“Desna called it the Godsgrave,” Sarenrae answered, “and I suppose I came to think of it that way as well. But it never had a name agreed upon by all, because those who survived that battle seldom spoke of it.”1
If you haven’t read Godsrain, you should stop right now and go buy it and read it. Also, this article is full of spoilers, conjecture, a bunch of theory-crafting, and various Lost Omens chit chat. I’m going to refer to various parts of Godsrain but try to keep the quotation to the minimum. I’ll also be referring to some parts of Prey for Death and the Gazetteer from War of the Immortals considering it’s tied to these events. All good?
WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD
You might have noticed from my two different articles on War of Immortals I never went directly into lore information dropped for in-world impacts of Gorum’s death to Golarion. I focused on the mechanics as there was plenty to discuss between the Exemplar, the Animist, feats, spells, and of course Mythic Power. Well that mythic power has become of particular importance considering it also seems tied to divine power as we discussed last time. Are Gods mythic at full level or perhaps have additional mythic levels or special tiered powers with rules we’ll see one day? Maybe, but this isn’t so much about the mechanics like those articles were.
Godsrain
First let me say that as a Lost Omens lore fanatic, I can tell you that Godsrain is one of those rare novels that captures both the grandeur of divine beings and the grit of mortal heroes, perhaps even Hero Gods eh? It plunges us right into a crisis unlike any seen since Aroden’s death with gods themselves dying, and the fallout shakes heaven and earth alike. The ramifications are felt far and wide, but we’ll get to some of that momentarily. What starts with our favorite couple Kyra and Merisiel seeking an artifact of staggering power – the Thurible of the Dawn – changes quickly. Soon they’re joined by Ezren and Amiri with Nahoa and Samo appearing a bit more than half way through! Nahoa even notes that he heard a call to help when the Godsrain first fell upon him that soon quieted but as the group came to Port Peril, he heard that call again.
They’re all drawn into this quest bound up in divine intrigue. Secrets long buried in Cheliax, Osirion, and even islands within the Eye of Abendago set the stage. We get more detail now of how when Gorum, the departed Lord in Iron, was slain against all laws of creation, the stakes escalated beyond comprehension. The shockwaves of his death are literal rains of divine essence both blessing and curse because they are touched by his essence, driving conflict. It’s not just the silver and the red rain, but this Highlander-esque notion driving some mortals with dangerous fragments of godhood to get more. And of course there’s the ones that just want the power for their own ends. Thankfully Nahoa and Samo are well intentioned heroes.
Much of the drama unfolds against apocalyptic backdrops with the big news around the endless storm of the Eye of Abendego, which we learn more about. We visit shattered nations like Lirgen, whose lore drowned with their temples, and places where gods’ deaths leave raw scars on reality. The party wrestles with personal loyalties and faith in the face of divine silence including Kyra’s shaken devotion to Sarenrae, Amiri’s rage at Gorum’s dishonorable end, Ezren’s refusal to be beholden to any god, and Merisiel’s quiet yearning for a deeper connection. Reminds me of how I chose to have Ezren learn a single divine spell while playing him for Order of the Amber Die’s Ruins of Azlant. Sarenrae had helped bring the rest of the party back afterall…
A Message from the Gods
Anyway, what makes Godsrain so compelling is how it marries Golarion’s grand cosmology to deeply human struggles. The gods, normally untouchable, are revealed as vulnerable; not an altogether surprising theme lately in various narratives including Critical Role’s Campaign 3. The death of gods ripple (rain?) down to mortals who must pick up the pieces. And through it all, the heroes endure not because of divine mandate, but because of their choices, their friendships, and their determination to face the storm both literally and figuratively. And of course, I can’t be angry at all the lore drops. Godsrain? More like Lorerain! We get a wonderful message from the gods from Sarenrae herself. The Eye of Abendago was born of Rovagug’s howls after Aroden’s fall, his death releasing energy that allowed the Vault of Rovagug’s prison to shake and try to find attachment there on Golarion. Another god dying? Well that makes it even worse as even more dangers arose, probably from growing influence by Rovagug. However, it does seem Aroden’s death and ending prophecy allowed the possibility for change to the future. The Ghol-Ghan Cyclops empire literally fell as they looked into the future and saw Rovagug escaping, driving them mad. So did the gods want Aroden to die? Did he allow himself to die to give them all a chance? He was a god of destiny after all… And did Gorum allow himself to die for something similarly? Could there have been a plan, an alt-prophecy he knew or derived?
