paizo.com Recent Blog Posts in Igor Grechanyipaizo.com Recent Blog Posts in Igor Grechanyi2017-02-22T19:46:21Z2017-02-22T19:46:21ZThrough the Gate in the Sea Sample Chapterhttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5ljkg?Through-the-Gate-in-the-Sea-Sample-Chapter2017-02-22T20:00:00Z<blockquote>
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<h1 itemprop="headline">Through the Gate in the Sea Sample Chapter</h1>
<p class="date">Wednesday, February 22, 2017</p>
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<div class = "blurb360"><a href = "/products/btpy9n4n?Pathfinder-Tales-Through-the-Gate-in-the-Sea"><img src = "/image/product/catalog/PZO/PZO8537_360.jpeg"></a></div>
<p itemprop="description"><i>Mirian Raas and her faithful crew make their living salvaging lost treasures from sunken ships along the coast of tropical Sargava. While retrieving riches from the bottom of Desperation Bay, Mirian and her friend Jekka, one of the last of his lizardfolk tribe, unexpectedly run across the wreck of an ancient magical ship. The discovery leads them on a quest for an arcane artifact called a dragon's tear, which may be the key to locating Jekka's vanished people. But a vengeful sorcerer and a zealous agent of the Child-God Walkena also seek the dragon's tear—and they'll stop at nothing to get it. Can Mirian and her crew pass through the legendary gate in the sea and find the tear before it's too late?</i></p>
<blockquote>
<h2>Chapter 2: The Black Ship</h3>
<p>As she played the glow stone over the hull, Mirian imagined the vessel surging along the waves in its glory days, full canvas spread from the trio of towering masts, the dragon-shaped prow rising and falling with the ocean current.</p>
<p>And then she was once more staring at a sunken hulk.</p>
<p>She was swimming slowly toward the bow, wand at the ready, when Jekka joined her. She gave him the hand sign for caution. There was no telling what might be using the wreck as its home.</p>
<p>The figurehead was even more lovely than she'd supposed, carved with that minute detail she'd seen on many lizardfolk objects. Upon closer inspection, Mirian recognized it as a stylized rendition of one of her least favorite creatures: a sea drake. She scowled at the thing. One of the monsters had stalked her when she was a child, and another had chased her expedition through the tunnels of a lizardfolk city before killing her friend Ivrian's mother.</p>
<p>Her hand tightened around the wand and she came perilously close to blasting the serpentine image into floating chunks.</p>
<p>But she had better sense. Provided they could get the figurehead free, they'd probably get a tidy sum for it from some collector. As a member of the Pathfinder Society, she knew not to let personal feeling interfere with a historical find.</p>
<p>Mirian drifted away from the figurehead and back along the narrow bow, light from her glow stone glinting off something half hidden in scum. She swam closer to investigate.</p>
<p>A lumpy object was set into the ship's side six feet below the rail and about the same distance from the bowsprit, in the approximate place that Osirian mariners painted eyes on their ships.</p>
<p>Often she wore gloves on salvage runs, but having anticipated recovering nothing more than a ring down here, she'd dived without them. She reached to touch the object gingerly with her left hand, wiping fingers through grime to reveal a large violet jewel.</p>
<p>At that her eyebrows rose. If this were a real gem, it could easily be worth thousands of gold sails.</p>
<p>Realizing she'd been focused single-mindedly upon her discovery, she checked behind, above, and around her. Her father had taught her not to be so intent you forgot your surroundings. <i>Nearly everything under the water is a predator</i>, he'd told her, and <i>some of them are larger than you</i>.</p>
<p>She saw Jekka's light still playing farther back. Time to confer. She swam over to him and the lizard man's slit pupils contracted in her light beam. She shined the light at her hand so he could see her signal to surface.</p>
<p>His tongue extended, as it sometimes did when he was thoughtful or uncertain, but he followed as she kicked up, and in a few moments they were drifting in the darkness under the stars. Mirian's instinctive sense of direction told her the <i>Daughter of the Mist</i> lay to her left, but she couldn't see it, or even hear the lap of the ocean against its side.</p>
<p>"Isn't it amazing, my sister?" Jekka asked. "A ship of my people!"</p>
<p>"It is amazing. I'd give a lot to know what they painted on the hull to preserve it so well. But there are two things, my brother. Listen well."</p>
<p>Sometimes, when she spoke with the lizard man, Mirian found herself unintentionally adopting his formal diction. She supposed she was learning some of his habits, just as he learned some of hers.</p>
<p>"You have my attention," he answered.</p>
<p>"You <i>must</i> always signal me. And be watching for me, underwater. Don't dart off like that."</p>
<p>He nodded, an exaggerated bob on that long neck.</p>
<p>"We have to watch for each other," she went on, "because there may be something watching us."</p>
<p>"So you have said. Forgive me, Sister."</p>
<p>"No harm done—yet. Don't forget, you need to swim back to the ship and report in. Tell Rendak what we've found and borrow his air bottle."</p>
<p>"I don't need it."</p>
<p>"You damned well do. You can't keep popping up and down the whole time. I want to go inside the hull and look around, and I want someone to back me up. You could get trapped in the hull and drown."</p>
<p>"I don't need it," he repeated stubbornly.</p>
<p>"You promised to defer to me in salvaging. Are you going back on your word?"</p>
<p>He hissed. "You shame me, Sister. Very well. But how am I to watch you if you're going alone to the wreck?"</p>
<p>"You're going to come back quickly. And I'm going to continue my inspection on the outside." Not the safest option, admittedly, but Mirian was an old hand at this, and the seas seemed pretty calm at this drop.</p>
<p>"I will do these things."</p>
<p>"Thank the druid while you're there," she continued, "and apologize to her for the delay. Tell Rendak to turn four points to starboard and come a half mile before dropping anchor. And when he asks if he or Gombe should drop, tell him I'll let them know when we're done scouting."</p>
<p>"I will remember," Jekka assured her.</p>
<p>She was fairly certain he would. The lizard man had an amazing ability to retain oral information and repeat it word for word. Habits, like those of salvaging routines, however, were different from rote memorization.</p>
<p>"Get it done and come find me. I'm as eager as you to see what lies aboard."</p>
<p>Then she raised a hand in farewell and dove below.</p>
<p>On her return trip to the wreck, she wondered what would have happened if she'd descended for the ring alone, or with Rendak or Gombe. Nothing, probably. She'd chosen Jekka in part because he needed to get used to what a salvaging run was like, but also because he'd been so excited to become a salvager. She guessed that was because he now saw the crew as part of his extended clan and wished to contribute to its well-being.</p>
<p>While she waited for Jekka, she carefully surveyed the ship's perimeter, familiarizing herself with the length and breadth of the vessel and searching for telltale warning signs that something large and unpleasant lurked within. Ocean predators weren't especially noted for their intellects. If there were anything nasty living here, there'd likely be discarded carcasses nearby, each crawling with bottom-feeders.</p>
<p>She saw no such indications. That didn't rule out the possibility of more intelligent creatures like aquatic ogres or sea devils lairing there, but she saw no sign of tracks or prints along the rail or upon any of the closed cabin doors leading into the bowels of the ship.</p>
<p>Mirian almost missed the large gash at the vessel's stern, in the shadow of the hull. She studied the damaged wood and realized she was probably looking at the ship's death wound. Most likely the ship had struck a reef.</p>
<div class="blurbCenter"><a href="https://paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderTales/PZO8537-Cover.jpg"><img src="https//paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderTales/PZO8537-Cover_500.jpeg"></a><br /><i>Illustration by Igor Grechanyi</i></div>
<p>After a careful examination, Mirian had a pretty clear picture of the ship. It was half again as long as a typical three-master, but perhaps a third shallower across the beam. The decks were high and rose steeply at the prow. Probably there were a good three decks below, and back of the quarterdeck were two more above. Two masts were forward and a mizzenmast stood broken off almost to the deck, right through the wheelhouse itself.</p>
<p>Mirian was looking at the wheel when Jekka finally rejoined her. He took hold of the wheel with one hand to steady himself. Straps of a haversack crossed his chest.</p>
<p>Jekka had slid an object used by the other salvagers in her crew into a side pocket of his haversack. The magic item was colloquially known as an air bottle, and once someone learned the trick of using one, it was possible to spend long hours below the water. Her grandfather had invested in two for the family's help, and hit upon the idea of a tube to affix to the bottle so the fragile object could be kept in a padded back satchel.</p>
<p>The tube worked much better if you had lips to close around it—something Jekka lacked. When he'd first attempted to use it, he couldn't pull air without water coming in as well, unless he jammed the tube so far down his throat he nearly gagged. She understood why he didn't want to repeat the experience, but he'd have to adapt if he was going to be a salvager.</p>
<p>A cool current buffeted Mirian as she examined a peculiar column rising beside the wheel. At first glance, it looked like another mast had been sheared off, but that made no sense. That would have placed it off-center from the rest of the vessel.</p>
<p>She scraped at a layer of blue algae. Instead of a broken mast, she uncovered a diagonal plate resembling a display in an expensive jewelry shop. An array of gems was set into its black metal. She scrubbed harder, exposing tiny symbols incised beside each jewel.</p>
