With the Mythic Adventures book to be released soon, I have been devising a homebrew campaign set in Robert Brookes' alternate history of Golarion, Ruins of Pathfinder, where all previous heroes have failed, causing the world to spiral into a post-apocalyptic setting.
With the coming of a Second Darkness, return of the Runelord of Greed, rebirth of a Spawn of Rovagug, and innumerable other catastrophes, the world is in shambles as entire nations crumble. And yet, despite this, one of the last members of the Estoic Order of the Palatine Eye prepares to mount an expedition that he hopes will bring salvation to a world that desperately needs it.
Missionary, scholar, and gentleman adventurer, Dr. Henric Pinkerton gathers some of the best and brightest to venture deep into Osirion's deserts in search of the very same sages that his order's founder studied under over 700 years previous. What he doesn't expect, however, is that this journey may very well bring him - and those following him - down the Road to Damnation.
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Ruins of Pathfinder: Road to Damnation will be a Mythic campaign set originally in Osirion, but will end up spanning numerous Outer Planes in a journey that will test the very limits of the soul.
One major aspect of this campaign, besides planar travel, will be a custom mechanic similar to Wrath of the Righteous's Redemption mechanic - Corruption. Instead of redeeming evildoers, players will have to resist the corrupting influence of evil on their souls - or let it consume them, granting them power at the cost of eternal damnation as they sink deeper and deeper into evil.
Outsiders will also play a strong role in this campaign, but will not be limited to mainly Demons as Wrath of the Righteous will be. The faiths surrounding Nurgal, Charon, Trelmarixian, Dispater, and Vildeis will each play important roles throughout the campaign, as will other faiths to a lesser extent.
A third major aspect of this campaign will be terrain - First venturing forth into the dangerous sands of Osirion, and then into some of the harshest landscapes of the Outer Sphere, this campaign will test the resourcefulness of adventurers who must travel there. Even the Worldwound's rough landscape will pale in comparison to what the players will face in this campaign.
I plan on starting recruitment in early September, provided enough people show interest.
So who's up for a road trip?
Wow, this sounds really awesome! I'd love to jump into a mythic game that spans the planes. The fact that it's set in a world where no other heroes stepped up to stop anything in the adventure paths is just icing on the cake.
I'll give this a "HELL YES!" and really interested.
I am definitely interest, and I am SO up for the road trip of a lifetime!
I am very interested in this. Love the concept and the corruption aspect!
Aren't those devils rather than demons?
I'm of course interested as I said over in our other game. It's a bit early for me to have a definite character concept but my initial impulse is to go Ranger->Horizon Walker. Probably either a Tiefling or an Aasimar if you allow them. I tend to make relatively angsty characters (except in GM Blood's Rappan Athuk :P) so maybe a tiefling descended from the kind of outsiders that will be the "big bads" in the campaign.
Aren't those devils rather than demons?
I'm of course interested as I said over in our other game. It's a bit early for me to have a definite character concept but my initial impulse is to go Ranger->Horizon Walker. Probably either a Tiefling or an Aasimar if you allow them. I tend to make relatively angsty characters (except in GM Blood's Rappan Athuk :P) so maybe a tiefling descended from the kind of outsiders that will be the "big bads" in the campaign.
In Wrath of the Righteous? No, they're Demons - the Devil-oriented campaign was Council of Thieves. This campaign will heavily feature all three of the big bads - Daemons, Demons, and Devils. Good aligned Outsiders will have their time in the spotlight, too.
As for Tieflings/Aasimar, I'd be open to them as long as you had a good background for them. Considering you got Rob to allow you a Merfolk in his Reign of Winter campaign, you should have no trouble with this. :P
I would totally be in for that. Sounds sweet.
Sounds interesting enough. I may make my Razmiran character do something for this. :D
EDIT: To clarify - this gentleman would be a demagogue bard with perhaps a few levels of arcane sorcerer with the Razmiran priest archetype.
"Razmir demands the Book."
I meant, aren't "Nurgal, Charon, Trelmarixian, Dispater, and Vildeis" infernal lords? I know at least Dispater is. I'd have to look up the others.
Dotting Crusty!
I meant, aren't "Nurgal, Charon, Trelmarixian, Dispater, and Vildeis" infernal lords? I know at least Dispater is. I'd have to look up the others.
