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Pathfinder Adventure Path #106: For Queen & Empire (Hell's Vengeance 4 of 6) (PFRPG)

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Pathfinder Adventure Path #106: For Queen & Empire (Hell's Vengeance 4 of 6) (PFRPG)
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Hell is Its Own Reward!

Her Infernal Majestrix Queen Abrogail II of Cheliax summons her agents to the city of Egorian to address the current crisis with the Glorious Reclamation. Upon arriving in the bustling capital, the adventurers find themselves swept up in the cutthroat politics of the imperial court. To impress the queen and secure a royal audience, the wicked characters must scour the City of Thorns to root out and eradicate a secret organization that works to free halfling slaves. But to truly earn Queen Abrogail's trust, the adventurers must perform a sacrifice for the queen to renew House Thrune's contract with Hell, and there are many—both within the court and without—who wish to see the monarch dethroned.

This volume of Pathfinder Adventure Path continues the Hell's Vengeance Adventure Path and includes:

  • "For Queen & Empire," a Pathfinder adventure for 10th-level characters, by Stephen Radney-MacFarland.
  • A gazetteer of Egorian, the City of Thorns and capital of Cheliax, by Dave Gross.
  • A look into the secretive abolitionist organization known as the Bellflower Network, by Crystal Frasier.
  • A costly sacrifice in the Pathfinder's Journal, by Josh Vogt.
  • Four exciting new monsters, by Garrett Guillotte, Steven T. Helt, Luis Loza, and Stephen Radney-MacFarland.

ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-836-6

Other Resources: This product is also available on the following platforms:

Hero Lab Online
Archives of Nethys

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

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The best part of the AP!

5/5 —

GOOD:
Most illustrations, lots of sandbox roleplaying, lots of diverse fights with solid designed opponents, most of the battle-maps, magic items, NPCs, Egorian Gazetteer by Dave Ross, Bellflower article, Bestiary.

BAD:
You need the NPC Codex to run this, some very minor errors (Abrogail build with 19 points instead of 20 for example), very bland Egorian map.

UGLY: nothing.

This is where the "Evil AP" begins to function really well.
Better late than never.
A must-buy for Cheliax lovers!

Look, I'm not Dave Meltzer

5/5 —

Okay, I absolutely savaged the previous book in the Path, so I feel like I have to write another review. A big part of the reason I was so very angry at The Inferno Gate was one of the party was excited to continue playing his new favorite class, the Vigilante, and was chapped in extremis when he found out he would have to wander around all the time in his Luchador mask. When they had gotten to the point at which the party is accosted by a tired paladin, I had ask for a redo, as the Glorious Reclamation still managed to recognize him, despite him being in his secret identity for that day, which was literally too dumb to comprehend. I improvised, and they ended up killing the group through magic and grapples, laundering their uniforms, and hiding their corpses. All of this might be unnecessary background, but I felt like preceeding the following with my last drop of anger at the previous book:
For Queen and Empire is GREAT.
The social interactions all work well, showing off different flavors of evil, and really working the selfish manipulation aspect that had been totally missing in Inferno Gate. The allies in the first half of the book are so unambiguously vile, from their willingness to believe the worst in everyone around them, to their highly evocative jargon when talking about halfling slavery, that they act as great counterpoints to the PC’s, who are probably somewhere between out and out psycho killer and religious fascists at this point in the Path. Through the course of this book, the PC’s have the listed option to A. Spread lies about people who offered to help them. B. Murder someone completely unprovoked C. Steal rightly bartered for and purchased valuables from someone who very much needs them D. Butcher a bunch of someone’s herd animals in their pen E. Participate in a massive NE party F. Betray every damn thing
All of these are exclusively for personal gain. This book fulfills every single thing I wanted at the start of the path, and haven't really found. What's more, all of the social activities of the first half pay off in a big way at then end, with three massively interesting and difficult encounters back to back. I'm not totally satisfied that they went with a similar “good character on a good aircraft” solution for one fight, but they swapped the formula by making the F-16 the real threat this time around.
I do have some complaints. Once again, paizo plugs the npc codex every third page, which remains a useless waste of dead trees and electron movement. Despite the ultra-dense social encounters, we never get to use the social combat rules presented in Ultimate Intrigue. The art is also a little bit silly, because at two points, it talks about striking features on NPCs, height and facial similarity to another character, but the art very much does not back it up. These are very much nitpicks, as this book is my current favorite in the Path, and would honestly have made a pretty excellent conclusion.

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Community Manager
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Announced! Product image and description are not final and subject to change.
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Interesting! Bit of noble pruning!

YAY!! More info on evil path! :D

Bellflower network, have they been mentioned before?
Dragon78 wrote:
Bellflower network, have they been mentioned before?

In multiple locations: halflings of golarion as well as others. Basically an 'underground railroad' in cheliax for a short summary.

