Church of Irori
Irori’s worship is most popular in Vudra and Tian Xia, and thus the Isle of Jalmeray is its biggest center in the Inner Sea region. From there, the faith originally traveled north and west to Osirion, home of the great Monastery of Tar Kuata, and to Absalom, where the arena known as the Irorium showcases nonlethal combat and provides a strong draw in the Foreign Quarter. While the faith has spread far and wide, it most often takes the form of solitary monks and secluded monasteries, thus keeping it largely out of the daily life of common folk.
Irori’s followers are a varied lot, for he teaches that there are many paths to perfection and each individual’s path may be slightly different from the next. His primary worshipers are mystics, ascetics, and martial artists. Those who rise to the rank of master are said to go to his side to serve him forever when they die, while those who fall short of perfection are reincarnated to begin the journey anew. Though most of his followers worship him as the god of self-perfection, some pray to him as a god of history or knowledge, notably in regard to anatomy, medicine, philosophy, comparative studies of martial arts, and the history of combat and the Vudrani lands. This secondary aspect is more prominent among elder members of the faith and those whose health prevents the rigorous exercise needed to perfect the physical self; such worshipers often become the archivists and keepers of lore, transcribing oral traditions into lasting forms to ensure the preservation of wisdom that would otherwise be lost.
Rituals in Iroran temples usually involve a period of meditation or prayer, sometimes with ritualized consumption of particular foods, which varies from region to region or may be unique to a particular monastery. Drums, gongs, rainsticks, and bells are common instruments used to mark time in a ceremony. Monasteries devoted to martial arts may consider practicing their combat forms a kind of ritual prayer. The church doesn’t practice animal or human sacrifice. Physical offerings are usually seeds, bread, rice, sweat from the worshiper’s brow, tea, or even folded paper goods shaped like useful objects (such as teapots, flowers, or animals). These objects are burned in a sacred fire that represents the god’s spirit.
There is evidence that Irori was an ascetic for a portion of his mortal life, and some of his followers practice varying levels of asceticism in search of enlightenment. Known as sathu (meaning “done well”), these sages give up most material goods and ties to civilization to strengthen their connection with the divine. Some sathus live alone in forests, caves, or graveyards, while others live in temples to provide examples for aspiring monks. Some wear only rags, some go naked, some paint their flesh, some carry swords, some never cut their hair, and some shave or pluck all the hair from their bodies. Sathus are greatly respected among the faithful, even by those who do not practice asceticism, but outsiders may view them with suspicion and believe they have supernatural talents, such as cursing people or summoning ghosts.
Some enlightened members of the faith, particularly monks, are so aware of their own bodily processes that they can sense their approaching death from old age, knowing in advance the day or even the hour they will pass. A few employ a method of self-mummification, following a diet of poisonous nuts and teas that preserves their bodies after death. These masters of life and death leave behind their bodies to watch over Irori’s temples, and their dried but perfectly preserved Iroran mummies may once again serve as vessels for their spirits in times of great need.
Among the most devout and powerful members of Irori’s faith, a very rare few have been known to simply disappear from the world, presumably to continue their studies on another physical plane or a higher plane of consciousness. This is called “walking with the Master,” as if such individuals were handpicked by Irori for a greater purpose, and such is considered a great honor. Many of these lucky individuals revisit Golarion decades or centuries later as spirit guides, and at least one is known to now be a divine servant of the god.
Though his clergy predominantly consists of monks and clerics, Irori welcomes all who appreciate his ideals and seek to develop their spiritual growth into his clergy. Sorcerers, wizards, and academic sages developing their mental acuity may ignore the physical aspects of his discipline, while others focus on them to the exclusion of all others. Magic-obsessed individuals, however, are regularly disappointed— most find the lore gathered by Irorans too holistic to prove practically useful, and are instead driven toward Nethys’s faith. So enlightened is Irori that even good and evil have ceased to have meaning for him. The Master of Masters does not appear to care to what ends his teachings are used, so long as the individual continues to strive for her own concept of perfection.
