Way of the Righteous (WOTW Alternate History) (Inactive)

Game Master Darkfire142

I am considering running a sort of reverse Way of the Wicked game where Talongarde underwent an alternate history. King Markadian received his revelation from Mitra and marched to battle of Tamberlyn to face off against King Jaraad of House Barca. The battle went well for Markadian until he faced King Jaraad in battle. Markadian may have won the battle if it were not for a dishonorable act on the cusp of his victory. King Jaraard was not above treachery and before the final blow was stuck, Jaraard’s personal assassin struck a crippling blow from behind, piercing Markadian's spine and allowing King Jaraard to decapitate the the Paladin with a blow from his sword, Helbrand in the ensuing distraction.

With their leader dead, the Barca forces won the battle and took over Talongard. King Jaraard would take the throne and make Ghastonhall his seat of power. Choosing Infernalism as the state religion he let a purge of other faiths, most especially those who worshiped the lord of light Mitra. Still one thing he did not purge is the Markadian line. Although only a babe at the time, the heir to Markadian survived and with the aid of Mitran supporters and those that escaped the purges fled to the frozen north into a hidden enclave that would act as the last bastion of Mitrian faith. Finding support from both the Ice Elves, Dwarves and treaties with the local natives the Mitrian Faith has preserved in the north although life is harsh and unyielding, defending against attacks of rampaging monsters and surviving in the harsh frozen wilderness of the north.

The reign of King Jaraard was one of absolute tyranny. Slavery was the norm as those in debt or convicted of minor crimes were quickly forced into long periods if not permanent servitude. The privileged reeked the benefit of the system, while the average citizen was forced into a brutal lifestyle where their life was cheap and nearly worthless. The Asmodian church spread their doctrine of diabolism sought to corrupt the hearts and souls of those that resided there. Numerous people were ensnared willingly or forcefully into devilish contracts, feeding damning more souls to the eternal torment of the nine hells. King Jaraad for his evil work would eventually pass onto infernal reward for his wicked life, while his eventually his descendant Vastenous Barca would take the throne and continue the evil reign over the island.

Still the light of goodness could not be extinguished completely and there is many who work in the shadows to one day bring down the corrupt rule of the Barca and restore a righteous government to the land. For many decades they have done small acts to help the populace but for every step they made, the grip of the Barca and the Asmodian church grew tighter. Things in Talongarde have changed for the worst most recently with the rise of Cardinal Adrastus Thorn as the leader of the Asmodian church. Working with the sanction of Vastenous he has started a number of ambitious construction projects that many fear are part of a much more sinister plot. Now is the time for the Righteous to step out of the shadows and bring down the evil that has infested the island.

Premise

This game will use the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.

Much like Way of the Wicked, the PC's will start out as prisoners in Branderscar. If you are there you are there for a serious offense against the Barcan Regime or the church of Asmodeus. You will get 3 traits, one of them must be a "Crime" trait. Use the ones out of the Way of the Wicked as a guideline but some will be shifted to those appropriate to the campaign (Evil to Good for instance). Dueling is not a possible crime trait as that is completely legal in this corrupt system.

As for Branderscar, while the debtors and petty criminals are typically sentenced to slavery, those who commit more serious crimes against the state are sent to a number of prisons where a quick death would be a mercy not found there. Those put into the prisons are subjected to the most horrific of tortures and torments. Most perish after a long period of torture and torment but a rare few who are malleable enough to be bent rather than broken have their their souls to hell and come out the most fervent supporters of the Barca regime. Either way, in Branderscar hope is a fleeting memory.

Much of the adventure path will borrow from the existing module but of course things will change around in a lot of cases to represent the alternate history of Talongarde that has developed since the rise of Barca. The Watch Wall for instance still exists, but was created by the Barca regime instead of the Darians for instance. Other parts of the book will be twisted to better fit a more righteous path for its heroes.

The Mitrian faith is practiced in secret or the City of Markadian, an underground city in the frozen north where the ideals of Mitra are still upheld. Markadian V rules the city and has but a single daughter Bellinda as his heir. The priests of Mitra have received ill omens of impending doom to Talonguade. While for many decades the Mitrians built their strength and gardened alliances and treaties with the Dwarves and Ice Elves now they know that something must be done now or all of Talongarde will fall into darkness.

Character Creation

Players will create characters with a 25 Point Buy. You can use any class you wish but your characters must be Neutral or Good aligned (So no evil archetypes). As least one of your characters should be a divine caster of a good deity (Cleric, Paladin, Inquisitor or Warpriest), with Mitra as the preferred but you may chose another Golarion God instead. Either way you will be given a reason to help the revolution against the current regime in Talongarde.

