Pholtus

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Greyhawk Deity
Pholtus
Pholtus of the Blinding Light, as depicted in Dragon #294 (2002).
Title: Pholtus of the Blinding Light
Alias(es): none
Home plane: Mechanus
Power level: Intermediate
Gender: Male
Class: Ftr9/Pal20/Clr20
Alignment: Lawful Good (Lawful Neutral)
Portfolio: Light, Resolution, Law, Order, Inflexibility, Sun, Moons
Domains: Good, Knowledge, Inquisition, Law, Sun
Superior: none

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.

Description[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Pholtus is said to reside in The Path of Law, a domain in the Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus. Dragon #294 placed him in Mount Celestia instead.

Relationships[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Scriptures[edit | edit source]

The Libram Snactus Vox is regarded by many to be among the Pholtan faith's most sacred writings (LGJ#2.30).

Worshipers[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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.

Paladins[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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.[1]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

Citations[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Vecna: Hand of the Revenant

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

———. "The Deities and Demigods of the World of Greyhawk." Dragon #68. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
———. Complete Divine. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004.

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Index is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, and his work as continued and updated by Eric Johnson, Richard DiIoia, Jason "PupickDad" Jacobson, a French fan group, and numerous other fans over the years. The wiki page for the EGI has a list of sources, full 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, ONW1-07 Hunters Hunted 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
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