Loyalty Day


Hell's Rebels


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Loyalty Day is a holiday celebrated in Cheliax on the 19th of Calistril honoring the ascendancy of House Thrune and the end of the civil war. As it turns out, that day is coming up in my game. I am planning the following events. Participation is, of course, mandatory.

1. A service at the Temple lead by Corinstian Grivenner.
2. A public address by Barzillai Thrune from the Opera House.
3. A public execution of four tieflings found guilty of murdering Shensen and burning down her shop at Castle Kintargo.
4. Public feasts at all of the major parks with a fair at Aria Park with priests on hand with wands of endure elements, casting them gratis on the citizenry because it's the middle of winter.

I was maybe considering having House Sarini host a theater of the real event at the fair, representing a famous fight or duel from the Chelish civil war but as far as I know, there are none such events specified in canon. Any ideas for that or additional events for the PCs to witness would be great.


At the fair, I think i will have some Order of the Rack armigers running an event that is basically a book burning. They will be maintaining a bonfire and and selling copies of banned books that they have confiscated that participants can then throw into the fire.

I would like to have armigers of the Order of the Torrent doing something as well, but I am having a hard time thinking of something that they could do that would signify their philosophy and set them apart from the Rack. Ideas?


Ooh, I saw the thread title and was hoping you'd be playing with a dystopian praise-the-powers-that-be festival day!

Propaganda seems to be a big factor - I'd be sure to mention pro-Thrune street performers and bards singing/storytelling the government's praises (according to the most up-to-date redactions, of course). Puppet shows displaying Cheliax's magnanimity and power, with children gathered around drinking it in.

As for the theater of the real production, something along the lines of Dante's Inferno might be interesting - a panoramic view of Hell according to diabolist beliefs, with elaborate costumes and extravagant (possibly magical) visual effects and plenty of human suffering to give it that realistic touch. Of course, show it as subject to Cheliax's might, perhaps with the overview led by a "devil" being ordered through by the wizard binding it.


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Rennaivx wrote:
Puppet shows displaying Cheliax's magnanimity and power, with children gathered around drinking it in.

Punch and Judy, except Punch is a Hellknight and Judy is a halfling.


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
DominusMegadeus wrote:
Rennaivx wrote:
Puppet shows displaying Cheliax's magnanimity and power, with children gathered around drinking it in.
Punch and Judy, except Punch is a Hellknight and Judy is a halfling.

Twisted. I approve.


Shaun wrote:


I would like to have armigers of the Order of the Torrent doing something as well, but I am having a hard time thinking of something that they could do that would signify their philosophy and set them apart from the Rack. Ideas?

Hide-and-seek? A contestant, with the help from two friends, gets 10 minutes to hide somewhere in the celebration grounds. Then a Torrent Hellknight tries to find him in 5 minutes. He'll use Seek the taken and/or Discern lies on the hidden one's friends. Maybe an overzealous armiger of the Order of the Rack tries to sabotage the contest by killing the hidden contestant, and we'll end up having a real murder mystery to solve!

Grand Lodge Contributor

Loyalty Day features in a recent PFS Scenario: The Infernal Inheritance.

Loyalty Day itself gets a little attention (page 14) in the shape of a few skill challenges around some of the events and entertainments, but it might help you fill things out.


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I have worked out what I am going to do for Loyalty Day. Loyalty Day events will include a morning service at the Temple of Asmodeus, an address by Barzillai Thrune at the Opera House, a Fair at Aria Park and a public execution at Castle Kintargo. Some of these events, especially the execution, reference events that I set up in my earlier exposition pieces here: http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tb6s?PreProtest-Exposition. I retconned the number of tiefligns arrested for Shensen's murder from 6 to 4 (I doubt the players will notice.) I hope you find use for this, whether you use Loyalty Day or not!

The Set Up
Loyalty Day has arrived, Cheliax’s annual celebration of the signing of the Treaty of Egorian, ending the Chelish Civil War and the ascendancy of House Thrune. As all people of Cheliax know, this is a day of feasting and celebration, in which all citizens are required to participate.

