Shyka

From PathfinderWiki
Shyka shifting between incarnations.

Shyka
(Deity)

Titles
The Many
Realm
Alignment
Areas of Concern
Entropy
Reincarnation
Time
Edicts
Learn from the past, leave hourglasses in unusual places, give random gifts, create ephemeral things
Anathema
Willingly tread where time does not pass
Cleric Alignments (1E)
Domains (1E)
Death, Destruction, Madness, Magic
Subdomains (1E)
Arcane, Catastrophe, Divine, Insanity
Cleric Alignments (2E)
Domains (2E)
Decay, Delirium, Fate, Time
Favored Weapon
Symbol
Broken hourglass
Sacred Animal
Hive animals
Sacred Colors
White
Source: The First World, Realm of the Fey, pg(s). 34 (1E)
Gods & Magic (Second Edition), pg(s). 126
f. (2E)

Shyka the Many is one of the Eldest, a divine fey creature of tremendous power said to be able to reshape the very fabric of the First World on a whim. Shyka is considered a title or a role, for many entities, both male and female, have borne this name over the ages. All have been chronomancers with mastery over time; time acts strangely within the First World, but Shyka seems able to manipulate it. Indeed, their many forms and personalities over time, past and future, may well sit within Shyka together, out of time, as they all speak with the same voice. All of Shyka's incarnations have seen both the beginning and the end of the Great Beyond, yet they are strangely interested in small events, especially those related to the continuum of time, which they call perceived causality. Many of their worshippers believe that Shyka quickly shepherds existence toward the best possible version, and has prevented its destruction countless times.123

Home

Shyka's mountaintop lair is called the House of Eternity. Like its master, it holds a single position in space but not time.4

Appearance

Long ago, the original Shyka contacted all who would eventually bear the title and called a convocation. In a place beyond time, all of them agreed to share their reign in flickers, each experiencing a sample of eternity, instead of having one succeed each other in chronological order. In order to keep the fabric of time and causality intact, only one Shyka can be present at a time, but can change without warning: one incarnation could remain for days and then give way to multiple others during a single conversation. Different incarnations have slightly different personalities but share memories and have lived others' lives for so long that they see no point in keeping individuality.3

Shyka's incarnations take numerous forms, from ordinary-looking humans to bizarre creatures like a woman with green skin and mandibles, or an entity made entirely of light. The majority of them are humanoid, and wear blue and grey gowns and robes.3

Relationships

Shyka remains on speaking terms with some bythos aeons and time dragons even though they have attacked Shyka over the ages for meddling in time. They are fond of aiding less powerful beings for future service. All other Eldest sometimes seek out Shyka's knowledge but are never comfortable in their presence, knowing that Shyka has seen the end of their reign.3

Shyka employs a seneschal, Yael, who handles petitioners of Shyka that the deity does not immediately deem as worthy of an audience.4

On Golarion

Shyka gifted the artifact now known as Vesper's Rapier to Vesper, the bard.5

References

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