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this idea came to me a while back and i finally decided to put it down here on the messageboards.
In Galorian after the events of Shattered Star a group of four adventurers inspired by the heroes of earlier APs set out on a mission to investigate and stop the mysterious distortions occurring in a town in Varisia. events such as loss of memories or the gaining of false memories, people disappearing and random people appearing believing in events that never happened. the heroes discover a wizard who has gotten hold of the Scepter of Ages and is attempting to change the past in order to bring his daughter back from the clutches of fate. the Heroes succeed in stopping him as they along with the wizard are sucked thru a portal to the past where the wizard is immediately killed by a clockwork soldier accusing him of being a runelord insurgent.
the heroes have entered an alternate past in which the assassination of Xin failed and the emperor led his clockwork army against the runelord forces. all but Xanderghul and Sorshen are slain while the other runelords apprentices escape with their masters scepters of power, going into hiding as Xin finally has the control of his empire that he wanted at the price of the people's freedom and his own humanity. the heroes must find the runelords who are in hiding and convince them to rise against Xin.
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In this timeline the runelords have changed greatly.
Xanderghul: The Humble Darkness. after the failed attempt against Xin's life Xandergul was forced into hiding and to give up all the luxuries he had in order to hide as the beggar king in Cryusian. Humiliated and humbled by the life he now lives, he realizes that pride and the luxuries of rule mean nothing without the support of others and so has become one of the most humble of the runelords. as he mastered shadow magic and glamor spells he has been able to keep many steps ahead of Xin and hides under the emperor's own nose. his contacts in the underground have allowed him a better network of connections and assets that no others could access and bides his time for the right chance to kill the clockwork emperor. but Xanderghul has become a shadow of himself and while he has the power to overthrow Xin in his hand, he is too afraid and too unsure of himself to act. he will need to support of other to make any move beyond what he has done so far.
Sorshen: The lady of Love who after the failed rebellion against Xin hide the the red light districts of Eurthnia and was never heard from again. in truth she tried to use her power to enchant others to protect her but as the spells wore off she felt more hatred from the people then love and was called and treated as a whore. after many years of this constant abuse she found sanctuary with the goddess shelyn and realized how getting the help of others by their own will is better then constantly trying to control them against their will. she is now the secret head of all the brothels in Eurythnia and is known as a kind and merciful matron who has contacts across the empire. having now taken a vow to Shelyn and prays for a day where she can gather enough allies to overthrow Xin and establish a peaceful and free land for the people. she unknowingly knows the runelord of generosity as he has been known to flock the red light districts on business and has begun to grow attached to Sorshen and she to him.
Karzoug: The Generous Merchant Lord, a man whose pockets constantly empty as the runelord tries to meet Xin's material request while at the same time giving to his people what he can to survive. he was once a slave but was saved by a kind merchant who introduced him to his predecessor and taught him the magic of generosity. but one day his master (who he now began to see as his father) is executed by Xin for not fulfilling his quota, and Karzoug saved the people from further retaliation by being able to finish the quota along with the large late fees by the next morning becoming the lord of commerce for Shalast. while he is now in a position of power he tries what he can to fill Xin's needs while at the same time producing surplus supplies for the day he can help the people rebel against Xin.
Krune: while Krune has the power to summon other to do his bidding, he has not time or luxury for rest as he is Head of Haruka Xin's personal bureaucratic headquarters and religious center for the empire. home to many foreign delegates and constantly busy with the duties of running the emperors empire. Krune is the latest head of the state as his predecessor died from exhaustion, which he keeps away with many potions and spells to stave off the need of sleep. however his job has given him access to something which can turn the tide against Xin, the emperors personal library where all the secrets to his magic and rune magic are held. Krune spends his rest hours entering this library and researching as much as he can to find insight into Xins great power. someday he hopes to use this knowledge to finally throw off Xin's power and bring respite from the constant toil for his people.
Zutha: the emaciated lord, head of the empires cash crops and lords of Gastash's fields. a man of the greatest temperence who underwent lichdoom in order to need no food and give what he has to feed his starving people who are not allowed to eat any of the food they harvest or make unto penalty of death. as more of his people escape starvation in either death or undeath he knows that the people don't deserve such fates and so hopes to find a way to release the ban against harvested food and finally feed his people. And while he rebel and have enough food to feed an army he doesn't have the manpower, weapons, defenses, contacts, power or resources to use them.
Azlanist: Leader of Xin's flesh armies which are used to soften the enemies of Xin as disposable units. she has survived the longest of any living general Xin has used who in secret have been previous runelords of kindness sworn to one day kill Xin. and while by the record she has killed many enemies and executed any man who betrayed orders in truth she has spared their lives and used her power to disguise their appearance and save them from Xin's wrath. she is known secretly by the people as the Kind General and acts as a symbol of someone who could overthrow Xin and end his reign. but her forces are too few, and the losses would be too great for such an action. she hopes to one day meet the other runelords and finally free the land from the clockwork tyranny.
Belimarius: the Lady of Charity whose magic has been able to protect her people from Xin better then any before her. and while she has been able to stand against Xin she has no power to move against him with and so spends her days trying to find ways of counter Xin's magic and free the people of Edasseril. but she is old and Xin power is to great to move against as she has no offensive abilities. so Xin makes no move against her, and bides his time as the conditions in the land become worse and famine and plague spread like wildfire. she prays to Desna in hopes of one day saving her people from their suffering.
Interesting.
Dotting this for later commentary/observation.
Fascinating!
An interesting concept, though I have one criticism.
Aafter many years of [being called and treated as a whore] she found sanctuary with the goddess Shelyn and realized how getting the help of others by their own will is better then constantly trying to control them against their will.
In Sorshen's day, Shelyn was considered the patron of the arts rather than love. Arshea, however, would be a good patron given his local popularity (I'm guessing there was a lot of Empyreal worship in the days of Thassilon) and his explicit focus on sexuality.
Mainly, though, Arshea and Sorshen are my favorite characters in the Pathfinder. (At least I'm honest.)