#Angel Iomedae

[pixelatedrose]

Both digital and traditional artist speaking here!!

First of all: ESKEERRR!!!! I love theeemmmm!!!!! That's my favorite space cowboy!!!! You have such a pretty style to look at <333 it's not super often I see traditional colored pencil drawings on here and you've made Esker look so so so nice <3333 I keep trying to draw them but I'm SO BAD at drawing cowboy hats :') you've done an incredible job here!!!! And the angle of the face is really nice too!! I've personally been struggling with more dynamic angles, so I personally admire your ability to do so as well as you have!! Beautiful art, incredibly done my friend!!

Second! I have some digital tips for you!!

I will be first to admit, my exact process is a bit unorthodox, but I feel you may still find some use in it!

See, I'm not actually great at sketching in a digital format, and never really have been. I enjoy coloring digitally and doing line art digitally due to the freedom and forgiveness of digital art- but sketching has never quite worked out for me.

So instead what I do is I do all my sketches traditionally!! All of them :)

And then I try and take clean pictures of my sketches or scan them in, import the picture of the sketch into whatever drawing application you use (I use ibis paint on my phone, but that's a whole other can of worms lol) and from there you can either start line art over the sketch, or you can just go straight to putting down color under the sketch by using a multiply layer for your sketch!

Here are some recent digital works of mine to show you how it can work under the cut! (I really hope I'm not being too forward here or anything btw ;-;

Here are examples of line art I've done over sketches recently! The first one being traditional line art over the sketch as is, the second being digital line art over traditional line art (that's why it looks cleaner) and the third being an example of where I fixed some anatomy during the digital process!

Here are examples of just putting down color underneath the sketch using a multiply layer! The second picture (the clown) and the third (woman with gold horns) are ones I did yesterday, and the clown picture looks way more rough than the bird boy or the other two because I was actually just color testing, not actually wanting to make a finished picture!

These are just some plain line art pictures, so you can see the clean result of doing digital line art over traditional sketches!

And lastly, just one totally completed artwork kinda for fun :3 My style is much different than yours, and I tend to portray a heavily textured, semi-lineless style, which I know is not exactly a common style 💀 but just in case it helps you visualize the end product and help you with thinking of other possibilities, you know?

When I VERY first started doing digital art, I think I was like 14-15 years old? I wasn't very good at art period, and I STRUGGLED transitioning to Digital, and gave it up for a long time. And then I sorta discovered I could import my sketches, and it was a total game changer!! I've been doing digital art this way for nearly 6 years now, and while my style and process has grown and changed significantly in those 6 years, this part of my process has always stayed the same.

And maybe doing this will only be a stepping stone into being able to sketch digitally for you, just a little transitional helping hand- but art has no rules. Remember that! Art has no rules and if you find something that helps you and that you think looks nice and is functional, then DO IT!!! I've been doing digital pieces on my phone for YEARS, and as much as people tell me I should really start using an art tablet or something else, I've found that this method works for me, and I see no urgent need to change that! (Also I'm really lazy and don't want to learn how to use a new program- but that's besides the point lol)

Switching mediums is always gonna be tough at first, and it'll probably take you a little while before you really get a grip on it- but being a traditional artist isn't a downgrade, and I feel that's very important to know. You have AMAZING skill, and I ADORE your colored pencil work on this drawing of Esker!!! Just because it's not "popular' online, doesn't mean it's worse. Traditional art does and will always have a place in the world- INCLUDING fandom spaces! I find that some of my favorite pieces of fan art have been traditional pieces, so don't sell yourself short my friend!

I wish I could share some of my traditional pieces I've done to try and help encourage that, but ah, I've run out of images I can post :')

If you're actually curious, I have some recent oc stuff on my blog you can find if you search using the tag "d&d ocs" directly on my blog, or if you search using "don't repost my art please" you'll be able to find all the art I've ever posted lol

I'm so so sorry for writing like, an essay in your post op ;-; I'm very passionate about art and try and always take every opportunity I can to give pointers to others in my community when I can- helping each other out when we can is the pinochle of actual community after all!

To close; I LOVE your art, you're very talented!!! And I wish you all the luck in your future endeavors my friend :DDD 💛

Traditional doodle of Esker this time. Yk my favourite traveller used to be Riebeck, but recently it's swapped over to Esker. They are one of the founders, but they aren't in the founders photo, and being forgotten on the alterrock, they deserve love and I love them.

I'm struggling. So. Fucking. Hard. To transition into digital. Had a full day yesterday to doodle and everytime I tried I wanted to rip my hair out. I feel like I've also regressed in my traditional art as well, which is uurauagauagah.

If any digital artists have any tips and tricks pls pls hmu.

[murthingsblog]

Oh yeah, Hand of Emotional Supp- I mean Hand of the Inheritor

I find it amazing that he was an angel of three (and a half if we count the commander from PC wotr) deities who definitely needed support: Ragathiel (It's tough to be a good angel if you are half-devil with anger (and daddy) issues), Iomedae (The knight and the beautiful lady, ah! he asked to become her champion, which the new goddess did not have), and now?

Arazni "I despise my followers and do not wish to be worshiped as a goddess because I do not deserve it" the Unyielding

I hope they heal their soul wounds together.

I love Inheribro

And Arazni

And Iomedae

And Ragathiel too

But WHY NOT a Hand of the Unyielding PAIZO. I like Promise of the Unyielding, Just wondering why

[ssvnormandie]

replaying wotr and i am having such a hard time deciding btwn angel + legend for angharad

[nnibarrel]

@murthingsblog got me hooked on pathfinder divine lore, and now this is your problem too))) Arazni when she was a herald of Aroden / Thalachos, herald of Sarenrae... "His metallic skin is as hard as steel to any that wish to do him harm, but as soft as velvet to anyone kind, merciful, and good"...