You awaken to the tolling of the Devil’s Bells in the morning. It is a cold, clear day and the sun is shining brightly. You know that the Crown has provided for free food to be available at Veritas Plaza in Jarvis End, Aria Park in Old Kintargo and Villegre Park in Villegre. Priests of Asmodeus shall be on hand to use magic to keep all citizens comfortable in the winter air. The Temple of Asmodeus is holding morning mass, Lord-Mayor Thrune is to address the city at noon, followed by the Fair in Aria Park and an execution of those recently found guilty of murdering the opera singer Shensen at sunset.

The Service of Asmodeus
The massive gothic cathedral of the Temple of Asmodeus seems filled to capacity. Above, a lurid Hellscape in nearly unbelievable proportions is painted upon the ceiling, all surrounding a depiction of the Prince of Darkness. The entirety of the space is bathed in crimson light from the stained glass windows. A seemingly impossible pipe organ shakes the buttresses as it plays a dark paean to Asmodeus.

Corinstian Grivenner, Arch-Heathen of Asmodeus, approaches the ornate golden altar in ceremonial vestments. He leads a procession of acolytes, bearing censures, massive crimson and ebon tapers and ornate golden unholy symbols. Climbing the steps, he pauses to kiss a painted statue of Queen Abrogail II. Finally, he kneels before the altar, featuring a great icon of Asmodeus, addressing it in Infernal in an impossibly loud voice: “Hail Asmodeus! Deliver us from chaos that we may serve You in eternity. Unmake the lies of our bodies and reshape our souls in Your design.“

Rising, he turns to the parishioners. Speaking in infernal, he says: “It is Loyalty Day. A day when we of Cheliax celebrate the ascendancy of the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune. A day when we recognize that our loyalty to Her Infernal Majestrix has brought us previously undreamed of wealth and prosperity. But why should this be, I ask you? Do not other nations across Avistan share our blood? To a point, do they not share our heritage? Why have we risen to such heights while people in Galt, or Isger, or Molthune remain mired in turmoil? The answer, my countrymen, is this: Of all of the nations of Golarion, it is Cheliax alone that has recognized the preeminence of Asmodeus! It is Cheliax alone that has structured our society on the example of Hell! And it is Cheliax alone, which shall stand the test of the eons, powered by the infernal strength of the Prince of Darkness and his servitors while those other nations shall be ground to dust! For their wisdom and their bravery in treating with Hell itself, we all owe House Thrune an unrepayable debt on this and every Loyalty Day!”

The service continues for some time, including displays of magical power, readings from the Asmodean Monogrpahs, chanting and obediences. At the high point of the ceremony, a bejeweled goat is brought to the altar on a palanquin, while the Arch-Heathen readies an ornate ceremonial dagger. The animal is sacrificed, its blood poured into a great ceremonial chalice.

The Arch-Heathen concludes the ceremony and holds his hand aloft in the sign of Asmodeus. “Go into the world, upon this most wondrous of days. Remember that the Prince and the Queen are the twin pillars which hold aloft the mightiest society Golarion has yet seen. The kingdom shall be His!” As people exit the cathedral, novices stand at the portals, using blood to mark the sign of Asmodeus upon their foreheads.

Thrune's Address
Thousands of people are tightly gathered in Aria Park, in the shadow of the Kintargo Opera House. Dottari guards stand at the doors of the ornate building and move through the crowd on horseback. People are holding Chelish flags and pennants and many people carry pictures of Queen Abrogail II. When the clocks strike noon, troubadours concealed in the many balconies of the gothic structure begin playing The March of Thrune Triumphant. A moment later Barzillai Thrune throws open the windows on the balcony and steps forward, a somber look on his face, to address the city.

“Greetings my countrymen, and a joyous Loyalty Day to you all. I am pleased to address you all on this day. Today is a time for celebration and reflection. On this day in 4640, my forefathers brought an end to our civil war, forging peace and order from the chaos in the wake of the very death of a god! This day you should partake in the bounty of our family’s power and generosity. Give thanks to our Queen! Be heartened, for if the cessation of a divinity and the termination of prophecy could not destroy our society, what chance do a paltry army of misguided zealots have? With the strength of the blood of Thrune, the service of Hell and the loyalty of you, the people of Cheliax, the Glorious Reclamation shall be shown the grave error of their faith and shall lose all in the reckoning!” The crowd cheers at this. “Go forth then, people of Kintargo, and enjoy the fair we have organized with the bounty of your land and liege. In the courtyard of your castle, the villains who took your beloved diva Shensen from you shall pay for their crimes at sunset. I encourage you to bear witness to what happens to those who flaunt our law and know that the same awaits all enemies of Thrune! Asmodeus keep the Queen!”

