Last week we started our look at the myriad figures in the City of Lost Omens set of prepainted plastic miniatures from our partners at WizKids, and I left you with the promise of divulging the denizens of the many layers of man-made, monster-made, and natural caverns below Absalom this week. Let’s dig in, shall we?

Illustration by Daniel Lopez

Those familiar with the Extinction Curse Adventure Path know that it features a few reptilian foes from the deep Darklands, and we made sure to include a number of figures to help GMs of the campaign build out their warbands. Below are the Xulgath Skulker and Xulgath Warrior, both Medium common figures, and the Xulgath Chief, a Medium rare figure.

The xulgaths don’t fight alone, however. No, we didn’t name one of the volumes of the adventure path Siege of the Dinosaurs for nothing! I knew we couldn’t do the set without at least one thunder lizard included, but it turns out those are some big mothers, so I had to work closely with AP developer Ron Lundeen to find one from the adventure that we could make in a non-Huge set. Enter the Pinacosaurus, a Large uncommon figure that could easily stand in for a young ankylosaurus.

The inhabitants of the Darklands aren’t restricted to just the Starstone Isle, though, and we made sure to include another potential warband’s worth of figures found not far below the city of Absalom itself. Here are the Duergar Bombardier, Duergar Sharpshooter, and Duergar Taskmaster. All Medium figures at the common, common, and uncommon rarity, respectively.

One of the key abilities that marks duergar from their dwarven kin is their ability to magically double in size. We’d hardly be doing these gray dwarves any favors to include them in the set and not include a large version of them as well. A Large uncommon figure, the Enlarged Duergar is sure to make a big scene when she hits the table.

Much nearer the surface, in the sewers of Absalom, dwell even more awful beasts that I can’t wait to show you! Here’s the Offalth, a new monster created for the Pathfinder Bestiary and appearing in plastic for the first time. This Large rare miniature can also stand in for any number of sewer monsters or mounds of shambling refuse.

Another new addition to the game in the Bestiary was the nightmare-inspiring Gogiteth, a spidery abomination with multiple heads and too-human teeth is pretty squicky, so it’ll make a great encounter for your unsuspecting players!

While you’re exploring the depths beneath Absalom, it’s not just creatures you need to look out for. There are countless traps and other hazards present throughout, and four of the set’s six pieces of dungeon dressing represent those same traps! These bonus figures are distributed in random booster boxes and don’t take up one of their four figure slots, and don’t have bases so they incorporate seamlessly into any number of 3D terrain options. Taking our art inspiration from the Pathfinder Core Rulebook, we included the following traps in City of Lost Omens: armageddon orb, darkside mirror, swinging scythe blades, and wheel of misery (with functionally spinning wheel!)

That’s it for this week’s previews. Next week, we’ll look at upcoming premium figures, including the two included in City of Lost Omens and the thieves’ guild releasing alongside them, plus a few other figures for good measure. Until then, stay safe, Pathfinders.

Mark Moreland
Director of Brand Strategy

A fantastic journey awaits you in the Reign of Winter and Extinction Curse Adventure Paths!

Paizo and Fantastic Worlds Productions are pleased to announce that Fantastic Worlds has become an officially licensed partner. They will premiere a new actual-play tabletop roleplaying game podcast adventure, The Greatest Show on Earth! set in the circus-themed Extinction Curse Adventure Path for Pathfinder Second Edition. They will also continue their immersive podcast in which they struggle against the wintry witch Baba Yaga, set in the Pathfinder Reign of Winter Adventure Path, using the first edition Pathfinder rules.

Reign of Winter Introduction Episode 00

The Greatest Show on Earth Introduction Episode 00

The Crew:
Established in August 2018, the Fantastic Worlds crew includes Game Dad (GM) Dustin Alexander who harries the team via the machinations of the Witch-Queens of Irrisen in Reign of Winter, Jess Negin takes the reigns as the nefarious Ring Master (GM) in Extinction Curse, Abbie Lammel, Angel Espinoza, and Logan Mayne-Rizzi—who just try to keep their characters alive.

Story First, Math Second:
Fantastic Worlds Productions is composed of five friends who every other week unleash their overactive imaginations for the benefit of all. They strive to create both an intricate and personal experience in the Lost Omens setting via nuanced characters with complex motivations and even more complex interpersonal relationships. Drama runs high with this group whether the dice fall in their favor or not!

Diversity In Front & Behind The Mic:
One of the pillars of Fantastic Worlds Productions is their dedication to inclusivity. Women, People of Color, and members of the LGBT+ community are found in the characters played and the players themselves.

Fantastic Worlds Productions invites you to join them in this next step of their journey. Engage with them on Twitter @fantasticpods, Instagram @fantasticworldspod, on their dedicated Discord server, and in their subreddit r/FantasticWorldsPod. Their cooperative and improvised story delivered every two weeks on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, & wherever else podcasts are available. Learn more at Fantastic Worlds Productions.