While this game will recycle a lot of material from the Way of the Wicked adventure path, due to its reversal, many quests and objectives will be different. So while some maps will be reused, others will be invented to fit the current alterations. Of course as this is a generally good campaign, there will be morality to be considered with the actions you do and the ends justify the means may not be acceptable to the ideals of the revolution.

You will also pick 3 traits. One of them will be a crime trait. Pick one of the existing crime traits but any "Evil" trait becomes a "Good" trait and any effects involving such things are reversed.

In addition the following house rules will be implemented:

1. All classes will get +2 additional skill points per level. Our heroes are going to have to rely a lot on themselves in hostile territory.

2. Natural 20's will have special effects. Natural 20's on skill checks give an additional +5 bonus to the result while a Natural 20 on an initiative check gives you a surprise round or negates a surprise. In additional, rolling a natural 20 on a save counts as having an "Evasion" style ability for purposes of the save.

3. Hero Points will be used in this game. To avoid banking large amounts of Hero Points and then stringing them for a flurry of benefits you never can have more than 3 points at once. Any extra does not accumulate so it is advisable you use them or lose them. As you're going to start with the odds stacked against you, all players will start with a full 3 Hero Points to help them in the Branderscar Prison.

So who would be interested in saving Talongarde from the forces of hell?

Some crimes that would get you sent to Branderscar Prison (but by no means all, there is MANY reasons you might be sent there)

Rebellion: While the average rabble rouser can expect at best a flogging, torture and/or enslavement, those who go to outright sedition such as attacking soldiers, asmodian priests, law enforcement, provoking riots or other major acts of opposition to the rule of Barca warrant a more severe punishment and are taken to Branderscar.

Grand Theft of Noble Property: While low key thievery and crime is common in Talonguard or even indirectly supported through bribery and kickbacks to the existing law enforcement, a person of low station stealing property of value from the nobility or the asmodian church is a crime worthy of the most harsh punishment imaginable.

Channeling Holy Divine Power: While worshiping a proscribed faith typically is punished with flogging, torture and/or enslavement, those who channel divine power are given special attention by the Asmodian church. While at times they will tolerate a priest of a neutral or evil faith (With the proper licencing fees and kickbacks, those who practice without such approval can expect no mercy), those who use powers of a good faith are quickly rounded up and given a slow and torturous death in Branderscar.

Failure to uphold a magical licence: While the Barca regine embraces diabolism and magical prowess they understand that wizards, sorcerers, bards and other arcane casters are not bound by any rules or restraints. Those with the aid of magic can rise above their station as well as wield powers that can be a threat to the regime. To practice magic legally, a citizen need to register as a practitioner and pay exorbitant fees to the Barca coffers or alternatively sign an arcane devil contract, thus allowing the asmodian church some degree of oversight on their activities. This often means only the most wealthy of individuals can afford to practice the art or attend magical schools in Talonguard. Those who practice arcane magic illegally are often taken by force to a torturous end in Branderscar.

Heresy: While many may grumble against the Asmodian church, committing acts that undermine the power of the church such as turning a sizeable number of people away from the faith, vandalizing property of the church or outright battling those of the faith is worthy of more severe punishment.

Deism: Associating with good outsiders or agents of the good gods, be it summoning them directly or working towards their causes is enough to have a someone placed in Branderscar for such blasphemy towards the Asmodian faith. Also applies to those who associate with Daemons and Demons as well.

Dotted

Definitely interested

Sounds fun

Races?

Sounds interesting.

Any race that is 15 Race Points or less. Aasimar are acceptable (And are probably highly discriminated against by the Asmodians). Tieflings on the other hand would have some social difficulties. Neither the Mitrans nor the Asmodians like the Tieflings (Tieflings as Mongrel Slaves for the Asmodians and as visibly corrupted to the Mitrans) and it would take a lot of convincing to allow one into the rebellion. Human of course would be the preferred race.

I think either a paladin or inquisitor of Mitra would be a fun character in this setting. Alternately, perhaps the plucky roguish sidekick to such a noble character. Consider me interested.

I was thinking of a cleric or an oracle (If i go with the Oracle, it'll be a redemption angle where Mitra smites him with blindness or something for persecuting his people causing him to see the light... so to speak)

Seth86, the Aasmiar would probably be the better idea. Drow are literally nonexistent on the island and your character would either have to come from the deep underdark or by ship and generally the Drow are not too interested in Talongarde.