"He is on friendly terms with the heralds of Shelyn, Cayden Cailean, and Iomedae, and several sources show that he knew Arazni, herald-goddess of Aroden."

Thalachos vibes BIG cute energy, why there's nothing here on him yet... Anyway, now I have three angels of Sarenrae to hyperfixate about and a second herald angel bro. (like Inheribro) (Gods, he even looks a lot like Hand of the Inheritor.)

[dujour13]

Owlcatober 24. Footsteps

Fandom: Wrath of the Righteous

Some Act 4-5 game spoilers especially for Woljif. Riffing on the game dialogue in this scene and giving some key comebacks to Woljif because Sia's the charm but he's the brains.

Also on AO3

Despite the power of Elysium sublimating out of him like scintillating steam, Siavash couldn’t hide his trepidation as he raised his eyes up, and up further, to the massive iron gates of the Ineluctable Prison.

While in principle Woljif was always in favor of busting people out of the joint, that principle mostly only applied to himself, and not this joint: a fabled prison constructed by the Prince of Hell to contain a demon lord, a prison famous for being—well, ineluctable. He had a very bad feeling that if they set foot in this place they would become permanent fixtures. Like ol’ Torf. Every time they let the old orc out he’d walk right up to the Watch and commit a crime in their faces so they’d toss him back in. Not so bad in there, Torf would say. Free food. Friends. He never said which category the lice and rats belonged to.

But he digressed.

He wanted to say – “This guy dropped you like a sack a’ fire mephits just when you needed him the most. Just leave him. Besides, he’s an angel. He can handle it. Let Iomedae get him outta there.”

But he couldn’t forget the sound of the chief’s voice trying to rally the troops the night of the gargoyles—the voice he, Woljif, could hardly hear over the singing of the wind in his ears as he ran. Later he learned Siavash had received a near-fatal claw to the gut that night, and then he’d led the charge to the Lost Chapel without a wink of sleep, and Ember claimed he was so distraught he hardly laid a hand on his guitar for weeks after that.

Siavash had forgiven him and taken him back. And here Siavash stood at the massive gates of a prison where a friend who’d also betrayed him was being tortured, and he was not going to walk away.

That’s the chief for you. Woljif sighed.

“Please tell me we’re not standing here having a conversation with Baphomet.” Seelah set her shield on its edge and leaned on it. Radiance blazed at her hip, impatient for more demon blood.

They had arrived at the base of the stairs, rows of barred cells stretching out into the gloom on either side. A chandelier of skulls shed dim, blood-red light from overhead but the Merry Band glowed with wild Elysian power. Even as they stood facing the demon lord, tiny vines and flowers pushed up between the prison flagstones and wound themselves around the bars, gradually eroding the metal.

Keeping a wary distance from the possessed minotaur, Siavash shrugged and his wings shimmered. “I’m curious what he has to say.”

“You know he’ll only twist his lies around in your head until you can’t find your way out,” she protested, twirling her finger at her temple.

 “That’s just it.” Siavash knit his brows in thought. “He claims he freed himself from Asmodeus’ prison by destroying the very notion of imprisonment. I want to understand that.”

“I made the whole multiverse believe my lie,” came the deep, insinuating voice from the minotaur.

“But it’s still a lie,” said Siavash. “You’re not really free. You took Asmodeus’ prison with you to the Abyss and there you’re chained.”

“Yeah,” said Woljif, half-hiding behind Siavash but growing bolder. “I don't think you know what freedom means.”

“You who know so much about freedom,” sneered Baphomet, “tell me, how will you escape? How will you find your way through the tangled corridors of my labyrinth?”

Woljif gave him a smug smirk. “I been payin’ attention. You don’t find your way, you make it.”

This earned him a snort from the minotaur’s flared nostrils and a warm smile from the chief.

“Clever,” said Baphomet. “I may consider reeducating you, my spawn.”

“Ugh.”

“It is not I who is chained. It is my minions. My seed and spawn, chained by my will. We are one and the same, and as they roam freely, so do I.”

Behind him Woljif made a gagging noise, but Siavash wasn’t done. “You can’t hide behind your minions forever. We turned Minagho against you. Defeated Hepzamirah and Horzalah. Stamped out what was left of Ygefeles.”

“Yeah, about that,” Woljif piped up. “All your sp—ugh. Your minions ever do is stab each other in the back. I don’t reckon that’s workin’ out for you.”

“Only the strongest survive, you will see. Soon Golarion will be ruled by my mighty brood. I shall watch from my throne as your world drowns in blood.”

“I’m just trying to understand,” said Siavash. “What is it with domination and destruction? I don’t see the point.”

“Power,” said the minotaur. “You understand more than you claim. Don’t pretend you don’t know what I mean. You were given immense power, and what have you done with it? Spread its tendrils across the Worldwound and Mendev and beyond, worming its roots into Golarion and growing like mold. You have felt the exhilaration. Don’t deny it. How power begets power.”

“But power to do what? To rule over a wasteland and a prison? A bunch of spaw—minions trying to overthrow you? You freed yourself from Asmodeus’ ineluctable prison. With your wisdom, think what you could do.”

The minotaur let out a bellow of a laugh. “Attempting to beat me at my own game?”

“You really are trapped. From your prison cell all you can see is bleakness. Power for its own sake. Deception and destruction.”

“That’s right,” said Arueshalae. “Areshkagal’s riddles only led you deeper into a pit of lies and evil. Desna’s riddle led me out into the light of truth and goodness.”