We know many Pathfinder players are roleplaying game enthusiasts and many play multiple games—regardless of the edition. And it is always more impactful to see or hear people having fun with your product than to tell people it’s fun; show, don’t tell. So Paizo welcomes the experienced, diverse voices of Fantastic Worlds Productions and we can’t wait to see what stories they tell next!

Adventures Ahead!

Aaron Shanks,
Marketing and Media Manager

From ancient dungeons and chases, to dinosaurs, squads, and pawns, Paizo’s April 2020 new releases offer an abundance of riches for you and your friends to embark on heroic escapades!

Pathfinder Adventure Path #154: Siege of the Dinosaurs (Extinction Curse 4 of 6)

The heroes and their circus arrive in Willowside, a swamp community in dire need of diversion from the relentless expansion of the blighted land known as the Welt. Willowside soon experiences a problem of a different sort, as dinosaur-riding xulgaths blockade the town. The heroes mount a defense of the village and learn what has brought the xulgaths to this isolated settlement. When the heroes break the siege, they learn that the xulgaths follow a monstrous ex-slave and have forsaken their directive to assault a nearby aeon tower. The tower's current occupants know more, and put the heroes on the path to reach the fifth and final aeon orb.

“Siege of the Dinosaurs” is a Pathfinder adventure for four 13th-level characters. This adventure continues the Extinction Curse Adventure Path, a six-part, monthly campaign in which the heroes lead a traveling circus as they unravel a plot to eradicate all life from the islands of the Inner Sea. This volume also includes a gazetteer of the town of Willowside and lore about the inhabitants of the Abyssal realm of Gluttondark, as well as new monsters and xulgath-themed rules.

Each monthly full-color softcover Pathfinder Adventure Path volume contains an in-depth adventure scenario, stats for several new monsters, and support articles meant to give Game Masters additional material to expand their campaign. Pathfinder Adventure Path volumes use the Open Game License and work with both the Pathfinder RPG and the world's oldest fantasy RPG.

Watch: Pathfinder Second Edition: Extinction Curse

Pathfinder Chase Cards Deck

Whether you're the hunter or the hunted, Pathfinder Chase Cards make your choices during the pursuit matter. Each full-color card in this beautifully illustrated 55-card deck contains obstacles to overcome during your chase, from an angry barking dog to an imposing stone wall, each one using checks from the Pathfinder Second Edition Roleplaying Game. Make the right check to overcome the obstacles and you might just catch your prey, but fail and you might be left with a cold trail. Lay the cards down on your table to create the path of your chase, allowing you to track each character's progress and determine the die rolls needed to avoid or navigate unexpected dangers. Lay out a desperate pursuit through a crowded city, a dangerous race through hostile wilderness, and a nerve-wracking run through deadly ruins and abandoned buildings—or mix and match the cards to create a chase that moves through multiple regions!

Watch: How to use Infiltration & Chase Rules from the Pathfinder 2E Gamemastery Guide

Pathfinder Flip-Mat: Bigger Ancient Dungeon

Some dungeons are older and greater than others! Each side of this Flip-Mat features a different massive ancient dungeon. One side features an enormous and ancient dungeon sprawl on the edge of a volcano, while the other is ancient mausoleum under a ruined city. Don't waste your time sketching when you could be playing. With Pathfinder Flip-Mat: Bigger Ancient Dungeon, you'll be ready next time your players want to delve deep into the ancient past, with all its dangers!

Pathfinder Flip-Mat: Bigger Ancient Dungeon measures 27 by 39 inches, which gives you 45% more gaming space than the standard Pathfinder Flip-Mat. On tabletops across the world, the Flip-Mat Revolution is changing the way players run their fantasy roleplaying games! Why take the time to sketch out ugly scenery on a smudgy plastic mat when dynamic encounters and easy cleanup is just a Flip away?

Pathfinder Society Scenario #1-18: Lodge of the Living God

A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for levels 1–4 (subtiers 1–2 and 3–4).

An unexpected alliance begins! The masked priest Narsen invites the Pathfinders to the city of Xer in Razmiran, a closed nation dedicated to Razmir, the Living God. Normally insular and isolated, access to Razmiran represents a unique opportunity for the Pathfinder Society. Narsen has even sweetened the pot by offering to fund the repair of an old keep to serve as the Society's new lodge. As the first Pathfinders arrive to oversee repairs on the lodge-to-be, will this mark the historic first moment in an unlikely partnership, or will it trigger a disaster of unmitigated proporitions?
Written by: Alex Greenshields

Pathfinder Society Scenario #1-19: Iolite Squad Alpha

A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for levels 3–6 (subtiers 3–4 and 5–6).

