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Pathfinder Adventure Path #66: The Dead Heart of Xin (Shattered Star 6 of 6) (PFRPG)
 
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Pathfinder Adventure Path #66: The Dead Heart of Xin (Shattered Star 6 of 6) (PFRPG)
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Chapter 6: "The Dead Heart of Xin"
by Brandon Hodge

The seven shards of the Shattered Star have been recovered, and the Pathfinders prepare a grand festival on Magnimar's Irespan to celebrate this incredible achievement. The culmination of this celebration is to be the reassembly of the seven shards into the legendary Sihedron itself, rebuilt for the first time in over ten thousand years. But a lot can change in that amount of time, and as the ritual to reforge the artifact finishes, ancient contingencies rumble to life, and as the dead heart of Thassilon begins to beat again, all of Magnimar is put in terrible danger. With the power of the Sihedron on their side, the heroes take a stance against this risen evil—but will the aid of an ancient artifact be enough to save them all?

This volume of Pathfinder Adventure Path concludes the Shattered Star Adventure Path and includes:

  • “The Dead Heart of Xin,” a Pathfinder RPG adventure for 15th-level characters, by Brandon Hodge.
  • Explorations of lost cities and confrontations with ancient evils to continue your Shattered Star campaign, by Adam Daigle.
  • A survey of the ancient rulers of Thassilon—all seven runelords detailed in one place, by Rob McCreary.
  • The madness-inducing conclusion of “Light of a Distant Star” in the Pathfinder’s Journal, by Bill Ward.
  • Four new monsters, by Dennis Baker, Adam Daigle, and Brandon Hodge.

Each monthly full-color softcover Pathfinder Adventure Path volume contains an in-depth adventure scenario, stats for several new monsters, and support articles meant to give Game Masters additional material to expand their campaign. Pathfinder Adventure Path volumes use the Open Game License and work with both the Pathfinder RPG and the world’s oldest fantasy RPG.

ISBN–13: 978-1-60125-491-7

The Dead Heart of Xin is sanctioned for use in Pathfinder Society Organized Play. The rules for running this Adventure Path are available as a free download (373 KB zip/PDF). The Chronicle sheet for this Adventure Path is available here (94 KB zip/PDF).

Note: This product is part of the Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscription.

Product Availability
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Non-Mint:
    Usually ships from our warehouse in 2 to 6 business days. This product is non-mint. Refunds are not available for non-mint products. The standard version of this product can be found here.

Are there errors or omissions in this product information? Got corrections? Let us know at webmaster@paizo.com.


PZO9066

See Also:

<< Pathfinder Adventure Path #65: Into the Nightmare Rift (Shattered Star 5 of 6) Pathfinder Adventure Path #67: The Snows of Summer (Reign of Winter 1 of 6) (PFRPG) >>

Product Reviews (2)
Product Discussion (183)

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Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Announced! The cover is a mockup, and will change prior to publication.
Cheliax
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path, Campaign Setting, Companion, Modules Subscriber

Okay Going to take a guess that Xin comes back wrong (possibly as a Lich)
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Campaign Setting Subscriber

You can read about what happens when the Sihedron Rune is reassembled in Lost Kingdoms. Specifically:

spoiler:
The sunken city of Xin rises and Xin is resurrected. Xin's a good guy (or at least a neutral guy), so I doubt he's the BBEG. But who knows.

I'm pumped that the other Runelords are getting their due. Alas I doubt they'll be statted up - at least the ones who are higher than 20th level.
Paizo Employee Creative Director
Generic Villain wrote:

You can read about what happens when the Sihedron Rune is reassembled in Lost Kingdoms. Specifically: ** spoiler omitted **

I'm pumped that the other Runelords are getting their due. Alas I doubt they'll be statted up - at least the ones who are higher than 20th level.

Well... in his day...

Spoiler:
... Xin was actually lawful neutral. He was hardly a "good" guy. And a lot can change over the course of hundreds of centuries... AKA there's a big difference between what is supposed to happen and what actually plays out after so much time has passed.
Cheliax

Sounds neat.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path, Campaign Setting, Companion Subscriber

If the main big bad of this AP is another undead(particularlly a Lich) I will be very disapointed.

When are we going to see an AP were the final big bad is a dragon?
Paizo Employee Creative Director
Dragon78 wrote:

If the main big bad of this AP is another undead(particularlly a Lich) I will be very disapointed.

When are we going to see an AP were the final big bad is a dragon?

We've only done an undead big bad for an Adventure Path once, as far as I know (including the Dungeon Adventure Paths), so that would hardly be repetitive. That's not saying that the big bad of Shattered Star is undead... but it's not saying that it's not.

As for an Adventure Path where the final boss is a dragon... that'll still be a while.
Cheliax
2 people marked this as a favorite.
James Jacobs wrote:
As for an Adventure Path where the final boss is a dragon... that'll still be a while.

Didn't that one just recently finish? The spunky band of adventurers taking on and slaying the dragon? You know when 5E was announced.

Couldn't help it. :)
Silver Crusade
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Campaign Setting, Companion Subscriber
5 people marked this as a favorite.