“Yeah, you hear that, you old goat?” yelled Seelah triumphantly. “She escaped the Abyss and you bound yourself to it for eternity.”

“The only prison is the one between your stupid horns,” said Woljif.

The minotaur turned its bloodshot glare on him. “You are so like Ygefeles,” the demon lord chuckled. “I valued his shrewd mind and uncanny ability to lie, but though he was crafty and able, he lacked zeal and ardor. Alas Hepzamirah proved the stronger. If you had accepted his power you might have followed in my footsteps.”

“Yeah, right back into jail,” Woljif muttered.

Flames spilling from its eyes like tears, for a moment the minotaur silently surveyed him. “I don’t think you know how alike we are, mortal. A shame another of my promising spawn must die.”

[monstersdownthepath]

Herald of Iomedae: The Hand of the Inheritor

CR 15

Lawful Good Large Outsider

Inner Sea Gods, pg. 292 (image from the Wrath of the Righteous video game!)

Among the most famous of the Divine Heralds is the first one we'll be looking at during Heralds of Hope Month. I say 'most famous' for a few reasons; he's one of the most active Heralds on the planet, what with that whole Worldwound problem going on in the north. There is rarely a moment's rest allowed for the Hand of the Inheritor in the tireless battle against the Abyss' expansion, so it's perhaps no small surprise surprise that he would eventually make a terrible and tragic mistake and end up the mercy of someone without any.

There's other reasons he's famous, in and out of universe, and those reasons are why he's no longer the Herald of Iomedae.

But this isn't talking about the now, we're still in the then! When he was at his strongest, healthiest, and least corrupted most devoted to the ideals of the Inheritor Goddess. Fittingly enough for the servant of what is essentially the Goddess of Paladins, the Hand is an angel blessed with the powers of a Paladin, built for and unafraid to put himself right in the middle of a pitched battle and cut his way through Evil like a hot knife while they struggle ineffectually to harm him. Like all angels, he's protected by a 20ft "nuh-uh" bubble that shields himself and all his allies from Evil creatures, granting them and him +4 to AC and to saving throws versus Evil creatures and effects, while also hedging out Evil summoned creatures and stopping any spell of 3rd level or lower from entering this sphere of protection, stripping many fiendish minions of their ranged options.

But of course, that's just what every angel can do. Let's look at what the Hand's unique powers have in store...

HAH, gotcha! The Hand of the Inheritor has no unique powers! I wasn't joking when I said he was basically an angel with Paladin class levels. ... except not really, because an angel with Paladin class levels would actually be much better than the poor Hand actually ends up being. But we'll get to that in a moment, so first, the positives!

Perhaps fittingly for a man who finds himself fighting alongside the front lines against demons, the Hand is just as useful bolstering his allies as he is actually leaping ahead of them into the fray. He has Aid, Lesser Restoration, Dispel Magic, and Magic Weapon all at-will, can grant himself or his allies Bull's Strength or Resist Energy 3/day, can swath the battlefield in a calming Prayer up to 3/day, and give everyone around him some extra stats and 18 temp HP with Burst of Glory 3/day. Any ally that falls in the midst of battle may be re-raised with his 3/day Raise Dead, but actually killing anyone he's trying to protect in order to draw out that resurrection is incredibly hard because of his 1/days: Death Ward, Dispel Evil, Greater Restoration, and Heal.

Killing HIM is even more annoying, because he's got 15 charges of Lay on Hands, which means +9d6 hitpoints for him as a swift action, IF you manage to get past his 32 AC. With such a menagerie of protective magic, you may think he's got no room for offense, to which I answer: 3/day Flame Strike, Holy Smite AND Order's Wrath to bring down on his foes from a distance, smiting entire crowds of them at once, and of course that's nothing compared to what happens when he gets in close. His 150ft flight speed lets him cross entire battlefields in seconds and settle down to begin Full-Attacking up to four times a round with his +2 Holy Longsword for 2d6+9 (+2d6 vs Evil) damage. Not only does he have a threatening sword, but his shield isn't just for defense, and he can indeed bash someone twice a round with his +2 Heavy Steel Shield for 1d6+5 damage. Anyone slammed by his shield is subject to a free Bull Rush attempt from the Herald as well, letting him reposition dangerous enemies as he needs.

Quite the force! But, sadly, that's about where everything of particular note ends. His Protective Aura is always on, and he's also got a 10ft Aura of Courage to grant his allies +4 against fear effects... But nothing else. Why, exactly, he lacks any of the other aura abilities a Paladin of his HD would have is a question I have no good answer for, and while he DOES have Lay on Hands (9d6 HP, 15/day), he lacks any Mercies to flavor the ability in any way or make it any more substantial... and, even more damning AND more baffling, he has no ability to Smite Evil. Given where he works, you'd think Mercies and Smite Evil would have been the second things Iomedae wrote on his sheet right after she finished giving him his gear.

Fun fact on that note, though: He wasn't originally Iomedae's Herald, he was Ragathiel's, and joined Iomedae's crusade after being awed by her skills and her sense of justice. She didn't even make him! But being the Herald of Ragathiel just makes his lack of auras, Mercies, and Smite Evil even MORE glaring, because Ragathiel has all of those.

There's also one unfortunate choice in regards to his skills that feels like a pretty big weakness: His impressive flight speed goes to waste with his lack of Fly ranks, meaning anything but a straight line is difficult for him to manage, and certain weather conditions or enemy attacks can severely impact his ability to remain airborne. He has more ranks in SWIM than in Fly! SWIM!

A lot of the Heralds in Inner Sea Gods have similar design choices, which is a huge shame, because that's where almost every Good-aligned Divine Herald is found! Whoof! His showing in the Wrath of the Righteous video game was significantly more impressive, with the ability to use Wall of Force and apply Smite Evil to entire crowds of enemies at once.