The newly formed hobgoblin nation of Oprak has reached out to the Pathfinder Society in the name of diplomacy. Mindful of the aid Oprak could provide against the threat of the Whispering Tyrant, the Society has dispatched the PCs to escort a trial squad of hobgoblin recruits and run them through some in-the-field Pathfinder training. Will the Iolite Squad be the first in a new wave of Pathfinders, or are Oprak’s attempts at diplomacy doomed to go up in smoke?
Written by: Mike Kimmel

Pathfinder Society Quest #9: Wayfinder Origins

A Pathfinder Society Quest designed for levels 3–6 (subtiers 3–4 and 5–6).

The Pathfinder Society has sent an expedition to a previously uncharted island! The island contains a door sealed with a type of magical technology thought lost with the ancient Azlanti empire. What secrets lie behind the door, and what dangers may lurk beneath the island's surface? To find out, the PCs will first have to solve the magical "puzzle" sealing the door and preventing contact with whatever lies beyond.
Written by: Dustin Knight

Starfinder Adventure Path #27: Deceivers’ Moon (The Threefold Conspiracy 3 of 6)

On their voyage through space back to the Pact Worlds, the heroes and their new Stewards allies begin to realize disturbing gaps in their recent memory, missing moments of lost time replaced with dreamlike impressions of imprisonment, surgery, and shadows. A Stewards base on a fiery moon of the gas giant Bretheda seems to offer respite from paranoia and pursuit, but unseen enemies lurk even in the heart of the system's most powerful institutions, and the web of alien conspiracy enshrouds all of the Pact Worlds!

“Deceivers' Moon” is a Starfinder Roleplaying Game adventure for four 5th-level characters. This adventure continues the Threefold Conspiracy Adventure Path, a six-part, monthly campaign in which the heroes unravel the machinations of insidious aliens who have infiltrated galactic society. This book also includes an article describing the insidious reptoids, a catalog of starships used by the Unseen, and a selection of new monsters, including cryptids from the Starfinder setting.

Each monthly full-color softcover Starfinder Adventure Path volume contains a new installment of a series of interconnected science-fantasy quests that together create a fully developed plot of sweeping scale and epic challenges. Each 64-page volume of the Starfinder Adventure Path also contains in-depth articles that detail and expand the Starfinder campaign setting and provide new rules, a host of exciting new monsters and alien races, a new planet to explore and starship to pilot, and more!

Watch: How to run a Conspiracy Campaign - Game Master Advice

Starfinder Pawns: Attack of the Swarm! Pawn Collection

Key aliens and NPCs from the Attack of the Swarm! Adventure Path come alive on your tabletop with the Attack of the Swarm! Pawn Collection, featuring more than 100 creature pawns for use with the Starfinder Roleplaying Game or any tabletop science-fantasy RPG! Printed on sturdy cardstock, each pawn presents a beautiful full-color image of an alien, NPC, or starship from the Attack of the Swarm! campaign, including the devouring Swarm, brave soldiers, beneficent mystics, and dozens of unique creatures.

The Attack of the Swarm! Pawn Collection, together with the creatures and characters from the Starfinder Alien Archive Pawn Box and Starfinder Core Rulebook Pawn Collection, provides pawns for nearly every Attack of the Swarm! encounter. Each cardstock pawn slots into a size-appropriate plastic base from the Alien Archive Pawn Box, making the pawns easy to mix with traditional metal or plastic miniatures. With tons of distinct images, the Attack of the Swarm! Pawn Collection brings to life the enemies and allies from all six adventures of the Attack of the Swarm! Adventure Path.

Watch: Starfinder: Attack of the Swarm!

Starfinder Society Scenario #2-21: Illegal Shipment Starfinder Society

A Starfinder Society Scenario designed for levels 1-4 (subtiers 1-2 & 3-4).

As the Swarm invades the distant Suskillon system, a notorious collector of alien life captures several Swarm lifeforms with the intent of selling them to interested buyers. Bringing these creatures to Absalom Station as part of a clandestine trade, events go awry and the trader's preserved wildlife escape into the station. In order to prevent station-wide panic, the Starfinder Society sends its best agents to find out what happened, track down the escaped Swarm lifeforms, and stop a full-scale infestation at the heart of the Pact Worlds!
Written by: Joseph Blomquist

Starfinder Society Scenario #2-22: Rasheen's Reception

A Starfinder Society Scenario designed for levels 5-8 (subtiers 5-6 & 7-8).

Hot on the trail of the lost treasure fleet of the famous Pact Worlds explorer, Jelev Rasheen, the Starfinder Society finds the next clue in the path leading to the Near Space territory of the Marixah Republic. The PCs travel to this burgeoning stellar nation in search of the next leg of Rasheen's journey, and soon find themselves thrust into the politics of the region and as sudden facilitators of an ancient family pledge.
Written by: Mara Lynn Butler

Adventures Ahead!

Aaron Shanks
Marketing and Media Manager

Inside volume three of the Pathfinder Extinction Curse Adventure Path, Life’s Long Shadows, by Greg A. Vaughan

Previously, in Echoes of the Dead God Linger, we took a look inside volume two of the Extinction Curse Adventure Path. Now we charge ahead to volume three!

