“My studies have revealed that the nature of the divine itself inspires devotion from mortals when wielded by a deity. But at the same time, the gods don’t require mortals to have faith in them to achieve their purposes. Whether they’re newly ascended or entirely forgotten, a god doesn’t lose heart, waste away, or otherwise suffer due to a lack of followers. If anything, a deity without followers is maybe just a bit more creative, as they must find some other means to fulfill their goals!”1
Not all divinities in other games can say they have that same protection. Usually you hear that without the faith of mortals, gods lose power or vanish entirely. Fairly certain that’s the common play for most D&D campaign settings like Forgotten Realms though not for Dragonlance. Instead for Golarion we have many divine entities out there, working their will, and possibly giving their lives for the world (I see you Acavna). What all they’re doing and what their goals are, let alone how their powers work, or how mortals can truly interface with them, well that’s left for…
Divine Mysteries! Yes, this came out before the holidays but between those holidays and the joy of PAX Unplugged, I haven’t gotten a chance yet to share my excitement for this book. Ms. Gordeva produces another beautiful title cover, working with Elenaor Ferron, Luis Loza, Michael Sayre, Jason Keeley, Avi Kool, and many fine authors, developers and artists to produce this exciting book that details much in the wake of the War of Immortals. I’m excited to call out a few of my favorites pieces of lore and mechanics from Divine Mysteries, so let’s get started. Also, Happy New Year! 2025 is going to be A LOT and many people need our help, so let’s keep this community tight and supportive. Best way we can sometimes is that acknowledgement and when we can provide some fun and hope by playing those heroes we want to be and see in the world!
Arazni Rising
Again, this art. That banner above? Pharasma with the author Yivali, the psychopomp. How gorgeous is that? You will like this book simply for the art, let alone the amazing lore and mechanics. And of course Arazni on the cover is wonderful. She’s the Unyielding according to her place amongst the Inner Sea Gods of chapter 2 and based on all she’s gone through, she more than deserves it. She’s an interesting deity as you can choose to be holy, unholy, or neither. Of course she doesn’t someone created unwilling undead (it’s an anathema) but what about if they’re willing?f She stands for the abused, for personal dignity, and perseverance. The edict to “never forgive those who have hurt you” makes her a triumphant survivor. It’s noted that some devotees are aware that she is behind the Crimson Oath that is aiding the surviving Knights of Lastwall. I’ve also had Jaethal in our Kingmaker game take on Arazni as a patron, forsaking the Pallid Princess and the dangers of undeath. Jaethal lost her lover, one of the PCs, to undead in our game and Jaethal’s own background is tied to undead but I won’t give all the details here. I like that the sidebar for Champions of Arazni notes that they won’t rob someone of their will, but they’re absolutely fine with lying, subterfuge, cruelty, or even murder if it means freedom is on the line. These aren’t your Paladins of Pathfinder1E folks!
More than once we see references to Arazni trusting humanity more: with her followers growing, some openly bearing her emblem, and even Arazni herself looking much more like her Arcadian human self from before she was turned undead. We also learn about Aranzi’s herald, Promise of the Unyielding, who was formerly Iomedae’s herald until recently. Pretty sure the Chapter 5 image above is of Iomedae’s Champion finding him. During the events of the Wrath of the Righteous, Promise was the herald of Iomedae, known then as the Hand of the Inheritor. He was captured by Baphomet and tortured. Once freed either he left Iomedae or she dismissed him. It’s note Arazni’s not sure if Iomedae sent him to meddle or maybe for his own sake, possibly coming on his own. For that reason she won’t dismiss him. More and more Arazni is becoming the god of humanity, or mortality, and beyond that compassion.
Which Witch
I love seeing so many other divine entries for various divinities, including Grandmother Spider and Nocticula. Sure I have a soft spot for them due to previous characters I’ve played, but I love seeing them featured as well as some many others I didn’t know of. Dahal is still kicking around as is Groetus, Besmara, Apsu… I adore Milani and wonder if she and Arazni would get along? I need to read through Divine Connections carefully to get more gossip from Yivali, or at least theories of the future. Arazni is mentioned often as her power, influence, and connections grow. I am a little perturbed that I didn’t see any Witch “Patron Gods” list Nocticula for any of those roles like but I guess that’s for me to pick with Yivali. She’d be a great patron for Spinner of Threads in my opinion or even Paradox of Opposites (new), possibly Starless Shadow, but we can’t just list every god can we? We get the Paradox patron, who espouse opposites like life and death, good and evil, etc. There’s the Unseen Broker who have a devil vibe, acting as a mediator between your patron and others. Hopefully you aren’t sent out to collection on a dangerous warlock who broke that witch pact! We also get an updated for the Baba Yaga and Mosquito Witch rare patrons!
To Battle!
