Sivanah

From PathfinderWiki
Sivanah
Sivanah's holy symbol.
(Deity)

Titles
Goddess of Illusions
The Seventh Veil
Realm
Alignment
Areas of Concern
Illusions
Reflections
Mysteries
Veils
Worshipers
Illusionists, tricksters
Edicts
Show the beauty in illusions, pursue the nature of truth, respect the need for secrets
Anathema
Use illusions and shadows to harm another creature, reveal a secret you have sworn to keep
Cleric Alignments (1E)
Domains (1E)
Knowledge, Madness, Magic, Rune, Trickery
Subdomains (1E)
Deception, Insanity, Memory, Protean, Thought, Wards
Cleric Alignments (2E)
Domains (2E)
Delirium,magic, secrecy, trickery
Alternate: Glyph
Favored Weapon
Symbol
Veils tied in circle
Sacred Animal
Sacred Colors
Gray
Source: Inner Sea Faiths, pg(s). 82–87 (1E)
Gods & Magic, pg(s). 69 (2E)

Sivanah1 (pronounced siv-AHN-ah)2 is the patron goddess of illusion magic, tricksters, and those who keep secrets. She is also known as the "Seventh Veil", a name taken from the clothing she is most often depicted wearing. Her holy symbol is a circle made of six dull-colored veils tied end-to-end.34

Appearance

Sivanah's true form is disguised behind her seven veils, each of which is tied to a race: (human, elf, halfling, gnome, aranea, and naga). Her true form is said to be that of a member of a seventh, unknown race, but she always appears as female. She can appear as any of these races while wearing the appropriate veil.3

Dogma

Sivanah's ultimate goals are only known to the goddess. This concealment might be a reason why her faith has not grown more.4

Providence

The goddess communicates with her faithful through mirrors, reflections in water, and sometimes even through their own shadows.3

Realm

The goddess makes her home in the most unlikely of places: the Maelstrom. Sivanah's Realm is extremely difficult to find, appearing in no fixed place, yet can always be recognized by its abundance of mirrored surfaces. Sivanah protects her realm in this way from the native proteans, who bear her much ill will. The exact origin behind this conflict is not known, although there are many speculations, including that Sivanah once stole something from them, or that she once was a keketar, risen demon, or fallen azata.5

Relationships

Sivanah has a rivalry with Zon-Kuthon as she loathes the dark god's corruption of shadows, and sometimes uses her influence to cause darkness to act unexpectedly for Zon-Kuthon's clerics.6 Sivanah also has an incomprehensible interest in the false-god Razmir. Her followers, most often veiled witches from Irrisen, are her most commonly utilised emissaries to Razmiran.7

Church of Sivanah

A cleric of Sivanah.

The worship of Sivanah is popular in the countries of Nex, Irrisen, and in the cities of Katapesh, while it is strictly prohibited in Nidal, due to a ban by the country's clerics of Zon-Kuthon. She is also widely worshiped among the illusionists and gnomes of Golarion, who appreciate her devotion to their favorite school of magic.38 Devout illusionists who follow her have been known to be able to mimic divine healing magic by use of their shadow conjuration spells.9

Holidays

Worshipers of the goddess celebrate a general holiday called Seven Veils, on either 710 or 2311 Neth, as one of their most sacred of days. What rituals the church of Sivanah performs on this date, however, are unknown to outsiders, for the cult enjoys its secrets. This secrecy has, unsurprisingly, given rise to all manner of sinister rumours, yet when Seven Veils rolls around each year, its eager participants are quick to set aside rumour in preference for the night's fun and games.12 The festivities include comic performances, jokes, illusions,13 and multi-racial masquerade balls.11

References

Paizo published a major article about Sivanah in Inner Sea Faiths.

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

  1. The Campaign Setting introduced Sivhana as a variant spelling of this goddess' name but also included Sivanah. Paizo has more recently been consistent in spelling the name Sivanah, and this wiki follows that lead.
  2. Erik Mona, et al. “Appendices” in Campaign Setting, 247. Paizo Inc., 2008
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Erik Mona, et al. “Chapter 3: Religion” in Campaign Setting, 172. Paizo Inc., 2008
  4. 4.0 4.1 James Jacobs, et al. The Inner Sea World Guide, 230. Paizo Inc., 2011
  5. Amber Stewart. “The Outer Sphere” in The Great Beyond, A Guide to the Multiverse, 45. Paizo Inc., 2009
  6. Paizo Inc., et al. “Gods of the Inner Sea” in Gods & Magic, 69. Paizo Inc., 2020
  7. Robert Brookes, et al. Sivanah” in Inner Sea Faiths, 87. Paizo Inc., 2016
  8. Brian Cortijo, et al. “Faith: Religions of Katapesh” in Legacy of Fire Player's Guide, 25. Paizo Inc., 2009
  9. Sean K Reynolds. “Other Gods” in Gods and Magic, 47. Paizo Inc., 2008
  10. Robert Brookes, et al. Sivanah” in Inner Sea Faiths, 85–86. Paizo Inc., 2016 This source cites 7 Neth, while The Inner Sea World Guide and Campaign Setting cite 23 Neth.
  11. 11.0 11.1 James Jacobs, et al. The Inner Sea World Guide, 248. Paizo Inc., 2011
  12. Mike Brock & James Jacobs. (21 November 2011). Seven Veils Celebration, Paizo Blog.
  13. Robert Brookes, et al. Sivanah” in Inner Sea Faiths, 85–86. Paizo Inc., 2016 This source cites 7 Neth, while The Inner Sea World Guide and Campaign Setting cite 23 Neth.