Ooh, gotcha. Nurgal is the Shining Scourge, Demon Lord of Senseless Warfare. Dispater is an Archdevil known as the Iron Lord, Father of Dis. Charon is the Horseman of Death, while Trelmarixian is the Horseman of Famine. Vildeis is an Empyreal Lord, the Crimson Martyr. Apparently Vildeis's Pathfinder Wiki Page is a bit blank..
Ah, a cosmopolitan plate of evil, with a masochist thrown in for good measure. Is it you, or Dr Logem writing this adventure? ;)
Any restrictions on classes?
Ah, a cosmopolitan plate of evil, with a masochist thrown in for good measure. Is it you, or Dr Logem writing this adventure? ;)
Dr. Logem will be tame compared to what I have in store for you guys. ;)
Any restrictions on classes?
Only 3rd party classes will be disallowed. All PF-official classes and archetypes will be allowed - even Synthesist Summoners.
You say that like they should need an exception. Maybe I'll make one of those. Rasso and Angelo are fun, but there are so many things you can do with that class.
If it's gonna be Mythic, would you consider making us really crappy initially and then letting us do gestalt?
For example, we roll stats 3d6 down the line, no moving them around and then have to make like a 3rd level NPC class character. Then quickly after the start of the game we become mythic somehow and get gestalted with PC classes.
I've seen more than a few DMs ban Summoners (and Gunslingers to a lesser extent), sadly. Synthesist Summoners have a bad reputation it seems, even if I don't mind 'em personally. I'm aware of your interest in Synthesist Summoners, Jelani :P
As for character creation.. it will be very similar to Rob's other Ruins of Pathfinder campaigns: 25 Point build, Starting Level 2, etc. I'll most likely be allowing a free story feat as well. I'm currently working on custom Campaign traits revolving around the different Mythic paths - though I have every intention of making them less sucky and railroad-y than the Wrath of the Righteous ones.
Gestalts are fun, but I have no intention of using 'em. We'll be having enough fun being Mythic, if the playtest is any indication. >:)
Yeah, I guess that could serve the same purpose as Gestalt. I haven't seen the rules so I don't know. My main interest is in starting out as really weak "normal" people, and then when we become mythic turning into heroes.
5d6 drop two down the line?
*****
Edit: Synthesists would be really nice in this game in that at fairly low levels you can pick up immunity to all elemental damage. I was thinking a second ago a scientist who is obsessed with studying different ecological systems. So he develops an eidolon that lets him exist comfortably in all the different planar environments. He eventually would multiclass Horizon Walker as well. Whatever I end up playing they will go for Horizon Walker.
Have a character concept in mind that could be perfect for this type of game, and it was a synthesist summoner, which is why I asked.
I will pm you my idea, lemme know what you think.
Yeah, I guess that could serve the same purpose as Gestalt. I haven't seen the rules so I don't know. My main interest is in starting out as really weak "normal" people, and then when we become mythic turning into heroes.
5d6 drop two down the line?
*****
Edit: Synthesists would be really nice in this game in that at fairly low levels you can pick up immunity to all elemental damage. I was thinking a second ago a scientist who is obsessed with studying different ecological systems. So he develops an eidolon that lets him exist comfortably in all the different planar environments. He eventually would multiclass Horizon Walker as well. Whatever I end up playing they will go for Horizon Walker.
That could work as a character for sure, if you wish to go that route. As for starting off as really weak 'normal' people.. if you were as such, in all likelyhood, you would have been culled by one of the numerous apocalypses visited upon this poor world. Just ask Rob :P
This campaign will actually be set a few years prior to his Reign of Winter campaign - just before the abnormal winters start kicking in. So while winter-borne famine hasn't necessarily occured yet.. Osirion has had its share of disaster.
What was the disaster there? The fire lord guy from Legacy of Fire? Or was there an AP that took place in Osirion that I'm not aware of?
Edit: Nevermind. The joys of reading. Just looked at the Reign of Winter campaign info tab. :P
Edit edit:So this will take place after Xotani but before the cold weather begins?
The Spawn of Rovagug - Xotani the Fire-Bleeder, who was once the Firelord you mentioned - wiped out a portion of Osirion's capital of Sothis, along with the Ruby Prince, much of his Risen Guard, and a very large number of Kelish refugees.