<p>Jekka leaned close, running his scaly fingers over the letters.</p>
<p>The writing certainly resembled the same language Mirian had seen on the lizardfolk book cones, but she knew many languages looked similar to the uninitiated. She pointed to the symbols and then back at Jekka.</p>
<p>The lizard man nodded vigorously and touched a set of characters. "No wind!" he shouted, air bubbling out of his mouth.</p>
<p>He put his fingers beside a flat, violet stone, and it took him three attempts before she could understand him through the water: "Opener of the way."</p>
<p>Jekka paused to suck in the tube, then pulled it out, coughing more air bubbles.</p>
<p>There were four more gems with inscriptions. Mirian spread her hands apart in a silent question.</p>
<p>Clearly perplexed, the lizard man shook his head.</p>
<p>She traced the multifaceted ruby he'd told her meant "no wind." It looked like it might turn in its pitted housing.</p>
<p>Interesting. Slowly, carefully, she set her fingers on the gem and tried moving it clockwise. It didn't budge. When she twisted in the other direction, the gem lit from within.</p>
<p>Mirian looked to Jekka for explanation, but he merely shrugged.</p>
<p>She made a second twist and the deck shook beneath them. Clouds of silt billowed up, and from somewhere below came a loud scraping noise. It wasn't until she looked to port and turned her beam there that she noticed the landscape moving ...</p>
<p>No, the ship was! Mirian let out a colorful oath and quickly twisted the jewel all the way to the right so that it returned to its original setting. It ceased glowing and the ship slowed.</p>
<p>She looked at Jekka as if to say, <i>What the hell was that?</i></p>
<p>The lizard man stared back at her, reptilian eyes blinking.</p>
<p>This was a major find, but there was no way they'd pry any of the gems out of here. "No wind" apparently meant the ship could be set in motion magically when there was no breeze. She marveled at that, wondering whether a skilled enough magic-worker could remove it from the ship and install it on another. Like, say, the <i>Daughter of the Mist</i>, or that behemoth Ivrian was so set on building.</p>
<p>She pointed to an opening into darkness and directed her glow stone onto a barnacle-encrusted ladder. Apparently only the hull had the special protective coating.</p>
<p>Jekka tapped his chest and pointed into the hold, letting her know he intended to lead, then brandished his own glow stone.</p>
<p>She almost objected, then decided he was at least communicating this time, and remembered he was both an experienced warrior and excited to be searching a ship made by his own people. She allowed him to swim in front, staying a few feet back from the swish of his whiplike tale.</p>
<p>Most of the hold's contents had shifted to starboard. Her light played over brown and green weeds dusted by occasional splotches of red and blue. They obscured the hold's contents in a soft, furry blanket.</p>
<p>Jekka floated above it all, shining his own light on something to the right, then pointed at a long segmented worm with pincers. Mirian's father had always called them rot worms, though to Mirian they looked more like oversized centipedes. Their bite was deadly poisonous and they tended to be aggressive when disturbed, so she moved quickly.</p>
<p>The arm-length creature shifted away at Jekka's spear thrust, rearing up and stirring the water with its legs. Mirian cut it in half with her cutlass. It floated apart, wriggling in its death throes.</p>
<p>Jekka brushed it out of the way and shined his light on the patch of growth where the rot worm had been hidden. It didn't seem to have any nest mates.</p>
<p>She floated on with Jekka, imagining the hold moving with robed lizardfolk, perhaps lashing down that stack of crates over there, or walking on through the narrow archway into the next chamber.</p>
<p>Jekka stopped beside three large chests resting against the hull, each rotten with age. As Mirian played her light over the area, tiny crustaceans swam frantically for darkness. Little silver fish flashed away in alarm.</p>
<p>Mirian signaled Jekka to keep watch and he turned from her to survey their surroundings.</p>
<p>She had never seen a lizardfolk chest before, but the one directly before her proved little different from those built by humans, save that the lock mechanism was inset along the top right. That in itself was of interest. She made a mental note to record the information in her Pathfinder journal.</p>
<p>Normally, she would have simply smashed open a chest this old and rotten, but it was such an odd, rare find she wanted to handle it with care.</p>
<p>The bronze lock was green with corrosion and looked as though it had been designed to accommodate a cylindrical mechanism rather than a key—far beyond her lock-picking abilities, but there were other ways. She removed a small pry bar from her pack and set to work on the hinges.</p>
<div class = "blurb360"><a href = "/image/content/PathfinderTales/PZO8537-Jekka.jpg"><img src = "/image/content/PathfinderTales/PZO8537-Jekka_360.jpeg"></a><br />
<i>Illustration by Roberto Pitturru</i></div>
<p>The tool's teeth sank easily into the rotten wood, and in moments both hinges were floating free. After that, the lid came up easily. Mirian drifted back as she lifted it. There was no telling what might come crawling out.</p>
<p>Nothing did.</p>
<p>She again swam closer, her light settling on a rotted wooden frame inside the chest that kept a dozen blue cylindrical bottles upright and separate. Five were broken along their necks, but the others, though empty, looked intact—more tube than jar, with a peculiar fluted opening at the top.</p>
<p>Mirian played the light over the inside, then carefully lifted one of the vessels free and drew it closer it for examination.</p>
<p>Jekka drifted beside her. His long, forked tongue flicked with excitement.</p>
<p>She looked at him questioningly.</p>
<p>His head cocked in interest and he mimed drinking with it.</p>
<p>Mirian handed it to him to examine, then signed for him to put it in his pack. They could spend months clearing this wreck. It was probably time to fetch Rendak and Gombe.</p>
<p>Desna had truly blessed them. The wreck was a fantastic find. There was no telling what sort of oddities might be left aboard, let alone their value and historical significance. As a salvager, she depended upon scavenging sites like this. But as a Pathfinder, she was dedicated to uncovering the secrets of Golarion's past to preserve and disseminate knowledge. If the magical wind mechanism built into this ship could be understood and replicated, it might very well change the future of sea travel.</p>
<p>Jekka pointed to the chest next to the one they'd opened. He clearly wanted to see what was inside.</p>
<p>She decided to humor him and signaled for him to guard once more.</p>
<p>The hinges on the second chest were even more worn, and yielded with no resistance.</p>
<p>Within stood twelve rows of sculpted lizardfolk heads fashioned from a thin metal alloy and inlaid with jewels. Each eye socket was set with amber stones, the figures themselves rich with the minute symbols of Jekka's people.</p>
<p>The sight so thrilled her blood brother that his frill rose, and Mirian had to remind him to keep watch, though she did acquiesce to setting all two dozen of the sculptures within her pack.</p>
<p>The haversacks they wore had been gifts from Ivrian's mother, and were ensorcelled to contain more space on the inside than was apparent without. All of the sculptures fit easily without altering the haversack's weight in the slightest, another wonderful feature.</p>
<p>Jekka signed to indicate they should open the third chest, but she shook her head and pointed to the surface. Then she looked back to the chests and smiled, trying to reassure him they'd come back for all of it.</p>
<p>Mirian led the way out. Jekka trailed some length after, seemingly reluctant to leave.</p>
<p>Sooner than expected she found the anchor chain and, looming above, the dark bowline of the <i>Daughter of the Mist</i>.</p>
<p>Her hands closed on the familiar rungs of the ladder built into the vessel's side. She felt the magical gills fade the moment she thrust her head above the water and breathed deeply of the crisp salty air.</p>
<p>All was silhouettes and shadows against the lesser darkness of the sky, but she thought she made out Gombe's lean outline near the ladder. She grinned at him as she stepped forward, slinging her bag off her shoulder.</p>
<p>"You won't believe what we've found," she told him.</p>
<p>A man with a sword stepped around Gombe, the point of the weapon at the first mate's throat. "I'm all ears."</p>
</blockquote>
<p style = "text-align: center;"><b><a href = "/products/btpy9n4n?Pathfinder-Tales-Through-the-Gate-in-the-Sea">Purchase the whole novel here!</a></b></p>
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</blockquote>
<!— tags: Pathfinder Tales, Howard Andrew Jones, Roberto Pitturru, Igor Grechanyi —><p><a href="https://paizo.comcommunity/blog/tags">Tags</a>: <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/authors/howardAndrewJones">Howard Andrew Jones</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/igorGrechanyi">Igor Grechanyi</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderTales">Pathfinder Tales</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/robertoPitturru">Roberto Pitturru</a></p><blockquote>
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<div class = "blurbCenter"><a href = "/pathfindertales"><img src = "//static4.paizo.com/image/content/Logos/PathfinderTales_360.jpeg"></a></div>
<h1 itemprop="headline">Through the Gate in the Sea Sample Chapter</h1>
<p class="date">Wednesday, February 22, 2017</p>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<div class = "blurb360"><a href = "/products/btpy9n4n?Pathfinder-Tales-Through-the-Gate-in-the-Sea"><img src = "/image/product/catalog/PZO/PZO8537_360.jpeg"></a></div>
