Religion in Korvosa

The most popular religions in the city belong to the deities Abadar, Asmodeus, Pharasma, The Morrigan and Sarenrae, although the Sanctuary of Shelyn and the Pantheon of Many provide places of worship for the faithful of nearly every major god in Celasper. Generally, the different religions keep to themselves, working together when and where need dictates. That said, a number of evil deities receive official support in the city, and this makes for a sometimes volatile situation.
As a general rule, Korvosans love their city, attempt at every opportunity to acquire as much wealth as possible, and believe strongly in a strict and lawful society. The church of Abadar frequently (but nonviolently) clashes with that of Asmodeus, as the faiths share many of the same interests but differ both in the execution and intensity of those beliefs— where Abadar promotes law for the sake of maintaining order, for example, Asmodeus sees law as the best way to control the greatest number of people. The church of Abadar has attempted to assist the remnants of the church of Pharasma in the latter’s duty of presiding over the Gray District, but the Pharsimian clergy have resisted encroachment on their sacred duties. When the church of Sarenrae focuses its attentions on healing the sick of the city, it and the church of Abadar get along quite well; when clerics of Sarenrae call for the rehabilitation (rather than punishment) of criminals, the two faiths launch into heated debates. Abadarites and Shelynites rarely interact outside of their combined attempts to beautify the city. Abadar treats most new age cults, such as the cult of the Serpent or the Cult of Avalon with little paid attention. Cults in Korvosa are a silver a dozen, and when one of them gets a statue, Abadar's clergy will take interest. The guards and field marshals of Korvosa often pay homage to the faith of Abadar as god of cities, a faith that is sometimes divided with the Morrigan, especially for those whose duties take place at night. 
While the leadership of Korvosa reluctantly accepted the influencesTalingrad Acadamae embraced it), the rest of the city did not. Asmodeus’s faithful tend to keep to themselves and work with clerics (or even layfolk) of other deities only when necessary. In addition to its frequent clashes with the church of Abadar, Asmodeus’s religion interacts most frequently with the faithful of Shelyn, as the god of pride demands only the very best and most beautiful works to adorn his temple (which the artisans of the goddess of beauty can most easily provide). 
Pharasma’s faithful patrol and (mostly) control the Gray District, and for that the government of Korvosa and many of its wealthiest families generously donate to the goddess’s religion. Because of this guardianship aspect, the church of Pharasma works closely with those of Abadar and and the Morrigan in maintaining order within the necropolis. In Pharasma’s role as goddess of birth, those clerics less inclined toward battle frequently become midwives who then work closely with healers of Sarenrae.
Commoners in the city love Sarenrae, for she represents the Korvosan quality of honesty, to say nothing of her role as the great healer. The temple of Sarenrae doubles as a hospital and clerics of the goddess frequently find themselves mobbed by those seeking health.
Although the church of Shelyn has a small (but beautiful) temple within the city, she and her faith have little influence over Korvosa. The Pantheon of Many in South Shore represents many deities, including all of those mentioned above. All of these gods and goddesses therefore have some representation in the city (and rumors whisper that even those not included in the pantheon have followers) and work with or against one another as their faiths dictate.

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Location

Korvosa