I'm not saying he's weak, no, he's actually a very powerful and stubbornly resilient melee beatstick that's outright immune to most demonic tricks and tools, but he's got some design flaws and odd choices that make it hard for someone like me to be interested in him. Perhaps this is why he's eventually superseded by someone with actual Paladin levels.

You can read more about him here.

[lukedanger]

Owlcatober - Day 5 - Forgiveness (WotR)

Fifth day of @owlcatober

[Ao3 Link]

“I thought you’d be celebrating with Arueshalae.”

Elaina looked to the side, grimacing as she had to lower her right wing to see properly. Seelah, with two bottles in hand, one of which was already uncorked.

“Who’s to say we haven’t already?”

The other paladin chuckled, settling down on the ledge next to her. The army - both the celestial reinforcements they had brought to Iz and the mortal one they had managed to extract from the ruined city - was camped around a small plateau which was used as its center. The Sword of Valor flew proudly above, alas still not returned to Iomedae’s colors and crest even as it bathed the camp in heavenly light.

“So, that’s a second demon lord to your tally,” Seelah continued as she handed one of the bottles to her. 

Elaina gave the common ale a quick sniff, then took a drink. “You say it like I was the only one fighting them. The Holy Wardens contained Baphomet, and I seem to recall Deskari being brought low by a couched lance while I was pinned against a building.”

Seelah shrugged at first, loudly thanks to her plate harness, but smiled. “It’ll be a good story for the next fair, then. Might even be a good painting one day.”

They fell into relative silence, especially in contrast to the rest of the camp in various states of good spirit. Some of it were happy songs and reunions, others were in joyful tears as celestials walked among the crusaders again, and in strength rather than just the Hand’s select company or those summoned by clerics.

One angel was coming from the camp, clad in black robes with bronze trim, a halo like a north-south compass overhead as he (they?) glided over the ridge and landed several meters past them. Both paladins looked back and saw that they were striding towards the Sword of Valor. Or, perhaps, towards the former inquisitor kneeling beneath it.

“Balisse, right?” Seelah asked as she turned back.

Elaina nodded.

“Guess he needs a lot of forgiveness,” Seelah shook her head. “Speaking of that - are you really burying the hatchet with the Queen?”

“You sound surprised.”

“I remember how angry you were in the Abyss,” Seelah explained as she leaned forward. “Even with my own problems I could tell it hurt. You don’t have to actually forgive her, even if you gotta play politics.”

“I know,” she admitted, feeling her new wings flap in anticipation. “But what she said, back at the library? That was the last few pieces.”

“Come again?”

“You’re right, it did hurt. I had looked up to her since the abbey - we all enjoyed imagining ourselves a hero like her, Yaniel, or Zacharius. I had archived it away with all the other ‘what if’ dreams I had as a child, then, well,” Elaina held out her free hand, the light of Lariel’s sword materializing for a moment.

“You actually got to do it,” Seelah nodded as the light faded. “So, what she said about destiny and duty was what convinced you?”

“Somewhat,” Elaina admitted as she took another swig from her bottle. “Do you want me to walk you through it? It might be the easiest way to explain it.”

“Do I need to get Nenio first? For the Encyclopedia, of course.”

Elaina chuckled, “Maybe, but I’m sure she’ll pester it out of me later if she wants it.” The paladin sobered up. “At first I couldn’t understand it. What had I done wrong? Was it because of how I was trying to reform the Crusader ranks into something more cohesive? Was it Konomi, especially after she told me to treat Konomi’s words as her own?”

Seelah nodded along. She was well familiar with Elaina and Konomi going head to head over the Isger issue or the Knight-Commander endorsing the Royal Council, and how Sosiel’s suggested compromises were barely keeping things from escalating. The possibility that Galfrey had actually been in agreement with Konomi?

“In the end, you saw what she tried to use. Arueshalae and the Sword of Valor. As if the mission itself might not be enough to warrant it, temporarily. If we ever came back. I started to think the queen was more concerned about her own power, just like the Royal Council or the noble families. About being right rather than doing the right thing.”

“So what changed?”

“Something Yaniel said - that Galfrey was still much the same decades later, but broken. As if the decades had worn her down.”

Elaina took a long drink from her bottle. This was getting to the heart of the matter.

“You started to feel bad for her, didn’t you?”

“Somewhat,” Elaina admitted, “but I think what I really started to do was ask how she could have ended up like that. Started trying to see what I was doing from her perspective. Started thinking about some of the older brothers and sisters at the abbey, and how worn they were. How much worse is it for someone who has seen generations grow up and die under the shadow of the Worldwound? And without victories like Drezen along the way?”

“I get it: she was tired, then we showed up and yanked the rug out from under her, didn’t we?”

“Exactly. All while she was still stuck in the same rut of holding Mendev together while someone else won all the victories. And you know as well as I do how people refuse to consider keeping the Abyss contained a form of victory.”

“That’s the jealousy she mentioned,” Seelah was catching on now. “And after decades of just going through the motions, something in her snapped? She tried to step up again, but couldn’t as long as we were there. As long as you were Knight-Commander.”

“That was the last piece that put it all together. But I was already prepared to forgive her, because…” Elaina finished the bottle. “I would have been no better in her place. I hope I would be better, but if I had to go through the same thing? If I outlived all my friends and only had followers left? I probably would have made the same mistake.”

Seelah stayed silent, unsure of what to say in response to that. She settled for finishing her bottle as well.

