Lissala
| Lissala | |
|---|---|
| |
| (Deity) | |
| Titles | Modern worship The Sihedron Scion Ancient Azlant The Order of Virtue[citation needed] |
| Adjective | Lissalan |
| Home | No known presence in Great Beyond (formerly Axis)[1] |
| Alignment | Modern worship Lawful evil Ancient Azlant Lawful neutral[citation needed] |
| Areas of Concern | Runes, fate, duty, obedience, reward of service |
| Worshipers | Azlanti, Thassilonians, rune giants |
| Cleric Alignments | Modern worship Ancient Azlant [citation needed] |
| Domains | Modern worship Evil, Knowledge, Law, Nobility, Rune Ancient Azlant Knowledge, Law, Nobility, Rune[citation needed] |
| Subdomains | Modern worship Devil, Language, Leadership, Legislation, Memory, Thought, Wards Ancient Azlant Language, Leadership, Memory, Thought, Wards[citation needed] |
| Favored Weapon | Whip |
| Symbol | Sihedron |
| Sacred Animal | Snake |
| Sacred Colors | Gold, green |
| Images of Lissala | |
| Source: Into the Nightmare Rift, pg(s). 70ff | |
|
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Lissala (pronounced lis-SALL-uh)[2] is the goddess of runes, fate, and the reward of service, and was once a major religious force in the empire of Thassilon.[3] She was depicted either as a stern woman with no mouth,[4] or as a creature with a snake's lower half, a human woman's upper half, six wings, and a Sihedron for a head.[5][6]
Contents
History
Lissala's faith originated on Azlant, where she started off as a demigoddess whom few people understood.[7]
When Thassilon was founded, its First King Xin, a follower of Lissala, brought her faith to Avistan from Azlant, where it saw a renaissance.[7][6] She taught the philosophy of the seven virtues of rule, guidelines that promised rewards for both rulers and their subjects if her teachings were strictly followed. These were eventually perverted into the seven mortal sins by the runelords; Lissala eventually embraced the evil sin magic and became a true deity. She also outlined the workings of fate to her followers. Lissala also seems to have been, if not the source, then one of the major teachers of the art of rune magic, through which the rulers of Thassilon erected their mighty works and controlled the populace.[7][8]
Near the end of Azlant and Thassilon, the Lissalan cults who stayed in Azlant dwindled in number and were regarded as heretics by the Thassilonian cults, who often sent missionaries to purge them. Krune, the final runelord of sloth, was also her final chief priest.[7][9] During the reign of the runelords, her religion become more slavish and violent, emphasizing flagellation and mortification of the flesh.[10]
After Earthfall, which destroyed both Azlant and Thassilon, Lissala's cult was almost wiped out on Golarion. In 4713 AR, the Lissalans resurfaced to free their leader Krune, but he only lived long enough to be defeated and killed by agents of the Pathfinder Society.[1][11]
Relationships
Lissala was a rival of Amaznen, the other Azlanti god of magic. Their disagreement stemmed from the fact that Amaznen taught that some knowledge should be kept secret, while Lissala believed that knowledge should always be shared.[12]
Some Lissalan cults were enticed by the dogma of Sicva and sometimes worked alongside her followers, as both goddesses recognised the importance of duty and structure.[7]
Servants
Chief among Lissala's servants is her herald, Kurshu the Undying, whom she created from the parts of many different creatures.[13]
Unholy symbol
Lissala is known to have two types of symbols: her main symbol is a variant Sihedron rune (see right); her second type was a whip twisted into the keyed rune of the particular rune magic practitioner using it.[14]
Church of Lissala
Those few followers remaining believe that knowledge can be gained by following a path of self-harm in an attempt to burn knowledge into their minds.[15] Rune giants refuse to believe Lissala is dead and continue to worship her.[6]
Rumors have been growing that clerics of Lissala have been reappearing, and that some of the runes of Thassilon retain some connection to her.[3]
Temples and shrines
Only the ruins of the Great Temple of Lissala and the smaller temples in fabled Xin-Shalast in Varisia and the Hold of Belkzen remain to indicate the awesome power she once wielded over the hearts and minds of the ancient Thassilonians.[16][17][3]
Holidays
One of Lissala's high holidays is known as the Feast of Sigils.[3]
References
Paizo published a major article about Lissala in Into the Nightmare Rift 70ff.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Robert Brookes et al. (2018). Planar Adventures, p. 174. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-044-6
- ↑ Erik Mona et al. (2008). Campaign Setting, p. 247. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-112-1
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 James Jacobs et al. (2011). The Inner Sea World Guide, p. 235. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-269-2
- ↑ Stephen S. Greer. (2008). Sins of the Saviors. Sins of the Saviors, p. 29. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-040-7
- ↑ Rob McCreary. (2010). The Godsmouth Heresy, p. 6f. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-280-7
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Jesse Benner. (2012). Rune Giant. Giants Revisited, p. 42. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-412-2
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Adam Daigle. (2017). Gods of Ancient Azlant. The Flooded Cathedral, p. 71. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-981-3
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur. (2007). The History of Thassilon. Burnt Offerings, p. 73. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-035-3
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur. (2007). The History of Thassilon. Burnt Offerings, p. 76. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-035-3
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur. (2007). The History of Thassilon. Burnt Offerings, p. 78. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-035-3
- ↑ James Jacobs. (2018). The Runelord Legacy. Secrets of Roderic's Cove, p. 76. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-062-0
- ↑ Adam Daigle. (2017). Gods of Ancient Azlant. The Flooded Cathedral, p. 68. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-981-3
- ↑ James Jacobs and Sean K Reynolds. (2012). Bestiary. Into the Nightmare Rift, p. 88-89. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-487-0
- ↑ Sean K Reynolds. (2012). Lissala. Into the Nightmare Rift, p. 72. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-487-0
- ↑ Colin McComb. (2011). Faiths of Corruption, p. 21. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-375-0
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur. (2007). The History of Thassilon. Burnt Offerings, p. 79. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-035-3
- ↑ Greg A. Vaughan. (2008). Spires of Xin-Shalast. Spires of Xin-Shalast, p. 30. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-041-4
Additional works published by Paizo Inc. in which Lissala appears: