Starstone Aspirant Dedication Feat 2
Source Pathfinder Lost Omens Hellfire Dispatches
Divine glory awaits! You embrace your longing to make a true and lasting difference in the Universe by embarking on the path to apotheosis. You dedicate yourself to this journey, striving to overcome all your imperfections. Each day during your daily preparations, choose a skill you're untrained in. You can attempt skill actions that normally require you to be trained in that skill, and you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to checks with that skill until your next daily preparations. At 8th level, this bonus increases to +2, and at 15th level, this bonus increases to +3.
Effect: Starstone Aspirant Dedication
An imposing marble structure, crumbling ever so slowly into ruin, stands near the Starstone Cathedral in the Ascendant Court. The abandoned Sanctuary of Prescience was meant to be a temple dedicated to the Mwangi mathematician Mbali Xohosta after her success at the Test of the Starstone made her a god of advance planning and foresight. Mbali prepared for her ascension meticulously, including designing the temple and directing her many adherents to build it. But instead, she failed the test and disappeared forever. The nearly completed temple was duly abandoned, yet Mbali's exacting legal provisions have rendered the Absalom authorities powerless to demolish or transfer ownership of the large building. So it remains, a palpable warning to presumptuous overachievers—a warning that Starstone aspirants pointedly ignore.
When told that they're impressive enough to be gods, Starstone aspirants don't dismiss the comment as mere flattery. Instead, they internalize yet another token of encouragement for what they know in their heart of hearts to be their ultimate fate: apotheosis. In striving to join the ranks of the Ascended (those gods who achieved their divine status through the mysterious power of the Starstone), Starstone aspirants believe that they'll continue to be exceptions, ever counted among those few individuals so favored by fortune that, no matter the odds, they'll triumph.
While deification through the Test of the Starstone is better attested than any other of the myriad paths that have led a handful of individuals to immortality and eternal power, even this route is unique—no two aspirants ever arrive at the doors of the Starstone Cathedral having made the same choices. For some, the transition to godhood is sudden and unexpected, as famously happened with Cayden Cailean; for others, it's the result of decades of study and preparation, of undertaking colossal tasks and nurturing a following, such was the case for Iomedae. For those willing to embark on a long and intentional journey, dedication to the path of Starstone aspirant has the potential to bring them one step closer to their lofty goal. But like with so many ventures, it isn't a guaranteed road to success.
While this archetype doesn't allow you to achieve full godhood, it serves as an excellent precursor to the
Golarion has seen more than one mortal experience apotheosis and ascend to the ranks of its many deities.
Some of the most famous of such individuals are the Ascended, the deities who achieved divinity through the power of the Starstone . However, many current deities found ways to ascend without the aid of a magical meteorite, instead carving their own path to greatness through their deeds and actions.Irori, god of enlightenment, dedicated his mortal life to the pursuit of self-perfection and achieved godhood through personal perfection of his own mind, body, and spirit, a deed that was later accomplished by his nephew Gruhastha, as well. Nethys, god of magic, attained such immense mastery of magic as a mortal that he was able to witness everything that transpired across every plane of existence, an accomplishment that fueled his own divine ascension.
Godlings are mythic beings whose actions or circumstances propel them along similar paths to these ascended mortals, using their mythic power to elevate themselves to a higher existence. Aided by their hierophants, mortal allies who share in the godling s power, these beings travel Golarion, building their personal legends and paving their own path to divinity.
The wizard Razmir (arrogant male human would-be-god) pursues divinity and immortality by whatever means he can acquire it, in locales across the Inner Sea both obvious and obscure.
In the Mwangi Expanse, it is believed that members of Old-Mage Jatembe's Ten Magic Warriors still linger as immortal demigods, and that those they choose as their hierophants are candidates to receive the title of Magic Warrior themselves.
On the continent of Arcadia, in the region known as the Deadshot Lands, Steel at Dawn (compassionate female human gunslinger) and her sidekick hierophant Nibbub (plucky male chuspiqui scout) travel from remote community to remote community, protecting travelers from bandits and monsters while collecting an ever-growing congregation of grateful worshippers.
Any of these characters might be, or might become, godlings. Less than demigods but closer to true godhood than an exemplar, godlings wield mythic power while sharing divine magic to pursue and accomplish their goals.
Whatever it is that drives you to transcend mortality and walk among the immortals is for you to decide. The pull of divinity can cause you to become disconnected from mortal concerns, but your hierophant is there to keep you grounded and connected to the mortal world.
This will be the most essential and important of the relationships you develop as you pursue your adventures, for your hierophant serves as a reminder of where you have come from and acts as a critical ally in helping you become the god you seek to be. Most hierophants become the first high priest of a godling who achieves full divinity, and some may even become a herald or similarly powerful ally.
