PF2 Religions Desna

Pathfinder 2 – Religions

Campaign – Desna

Thassilonian Resurgence

Desna Overview – The Song of the Spheres, The Great Dreamer, Starsong, The Tender of Dreams

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
• Portfolio: Dreams, Stars, Travellers, Luck
• Realm: Cynosure, Sevenfold Cynosure (Elysium)
• Allies: Calistria, Cayden Cailean, Chaldira, Gozreh, Sarenrae, Shelyn
• Enemies: Ghlaunder, Lamashtu, Rovagug, Zon-Kuthon
• Relationships: Kurgess (divine protégé), Sarenrae (lover), Shelyn (lover)
• Temples: hilltops, observatories, standing stones, towers
• Worshipers: Travellers, Astronomers, Gamblers, Varisians, Musicians, Dreamers, explorers
• Sacred Animal: butterfly
• Sacred Colours: blue and white
• Divine Ability: Dexterity or Charisma
• Domains: Chaos, Good, Liberation, Luck, Travel
• Alternate Domains: Stars, Void
• Favoured Weapon: Starknife

Desna (pronounced DEZ-nuh) was one of the first deities, but while her peers burdened themselves with the task of creating Golarion she spent her time building the heavens. She’s changed little since those earlier days, and she and her followers delight in exploring the world.

Desna is a Varisian goddess often described as a beautiful elven woman, with butterfly wings containing all the beauty of a clear night sky. She is oft depicted as having dark hair, silvery eyes, and a coy but distant smile, wearing diaphanous gowns and sometimes accompanied by swarms of butterflies.

Additional details vary among the races that worship her; the Bonuwat people of the Mwangi Expanse worship a variant form of Desna, a janiform amalgam with Gozreh, whom they call Shimye-Magalla. The nomadic Kellids of northern Avistan depict Desna not as the elegant elven woman she is generally seen as in the south, but a stately human woman riding an elk.

Aphorisms

Desnans share songs, tales, and phrases as they travel the world. These are among some of the more common shared phrases.

• A copper for the song, a copper for the road: It is customary to pay a Desnan bard 2 coppers. The first copper is out of respect for Desna, and the second is either to acknowledge the performer’s skill or a plea for the bard to perform elsewhere.
• A star cannot see its place in the sky: When worshippers doubt themselves or their path, they are reminded that a single star cannot conceive the role it plays in the harmony of the heavens. Even when alone, they walk alongside Desna.
• Be ready for challenges and unexpected friends: Worshippers should train in combat or magic so they can overcome adverse situations in their travels.
• Learn from what is different: Desna’s followers should accept others who espouse friendship, regardless of ancestry or faith.
• You are never lost following butterflies: Desna’s faithful trust in their intuition and the signs their goddess provides them.

Servants of Desna

• Nightspear – This black and silver spotted avoral is a fierce ally of the Desnan clergy, prone to singing in battle.
• Sorrowbrand – A dramatic lillend composer with black, star-dappled scales and feathers, she wears many black ribbons and enjoys helping mortals for songs and inspiration.
• The Night Monarch – Appearing as a massive butterfly-like creature the size of a dragon, the night monarch is the herald of Desna, a considered a sign of good luck by both her followers and travellers alike.

Church of Desna

The church of Desna has few temples to its name, and its priests rarely settle in a single location. The faithful of the Great Dreamer can be found on the roads of Golarion, among the caravans of Varisians and other who call the roads and beauty of the wilderness home. Other centers of worship include Kyonin, the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, Nidal, Numeria, the River Kingdoms, and Ustalav.

Holy Texts:

• The Eight Scrolls – These writings detail Desna’s early days and the basic edicts of her faith.
• Shrine Wall Writings – Almost all Desnan shrines are covered with the observations and prayers of travelers and priests of her faith, containing the wisdom of the road and hints for the start of new journeys.

Holidays:

• Ritual of Stardust – Taking place on both the winter and summer solstices, when the fires burn low the faithful throw stardust into the embers and make wishes and pledges for the months to come.
• Swallowtail Festival – Every year on the first day of the month of Rova the followers of Desna release cages full of swallowtail butterflies, an act that honours a story told by the faithful.

Content Updates

• 2021-08-16 – Update to layout and menu.
• 2020-11-15 – Updates from Lost Omens Gods and Magic.

TRAP Religions

Abadar, Calistria, Cayden Calilean, Desna, Erastil, Gozreh, Lamashtu, Norgorber, Pharasma, Urgathoa, Zon-Kuthon

Pathfinder 2E

PF2 Menu: Adventures, Classes, Factions, Feats, Items, Races, Rules Updates

TRAP: Campaign, Design

Game Management: Annotated Stat Block, Character Creation, Choosing a New Campaign, GM’s Luck Roll, Playtest Thoughts, Running Games over Skype, Tracking Experience

Class Build: Minion (Mitflit), Barbarian (Nexa Shoanti Half-Orc), Bard (Quest – Goblin), Cleric (Pimwinkle – Halfling, , Krol – Elf Half-Gnome), Druid (Barak – Dwarf, Cangacerio – Human Half-Elf), Fighter (Kordar – Elf Half-Human, Zed – Human), Monk (Willy – Human), Oracle (Luna – Shoanti), Ranger (Duzhar – Orc Half-Human), Rogue (Sparky – Dwarf), Sorcerer (Belath – Cheliax), Wizard (Parry – Elf Half-Dwarf)

Discussing the Rules: Animal Companions, Archetypes, Companions, Crafting PF2 Items, Feats, Minions, Playing the Game, Shapechanging, Summoning

Game Modes: Encounter, Exploration, Downtime

Feats: Background, General & Skill, Location

PF1 Conversions to Pathfinder 2: Adventures, Classes, Items, Faction

References: Creatures, Equipment, Items, NPCs, Spells

Thassilonian Resurgence Adventure Path (TRAP) Campaign

Design, Campaign, Campaign Journal, Runelords

Jade Regent Adventure Path (JRAP) Campaign

Personalities, Campaign Journal, Region – Minkai, Prophecy – The Broken One, Characters – Social Feats

References

b1 – Bestiary 1 (Paizo)
cr – Pathfinder Core Rulebook (Paizo)
gm – Game Master created
lopg – Lost Omens Players Guide (Paizo)
lowg – Lost Omens World Guide (Paizo)

Library of Books

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