Irori
To transcend your flaws, you must know your inner self. Gaining this knowledge is a journey, and the path may be straight or twisted. —Unbinding the Fetters
Master of Masters
Irori was once a mortal man whose intense discipline allowed him to attain enlightenment and divinity through physical, mental, and spiritual perfection. He teaches that mastery of the self allows one to master the world, but paradoxically also purges one of desire to master the world. Countless others seek to follow his path, and he encourages them to challenge their minds, bodies, and souls in order to transcend their self-imposed limits. He is also a god of knowledge; his followers are keen students of history, for experience is key to understanding and there is much to be learned from the experiences of others.
Irori knows that there’s no single technique that works for everyone, and that every student must experiment and practice to find the best method for her. He is patient, forgiving, and serene, welcoming all who seek perfection as brothers and sisters. He is a teacher who leads by example rather than issuing reprimands and corrections. Meanwhile, he constantly tests his own limits as a deity, expanding his awareness and control without impinging upon the interests of others. Originating from distant Vudra, Irori has gained a diverse following across the Inner Sea region as those who seek discipline and self-perfection look to him for inspiration.
Irori’s followers rarely depict him in art because they believe that no icon can hope to live up to his perfect image. They describe him in poetry and prose as a flawless man, clothed in simple robes and wooden sandals, hairless save for a long braid. Beyond the Inner Sea region, his race often changes to reflect that of the artist; artists of the Inner Sea tend to depict him in ways that emphasize his exoticism. Irori sees no need to cloak himself in mystery or augment himself with divine power, so on the rare occasions when he manifests to mortals, he appears as a physically fit man matching his followers’ descriptions, often sitting, kneeling patiently, or resting in a meditative pose. He’s also been known to project a portion of his awareness into a statue, animating its face and speaking through it.
When Irori is pleased, he eases the path toward enlightenment—soothing pain, bestowing mental clarity, and granting insight about the next step in the worshiper’s journey. Especially devout followers might catch a brief glimpse of the god’s serene eyes, or come across the mysterious single imprint of a sandal in the sand. He sometimes punishes transgressions with cramps, fatigue, dizziness, and obvious setbacks on the path to self-perfection. However, in most cases he refrains from these actions, as he believes that for his sincere followers, straying from the ideal path is punishment enough, and that it’s best for those who are not sincere to leave the church and pursue other interests. Only in extreme cases—generally with mortals who are destined for greatness—does he afflict the person with an injury or disability to overcome, either to encourage her to look for an alternate perspective to a problem, or to encourage humility in someone especially prideful.
The search for perfection leads many followers to the priesthood, where they wander as solitary monks or dwell in secluded monasteries in endless practice. Many of these monasteries are sprawling complexes closed to the general public. The faithful pray, sleep, exercise, and study in their seemingly endless quest of perfection and purity, often taking vows of poverty and silence. Other temple complexes provide guidance and training to visitors in exchange for tithes and donations. Some of Irori’s worshippers instead wander alone, strengthening their connection to Irori by giving up the distraction of material goods and living in caves, forests, or even graveyards. These ascetics may go naked or wear rags, and locals often believe they have mystical abilities. Despite their appearance, these worshippers are well respected among Iroran faithful.
It is said that enlightened members of Irori’s clergy are so self-aware they know when the hour of their death approaches. In preparation for this moment, some faithful ingest a diet of poisonous teas and nuts to perform self-mummification. This ritual allows them to watch over their monasteries after death and come to the aid of the faithful if necessary. Others, particularly those considered the most devout, seemingly disappear from the mortal world. These supposedly handpicked individuals are said to “walk with the Master,” becoming divine servants of Irori.
In addition to a priest’s search for self-perfection, the clergy of Irori still live and participate in worldly cycles. Monk-priests often act as historians and chroniclers for a region, and the libraries of Iroran monasteries house ancient and occult knowledge, making them popular among bards and sages. Elder clergy take this role to heart, gathering and storing knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Irori espouses that all knowledge is worth knowing and cares not for how it is used, except when it would create a loss of self-control. This seeming indifference to good or evil can put Irori’s faithful at odds with more dogmatic churches.