The rare druid-priests of Irori help civilized folk reconnect with their natural instincts and extol the emulation of various animals as the most natural way to achieve self-perfection. Iroran priests feel a kinship for ancestor and lore oracles, particularly those cursed with blindness or lameness; though these oracles are generally not official participants in the church hierarchy, they’re welcome in Irori’s temples. Irori’s inquisitors are a grim, protective group of stealthy investigators who track down and destroy versions of the god’s teachings corrupted by minions of Asmodeus or Urgathoa, who tempt the faithful with false paths to perfection. These inquisitors are usually trained in hunting devils and undead to better deal with these common enemies. They destroy documentation of these deceptive methods to prevent others from using it, instruct misled followers on how their practices will lead to failure, and put an end to those creatures responsible for such temptation.
Priests are responsible for aiding others on the path to self-perfection, by guiding followers with insights and shepherding them to their own personal paths through rigorous questioning and encouragement. While the specifics of each person’s path vary, all worshipers of Irori require good health and clear minds, so priests avoid excessive gluttony, and the use of intoxicants or other vices that dull the senses. However, some sects teach that drunkenness and certain drugs help expand the user’s consciousness, and priests of these sects dose themselves on a regular basis. Even though clerics and druids can wear armor, many choose not to so as not to hamper the movement of their bodies (though there is no stigma for wearing armor, as that is yet another reflection on how personal path differs).
Priests who aren’t part of a temple may barter or sell their services: masters of a specialized diet might sell rare herbs used for medicinal or cultural purposes, practitioners of exotic martial arts might work at a fighting academy, and others might teach at a university or lecture to members of other faiths on various topics.
Irori often challenged himself both physically and mentally on his path to enlightenment, and many of his priests attempt similar trials in imitation of their master. Most trials last a year, though some Iroran priests embrace challenges that last for longer periods. Such tests of body, mind, and spirit can range from living on rice and water, taking a vow of silence, counting every waking breath, and so on.
A typical day for a priest begins with exercise, a meal, meditation, and study or debate, with these activities repeating throughout the day. Depending on priests’ chosen paths, they may emphasize one of these activities more than others, or eschew certain activities entirely. Some priests meditate for days, pausing only to eat a bit of bread and water periodically, while others eat raw meat every hour and spend the rest of their time lifting heavy stones to build strength. Priests train their bodies and minds, and as such they often have ranks in Acrobatics, Climb, and Swim, along with ranks in a wealth of Knowledge skills.
Irori’s faith has few taboos common to all temples, but individual paths require commitment to certain mental, physical, and dietary restrictions. If a priest fails in these things, her only punishment is to try again—she is her own taskmaster, and cutting corners only postpones her enlightenment. If she fails too many times, however, she may no longer be welcome in the temples of Irori—the point of the religion is self-control, and those who lack the willpower to manage their own excesses are encouraged to go elsewhere, though they’re welcomed back if they find such inner strength.
While Irori’s followers often congregate in monasteries and other centers of learning, they may take to the adventuring life for a variety of reasons. Some seek knowledge unavailable through established channels, others seek to hone their bodies as weapons or to test themselves against the world, and still others may venture forth on missions assigned by their masters. Great are the troves of knowledge held by Irori’s faith, but greater still are the secrets that have been lost or that lie undiscovered. For Irori’s followers, there are few honors greater than revealing mysteries and sharing them with all who seek to learn.
Irori’s followers are a varied lot, for he teaches that there are many paths to perfection and each individual’s path may be slightly different from the next. His primary worshipers are mystics, ascetics, and martial artists. Those who rise to the rank of master are said to go to his side to serve him forever when they die, while those who fall short of perfection are reincarnated to begin the journey anew. Though most of his followers worship him as the god of self-perfection, some pray to him as a god of history or knowledge, notably in regard to anatomy, medicine, philosophy, comparative studies of martial arts, and the history of combat and the Vudrani lands. This secondary aspect is more prominent among elder members of the faith and those whose health prevents the rigorous exercise needed to perfect the physical self; such worshipers often become the archivists and keepers of lore, transcribing oral traditions into lasting forms to ensure the preservation of wisdom that would otherwise be lost.
Rituals in Iroran temples usually involve a period of meditation or prayer, sometimes with ritualized consumption of particular foods, which varies from region to region or may be unique to a particular monastery. Drums, gongs, rainsticks, and bells are common instruments used to mark time in a ceremony. Monasteries devoted to martial arts may consider practicing their combat forms a kind of ritual prayer. The church doesn’t practice animal or human sacrifice. Physical offerings are usually seeds, bread, rice, sweat from the worshiper’s brow, tea, or even folded paper goods shaped like useful objects (such as teapots, flowers, or animals). These objects are burned in a sacred fire that represents the god’s spirit.