[thelearnedsoldiertoo]

Sir Calitha the White

Courtesy of the incredible @cadhla182, have my Pathfinder character Sir Calitha, Paladin of Iomedae and loosely based on my second character in the Owlcat game Wrath of the Righteous(angel path), and my first playthrough of the Through the Ashes DLC. She grew up in a poor family, subject to discrimination due to her demonic ancestry, and was effectively told by many people she could only have a certain trajectory in her life--always bad. Determined, she became an initiate at the local chapel of Iomedae and eventually a Paladin of the Inheritor, despite immense difficulties along the way. She's immensely devout despite her hardships and believes that she can and should serve as a shining example of the opportunities open to even those society says have been pigeonholed by their birth; that anyone can rise to greatness.

Anyways, she came out wonderfully, Cadhla, thank you so very very much! ^-^

[bite-the-bloody-hand]

There was a fun conversation happening in the Owlcat discord a while back where someone just could not understand why Iomedae is so against any mythic path that isn't Legend or Angel.

The two factions were Team 'Stupid Lawful Iomedae' and Team 'Stupid Writing' and unfortunately both of them are wrong. Trust me, my cousin's a lawyer.

It's not that being Lawful makes Iomedae stupid, it's that being Lawful means that she has to do some pretty heinous, backhanded shit to secure the legitimacy of her worship - and this is because that's what her church wants.

Throughout the game's narrative it's made abundantly clear that the Crusade isn't about preventing loss of life or retaking the blighted lands or even just saving people from horrible demise: it's about 'restoring order' and 'returning to the status quo,' for the purpose of insinuating Cheliaxian law on that region of Golarion. It's always been about expansion and conquest "done by the right people." It was convenient to sit for years letting the indigenous Kellids and Sarkorian population die out when the Wound first opened, so a Cheliax-backed conquering force could move in from their already established bases and annex all of that land for themselves.

That's why Lady Konomi is always pushing for the Knight Commander to kowtow to the Capital and the Capital's Allies in Cheliax. Mendev is excellently positioned to become an "ally" (read: vassal state) to Cheliax and secure their holdings in that central region - something that had already been in motion.

If you played Kingmaker, it was heavily implied (if not outright stated) that Pitax was the Chelaxian wedge in the River Kingdoms; losing that land to the suddenly extraordinarily successful barony-to-kingdom would have been a HUGE blow. Pushing even harder to have Mendev pick up the slack - especially with them being neighbors - would have been a major priority. It has never been about saving people.

Yes, by Gods, the Angel path does a lot of lip service towards the cause of the righteous, the inherent horror and sympathy of Galfrey's position, and the relative powerlessness of the Angelic Host to do much of anything without a mortal champion at the tip of the spear. But that mortal champion must also be aligned with the wants of the church, which are the wants of Cheliax. That mortal champion cannot be tainted by, say, a personal belief that slavery is wrong even if it is the law. Even if the Angel by their side also carries that belief*.

Demons are chaotic, and their hierarchy is lawless, therefore it MUST be Iomedae and her Crusade that heals the worldwound because that proves the rule of law. It doesn't matter to Iomedae and her followers that the Azata are often THE guys to go to for stopping demon incursions** - it's about proving that their method is superior, righteous, and good. Even if that means allowing slavery, standing by as an indigenous population gets wiped out, and outright stalling the war effort if it gets in the way of political landgrabbing.

@thedosianexplorer also makes a good point about how the Crusade in-game reflects the real-world historical attitude of 'Crusading as an Act Of Love:' "if the good townsfolk die while we're not stopping this demon incursion, as long as they already loved and followed Iomedae, so they're saved, so it's fine."

All this to say, I don't think this is a case of Stupid Character or Stupid Writing - it's very deliberate. I also personally theorize that the other reason Iomedae('s Church) is so obsessed with proving her legitimacy is because Iomedae personally took out Aroden to 'prevent him from falling to darkness.' Iomedae and her church are very 'if you have bad thoughts you are a bad person' so I feel as though presuming that starts with her icing Aroden because he was having Dark Thoughts isn't totally out of line here. Iomedae needed to kill Aroden because what else would she be if her God turned out to be corrupt?

*The Hand of the Inheritor's downfall during Act 4 is my favorite ingredient of this whole fucked-up recipe: He left the service of an angel that had risen from being a devil only to find himself in the service of a mortal-turned-god from the Slavery Is Good And We're Bros With Asmodeus Country. No wonder he freaks out so bad.

**I find it deeply compelling that even in our own real world cosmology, it's essentially Yazatas vs Demons and Angels vs Devils. So having the Angel faction come in and say 'actually we're way better for this job than you, and we're going to prove it and then everyone will see that the real righteousness is the righteousness of law' is a WILD narrative choice that I really jive with.

[jean-dieu]

6, 7, and 20 ! -Yunessa

Yay! Thank you for these, Yunessa !! <3

6. Which mythic path did they choose and why? Do they regret it?

Lazare: Azata for Lazare and no, he doesn't regret it. While clearly good-aligned and wholeheartedly with the crusaders, Lazare doesn't "fit in" exactly, and he's quick to welcome anyone ready to join their cause no matter who they are.

It's a bit ironic for a commander to be spontaenous, but Lazare is a perfect example of Acting First, Think Later (maybe, if his two brain cells collide). Somehow, it works. Maybe it's the sheer power of his good will and determination, maybe it's something else, but Lazare never regrets the choices he made because even when things don't turn out like they should, he knows he acted in accordance with his heart.

Raphaël: Angel, of course. There weren't many other possibilities for Raphaël beside maybe legend. He did make a few Aeon choices there and there but his faith, his values, his moral compass naturally guided him to the Angel path in the end.