I look forward to seeing a bunch of halfling abolitionists who can provide a threat to 10th-level villains. I'm sure many GMs will be guilty when the PCs defeat them, but just the fact that they can actually challenge a bunch of high-level psychos is awesome in of itself.
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An evil adventure from Stephen Radney-MacFarland?

So much death...
2 people marked this as a favorite.

If there is a chance for a massacre of Halflings it will only make this scenario sweeter, only if the halflings have some gnome allied could it be better
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There is nothing in the current product description for this that is unappealing to me.
Liberty's Edge
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The thoughts of my insinuator antipaladin- Gwyndolin Thistlebrook

Politics isn't really my strongsuit, What I understand is that an empire without strong leadership cannot qwell this rebellion. An example will have to be made of these...traitors and slave-freinds, even their old masters must be disciplined for failing to keep them in line. As for the belief that Thrune will lose the contract with the pits of hell, it is the duty of every citizen to serve the house of Thrune and the empire of cheilex in whatever way they can. If that means being a sacrifice to the pits of hell, that is what it will take.

And as for those that wish thrune to fall, I question then why they didn't act sooner. If they were merely waiting for thrunes defences to drop, I hold them to be traitorous cowards who deserve no quarter or ounce of mercy.

I think we're due for an update.
Dark Archive
TR-8R wrote:
I think we're due for an update.

That could take some time.

This will be in stores in 12 weeks on may 25th and subscibers can get the pdf as early as may 9th.
Community & Digital Content Director

Updated with final product description and image!

Egorian AND the Bellflower Network?

Now I HAVE to buy this one.

THANKS Paizo....

grumble

Dark Archive
2 people marked this as a favorite.

Dave Gross, writer of the 5 Varian & Radovan "Pathfinder Tales" novels writes the gazetteer of Egorian?
A must have!

Oh great and wondrous webstore personnel,

Just so you all know, the thumbnail doesn't appear with all the others, you have to click on the adventure title in the upwards product description in order to see it.

No big deal, just thought someone would like to know :-)

Asked there, but reasking here: will Her Infernal Majestrix Abrogail Thrune II get a stat block in this?

Also, can the PCs flirt with her?
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber
Insane KillMaster wrote:

Asked there, but reasking here: will Her Infernal Majestrix Abrogail Thrune II get a stat block in this?

Also, can the PCs flirt with her?

I know she gets one in one of the issues, just keep in mind she is at least a 15th level character; so if she is in this one, flirting with her is definitely taking your life in your hands...

Irnk, Dead-Eye's Prodigal wrote:
Insane KillMaster wrote:

Asked there, but reasking here: will Her Infernal Majestrix Abrogail Thrune II get a stat block in this?

Also, can the PCs flirt with her?

I know she gets one in one of the issues, just keep in mind she is at least a 15th level character; so if she is in this one, flirting with her is definitely taking your life in your hands...

18th level: Aristocrat 2 / Sorcerer 16, kinda expect to see Aristocrat switched with something else.

Irnk, Dead-Eye's Prodigal wrote:
Insane KillMaster wrote:

Asked there, but reasking here: will Her Infernal Majestrix Abrogail Thrune II get a stat block in this?

Also, can the PCs flirt with her?

I know she gets one in one of the issues, just keep in mind she is at least a 15th level character; so if she is in this one, flirting with her is definitely taking your life in your hands...

It's not as if PCs don't do that every day anyway.

Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Irnk, Dead-Eye's Prodigal wrote:
Insane KillMaster wrote:

Asked there, but reasking here: will Her Infernal Majestrix Abrogail Thrune II get a stat block in this?

Also, can the PCs flirt with her?

I know she gets one in one of the issues, just keep in mind she is at least a 15th level character; so if she is in this one, flirting with her is definitely taking your life in your hands...

Having any dealings with her at all is probably taking your life in your hands -- but you may actually have a chance of survival if you show her the proper respect and deference.

David knott 242 wrote:
Irnk, Dead-Eye's Prodigal wrote:
Insane KillMaster wrote:

Asked there, but reasking here: will Her Infernal Majestrix Abrogail Thrune II get a stat block in this?

Also, can the PCs flirt with her?

I know she gets one in one of the issues, just keep in mind she is at least a 15th level character; so if she is in this one, flirting with her is definitely taking your life in your hands...

Having any dealings with her at all is probably taking your life in your hands -- but you may actually have a chance of survival if you show her the proper respect and deference.

Over the course of an adventure path, PCs often make fantastic and legendary achievements. Is it possible that one of the player characters is strong enough, attractive enough, charismatic enough, deadly enough, and wicked enough to sweep Abrogail off her feet? I don't think she would just blush like a schoolgirl and fall into said PCs arms, but if he/she really worked at it...and were willing to go the extra mile...as a GM I might keep an open mind. But it would take some very difficult rolls and excellent roleplaying.

Who's to say Abby's into dudes.
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captain yesterday wrote:
Who's to say Abby's into dudes.
Axial wrote:
he/she

3 people marked this as a favorite.

