Pholtus
| Pholtus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Names and titles | |
| Title(s): | Pholtus of the Blinding Light |
| General information | |
| Portfolio: | Light, Resolution, Law, Order, Inflexibility, Sun, Moons |
| Home: | Mechanus |
| Alignment: | Lawful Good (Lawful Neutral) |
| Gender: | Male |
| Class: | Ftr9/Pal20/Clr20 |
| Superior: | none |
| Rules items | |
| Domains: | Good, Knowledge, Inquisition, Law, (Pride),[1] Sun |
| Divine rank: | Intermediate |
Pholtus of the Blinding Light is the Oeridian god of Light, Resolution, Law, Order, Inflexibility, the Sun, and the Moons. Pholtus's symbol is a silvery sun with a crescent moon on the lower right quadrant. His colors are white, silver, and gold.[2][3][4]
Description
Pholtus himself appears as a tall, slender man with pale skin, flowing white hair and bright blue eyes burning with the fires of devotion. He always wears a silky white gown and a cassock trimmed with gold and silver, embroidered with suns and moons.
Realm
Pholtus' divine realm is called the Path of Law.[5] However, the plane on which he resides varies, depending on edition or source. In first edition, in Dragon magazine, he resides in Arcadia.[3] In second edition, in On Hallowed Ground, his domain is in the Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus.[5] Later, in third edtion, Dragon magazine places him on Mount Celestia instead.[4]
Relationships
Pholtus has an unfriendly rivalry with Saint Cuthbert and despises the Oeridian wind deities (Atroa, Sotillion, Telchur, Velnius, and Wenta).
He is opposed by Trithereon and Xan Yae. Clerics of Norebo particularly enjoy bothering his followers. Pholtus is allied with Heironeous and Pelor.
Dogma
Scriptures
The Libram Sanctus Vox is regarded by many to be among the Pholtan faith's most sacred writings.[6]
Worshipers
Worshippers of Pholtus are called Pholtans. Some Pholtans claim that he set the sun and the moon in the sky and maintains them in their rigid procession to show all creatures the One True Way, a strict path which allows no deviation but absolutely assures rightness. Such claims are not regarded as doctrine.
The Pholtan church is the state religion of the Theocracy of the Pale, and is the only religion permitted or recognized within that nation. An even more severe Pholtine theocracy exists in the Bandit Kingdom state of Dimre. Pholtus's church is also widespread in Nyrond and the Shield Lands.
The faith of Pholtus often conflicts or works at cross purposes with that of Saint Cuthbert, whose alignment is also borderline lawful neutral/lawful good.
Clergy
Pholtus's clerics are most active in cities, where they seek to reveal the light to unbelievers. They act as lawyers, judges, and arbiters when they're not preaching about their god. They are never completely without light if they can help it. Magical light is preferred, but a candle or a piece of luminous fungus will serve if no other light is available. Lower ranked clerics are called Glimmering, and wear typically white vestments. Mid ranked clerics are called Gleaming, and typically wear white and silver vestements. Higher ranked clerics are called Shining, and wear white and gold vestments.[3][4]
Paladins
Paladins of Pholtus are known as templars or inquisitors. They consider questions of morality to be secondary to faithfulness to Pholtus and his One True Way. They seek the destruction of chaos, darkness, and evil, in that order. While some individual Pholtan paladins can be as merciful as paladins of Pelor or Heironeous, doubt and mercy are not considered virtues in their tradition, and many believe them to be weaknesses.
Pholtan paladins traditionally dress in white and pale yellow tunics of fine linen or silk, with silvery borders decorated with suns and moons or excerpts from Pholtan scripture.
The Knights Templar of the Theocracy of the Pale are the most infamous of Pholtus's paladins, combining Pholtan conviction with nationalistic zeal.
The Lords of the Gloaming are a group of Pholtan paladins who seek to destroy portals to the Lower Planes of existence. Saint Ceril the Relentless was among their number.
Temples and rituals
Buildings consecrated to Pholtus are white. Services include many brightly burning candles, long sermons and choruses of the worshipers' anthem, "O Blinding Light".
A major temple to Pholtus was the most important feature of the ancient city of Fleeth. The clergy of Pholtus were highly regarded and the priests of the temple were respected nearly as much as the King and Queen.[7]
Gallery
-
Dragon magazine #294 -
References
Notes
Citations
- ↑ Dragon #323 (Sep 2004), p.65.