He did regret a bit not accepting Iomedae's offer and gives up on hys mythical abilities as he does feel a bit... Nervous at the idea of telling a goddess no, especially a goddess he has so much respect for.

A worry he quickly sets aside when many celestials actually joined his ranks as it was some kind of divine confirmation he was going what was good, and that Heaven was with him.

Because I like "what if" and alternate AU/Dark AU, I can't help but think of what could (big emphasis on COULD) happen if the Devil mythic path was available while starting Angel. I think that would be interesting (and devastating thank you very much).

Ziel: Ziel's still at the begining of his route so it's a bit early to say if he'll regret things or not.

He started as a Demon despite him, just succumbing to rage and not controlling anything... Which is very scary for a tiefling. Eventually, the trickster path will come to light for him, and he feels happy at first to be able to use his fucked up sense of humour instead of rage for his newfound abilities.

But knowing what awaits a Trickster... Ziel will eventually struggle to keep a sense of himself. As much as he relies on dark humour and sarcasm, there's plenty of things he just can't take lightly. And deep down, he's just a scared child that barely knows what he's doing.

7. Is your KC religious? If yes, which deity do they follow? If not, what is their view on religion?

Lazare: Lazare collects faith in the way that he struggles to find a Divinity that really fits him. He prays Shelyn, Desna and Cayden Cailean. After all, he's a kind free-spirited artist that believes wholeheartedly in freedom and self-determination. Also, beer is cool.

As he was born and raised in a brothel, he has a deep respect for Calistria and her followers, but he doesn't pray her himself.

He never got to learn things "properly" and has his very own conceptions of his Deities' teaching, and while he still understands their philosophy, he lacks the knowledge to fully grasp the extent of their domain.

Post crusade, he will also add Nocticula to his Deity portfolio, as the Reedemer Queen is THE divinity made for him.

Raphaël: Idk, is he?

Jokes aside, OF COURSE he is religious. He has devouted his whole life to Sarenrae, trying desperatly to please her and to follow her principles even when they contradict his natural instinct and way of thinking.

He knows this damn well, and yet, he still thinks Sarenrae's ways are an ideal to strive for. Since he was a child, he dreamed of becoming a priest. As an older teenager, he's "kindly" reoriented (I wrote about it in a small fic there) from priesthood to Inquisition as it's deemed it's just more... Fitting for such an angry individual.

His faith is however bound to change.

Since birth, Raphaël has heard divine voices he and his family thought were from Sarenrae because... Well, who else would it be. He wasn't very vocal about them though, only revealing it to close friends in the church's rank, but he never questioned it.

Later in the campaign (as it's something I've taken from the TTRPG WOTR game I have with friends), as he meets Ragathiel, he learns that the voices weren't from Sarenrae but from the General of Vengeance himself.

It's something Raphaël takes time to process in the sense of it was very unexpected, and it does change quite a lot of things. While he stays an Inquisitor operating under Sarenrae's name, he finally accepts his role as more or less Ragathiel's chosen one, and manages to find some peace as the Angel's principles and teachings match his more than Sarenrae's.

Ziel: Ziel was raised an Abadarite. His father was a cleric, and he has been involved in te church's life during his childhood. He was quite disinterested in it, mostly just following his dad around, not caring too much about Abdar's principles as a whole but not rejecting them either.

When his father is accused of corruption, Ziel finds the whole trial suspicious, and is persuaded in his father's innocence, as he feels like his father was way too faithful to commit such a crime. Cast aside and excluded from their own circle, Ziel witnesses his mother leaving them both and never coming back, and his father turning to alcoholism to cope with the shame.

Seeing his father in such a state deeply angered him, and he hold Abadar responsible for his father's state, thinking it's completly unfair he didn't do a thing to protect his father who is and has always been a honest man. He will now gladly spit on Abdar's name, not even caring of repercussion as it's his father that matters, not himself.

As a teenager and as he begins to start stealing to support his father that can't find work with his reputation, he's introduced to Calistria by fellow thieflings and eventually converts, determined to seek revenge for his father, wanting to clear his name.

As he grows up, and as he becomes a hardened thief, parts of him feel less and less angered at Abadar, to the point of him sneaking in one of his temple at night just to pray for his father's solace.

20. Which event of the crusade traumatized them?

Answered there!

[murthingsblog]

I have a very small Eloa and a little of her acquaintance with the Hand of the Inheritor. These two things are not related, but

This

Some things don't fit into reality. They just don't fit in, that's all. They just reveal by their very existence that there is only a feverish dream around you, and nothing more.

After all, even in a dream you understand when some kind of absurdity begins. When, for example, you walk through the streets of Kenabres – and then in the middle of the square, right in front of you, the figure of Deskari grows and… 

The thought stops. The example turns out to be so stupid that Eloa is even angry at herself for such stupidity. The world seemed to have been turned upside down, and now even the most wrong things, the place for which was only in nightmares, became an evil reality. As if nothing was impossible for the Worldwound anymore. And you, Commander–"ha!" three times over the best of the Queen's jokes–it's time to get used to the fact that reality has gone crazy.

And yet some things remain absurd. So absurd that you'd rather believe that you're crazy yourself.

Because the appearance of the Iomedae's herald in Drezen seems even more impossible than the Descari attack on Kenabres.

But the Hand of the Inheritor stands before her. A golden giant, twice the size of a small fragile Eloa, shining so that it hurts her eyes. It was as if a star had descended into a gray, cold, cold Drezen.

It seems that he has as much place here as Eloa herself.

Wasn't that the reason?

Fear squeezes throat, tightening like a noose.

Of course! Could Iomedae continue to tolerate such insolence? Could she continue to turn a blind eye to an impostor who stood above her real champions, who appropriated her relics, to which, in general, she had no right?