Very good, I missed that I guess. :-D

Carry on!
And yes I'm also hoping we get her stats with this. :-)
The Exchange
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Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Maps, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Evil is evil and that's going to make things take a weird turn I guess lol. Still, 17 posts into the thread and conversation immediately turns to what's important in life: Trying to get into the pants of the queen! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
4 people marked this as a favorite.

Please, I'm out of everyone's league.

Lulz!

Are the subscribers PDF...?
Community Manager

Removed some posts and their responses. Keep it clean, folks.
Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Lost Omens, PF Special Edition, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Insane KillMaster wrote:

Lulz!

Are the subscribers PDF...?

Subscriber PDFs won't be going out until May 9th at the earliest.

Anyone have some info on the bestiary yet?

Nope. Probably not until Monday. :-)
Dark Archive
Berselius wrote:
Anyone have some info on the bestiary yet?

Dead Haflings

captain yesterday wrote:
Nope. Probably not until Monday. :-)

Awwww SHADES of Mardi Gras! :(

NenkotaMoon wrote:
Berselius wrote:
Anyone have some info on the bestiary yet?
Dead Haflings

I think they'd have to be UNDEAD halflings to qualify for a bestiary dude.

Dark Archive
3 people marked this as a favorite.

Bestiary:

Avernus Razorback - Hell boar that can devour both body and soul, has delicious-yet-addictive meat.
Xiuh Couatl - Psychic couatl wreathed in lightning and radiant fire.
Lapsudaemon - Daemon of death-by-falling, looks like a large ball of body parts and faces, rolls about with deadly momentum, knocks things out of the sky, controls wind, and is generally more in-your-face than subtle.
Ixion Worm - A creature from the gears of Phlegethon, formed from the souls of those who betrayed their kin, taking the form of a cyclopean face stretched wide across one wide of a wheel of metal and bone. Their eyes have hypnotic properties and they are favored by Belial.

I have only just briefly looked things over so far, but I was pleased with what I noticed in the soul pact with Abrogail:

Soul Pact:
She's using a soul-escrow trick to prevent souls from going directly to Asmodeus, so divine-focused characters with non-Asmodeus patrons don't lose abilities from the pact and don't have resurrection issues. The PCs also get their souls back if they successfully complete the overall mission of defeating the Glorious Reclamation and only have to forfeit them if they lose or betray the cause.

Lord G,

Any chance for a CR on the daemon perhaps?
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Haven't opened my PDF yet, but those all sound Interesting. The daemon and ixion worm in particular.

Agreed Nero.

They seem pretty cool sounding/looking.
2 people marked this as a favorite.

Avernus Razorback is CR 9
Xiuh Couatl is CR 12
Lapsudaemon is CR 14
Ixiom Worm is CR 13

Thank you Captain! :)
3 people marked this as a favorite.

There's also a super bad ass picture of Zelharra and Emil in their gothic finest attending a party of evil or something. My favorite art piece of Hell's Vengeance so far.

Also love the map of Egorian and the art for it.

So, I have a question about an NPC and logical...inconsistencies.

Spoiler:

Ironwing Kazi. How has this griffon, who it states will not retreat unless her druid is reduced to nearly dead and is only CR 10, survived for, I quote, for centuries? Especially with Her Majesty coming through its forest (which Kazi defends from all comers) yearly on her pilgrimage. The Queen has a DC 24 disintegrate spell at CL 16, so Kazi has to roll a 13 or higher to save or take, on average, 112 of her ~150-ish hit points in a single attack, and Her Majesty has a level 13 inquisitor erinyes that can greater teleport!

Ironwing Kazi should have long since been dead if she 'would not hesitate to fight to the death' over some apparently random adventurers! This is an incredibly illogical setup for this NPC that just makes me...irked.

*ends rant*

For those who don't want spoilers: NPC who's supposedly been a thorn in the side of evil in a forest for centuries, that evil people of much higher level go through yearly. And the NPC has a 'fights to the death' clause, with mitigating circumstances that aren't going to happen most of the time.
Dark Archive
1 person marked this as a favorite.

I'm agreeing with the Captain on that party art. The AP as a whole has had mixed art success, but that piece is a gem. The villain iconics look sharp in it.

The piece of Abrogail on page 2 also looks good.
Benjamin Medrano wrote:

So, I have a question about an NPC and logical...inconsistencies.

** spoiler omitted **

For those who don't want spoilers: NPC who's supposedly been a thorn in the side of evil in a forest for centuries, that evil people of much higher level go through yearly. And the NPC has a 'fights to the death' clause, with mitigating circumstances that aren't going to happen most of the time.

And what does it's tactics say for when it faces the Queen, and her retinue... Or is that not part of the adventure... tactics are there to help, not box people in. :-)

So what are Abby's stats and sorcerer bloodline? Also what's the deal with the face tattoo?
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