<p itemprop="description"><i>Mirian Raas and her faithful crew make their living salvaging lost treasures from sunken ships along the coast of tropical Sargava. While retrieving riches from the bottom of Desperation Bay, Mirian and her friend Jekka, one of the last of his lizardfolk tribe, unexpectedly run across the wreck of an ancient magical ship. The discovery leads them on a quest for an arcane artifact called a dragon's tear, which may be the key to locating Jekka's vanished people. But a vengeful sorcerer and a zealous agent of the Child-God Walkena also seek the dragon's tear—and they'll stop at nothing to get it. Can Mirian and her crew pass through the legendary gate in the sea and find the tear before it's too late?</i></p>
<blockquote>
<h2>Chapter 2: The Black Ship</h3>
<p>As she played the glow stone over the hull, Mirian imagined the vessel surging along the waves in its glory days, full canvas spread from the trio of towering masts, the dragon-shaped prow rising and falling with the ocean current.</p>
<p>And then she was once more staring at a sunken hulk.</p>
<p>She was swimming slowly toward the bow, wand at the ready, when Jekka joined her. She gave him the hand sign for caution. There was no telling what might be using the wreck as its home.</p>
<p>The figurehead was even more lovely than she'd supposed, carved with that minute detail she'd seen on many lizardfolk objects. Upon closer inspection, Mirian recognized it as a stylized rendition of one of her least favorite creatures: a sea drake. She scowled at the thing. One of the monsters had stalked her when she was a child, and another had chased her expedition through the tunnels of a lizardfolk city before killing her friend Ivrian's mother.</p>
<p>Her hand tightened around the wand and she came perilously close to blasting the serpentine image into floating chunks.</p>
<p>But she had better sense. Provided they could get the figurehead free, they'd probably get a tidy sum for it from some collector. As a member of the Pathfinder Society, she knew not to let personal feeling interfere with a historical find.</p>
<p>Mirian drifted away from the figurehead and back along the narrow bow, light from her glow stone glinting off something half hidden in scum. She swam closer to investigate.</p>
<p>A lumpy object was set into the ship's side six feet below the rail and about the same distance from the bowsprit, in the approximate place that Osirian mariners painted eyes on their ships.</p>
<p>Often she wore gloves on salvage runs, but having anticipated recovering nothing more than a ring down here, she'd dived without them. She reached to touch the object gingerly with her left hand, wiping fingers through grime to reveal a large violet jewel.</p>
<p>At that her eyebrows rose. If this were a real gem, it could easily be worth thousands of gold sails.</p>
<p>Realizing she'd been focused single-mindedly upon her discovery, she checked behind, above, and around her. Her father had taught her not to be so intent you forgot your surroundings. <i>Nearly everything under the water is a predator</i>, he'd told her, and <i>some of them are larger than you</i>.</p>
<p>She saw Jekka's light still playing farther back. Time to confer. She swam over to him and the lizard man's slit pupils contracted in her light beam. She shined the light at her hand so he could see her signal to surface.</p>
<p>His tongue extended, as it sometimes did when he was thoughtful or uncertain, but he followed as she kicked up, and in a few moments they were drifting in the darkness under the stars. Mirian's instinctive sense of direction told her the <i>Daughter of the Mist</i> lay to her left, but she couldn't see it, or even hear the lap of the ocean against its side.</p>
<p>"Isn't it amazing, my sister?" Jekka asked. "A ship of my people!"</p>
<p>"It is amazing. I'd give a lot to know what they painted on the hull to preserve it so well. But there are two things, my brother. Listen well."</p>
<p>Sometimes, when she spoke with the lizard man, Mirian found herself unintentionally adopting his formal diction. She supposed she was learning some of his habits, just as he learned some of hers.</p>
<p>"You have my attention," he answered.</p>
<p>"You <i>must</i> always signal me. And be watching for me, underwater. Don't dart off like that."</p>
<p>He nodded, an exaggerated bob on that long neck.</p>
<p>"We have to watch for each other," she went on, "because there may be something watching us."</p>
<p>"So you have said. Forgive me, Sister."</p>
<p>"No harm done—yet. Don't forget, you need to swim back to the ship and report in. Tell Rendak what we've found and borrow his air bottle."</p>
<p>"I don't need it."</p>
<p>"You damned well do. You can't keep popping up and down the whole time. I want to go inside the hull and look around, and I want someone to back me up. You could get trapped in the hull and drown."</p>
<p>"I don't need it," he repeated stubbornly.</p>
<p>"You promised to defer to me in salvaging. Are you going back on your word?"</p>
<p>He hissed. "You shame me, Sister. Very well. But how am I to watch you if you're going alone to the wreck?"</p>
<p>"You're going to come back quickly. And I'm going to continue my inspection on the outside." Not the safest option, admittedly, but Mirian was an old hand at this, and the seas seemed pretty calm at this drop.</p>
<p>"I will do these things."</p>
<p>"Thank the druid while you're there," she continued, "and apologize to her for the delay. Tell Rendak to turn four points to starboard and come a half mile before dropping anchor. And when he asks if he or Gombe should drop, tell him I'll let them know when we're done scouting."</p>
<p>"I will remember," Jekka assured her.</p>
<p>She was fairly certain he would. The lizard man had an amazing ability to retain oral information and repeat it word for word. Habits, like those of salvaging routines, however, were different from rote memorization.</p>
<p>"Get it done and come find me. I'm as eager as you to see what lies aboard."</p>
<p>Then she raised a hand in farewell and dove below.</p>
<p>On her return trip to the wreck, she wondered what would have happened if she'd descended for the ring alone, or with Rendak or Gombe. Nothing, probably. She'd chosen Jekka in part because he needed to get used to what a salvaging run was like, but also because he'd been so excited to become a salvager. She guessed that was because he now saw the crew as part of his extended clan and wished to contribute to its well-being.</p>
<p>While she waited for Jekka, she carefully surveyed the ship's perimeter, familiarizing herself with the length and breadth of the vessel and searching for telltale warning signs that something large and unpleasant lurked within. Ocean predators weren't especially noted for their intellects. If there were anything nasty living here, there'd likely be discarded carcasses nearby, each crawling with bottom-feeders.</p>
<p>She saw no such indications. That didn't rule out the possibility of more intelligent creatures like aquatic ogres or sea devils lairing there, but she saw no sign of tracks or prints along the rail or upon any of the closed cabin doors leading into the bowels of the ship.</p>
<p>Mirian almost missed the large gash at the vessel's stern, in the shadow of the hull. She studied the damaged wood and realized she was probably looking at the ship's death wound. Most likely the ship had struck a reef.</p>
<div class="blurbCenter"><a href="https://paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderTales/PZO8537-Cover.jpg"><img src="https//paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderTales/PZO8537-Cover_500.jpeg"></a><br /><i>Illustration by Igor Grechanyi</i></div>
<p>After a careful examination, Mirian had a pretty clear picture of the ship. It was half again as long as a typical three-master, but perhaps a third shallower across the beam. The decks were high and rose steeply at the prow. Probably there were a good three decks below, and back of the quarterdeck were two more above. Two masts were forward and a mizzenmast stood broken off almost to the deck, right through the wheelhouse itself.</p>
<p>Mirian was looking at the wheel when Jekka finally rejoined her. He took hold of the wheel with one hand to steady himself. Straps of a haversack crossed his chest.</p>
<p>Jekka had slid an object used by the other salvagers in her crew into a side pocket of his haversack. The magic item was colloquially known as an air bottle, and once someone learned the trick of using one, it was possible to spend long hours below the water. Her grandfather had invested in two for the family's help, and hit upon the idea of a tube to affix to the bottle so the fragile object could be kept in a padded back satchel.</p>
<p>The tube worked much better if you had lips to close around it—something Jekka lacked. When he'd first attempted to use it, he couldn't pull air without water coming in as well, unless he jammed the tube so far down his throat he nearly gagged. She understood why he didn't want to repeat the experience, but he'd have to adapt if he was going to be a salvager.</p>
<p>A cool current buffeted Mirian as she examined a peculiar column rising beside the wheel. At first glance, it looked like another mast had been sheared off, but that made no sense. That would have placed it off-center from the rest of the vessel.</p>
<p>She scraped at a layer of blue algae. Instead of a broken mast, she uncovered a diagonal plate resembling a display in an expensive jewelry shop. An array of gems was set into its black metal. She scrubbed harder, exposing tiny symbols incised beside each jewel.</p>
<p>Jekka leaned close, running his scaly fingers over the letters.</p>
<p>The writing certainly resembled the same language Mirian had seen on the lizardfolk book cones, but she knew many languages looked similar to the uninitiated. She pointed to the symbols and then back at Jekka.</p>
<p>The lizard man nodded vigorously and touched a set of characters. "No wind!" he shouted, air bubbling out of his mouth.</p>
<p>He put his fingers beside a flat, violet stone, and it took him three attempts before she could understand him through the water: "Opener of the way."</p>
<p>Jekka paused to suck in the tube, then pulled it out, coughing more air bubbles.</p>
<p>There were four more gems with inscriptions. Mirian spread her hands apart in a silent question.</p>
<p>Clearly perplexed, the lizard man shook his head.</p>