There is evidence that Irori was an ascetic for a portion of his mortal life, and some of his followers practice varying levels of asceticism in search of enlightenment. Known as sathu (meaning “done well”), these sages give up most material goods and ties to civilization to strengthen their connection with the divine. Some sathus live alone in forests, caves, or graveyards, while others live in temples to provide examples for aspiring monks. Some wear only rags, some go naked, some paint their flesh, some carry swords, some never cut their hair, and some shave or pluck all the hair from their bodies. Sathus are greatly respected among the faithful, even by those who do not practice asceticism, but outsiders may view them with suspicion and believe they have supernatural talents, such as cursing people or summoning ghosts.
Some enlightened members of the faith, particularly monks, are so aware of their own bodily processes that they can sense their approaching death from old age, knowing in advance the day or even the hour they will pass. A few employ a method of self-mummification, following a diet of poisonous nuts and teas that preserves their bodies after death. These masters of life and death leave behind their bodies to watch over Irori’s temples, and their dried but perfectly preserved Iroran mummies may once again serve as vessels for their spirits in times of great need.
Among the most devout and powerful members of Irori’s faith, a very rare few have been known to simply disappear from the world, presumably to continue their studies on another physical plane or a higher plane of consciousness. This is called “walking with the Master,” as if such individuals were handpicked by Irori for a greater purpose, and such is considered a great honor. Many of these lucky individuals revisit Golarion decades or centuries later as spirit guides, and at least one is known to now be a divine servant of the god.
Temples and Shrines
Iroran houses of worship are typically sprawling complexes that function as self-sufficient temples and monasteries. Some operate at near-poverty levels and depend on donations from pilgrims and layfolk, providing guidance and training to visitors in return. Others, especially those where the monks have taken vows of silence or dedicated themselves to similar extreme disciplines, are generally not open to the public; visitors must wait outside lest their presence disturb the energy of those within. Many temples devoted to Irori also train monks, and it’s through these temples that the martial arts of distant lands have spread across the Inner Sea region. Such simple temples often gain footholds in oppressive lands where commoners are not allowed to use weapons, for the expert hands of a monk can show a peasant how to disarm a knight or use a farm implement with deadly purpose. Almost all Iroran temples feature rooms for prayer, sleep, and exercise, where Irori’s faithful study and train endlessly to seek perfection.A temple’s leader is the resident closest to self-perfection, normally determined through collective meditation but sometimes through combat or some other esoteric metric. In most cases, the leader is a guide rather than a tyrant, though some temples tend to be more aggressive in their outlooks, requiring combat challenges (sometimes of a bloody or even deadly variety) to ascend to higher status. Each temple is sufficient unto itself, its masters responsible for guiding others down a path of enlightenment and opening the doors of their minds. In general, the priests within a given temple share certain viewpoints regarding the proper way to achieve mastery, and some maintain rivalries with other temples that teach competing philosophies.Clothing
Serious followers of Irori’s path do not usually wear flashy clothing or jewelry that easily identifies their faith. Instead, they can be recognized by their physical fitness, their serenity, and the poise with which they carry themselves. Irori’s priests have no formal garb save a long rope of braided hair, usually tied in a loop and worn like a necklace. There is no specific requirement for the hair’s origin; some use their own, and others use the hair of a mentor or even an exotic creature. From these braids typically hangs a symbol of Irori—the hand or the rebus.A Priest’s Role
To devote oneself to service of Irori is to devote oneself to unswerving pursuit of perfection. While many are attracted to the ideals of his faith, few have the strength or rigor to pursue the path for long. The claims of the world are many and pressing, and their grasp demands that the student pull his gaze from the light of truth: families, debts, conflicts, and even old memories reach out to drag students back to their former lives. Irori understands this, and asks only that his followers continue to strive toward perfection with their body, their wits, and most of all their unquenchable spirit.Though his clergy predominantly consists of monks and clerics, Irori welcomes all who appreciate his ideals and seek to develop their spiritual growth into his clergy. Sorcerers, wizards, and academic sages developing their mental acuity may ignore the physical aspects of his discipline, while others focus on them to the exclusion of all others. Magic-obsessed individuals, however, are regularly disappointed— most find the lore gathered by Irorans too holistic to prove practically useful, and are instead driven toward Nethys’s faith. So enlightened is Irori that even good and evil have ceased to have meaning for him. The Master of Masters does not appear to care to what ends his teachings are used, so long as the individual continues to strive for her own concept of perfection.
