound in decades. I cannot tell her where this power comes from, or why it is seemingly transforming her into a celestial. All I can do now is tell her what she is not, and the only thing it would be salve for is my desire for truth. Truth I still do not understand.”
While honor was not technically one of Torag’s divine areas of concern, he bid his followers to still act by the expectations of dwarven honor. He understood keenly why she would be torn on this issue - how honorable was it to allow false glory to be attributed to her? Yet, on the other hand, how honorable would it be to undermine one whose honor was under her guard?
“Even after centuries of experience to ground you to divine reason, you still try to think as a mortal.” He stroked his beard. “Then so be it: what would mortal Iomedae have done so long ago?”
Much as she did not want to answer, she knew what ruling Kantaria had often demanded. What she had seen the crusaders need to do time and again to hold the line. “Compromise. At least until I could act definitively. Balance concerns to keep everyone content, if not happy, no matter how much I loathed it.”
“And what is your compromise?”
“Let it stand, until I know the truth.” She loathed the very idea, but Torag had cut to the meat of the point. “When I know, I will descend and tell my paladin the truth, whatever it is. Until then, I will let her reconstitute the crusaders and drive a lance into the Worldwound.”
“You have given her the tools of a paladin, and others have entered her toolbox. It is up to mortalkind to decide what they will create or destroy. What of the Hand, will you allow him to go?”
“Perhaps his guidance is what she will need, and it has been far too long since he stood among the crusaders. Together, they can find the truth.”
Torag nodded approvingly. “Let them find their own way. It may not be the way you seek, but it is not our place to solve all of mortalkind’s problems.”
He waited for Iomedae to offer a response, then as she stayed silent he offered a smile. “If you must draw your attention away, perhaps you might join me on a trip to Elysium? Cayden Cailean has a new brew, and is looking for company to try it with.”
Iomedae smiled in response. Perhaps a chance to step away, for a short while, was just what she needed.
The second entry in the dwarf party :3
Kineticist, Psychic, Wizard, Fighter, Alchemist/Artificer, Witch, Rogue and Cleric.
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On the 18th day, we look at the cleric of Torag, the Forge Father. To honor Torag is to work honorably, produce the best quality craftsmanship you can, and be forthright in your dealings. I tried to ensure this is the best build I could craft:
The cleric of Torag acts primarily as a frontline defender. They can plant themselves in chokepoints to hold the enemy at bay, while supporting allies through spells such as Bless, Heroism, and Warrior's regret. Out of combat, they are a talented crafter that can make amazing items for the party when they are on the outskirts of civilization.
i still like thinking, and this is probably a common theory, that Sarenrae took over Shelyn’s clergy and lay-followers until she comes back from wherever it was she went (probably the Great Beyond), much like how Angradd took over his brother’s clergy and lay-followers until they figure out where Golarion went and if Torag actually is protecting it, so they’re venerating one while following the other. like, those that were following Shelyn that got mixed into Sarenrae’s clergy might use a blaze scimitar as one of her priests or solar disciples, but might also (eventually, depending on what level they are mechanically) carry a meteor glaive so they still have Shelyn’s favored weapon on them.
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my tes blades oc is amazing. her name's torag, she's an orc, and very, very insistent that she's just a carpenter. the mercenary work she does on the side is just that. on the side.
"champion of the town!" "I'm a carpenter" "escaped Blade!" "Carpenter!!" "servant of the bloodfall queen??" "carpenter! Woodworker? joiner??" "disciple of sheogorath?" "CARPENTER I MAKE ACCESSIBLE CHAIRS AND SHELVING"
she has a gf called neruna who has no idea torag is considered famous or the protector of the town cause she never leaves her house and torag loves that she just like. occasionally hires her to do diy. neruna is an ex-thalmor vet with severe ptsd and a burning desire to grow at least one successful house plant.
anyway I'm in love with them both. they have one braincell between the two of them and neither are allowed to use it.
Torag, Father of Creation, Father of Dwarvenkind, head of the dwarven pantheon.
Pathfinder's Lawful Good god of the forge, protection, and strategy.
one of the original gods that battled the Rough Beast, it was he and Gorum that formed the shell of the Dead Vault that would be Rovagug's prison after his defeat. it was he so gave the dwarves the prophecy that led them to their Quest for Sky from the Darklands so long ago.
stoic and serious, he believes distancing himself from his followers will make them strong.
