[ Eladrin ] [ Aestetica | Paragons | Court of Stars ]
Aizen Myo-o
The Red Wisdom, Ragaraja, the Wisdom King of Passion (planar eladrin empyreal lord [he/him] / CG)
Portfolio: Transformation of desire, intensity, fulfilment
Realm: Arborea / Olympus / The Crimson Lotus Sanctuary
Aizen Myo-o is unusual among the eladrin paragons as he’s such a fearsome-looking cutter, almost fiendish even. He has fiery red skin, three piercing eyes (including one vertical eye on his forehead), and six muscular arms. He’s usually depicted holding one or more of his ritual objects: a bow and arrows for dispelling ignorance, a vajra (sceptre) for cutting through illusion, a bell to awaken awareness, an unopened lotus flower symbolising purity. During ceremonies, he also dons a lion-mask crown atop his head, just in case he didn’t look ferocious enough already. When holding court, Aizen will sit cross-legged on a lotus flower, which floats above a golden urn overflowing with colourful wish-granting jewels. He also loves to surrounded his body with a colourful flaming mandorla (halo).
As you might guess from his appearance, the personality of Aizen Myo-o is intense. Chant goes that his wrathful demeanour is becase he’s so determined to confront ignorance and suffering directly—but his actions are always rooted in love. After the initial shock and awe a berk feels upon first meeting him, after talking with Aizen they’ll soon realise there’s a deep well of compassion in his heart. Aizen is both a protector and a teacher, and he’ll guide mortals and celestials alike toward self-realisation. His philosophy centres on the transformation of negative emotions into raw spiritual power. Aizen teaches that even the most base desires can be harnessed as fuel for enlightenment, when approached with sufficient mindfulness and ritual practice. His approach to goodness is unusually fiery and proactive—Aizen does not shy away from confronting darkness, but instead tries to use it as an opportunity for growth and transcendence.
Role in Eladrin Society
Aizen Myo-o is revered by eladrin and immortals of the Chinese pantheon alike for his ability to balance passion with wisdom. He seeks to inspire others to embrace their strongest emotions, and channel them toward higher purposes. His fiery nature contrasts with gentler empyreal lords, but he complements their efforts by addressing the elephant often in the room around the eladrin—their unpredictable and passionate natures.
Aizen’s aestetica reflects his duality as both wrathful protector and benevolent giver:
- His fiery red colour and flaming mandorla symbolises passion and energy radiating out to inspire transformation
- The lion-mask crown represents strength over destructive forces
- The wishing jewels scattered around him embody generosity and fulfilment of desires through enlightenment
Aizen Myo-o resides in the Crimson Lotus Sanctuary, a floating realm on the first layer of Arborea where fiery skies meet endless fields of blooming red lotuses. His domain is suffused with a vibrant energy that transforms visitors’ negative emotions into clarity and purpose. The sanctuary includes meditation chambers surrounded by swirling clouds of gold and crimson flames, where eladrin and petitioners can come to purify their spirits and find a clear path to follow. It is also home to celestial artisans who craft wishing jewels under Aizen’s guidance, distributing them across the planes to aid those in need.
Source: Bestiary 1 [PF1e] p23 (mention only); Jon Winter-Holt. Canonwatch: Aizen Myōō is a fierce Buddhist deity and one of four Wisdom Kings who guard the four cardinal directions. The PF1e Bestiary flagged this character as a possible azata empyreal lord, and frankly, why can’t an eladrin also be a part of the Chinese pantheon?