The Academy

Continuing the heritage of an ancient philosopher, the Academy teaches a philosophical system focused on a single, impersonal deity called the Good, the True, the Beautiful, or any number of similar, abstract epithets. This philosophy grows out of a critique of traditional Aoqinwa religion: the gods are too human ~ fallible and sinful ~ to be true deities. What is divine, according to the Academy, must be purely good and perfect in every way.

## Dogma

A true deity, the Academy teaches, cannot be unjust, immoral, jealous, vindictive, and ignorant, as the deities often show themselves to be. Therefore, the deities cannot be true deities. Philosophers who love wisdom and seek the truth propose the existence of a divine force that is superior to all other deities. In fact, other deities are but imperfect reflections of it. This impersonal force is the true god of the Academy.

This is not just abstract speculation for the philosophers of the Academy, however. The goal of the philosophical life, as they express it, is “to become like a god, as far as this is possible.” This goal is not a despiritualized ideal, but a real possibility. Through the act of searching for the truth and contemplating the divine, philosophers hope to attain the ultimate mystical experience of union with the divine.

As part of their quest, philosophers engage in personal meditation, but their principal task is teaching. Philosophers of the Academy consider it their responsibility to defend against “superstition,” which means (to them) any characterization of a deity that does not do justice to the true nature of the divine. While they have little influence over what goes on outside their schools, vigilance is important within the schools to prevent superstition from creeping into the ranks. Further, some philosophers consider it important to allegorize myths to make them conform to “true religion.”

## Clergy and Temples

Philosophers of the Academy teach much as the Academy’s founder did ~ holding discussions in public squares and initiating disciples into higher mysteries. They must remain chaste and unmarried, and they observe an ascetic lifestyle in other areas as well. Their eating, clothing, and sleeping habits are all sparse. Moderation is demanded in all things.

## Religion Traits (Pathfinder, 1st edition)

You can only choose these traits if the Academy functions as your "patron deity" (meaning: primary religion).

* **Lover of the World:**  *(gnomic Academicians only)* Even before you joined the Academy, you felt a profound combination of wonder and kinship with the world around you.  The mystically logical and rigorous observation fostered by the Academy only fostered the feeling, and now you can sometimes hear the north wind calling you or smell the dread taint of polluted water before you taste it.  You do not gain the normal list of spell-like abilities for the fey magic (water) racial trait.  Instead, if you have a Wisdom of 11 of higher, you gain the following spell-like abilities: 1/day—*detect poison*, *know direction*, *stabilize*, and *speak with animals*.  The caster level for these effects is equal to your character level.  The DC for these spells is equal to 10 + the spell’s level + your Wisdom modifier.  These spell-like abilities can be used anywhere, not just in or on the water.