Connected Worlds and Gods
Sarenrae shows the heroes quite the vision, a few actually, including when the plan to stop Rovagug started. We learn about Kist-Aurek, “a vengeful god of ambushes and snares,” who struck the first blow and had to watch himself be slowly digested over millenia by the foul Rovagug. Oh, and are you aware Rovagug was tormenting not only Golarion, but two other worlds that the deities had a presence over? A world called Androffa and our Earth. That space ship crashed in Numera? It’s from Androffa with a similar history and future as to Golarion, though Androffans turned away from divinity for some time. If you’re unaware, Earth comes up a few times in adventure paths including Reign of Winter and Strange Aeons. Some on Golarion know Cthulhu is slumbering here on Earth. There’s notes of how Earth once knew magic but turned completely to science and technology. Seems odd Rovagug was targeting just these planets right? Did he know something? He is first portrayed as a bizarre, foul alien monstrous beast, but there’s intelligence there. Rovagug was said to be born in the first moments of the universe’s existence, just after Pharasma was taking her first steps as part of the new universal cycle. Could Rovagug be pissed at her and the other deities? Or maybe split apart? I really feel the Starstone with its empowering heroes might play a part, perhaps as a fraction of Rovagug or some partner entity. Fate and battle are very powerful themes here. And I keep wondering if Fate and Destiny literally went to war early on, especially a god of such from the old universe who didn’t want to accept their end when Pharasma was chosen to endure.
Rovagug Has a Plan
We see now that Rovagug isn’t just mindless, he’s got a plan. In Godsrain he’s after the Fang of Kist-Aurek, a knife that was the bloodstained diamond and bone that had been used by the fallen god to first wound Rovagug. It holds a part of his essence. Interestingly, Sarenrae is asked why the gods didn’t just break it but apparently they fear being exposed to Rovagug’s essence. That sounds corruptive or extremely influential. Rovagug isn’t a being of mind control, but what if it’s a dire fate, a dark destiny? Being beholden to that would certainly terrify a deity. Perhaps his malign intelligence can effectively control by tainting others? That’s certainly exemplified by Verex the Despoiler. He was transformed after digging too close to the vault in the depths underground between reality. Sarenrae literally notes Verex’s soul and purpose – what he represented – were changed and that is truly dangerous. You can actually find more details on Verex-That-Was in War of Immortals. So not only is Rovagug out to consume 3 worlds where the gods are active, but he can consume (to slowly digest and get their power) or corrupt them for his use. He was destined to destroy all, effectively causing the Ghol-Gan cyclops empire to be corrupted and destroyed by their vision of such, but thankfully prophecy is broken because Aroden died. And while it seems Rovagug could use some of the energy to rattle his vault up and create the Eye of Abendago, there’s now a chance to change the future. He might have gotten some of Gorum’s power too, based on the reports some power went swirling into the eye, but now also there are many with god-sparks (Exemplars and mythic) who are ready/eager to fight. Sure seems like a plan in motion to me.
The Starstone
Back to the Starstone, if it’s a part of Rovagug or somehow a partner to it, then maybe it was something or some deity also corrupted by him. The algollthus liked the asteroid it was part of, wanted to use it to destroy Azlanti and Golarion because it was poisoned and dangerous, cursed even. Could it be tainting the destinies of those who touch it but Aroden – much as I might now hate some of the things he’s done – found a way to redeem himself? Or was his death something ordained he could now not avoid. It’s possible the Starstone isn’t intelligent or was perhaps a good thing trapped in a foul prison, perhaps another act by Rovagug. If Rovagug is a destroyer, consumer, perhaps the Starstone is a representation of creation.