For further clarification at the start of the campaign you would not have undergone torture, well at least not at Branderscar (Although you probably were flogged and/or tortured before you departure while in the normal custody). Your characters are fortunate that the head inquisitor Regenalt Blackthrone and his entourage are away from Branderscar on an errand thus much like the original game you'll have 3 days before he returns and your characters will at best die a horrible death by torture, or at worst lose your soul as well to Asmodeus as you beg for the end to the pain.

While the Layout of the prison will generally be the same some of the NPC's will be different. The guards there will be even more bastards considering they're now evil alignment. Some NPC's there will be different as well.

Some cities will be named differently but still exist in a fashion. Marthyn for instance will be called Jaaradyn for instance.

Thanks. Will build towards that. What i meant with it, he wound up in the prison cause they could not convert him. So the exicutioners block was their final answer =^^=

Think i will go an offensive build cleric or another touch based class =^^=

I'm interested! Might wanna try as a Bloodrager.

Trying to decide on a build type. Was thinking something simple, unassuming for the rebellion. Someone you normally overlook but could be very useful. Perhaps a Arcanist or Psychic.. maybe an Unchained Monk if we need a melee touch.

Also Drow have their Szarkai which look like normal elves, they are trained as spies and assassins normally. Maybe your drow is one.. and you where sent to the island as an advanced scout. They do live for hundreds of years after all. Sending a few scouts on ahead to integrate over two or three human generations would be something a drow spy would do.

A chopping block is a MERCIFUL death in this Talongarde. Generally reserved for petty criminals without the influence or money to get their freedom or if there is a need for large amounts of expedient deaths. They have a lot of "inventive" ways to kill people in this land. >:-)

So far

Thinking of a half-elf unchained rogue. I will write one up later today. I imagine that the whole "starting with nothing" aspect remains unchanged?

Indeed, nothing except your prison rags and the manacles locked around your arms and legs. You start with zippo on your character.

Dotted.

Maybe i should go with a reaper build instead of touch cast :P i know there are enchant ments so i can use touch abilities through the scythe...
Appolyon Aasimar Scythe build

When is the cutoff? My last GM dumped WOTW for a Palladium game, so playing from the other side would be cool. Thinking either a witch or an arcanist or an inquisitor of Mitra, probably dwarf or orc.

Probably will give it until the 2nd of April to give people time to make their characters.

Dotting for interest. What would you think of a Fallen Anti-paladin that takes the Grey paladin Archetype ( in the new Ultimate Intrigue book)as we works on redemption to full paladin hood.

Ridge here. I went with a cleric of Mitra and used an old profile from a WotW that closed up early (I can play dumb with the best of them if you're worried ;) )

Everything should be in the profile...

but to let let you know his background...

I think I have the traits and skills the way you want (extra trait for the good version of Blasphemy, 2 extra skill points etc)

I did take the Eschew Materials Feat because I figured obvious holy symbols were going to be kind of a death sentence... but can ditch that if it feels like a cheat to you. I mean, he's on death row (or Torture Row in this case) anyway

Indeed, Holy Symbols at best will get it confiscated and then probably imprisonment and flogging, or if you're proven to be a true priest...well you know what happens. Yea, you'll probably be tortured and if you don't repent your faith and swear your soul to Asmodeus you'll be tortured to death.

For aasimar, can we roll on the alternate SLA table?

I will allow you to roll if you want something more variable.

Okay, i think he's done. Changed a few things, also, he now has a name
The name he took when he made his mind up on what he has to do

I will allow you to roll if you want something more variable.

Thanks. Here goes...

well now... thematic isnt it :P

Dotting for interest. Not sure what I'll be wanting to do yet - so many possibilities! I'm leaning towards a gunslinger who was caught supplying firearms to the rebels, but...oooh, decisions decisions.

Riverfort's submission here. Going to write up a backstory soon.

Thinking a grey paladin if you allow the archetype.

I would suggest Monk, Unchained Monk, Brawler, Sorcerer, Sacred Fist (Warpriest). Anything that does not need to start off with lots of gear.

DOT

Well don't go all unarmed considering you WILL be fighting things with DR requiring certain weapons to overcome. I will not approve an entire party of monks and brawlers. Like the original module it will start out tough but you will get equipment and gear later on.

First, I am very interested. I like the story and would love to get to play the good guy in such a dark place. I have played twice in WotW games and ended up dropping one because it was just too dark and demented for me to enjoy it. The other failed when the DM got too busy in medical school. This alias is the character I played in that game.

I wonder what you would think about a revised version of Captain Stanislav. In your game I would propose that he was still "Bitten" by a vampire and at third level will be "Dying", but had not changed alignment and is still fighting his curse. If you have time take a look at the alias, story, and posting and let me know what you think. If you do not like it I can come up with something original but I am hoping you will like the idea a lot. Of course I would re-write the background to make him a better person with some reasons and will to resist the onslaught of his curse.

