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Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye

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Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye
(Organization)

Type
Secret
Alignment
Headquarters
Goals
Stand against the Whispering Way
Scope
Regional
Images of Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye
Source: The Inner Sea World Guide, pg(s). 260

The Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye† (rarely known as the Eldritch Order of the Palatine Eye) is a secretive organization of scholars and historians based in Ustalav. Their mission is to study and monitor dangerous lore and inhuman monsters, and their primary antagonists are the cultists of the Whispering Way and the Night Heralds. Since Tar-Baphon's re-emergence in 4719 AR, the Order's opposition to the Whispering Way has become increasingly direct and in the open, a change that disturbs some of its older members.12 Their primary identifying symbol is a golden scarab bearing the group's namesake open, flaming eye.34

History

Count Aldus Aldon Canter formed the Order in 3988 AR after he claimed that the angel Tabris revealed secrets of the multiverse to him, particularly the nature of the River of Souls, quintessence, and the Antipode. He transcribed many of his learnings into a series of nearly unparseable texts before disappearing in 4028 AR, and the Order struggles to interpret many of his writings to this day.4

In 4063 AR, the Order aided those responsible for defeating the blue dragon Kazavon, who had set himself as a warlord in Belkzen.15 In 4718 AR, members of the Order purportedly averted an apocalyptic event involving the planet Aucturn.64

The symbol of Ustalav over which the Order stands guard.

Members

Joining the Order is itself an esoteric task that requires invitation and screening, and all new members must serve at least three years as lowly acolytes. Promotion within the order requires absolute loyalty, secrecy, and regular advancements of the Order's causes.4

Members of the Order are deeply enmeshed in political and arcane matters and are sworn to guard Ustalav and its ancient traditions.78 One of the main written works of the Order is the Manual of the Order of the Palatine Eye, which is adorned with the symbol of the Order: a scarab beetle with a single eye image on its back.910

Members once communicated with each other through coded messages and symbols that hold special meaning, but have become less careful since the Whispering Tyrant freed himself from imprisonment in Gallowspire.2

The different chapters of the Esoteric Order are known as Cathedrals. After Ustalav, the largest of these is in Osirion, which has long been a place of great interest to the order.11

True silvered thrones

Those who ascend to the upper echelons of the Order are known as true silvered thrones. Such shamanistic scholars embrace the occult and are masters of occult rituals.12

Favored familiars

Cats, bats, greensting scorpions, and toads all have occult connections that draw members of the Order to select them as familiars, while pseudosphinxes and psychopomps attract those with specific interest in Osirion.13

References

There is a major article about this organization in Trial of the Beast 70ff., an article in Disciple's Doctrine 8f., and an article in Gods & Magic 74.

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

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 James Jacobs et al. (2011). "Factions". The Inner Sea World Guide, p. 260. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-269-2
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tanya DePass, James Jacobs, Lyz Liddell, et al. (2019). World Guide, p. 9, 45, 132. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-172-6
  3. ↑ Tanya DePass, James Jacobs, Lyz Liddell, et al. (2019). "Golden Road". World Guide, p. 48. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-172-6
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Paizo staff. (2020). "Philosophies and Spirituality". Gods & Magic, p. 94. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-202-0
  5. ↑ Tyler Beck, Jason Garrett, Alex Greenshields, and David Schwartz. (2015). "Belkzen Gazetteer". Belkzen, Hold of the Orc Hordes, p. 4. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-710-9
  6. ↑ This refers to the events of the Doomsday Dawn Pathfinder Playtest adventure.
  7. ↑ Michael Kortes. (2011). The Haunting of Harrowstone. The Haunting of Harrowstone, p. 14. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-308-8
  8. ↑ Adam Daigle and Patrick Renie. (2011). Bestiary. The Haunting of Harrowstone, p. 92. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-308-8
  9. ↑ Michael Kortes. (2011). The Haunting of Harrowstone. The Haunting of Harrowstone, p. 13. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-308-8
  10. ↑ Michael Kortes. (2011). The Haunting of Harrowstone. The Haunting of Harrowstone, p. 19. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-308-8
  11. ↑ James Case, Mikhail Rekun, Mark Seifter, et al. (2022). Dark Archive, p. 75-76. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-443-7
  12. ↑ Robert Brookes, Ben McFarland, Jason Nelson, and Mark Seifter. (2015). Occult Origins, p. 23. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-785-7
  13. ↑ Will McCardell et al. (2015). Familiar Folio, p. 5. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-731-4
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