Peacock Spirit

Peacock Spirit

(Deity)

Alignment

Lawful evil

Areas of Concern

Mind, body, soul

Worshipers

Mages, scholars, aesthetics

Follower Alignments (1E)

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Domains (1E)

Evil, Law, Trickery

Subdomains (1E)

Deception, Tyranny

Favored Weapon

Lucerne hammer

Symbol

Large peacock feather with an open eye

Source: Temple of the Peacock Spirit, pg(s). 65

The Peacock Spirit was worshipped as a deity by scholars and researchers of rune magic. His worship ended with the decline of ancient Thassilon, and does not seem to have returned in the last few thousand years.

Church

Even in its heyday at the height of Thassilon, little of the Church of the Peacock Spirit's dogma was understood by those outside the church, and so even less can be inferred by modern scholars. His worship was the strongest in the Runelord Xanderghul's native Cyrusian, and also spread to all parts of Thassilon, particularly Haruka, before the rise of Runelord Krune, who preferred the church of Lissala.

Temples, monasteries and followers

The Peacock Spirit was served by an ascetic order of monks, many of whom built monasteries on the Storval Plateau in the ancient domain of Shalast. He also founded and sponsored an order of knights known as the Order of the Green Feather, and some believe that the contemporary Monks of the White Feather in Qadira secretly worship him as well.

• One of the few temples to have survived to the present is the Black Tower, now part of the stone giant enclave of Jorgenfist. It was built and run by a group known as the Therassic Order.
• The monastery of Sech Nevali, located in the Mindspin Mountains of the southern Hold of Belkzen, has been occupied by two competing groups of scholars who study the ancient, hanging temple. They have recently begun worshipping the Peacock Spirit based on their research there.
• The Therassic Spire in the Varisian city of Kaer Maga is thought to be associated with the Peacock Spirit as well.
• The only other known surviving temples are said to be located in the mythical city of Xin-Shalast in the Kodar Mountains.

Religious texts and artifacts

Emerald Codex of the Therassic Order

A collection of spells and rituals devoted to the Peacock Spirit, penned by the Therassic Order. One known copy of the text was written on wyvern hide, and consisted of 18 scrolls.

Revelation Quill

Originally created by Xanderghul's worshippers from a peacock feather, this quill is said to still be tied to the power of the Peacock Spirit. When properly used, it can answer questions posed to it.

True identity

This section contains spoilers for the following products: many adventure paths, particularly Return of the Runelords; major spoilers specifically for Temple of the Peacock Spirit.
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Only Xanderghul himself knew that he and the Peacock Spirit were one and the same, although it is said that his most devoted followers were aware of this secret as well.

References

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