<p>She traced the multifaceted ruby he'd told her meant "no wind." It looked like it might turn in its pitted housing.</p>
<p>Interesting. Slowly, carefully, she set her fingers on the gem and tried moving it clockwise. It didn't budge. When she twisted in the other direction, the gem lit from within.</p>
<p>Mirian looked to Jekka for explanation, but he merely shrugged.</p>
<p>She made a second twist and the deck shook beneath them. Clouds of silt billowed up, and from somewhere below came a loud scraping noise. It wasn't until she looked to port and turned her beam there that she noticed the landscape moving ...</p>
<p>No, the ship was! Mirian let out a colorful oath and quickly twisted the jewel all the way to the right so that it returned to its original setting. It ceased glowing and the ship slowed.</p>
<p>She looked at Jekka as if to say, <i>What the hell was that?</i></p>
<p>The lizard man stared back at her, reptilian eyes blinking.</p>
<p>This was a major find, but there was no way they'd pry any of the gems out of here. "No wind" apparently meant the ship could be set in motion magically when there was no breeze. She marveled at that, wondering whether a skilled enough magic-worker could remove it from the ship and install it on another. Like, say, the <i>Daughter of the Mist</i>, or that behemoth Ivrian was so set on building.</p>
<p>She pointed to an opening into darkness and directed her glow stone onto a barnacle-encrusted ladder. Apparently only the hull had the special protective coating.</p>
<p>Jekka tapped his chest and pointed into the hold, letting her know he intended to lead, then brandished his own glow stone.</p>
<p>She almost objected, then decided he was at least communicating this time, and remembered he was both an experienced warrior and excited to be searching a ship made by his own people. She allowed him to swim in front, staying a few feet back from the swish of his whiplike tale.</p>
<p>Most of the hold's contents had shifted to starboard. Her light played over brown and green weeds dusted by occasional splotches of red and blue. They obscured the hold's contents in a soft, furry blanket.</p>
<p>Jekka floated above it all, shining his own light on something to the right, then pointed at a long segmented worm with pincers. Mirian's father had always called them rot worms, though to Mirian they looked more like oversized centipedes. Their bite was deadly poisonous and they tended to be aggressive when disturbed, so she moved quickly.</p>
<p>The arm-length creature shifted away at Jekka's spear thrust, rearing up and stirring the water with its legs. Mirian cut it in half with her cutlass. It floated apart, wriggling in its death throes.</p>
<p>Jekka brushed it out of the way and shined his light on the patch of growth where the rot worm had been hidden. It didn't seem to have any nest mates.</p>
<p>She floated on with Jekka, imagining the hold moving with robed lizardfolk, perhaps lashing down that stack of crates over there, or walking on through the narrow archway into the next chamber.</p>
<p>Jekka stopped beside three large chests resting against the hull, each rotten with age. As Mirian played her light over the area, tiny crustaceans swam frantically for darkness. Little silver fish flashed away in alarm.</p>
<p>Mirian signaled Jekka to keep watch and he turned from her to survey their surroundings.</p>
<p>She had never seen a lizardfolk chest before, but the one directly before her proved little different from those built by humans, save that the lock mechanism was inset along the top right. That in itself was of interest. She made a mental note to record the information in her Pathfinder journal.</p>
<p>Normally, she would have simply smashed open a chest this old and rotten, but it was such an odd, rare find she wanted to handle it with care.</p>
<p>The bronze lock was green with corrosion and looked as though it had been designed to accommodate a cylindrical mechanism rather than a key—far beyond her lock-picking abilities, but there were other ways. She removed a small pry bar from her pack and set to work on the hinges.</p>
<div class = "blurb360"><a href = "/image/content/PathfinderTales/PZO8537-Jekka.jpg"><img src = "/image/content/PathfinderTales/PZO8537-Jekka_360.jpeg"></a><br />
<i>Illustration by Roberto Pitturru</i></div>
<p>The tool's teeth sank easily into the rotten wood, and in moments both hinges were floating free. After that, the lid came up easily. Mirian drifted back as she lifted it. There was no telling what might come crawling out.</p>
<p>Nothing did.</p>
<p>She again swam closer, her light settling on a rotted wooden frame inside the chest that kept a dozen blue cylindrical bottles upright and separate. Five were broken along their necks, but the others, though empty, looked intact—more tube than jar, with a peculiar fluted opening at the top.</p>
<p>Mirian played the light over the inside, then carefully lifted one of the vessels free and drew it closer it for examination.</p>
<p>Jekka drifted beside her. His long, forked tongue flicked with excitement.</p>
<p>She looked at him questioningly.</p>
<p>His head cocked in interest and he mimed drinking with it.</p>
<p>Mirian handed it to him to examine, then signed for him to put it in his pack. They could spend months clearing this wreck. It was probably time to fetch Rendak and Gombe.</p>
<p>Desna had truly blessed them. The wreck was a fantastic find. There was no telling what sort of oddities might be left aboard, let alone their value and historical significance. As a salvager, she depended upon scavenging sites like this. But as a Pathfinder, she was dedicated to uncovering the secrets of Golarion's past to preserve and disseminate knowledge. If the magical wind mechanism built into this ship could be understood and replicated, it might very well change the future of sea travel.</p>
<p>Jekka pointed to the chest next to the one they'd opened. He clearly wanted to see what was inside.</p>
<p>She decided to humor him and signaled for him to guard once more.</p>
<p>The hinges on the second chest were even more worn, and yielded with no resistance.</p>
<p>Within stood twelve rows of sculpted lizardfolk heads fashioned from a thin metal alloy and inlaid with jewels. Each eye socket was set with amber stones, the figures themselves rich with the minute symbols of Jekka's people.</p>
<p>The sight so thrilled her blood brother that his frill rose, and Mirian had to remind him to keep watch, though she did acquiesce to setting all two dozen of the sculptures within her pack.</p>
<p>The haversacks they wore had been gifts from Ivrian's mother, and were ensorcelled to contain more space on the inside than was apparent without. All of the sculptures fit easily without altering the haversack's weight in the slightest, another wonderful feature.</p>
<p>Jekka signed to indicate they should open the third chest, but she shook her head and pointed to the surface. Then she looked back to the chests and smiled, trying to reassure him they'd come back for all of it.</p>
<p>Mirian led the way out. Jekka trailed some length after, seemingly reluctant to leave.</p>
<p>Sooner than expected she found the anchor chain and, looming above, the dark bowline of the <i>Daughter of the Mist</i>.</p>
<p>Her hands closed on the familiar rungs of the ladder built into the vessel's side. She felt the magical gills fade the moment she thrust her head above the water and breathed deeply of the crisp salty air.</p>
<p>All was silhouettes and shadows against the lesser darkness of the sky, but she thought she made out Gombe's lean outline near the ladder. She grinned at him as she stepped forward, slinging her bag off her shoulder.</p>
<p>"You won't believe what we've found," she told him.</p>
<p>A man with a sword stepped around Gombe, the point of the weapon at the first mate's throat. "I'm all ears."</p>
</blockquote>
<p style = "text-align: center;"><b><a href = "/products/btpy9n4n?Pathfinder-Tales-Through-the-Gate-in-the-Sea">Purchase the whole novel here!</a></b></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<!— tags: Pathfinder Tales, Howard Andrew Jones, Roberto Pitturru, Igor Grechanyi —><p><a href="https://paizo.comcommunity/blog/tags">Tags</a>: <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/authors/howardAndrewJones">Howard Andrew Jones</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/igorGrechanyi">Igor Grechanyi</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderTales">Pathfinder Tales</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/robertoPitturru">Roberto Pitturru</a></p>2017-02-22T20:00:00ZOccult of Indyhttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lhr1?Occult-of-Indy2015-07-24T19:00:00Z<blockquote>
<br />
<h1 itemprop="headline">Occult of Indy</h1>
<p class="date">Friday, July 24, 2015</p>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<div class="blurbCenter"><img src="https//paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-WallpaperWide2_500.jpeg"><br />
<a href = "http://static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-Wallpaper2.jpg">Download Standard</a> | <a href = "http://static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-WallpaperWide2.jpg">Download Widescreen</a> | <a href = "http://static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-WallpaperMobile2.jpg">Download Mobile</a><br />
<i>Illustrations by Caio Maciel Monteiro and Wayne Reynolds.</i></div>
<p itemprop="description">Many of us are heading out to Indy next week for <a href = "http://gencon.com" target = "_blank">Gen Con 2015</a>. In the Paizo booth there will be a huge display made from Pathfinder RPG books, and the latest of them's going to be <a href = "/products/btpy9a0h"><em>Occult Adventures</em></a>. Here's a last preview at the fantastic art before it officially releases on July 29! See you in Indy!</p>
<div class="blurbCenter"><a href="https://paizo.com//static4.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-OccultGame.jpg"><img src="https//paizo.com//static4.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-OccultGame_360.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static4.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-Rewards.jpg"><img src = "//static4.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-Rewards_360.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static4.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-Possession.jpg"><img src = "//static4.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-Possession_360.jpeg"></a><br />