Did the Hand of the Inheritor descend to Drezen in order to carry out divine punishment?

"I shouldn't be here! I didn't mean to! I just did what was expected of me, I tried, I really tried!"

She wanted to scream, so desperately and so loudly that Iomedai herself could hear. She wanted to fall on knees, beg for mercy, but body wouldn't listen, unable to utter a single word.

It seemed like an eternity before the angel spoke. And then it came to life – a golden statue, motionless to the last feather on shining wings, trembled and bowed before her, standing on one knee.

In front of her, the valiant Champion of Golarion.

Could it be a dream after all? It must be a dream, an obsession, a delusion – anything but reality. In none of the possible realities could the herald of the Inheritor herself kneel before her, the great angel before just… Eloa.

Someone's bad joke.

Angry, scary and insulting to the point of tears, that crimson eyes are burning now.

The angel stands in front of her, waiting for an answer – and she finally answers, hiding her trembling behind an almost unsteady laugh. She answers sharply. Poisonous. It's unworthy of a real Champion.

The first of a series of her mistakes. The first of those that will be forgiven.

And the first step towards such a distant, impossible understanding.

[dragonologist-phd]

For the ask game - simple, blunt, drag, handle or careless!

ooh thank you! i went ahead and grabbed two that i had, which was fun because they're at opposite ends of the spectrum here lol

from an upcoming unnamed wip:

It does not feel how you expected, to hear her say this. To let her give voice to your harsher impulses. To listen to her simple, straightforward solution and note how she shows not the slightest hint of shame or remorse.

and from an upcoming Love & War chapter!

Cleo huffed. Stupid angel, making her work this hard to rescue him after he ditched her. She’d never even liked him in the first place, and now here she was all guilty and worried about him. ‘Retaining her humanity’, or whatever Iomedae called it, was a real drag sometimes.

[dmagedgoods]

10, 20, 38, and B for Siavesh; 11, 17, 22 and 27 for Eneas! (Sorry I'm greedy)

I was so free and assumed something got mixed up and you meant Salvadore. 😁 I wouldn’t dare to answer for Sia, but I’m very willing to poke Dujour and pass the questions along as well. 😂💗 Salvadore: 10. What lie do they most frequently remember telling? Does it haunt them? Salvadore lies for political and diplomatic reasons when his plans require it. But he never obscures too much what he believes in and stands for and wants to achieve, just steps along the way and his methods. He acts highly strategically and knows how to play people. But those maneuvers belong to situational plans, there isn’t a returning lie he frequently tells. Maybe only one thing in the Pathfinder universe: He fully worked with people’s belief that he was Iomedae’s chosen one when he already sensed/knew the lie in it. After all, he never had any connection to the goddess and not even a lot of sympathy for her as the critical atheist he is. Still, for the time being, it smoothed his rise to power to present himself as her champion. He promoted the picture to gain support, strengthen alliances, intimidate foes, and make himself known. After the reveal, he didn't continue pretending to be Iomedae’s special soldier, the lie had outlived its purpose at this point. It doesn’t haunt him at all, it was just a political tool, one he had to get rid of again. Despite his angel powers, Salvadore would dislike it if his legacy was too strongly interwoven with Iomedae. While he doesn't speak against her, he makes very sure in the aftermath that the people recording his story publish he is not and never has been her chosen one and that he follows his own self-decided path. 20. If they were asked to explain the difference between romantic and platonic or familial love, how would they do so? He actually had to think about this topic a lot, in my original universe too, but he came to a clear conclusion. Salvadore rarely allows friendship in his life but when he does, the people he considers close in that way are very important to him and experience a much less aloof side of him, warmth instead of the cold he seems to radiate on a professional level, passion, and a certain teasing, playful charm. Still, he is one of those people who make a difference in the sheer … intensity of the bond in a romantic relationship compared to a platonic relationship. While the platonic part is necessary with a romantic partner for him too, he will always put this one special person he picks to spend eternity at his side on a special pedestal. It doesn’t take from the importance and value of his friendships, but what he shares with his partner has to involve a form of connection and depth that’s at least slightly above anything else in his life - tighter, stronger, wider. Of course, things like this aren’t just there spontaneously, it has a lot to do with growing and growing together and developments and is a way rather than a sudden event. Therefore, it would be more correct to say that for him a romantic relationship needs the vivid and clear potential to rise above all else, to become something uniquely big, and to last forever. 38. What memory do they revisit the most often? I answered this one here. 🥰 B) What inspired you to create them? I never felt I did. He just came to me and allows me to write him. And the reason he did, well, might be Rowley. Rowley needed someone who would make for a worthy opponent. Why someone like Sal? Well, they contrast each other in many points and work greatly together (as in: against each other) for this very reason. I’m sure, though, my wish for a character that would be controlled, structured, ambitious, classy, confident, condescending, determined, and a true leader had its part in it too. ~ Eneas: 11. How do they cope with confusion (seek clarification, pretend they understand, etc)?

It depends on the role he plays and what’s at stake. Asking the right or wrong questions can reveal a lot about a person’s thoughts, knowledge, education, background, etc. So, if a question gives away too much, he holds it back, and researches later, using materials he gathers or by influencing someone else to get him the information he needs. In some cases, and with people with a weak resistance to it and little attention, he uses his magic to push into their minds to extract the answers right at the source.

