| Irori | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| Details | |||||
Pantheon |
Vudrani | ||||
Alignment |
Lawful neutral | ||||
Cleric alignment(s) |
LG, LN, N, LE | ||||
| Healing, Knowledge, Law, Rune, Strength | |||||
Favored weapon |
Unarmed strike | ||||
Irori is one of Pathfinder deities.
Description
Irori, also known as "Master of Masters", "The Enlightened One" and "The Perfect Human", is the god of enlightenment, self-perfection, knowledge, healing, and inner strength. His followers claim that he was once a mortal who achieved absolute physical and mental perfection and thus attained divinity of his own volition. He is one of the core gods, if not the most powerful deity, of the Vudrani pantheon, but has an increasing following in the Inner Sea region as well.
Background
Irori was once a mortal man whose intense discipline allowed him to attain enlightenment and divinity through physical, mental, and spiritual perfection. He teaches that mastery of the self allows one to master the world, but paradoxically also purges one of desire to master the world. Countless others seek to follow his path, and he encourages them to challenge their minds, bodies, and souls in order to transcend their self-imposed limits. He is also a god of knowledge; his followers are keen students of history, for experience is key to understanding and there is much to be learned from the experiences of others.
Irori knows that there's no single technique that works for everyone, and that every student must experiment and practice to find the best method for her. He is patient, forgiving, and serene, welcoming all who seek perfection as brothers and sisters. He is a teacher who leads by example rather than issuing reprimands and corrections. Meanwhile, he constantly tests his own limits as a deity, expanding his awareness and control without impinging upon the interests of others. Originating from distant Vudra, Irori has gained a diverse following across the Inner Sea region as those who seek discipline and self-perfection look to him for inspiration.
Irori's followers rarely depict him in art because they believe that no icon can hope to live up to his perfect image. They describe him in poetry and prose as a flawless man, clothed in simple robes and wooden sandals, hairless save for a long braid. Beyond the Inner Sea region, his race often changes to reflect that of the artist; artists of the Inner Sea tend to depict him in ways that emphasize his exoticism. Irori sees no need to cloak himself in mystery or augment himself with divine power, so on the rare occasions when he manifests to mortals, he appears as a physically fit man matching his followers' descriptions, often sitting, kneeling patiently, or resting in a meditative pose. He's also been known to project a portion of his awareness into a statue, animating its face and speaking through it.
The Master of Masters teaches that body, mind, and spirit are inexorably linked, and that the division between them is illusory and counterproductive. Within each individual is a perfect version of these three aspects, called the Triune Self, and mastering all three while understanding that they are one is the key to achieving perfection and enlightenment. As most have difficulty sensing and refining their own spirits, novices usually prioritize improving the body and the mind, allowing the control gained from these efforts to steer the growth of the spirit.
Irori believes that self-awareness leads to discipline and eventually to mastery, whereas ignorance forces the spirit to repeat its mistakes in the next life. He opposes radical action and extreme changes in habits and behavior, preferring subtle shifts over time to allow a creature to adjust to unfamiliar practices and avoid adverse reactions to extreme change, such as injuries or emotional disorders. Discipline, moderation, and temperance lead to internal balance and are the keys to creating healthy, lasting change in a person's life; radical action without proper preparation is chaotic and leads to negative outcomes.
When Irori is pleased, he eases the path toward enlightenment — soothing pain, bestowing mental clarity, and granting insight about the next step in the worshiper's journey. Especially devout followers might catch a brief glimpse of the god's serene eyes, or come across the mysterious single imprint of a sandal in the sand. He sometimes punishes transgressions with cramps, fatigue, dizziness, and obvious setbacks on the path to self-perfection. However, in most cases he refrains from these actions, as he believes that for his sincere followers, straying from the ideal path is punishment enough, and that it's best for those who are not sincere to leave the church and pursue other interests. Only in extreme cases — generally with mortals who are destined for greatness — does he afflict the person with an injury or disability to overcome, either to encourage her to look for an alternate perspective to a problem, or to encourage humility in someone especially prideful.
Irori's holy symbol is an open blue palm within a circle.