In reflection of some information from War of Immortals’ Gazetteer we learn that the Starstone actually reacted to the death of Gorum in a few ways “as if in pain.” Tormented screams. The Cathedral seemed to shift and change. Strange monsters appeared and while it was rumors at first, they were eventually confirmed. But these monsters weren’t attacking people. They seemed to have a distinct goal, “navigating the streets of Absalom with purpose.” It’s like they knew exactly how to find a specific person, and what do the monsters do when they find them? They try to carry the people back to the cathedral. I think the Starstone was trying to find worthy individuals for a god-spark to help. It’s noted that every citizen was rescued before reaching the Starstone so it’s not known (i.e. published) what would happen if one did. I think I’m right; the Starstone was calling out for heroes and figured “let’s go recruit those good souls one way or the other.” So perhaps, the power behind the Starstone is one for good and was trapped in a foul prison created by Rovagug before they lost their magic (which Sarenrae notes was partially due to the Fang/knife strike in her conversation in Godsrain.
Gorum’s Plan
There are many call outs in War of Immortals how the Godsrain has impacted Golarion but one in particular drew my attention. Queen Anastasia of Irrisen – yes that Anastasia (told ya Earth was real!) – is dealing with a giant tree in her realm that seems to reach beyond the known universe and has a town of humanoids and fey living in harmony. Problem is they have no recollection of existence beforehand, but they are openly inviting others to live with them or even in the tree. I call this one out because otherwise with the Godsrain we see it invoking either divine/mythic power or conflict. So why a tree of harmonic peoples, crossing the planes? Gorum was said to be focused on battle above all else, not interested in diplomacy. Well in Prey for Death we learn Gorum did indeed have a plan for this. He enlisted Calistria to help him because his followers were taking the glory of battle in a profane, evil direction and he didn’t wish this. Calistria informed Achaekek about his armor, that it was empty, and maybe not truly divine at all. The one thing that came from within his armor was a blinding light that went into the Eye of Abendago. Was this Rovagug consuming some power from Gorum? I’m not convinced there. I’m also not convinced Gorum wanted to end his existence to prevent a corruption of Battle, Glory, and War especially if the ramifications would just incite conflict across the populace.
Sure, free will means you can use the god-spark, the divine or mythic power how you will, but even Sarenrae calls out in Godsrain how some would be willing, able to use it the right way. This includes Ezren, who now has a god-spark even though he was opposed to gods before. I think Gorum knew something of Aroden’s death – did he help with it? – and what had to happen to enable the mortals of the world to be able to fight back and win against what evils exist because of Rovagug. These true designs and desires of the deity who seemed opposed to diplomacy reveal he was far more than that. He cared; he was the glory of a righteous battle that Battlecry! encourages us to bring to our roleplaying and use of that book’s resource material.
And now that care, that glorious and righteous battle energy rests with the people rather than trapped in armor. That red blinding light? Gorum told Calistria that what rested within him was the violent urges of mortality. I believe that red blinding light was an intimidation, a battlecry of its own. Watch out Rovagug for when mortality turns its rage upon you, you shall fall. Thanks for investing in this theory-crafting with me. I said you should read Godsrain, but really you should read Prey for Death, Battlecry! and War of Immortals too. I love Pathfinder and what Paizo gives us, and thank you to all those crafting this story and game. May it give us inspiration to fight against devouring hideous beasts that would corrupt us here in the real world too.
Remember to support one another and much love to all!
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 – Godsrain cover modified, Paizo, art by Mirco Paganessi
- Chapter Twenty-Three: The Dawnflower’s Gift excerpt, Godsrain, Liane Merciel
- Samo and Nahoa, War of Immortals, Paizo, art by Oleksii Chernik
- Verex-That-Was, War of Immortals, Paizo
- Starstone Cathedral Transformed, War of Immortals, Paizo, art by Sandra Posada López
- Gorum’s Remains, Paizo, art by Ivan Koritarev
