Pathfinder 2E’s Sun is Polyamorous and Gay
In Golarion, the sun goddess, Sarenrae, burned brightly, teaching temperance and patience in all things. The Dawnflower brought light to the world.
Sarenrae was one of the oldest gods in all of Golarion. Her dominion was the sun, and her purview was the compassion and peace that the sun’s warming light could bring. Her followers often believed that any enemy who sought redemption, should be granted it, if they sought it genuinely.
But many an evil fiend learned firsthand, that for those who had no interest in redemption, for those who gloried in slaughter and death and destruction, Sarenrae and her followers also believed that swift justice, delivered at sword’s edge, was the answer. This was a lesson Sarenrae learned well at the beginning of time.
Sarenrae in the Time Before Time
Sarenrae was created long before Golarion existed. In the time before time, she was created by the primeval deity Ihys, brother of Asmodeus. These two primeval entities helped shape reality, creating stars, planets, and the laws that govern them. And all that came after, came after. During this time, Sarenrae was a category of being known as an Empyreal Lord. These were unique outsiders, be the angels, archons, agathions, or azatas who have all transcended their original forms to become something more.
It happened in the hazy days when mortals were first given free will by Ihys. This act of chaos led Asmodeus and the gods of law to war with each other. Sarenrae was Ihys’s right hand in the war and became one of the first eight deities. During the time after the war, Sarenrae marveled at the many stars created by Desna, the goddess of stars and dreams and travelers. Sarenrae gave some of these stars life so creation could begin. Perhaps here is where the first glimmerings of attraction bloomed between the two goddesses.
But love would have to wait. During the era known as the Age of Creation, Sarenrae took note of the devourer, Rovagug, descending upon the Material Plane to feast upon the world of Golarion. The Dawnflower called together an alliance of gods to oppose him, and thus the Cleansing Light cast down Rovagug to the Dead Vault at the center of Golarion.
After Asmodeus bound the Devourer there, Sarenrae is said to have placed therein the raging flames of the sun.
Home of the Sun
The Sun Goddess’s home realm is known as Everlight. It appears as a sun hanging at high noon in the sky of Nirvana. There, her servitors gather to plan crusades against evil fiends, and occasionally the Healing Light herself takes human form to walk its streets.
Her most common depiction, however, is as a bronze angelic beauty with golden hair composed of flowing flame. Holy light flows like liquid luminescence from one hand, while the other holds a radiant, blazing scimitar. Her light can both heal and sustain, while her scimitar can create winds that heal disease and remove fear.
Perhaps it was Sarenrae’s beauty that first attracted the goddess Shelyn, sometimes called the Eternal Rose, the Incorruptible, goddess of art, beauty, love, and music. Perhaps it was her kind nature and her belief in the redemption of all who are willing, the compassion that bounds from within Sarenrae’s heart, that did it. But it was commonly known that Sarenrae has two loves.
The Loves of the Goddess
Sarenrae was in a polyamorous relationship with Shelyn, goddess of love, and Desna, goddess of stars. The three goddesses together opposed Rovagug, the Devourer, and were united against Zon-Kuthon, despite Zon-Kuthon being Shelyn’s brother. The trio of goddesses could do much when they put their heads and hearts together.
Outside of her lovers, Sarenrae regarded all non-evil gods as her companions and friends. Even some evil deities she entreated with, hoping to help them find redemption, should they seek it though Sarenrae was no fool. Gods like Rovagug the Devourer or Asmodeus, she realized, would never seek redemption because they believed they didn’t do anything wrong.
She regards these enemies to fight for more than just the fate of souls.
Doves of Sarenrae
The goddess Sarenrae was closely associated with doves. She was said to show her approval by the sending of doves, including flocks that would appear from nothing. The Dawnflower occasionally would create ankhs in unusual places as another method of signifying her approval.
Those who earned Sarenrae’s disfavor could expect to find unexplained sunburns or blindness waiting for them. But even these might be healed with a gust from her scimitar, or at the beneficence of one of her many servants.
Hosts of angels attended to Sarenrae. And it was among them that the dove-like yhohm could be found. Said to be formed from a portion of a Phoenix’s reborn soul, the yyhom were her particularly favored servitors.
Her church carried out her wishes, typically working to do good in the world. Altruistic priests, ready to bless crops or reform evil doers made up most of her clergy. And they would observe her holy rights, including the Sunwrought Festival held on the summer solstice.
Sarenrae is beloved by many in Golarion, but none more so than Shelyn and Desna.