Dragons make for a great mid-level boss in the final adventure. I love when the PCs fight an epic dragon battle only to discover that there's something even worse waiting for them.
Pathfinder Superscriber; Pathfinder Comics Subscriber

I can't wait for this to come out!
James Jacobs wrote:
Dragon78 wrote:

If the main big bad of this AP is another undead(particularlly a Lich) I will be very disapointed.

When are we going to see an AP were the final big bad is a dragon?

As for an Adventure Path where the final boss is a dragon... that'll still be a while.

Spoiler:
Curse of the Crimson Throne?
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Campaign Setting Subscriber
Kajehase wrote:


** spoiler omitted **

spoiler:
The Curse of the Crimson Throne BBEG is Illeosa. Unless you know something I don't, she's definitely not a dragon.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path, Campaign Setting, Companion, Tales, Comics Subscriber
Generic Villain wrote:
Kajehase wrote:


** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

Correction:
Your both have right, as Queen Illeosa is the only known the Problem, she unknowningly interacted with and is resurrecting Kazavon, a Dragon.
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Campaign Setting Subscriber
Azure_Zero wrote:


** spoiler omitted **

spoiler:
A BBEG is the driving antagonist and the one who is ultimately defeated at the conclusion of an AP. In this case that is Ileosa. If you read the section on Kazavon's artifacts, you'll find that, while his essence has aided Ileosa and perhaps corrupted her, he is not actively controlling her. Kazavon is, at best, a plot hook - just like the Archdevil Lotharct. Also Ileosa never planned on resurrecting Kazavon, and it would take a ton of effort on her part to do so (again, read the Relics of Kazavon section). Calling Kazavon the BBEG of Curse of the Crimson Throne would be like calling Abraxus the BBEG of Second Darkness, or Tar-Baphon the BBEG of Carrion Crown.

In short, if Paizo does an AP with a draconic BBEG, you can bet the climactic battle will be with a dragon.

This thread's become too clogged with spoiler tags. Done.

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path, Campaign Setting, Companion, Tales, Comics Subscriber
Generic Villain wrote:
Azure_Zero wrote:


** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **

Correction:
Is Kazavon, not resurrected by the Everdawn Pool?

Crown of Fangs, Pages 58->59.
Well, looks like the answer is yes.

Spoiler:
Kazavon sorta counts as the BBEG but not really. After the PCs deal with Ileosa they suffer this Oh S@%#! moment as they realize that something really bad is happening. If Kazazon successfully resurects it is pretty much game over for the PCs or the AP goes into overtime as the PCs retreat. In either case case it falls outside the bounds of the AP as published therefore I'd say that Ileosa is the final BBEG
Contributor

I also can't wait to see this one, I love Brandon's work, and it sounds like he has some nasty things in store:)

Hoorah!
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

I'm thrilled. The idea of the heroes being led by the nose and helping in bringing back EVIL while thinking they're doing GOOD - ah, the hybris of mankind.

Also, it's got a nice little Troy-touch with the fragments being brought right into the heart of Magnimar, where their true nature is revealed.

Concerning dragon as BBEG:
What about Kingmaker where a nice little CR 25 red dragon is presented in the section on how to continue after the as-written-down part is finished?

Ruyan.
Quote:
When are we going to see an AP were the final big bad is a dragon?

Synn from Shadows over Mystara Anyone? ^_~

"This volume also includes an essay on the ancient Runelords of Thassilon, complete with threads that reach to the modern day."

What new Runelord information is going to be presented, and what do you mean by "threads that reach to the modern day?"
James Jacobs wrote:


As for an Adventure Path where the final boss is a dragon... that'll still be a while.

Good! Dragons for main villians is so overdone!

Paizo Charter Superscriber, Pathfinder Comics Deluxe Subscriber
Sincubus wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:


As for an Adventure Path where the final boss is a dragon... that'll still be a while.
Good! Dragons for main villians is so overdone!

Is it? How many recent examples can you name?

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path, Campaign Setting, Companion Subscriber

None, because none of APs have had a dragon as the final boss. In fact almost all of them have been humans, undead, or at least human like in form.

I'm not talking about pathfinder AP's, just in general.

I like it that the AP doesn't copy this dragon-is-all-popular-and-should-be-endboss thingy.
Osirion
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path Subscriber

I dunno, the right dragon could be a pretty cool end boss. I'm looking at you Mengkare.
Andoran

Since this AP has an old school feel, a dragon end boss would feel just right.
Paizo Charter Superscriber, Pathfinder Comics Deluxe Subscriber
Sincubus wrote:

I'm not talking about pathfinder AP's, just in general.

I like it that the AP doesn't copy this dragon-is-all-popular-and-should-be-endboss thingy.

Copy from where? I'm actually curious what you are referring to.

Silver Crusade
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Campaign Setting, Companion Subscriber

None of the Paizo's APs, even from the Dragon/Dungeon times, featured dragons as final bosses. In fact, Paizo has a long standing tradition of making dragons mid-level bosses of sorts

Spoiler:
Dragotha, Lashonna, the black dragon in CotCT, the jabberwocky in Kingmaker and the dracoli...sorry, ravener in Carrion Crown.