With that, he bows deeply and returns to the interior of the Opera House. Servants wearing Thrune livery break open crates of ale and begin distributing it to the people. “Countrymen! This ale has been brewed from the grain of our Heartland! Accept it and savor the fruits of your loyalty to our Queen!”

The Fair
Realms of the Archdukes Midway games:
1. Might of Moloch: A strongman without a shirt wears a bullheaded mask and claims to be Moloch. Game run as “King of the Carnival” but bull-themed. (Murderer’s Mark 5). He awards a winner a pair of paper bull horns to wear.
2. Masks of Belil: A woman in a revealing red and black costume with an erotic devil mask claims to be a lover of Belial. Game run as “Lovely Madam Mask”, but devil themed (Murderers Mark 6). A winner can win a token of her favor.
3. Bounty of Mammon: An obese man dressed as a devil claims to be Mammon, challenging passerby to take part in his bounty and gluttony. Game run as “Lucky Drunk’s Challenge” (Plunder & Peril 6). The devil themed tankards are the only prizes of real value to be won on the midway.
4. Beast of Barbatos: A young woman with half her face painted black challenges passerby to become “master of beasts”. Beat a fiendish monkey on a Dex check (DC 12) to catch it. Beating the check with 18 or better catches the monkey deftly, earning double XP. Win 100 XP and a stuffed fiendish monkey doll.
5. Library of Geryon: Burn a forbidden book purchased from the Order of the Rack. Beat an armiger’s sense motive check (DC 13) with bluff to prove you’re sincere. Beating the check with 18 or higher duly impresses the armiger with your patriotic zeal and awards double XP. Win 100 XP and a red and black ribbon with a glass eye in the middle of it inscribed with “A Discerning Eye” in Infernal .
6. Mystery of Mephistopheles: An attractive young man dressed as Mephistopheles sits in a tent at a table daring passerby to wager their souls for fabulous wealth. On the table is a pile of jewelry and a pile of crowns. He is flanked by two scantily dressed Halfling women, their bodies painted to look like sexy devils. Solve a riddle with a DC 12 intelligence check. Beating the check with 18 or better answers the riddle in a novel way and awards double XP. Win 100 XP and your choice: Riches, power or women. Riches, you may take a piece of costume jewelry made of brass and glass from his pile. Power, you may take a brass crown from his pile. Women, the two Halflings run up and kiss you, leaving sweet-smelling lipstick marks on you. If you lose, Mephistopheles “claims” your soul, tossing a handful of musty smelling gray powder on you, which is otherwise harmless.
Anyone who wins all six games is declared “Paragon of the Empire” and given a magical token: A Sinner’s Wage wondrous item (Champions of Corruption 31).

Menagerie of Creatures Plane-touched and Mundane: An enthusiastic half-elven naturalist named Lola Runeo beckons passerby to visit her collection of cages. A tame razorcrow perches on her shoulder. She has collected rare creatures native to Cheliax and born with a Hellish taint. Creatures include a Chelish Hell-bred dog, a Stygian hot-blooded horse, a quillcat, a typhilipede, a giant raven, an impaler shrike a swarm of torbles and a shadowgarm. The zookeeper will relate information about the creatures found in their bestiary entries. She makes sure to mention that the horse is not hers but is generously presented by House Tanessen. At the end of the exhibit, her razorcrow flies to a pot by the exit and perches on its rim. Visitors can hand it a coin which it takes in its beak and drops in the pot, verbally thanking them