<i>Illustrations by Igor Grechanyi, Caio Maciel Monteiro, and Mariusz Gandzel</i></div>
<div class="blurbCenter"><a href="https://paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-GhostRider.jpg"><img src="https//paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-GhostRider_360.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static4.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-Omnyuoji.jpg"><img src = "//static4.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-Omnyuoji_180.jpeg"></a><br />
<i>Illustrations by Federico Musetti and Subroto Bhaumik</i></div>
<p>Sarah Robinson<br />
<i>Managing Art Director</i></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<!— tags: Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Wallpapers, Wayne Reynolds, Caio Maciel Monteiro, Igor Grechanyi, Mariusz Gandzel, Federico Musetti, Subroto Bhaumik, Mesmerists, Meligaster, Estra, Spiritualists, Quinn, Investigators, Merisiel, Rogues, Mavaro, Occultists, Iconics —><p><a href="https://paizo.comcommunity/blog/tags">Tags</a>: <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/caioMacielMonteiro">Caio Maciel Monteiro</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/estra">Estra</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/federicoMusetti">Federico Musetti</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/iconics">Iconics</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/igorGrechanyi">Igor Grechanyi</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/investigators">Investigators</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/mariuszGandzel">Mariusz Gandzel</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/mavaro">Mavaro</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/meligaster">Meligaster</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/iconics/merisiel">Merisiel</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/mesmerists">Mesmerists</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/occultists">Occultists</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderRoleplayingGame">Pathfinder Roleplaying Game</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/iconics/quinn">Quinn</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/classes/rogues">Rogues</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/spiritualists">Spiritualists</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/subrotoBhaumik">Subroto Bhaumik</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/wallpapers">Wallpapers</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/wayneReynolds">Wayne Reynolds</a></p><blockquote>
<br />
<h1 itemprop="headline">Occult of Indy</h1>
<p class="date">Friday, July 24, 2015</p>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<div class="blurbCenter"><img src="https//paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-WallpaperWide2_500.jpeg"><br />
<a href = "http://static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-Wallpaper2.jpg">Download Standard</a> | <a href = "http://static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-WallpaperWide2.jpg">Download Widescreen</a> | <a href = "http://static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-WallpaperMobile2.jpg">Download Mobile</a><br />
<i>Illustrations by Caio Maciel Monteiro and Wayne Reynolds.</i></div>
<p itemprop="description">Many of us are heading out to Indy next week for <a href = "http://gencon.com" target = "_blank">Gen Con 2015</a>. In the Paizo booth there will be a huge display made from Pathfinder RPG books, and the latest of them's going to be <a href = "/products/btpy9a0h"><em>Occult Adventures</em></a>. Here's a last preview at the fantastic art before it officially releases on July 29! See you in Indy!</p>
<div class="blurbCenter"><a href="https://paizo.com//static4.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-OccultGame.jpg"><img src="https//paizo.com//static4.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-OccultGame_360.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static4.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-Rewards.jpg"><img src = "//static4.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-Rewards_360.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static4.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-Possession.jpg"><img src = "//static4.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-Possession_360.jpeg"></a><br />
<i>Illustrations by Igor Grechanyi, Caio Maciel Monteiro, and Mariusz Gandzel</i></div>
<div class="blurbCenter"><a href="https://paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-GhostRider.jpg"><img src="https//paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-GhostRider_360.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static4.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-Omnyuoji.jpg"><img src = "//static4.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1132-Omnyuoji_180.jpeg"></a><br />
<i>Illustrations by Federico Musetti and Subroto Bhaumik</i></div>
<p>Sarah Robinson<br />
<i>Managing Art Director</i></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<!— tags: Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Wallpapers, Wayne Reynolds, Caio Maciel Monteiro, Igor Grechanyi, Mariusz Gandzel, Federico Musetti, Subroto Bhaumik, Mesmerists, Meligaster, Estra, Spiritualists, Quinn, Investigators, Merisiel, Rogues, Mavaro, Occultists, Iconics —><p><a href="https://paizo.comcommunity/blog/tags">Tags</a>: <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/caioMacielMonteiro">Caio Maciel Monteiro</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/estra">Estra</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/federicoMusetti">Federico Musetti</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/iconics">Iconics</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/igorGrechanyi">Igor Grechanyi</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/investigators">Investigators</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/mariuszGandzel">Mariusz Gandzel</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/mavaro">Mavaro</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/meligaster">Meligaster</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/iconics/merisiel">Merisiel</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/mesmerists">Mesmerists</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/occultists">Occultists</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderRoleplayingGame">Pathfinder Roleplaying Game</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/iconics/quinn">Quinn</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/classes/rogues">Rogues</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/spiritualists">Spiritualists</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/subrotoBhaumik">Subroto Bhaumik</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/wallpapers">Wallpapers</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/wayneReynolds">Wayne Reynolds</a></p>2015-07-24T19:00:00Z2014 Art Reviewhttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lgvc?2014-Art-Review2014-12-31T20:30:00Z<blockquote>
<br />
<h1 itemprop="headline">2014 Art Review</h1>
<p class="date">Wednesday, December 31, 2014</p>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<p itemprop="description">As we close out 2014, I wanted to end on a high note and give you one last year-end blog. I went to our Managing Art Director Sarah Robinson and Senior Art Director Andrew Vallas to get some help rounding up some favorite illustrations from the past year. Seeing how great their selections were, I also asked various members of our editorial team to pick a few of their own favorites to add. So here are some of our best illustrations from 2014!</p>
<div class = "blurbCenter"><a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1130-Cover.jpg"><img src="https//paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1130-Cover_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9275-Cover.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9275-Cover_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderModules/PZO9546-Cover.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderModules/PZO9546-Cover_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderPlayerCompanion/PZO9445-Cover.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderPlayerCompanion/PZO9445-Cover_180.jpeg"></a>
<p>Let's start off with some covers! The above are selections were made by Andrew, Sarah, and Developer John Compton.</p>
<p><a href = "/products/btpy9926"><em>Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Monster Codex</em></a> Illustrated by Wayne Reynolds,
<a href = "/products/btpy99sa"><em>Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Lost Treasures</em></a> Illustrated by Igor Grechanyi,<br />
<a href = "/products/btpy99se"><em>Pathfinder Module: Plunder and Peril</em></a> Illustrated by Kiki Moch Rizky, and
<a href = "/products/btpy959n"><em>Pathfinder Player Companion: Alchemy Manual</em></a> Illustrated by Kerem Beyit</p></div>
<div class = "blurbCenter">
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1130-FireGiants.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1130-FireGiants_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1130-Goblins.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1130-Goblins_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9080-Gods.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9080-Gods_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9269-Dragons.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9269-Dragons_180.jpeg"></a><br /><br />
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9267-ShelynZonKuthon.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9267-ShelynZonKuthon_500.jpeg"></a>
<p>Monsters and gods are up next! The above selections were made by Andrew, Sarah, and Designer Stephen Radney-MacFarland</p>
