Seven virtues of rule

From PathfinderWiki

The seven virtues of rule are the ideals of wise governance first articulated by Emperor Xin of the ancient realm of Thassilon in what is today Varisia. They include charity, generosity, humility, kindness, love, temperance, and zeal,12 and were developed from the teachings of the goddess Lissala.3 These virtues were often interpreted in action, such as through eager striving, or love encouraging fertility.4

Xin believed that the seven virtues were rewards given to righteous and wise rulers. The seven virtues eventually became corrupted under the successors of Emperor Xin, the runelords, and transformed into the seven sins: greed, lust, pride, gluttony, envy, wrath, and sloth.3 Both the virtues and the sins of rule are represented by the seven-pointed star of Thassilon, the Sihedron Rune.5

References

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

  1. James Jacobs. “The Shattered Star” in Shards of Sin, 67. Paizo Inc., 2012
  2. Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition retroactively changed the seven virtues of rule. See Meta:Seven virtues of rule.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Wolfgang Baur. “The History of Thassilon” in Burnt Offerings, 74. Paizo Inc., 2007
  4. James Jacobs. (September 17, 2015). Why the change in the Thassilonian virtues?, Paizo messageboards.
  5. Richard Pett. “Chapter Two: The Skinsaw Murders” in Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition, 74–75. Paizo Inc., 2012