| The Ever-Changing Path |
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Godhood is a destination sought by many but achieved by few. Even relatively well-known paths to deification, like passing the Test of the Starstone in Absalom, are never achieved in exactly the same way twice. For some, the transition to godly status is sudden and unexpected, while for others it is the stated goal of a long and intentional journey. One mortal who famously ascended to godhood was the gnome Nivi Rhombodazzle, who journeyed into the Darklands and had many adventures there before retrieving a precious gem and trading it to Torag in exchange for divinity. This story does raise some interesting questions, though. What item could be so precious yet so elusive that Torag would entrust a shiftless mortal to retrieve it? Was Nivi's ascension truly a gift from Torag, or was it perhaps the journey itself that granted Nivi her divinity, with Torag merely setting her on a path that would inevitably take her to her desired destination? If the stone were a mythic artifact akin to the Starstone, it's possible that the act of retrieving it was enough to imbue Nivi with the divine spark that would enable her transcendence. If such were the case, then perhaps Torag demanding that Nivi seek it out and deliver it to him was a way for the dwarven god to ensure that this cunning creature destined for greatness would only reach her goals after a final act of humility to temper her pride. |
Godling Dedication Feat 12
Your Calling allows you to begin walking the path to true deific ascension, inspiring followers as your divine seed grows. Your first follower is your hierophant—the high priest of your new faith—whom you rely on to spread your word and provide an anchoring mortal presence as your perspectives are increasingly pulled toward the cosmic. When you gain this feat, choose one willing ally to be your hierophant. If your hierophant is not trained in spell attack modifier and spell DC, they become trained for as long as they are your designated hierophant. If your hierophant dies or chooses to part ways with you, you can designate a new hierophant by communing with the chosen ally for a period of 24 hours.
Your Calling allows you to seize the divine magic typically restricted to deities. Choose one domain to claim from the list on Player Core, or from other domains you have access to. You learn the initial domain spell for this domain. You gain a pool of Focus Points with 1 Focus Point and you can Refocus by taking 10 minutes to replenish your divine energy from the planes beyond. You gain expert proficiency in spell modifier and spell DC, and your spellcasting ability for these spells is your choice of Wisdom or Charisma, decided when you gain this feat.
Your hierophant also gains the Cast a Spell activity and can cast the domain spell you learned with Godling Dedication. When they Cast the Spell in this way, your Focus Point is expended as the cost of the spell. Your hierophant uses their own spellcasting proficiency in spell modifier and spell DC when casting a spell in this way, and they use their own Wisdom or Charisma modifier (matching your choice). If your hierophant has mythic power, they can spend a Mythic Point to cast any divine spell they gain by being your hierophant at mythic proficiency.
Source: Pathfinder War of Immortals
Claim Cardinal Domains Feat 14
Source: Pathfinder War of Immortals
Divine Invulnerability Feat 14
Source: Pathfinder War of Immortals
Receive Prayers Feat 14
Source: Pathfinder War of Immortals
Absolve Sins Feat 16
Source: Pathfinder War of Immortals
Font of Life or Death Feat 16
Source: Pathfinder War of Immortals
Gird Champion Feat 16
Source: Pathfinder War of Immortals
Pass Vengeful Judgment Feat 18
Source: Pathfinder War of Immortals
Sanctified Relic Feat 18
Source: Pathfinder War of Immortals
Stymie the Gods Feat 18
Source: Pathfinder War of Immortals
Assume Godhood Feat 20
Source: Pathfinder War of Immortals
mythic destiny if your GM decides to use the mythic rules. Whether you eventually assume godhood because you passed the Test of the Starstone or through other means is up to you, your GM, and your campaign!Starstone Aspirant Dedication Feat 2
Divine glory awaits! You embrace your longing to make a true and lasting difference in the Universe by embarking on the path to apotheosis. You dedicate yourself to this journey, striving to overcome all your imperfections. Each day during your daily preparations, choose a skill you're untrained in. You can attempt skill actions that normally require you to be trained in that skill, and you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to checks with that skill until your next daily preparations. At 8th level, this bonus increases to +2, and at 15th level, this bonus increases to +3.
Source: Pathfinder Lost Omens Hellfire Dispatches
For the Fallen! Feat 4
Source: Pathfinder Lost Omens Hellfire Dispatches
Minor Deific Power Feat 4
Source: Pathfinder Lost Omens Hellfire Dispatches
Norgorber's Secret Feat 4
Source: Pathfinder Lost Omens Hellfire Dispatches
Cayden's Freedom Feat 6
Source: Pathfinder Lost Omens Hellfire Dispatches
Iomedae's Valor Feat 6
Source: Pathfinder Lost Omens Hellfire Dispatches
Advanced Deific Power Feat 8
Source: Pathfinder Lost Omens Hellfire Dispatches
Aroden's Innovation Feat 8
Source: Pathfinder Lost Omens Hellfire Dispatches
Gather Disciples Feat 10
Source: Pathfinder Lost Omens Hellfire Dispatches
Greater Deific Power Feat 12
Source: Pathfinder Lost Omens Hellfire Dispatches
Major Deific Power Feat 18
Source: Pathfinder Lost Omens Hellfire Dispatches
Traits
Something of uncommon rarity requires special training or comes from a particular culture or part of the world. Some character choices give access to uncommon options, and the GM can choose to allow access for anyone. Less is known about uncommon creatures than common creatures. They typically can't be summoned. The DC of Recall Knowledge checks related to these creature is increased by 2.
ArchetypeThis feat belongs to an archetype.
DedicationEach archetype's dedication feat represents your character's dedicated effort learning a new set of abilities, making it impossible to split your focus and pursue another archetype at the same time. Once you take a dedication feat, you can't select a different dedication feat until you complete your dedication by taking two other feats from your current archetype. You can't retrain a dedication feat as long as you have any other feats from that archetype.