When ministering to layfolk, priests of Irori act as guides and shepherds, nudging worshippers to improve themselves. Some worshippers focus on one or two aspects of Irori’s teachings and methods to become great unarmed warriors and gladiators, while others study medicine and philosophy exclusively. Even others study the history of the world or a given kingdom or region.
Unlike the Ascended, Irori became a god without the aid of a magical artifact—in effect, he considers Cayden Cailean, Iomedae, and Norgorber to have cheated in their ascension (as they used the path made by Aroden rather than finding their own), but is polite enough to keep his opinion to himself unless he feels they are behaving arrogantly. The attitude causes mild rivalry between his faith and those of the Ascended, a tension that takes the form of an ongoing feud with Norgorber—Irori seeks to share knowledge, while the god of secrets tries to hide it away and often endangers his followers. This has led to many bloody encounters between Irori’s followers and secret-hoarding Norgorberites like the Anaphexia. Irori views the dispute as one more challenge to overcome.
Irori was greatly troubled by the death of Aroden; their shared status as powerful mortals who became gods resulted in a friendly relationship between them, and followers of Irori are taught to show respect for Aroden’s holy sites, much as a great warrior would honor the graves of his friends and honorable enemies. This reverence doesn’t inherently extend to sites that have been converted to Iomedae’s service, though Irori holds no enmity toward Aroden’s heir and understands the practicality of these alterations.
As the children of a god who is one of a pantheon of hundreds of Vudrani deities, Irori’s followers largely respect other religions, even if they disagree with their teachings. Their objectivity and devotion to perfection and balance often cause other churches to call upon them to mediate interfaith disputes, especially when temples are built in areas new to a particular faith and there are clashes with religions already long established in those locales. Irorans oblige such requests if they believe they may help lead members of those faiths closer to enlightenment, but may regret the time and focus taken away from their own pursuits if the disputants are too petty or bureaucratic to see reason.
Cheu Chem: Not all paths to perfection require or result in a humanoid shape, and this pavbagha claims that her current form, that of a white tiger, is her fourth incarnation as an intelligent animal. She speaks nearly a dozen mortal languages and doesn’t tolerate impertinence from her students, delivering chastisement with a paw to the head (though she always sheathes her claws).
The Old Man: Irori’s herald, the Old Man loves to see people achieving their potential, even if it’s limited by a mortal lifespan. He enjoys watching over favored students in successive lifetimes, guiding them in different ways each time. When called to Golarion by mortal magic, the Old Man is not so generous with his efforts, for he feels that anyone powerful enough to call him can afford to pay for his services. He accepts magic items that can aid young monks in their training and travels; rare books of history that contain valuable anecdotes; magic that increases Intelligence or Wisdom scores; and pledges to build or restore temples, shrines, schools, and monasteries of Irori in places that could benefit from such attention. While he often proves curt when summoned, he quickly assesses the honest needs of whoever called him and proves quick to act if their wishes parallel the will of Irori.
Sixth Rebirth: This humorless stone giant’s flesh bears several rough scars, as if he had scoured away tattoos from a life he wishes to forget. His name is not one he choose for himself, but rather one that was given to him by a student. He prefers secluded meditation to physical exertion, but can pulverize stone and even steel with his bare hands, if given proper cause. He can be found sitting in near-constant meditation in a shrine built high atop a rock outcropping in the Serene Circle. The Sixth Rebirth answers a follower’s call if directed to do so by the Master of Masters.
Irori knows that there’s no single technique that works for everyone, and that every student must experiment and practice to find the best method for her. He is patient, forgiving, and serene, welcoming all who seek perfection as brothers and sisters. He is a teacher who leads by example rather than issuing reprimands and corrections. Meanwhile, he constantly tests his own limits as a deity, expanding his awareness and control without impinging upon the interests of others. Originating from distant Vudra, Irori has gained a diverse following across the Inner Sea region as those who seek discipline and self-perfection look to him for inspiration.