Strange forces assail the Swardlands, breadbasket to the city of Absalom. A malevolent spirit haunts the region’s leader, an unseen murderer mutilates her victims, and malicious forces occupy the once-sacred aeon towers. The heroes must stop the killings, repel subterranean invaders, and stun the people of the Swardlands with circus shows the likes of which they’ve never seen! The Extinction Curse Adventure Path continues with “Life’s Long Shadows,” an adventure for 9th- to 11th-level characters.

Spoiler Alert

Art by Darko Stojanovic

Explore the breadbasket of the Isle of Kortos, including its towns, personalities, and mysteries in Swardlands Gazetteer by Greg A. Vaughan!

“A city with nearly a third of a million souls, Absalom—the City at the Center of the World—has a huge logistical burden in feeding its populace. When Aroden, the Last Azlanti, raised the island from the depths of the sea, he foresaw this need and blessed it with fecundity through the aeon towers and their magical aeon orbs. Even after Aroden’s death, these towers nurture what was once barren, submarine rock.

However, as the influence of Aroden has waned in the century since his death, so too has the power of the aeon orbs. What was once a near-perfect cornucopia of growing lands for crops and timber—a region virtually untouched by climatic fluctuation or soil exhaustion— has begun, in small increments, to creep back toward a more mundane environment as the power of the aeon orbs slowly dwindles. The expected multiple harvests per year have become unreliable, timber stands are sparse and recover slowly from logging, and the soil in some fields has become exhausted, forcing farmers to leave them fallow. Some people of the Swardlands— Swardfolk, as they call themselves—are on the verge of panic, while others blithely ignore the changes around them, insisting any change must be only temporary or imaginary. Something has to change, and soon, or the Swardlands will fail. And if the Swardlands fail, can Absalom be far behind?”

For more information on 17 locations, including Kerrick, the region’s principal city and hub of trade don’t miss the full five-page article in print or PDF.

Art by David Astruga

Unbury the dogma and mythos of the gluttonous demon lord Zevgavizeb, god of subterranean horrors, cavern‐dwelling reptiles, and debased xulgaths in Zevgavizeb by Amber Stewar

“Zevgavizeb—the Beast of Gluttondark, Lord of Reptiles, and Sun-Devourer—is a ravenous and cruel demon lord whose followers commit heinous sacrifices and engage in long, brutal wars in the name of their deity. Beyond his followers among the xulgaths (also known as troglodytes) who form the majority of his congregation, Zevgavizeb is little known among mortals, for his interests rarely extend beyond his own Abyssal demesne and his insatiable hunger. Most scholarly works describe him briefly, pointing to his origins as a qlippoth before his ascension to demonkind as one possible explanation for his insatiable hunger and unquenchable bloodlust. The Sun-Devourer alternates between periods of genocidal gluttony and torpid slumber, with his followers reflecting this pattern of war and peace in their cycles of catastrophic collapse and societal elevation.

Faithful xulgaths believe that each period of Zevgavizeb’s infamous slumber allows the demon lord to literally digest and incorporate some portion of the knowledge of those he devours and those sacrificed in his name. In this state of torpor, there is little to fear from the Lord of Reptiles, and his followers enjoy periods of peace and prosperity. When the demon lord’s hunger riles him once more, though, the shock waves of his cravings can be felt in the very bones of his devotees, who themselves become driven to rage-fueled violence. These “ravenings,” as xulgaths refer to the periods of war that coincide with Zevgavizeb’s hunger, have kept his cults in eons-long conflicts and stunted the development of their societies for as long as they have worshipped the dread demon. His adherents believe that each cycle of sleep and rampage progresses the Beast of Gluttondark toward some unknown endgame. While other civilizations disregard Zevgavizeb’s followers as brutish cannibals and warmongers, they fail to see that the deity’s adherents remain in a state of relative unenlightenment only due to the nightmarish culls that fuel their ancestral deity’s continuing apotheosis.”

For more information on Zevgavizeb’s personification, realm, dogma, worshippers, temples, shrines, priests, holidays, aphorisms, holy text, relations with other religions, and new rules—including a Zevgavizeb-themed background, feat, and spell—devour the full five-page article.

Art by Olivier Bernard

This volume presents a new ancestry, archetypes, monsters, and much more in the Adventure Toolbox by Anthony Bono, Jacob W. Michaels, Andrew Mullen, Patrick Renie, Alex Riggs, Timothy Snow, and Greg A. Vaughan. Yes, there are three new magic items, ten new monsters, the golem grafter and lumberjack archetypes, but this volume contains a surprise that I think will bring us all delight for years to come — the shoony ancestry!

“Diminutive humanoids who resemble squat, bipedal dogs, shoonies are sometimes mistaken for weak and insular pacifists. However, their sheer perseverance, incredible work ethic, and resourceful use of diplomacy make shoonies far from helpless.

