Cult of the Dawnflower
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This page covers a subject that has been retroactively removed from the Pathfinder campaign setting. See Meta:Cult of the Dawnflower for details. You can disable this banner in your personal preferences.
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The Cult of the Dawnflower was a militant sect of Sarenites1 that was once considered popular and influential in Qadira, and among the groups lobbying for the eventual Qadiran intervention in Osirion.2 Sarenrae considered the Cult's actions anathematic, and they lost both their divine grant and the support of her broader church.3
History
Once Osirion was brought under the control of Keleshite satraps in the name of the Emperor, it was public policy to encourage the worship of Sarenrae as a means of bringing Osirion closer to the Empire. As a result, the cult established itself in Osirion as well. The Cult's growing popularity alarmed successive satraps, and in 2217 AR, the cult's leaders were exiled to the deserts of Thuvia.415
A section of the Cult, led by a priestess called Vedie, chose instead to flee south into what would become Katapesh. This section split into two groups. One group founded a settlement called Sarenrae's Bastion and the other founded the Golden City.6
In 2253 AR the satrap was found dead in one of his fountains, with sunflowers in his mouth. The Cult returned from exile in Thuvia, and the new ruler of Osirion was an independent Keleshite sultan rather than a satrap ruling in the name of the emperor.51
Centuries later, when Khemet I ousted the last sultan and restored the rule of Osirian pharaohs, the Cult of the Dawnflower and the Church of Sarenrae in general were instrumental in his rise to power. In fact, they had entered into a secret alliance with Khemet a year before his official proclamation of rulership.7
Elsewhere, Qadira invaded Taldor in 4079 AR, resulting in five hundred years of conflict between the two nations.8 Taldor's Grand Prince Stavian I came to believe that Qadira's invasion had been assisted by members of the Cult of the Dawnflower. As a result he outlawed the worship of Sarenrae in 4528 AR.910
References
For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 . “Osirion” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 147. Paizo Inc., 2011
- ↑ . “Qadira” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 151. Paizo Inc., 2011
- ↑ Per James Jacobs, the Cult of the Dawnflower was added to the Pathfinder campaign setting in error. Lost Omens Gods & Magic implicitly referred to militaristic followers of Sarenrae losing her favor and their powers as if subject to anathema, and Jacobs subsequently confirmed that this both referred to the Cult and "resolved" the removal of the Cult from the campaign setting. Additionally, Jacobs confirmed that future canon works would not reference the Cult. For links, quotes, and additional context, see Meta:Cult of the Dawnflower.
- ↑ . “Timeline” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 35. Paizo Inc., 2011
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 . “Land of the Pharaohs” in Osirion, Legacy of Pharaohs, 7. Paizo Inc., 2014
- ↑ . “Katapesh” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 91. Paizo Inc., 2011
- ↑ . “Sothis” in Osirion, Land of Pharaohs, 21. Paizo Inc., 2008
- ↑ . “Qadira” in Qadira, Gateway to the East, 4. Paizo Inc., 2009
- ↑ . “Taldor, Empire in Decline” in Taldor, Echoes of Glory, 2. Paizo Inc., 2009
- ↑ . “Taldor, Empire in Decline” in Taldor, Echoes of Glory, 3. Paizo Inc., 2009