<p><a href = "/products/btpy9926"><em>Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Monster Codex</em></a> Illustrations by Subroto Bhaumik and Jason Rainville,
<a href = "/products/btpy94vv"><em>Pathfinder Adventure Path #80: Empty Graves</em></a> Illustration by Johan Grenier,<br />
<a href = "/products/btpy95zo"><em>Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Occult Mysteries</em></a> Illustration by Ralph Horsley, and
<a href = "/products/btpy94wj"><em>Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Inner Sea Gods</em></a> Illustration by Yu Cheng Hong</p>
</div>
<div class = "blurbCenter">
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9086-Brigh.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9086-Brigh_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9089-Zyphus.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9089-Zyphus_180.jpeg"></a>
<p>Brigh and Zyphus are two of the many Golarion deities featured this year. The above selections were made by Adam Daigle and myself.</p>
<p><a href = "/products/btpy97az"><em>Pathfinder Adventure Path #86: Lords of Rust</em></a> Illustration by Johan Grenier, and
<a href = "/products/btpy99si"><em>Pathfinder Adventure Path #89: Palace of Fallen Stars</em></a> Illustration by Matias Tapia</p>
</div>
<div class = "blurbCenter">
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1130-RatfolkGnawer.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1130-RatfolkGnawer_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9080-Ra.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9080-Ra_120.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9080-Sekhmet.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9080-Sekhmet_120.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9084-Swordswoman.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9084-Swordswoman_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9267-PrinceInChains.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9267-PrinceInChains_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderTales/PZO8520-Maedora.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderTales/PZO8520-Maedora_180.jpeg"></a>
<p>And to round out this art blog, some portraits of deities, monsters and important characters of 2014!<br />The above selections were made by Andrew, Associate Editor Judy Bauer, Editor Ryan Macklin, Developer Rob McCreary, and Managing Editor James L. Sutter</p>
<p><a href = "/products/btpy9926"><em>Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Monster Codex</em></a> Illustration by Tim Kings-Lynne,
<a href = "/products/btpy94vv"><em>Pathfinder Adventure Path #80: Empty Graves</em></a> Illustrations by Ekaterina Burmak,<br />
<a href = "/products/btpy97av"><em>Pathfinder Adventure Path #84: Pyramid of the Sky Pharaoh</em></a> Illustration by Johan Grenier,
<a href = "/products/btpy94wj"><em>Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Inner Sea Gods</em></a> Illustration by Maichol Quinto, and<br />
<a href = "/products/btpy94r3"><em>Pathfinder Tales: The Redemption Engine</em></a> Illustration by Eric Belisle</p>
</div>
<p>What was your favorite piece of Pathfinder art from 2014?</p>
<p>Mark Moreland<br />
<i>Developer</i></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<!— tags: Wayne Reynolds, Igor Grechanyi, Kiki Moch Rizky, Kerem Beyit, Subroto Bhaumik, Jason Rainville, Johan Grenier, Ralph Horsley, Yu Cheng Hong, Matias Tapia, Tim Kings-Lynne, Ekaterina Burmak, Maichol Quinto, Eric Belisle, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Pathfinder Adventure Path, Pathfinder Campaign Setting, Pathfinder Player Companion, Pathfinder Modules, Pathfinder Tales —><p><a href="https://paizo.comcommunity/blog/tags">Tags</a>: <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/ekaterinaBurmak">Ekaterina Burmak</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/ericBelisle">Eric Belisle</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/igorGrechanyi">Igor Grechanyi</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/jasonRainville">Jason Rainville</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/johanGrenier">Johan Grenier</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/keremBeyit">Kerem Beyit</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/kikiMochRizky">Kiki Moch Rizky</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/maicholQuinto">Maichol Quinto</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/matiasTapia">Matias Tapia</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderAdventurePath">Pathfinder Adventure Path</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderCampaignSetting">Pathfinder Campaign Setting</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderModules">Pathfinder Modules</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderPlayerCompanion">Pathfinder Player Companion</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderRoleplayingGame">Pathfinder Roleplaying Game</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderTales">Pathfinder Tales</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/ralphHorsley">Ralph Horsley</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/subrotoBhaumik">Subroto Bhaumik</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/timKingsLynne">Tim Kings-Lynne</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/wayneReynolds">Wayne Reynolds</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/yuChengHong">Yu Cheng Hong</a></p><blockquote>
<br />
<h1 itemprop="headline">2014 Art Review</h1>
<p class="date">Wednesday, December 31, 2014</p>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<p itemprop="description">As we close out 2014, I wanted to end on a high note and give you one last year-end blog. I went to our Managing Art Director Sarah Robinson and Senior Art Director Andrew Vallas to get some help rounding up some favorite illustrations from the past year. Seeing how great their selections were, I also asked various members of our editorial team to pick a few of their own favorites to add. So here are some of our best illustrations from 2014!</p>
<div class = "blurbCenter"><a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1130-Cover.jpg"><img src="https//paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1130-Cover_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9275-Cover.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9275-Cover_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderModules/PZO9546-Cover.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderModules/PZO9546-Cover_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderPlayerCompanion/PZO9445-Cover.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderPlayerCompanion/PZO9445-Cover_180.jpeg"></a>
<p>Let's start off with some covers! The above are selections were made by Andrew, Sarah, and Developer John Compton.</p>
<p><a href = "/products/btpy9926"><em>Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Monster Codex</em></a> Illustrated by Wayne Reynolds,
<a href = "/products/btpy99sa"><em>Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Lost Treasures</em></a> Illustrated by Igor Grechanyi,<br />
<a href = "/products/btpy99se"><em>Pathfinder Module: Plunder and Peril</em></a> Illustrated by Kiki Moch Rizky, and
<a href = "/products/btpy959n"><em>Pathfinder Player Companion: Alchemy Manual</em></a> Illustrated by Kerem Beyit</p></div>
<div class = "blurbCenter">
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1130-FireGiants.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1130-FireGiants_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1130-Goblins.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1130-Goblins_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9080-Gods.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9080-Gods_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9269-Dragons.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9269-Dragons_180.jpeg"></a><br /><br />
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9267-ShelynZonKuthon.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9267-ShelynZonKuthon_500.jpeg"></a>
<p>Monsters and gods are up next! The above selections were made by Andrew, Sarah, and Designer Stephen Radney-MacFarland</p>
<p><a href = "/products/btpy9926"><em>Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Monster Codex</em></a> Illustrations by Subroto Bhaumik and Jason Rainville,
<a href = "/products/btpy94vv"><em>Pathfinder Adventure Path #80: Empty Graves</em></a> Illustration by Johan Grenier,<br />
<a href = "/products/btpy95zo"><em>Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Occult Mysteries</em></a> Illustration by Ralph Horsley, and
<a href = "/products/btpy94wj"><em>Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Inner Sea Gods</em></a> Illustration by Yu Cheng Hong</p>
</div>
<div class = "blurbCenter">
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9086-Brigh.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9086-Brigh_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9089-Zyphus.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9089-Zyphus_180.jpeg"></a>
<p>Brigh and Zyphus are two of the many Golarion deities featured this year. The above selections were made by Adam Daigle and myself.</p>
<p><a href = "/products/btpy97az"><em>Pathfinder Adventure Path #86: Lords of Rust</em></a> Illustration by Johan Grenier, and
<a href = "/products/btpy99si"><em>Pathfinder Adventure Path #89: Palace of Fallen Stars</em></a> Illustration by Matias Tapia</p>
</div>
<div class = "blurbCenter">
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1130-RatfolkGnawer.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1130-RatfolkGnawer_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9080-Ra.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9080-Ra_120.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9080-Sekhmet.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9080-Sekhmet_120.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9084-Swordswoman.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderAdventurePath/PZO9084-Swordswoman_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9267-PrinceInChains.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9267-PrinceInChains_180.jpeg"></a>