Dotting

Dotting. Will have to think about what I want to bring to the table. None of the crimes are speaking to me... can I suggest one if I think of something special?

Yes if you can think of a relevant trait you can take it.

Way of the Wicked Players Guide for crime traits, everyone.

Here's the aforementioned bloodrager from ellequoi above.

Getting married on April 2, so if chosen I would probably not be reachable til around the Wednesday after.

Hm... thank you Dreza, that gives some helpful pointers. Was thinking my character would be convicted of some form of abolitionism (the idea being that he had been helping slaves escape their masters and leave either to the north or getting them to the coast where smugglers would help them flee the island) until he finally got caught. I'd think the Slave-Taking crime tag would work (just changing the description from taking free folks and trying to make them slaves into taking slaves from their "lawful" owners). Still working on the other details...

That certainly would be a crime to help slaves escape from their masters. Usually you would be made a slave yourself but if you did it enough times or was running some sort of underground liberation movement you could be sent to Branderscar prison. I would allow you to pick that as crime trait. Could also be treason as well.

OK, this is the submission of the Emerald Duke: Sedelion Deighstalach, Arctic Elf Ranger. Crime is as follows:

Convict - Slave-"Taking": While the occasional stealing of a slave is by no means a capital crime, being involved in one of the increasingly fewer underground abolitionist movements is. After having been caught red-handed attempting to lead escaped slaves across the border to the north, you have been found guilty of the crime of Slave Taking. Normally this would entail becoming a slave yourself, but the marks of the abolitionist movement on your person have instead upgraded your sentence to torture and torment at Branderscar Prison (followed by as painful an execution as possible once all information has been wracked from your tongue, mind, and soul.) (Benefit: +1 Trait Bonus to both Disarm and Grapple attempts.)

Tell me if this works for you Black Shadow, or if you have any questions regarding the submission.

Sounds good to me!

Going to withdraw from consideration. Had a lot more success getting into campaigns than expected, so better to quit while I'm ahead!

I'd be interested in joining

The basic idea is for a Devilspawn Tiefling who grabs the Pass for Human alternate racial trait. He'd be a Kineticist (Geokineticist or Pyrokineticists. The latter is sadly rather lacklustre considering the number of devils we'd be facing).

He'd be a Mitran hardliner, following Mitra as the Fire Unfying. He'd hate the Asmodeans for how they treat the tieflings they created (he would have escaped such treatment as he looks mostly human) and he'd hate himself for the taint running through his veins. He'd be an auto-flaggelant and see his sacrifice as penitence for what he is.

Crime would be Arson, as in the normal game. The target of the arson would be a local temple of Asmodeus though.

As for what would mark him as Tiefling despite having the Pass for Human alternate racial. When he gets in the sun he always looks like he has severe sunburn while that actually is just how he tans. He also has a scar at the base of his spine from where his parents cut off his tail when he was still a baby.

Dotted for interest. I already have a character in mind, a Half-Orc Fighter who's been imprisoned for High Treason.

A pair of questions:

1.- Is Combat Stamina allowed?
2.- Is it ok to take alternate racial traits that add 1 RP (specifically I'm asking for Fey Thoughts)?

Thank you :)

1. Don't know how combat stamina works, I might consider it considering without some tweeking, Fighters are highly underpowered.

2. No alternate racial traits that add Race Points.

2.- Ok, having re-read the trait... it seems it doesn't "add" RP to the race, the cost is only there in case you use a custom created race. For existing races, it just replaces another trait. So I guess it's fine, then.
Sorry about it :)

I present you Bron Frostbreath (his background). Please allow me to keep all his info in this alias - if I get chosen, I will move it all to a new one according to the game, if you don't mind :)

Seems there have been quite a few paladin/cleric/etc proposals, so the "wields holy divine power" crime has plenty of coverage. So how about a different spin...

"Fraternizes with Celestial Being(s)" This crime is a grievous violation of the ruling structure of the nation, and carries with it the most heinous of sentences, a life in Branderscar. For those that are found to have communicated, contacted, plotted with, summoned, or in any way engaged in activities with beings of the higher realms pose a serious threat to the Asmodian rulers of Talongrad.

My character, Wraxus Drake, will be a human street urchin who found an existence as a pick pocket and sometime city guide, but often found himself at the mercy of the cruel and wicked. He found solace in his imagination, dreaming of a life behind the city walls, of adventure, love, and friends. Before long, he found one - a friend, from a realm not his own...

Your thoughts on a summoner? I am okay with original class, unchained summoner, or a hybrid (the common "old summoner with new summoner spell list"), just let me know what you think.