According to shoonies, Aroden created their kind to provide him with pleasant company soon after he created the Isle of Kortos. Shoony culture is rooted in this myth and its implications, which help to explain the ancestry’s long reputation for hospitality, good will, and pacifism. War is antithetical to the shoony way of life; shoonies rely on cooperation and persistence to make their way through a world that can seem at times hellbent on destroying them. Shoonies are unflappable in their optimism and always see the best in others, even when faced with frequent subjugation and exploitation that might create bitterness or xenophobia among other societies. To shoonies, peace is a goal always worth striving for, and no villain is beyond redemption, so they aim to resolve problems with peaceful solutions.”

Art by Olivier Bernard

And now you know why I like to call this the Doggies and Demons volume of the Adventure Path. *percussion sting*

So that's a taste of volume three. We release Pathfinder Adventure Paths monthly in six-volume arcs, meaning each year sees the release of two complete Adventure Path campaigns. You can acquire them at your favorite local gaming store or with your ongoing Pathfinder Adventure Path subscription.

Next, we will unveil volume four, Siege of the Dinosaurs, with a gazetteer of the town of Willowside and lore about the inhabitants of the Abyssal realm of Gluttondark, as well as new monsters and xulgath-themed rules!

Adventures Ahead!

Aaron Shanks
Marketing and Media Manager

Inside volume two of the Pathfinder Extinction Curse Adventure Path, Legacy of the Lost God, by Jenny Jarzabski

Previously, in The Greatest Show on Golarion, we took a look inside volume one of the Extinction Curse Adventure Path. Now we charge ahead to volume two!

Legacy of the Lost God is a Pathfinder adventure written by Jenny Jarzabski for four 5th-level characters. This adventure continues the Extinction Curse Adventure Path, a six-part, monthly campaign in which the heroes lead a traveling circus as they unravel a plot to eradicate all life from the islands of the Inner Sea. This adventure also includes information about catfolk of Golarion and the villainous xulgaths, as well as new monsters and circus-themed rules.

For some, that is as much of a reveal as you want and you might want to go and back and read the free Player’s Guide.

For the curious, let’s soft-paw forward with a look at the back cover summary.

“The Circus of Wayward Wonders arrives in bustling Escadar, eager for fortune and fame. The heroes must confront foul forces in a buried temple to learn more about the looming threat facing the Starstone Isles. Their investigations put the heroes on a collision course with their circus’s greatest rival: the cruel catfolk Mistress Dusklight, ringmaster of the Celestial Menagerie! The Extinction Curse Adventure Path continues with “Legacy of the Lost God,” a complete adventure for 5th- to 8th-level characters.”

For those who want to know more about the additional support articles and game materials in this volume, read on! But be ye warned, thar be SPOILERS ahead!

Perhaps the most player-friendly lore in this volume is the Catfolk of Golarion article by David N. Ross.

“With many of the most prominent physical features of felines, catfolk make an impression virtually everywhere they are encountered—which is all over, considering their propensity for travel and adventure. In addition to catlike personality features such as curiosity and pride, they have a rich shared culture and often know much more about the situations they find themselves in than they let on. Indeed, the story of catfolk is a story of nobility and confidence, of wit and guile, and of exploration and friendship to the highest degree.

While catfolk are well known for their strong sense of individuality, they share a number of common characteristics that differentiate them from other people of Golarion. They are almost universally curious, making them natural adventurers and voyagers as well as scholars and researchers. Many are gregarious and talkative—social traits reinforced by upbringings that emphasize strong bonds with close friends, whom catfolk refer to as their found kin. They are equally at home in cities as well as in the wild, though their tendency to inadvertently meddle in others’ affairs sometimes pushes them to the fringes of non-catfolk societies, where they socialize with similarly capricious people such as tengus and kitsunes.”

For more on catfolk history, society, culture, adventurers, settlements, and more read the full article in print or PDF.

Going deeper, some Game Masters who don’t intend to run this Adventure Path might want to adapt or adopt this troglodyte lore for their campaign. Enjoy this excerpt from Among The Xulgaths by Andrew Mullen.

“None of Golarion’s Darklands denizens are as prolific— or as underestimated—as xulgaths. Called troglodytes by the surface‐dwellers who see them as little more than foul‐smelling brutes, these lizard‐like humanoids once ruled a vast empire beneath Golarion’s surface during the Age of Legends, and powerful xulgath psychic leaders commanded legions of formidable warriors amid grand obsidian temples and stone ziggurats. Now, xulgath civilization—if it can even be called that—exists in disparate fragments spread throughout the Darklands and in the dark corners of the world’s outer crust, and craven groups of scavengers, backstabbers, and cannibals fight among themselves for control of petty caverns and scraps of food.

Ancient xulgath civilization spread from a massive subterranean vault called Vask, in the deepest layer of the Darklands, Orv. In the time of xulgath dominance, Vask was filled with lush vegetation and kept safe from the Darklands’ ambient radioactive energies by the nurturing glow of six mysterious orbs known as "cavern hearts." Beneath this quickening luminescence, the xulgaths thrived, establishing large communities around mysterious stepped pyramids. Impressive aqueducts, fungus farms, and vermin ranches supported the xulgaths’ orderly—if bloody— society as it spread throughout the vault.”