A couple new archetypes have certainly gotten attention, like the intense battle focus of the Battle Harbinger for Cleric. You have very few spells, seeming like a Summoner with that spell progression, but you have your battle creed instead, adjusting the doctrine you would normally choose. It grants a number of increased proficiencies with weapons and some feats as well like Reactive Strike. Instead of a heal or harm divine font, you have the battle auras you can prepare like bane, bless, or others you get through feats. For example Aura Enhancement at level 4 lets you use benediction or malediction, new spells in this book. Benediction grants a status bonus to AC while Malediction imposes a penalty. Of note, Benediction starts at 15’ aura while Malediction is at 10’. Both can be sustained to increase their size and there are feats to make sustaining better. 12th level Tandem Aura let’s you sustain two auras when you Sustain. 16th Aura Expertise gives you a free action at the start of your turn to sustain. So it does get easier and easier to have various auras up. This does make me think back to the classic paladin more and I wonder what Cleric (Battle Harbinger) / Champion multiclass characters will look like… Make one yet? Tell me about it!
A Divine Mortal Not-Champion
Mortal Herald is a standard archetype that I’m glad for because it creates that divine champion option for other classes. “Oh I’m just a rogue, but you want me to be your champion god of friendship? Well okay then…” Hence that Mortal Herald of Cayden Cailean I think! It’s a mythic archetype, starting at level 12 as we learned of War of the Immortals, and you can read about how those work in my related article. Just the dedication feat alone can make you holy or unholy, gives you a free 6th level heal for yourself that does the 2-action version for only 1 action, and let’s you cast it on yourself as a free action if you were to fall unconscious, plus it auto heightens. What’s more is you get to take on aspects of the divine with other feats like Domain Embodiment or Herald’s Weapon. Want to fly? Mortal Ascension gives you a fly Speed all the time. I really hope to see this in use for an Adventure Path. Champions of the gods, no matter what class they are! I do wonder if my brother will use some of it in his Waterdeep derivative game or some other Forgotten Realms game, since he likes the campaign world but prefers Pathfinder by far. Oh, my favorite feat here is probably the level 20 Flash of Omnipotence. Free action. Until the end of your turn, any damage you deal out ignores resistances and immunities… Or, get this, targets their highest weakness if they don’t have any resistances or immunities. Sorry dragon immune to fire, but it’s your turn to burn! Can I have that for fighting Dahak in Age of Ashes please?!?
And Those Not Even Divine
We do get a Palatine Detective archetype for the Investigator. I like the Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye, and I would like to note I really love the deep-link embedded in my PDF that takes me to page 200 to read more about the Order. Whoever made that happen, thank you! This really lets you play into those occult aspects, perfect for an Ustalav or Cthulhu-vibes game. We also get some elusive details on Razmir and playing a Razmiran Priest with a full archetype. The 14th level feat is Mask of the 15th Step, showing your ascendancy through the organization. It grants you a sunburst effect called Call Upon Razmir’s Wrath, but undead targeted by it you count the spell as having the incapacitation trait. That’s a mechanic used elsewhere too. Almost like Razmir’s power isn’t quite there… I do wonder where all that false divinity, that occult power is coming from. Can bro not just go take the Test of the Starstone? Maybe he’s afraid to? Maybe he failed? Either way, the path gives good usage for NPCs but maybe PCs as well. Could there be a Razmiran path coming soon? I know the Spore War in Kyonin might have some usage for that, but I won’t say why… I’d be happy to explore more of Razmiran with an intrigue path or something that feels like Hell’s Rebels! Golarion really has so many opportunities for great stories and characters!
I hope you’ve already invested in Divine Mysteries! There’s so much more to these over 300 pages with tons of divine details, great lore, and exciting mechanics. At some point I’ll finish collating and do a real deep lore dive, but I also want to ensure I leave exciting details for others to find. Find anything that particularly excites you? Let me know! In two weeks we’ll talk games I’m playing and things I’m excited for in 2025! Remember to support one another!
Investing In:
I wasn’t quite sure what to name my article series when I first started but the idea of showcasing or discussing things that make me excited, that I find new and interesting, or maybe I’m otherwise passionate about seemed to fit with the idea of Investing In something like the Pathfinder 2E mechanic. To use some magic items you have to give that little bit of yourself, which helps make these things even better. I like the metaphor of the community growing and being strengthened in the same way!
I also want to hear what you’re Investing In! Leave me a comment below about what games, modules, systems, products, people, live streams, etc you enjoy! You can also hit me up on social media as silentinfinity. I want to hear what excites you and what you’re passionate about. There’s so much wonderful content, people, groups (I could go on) in this community of ours that the more we invest in and share, the better it becomes!
Sources
Banner – Divine Mysteries cover, Paizo, art by Ekaterina Gordeeva
- The Power of Belief excerpt, Nature of the Divine subsection of Chapter 1: Secrets of the Divine, Divine Mysteries, Paizo
- Pharasma and Yivali banner, Introduction, Divine Mysteries, Paizo
- Iomedae’s Champion and Promise of the Undying, Chapter 5: Divine Power full page banner, Divine Mysteries, Paizo
- Battle Harbinger of Genzaeri, Chapter 5: Divine Power, Divine Mysteries, Paizo
- Mortal Herald of Cayden Cailean, Chapter 5: Divine Power, Divine Mysteries, Paizo
- Witness to the Divine banner, Chapter 1: Secrets of the Divine, Divine Mysteries, Paizo