- ↑ Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.179.
- ↑ a b c "The Deities and Demigods of the World of Greyhawk". Dragon #68 (Dec 1982), p.69.
- ↑ a b c "Beings of Power: Four Gods of Greyhawk". Dragon #294 (Apr 2002), p.28-29.
- ↑ a b On Hallowed Ground (1996), p.180, 186.
- ↑ Living Greyhawk Journal #2 (Nov 2000), p.30.
- ↑ Vecna: Hand of the Revenant
Bibliography
- Gygax, Gary. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
- ———. "The Deities and Demigods of the World of Greyhawk." Dragon #68. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
- Holian, Gary. "More Holy Warriors of the Flanaess: Paladins of Greyhawk." Dungeon #104. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, November 2003.
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- McComb, Colin. On Hallowed Ground. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996.
- Moore, Roger E. The Adventure Begins. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998.
- Noonan, David. "Beings of Power: Four Gods of Greyhawk." Dragon #294 Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
- ———. Complete Divine. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004.
- Sargent, Carl. Ivid the Undying. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995. Published online. PDF by William Allman with maps. Original RTF archived:Wizards.com. WGR7 or WGRx
- Ward, James M. Greyhawk Adventures. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1988.
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basilica of Pholtus {Basillica} (Wintershiven) | Building | Cathedral, | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 29 |
| Basilica of Pholtus {Basillica} (Wintershiven) | Building | Cathedral, | WG8 Fate of Istus | 47, 49 |
| Binding Light, The (a Heironean parable about Pholtus) | Verbal communication | Myth, | Dragon magazine #354 | 26, 27 |
| Blinding Wrath (Pholtus) | Rules | Feat/Proficiency/Skill, | Polyhedron magazine #163 | 111 |
| Cold weather is Pholtus's way of telling you to throw another heretic on the fire. | Verbal communication | Phrase, | From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess | 33 |
| Dispel Darkness (LVL1) (Pholtus) | Spell | Spell (Cleric), | From the Ashes: References Card | #05 |
| Dispel Darkness (LVL1) (Pholtus) | Spell | Spell (Cleric), | Priest's Spell Compendium Volume 1 | 210 |
| Dispel Darkness (LVL1) (Pholtus) | Spell | Spell (Cleric), | Priest's Spell Compendium Volume 3 | 798 |
| Glow (LVL3) (Pholtus) | Spell | Spell (Cleric), | From the Ashes: References Card | #05 |
| Glow (LVL3) (Pholtus) | Spell | Spell (Cleric), | Priest's Spell Compendium Volume 2 | 303-304 |
| Glow (LVL3) (Pholtus) | Spell | Spell (Cleric), | Priest's Spell Compendium Volume 3 | 798 |
| Our Swords, Their Lives, for the One True Way (Pholtus) | Verbal communication | Philosophy/Belief, | Polyhedron magazine #163 | 111 |
| Paladin of Pholtus {Templar, Inquisitor} | People Group | Religious order, | Polyhedron magazine #163 | 111, 112 |
| Path of Law (Pholtus' Realm) | Planar | Plane/Dimension, | On Hallowed Ground | 180 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Artifact of Evil | 250 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Against The Giants: The Liberation of Geoff | 77 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Bastion of Faith | 41, 43, 87 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | The City of Greyhawk: Adventure Cards | 2 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions | 9, 11, 12, 28, 29 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess | 81-83 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Dragon magazine #059 | 24 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Dragon magazine #067 | 26 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Dragon magazine #068 | 67, 68, 69 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Dragon magazine #191 | 66 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Dragon magazine #253 | 45 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Dragon magazine #263 | 50 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Dragon magazine #291 | 92, 98 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Dragon magazine #294 | 27, 28, 29, 74 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Dragon magazine #297 | 96 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Dragon magazine #299 | 103 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Dragon magazine #306 | 96, 100 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Dragon magazine #350 | 20 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Dragon magazine #354 | 26, 28 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Dragon magazine #358 | 30, 32 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Dragon magazine #AN4 | 20 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | The Fright At Tristor | 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 22, 27 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess | 33, 79, 86, 90, 95, 96 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | From the Ashes: Campaign Book | 53, 76, 91, 92, 96 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | From the Ashes: References Card | #5 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | From the Ashes: References Card | #6 