Pathfinder Religion Guide: Aeons

In this video on the outsiders and demigods of Pathfinder we look at the Aeons. The great enemies of the Proteans and among the eldest of the creatures of the Great Beyond, those outsiders hail from the Astral plane but can be found in Axis in the greatest numbers - the outer plane that represents elemental law.

▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

0:00 - Intro & Preamble
1:00 - History of the Aeons
15:42 - Types of Aeons
25:46 - The Monad
27:48 - The Godmind

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CREDITS

Content for this video came from "Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Concordance of Rivals"

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#paizo #pathfinder #golarion #innersea #roleplaying #rpg #history #lore #d&d #aeons

[vineveer]

So prophecy disappeared and the god of math was like, "Wait a sec', gotta rewrite physics." And after 3 days and 3 nights, math was returned to the universe alongside a note and a large icosahedron.

[ColinGrym]

This was one of my favorite episodes from you so far. Ever since finding Pathfinder via the Wrath of the Righteous video game I have been intrigued by Aeons. They seemed fascinating because of their alien mindsets and abilities to alter reality. What I didn't know is that they would scratch the same eldritch itch as the Outer Gods/Great Old Ones of the Dark Tapestry whom I love because unlike many gods/races they are legitimately alien in nature and intent.

I especially enjoyed learning about Monad who is as unknowable as any Outer God but in a very different way. Monad seems to be the "pro-existence" mirror of the "outside existence or non-existence" nature of the beings of the Dark Tapestry. Outer Gods like Azathoth are said to be and could destroy worlds or even existence simply with their presence or attention. As the other side of the eldritch coin, Monad appears to be aware/awake/involved, embodying existence and chiefly motivated to preserve it. I wonder if Monad is actually an Outer God that was awakened and influenced by Pharasma to preserve "proper" reality with the associated ruleset and uses the same sort of cosmic power that another Outer God would use to destroy. That would help explain its incomprehensible nature, disconnection from the Cycle of Souls, ardent protection of "Pharasma's" rules, relative indifference to worship, and the profoundly perspective-altering nature of contacting or starting to understand it.

I like how Lipikas seem to embody the butterfly effect - the idea that small actions can have huge consequences on the far side of a sequence of events. In a campaign, perhaps a Lipika could show up and demand that the party leave behind one of several hostages because said hostage would eventually upset the local balance. Would the PC's agree to abandon a helpless person under those circumstances? What if the predicted upset is that the hostage watched a fellow prisoner die of disease and thus devotes themselves to inventing a cure that results in "too many" people living healthy lives for "too long"? After all, balance means not too good as much as not too bad. I am reminded of Thanos from Marvel's Infinity movie series given (as I understand it) that he was motivated primarily by cosmic balance and long-term sustainability - maybe his viewpoint would suit a Lipika.

One has to wonder how an Athaos would feel about major centers of civilization or "cities that never sleep". Places where it's never truly dark - either bathed in sunlight or lit so brightly they can be seen from orbit. Perhaps those population centers are balanced by the creation of unlit caves and dungeons and that's why those are found everywhere in so many campaigns :)

Regardless, thanks for the video. I enjoyed learning about the early cosmos and Pharasma's origins. I think there's a lot of potential for development when it comes to Aeons. In particular fleshing out what exactly "balance" entails on the level of worlds, planes, or the whole multiverse and what implications maintaining it has for the many types of creatures that try to bias existence towards prosperity and propagation.

[Ofley_Adventures]

Both the design and concepts for the proteans really evoke a feeling of both dread and awe. Really wanna use them on a campaign now. Excellent job as always. Have a delightful day everyone! Thanks for the vid.

[VenatorStellorum]

I find the change from true neutral in 1e to lawful neutral interesting for Aeons, I can see how both make sense. I really liked how you discussed the nuance of their alignment towards the end of the History chapter.

[velemamba]

This was a great video. I've loved Aeons ever since Wrath of the Righteous, and learning this lore about them was fascinating. Getting an expanded look at just what they are/do is really interesting. And the Godmind and Monad are both brain-breaking in a really fun way.

[fumarc]

I just learned about Conrasu. This was a real treat. Thanks for sharing!

[scottforsythe]

I was just defending picking up an aeon stone in my game the other week, this is such a great resource!

[Ozcogger]

I love your videos. I watch them before I go to bed and sometimes listen like an audiobook.

[LarvalGhoul]

Someone who actually pronounces it correctly! :') Subscribing.

[rockchewer]

Been waiting for this one! I have a player in my campaign whose lvl 20 end goal is to become an aeon

[flibbernodgets]

19:38 that looks a lot like phaerimms from the Forgotten Realms. I like it when fantasy creatures are just downright weird, and a windsock with arms and snake scales is pretty darn weird.

[edwardchytil]

It would be cool for a video to explain the pathfinder guild you mention it a lot but I do t really know what it is about and its history. By the way, I’m still here I haven’t commented in a while but I watch every video you are doing great man!

[craigwatkins]

Another awesome video! Still not use too the magic e. Can't say Daedric Armor with it. Makes it sound like my manager's uniform.

[dragonism]

Great video dude. Though i feel like this is the one place i can kinda complain about the change.
The addition of the axiomites and inevitables into the Aeon's is definitely one of the lore changes going into 2e that i disliked.

One is the thematics, the Aeons really strike that chord between mundane and lovecraftian that i think of as Cosmic. Their weird and abstract, but not cosmic horror levels of it, almost like cosmic bliss rather than horror.
Beings like four arms around a vortex of light and dark or the infinite cosmos inside a cloak. Abstract but not terrifyingly so.
The addition of math elves and robots feels... unthematic.

Secondly. I just liked the Axiomites being their own thing. I think just adding the Axiomite subtype and expanding their ranks would have been the more interesting option than slapping them onto another creature type. I just really liked their original backstory. The Cosmos trying to understand itself is so interesting and philosophical.

The fact that even with the change they are still recognized as two separate "types" feels... pointless. Like they could have made them a separate type and simply didn't.
But thats just my piece.

[AdriusFrostglare]

27:54 "The Godmind is an even less conventional deity than the Monad."

random background car: *honks in agreement*

[israelmorales]

great video, this is very interesting, nothe chapter of knowledge in the creation of the universe of PF, thx

[justincherry]

Will you ever break the 4th wall and explain how pathfinder came to be as a game?

[VVizardthewizard]

The pathfinder cosmology really seems similar to an organic cell. I wonder if this was an intentional design or just coincidence.

[RicardoPM]

The part about the survivor is so awesome

[confusedrhino]

Maybe a video about relative size of planes, continents, empires, cities, biggest monsters?