The rare druid-priests of Irori help civilized folk reconnect with their natural instincts and extol the emulation of various animals as the most natural way to achieve self-perfection. Iroran priests feel a kinship for ancestor and lore oracles, particularly those cursed with blindness or lameness; though these oracles are generally not official participants in the church hierarchy, they’re welcome in Irori’s temples. Irori’s inquisitors are a grim, protective group of stealthy investigators who track down and destroy versions of the god’s teachings corrupted by minions of Asmodeus or Urgathoa, who tempt the faithful with false paths to perfection. These inquisitors are usually trained in hunting devils and undead to better deal with these common enemies. They destroy documentation of these deceptive methods to prevent others from using it, instruct misled followers on how their practices will lead to failure, and put an end to those creatures responsible for such temptation.
Priests are responsible for aiding others on the path to self-perfection, by guiding followers with insights and shepherding them to their own personal paths through rigorous questioning and encouragement. While the specifics of each person’s path vary, all worshipers of Irori require good health and clear minds, so priests avoid excessive gluttony, and the use of intoxicants or other vices that dull the senses. However, some sects teach that drunkenness and certain drugs help expand the user’s consciousness, and priests of these sects dose themselves on a regular basis. Even though clerics and druids can wear armor, many choose not to so as not to hamper the movement of their bodies (though there is no stigma for wearing armor, as that is yet another reflection on how personal path differs).
Priests who aren’t part of a temple may barter or sell their services: masters of a specialized diet might sell rare herbs used for medicinal or cultural purposes, practitioners of exotic martial arts might work at a fighting academy, and others might teach at a university or lecture to members of other faiths on various topics.
Irori often challenged himself both physically and mentally on his path to enlightenment, and many of his priests attempt similar trials in imitation of their master. Most trials last a year, though some Iroran priests embrace challenges that last for longer periods. Such tests of body, mind, and spirit can range from living on rice and water, taking a vow of silence, counting every waking breath, and so on.
A typical day for a priest begins with exercise, a meal, meditation, and study or debate, with these activities repeating throughout the day. Depending on priests’ chosen paths, they may emphasize one of these activities more than others, or eschew certain activities entirely. Some priests meditate for days, pausing only to eat a bit of bread and water periodically, while others eat raw meat every hour and spend the rest of their time lifting heavy stones to build strength. Priests train their bodies and minds, and as such they often have ranks in Acrobatics, Climb, and Swim, along with ranks in a wealth of Knowledge skills.
Irori’s faith has few taboos common to all temples, but individual paths require commitment to certain mental, physical, and dietary restrictions. If a priest fails in these things, her only punishment is to try again—she is her own taskmaster, and cutting corners only postpones her enlightenment. If she fails too many times, however, she may no longer be welcome in the temples of Irori—the point of the religion is self-control, and those who lack the willpower to manage their own excesses are encouraged to go elsewhere, though they’re welcomed back if they find such inner strength.
Adventurers
Those who have taken the teachings of Irori to heart are likely quiet, studious, and extraordinarily focused individuals who have a deep desire to explore the hidden talents locked within their bodies, seeking such secrets either within themselves or by exploring the world. They believe that by understanding themselves, they better understand the world. Those who follow this path see every day as a step toward a more serene center.While Irori’s followers often congregate in monasteries and other centers of learning, they may take to the adventuring life for a variety of reasons. Some seek knowledge unavailable through established channels, others seek to hone their bodies as weapons or to test themselves against the world, and still others may venture forth on missions assigned by their masters. Great are the troves of knowledge held by Irori’s faith, but greater still are the secrets that have been lost or that lie undiscovered. For Irori’s followers, there are few honors greater than revealing mysteries and sharing them with all who seek to learn.
Demonym
Iroran
Deities
Divines
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
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