To speak of Cayden Cailean is to speak of the very soul of adventure and joyful rebellion. His is a story that defies the somber histories of other gods and reminds us that sometimes, a great destiny is not earned through piety or sacrifice, but through a healthy dose of audacity and a very good drink.
You see, Cayden Cailean, the Accidental God, was once a mortal man, a swaggering, handsome, and altogether charming adventurer. He was a master swordsman and a lover of good times, a man who would raise a glass to the sun, a friend, or simply the joy of a good story. He loved life fiercely and lived it to the absolute fullest, with no regrets and no grand designs beyond the next tavern and the next thrilling challenge.
The tale of his ascension is one of legend and laughter. After a long night of drinking and bragging in a bar, he was dared by his friends to take the Test of the Starstone in the heart of Absalom. For those who don't know, this is a feat that has claimed the lives of countless mortals, a trial that has only been passed by a handful of the greatest heroes in history. He, in his drunken bravado, accepted the challenge, staggered his way to the great cathedral, and walked through the door. The lore is a little fuzzy on what exactly transpired inside—some say he fought a great beast, others that he simply found a comfortable spot and took a long nap. What is known is that he emerged three days later, not as a pile of bones, but as a god. And when he was asked how he did it, he could only shrug and say, "I don't rightly remember. But I'll bet it was a good time!"
As a deity, he embodies what he was as a man: freedom, ale, wine, and bravery. His followers are a motley crew of good-hearted ruffians, cheerful rogues, heroic libertines, and anyone who values a life lived without constraint. They celebrate not with somber hymns, but with raucous songs, good drink, and a shared love of adventure. His holy symbol, a tankard of frothy ale with a sword thrust through it, is a common sight in taverns all over Golarion.
He is a god who champions the downtrodden and the underdog, a divine force that believes in living in the moment and standing up for what is right, even if it means getting a few scrapes and a pounding headache the next morning. His favorite sermon is a shouted toast, his greatest prayer a cheer for a friend, and his highest honor is a good deed done for the sake of it, with no thought of reward. He is a god for those who believe that the best way to face the world is with a wry grin, a full glass, and a sword at their hip, ready for whatever life throws at them.
He truly is, in my opinion, the most human of all the gods.