For much more information on xulgath society, worship, resources, artifice, minions, allies, incursions, and more read the full article.

Now for the crunch! The Adventure Toolbox by Stephen Glicker, Luis Loza, Ron Lundeen, and Andrew Mullen includes 14 circus magic items, the animal trainer archetype, four circus spells, and nine uncommon monsters. You will find aberrations, animals, fey, undead—including the new visitant template. Finally, there are three unique, detailed creatures. All of these new materials can be dropped into your Age of Lost Omens or homebrew games..

“Animal Trainer Archetype
You have befriended an animal to serve as an able assistant and loyal guardian.”

We release Pathfinder Adventure Paths monthly in six-volume arcs, meaning each year sees the release of two complete Adventure Path campaigns. You can acquire them at your favorite local gaming store. Or with an ongoing Pathfinder Adventure Path subscription, we'll send you each new Pathfinder Adventure Path volume and charge your payment method automatically as we ship each product. You only need to sign up once, and never need to worry about renewal notice or missed products.

Next, we will unpack volume three, Life’s Long Shadows, with information about the bountiful area known as the Swardlands and the malevolent demon lord Zevgavizeb, as well as new monsters and rules!

Adventures Ahead!

Aaron Shanks
Marketing and Media Manager

Inside volume one of the Pathfinder Extinction Curse Adventure Path, The Show Must Go On, by Jason Tondro.

Our series of blogs exploring the Extinction Curse Adventure Path includes Come One, Come All, to the Extinction Curse Player’s Guide!, the web flash fiction Extinction Curse: Waiting in the Wings, and Extinction Curse Extravaganza! Now, let’s start looking more deeply into what each volume adds to the Pathfinder Second Edition game. (I don’t see spoilers in this blog, but they are ahead, so proceed accordingly.)

The Show Must Go On is a Pathfinder Second Edition adventure for four 1st-level characters. This adventure begins the Extinction Curse Adventure Path, a six-part, monthly campaign in which the heroes lead a traveling circus as they unravel a plot to eradicate all life from the Starstone Isles at the heart of the Inner Sea. The adventure also includes advice on how to run a traveling circus, new circus-themed rules, and a menagerie of monsters both wondrous and wicked.

The free Extinction Curse Player’s Guide by Ron Lundeen provided six new backgrounds—the aerialist, animal wrangler, barker, blow-in, butcher (not what you might think), circus-born, clown, mystic seer, and rigger. It also shared player-friendly lore on the isles of Erran and Kortos.

But a Pathfinder Adventure Path is more than just an exciting plot written by a collection of the best authors in the industry. It also includes new rules, stats, and support articles to give Game Masters additional material to expand their campaign. So let’s start to shine the spotlight on the backmatter from the Extinction Curse.

A circus can now be added to any Pathfinder game. You can start by using the Life in the Circus article by Patrick Renie. Here’s an excerpt:

“The smell of animals, incense, and burning pitch fills the air. Murmurs of excitement punctuate the dark, open space. From outside, silver light cast by a crescent moon slices through the tent’s entryway. Suddenly, music bursts in from all sides. The curtain rises, spotlights flood the ring in the middle of the tent, and a lone figure standing in the center spurs the crowd’s cacophonous applause. “Welcome, welcome!” the figure booms. “Welcome to the greatest show on Golarion!”

At the start of this adventure, the PCs inherit the Circus of Wayward Wonders, and they’re thrust into the roles of showrunners in addition to their responsibilities as adventurers. Throughout the Extinction Curse Adventure Path, the PCs will travel all over the Isle of Erran and the Isle of Kortos, undertaking a grand adventure to save the land from an ancient evil. Thankfully, it’s not all dire omens and life-or-death circumstances—during their off time, the PCs can unwind by running a joyous circus where the worst case scenario is a comically clumsy show. To ensure their circus is a success, the PCs will need to promote, orchestrate, and execute fantastic shows in towns big and small.

The rules in this article are designed to give the PCs agency over their circus and approximate the fun and responsibility of running a traveling troupe of entertainers. While intended for use throughout the Extinction Curse Adventure Path, the rules are flexible enough to be used in any campaign...”

For more rules and guidance on running a circus, preparing for the show, putting on a show, payout, prestige, and more read the full article in print or PDF.

You can download it here!

Bring your circus to vivid life with a million dreams and the Adventure Toolbox by Andrew Mullen, Patrick Renie, David N. Ross, and Michael Sayre. This includes two new uncommon player archetypes—the juggler and staff acrobat, the juggle skill feat, five nature snares—like dust pods, seven circus weapons—like the scorpion whip, eight environment spells—like personal rain cloud, and new nine monsters. In fact, we can name a few of the monsters without spoilers—the bone croupier, flea, living graffiti, and luminous ooze—because they are not used in The Show Must Go On. There are also two unique foes that are fully detailed with two pages each. All of these new materials can be dropped into your Age of Lost Omens or homebrew games and are available in print or PDF.

