When The Moon Hits Your Eye

Faithful of Ashava

Illustration by Luis Perez

The night brings darkness, but it doesn’t need to be a source of fear. There are things that don’t wish you harm under the shadow of the moon. Many of these creatures worship the Empyreal Lord of dancers, lonely spirits, and moonlight, Ashava. Who are these worshipers, human and otherwise? Today we find out.

As always, let us imagine we are sitting at our theoretical gaming table. Our imaginary GM sets out the rules for the game we will play. In this game, we are to make a follower of Ashava. The character does not need to be a divine caster, just a devotee of the Humble Hand. What character do you make?

For more information on Ashava

Ashava’s Pathfinder Wiki Page 

Ashava’s Archives of Nethys Page 

The Rising

Except for those of the ursine persuasion, were-creatures are known for either their chaotic or evil nature; in some cases both. But not everyone who is afflicted by the hungers of the beast within falls forever to those urges. The Rising is a small sect of good lycanthropes whose purpose is to find and help save other turning were-creatures from a life of savagery.

This sect was started by a small family of werebear worshipers of Ashava in the wilds of the River Kingdoms. When they found a young woman cursed with becoming a werewolf they attempted to help her stave off that fate. With guidance from their goddess they managed to help this child keep her own wits even during her changes. Since then they have rescued a half dozen other were-creatures and recruited a small group of assorted skinwalker – mortals with diluted lycanthrope blood – to aid in their sacred quest.

Shepherds of the Lost

The world is full of hate, pain, and despair. When these emotions run too deeply the restless dead known as ghosts can sometimes arise. Many of these spirits are hurt and alone, stranded in a world where they no longer belong until they can somehow be calmed of these darker emotions. Some try to brute force remove these creatures of rage from Golarion, but not the Shepherds.

The Shepherds of the Lost seek out these restless souls and work to settle their score here on the material plane so they can pass on. This sect is actually led by one of these lonely spirits; a woman in white who speaks little of her past, but seems more aware of her predicament then most like her. A worshiper of Ashava in life, her reason for staying behind is unknown but she truly wishes to help those who suffer her same fate.

Moonlight Dancers

The Moonlight Dancers are a sect of Varisian scarf dancers who seek to pay honor to their patroness through the art of dance. They have no specific greater agenda than to dance nightly, bathed in the light of the moon. Their skill is so renown they are invited to many private dances by the nobles of Magnimar.

This small sect began when a master of the bladed scarf found his way to the temple of The True Spark in Magnimar. He was so touched by the spirit of Ashava that he spent a full week dancing in the temple until his feet were bloody and sore, and he could no longer stand from hunger. Such was his devotion that Ashava gave him a vision of her in her true form dancing her personal sacred dance. Over the intervening years the nameless dancer has garnered a small following, each adding their own dance to the troupe’s repertoire.

Those who do not let the night bring fear are the servants of this Empyreal Lord. Who is your follower of Ashava? Why have they chosen to dedicate themselves to the True Spark? Where does their devotion come from? Let me know in the comments.

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The opening illustration was created by a fine artist Luis Perez. You can find him on Twitter, Tumblr, and on Instagram at luisperezart.