Irori’s followers rarely depict him in art because they believe that no icon can hope to live up to his perfect image. They describe him in poetry and prose as a flawless man, clothed in simple robes and wooden sandals, hairless save for a long braid. Beyond the Inner Sea region, his race often changes to reflect that of the artist; artists of the Inner Sea tend to depict him in ways that emphasize his exoticism. Irori sees no need to cloak himself in mystery or augment himself with divine power, so on the rare occasions when he manifests to mortals, he appears as a physically fit man matching his followers’ descriptions, often sitting, kneeling patiently, or resting in a meditative pose. He’s also been known to project a portion of his awareness into a statue, animating its face and speaking through it.
When Irori is pleased, he eases the path toward enlightenment—soothing pain, bestowing mental clarity, and granting insight about the next step in the worshiper’s journey. Especially devout followers might catch a brief glimpse of the god’s serene eyes, or come across the mysterious single imprint of a sandal in the sand. He sometimes punishes transgressions with cramps, fatigue, dizziness, and obvious setbacks on the path to self-perfection. However, in most cases he refrains from these actions, as he believes that for his sincere followers, straying from the ideal path is punishment enough, and that it’s best for those who are not sincere to leave the church and pursue other interests. Only in extreme cases—generally with mortals who are destined for greatness—does he afflict the person with an injury or disability to overcome, either to encourage her to look for an alternate perspective to a problem, or to encourage humility in someone especially prideful.
The search for perfection leads many followers to the priesthood, where they wander as solitary monks or dwell in secluded monasteries in endless practice. Many of these monasteries are sprawling complexes closed to the general public. The faithful pray, sleep, exercise, and study in their seemingly endless quest of perfection and purity, often taking vows of poverty and silence. Other temple complexes provide guidance and training to visitors in exchange for tithes and donations. Some of Irori’s worshippers instead wander alone, strengthening their connection to Irori by giving up the distraction of material goods and living in caves, forests, or even graveyards. These ascetics may go naked or wear rags, and locals often believe they have mystical abilities. Despite their appearance, these worshippers are well respected among Iroran faithful.
It is said that enlightened members of Irori’s clergy are so self-aware they know when the hour of their death approaches. In preparation for this moment, some faithful ingest a diet of poisonous teas and nuts to perform self-mummification. This ritual allows them to watch over their monasteries after death and come to the aid of the faithful if necessary. Others, particularly those considered the most devout, seemingly disappear from the mortal world. These supposedly handpicked individuals are said to “walk with the Master,” becoming divine servants of Irori.
In addition to a priest’s search for self-perfection, the clergy of Irori still live and participate in worldly cycles. Monk-priests often act as historians and chroniclers for a region, and the libraries of Iroran monasteries house ancient and occult knowledge, making them popular among bards and sages. Elder clergy take this role to heart, gathering and storing knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Irori espouses that all knowledge is worth knowing and cares not for how it is used, except when it would create a loss of self-control. This seeming indifference to good or evil can put Irori’s faithful at odds with more dogmatic churches.
When ministering to layfolk, priests of Irori act as guides and shepherds, nudging worshippers to improve themselves. Some worshippers focus on one or two aspects of Irori’s teachings and methods to become great unarmed warriors and gladiators, while others study medicine and philosophy exclusively. Even others study the history of the world or a given kingdom or region.
Relations with Other Religions
Irori seeks to avoid interfering with other divine beings unless they threaten his work or his people, as he respects other deities and recognizes what is correct for him may not be so for them. He frowns on those who tear down or corrupt the accomplishments of others, and has an ongoing feud with Asmodeus because the Prince of Darkness likes to taunt his followers with false shortcuts to perfection.Unlike the Ascended, Irori became a god without the aid of a magical artifact—in effect, he considers Cayden Cailean, Iomedae, and Norgorber to have cheated in their ascension (as they used the path made by Aroden rather than finding their own), but is polite enough to keep his opinion to himself unless he feels they are behaving arrogantly. The attitude causes mild rivalry between his faith and those of the Ascended, a tension that takes the form of an ongoing feud with Norgorber—Irori seeks to share knowledge, while the god of secrets tries to hide it away and often endangers his followers. This has led to many bloody encounters between Irori’s followers and secret-hoarding Norgorberites like the Anaphexia. Irori views the dispute as one more challenge to overcome.
