Abadar

**Abadar** (pronounced AH-bah-dar), the god of cities, law, merchants, and wealth, is known to be a patient deity. Maintaining a strong neutral stance in his actions, he sets forth to expand civilization and order among the peoples of Other World.

## Dogma

Abadar and his followers wish to bring the light of civilization to
the wilderness, to help educate all in the benefits of law and properly
regulated commerce. He expects his followers to obey all meaningful
laws, but not those which are ridiculous, unenforceable, or
self-contradictory. He is also a great proponent of peace, as war
inevitably leads to the degradation of trade and the stifling of
prosperity for the general public. He advocates cautious, careful
consideration in all matters, and frowns on impulsiveness, believing
that it leads to the encouragement of primitive needs. Abadar
discourages dependence on government or any religious institution,
believing that wealth and happiness should be achievable by anyone with
keen judgement, discipline, and a healthy respect for all sensible, just
 laws.

## Appearance

A depiction of Abadar.

Abadar is often described as a clean, refined and cultured Taldan human,
 with dark hair and wearing a golden breastplate. Dressed in an
embroidered cloak and fine clothes, Abadar is often depicted possessing a
 number of keys. Humans, dwarves and gnomes depict Abadar with a beard, whereas elves show him beardless, with braids tied in gold thread. In a common myth, Abadar assumes the form of a two-headed (to represent his balanced viewpoint) eagle for a single day each year and grants favor to those faithful that recognize him as he soars overhead.

## Providence

The faithful of Abadar believe that sudden windfalls of financial
good fortune are signs of the god's approval, while increases in
expenses that lead to poverty are proof of his anger.

## Servants

Abadar and his faithful hold creatures that symbolize law and perfection in high regard. Of particular favor are eagles, hippogriffs, griffons, and his divine servitors, the horse-like orshevals. On the plane of Axis (and sometimes beyond), he is also served by races that share his philosophy, including archons, axiomites, and inevitables.

## Church of Abadar

A Balanced scale of Abadar, a Katapeshi adherent of the god.

The temples of Abadar are designed to function independently of one
another, usually serving a single community or region. The individual
clergy are usually aligned with the local government, but are forbidden
to fight amongst themselves and often stand as a neutral faction during
legitimate conflicts.

### Worshipers

Abadar is primarily worshiped by judges, merchants, lawyers, and
aristocrats, though many others turn to the worship of the Master of the
 First Vault in the hope of attaining wealth and happiness. He is also an object of veneration by the poor, or those who have
suffered at the hands of others. These latter groups pray that their
suffering is alleviated, and that justice is restored to them. Abadar's faithful believe structures represent the protection provided
by society and always hold formal ceremonies indoors. Regular services
are generally held in the morning and often involve songs
 which require the congregation to harmonize, which may symbolize the
community working together. Lay worshipers will maintain the appearance
of prosperity in manner and dress and, even in periods of hardship, a
tidy appearance.

#### Obedience

Certain dedicated worshipers of Abadar perform daily obediences in order to receive divine blessings known as a boons
 from their god. Abadar's obedience is a ritual in which the worshiper
places a collection of keys, gems, and coins on a scale, and moves them
back and forth until both sides are balanced, all the while meditating
on passages from *The Order of Numbers*, one of Abadar's holy texts.

#### Non-human worshipers

Abadar's association with cities and trade means he is worshipped by many halflings, who tend to congregate in Golarion's larger settlements.[27] Abadar is also venerated by dwarven engineers and architects.

### Clergy

The clergy of Abadar is primarily composed of clerics, but inquisitors and occasionally paladins
 are called into his service as well. Clerics and paladins of Abadar
are granted special favor with the preparation of the spell *word of recall*, provided it is used to return them to the designated sanctuary of the temple of their home city.

Knights
 of Abadar fight against corruption and anarchy. They understand both
the letter and spirit of the law. They often serve as judges in places
where the application of law is starting to dissolve.

Clerical orders include Taxmasters, Justiciars, and the Balanced Scales, primarily based in Katapesh.
 Taxmasters are primarily inquisitors and include both the less
intimidating, desk-bound investigators and the enforcers in the field,
which may be charged to mete out justice directly. Justiciars are a prestigious order of devout clergy, dedicated to
spreading their deity's ideals of civilization and order, at the point
of a crossbow bolt, if necessary. Balanced Scales of Katapesh
 fill a unique role searching out hidden, misplaced or ill-gotten wealth
 for the benefit of the church and in return gain access to the First
Vault.

The clergy structure their orders like mercantile houses, with
Bankers and Archbankers responsible for territories of increasing size
with each church counting each coin in its vault as a blessing unto itself.

The priesthood sees their role as responsible for encouraging
civilization, trade, and law by promoting co-operation and fairness and
by providing loans and other banking services. They encourage thrift
and neighborly behavior as a means to enhance each individual's
self-interest. Their own service to the community may include *pro-bono* legal services but they do not donate healing services—except those that help overall community and public health.
Knowledge of the law and community news are important areas of
concern and part of the daily routine to the priesthood. Younger members
 are expected to carry news and administer justice, typically carrying a
 golden bolt to compensate the family of any criminal executed.

The clergy never give money, regardless of the need, but will instead
loan the required funds at a reasonable rate, recording the details in
the books and records of the church. Conversely they themselves are
expected to tithe to the church and often ensure the funds are available
 to tithe from income generated by their direct investments in the local
 community.

Most Abadaran priests attired for formal services dress in robes of
white silk trimmed with golden thread with a belt or necklace of gold
holding a single, golden key. They also often wear half-cloaks of deep
yellow or golden color.

### Temples and shrines

Temples dedicated to Abadar are usually large, elaborately decorated
buildings designed for multiple functions; in addition to being centers
of worship, they often provide the surrounding community with banking
and other services. Such sites are often built near courthouses, and led
 by a Banker or Archbanker. Most temples contain elaborate stained glass windows of predominantly
yellow color that bathe the interior with a soft, golden light. These
windows are generally high and narrow to discourage thieves

### Holy texts

With the clergy of Abadar often serving their communities as clerks, a
 given temple is likely to have extensive records within its vaults.[2] Among these many documents, the following texts have primary importance among the god of cities' faithful.

*The Order of Numbers*
Usually bearing elaborate decoration, writing, and binding, this book serves as the core text of the Church of Abadar.[
***The Manual of City-Building***
Often stored prominently in a place of honor, this text contains advice on the topic of founding and running a community.
### Favored animals

Gods are often associated with certain animals,
 either because they possess a quality that the god favors, or because
the god's faithful feel a special kinship to it. Abadar's favored
animals include monkeys, golden eagles, beavers, watchdogs and house cats, mounts, and beasts of burden.