Osirion
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path Subscriber
Gorbacz wrote:

None of the Paizo's APs, even from the Dragon/Dungeon times, featured dragons as final bosses. In fact, Paizo has a long standing tradition of making dragons mid-level bosses of sorts

** spoiler omitted **

That's not... strictly true anymore.

Spoiler:
Even leaving off Kazavon, in the new RotRL Anniversary Edition, the final battle added the Blue Dragon from Karzoug's Portrait on the Gamemastery Guide.

I'm talking about cartoons, movies and especially games, where dragons are always on top.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path, Companion Subscriber

I heard there'll be clockwork in here. Are they in the bestiary? Is Brighd a part of it?
Paizo Employee Creative Director

We're intentionally vague on what's going on in here because we're trying to minimize some significant adventure path spoilers.

But yes... clockworks will be involved. And no, Brighd isn't a part of it.
Osirion
Pathfinder Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Roleplaying Game, Campaign Setting, Companion, Modules, Comics, GameMastery Cards Subscriber
2 people marked this as a favorite.
James Jacobs wrote:

We're intentionally vague on what's going on in here because we're trying to minimize some significant adventure path spoilers.

But yes... clockworks will be involved. And no, Brighd isn't a part of it.

Sounds like you mean Xin's going to be a brain-in-a-jar robot, like Matai Shang in barsoomcore's barsoom tales story hour at enworld? Looking forward to it!

Am I correct in thinking that Xin was a universalist wizard? considering he was a master of all Thessalonian fields of magic.
1 person marked this as a favorite.

Prediction:

Horrifying clockwork body containing Xin's dead heart, fueled by hatred and his freshly awakened soul.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path, Companion Subscriber
1 person marked this as a favorite.

And then the heroes have to convince Vivec to give them Wraithguard so they can strike at Xin's rotting heart with Keening and Sunder?
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Campaign Setting, Companion, Modules Subscriber

It's revealed that the PCs were Xin all along! :O
Paizo Employee Creative Director
zergtitan wrote:
Am I correct in thinking that Xin was a universalist wizard? considering he was a master of all Thessalonian fields of magic.

You are indeed correct.

Osirion
Pathfinder Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Roleplaying Game, Campaign Setting, Companion, Modules, Comics, GameMastery Cards Subscriber
Lucent wrote:

Prediction:

Horrifying clockwork body containing Xin's dead heart, fueled by hatred and his freshly awakened soul.

Oh, how eager I am to see Cogitor Xin. Not that the post-Frank Dune books were much good. And look, James Jacobs studiously neither confirms nor denies!

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path, Campaign Setting, Companion Subscriber

No, he is a clockwork horror with his soul in a beating red jade heart.

He is probably a runecarved clockwork construct with some arcane gem or device for his heart. Remember when he was first killed his body was utterly obliterated. aka his heart was never put in the machine, just his soul.
Osirion
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path Subscriber

He's probably an Abberation. Though he could be some sort of hideous undead horror, given that he had what amounts to a Phylactery.
Contributor
1 person marked this as a favorite.

Or.
Brandon Hodge wrote:
Or.

Yeah, I don't think Xin became a bard and went into show business.

Contributor
1 person marked this as a favorite.

Dismiss it if you like. But the biggest spoiler yet could be buried in that link. Or not. =-P
Silver Crusade
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

First, let me say... you have excellent taste in music.

Second, if there is a spoiler, it would most definitely be in the lyrics.

Spoiler:

'We follow in the steps of our ancestry, and that cannot be broken...'
Something about that line in regard to Xin just leaps out at me when I hear it. And that is worrisome, considering how little we know of Azlant.

I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how this plays out. I've been curious to see how Old Xin is statted out, as it has implications for a campaign I'll be running after my group is done with Skull and Shackles.

Can't wait until January!
Osirion

If, at some point in this AP, I don't get to operate one of those giant evocation-rune-towers that Alaznist made to set fire to an army of foes, my disappointment will be mighty!

I mean, Chekhov's gun, people! Chekhov's gun!
Osirion
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path Subscriber
Set wrote:

If, at some point in this AP, I don't get to operate one of those giant evocation-rune-towers that Alaznist made to set fire to an army of foes, my disappointment will be mighty!

I mean, Chekhov's gun, people! Chekhov's gun!

But it's been stated that the Old light is the only one remaining, and it's completely ruined. Also, that was introduced in a completely different play.

Osirion
Stratagemini wrote:
But it's been stated that the Old light is the only one remaining, and it's completely ruined. Also, that was introduced in a completely different play.

Either the players will have to repair it (at least make it serviceable for one last shot, while other forces seek to stop them from doing so...), or they may discover that the 'only one remaining' was actually the 'only *known* one remaining.'

Either way, pew pew, lazors!

The image is too pretty to die.
Paizo Employee Creative Director
8 people marked this as a favorite.

The seeds planted in Burnt Offerings about the Hellstorm Flumes is not yet ripe for the harvest.
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