However, there are some other happenings that have plagued them as well - you'll find more about these as we get closer to campaign start, as I'm still working on them. They don't have any history in the other AP's, and will be of my design.
Edit: Yes, after Xotani, before The Snows of Summer.
This all sounds too rich to pass up. Looking forward to hearing more!
This hat, my name for it. I have no flipping clue about a character yet.
Yeah, I've had half a dozen character ideas in the last fifteen minutes. I'll need more info before I can settle on what path I will take to Horizon Walker. But I'm already seeing names of people I enjoy playing with :)
Building character for submission slowly but surely.
Dotting for interest. September is going to be a busy month for me, but I'd love to get into something Mythic.
Are you planning a RP-based recruitment thread like Rob did for Quest for Arcadia?
Absolute dot.
I have a pretty deep roster of "want to plays" so I may wait and see how the other submissions are shaping out before I commit completely. Speaking for myself, though, Planescape is still one of my all time favorites, so the prospect of planar travel is supers awesomes times!
I am very interested in this but have a little problem with the timeline.
I am a medical student and will not have time to make a character in early September. Is it possible for me to make a character for submission now and have you hold onto it?
I've wanted to play a particular plane-jumping character for quite some time and I'd like to get her together and submit her before I run out of time.
You lucky dogs. I'll have to settle for 2/3 if I can swing this one.
Looks interesting, but I'm right now not sure if I'll have the time to make an character in early September (vacation).
Definitely interested. I love the RoP: RoW story.
Since you are allowing Synthesist Summoners, would the Juju Oracle be alright as they were originally written? You know, with the ability to create neutral mindless undead and intelligent undead of the creator's alignment?
Spirit Vessels (Su): "Necromancy spells that create undead lose the evil descriptor when you cast them. Mindless undead created by your magic are of neutral alignment, while thinking undead possess your alignment." You can channel wendo spirits into lifeless bodies, reanimating them to aid you. When using the animate dead spell, you can control 6 HD worth of undead creatures per caster level rather than 4 HD. In addition, any zombies or juju zombies you create using animate dead, create undead, or similar spells possess maximum hit points.
The bold part was apparently never intended to happen, slipped past every editor, and is now "officially" disowned. However, I do not think it is that oddly out of place in Ruins of Pathfinder. I am thinking of making a semi-crazed Juju Oracle who is trying to reverse engineer the secrets of life and death so they could "fix" the world.
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/oracle/mysteries/paizo---oracl e-mysteries/juju
Hmm...
Interest, yes. Character idea, not yet, as there are too many variables to consider at this point (Mythic Adventures book, campaign traits and mythic paths, other players' submissions, etc).
Also, do you plan to allow drawbacks?
Sounds cool crusty :) (Quint/Saranaja here if you don't recognize my default alias). I'm thinking I haven't played a Cleric in a while, so either that or an Oracle of battle maybe, going for Heirophant. I played the first couple of modules of Carrion Crown but don't quite remember what the Order of the Palantine Eye does. I'll have to look that up and see what sort of religions would mesh with it.
I'm also in the process of designing a wiki for Ruins so as to centralize the campaign info and track story lines/characters.
Sounds handy :)
Dotting for interest. September is going to be a busy month for me, but I'd love to get into something Mythic.
Are you planning a RP-based recruitment thread like Rob did for Quest for Arcadia?
Probably not.. but we'll see when September comes around. Rob's RP-based recruitment was pretty nuts in a good way, so maybe I will go that route.
I am very interested in this but have a little problem with the timeline.
I am a medical student and will not have time to make a character in early September. Is it possible for me to make a character for submission now and have you hold onto it?
I've wanted to play a particular plane-jumping character for quite some time and I'd like to get her together and submit her before I run out of time.
You can make most of the character now, aye - though you may need to make some modifications when I officially get the recruitment thread up.
Check out Rob's Quest for Arcadia recruitment thread or see below:
Starting Level: PCs will start at 2nd level.
Alignment: Any Non-Evil
Ability Scores: 25 point buy.
HP: Max HP rolls at 1st and 2nd level. Players will roll for HP from level 3 onward.
Traits: 2 traits (One must be a Road to Damnation Campaign Trait, and a third trait may be allowed if you take a Drawback)
Story Feats: One free Story feat at 1st level
Base Starting Money: 1,000gp
Races: Any from the Core Rulebook. Other races are subject to approval on a case-by-case basis.
