Aroden

Aroden was the immortal Azlanti human who raised the Starstone from the bottom of the Inner Sea, founded the city of Absalom, and became a living god.

## History

Aroden was an immortal descendant of the ancient human kingdom of Azlant that sank below the waters of the Arcadian Ocean in when the Starstone fell from space. The impact created the Inner Sea and cast the world into a thousand years of darkness

 Somehow Aroden survived. Thus, he is considered the "Last of the First Humans" because he was (by several thousand years) the last "pure-blooded" High Azlanti to die. Other Azlanti survivors of the cataclysm interbred with other humans and died of old age.

He is best known for raising the Starstone to its current resting place on the Isle of Kortos, at the heart of the city of Absalom. He thereafter ascended into the heavens, becoming the patron deity of the Kingdom of Taldor. Before his ascension, he is known to have completed a number of miraculous tasks. The most famous of these is when he traveled to the settlement of Egorian in Cheliax. The town was surrounded by plains of red roses, half of which turned white at Aroden's mere presence. These flowers maintained their coloration for thousands of years thereafter.

After his ascension, Aroden worked hard to protect and aid humanity. He guided the brightest and finest of humanity to Absalom, and encouraged the growth of the city. He preferred to provide aid from a distance. When necessary, Aroden took a very active role in the destruction of humanity's foes. Soon after his ascension, he led a host of mortal heroes and powerful outsiders into the Abyss to slay the demon lord Ibdurengian, who had harassed Azlanti humans since before Earthfall. He also defeated the wizard-king Tar-Baphon in combat.

Over a few thousand years, Taldor (located due east of the Isle of Kortos) spread its borders northwest across the southern reaches of the continent of Avistan, claiming territory in what is now known as Cheliax, and Aroden's religion spread with it. As Taldor eventually became decadent and effete, the clerics of Aroden took their religion (and their mandate from heaven) west to Cheliax.

Aroden is only known to have appeared once in recent centuries, in the Kellid nation of Sarkoris, to fight the avatar of the demon lord Deskari and drive him and his followers into the Lake of Mists and Veils.

Aroden was a god of human culture, innovation, and history. An important prophecy known as the Starfall Doctrine suggested that he was to manifest in Cheliax, marking the beginning of a long-awaited Age of Glory. Instead, at the appointed hour, Golarion was racked with three weeks of storms that left the Eye of Abendego as a lasting reminder. When the weather broke, the clerics of Aroden found themselves disconnected from their god, and all presume Aroden is dead.

## Aroden's fate

No one knows for sure what happened to Aroden, or if he is truly alive or dead. He is presumed to be dead because his clerics no longer receive his spells, and because of the appearance of the Eye of Abendego and Worldwound. Countless theories exist about how he might have died, including a battle with Rovagug or Asmodeus, a journey beyond the Outer Sphere, or reincarnation into a mortal man to save humanity. The gods might know his true fate, particularly Pharasma, but if they do, they are not revealing it to mortals.

## Appearance

### The twelve guises of Aroden

When Aroden walked the world disguised, he took on one of twelve guises: beggar, thief, fisherman, hunter, shepherd, farmer, soldier, merchant, tailor, craftsman, artist, and scholar. Travelers to Westcrown can find these guises carved into stone along the northern wall of the Canaroden, a long canal in the city's Parego Spera district.

## Church of Aroden

Most of Aroden's followers have become clerics of Iomedae, his greatest servant, who is one of the few mortals of Golarion to complete the Test of the Starstone and gain divinity herself. Those few who do stay true to the Last Azlanti have been left without divine power, sometimes resorting to mimicking true clerical ability with magic items. They preside over crumbling temples, many of which have been taken over by other religions.

### Clergy

Priests of Aroden wear elaborate, archaic, multi-layered vestments that were popular in Taldor when the center of the church was still located there. Tall hats or helmets are common as well, and are said to have been inspired by the fashions of ancient Azlant.

### Holy text

Aroden's holy text is called *The History and Future of Humanity*.