<a href = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderTales/PZO8520-Maedora.jpg"><img src = "//static1.paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderTales/PZO8520-Maedora_180.jpeg"></a>
<p>And to round out this art blog, some portraits of deities, monsters and important characters of 2014!<br />The above selections were made by Andrew, Associate Editor Judy Bauer, Editor Ryan Macklin, Developer Rob McCreary, and Managing Editor James L. Sutter</p>
<p><a href = "/products/btpy9926"><em>Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Monster Codex</em></a> Illustration by Tim Kings-Lynne,
<a href = "/products/btpy94vv"><em>Pathfinder Adventure Path #80: Empty Graves</em></a> Illustrations by Ekaterina Burmak,<br />
<a href = "/products/btpy97av"><em>Pathfinder Adventure Path #84: Pyramid of the Sky Pharaoh</em></a> Illustration by Johan Grenier,
<a href = "/products/btpy94wj"><em>Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Inner Sea Gods</em></a> Illustration by Maichol Quinto, and<br />
<a href = "/products/btpy94r3"><em>Pathfinder Tales: The Redemption Engine</em></a> Illustration by Eric Belisle</p>
</div>
<p>What was your favorite piece of Pathfinder art from 2014?</p>
<p>Mark Moreland<br />
<i>Developer</i></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<!— tags: Wayne Reynolds, Igor Grechanyi, Kiki Moch Rizky, Kerem Beyit, Subroto Bhaumik, Jason Rainville, Johan Grenier, Ralph Horsley, Yu Cheng Hong, Matias Tapia, Tim Kings-Lynne, Ekaterina Burmak, Maichol Quinto, Eric Belisle, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Pathfinder Adventure Path, Pathfinder Campaign Setting, Pathfinder Player Companion, Pathfinder Modules, Pathfinder Tales —><p><a href="https://paizo.comcommunity/blog/tags">Tags</a>: <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/ekaterinaBurmak">Ekaterina Burmak</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/ericBelisle">Eric Belisle</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/igorGrechanyi">Igor Grechanyi</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/jasonRainville">Jason Rainville</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/johanGrenier">Johan Grenier</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/keremBeyit">Kerem Beyit</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/kikiMochRizky">Kiki Moch Rizky</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/maicholQuinto">Maichol Quinto</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/matiasTapia">Matias Tapia</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderAdventurePath">Pathfinder Adventure Path</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderCampaignSetting">Pathfinder Campaign Setting</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderModules">Pathfinder Modules</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderPlayerCompanion">Pathfinder Player Companion</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderRoleplayingGame">Pathfinder Roleplaying Game</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderTales">Pathfinder Tales</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/ralphHorsley">Ralph Horsley</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/subrotoBhaumik">Subroto Bhaumik</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/timKingsLynne">Tim Kings-Lynne</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/people/artists/wayneReynolds">Wayne Reynolds</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/yuChengHong">Yu Cheng Hong</a></p>2014-12-31T20:30:00ZAdvanced Class Guide Preview: Warpriesthttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lg7q?Advanced-Class-Guide-Preview-Warpriest2014-06-17T17:00:00Z<blockquote>
<br />
<h1 itemprop="headline">Advanced Class Guide Preview: Warpriest</h1>
<p class="date">Tuesday, June 17, 2014</p>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<div class="blurb360"><a href="https://paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1129-DivineCommander.jpg"><img src="https//paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1129-DivineCommander_360.jpeg" border="0"></a><br />Illustration by Subroto Bhaumik</div>
<p><span itemprop="description">Many years ago, back in the days of the <a href="https://paizo.com/products/btpy8fo1"><i>Advanced Player's Guide</i></a>, there were plans to open up the paladin class to characters of any alignment. Unfortunately, the constraints of the class and its many alignment-based abilities made it too much of a challenge to fit in the pages of that book. Fortunately, the <a href="https://paizo.com/products/btpy95d1"><i>Advanced Class Guide</i></a> gave us the opportunity to revisit the idea in the form of the Warpriest.</span></p>
<p>Blending together the powers of the fighter and the cleric, the warpriest is a class that allows you to represent the ideals of your deity, but to back them up with cold, hard steel. The class had 6 levels of divine spellcasting, combined with an ability called blessings that work like domains, but grant combat focused abilities. It seemed like a perfect blend, but the first version of the class that we put forth to playtest did not go over very well. The powers and abilities, as initially designed, just did not give the player enough martial ability to get the job done. It had some the spellcasting and some of the combat skill, but the two just did not work well together as initially presented.
Fortunately, in round 2 of the playtest, we got it right (or maybe a bit too right). We added an ability called fervor that allows the warpriest to channel energy to heal his allies similar to a paladin's lay on hands, but it also could be spent to cast warpriest spells as a swift action, as long as those spells only targeted the warpriest. We also changed an ability called sacred weapon, which allows the warpriest to designate a weapon (or the favored weapon of his deity) and use that weapon to greater effect, increasing the damage and attack bonus.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, that caused a bit of a problem. The class was a bit too good.</p>
<p>The second round of playtest showed us some really interesting data. Everyone seemed in love with the class, which is certainly good, but our surveys also showed us that the class was now at the top of the power curve. After a number of internal playtests, it became clear that attacking with the full attack bonus of a fighter, combined with swift-casting a number of "buff" spells made the class a juggernaut. Since we really liked how the fervor mechanic worked, the sacred weapon rules had to change. Sacred weapon still increases the damage of weapons and it can still be used to grant special abilities to the weapon, but it no longer increases the attack bonus of the warpriest when using the designated weapon. Just like that, everything seemed to fit. </p>
<p>We also took another look at a wide number of the blessings, bringing them all in line with one another and making them a more seamless part of the class. Take the community blessing for example. The major version of the blessing did not fit really well and was outright useless to a warpriest of Erastil. It got changed to the following.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><b>Fight as One (major)</b>: At 10th level, you can rally your allies to fight together. For 1 minute, whenever you make a successful melee or ranged attack against a foe, allies within 10 feet of you gain a +2 insight bonus on attacks of the same type you made against that foe—melee attacks if you made a melee attack, or ranged attacks if you made a ranged attack. If you score a critical hit, this bonus increases to +4 until the start of your next turn.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>There are a lot of other exciting changes in the blessings as well, but for those, you will have to wait until the book arrives in stores and at Gencon in mid-August. Come back on Thursday to unleash your inner rage, now improved with magic!</p>
<p>Jason Bulmahn<br />
<i>Lead Designer</i></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<!— tags: Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Warpriest, Igor Grechanyi —>
<p><a href="https://paizo.comcommunity/blog/tags">Tags</a>: <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/igorGrechanyi">Igor Grechanyi</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderRoleplayingGame">Pathfinder Roleplaying Game</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/warpriest">Warpriest</a></p><blockquote>
<br />
<h1 itemprop="headline">Advanced Class Guide Preview: Warpriest</h1>
<p class="date">Tuesday, June 17, 2014</p>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<div class="blurb360"><a href="https://paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1129-DivineCommander.jpg"><img src="https//paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1129-DivineCommander_360.jpeg" border="0"></a><br />Illustration by Subroto Bhaumik</div>
<p><span itemprop="description">Many years ago, back in the days of the <a href="https://paizo.com/products/btpy8fo1"><i>Advanced Player's Guide</i></a>, there were plans to open up the paladin class to characters of any alignment. Unfortunately, the constraints of the class and its many alignment-based abilities made it too much of a challenge to fit in the pages of that book. Fortunately, the <a href="https://paizo.com/products/btpy95d1"><i>Advanced Class Guide</i></a> gave us the opportunity to revisit the idea in the form of the Warpriest.</span></p>
<p>Blending together the powers of the fighter and the cleric, the warpriest is a class that allows you to represent the ideals of your deity, but to back them up with cold, hard steel. The class had 6 levels of divine spellcasting, combined with an ability called blessings that work like domains, but grant combat focused abilities. It seemed like a perfect blend, but the first version of the class that we put forth to playtest did not go over very well. The powers and abilities, as initially designed, just did not give the player enough martial ability to get the job done. It had some the spellcasting and some of the combat skill, but the two just did not work well together as initially presented.