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Greyhawk Adventures | 3, 9, 16, 17 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Castles: Hart | 3 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Ivid the Undying | 3, 5, 15, 16, 20, 21, 24, 30, 35, 36, 41, 57, 58, 100, 132, 137, 149, 154 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e | 22, 24, 44, 59, 60, 61, 63, 73, 78, 94, 105, 108, 112 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 23, 25, 26, 49, 75, 80, 81, 102, 112, 123, 160, 166, 175, 177, 179, 182, 185, 188 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Living Greyhawk Journal #1 | 30 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Living Greyhawk Journal #2 | 5 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 17 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Living Greyhawk Journal #4 | 2, 30 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Living Greyhawk Journal #5 | 30, 31 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Night Arrant | 174, 177, 185 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | On Hallowed Ground | 47, 180, 186, 192 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Rashtai's Brother, RPGA, RPGA | 6, 7 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 7, 19, 21, 25 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Polyhedron magazine #030 | 7 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Polyhedron magazine #129 | 38 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Polyhedron magazine #139 | 20 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Polyhedron magazine #163 | 111, 112 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | SJR6 Greyspace | 91 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 44 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | Saga of Old City | 88, 125 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil | 86, 120, 122 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | The Adventure Begins | 7, 23, 30, 31, 40, 63, 65, 89, 104, 105, 107, 110 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | 1992 TSR Trading Cards - Gold Set | 459 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | LT3 The Doomgrinder | 18 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | The Scarlet Brotherhood | 83, 84 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | WG11 Puppets | 5, 6 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | WG8 Fate of Istus | 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 57, 79, 84 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | WGA4 Vecna Lives! | 26 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | WGR4 The Marklands | IC, 60, 65, 66, 73, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 64, 68 |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Deity | One True Path, One True Way, Native of: Arcadia, | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 38, 45 |
| Pholtus, Cathedral of (Farlen) | Building | Cathedral, | Ivid the Undying | 100 |
| Pholtus, Chapel of (Killdeer) | Building | Chapel, | Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e | 59 |
| Pholtus, Chapel of the Blinding Light (Sornhill) | Building | Chapel, | Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e | 78 |
| Pholtus, Temple of (Chendl) | Building | Temple, | WG8 Fate of Istus | 84 |
| Pholtus, Temple of (Chendl) | Building | Temple, | WGR4 The Marklands | IC |
| Pholtus, Temple of (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Temple, | The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions | 29 |
| Pholtus, Temple of (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Temple, | The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess | 81, 82 |
| Pholtus, Temple of (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Temple, | Living Greyhawk Journal #2 | 5 |
| Pholtus, Temple of (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Temple, | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 32 |
| Pholtus, Temple of (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Temple, | The Adventure Begins | 107 |
| Pholtus, Temple of (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Temple, | WGA4 Vecna Lives! | 26 |
| Pholtus, Temple of (Killdeer) | Building | Temple, | Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e | 94 |
| Pholtus, Temple of (Rauxes) | Building | Temple, | Ivid the Undying | 30 |
| Pholtus, Temple of (Rel Mord) | Building | Temple, | WGR4 The Marklands | IC |
| Pholtus, Temple of (Scant) | Building | Temple, | Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e | 59 |
| Pilgrims Chapel (Pholtus) (Wintershiven) | Building | Chapel, | WG8 Fate of Istus | 49 |
| Reflect (LVL5) (Pholtus) | Spell | Spell (Cleric), | From the Ashes: References Card | #06 |
| Reflect (LVL5) (Pholtus) | Spell | Spell (Cleric), | Priest's Spell Compendium Volume 2 | 485 |
| Reflect (LVL5) (Pholtus) | Spell | Spell (Cleric), | Priest's Spell Compendium Volume 3 | 798 |
| Specialty Priest of Pholtus | People Group | Religious order, | From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess | 90, 91 |
| Specialty Priest of Pholtus | People Group | Religious order, | Greyhawk Adventures | 17 |
| Sunburst (LVL4) (Pholtus) | Spell | Spell (Cleric), | Greyhawk Adventures | 17 |
| Sunburst (LVL4) (Pholtus) | Spell | Spell (Cleric), | Priest's Spell Compendium Volume 3 | 622, 798 |