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Ziwa
Radiance uthra
Challenge Rating: 20
DESCRIPTION: Ziwas are the high-ups of uthra-kind. Each of them have their own unique look, but they also share similar traits. Their bodies are headless—instead, a vertical ring of strange material hovers mid-air just above their shoulders. Inside of that ring are two motes of fire, reminiscent of eyes. The body of a ziwa constantly seems to shift, as if it was some kind of optical illusion—a clear sign of their extradimensional nature. Unlike other uthras, ziwas are often adorned with brilliantly coloured robes and bands that spread behind their backs like ephemeral wings. They also wield sacred ceremonial objects such as staves that give them power over water, and wreaths of flame worn on their fingers.
HABITAT/SOCIETY: Ziwas are very rarely seen in the known Multiverse as they are presumed to dwell in the World of Light. Even when they are seen, truesight reveals that they are merely a projection, not unlike the one created by an astral projection spell, but without anything resembling a silver cord.
Known Ziwas
ABATUR: The only (non-fallen) radiance uthra who seems to remain permanently in Bytopia, or more likely his projection, is referred to as Abatur of the Scales. He (this pronoun is traditionally applied to Abatur, although uthras themselves are genderless) rules over the Last Matarta. Abatur is almost always preoccupied with judging whether souls of petitioner are pure enough to be allowed into the World of Light by weighting them upon on his scales. He does not appear to be content with this role, and yearns to fully return home—at least according to petitioners, who’d know better. However, he is bound to this task until the next end of the Multiverse. Abatur is a parent of Ptahil, which also doesn’t make him more cheerful. It is said that Abatur placed a single bright star in the crystal sphere that holds Tibil to remind his offspring of himself. Despite his relative melancholy, Abatur is a nevertheless a friendly enough blood, who almost always allows petitioners to make the one-way journey to the higher world. He is immensely respected by other uthras, who refer to him as “father”.
YUSHAMIN: Abatur is the emanation of Yushamin, who in turn was directly created by Hayyi Rabbi. In past times Yushamin has waged their own little rebellion against other uthras and was imprisoned in the World of Darkness. Eventually, through the appeal of his past allies and emanations, he was freed and now resides in the World of Light. Apparently, at least according to the denizens of Tibil, Hayyi Rabbi’s decision to free him isn’t popular among other uthras, especially Manda d-Hayyi. It’s unlikely that any one of them would go against their own Power, but something is definitely brewing out there.
MANDA d-HAYYI: The proxy of Hayyi Rabbi and the most renowned of uthras. His mission is to grant manda or knowledge. Now this isn’t the kind of material knowledge that Cagers call “dark”, but the divine insight and revelations which are unattainable by simple observation. Manda d-Hayyi can polymorph into any humanoid creature. He travels through the Prime (which is already unusual for an uthra) and helps Hayyi Rabbi’s worshippers to prevail, against the odds. Manda d-Hayyi isn’t opposed to protecting other beings, but he won’t go out of his way to do it. For his dangerous mission and important standing Manda d-Hayyi was granted a number of artifacts. He has four arms instead of two, though the additional arms hover near him, detached from his body. Also called the Uthra of Knowledge, he wears unbreakable armour underneath his cloak of light, and wields four weapons — the Staff of Living Water, the Wreath of Flame, the club and the net (whether or not they are associated with earth and air remains to be seen).
HIBIL ZIWA: The last important ziwa uthra is Hibil Ziwa or Yawar, who graybeards reckon is an emanation of Manda d-Hayyi, and the most powerful of the uthras. He was dispatched to the World of Darkness to strike down its evil denizens. Hibil Ziwa couldn’t defeat all of them, but he successfully subdued Krun, secured passage through the World of Darkness for petitioners and acquired the divining mirror of Zahreil. He achieved this with the help of seven staves that orbit around him like moons, and with the assistance of the Great Mystery—an invisible spirit that could well be a figment of Hayyi Rabbi itself. Currently Hibil Ziwa resides in the World of Light, but is dispatched in times of dire need—rare times indeed, for he has not been seen for many centuries.
Text version: [PF2e]
Source: Margarita. Mythwatch: The ziwas are homebrew, but are based on the celestial entities from the ancient Gnostic religion Mandaeism. Influences from Abrahamic religions and mysticism aren’t unheard of in D&D and Pathfinder (archons, qlippoths, peri, divs and devas, azatas—basically the entire spectrum of Near Eastern religions is already canonically present), but my version references living religions much more, so if you are Mandaean or know more about this religion than me and have any kind of opinion, please do share it...