Juggler Archetype You’re a skilled performer, with impressive balance and coordination that help you greatly in battle. And the Staff Acrobat Archetype You can perform amazing acts in and out of combat when you have a spear, staff, or polearm.

This is a good opportunity for a Pathfinder Second Edition vocabulary reminder from the Core Rulebook. Many of these new materials are uncommon—meaning available only to those who have special training, grew up in a certain culture, or come from a particular part of the world. As we just learned from the Gamemastery Guide, “Uncommon elements are difficult to access, but a PC can usually find them eventually with enough effort, potentially by choosing a specific character option or spending substantial downtime tracking them down.”

We release Pathfinder Adventure Paths monthly in six-volume arcs, meaning each year sees the release of two complete Adventure Path campaigns. You can acquire them at your favorite local gaming store. Or with your ongoing Pathfinder Adventure Path subscription, we'll send you each new Pathfinder Adventure Path volume and charge your payment method automatically as we ship each product. You only need to sign up once, and never need to worry about renewal notice or missed products.

Next, we will look inside volume two, Legacy of the Lost God, with information about the catfolk of Golarion and the villainous xulgaths, as well as new monsters and circus-themed rules!

Adventures Ahead!

Aaron Shanks
Marketing and Media Manager

Axel wasn’t his real name. He’d wanted a name that echoed in the big top, and something that sounded good in front of “Amazing Aviary.” So now he was Axel, of Axel’s Amazing Aviary, and no one knew who he’d been before he came to the Circus of Wayward Wonders. He was certain his new name would lead to his first real, actual performance.

Except it hadn’t.

The ringmaster and circus manager went by the name “Thunder” and, like his namesake, he could silence the largest crowd, rolling over them as they hung on his every word. He was like that in person as well, pronouncing all his words deliberately and forcefully. Axel thought the Thunder was the most intense, serious, forthright person he’d ever met. This made it especially frustrating that Axel hadn’t been able to get a straight answer from the man in five days. Would Axel be able to perform on opening night? Could he practice in one of the three rings beneath the big top? Could he see the order of the acts, to find out where his bird act would best fit?

Yes, but also no, and also perhaps yes.

Soon.

Axel left every discussion feeling that he’d finally received the ringmaster’s answers, but as soon as the Thunder had moved on to talk to someone else, Axel realized he hadn’t gotten any answers at all.

With little else to do, Axel turned back to his doves. He’d set up a lightweight stand in a corner of the darkened big top, out of the way of the genuine performers practicing their circus tricks. He gave a low whistle, and one of the doves darted from its perch to take a wrapped pebble from his hand, swooping around Axel’s head with it.

Illustration by Nathanael James.

“Is that candy?”

Axel turned at the question, following the bird with his gaze as it swooped to drop the pebble into the outstretched hand of a young girl wearing a tight white leotard. She was no older than twelve—not much younger than Axel himself—but she held herself with the confidence of one with two, three times that many years behind her.

“No, sorry. It’s just a rock,” said Axel quickly. Then, as if the warning were necessary, he added, “Please don’t eat it.” He quickly glanced over her shoulder where her parents and two older siblings practiced their high-wire acrobatics routine. They didn’t seem to notice him or his young friend.

The girl—Odvi Kanbali, Axel remembered—looked curiously at the prize that the dove had delivered. “Why would you wrap a rock up to look like candy?”

“It’ll be actual candy during a performance, but candy’s expensive to use during training,” Axel explained. “I taught the doves to give them to children in the audience.”

“I’m not in the audience,” Odvi huffed, “and I’m not a child. I’m a performer. One of the Flying Kanbalis…although that was our name back in Escadar. We’re the Feather-Fall Five now. Papa says it’s because we won’t have to risk a hard fall ever again.”

“You were in Escadar?” Axel asked enthusiastically, wholly forgetting to maintain his facade of jaded professionalism. He saw Odvi’s face twist in a grimace and regretted sounding excited about it. “Then you worked for… her,” Axel finished flatly.

“Mistress Dusklight,” Odvi said slowly, nodding. The rest of her words came in a rush, as though they’d been bottled up for a long time. “She’s beautiful and graceful, and she knows more about the circus than even Professor K does, and he’s ancient. But she’s really a monster! Her circus isn’t ‘The Delights of the Heavens,’ it’s a prison. Or worse, an executioner’s block. Nobody in the audience realizes she doesn’t care if her performers are hurt or worse, so long as she keeps up the sparkly illusion she’s selling her crowds. I hated it. I hated her. Papa always said we’d get away, and when a bunch of us decided to leave Dusklight’s circus, we came here to start up our own. Wayward wonders, all of us. Now my family never has to perform without a safety net. I think it’s very exciting—there are lots of new people joining, too, and it feels like…I don’t know. Like the start of something really important.”

