Sanctification

From PathfinderWiki
Iomedae demands holy sanctification from her followers.
Asmodeus demands unholy sanctification from his followers.
Pharasma does not reward her followers with sanctification for choosing sides between holiness or unholiness.

Sanctification is the process through which holy or unholy powers or nature are conferred to the followers of a deity or other divine entity. For example, a sanctified spell is infused with such power and provides greater benefits or does less harm to those of the same nature, and does the opposite to those of its counter nature.1

Many deities are on one side of the divide or the other, but some allow their followers to choose between holiness and unholiness on their own, and a few take neither side by declining to sanctify their followers. The two sides are exclusive; nothing can be simultaneously holy and unholy.12

For example, every time a cleric of Iomedae channels the divine wrath of the Inheritor, it must be made holy; she requires holy sanctification of her followers at all times.3 A follower of Asmodeus who does the same must always sanctify their wrath as unholy, as he likewise requires. A follower of Abadar can choose whether to sanctify his wrath, and if they do can choose to do so with either holy or unholy power.4 Pharasma refuses to sanctify her followers' acts, so her divine wrath can be neither holy nor unholy.5

Among clerics

Clerics, and others who dedicate themselves to a deity as a cleric does,6 are themselves also sanctified if the deity allows it. A cleric who has been sanctified is bound to uphold their deity's side and are fundamentally imbued with holiness or unholiness, whether of their choice or their deity's mandate. If a cleric is somehow converted to or tainted by the opposing side, they must rituallistically atone for their deviance before they can regain their deity's sanctification.7

Deities by sanctification

With few exceptions, each deity allows its followers to choose whether and how to sanctify their acts. Many deities allow their followers to sanctify their acts with holiness or unholiness, a few allow only one or the other, and fewer still require acts to be sanctified. In some cases, such as Gozreh and Pharasma, a deity can refuse to sanctify any acts.8

Deities listed below in bold are absolute in their nature, either by requiring one form of sanctification or allowing none.

Deity Sanctification Ref.
Abadar Either allowed 4
Asmodeus Unholy required 4
Atreia Holy required 9
Ayrzul Unholy required 10
Baekho Holy allowed 11
Calistria Either allowed 4
Cayden Cailean Holy allowed 4
Daikitsu Holy allowed 12
Desna Holy allowed 1
Erastil Holy allowed 1
Ferrumnestra Neither allowed 13
Fumeiyoshi Unholy required 14
General Susumu Unholy allowed 15
Gorum Either allowed 1
Gozreh Neither allowed 1
Hei Feng Unholy allowed
Holy allowed only if tengu
16
Hshurha Unholy allowed 17
Iomedae Holy required 3
Irori Either allowed 3
Jin Li Neither allowed 18
JingxiLady Jingxi Holy allowed 19
Kelizandri Unholy required 20
Kofusachi Holy allowed 21
Lamashtu Unholy allowed 3
Lao Shu Po Unholy allowed 22
Laudinmio Neither allowed 23
Lysianassa Holy allowed 24
Mugura and Nrithu Either allowed 25
Nalinivati Either allowed 26
NanbyoLady Nanbyo Unholy required 27
Nethys Either allowed 3
Norgorber Unholy allowed 3
North StarLady of the North Star Holy allowed 28
Pharasma Neither allowed 5
Phi Deva Holy allowed 29
Qi Zhong Holy allowed 30
Ranginori Holy allowed 31
Rovagug Unholy required 5
Sairazul Holy allowed 32
Sarenrae Holy allowed 5
Shelyn Holy allowed 5
Shizuru Holy allowed 33
Shumunue Holy allowed 34
Srikalis, Sritaming, and Sribaril Either allowed 35
Sun Wukong Either allowed 36
Torag Holy allowed 5
Tsukiyo Holy allowed 37
Urgathoa Unholy required 5
Verilorn Neither allowed 38
Yaezhing Either allowed 39
Yamatsumi Holy allowed 40
Ymeri Unholy allowed 9
Zon-Kuthon Unholy allowed 5

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Logan Bonner, et al. “Introduction” in Player Core, 36. Paizo Inc., 2023
  2. The Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Project eliminated game mechanics for alignment in favor of mechanics for edicts, anathema, holiness, unholiness, and sanctification. Broader concepts of alignment remain in the Pathfinder campaign setting. See:
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Logan Bonner, et al. “Introduction” in Player Core, 37. Paizo Inc., 2023
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Logan Bonner, et al. “Introduction” in Player Core, 35. Paizo Inc., 2023
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Logan Bonner, et al. “Introduction” in Player Core, 38. Paizo Inc., 2023
  6. Logan Bonner, et al. Classes” in Player Core, 217. Paizo Inc., 2023
  7. Logan Bonner, et al. Classes” in Player Core, 110. Paizo Inc., 2023
  8. Logan Bonner, et al. “Introduction” in Player Core, 35–38. Paizo Inc., 2023
  9. 9.0 9.1 Logan Bonner, et al. “Fire” in Rage of Elements, 116. Paizo Inc., 2023
  10. Logan Bonner, et al. “Earth” in Rage of Elements, 92. Paizo Inc., 2023
  11. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 24. Paizo Inc., 2024
  12. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 25. Paizo Inc., 2024
  13. Logan Bonner, et al. “Metal” in Rage of Elements, 140. Paizo Inc., 2023
  14. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 26. Paizo Inc., 2024
  15. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 27. Paizo Inc., 2024
  16. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 28. Paizo Inc., 2024
  17. Logan Bonner, et al. “Air” in Rage of Elements, 68. Paizo Inc., 2023
  18. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 30. Paizo Inc., 2024
  19. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 32. Paizo Inc., 2024
  20. Logan Bonner, et al. “Water” in Rage of Elements, 170. Paizo Inc., 2023
  21. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 31. Paizo Inc., 2024
  22. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 35. Paizo Inc., 2024
  23. Logan Bonner, et al. “Metal” in Rage of Elements, 141. Paizo Inc., 2023
  24. Logan Bonner, et al. “Water” in Rage of Elements, 171. Paizo Inc., 2023
  25. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 36. Paizo Inc., 2024
  26. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 37. Paizo Inc., 2024
  27. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 33. Paizo Inc., 2024
  28. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 34. Paizo Inc., 2024
  29. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 38. Paizo Inc., 2024
  30. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 39. Paizo Inc., 2024
  31. Logan Bonner, et al. “Air” in Rage of Elements, 69. Paizo Inc., 2023
  32. Logan Bonner, et al. “Earth” in Rage of Elements, 93. Paizo Inc., 2023
  33. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 40. Paizo Inc., 2024
  34. Logan Bonner, et al. “Wood” in Rage of Elements, 194. Paizo Inc., 2023
  35. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 41. Paizo Inc., 2024
  36. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 42. Paizo Inc., 2024
  37. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 43. Paizo Inc., 2024
  38. Logan Bonner, et al. “Wood” in Rage of Elements, 195. Paizo Inc., 2023
  39. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 44. Paizo Inc., 2024
  40. Eren Ahn, et al. “Religion” in Tian Xia World Guide, 45. Paizo Inc., 2024