Irori was greatly troubled by the death of Aroden; their shared status as powerful mortals who became gods resulted in a friendly relationship between them, and followers of Irori are taught to show respect for Aroden’s holy sites, much as a great warrior would honor the graves of his friends and honorable enemies. This reverence doesn’t inherently extend to sites that have been converted to Iomedae’s service, though Irori holds no enmity toward Aroden’s heir and understands the practicality of these alterations.
As the children of a god who is one of a pantheon of hundreds of Vudrani deities, Irori’s followers largely respect other religions, even if they disagree with their teachings. Their objectivity and devotion to perfection and balance often cause other churches to call upon them to mediate interfaith disputes, especially when temples are built in areas new to a particular faith and there are clashes with religions already long established in those locales. Irorans oblige such requests if they believe they may help lead members of those faiths closer to enlightenment, but may regret the time and focus taken away from their own pursuits if the disputants are too petty or bureaucratic to see reason.
Planar Allies
Most of Irori’s divine servants are ascended or reincarnated mortals, taking steps toward perfection with each lifetime and gaining wisdom with each journey. In addition to his servitor race, the pavbaghas, notable masters who serve Irori include the following, who answer to planar ally and similar calling spells from the faithful.Cheu Chem: Not all paths to perfection require or result in a humanoid shape, and this pavbagha claims that her current form, that of a white tiger, is her fourth incarnation as an intelligent animal. She speaks nearly a dozen mortal languages and doesn’t tolerate impertinence from her students, delivering chastisement with a paw to the head (though she always sheathes her claws).
The Old Man: Irori’s herald, the Old Man loves to see people achieving their potential, even if it’s limited by a mortal lifespan. He enjoys watching over favored students in successive lifetimes, guiding them in different ways each time. When called to Golarion by mortal magic, the Old Man is not so generous with his efforts, for he feels that anyone powerful enough to call him can afford to pay for his services. He accepts magic items that can aid young monks in their training and travels; rare books of history that contain valuable anecdotes; magic that increases Intelligence or Wisdom scores; and pledges to build or restore temples, shrines, schools, and monasteries of Irori in places that could benefit from such attention. While he often proves curt when summoned, he quickly assesses the honest needs of whoever called him and proves quick to act if their wishes parallel the will of Irori.
Sixth Rebirth: This humorless stone giant’s flesh bears several rough scars, as if he had scoured away tattoos from a life he wishes to forget. His name is not one he choose for himself, but rather one that was given to him by a student. He prefers secluded meditation to physical exertion, but can pulverize stone and even steel with his bare hands, if given proper cause. He can be found sitting in near-constant meditation in a shrine built high atop a rock outcropping in the Serene Circle. The Sixth Rebirth answers a follower’s call if directed to do so by the Master of Masters.
Holy Books & Codes
Irori’s sacred book is Unbinding the Fetters, a lengthy tome describing meditation, physical exercises, diet, and other methods to cleanse the body, free the mind, purify the senses, and eventually transcend the limitations of the mortal form. The book is long and difficult, filled with aphorisms, metaphors, and riddles designed to challenge the reader’s preconceptions. Each sect tends to use its own version of the book, adding chapters that clarify and expand upon its preferred path to enlightenment. Though one sect may not agree with another sect’s amendments, the main sections of the book are used by the entire religion, and some scholars of the church collect different versions to compare and contrast the various practices.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Irori’s holy symbol is an open blue palm within a circle, though in some lands his rebus (see sidebar) is used more often than the hand.