Axel stepped toward her to collect his bird and his wrapped pebble, wincing as his weight fell awkwardly on his left foot.

Odvi frowned. “You’re hurt.”

“I bumped my leg last night. I’m fine.”

“It’s a stake bite.”

Axel looked over where Mistress Elizia, the snake charmer, was poking around in the mouth of her enormous anaconda. “A snakebite?”

Odvi giggled. “No, a stake bite. Circus talk. It comes from old stakes. We had to make do with parts we could scavenge, and that meant used tent stakes. When stakes get pounded into the dirt again and again, their tops eventually split. If you don’t step carefully when outside the tent at night, their frayed tops can cut your leg. Newcomers get stake bites all the time. Take off your shoe and I’ll wrap your ankle. I learned a lot about wrapping injuries in Mistress Dusklight’s circus.” The girl unwound one of her chalk-dusted handwraps to use as a makeshift bandage.

As Axel bent to roll up his trouser leg, Odvi glanced at his doves, clustered together on their perch. “Your bird rack is empty in the middle.”

“That’s where I go,” explained Axel. “The harness doesn’t stand on the ground like that during a performance. It goes over my shoulders, and under my cloak. That’s how I hide the birds before unveiling them for their tricks.”

“Your wire’s too thick,” interjected a flat-faced, simple-looking boy walking by with a metal spar over one shoulder.

“Hod can…talk?” gasped Odvi, surprised.

The boy scowled. “Don’t talk a lot. Doesn’t mean I don’t talk.”

Odvi leaned in to Axel, whispering. “Hod’s the assistant to the magician.”

Axel nodded. “I’ve seen her around. Mordaine the Magician, right? Apparently, she’s really, really good.”

The acrobat rolled her eyes. “Mordaine says that Mordaine is really good. And that we’re lucky to have her. And that she should be the big number in the center ring on opening night. And so on. The Thunder isn’t so sure.”

While Axel and Odvi spoke among themselves of his mistress, Hod set down his spar and picked up Axel’s cloak. He turned it inside out with a careful motion and pointed to several small tears. “Wire’s wrecking your lining. After a show or two, it’ll tear and spoil the illusion. Use thinner wire. And loop the ends.”

“Thanks, Hod,” Axel replied, genuinely grateful for the boy’s advice. “I’m lucky you stopped by.” He paused, unsure whether to speak his next thought aloud. “Is Mordaine all that she says?”

Hod considered, his brow furrowing. Then his face split into a smile. “At least she has a good assistant.”

Odvi laughed, slipping Axel’s shoe back on and helping him to his feet. Hod’s face grew suddenly solemn and he picked up his spar. “She told the Thunder that we already have a magician, and we already have animal acts, so there’s no place for you.”

Axel was torn between shock and outrage. “No place? How is it even her decision? She’s as new to this circus as I am! I thought the Thunder ran this show.”

Hod grinned again, “That’s what the Thunder told her. Said he was already considering a place for you.”

“Oh, that’s good news,” interjected Odvi, “I’d heard he was going to say no, because of how obvious it was that you’d never performed in front of a crowd before. But I think you’ll fit in well. We were all novices once. Except me. I’ve been on the high wire since before I can remember.”

“I’d better get back to training, then.” Axel said, preparing to run through his trick again. “I feel like this opening night is going to be the beginning of something wonderful.”

“Yes,” the children said in unison before returning to their own duties.

Hod turned back, smiling over his spar and looking intently at Axel’s outstretched hand. “Is that candy?”

About the Author

Ron Lundeen lives in the rural hinterlands outside of Seattle, Washington, where he finds the climate a pleasant change from his native Illinois. After a career as a corporate attorney, Ron took a full-time position with Paizo, Inc. as a developer, working with freelancers to create fabulous worlds and monstrous threats for the Pathfinder and Starfinder roleplaying games. He also designs games in his free time, creating a dizzying variety of perils, plots, and legends. Ron’s favorite RPG design work is adventure writing, to help others share exciting stories with their friends. Although his first game design credit came back in 1993, Ron has recently written for Paizo, Wizards of the Coast, Ulisses Spiele, and many others. Ron also runs a gaming company and RPG writer advice blog, which you can visit at www.runamokgames.com.

About Extinction Curse

Kicking off in January, 2020 with Pathfinder Adventure Path #151: The Show Must Go On, Extinction Curse is the 26th Pathfinder Adventure Path from Paizo, Inc. and the second designed for use with the second edition of the bestselling Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. In Extinction Curse, the players take on the role of humble circus performers who uncover a sinister plot to exterminate life from the Starstone Isle. The dead god Aroden may be gone, but his legacy lives on, as do his old enemies who would destroy the wonders he raised from the sea. Spectacle meets savagery as the heroes strive to stop the Extinction Curse!