Hall of Fools: This red and black tent bears the Cross of Cheliax and contains wax mannequins of “enemies “ of the state. The curator, a bearded, well dressed Chelish man with a monocle named Hophaestus Gorra leads visitors through the collection speaking about each in turn.
1. A shifty-eyed Halfling in livery, sniffing a bellflower and clutching a dagger behind his back. “This deceptively dangerous creature is a supporter of the Bellflower Network. While surviving on his master’s generosity and support, he seeks to use that self-safe generosity to pull down the very society that his master has built.”
2. A benighted looking man in a jungle wearing a pith helmet and surrounded be savage Mwangi natives. “This pathetic man represents the traitorous colony of Sargava. Turning on the motherland when they were needed most, they now find themselves surrounded by savage tribesmen and beastmen, their only friend in the whole of the world vicious pirates who rob them blind! Perhaps, one day when she feels they have suffered enough, our Queen shall welcome them back into the fold. Perhaps.”
3. A drunken pirate with his trousers undone, brandishing a sword and pulling a screaming maiden with a torn bodice by the hair. “And this is the benefactor those poor, desperate Sargavans have chosen for themselves. Frightening, no? This is the height of the creatures that prowl our seas and attack our shipping in the Shackles. Truly, they’re little more than animals. The sun is setting on their day however, for Admiral Druvalia Thrune herself will soon be setting sail to bring these dogs to heel once and for all!”
4. An oblivious and prideful knight being fired upon by filthy archers lurking in the woods behind him. “This ridiculous fop is a man of Molthune, who wrongly thought they could prosper without the Crown. Such folly! They all but immediately lost their northern province, who have stymied them ever since. If only they would beg our Queen for forgiveness, our legions would crush their backwoods rebels in a fortnight. Alas, they cling to their hubris like an anchor and shall most likely drown with it. Incredible!”
5. An oafish-looking man dressed as an Eagle Knight, bearing a scroll marked “Associative Act” upside down. “Look at this fool! An emancipator of those held in bondage? An egalitarian governor? No, my friends a simple buffoon, deluded by a double-dealing agathion, who looks to the east and thinks he can succeed by following the anarchic path of Galt! I fear it will be up to us to clean the mess when his noble experiment is shown to be impossible and the commoners clamor for the steady hand of royal rule yet again.”
6. A deranged-looking woman, dressed in peasant’s clothes and a red cap, bearing a basket full of severed heads. “This is perhaps the saddest case in all of Golarion. Galt was once the height of culture and learning, second only to Cheliax, until they were ensorcelled by a pair of fiends named Hosetter and Jubanich. In truth my friends, I believe these two men were demons in disguise. And now look! This is freedom and liberty! This is the common rule! Pray to Asmodeus that House Thrune keeps us disciplined for this is the face of life devoid of order!”
7. A wild-eyed female paladin of Iomadae hacks a Chelish cross with a sword while an icon of Iomadae looks on tearfully from a wall. “This is our newest mannequin, friends! Did you know that mortal Iomadae was a Chelaxian? It’s true! She even ruled the city of Kantaria to our south! Though too soft-hearted, truly, she is a lawful being. How then could she endorse war on our orderly society? The Glorious Reclamation must be a heresy! I would wager they truthfully worship that Andoran avorial or those demons in possession of Galt, and are using Iomadae as a ruse! Proteans, I tell you! Fear not though, I have absolute faith our Queen shall put the lie to their words and burn their cancer from Iomadae’s church. In truth, I think the Inheritor shall thank us for it!”

The Execution
Shortly before sundown, the massive gates of Kintargo Castle are opened, and the public are ushered within its stone walls. The audience stands about the yard, the causeway leading to the keep and upon the ramparts, facing inward. You catch a glimpse of Barzillai Thrune, Vannases Trex, Kyrre Ekodyre, Octavio Sabinus and a contingent of Hellknights of the Rack atop the rampart of the keep itself, looking down on the event. In front of the causeway, a large wooden platform has been set up, festooned with the flags of Cheliax. A large portrait of the Queen hangs in the archway leading into the keep.

Upon the dais, ringed by dottari, is scaffolding and the Lord-Mayor’s lieutenant, Nox. In front of her, a priest of Asmodeus dressed in high ceremonial vestments holds a book, most likely the Asmodean Monographs. At the appointed time, dottari soldiers lead the four condemned tieflings to the dais and tighten nooses around their necks. To a man, they look haggard and drained of vitality.

You catch a glimpse of Lictor Sabiinus on the rampart. He looks utterly thunderstruck as these men are marched to the scaffolding. At first he seems to be pleading with a serene-looking Barzillai Thrune, then shouting before storming out of sight.