Tenets of Faith
The Master of Masters teaches that body, mind, and spirit are inexorably linked, and that the division between them is illusory and counterproductive. Within each individual is a perfect version of these three aspects, called the Triune Self, and mastering all three while understanding that they are one is the key to achieving perfection and enlightenment. As most have difficulty sensing and refining their own spirits, novices usually prioritize improving the body and the mind, allowing the control gained from these efforts to steer the growth of the spirit.
Irori believes that self-awareness leads to discipline and eventually to mastery, whereas ignorance forces the spirit to repeat its mistakes in the next life. He opposes radical action and extreme changes in habits and behavior, preferring subtle shifts over time to allow a creature to adjust to unfamiliar practices and avoid adverse reactions to extreme change, such as injuries or emotional disorders. Discipline, moderation, and temperance lead to internal balance and are the keys to creating healthy, lasting change in a person’s life; radical action without proper preparation is chaotic and leads to negative outcomes.
Irori believes that self-awareness leads to discipline and eventually to mastery, whereas ignorance forces the spirit to repeat its mistakes in the next life. He opposes radical action and extreme changes in habits and behavior, preferring subtle shifts over time to allow a creature to adjust to unfamiliar practices and avoid adverse reactions to extreme change, such as injuries or emotional disorders. Discipline, moderation, and temperance lead to internal balance and are the keys to creating healthy, lasting change in a person’s life; radical action without proper preparation is chaotic and leads to negative outcomes.
Holidays
Irori recognizes many paths to enlightenment, and his diverse followers celebrate countless holidays, which vary from sect to sect. A temple espousing the invigorating power of sunlight might celebrate the summer solstice, while one promoting the health aspects of raw grains might observe the Harvest Feast; some scholars claim that any particular day of the year is a holy day for at least one sect of Irori’s faith. Despite these varied practices, most churches use the Master’s Rebus in their holiday celebrations—worshipers draw the rebus on thin cloth or paper and set it afloat on a lake or river to collide with others, sink, or be carried out of sight, as a metaphor for the interaction of individual lives.
Symbol
Edicts
be humble; help others perfect themselves; hone your body, mind, and spirit to a more perfect state; practice discipline
Anathema
become addicted to a substance, destroy an important historical text, repeatedly fail to maintain self-control
Areas of Concern
history, knowledge, and self-perfection
Allies
Abadar
Temples
dojos, libraries, monasteries
Worshippers
hermits, historians, martial artists, monks, scholars
Sacred Animal
snail
Sacred Colors
blue and white
Favored Weapon
fist
Domains
knowledge, might, perfection, truth
Alternate Domains
change, vigil
Divine Ability
Intelligence or Wisdom
Divine Font
harm or heal
Divine Skill
Athletics
Divine Classification
God (Ascended)
Religions
Species
Ethnicity
Church/Cult
Children
Ruled Locations
Aphorisms
Irori is attributed with countless adages. Most of these aphorisms have to do with self-betterment and pushing on through adversity.Endure and renew: A battle is not won with a single punch or kick, and enlightenment is not reached with one bout of meditation or by reading one book. Most people spend lifetimes trying to achieve perfection. Expect setbacks. Learn from mistakes. Improve now so that another life will bring one closer to perfection.
Mastery without form: This is the root of Irori’s manifold philosophy: each person’s path is unique, and while much can be learned from others, an individual must be willing to follow her own path to achieve perfection. Spending too much time trying to emulate another person’s path may limit an aspirant’s own potential. A follower of Irori should recognize the limits of others— physical, mental, and spiritual—while realizing that they may not also be bound by those limitations.
May Irori forget you: As the god of history, it’s accepted that Irori knows all that has transpired. Cursing someone so that Irori forgets them implies a wish that they did not exist and is particularly hurtful among friends or family. A variant, “May Irori forget this,” is commonly uttered after an uncommonly embarrassing or farcical event.
Remember, so you may light the way: When a follower of Irori has knowledge of the past they are better prepared for the future. This is often said as a send-off when starting a journey or as a prompt to delve into history to solve a current problem.
There is no perfection without change: Irori teaches that the way to perfection is through change. Followers of the Master of Masters say this when times are difficult as encouragement to continue despite adversity.
Comments