Classes: All classes from Paizo products.
Firearms: Firearms operate under the "commonplace guns" rule
(see Ultimate Combat for more details).
This is subject to change as I get closer to opening the recruitment thread, but will basically be what I'm aiming for.
Definitely interested. I love the RoP: RoW story.
Since you are allowing Synthesist Summoners, would the Juju Oracle be alright as they were originally written? You know, with the ability to create neutral mindless undead and intelligent undead of the creator's alignment?
Spirit Vessels (Su): "Necromancy spells that create undead lose the evil descriptor when you cast them. Mindless undead created by your magic are of neutral alignment, while thinking undead possess your alignment." You can channel wendo spirits into lifeless bodies, reanimating them to aid you. When using the animate dead spell, you can control 6 HD worth of undead creatures per caster level rather than 4 HD. In addition, any zombies or juju zombies you create using animate dead, create undead, or similar spells possess maximum hit points.
The bold part was apparently never intended to happen, slipped past every editor, and is now "officially" disowned. However, I do not think it is that oddly out of place in Ruins of Pathfinder. I am thinking of making a semi-crazed Juju Oracle who is trying to reverse engineer the secrets of life and death so they could "fix" the world.
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/oracle/mysteries/paizo---oracl e-mysteries/juju
Creating Undead is a big no-no as far as the higher powers are concerned - doing so is definitely an evil act, no matter how you get around to doing it. I've been writing down every Evil spell (I.E., ones with the evil descriptor), as casting such spells are part of the basis of Corruption - so no, the current ruling on that is what I'm going to have to stick with. Even if the undead themselves weren't evil, the spell itself is definitely evil.
This also means that everyone's favorite Infernal Healing spell is going to run an additional risk to use on a regular basis. ;)
Hmm...
Interest, yes. Character idea, not yet, as there are too many variables to consider at this point (Mythic Adventures book, campaign traits and mythic paths, other players' submissions, etc).
Also, do you plan to allow drawbacks?
Yep, Drawbacks are allowed, and I'll probably be making a few custom ones as well. You may take a drawback for an additional trait, if you so wish.
Sounds cool crusty :) (Quint/Saranaja here if you don't recognize my default alias). I'm thinking I haven't played a Cleric in a while, so either that or an Oracle of battle maybe, going for Heirophant. I played the first couple of modules of Carrion Crown but don't quite remember what the Order of the Palantine Eye does. I'll have to look that up and see what sort of religions would mesh with it.
I'm also in the process of designing a wiki for Ruins so as to centralize the campaign info and track story lines/characters.Sounds handy :)
Pharasma is one of the big ones in Ustalav. (Or was, considering Ustalav is now under the control of the Whispering Tyrant) The Order had its own little unique religion-ish thing going on that bordered on being a Cult. Dr. Pinkerton is, however, a worshipper and missionary of Pharasma - this is common knowledge for those who know of him and he does nothing to hide the fact.
Actually, speaking of character ideas, I think I will try my hand with my NG elven magus (bladebound, hexcrafter) again. Of course, more than a little tweaking will be necessary considering the world in general and Kyonin in particular has gone to hell, but I am sure I can come up with something while still retaining most of his concept.
And talking about Story Feats, I think Nemesis will do nicely. :-)
Nemesis will actually be an amazing story feat for this - I was going to mention it later on.
Just give me an idea of what your nemesis is and I'll flesh 'em out with my own changes and whatnot.
May I ask how long ago it was that the meteor struck Kyonin and Treerazer took control of what remained?
Interested? Intrigued actually.
Love the Ruins of Pathfinder setting. I'm definitely applying for this one. The fact that it starts in Osirion makes it even better, I have a fighter and a magus both Osirion-themed pretty much ready to go.
Looking forward to the recruitment.
I'd love to take part in this.
How would you feel about a Wayang? The idea is that he would be dran to Golarion from the Shadow Plane as a direct result of the catastrophe that is the Second Darkness. He'd be a guy still trying to find his way on Golarion amidst the destruction. He'd be a follower of the Empyreal Lords, in particular Black Butterfly, Irez & Kelinahat.
The guy would probably be a Magus. He could be sought out by Pinkerton because of his knowledge of the Plane of Shadow.