In a more casual situation, though, when his confusion matters little, he just politely asks for clarification. 17. Are they easily embarrassed? It’s hard to embarrass Eneas. He went through too much that required him to get rid of all pride in certain moments. It taught him that pride usually serves little purpose. He doesn’t have the slightest problem to bow or kneel or to say whatever gets him what he wants or needs. When he’s attacked in a way he can’t immediately escape, he switches into a calm but submissive role, not challenging the strength of the opponent until the very moment he sees the opportunity to disarm or kill them with one single counter strike (figuratively or literally). Insults so superficial they are meant to embarrass him? Childish, they won’t cause much at all. The only embarrassment happening to him here and there is secondhand embarrassment when people act in ways he considers overly blunt, annoying, disgusting, or just unpleasant. It’s for this reason he dislikes Rowley. 😂 22. How does jealousy manifest itself in them (they become possessive, they become aloof, etc)? This answer is here. 💕 27. What causes them to feel dread? Eneas is a coward and doesn’t find enjoyment in physical fighting at all. Even from the back row with his magic, those scenarios scare him. He much prefers to win his battles in a verbal way and/or to leave those confrontations to others entirely and only pull strings from somewhere removed. But what truly causes him dread, is the loss of power. Not to smaller degrees when one of his schemes backfires slightly or takes a surprising turn (he almost always has backup planes or – if none of them fits – some talent for improvisations) but to actually find himself without all his usual options he gathered and improved like an arsenal of protection: his magic, his tools, his words and roles and stories and lies, bare of his masks. He made very, very sure that he’ll never feel as helpless and at other people’s mercy as he did during his childhood and teenage years. His deep fear of love comes from the very same corner. He experienced and later caused too much betrayal, was used in too many ways, manipulated people wherever he went and while power and safety and wealth and revenge are strong motives to work with, it’s always love (in all its facets) that drives people the farthest and leaves them the most defenseless. He himself exploits it mercilessly to lengthen his life. How could he not view it as the most dangerous thing in the world?

[another-heroine]

I've started rambling about it on the Pals Discord, but felt to bring this one to the blog as well

Spoilers from last arc of WOTR, Angel Path

Listening to Florence and the Machine while I have breakfast, and thinking of the last arc when Iomedae herself comes to Drezen to reveal the true source of the Commander’s powers.

Like Katya's life wasn’t hard enough since the day she was born, she had to deal with the fact that a Sarkorian witch used her as a scientific subject, and the 'righteous' goddess before them is nothing but a glowing—and probably jealous—bitch.

In the trial, I can picture perfectly the moment when Iomedae suggests, 'choose the Heaven Power over this demonic one!' and Ekaterina looks at her in the dead of the eye and says, 'I chose me'.

In the end, she had to agree with Ember: there are no gods, just fearful and flawed creatures, like mortals.

She is freaking tired of walking on tiptoes, either because of old druid men or angry inquisitors. To both of them she is a hag in disguise anyway, so whatever.

But when the Inheritor and Targona had to leave, she felt like a lost part of her, that she had been looking for by years, is missed again, and for good now.

And maybe that thought made her cry alone afterward.

[dujour13]

5, 11, and 18 for siavash for the wotr asks!

Thank you Kate! 💕💕 Some massive spoilers so the answers go under a cut

5. Do they have a family? If so, what kind? Do they miss them? Do they still have hope to see them again?

I’ve talked about his family before but thank you for this chance to ramble...

He’s a kindred-raised half-elf from a stable, happy family in Almas. His parents are Nilufar (a Kelish arcanist) and Doran (a professional lutenist in the Almas Municipal Orchestra); his three older sisters are Zarin (unmarried; one child, Kyrash), Fati (married to Talo, two small girls Daria and Tahmine), and Leila.

He loves them and misses them, but whenever he’s in Almas he can’t wait to get away again. During the Crusade he writes to them frequently and his nephew Kyrash sends him crayon illustrations of his adventures that he hangs up over his desk.

In fact, his healthy, happy family life was one of the reasons Areelu chose him for her experiment. Controlled variables. But since I discovered that Pathfinder half-elves can be mentally unstable it’s added a dimension to him (and his relationship with Camellia, but that’s another story): he comes from a line of half-elves who have been able to reconcile their two sides unusually well, making him an even more promising experimental subject.

11. For martial KCs, favorite weapon? For spellcasters, favorite spell?

Answered here

18. If they survived, what is their life post crusade?

Spoiler for the secret ending!

To put it mildly - Siavash is impulsive. This is a man who picks up every bit of luck Desna puts in his path and runs with it, from the Light of Heaven (“Ooh angelic sword, cool”) to flipping Iomedae the bird, keeping the power and becoming a true azata. He’s an explorer of possibilities.

So in the end he and Areelu help each other make the outrageous move of ascending to demi-godhood, in part because as much as he’s horrified by her means, he's on board with her ends—the liberation of mortalkind from the chains of death and separation. Inspired, or something he may live to regret?

[cinderschild]

I just think it is so important to know that Helia's goddess grandmama (Sarenrae, who Helia refers to as Grandmother Grace when using her titles cause that is their grannie) loves them so freaking much. No creature in existence is more proud of Helia (regardless of the angel or gold dragon path but especially because of the gold dragon choice). It has NOTHING to do with Helia having a great destiny as her champion or some predestination-chosen bullshit. It has EVERYTHING to do with a grandmother's undying love for her grandchild and wanting to see Helia live their own life (choose their own destiny) while believing they are fully capable of it.

That love came into question by Helia during the events of W.OTR. The crusade named them a chosen of Iomedae and told their Heavenly ascension was coming from a goddess that was not Grandmother Grace (or Sarenrae's two polyamorous goddess partners Desna and Shelyn). Helia felt abandoned. When they chose their own path (gold dragon over angel) and didn't lose the divine flame inside them Helia realized that it didn't matter what they had picked. Sarenrae was just happy to see that they were living the life they wanted.