The priest clears his throat and addresses the crowd in a high, thin voice: “I am Lazzero Dalvera, a humble servant of the Lord of Darkness. Today you shall bear witness to the justice of Her Infernal Majestrix! These creatures have been found guilty of the murder of Shensen. Asmodeus is terrible in His might and merciless in His vengeance! As you are all about to discover, the Kingdom shall be His! Greco Son of Greco, Venchio Vespi, Peppo and Arram de Lupo, if you have any last words, say them now.

A young tiefling man, whose eyes look far older than his years is first to say something, in a sullen, angry tone. “I am Greco, son of another Greco. In my estimation, if I hadn’t been the son of Greco and hadn’t been cursed with his devil blood, I do not believe I would have had the life I had in this rotten country. I never did half of what they said I did. Life has been little more than s@$# piled on more s+%&. If it’s to end, it’s fine by me.” He spits. Dalvera calls out: “See how he blames his blood for his lot in life all the while refusing to take personal responsibility? Take heed from this lesson, countrymen!” A hood is placed over the tiefling’s head by Nox.

A tiefling man with a serpentine tongue is next. He is already in tears when his name is called. “I… I am Venchio Vespi. I don’t want to die! Please! I will do anything! Peppo said he did it! He did! I do not think Cheliax is rotten! I love the Queen! Abrogail! Asmodeus! Barzillai! Please!” Breaking into uncontrollable sobs, Nox places a hood over his head, resulting in even more wailing. Dalvera shakes his head: “A truly pathetic case. Can you not even meet death with dignity? Your serpentine tongue marks you for the snake you are!

A particularly imposing tiefling man is next. He snarls “Peppo is guilty? Fine, Peppo is a monster! Peppo curses you all! Peppo’s mother was a succubus and his father was a goat! Glory to Lamashtu! If Mother of Monsters is good, she send Peppo back as demon. Then Peppo bugger Queen in front of you and take her back to Abyss to be his slave!” Dalvera shouts: “Silence that beast! You see the depravity of the demoniac! Of chaos! This is the kind of creature that the Glorious Reclamation would loosen upon us! Be not duped by those false hearts!” Peppo snaps his teeth at Nox, causing her to gag him with rope before putting a hood over his head.

Finally, a quiet tiefling is all that remains. He has a thoughtful bearing and as he looks up his eyes well with tears. He seems to be squinting, trying to find someone in the crowd. “I am Arram de Lupo. I am innocent. I tried to be useful to Kintargo. I learned to read and I learned sums. I stayed away from trouble. It was not enough. I am sorry Mara. I am sorry Arro. Be good children for mother. I don’t know if it will be enough.” He muffles a cry as a hood is placed over his head. Dalvera interjects furtively: “But you are not innocent.” He then turns to face the crowd: “See how this creature’s tainted blood has set him on a path to criminality, despite his best efforts to mask his nature? The blood always tells!”

Opening his unholy codex, Lazzero Dalvera reads: “For it is axiomatic that the hearts of men always fall to anarchy and entropy. Only through the iron order of Hell can men be forged into something pure. Wise men bind their souls to the Prince of Darkness so He might lend us His might! Upon the Earth as it is in the Pit!” He slams his book shut and turns to Nox. “Lady Nox, you may perform your function!”

Nox pulls a lever and the men drop through trap doors in the dais. Some in the audience gasp, some wail, some cheer. The bodies hang, jerk and twist and within a couple short minutes, it’s all over. Lazzero Dalvera raises one hand, making the sign of Asmodeus. “Happy Loyalty Day countrymen. While you sup upon the sweet fruits of loyalty to our Queen, forget not the bitter fruit that is the food of the traitor!”

After the event is over and people have cleared out, if the PCs linger, they can see Octavio Sabinus standing before the scaffolding as the bodies are cut down, seemingly lost in thought. If the PCs approach him and mention they saw him arguing at Barzillai Thrune, he looks embarrassed and says “It was unbecoming of me to be seen disagreeing with the Lord-Mayor in public. I apologize.” If pressed on his feelings on the matter, he will consider the PCs and ask them what their names are. He will then say “As you are not Hellknights, it wouldn’t be proper for me to discuss this matter with you further. Good evening.” He will then walk away from them.


Shaun... I bow to your inspiring talent. Awesome!

Thank you for making such great additions to the flair of the campaign.

Best regards

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