The Greatest Lie of Asmodeus [open] | Glowfic Constellation

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There are many Lies which Asmodeus sought to spread throughout Cheliax, to Discredit his Enemies among the Gods. I will not Enumerate all of them, for many have already been Thoroughly Refuted in other Pamphlets. But the Greatest Lie of all is this: that Blessed Aroden is Dead, Slain by Asmodeus.

The Truth is that Aroden Lives.

For I have seen with my own eyes a Priest of Aroden entering the Hall of Delegates this morning, who gave his name as Taldaris son of Ventura. Luminary Taldaris has been Chosen by Aroden to restore His Light to Cheliax. Doubtless there are far more Priests of Aroden who are not at the Convention, who already are spreading the teachings of Aroden throughout Cheliax.

We were Fools, to think that a Weak God such as Asmodeus could kill Aroden Himself, Survivor of Earthfall and Savior of Humanity. But Aroden understood that a Great Empire could not be built only of Wise Men, and he has found use even for Fools. For the construction of a Palace needs Clever Architects, who can lay out Plans for the Construction; but it needs as well Builders and Glaziers, Sculptors and Painters, Miners and Merchants of Raw Material. Any man can build Aroden's Kingdom on Golarion, if only he is willing to Attempt it.

And Aroden, too, is not so harsh as Iomedae, who cannot Countenance Evildoers in her Kingdom. For Aroden understood that to be Good is not always Easy. Aroden Himself was Lawful Neutral, and among his Priests numbered many men who were Lawful Evil. Aroden understood that even the Wickedest of Men could still build his Palace, if he can but follow the Instructions of his Betters, and Aroden hoped that one day All Men would be welcome in his Kingdom.

So let us build Aroden's Kingdom together in Cheliax. Let us Learn from the Past, as Aroden commands, and let us pray to Him to guide our Hands towards the Future. Let all men, however Evil, join together in this great work, that one day we may all find ourselves Welcome in Aroden's Realm in Axis, no matter what we may have done in the Past.

Taldor is a nation founded in its most ancient days by Aroden, who blessed its first emperor Taldaris I and guided its growth first as an archmage and then as the God of Humanity and Patron of the Empire. Even in later days it was the center of the worship of Aroden, exceeding even Absalom, the Starstone City he had established. Cheliax became its center shortly after the time of Aspex, splitting itself from Taldor, but Taldor, while it may have no longer been the best display of Aroden's ideals, held itself to be the center of his faith still, even when He had partially abandoned them.

So it continues to this day. Most countries, when they found Aroden's priests had lost their power, gave them over to Iomedae or took control of them for the state. Taldor, which had refused to acknowledge his transfer of blessing to a successor, also refused to acknowledge his death. As they continued his worship when he took away his blessing, they continued it even when he took away everything. To this day, scions of the nobility and particularly favored merchant households take up the symbol of Aroden, read his books, preach in his churches, and hold his lands in his name.

Such a man is Taldaris Ventura of Gandia. His faith in Aroden, as sincere as it must be, does not make Aroden live.

And, as he might say if you asked him, this is no new tradition. In Aroden's day, his temples would have small shrines to Acavna and Amaznen, gods who died in Earthfall, to who they gave thanks despite their death. It might be more traditional to place the worship of Aroden in an Iomedan temple, but if he wishes to bear the Eye himself, this is his right, even though he cannot channel healing or create water.

Speaking for myself, while I find The History and Future of Humanity and Tomes of Memory often inspiring and always educational, I do not think He would have wished us to continue to follow His plans after His death. Surpass our lost gods and chart new paths forward; struggling to form a new ideal which is Good and within reach is better than imitating an old one merely because it is closer to Evil and might be easier to reach.