Introducing the Concordance Faction!

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

In Season 8 of the Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild, the Pathfinder Society set its sights far from Golarion. Pathfinders soared through the skies of the Plane of Air, swam through the endless oceans of the Plane of Water, embroiled themselves in genie politics on the Plane of Fire, and brought lost and forgotten secrets to light on the Plane of Earth. And while they were hopping through the planes, the Pathfinders ran headfirst into the plans of a group called the Concordance of Elements. The Concordance first came onstage as a fierce opponent to the Pathfinder Society, but ultimately became an ally. In the interests of keeping this blog low on spoilers, I'll just say: nothing like an angry demigod to help two groups set aside their differences. But what began as an alliance of desperation evolved into a genuine partnership.

So what is the Concordance? It is an ancient and diverse organization whose membership spans multiple planes, with a particular focus on the elemental planes. Its members take great interest in the interplay among the primal forces of air, earth, fire, and water. They believe that the stability of the multiverse ultimately depends upon these forces—and many others—remaining in balance.

Each member has her own ideas about how to maintain this equilibrium. Some of them set upon a perilous quest for understanding in places where elemental forces are at their strongest, from howling blizzards to ferocious thunderstorms to active volcanoes. Others seek to refine the balance within, mastering magical forces or fighting styles that evoke multiple elements. Still others search for yawning planar rifts and other massive disturbances to study or seal away.

As an organization, the Concordance believes that each individual member's personal journey of discovery is important. Its leaders, collectively known as the Cycle of Five, spend much of their time in meditation and reflection, leaving its agents free to act with relative autonomy. Of course, agents who contribute more to the Concordance's collective knowledge and overarching goals gain deeper access to its ancient reservoirs of elemental knowledge and power. Such ambitious agents would do well to seek out opportunities to make a name for themselves. Fortunately for Pathfinders interested in gaining influence, the Society's contact in the Concordance is a direct emissary to the Cycle of Five. He is our new faction leader: Ashasar, Liaison to the Seat of Balance, a Suli druid with an airship-shaped air elemental companion, as well as three other elemental companions who will be showing up in future scenarios.

Illustration by Sebastian Rodriguez

So what does the Concordance bring to the Pathfinder Society? It brings a fresh perspective on Golarion combined with a rich reservoir of planar and elemental knowledge. The Pathfinder Society has shown the Concordance that Golarion is a world worth exploring in much more detail. From the erratic magic of the Mana Wastes to the Abendego-battered Sodden Lands, the Concordance has just begun to scratch the surface. The Concordance is a nature faction, but it's not a typical nature faction. Its members respect nature, and typical nature-themed characters like druids and rangers are quite welcome in its ranks. Still, you're more likely to find someone in the Concordance trying to channel the essence of a hurricane than you are to find them attempting to befriend every plant and animal they meet.

If you're interested in learning more about the Concordance, check out the scenarios that have already featured their story:

• Pathfinder Society Scenario #7-99: Through Maelstrom Rift (6th-level Pregenerated Characters)
• Pathfinder Society Scenario #8-08—Tyranny of Winds, Part 1: The Sandstorm Prophecy (Tier 1-5)
• Pathfinder Society Scenario #8-10—Tyranny of Winds, Part 2: Secrets of the Endless Sky (Tier 1-5)
• Pathfinder Society Scenario #8-12—Tyranny of Winds, Part 3: Caught in the Eclipse (Tier 3-7)
• Pathfinder Society Scenario #8-17: Refugees of the Weary Sky (Tier 7-11)
• Pathfinder Society Scenario #8-24: Raid on the Cloudborne Keep (Tier 5-9)

Since this is the Year of Faction's Favor, we would be remiss not to give our newest faction a chance to shine. We've got opportunities coming up in February for both Pathfinder Society campaigns. In Pathfinder Society Scenario #9-14, the Society will call upon the Concordance's expertise to investigate bizarre phenomena in the Verduran Forest. Meanwhile, in Season 4 of the Pathfinder Adventure Card Guild's, Ashasar will help the PCs quell an unnatural storm. The Concordance will also appear in the upcoming Player Companion Disciple's Doctrine.

Interested in joining the Concordance? Ashasar is about to start an active recruitment drive, traveling from lodge to lodge across the Inner Sea and beyond. If your character would like to become a part of this new initiative, keep an eye out for the faction's formal launch in early 2018. As with other faction changes, you'll be able to switch your character over to the Concordance freely without spending Prestige Points. As a part of this launch, we'll be updating the Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild Guide to include the Concordance and giving the faction a shiny new Faction Journal card.

Linda Zayas-Palmer
Developer