Besmara

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Besmara
Besmara's religious symbol.
(Deity)

Titles
The Pirate Queen
the Black Lady
the Sea Banshee
Sailor's Doom
Adjective
Besmaran
Realm
On board her ship Seawraith
Alignment
Areas of Concern
Piracy
Strife
Sea Monsters
Worshipers
Pirates
Edicts
Sail the seas, stay loyal to captain and crew, take what you want
Anathema
Betray shipmates, forsake piracy, settle on land
Follower Alignments (1E)
Domains (1E)
Chaos, Trickery, War, Water, Weather
Subdomains (1E)
Deception, Duels, Oceans, Protean, Tactics, Thievery, Storms
Follower Alignments (2E)
Domains (2E)
Destruction, trickery, water, wealth
Favored Weapon
Symbol
Skull and crossbones
Sacred Animal
Sacred Colors
Black, white
Source: Inner Sea Faiths, pg(s). 22–27 (1E)
Gods & Magic, pg(s). 55 (2E)
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Besmara (pronounced bes-MAR-uh),1 also known as the Pirate Queen, is a goddess most commonly worshiped by the sailor-folk of the Shackles or Ilizmagorti. She is said to captain her legendary ship Seawraith throughout the seas and waterways of the Great Beyond (especially the Maelstrom), making raids on places such as Hell, Elysium, Axis, and Heaven. Pirates do not tend to be a very religious lot, and generally only call on her on their deathbeds or if in extreme danger. Those few priests who do devote themselves to her generally also are captains of their own raiding ships and have a fierce reputation. Her religious symbol is a white skull and crossbones on a black field, a universal symbol of piracy.2

Dogma

As the deity of buccaneers, privateers, and those who seek their fortune through daring sea ventures, Besmara embraces a freewheeling lifestyle that celebrates defying restrictive laws and societal norms. However, she imposes a strict adherence to the pirate's code upon her followers. Once they commit themselves to a ship, they are bound to show unwavering loyalty to their captains and crews until they reach their intended destination.3 She demands followers seize what they want without care for who owns it, and encourages devotees to fight dirty and sow chaos if it gives them the upper hand. She follows these guidelines as well and is actively searching for an opportunity to gain more divine power by preying on other minor gods.4

History

Besmara originated as a water spirit who could manipulate monstrous sea creatures, her power grew over centuries as seafarers made sacrifices in her name. Eventually, she warred with and absorbed opposed spirits of battle, gold, and wood to ascend to the status of minor deity.4

Appearance

Besmara is traditionally depicted as a woman wearing a pirate's costume, with loose-fitting clothes, distinctive black boots, and perpetually wind-blown hair.4

Relationships

Besmara counts Gozreh and Cayden Cailean as divine allies, and Abadar and Asmodeus as enemies.4

Servants

Besmara's herald is the haunted ship called Kelpie's Wrath.5

Among her more well-known planar allies are:5

Church of Besmara

A Besmaran priestess.

Besmara's followers are most commonly found in Garund, particularly on the island of Ilizmagorti and the Shackles.6 Most of Besmara's devotees are people whose livelihood relies on piracy, either directly or indirectly. Both pirates and privateers are counted among her faithful, but followers of other faiths will also offer prayers to Besmara for good luck at sea.4

Kashrishi who focus on sea creatures and storms worship Besmara, though they tend to ignore her piratical aspects.7

Religious text

Besmara's religious text is called Besmara's Code.8 It has many elements in common with the pirate's code.[citation needed]

References

Paizo published major articles about Besmara in The Wormwood Mutiny and Inner Sea Faiths, as well as a minor feature in Gods & Magic.

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.

  1. Erik Mona, et al. “Appendices” in Campaign Setting, 246. Paizo Inc., 2008
  2. Erik Mona, et al. “Chapter 3: Religion” in Campaign Setting, 170–171. Paizo Inc., 2008
  3. Erik Mona, et al. High Seas” in World Guide, 65. Paizo Inc., 2019
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Robert Adducci, et al. “Gods of the Inner Sea” in Gods & Magic, 55. Paizo Inc., 2020
  5. 5.0 5.1 Sean K Reynolds. Besmara” in The Wormwood Mutiny, 73. Paizo Inc., 2012
  6. Sean K Reynolds, et al. Inner Sea Gods, 176. Paizo Inc., 2014
  7. Mariam Ahmad, et al. “People of the Impossible Lands” in Impossible Lands, 41. Paizo Inc., 2022
  8. Sean K Reynolds. Besmara” in The Wormwood Mutiny, 72. Paizo Inc., 2012