Fortunately, in round 2 of the playtest, we got it right (or maybe a bit too right). We added an ability called fervor that allows the warpriest to channel energy to heal his allies similar to a paladin's lay on hands, but it also could be spent to cast warpriest spells as a swift action, as long as those spells only targeted the warpriest. We also changed an ability called sacred weapon, which allows the warpriest to designate a weapon (or the favored weapon of his deity) and use that weapon to greater effect, increasing the damage and attack bonus.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, that caused a bit of a problem. The class was a bit too good.</p>
<p>The second round of playtest showed us some really interesting data. Everyone seemed in love with the class, which is certainly good, but our surveys also showed us that the class was now at the top of the power curve. After a number of internal playtests, it became clear that attacking with the full attack bonus of a fighter, combined with swift-casting a number of "buff" spells made the class a juggernaut. Since we really liked how the fervor mechanic worked, the sacred weapon rules had to change. Sacred weapon still increases the damage of weapons and it can still be used to grant special abilities to the weapon, but it no longer increases the attack bonus of the warpriest when using the designated weapon. Just like that, everything seemed to fit. </p>
<p>We also took another look at a wide number of the blessings, bringing them all in line with one another and making them a more seamless part of the class. Take the community blessing for example. The major version of the blessing did not fit really well and was outright useless to a warpriest of Erastil. It got changed to the following.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><b>Fight as One (major)</b>: At 10th level, you can rally your allies to fight together. For 1 minute, whenever you make a successful melee or ranged attack against a foe, allies within 10 feet of you gain a +2 insight bonus on attacks of the same type you made against that foe—melee attacks if you made a melee attack, or ranged attacks if you made a ranged attack. If you score a critical hit, this bonus increases to +4 until the start of your next turn.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>There are a lot of other exciting changes in the blessings as well, but for those, you will have to wait until the book arrives in stores and at Gencon in mid-August. Come back on Thursday to unleash your inner rage, now improved with magic!</p>
<p>Jason Bulmahn<br />
<i>Lead Designer</i></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<!— tags: Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Warpriest, Igor Grechanyi —>
<p><a href="https://paizo.comcommunity/blog/tags">Tags</a>: <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/igorGrechanyi">Igor Grechanyi</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderRoleplayingGame">Pathfinder Roleplaying Game</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/warpriest">Warpriest</a></p>2014-06-17T17:00:00ZAdvanced Class Guide Preview: Investigatorhttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lg6v?Advanced-Class-Guide-Preview-Investigator2014-06-10T21:35:00Z<blockquote>
<br />
<h1 itemprop="headline">Advanced Class Guide Preview: Investigator</h1>
<p class="date">Tuesday, June 10, 2014</p>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<p><span itemprop="description">Funny story. While brainstorming the <a href="https://paizo.com/products/btpy95d1"><i>Advanced Class Guide</i></a>, and determining which classes were to appear in it, the investigator almost didn't make the cut.</span></p>
<div class="blurb360"><a href="https://paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1129-Spiritualist.jpg"><img src="https//paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1129-Spiritualist_360.jpeg" border="0"></a><br />Illustration by Igor Grechanyi</div>
<p>The class was my favorite from the start. I love detective stories and have been a fan of Doyle's work since first reading <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i> all those years ago. I've also been delighted by the numerous reinterpretations of Sherlock Holmes popping up over the decades. For a long time now, I've wanted to cast the shadow of that brilliant investigator and chemist in the light of Pathfinder by fusing the rogue and the alchemist. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but there were fears that the task might be nearly impossible or the class would not find traction with the players.</p>
<p>To our relief, those fears were unjustified.</p>
<p>From the start, a sizable group of players grokked the class. Pathfinder is a combat game, to be sure, but it's also a game of exploration, where players uncover the secrets of their GM's campaign. While some classes are pretty good at exploring story and secrets, their true potential often doesn't ramp up until higher levels. The investigator, through the inspiration mechanic, gives players a leg up from the start.</p>
<p>While the concept of the investigator was well received, that didn't mean the playtest and further development were a walk in the park. The early iteration of the investigator relied on a later-level progression of the rogue's sneak attack to ramp up its combat effectiveness (he can't uncover secrets all the time). Playtests showed us that wasn't good enough. The investigator's ability to increase his combat potential needed something new to highlight his unique take on adventuring. We went back to the drawing board and created studied combat and studied strike. These new mechanics allows the investigator to study his opponent and gain bonuses in combat, until he has studied his foe enough to unleash a damaging, maybe even debilitating, strike. This mechanic kept the investigator true to his theme in and out of combat. The early versions of those abilities were unleashed during the second round of playtesting, and through the great feedback we were able to refine these mechanics into their final form. </p>
<blockquote>
<p><b>Studied Combat (Ex)</b>: With a keen eye and calculating mind, an investigator can assess the mettle of his opponent to take advantage of gaps in talent and training. At 4th level, an investigator can use a move action to study a single enemy that he can see. Upon doing so, he adds 1/2 his investigator level as an insight bonus on melee attack rolls and as a bonus on damage rolls against the creature. This effect lasts for a number of rounds equal to his Intelligence modifier (minimum 1) or until he deals damage with a studied strike, whichever comes first. The bonus on damage rolls is precision damage, and is not multiplied on a critical hit.</p>
<p>An investigator can only have one target of studied combat at a time, and once a creature has become the target of an investigator's studied combat, he cannot become the target of the same investigator's studied combat again for 24 hours unless the investigator expends one use of inspiration when taking the move action to use this ability.</p>
<p><b>Studied Strike (Ex)</b>: At 4th level, an investigator can choose to make a studied strike against the target of his studied combat as a free action, upon successfully hitting his studied target with a melee attack, to deal additional damage. The damage is 1d6 at 4th level, and increases by 1d6 for every 2 levels thereafter (to a maximum of 9d6 at 20th level). The damage of studied strike is precision damage and is not multiplied on a critical hit; creatures that are immune to sneak attacks are also immune to studied strike. If the investigator's attack used a weapon that deals nonlethal damage (like a sap, whip, or an unarmed strike), he may choose to have the additional damage from studied strike be nonlethal damage instead of lethal damage. If the investigator chose to make an attack with a lethal weapon instead deal nonlethal damage (with the usual –4 penalty), the studied strike damage may also deal nonlethal damage.</p>
<p>The investigator must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. An investigator cannot use studied strike against a creature with concealment.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Furthermore, investigator talents allow this class to increase the effectiveness of these two abilities, some of which allow you add debilitating conditions to the studied strike.</p>
<p>Lastly, while the various incarnations of Sherlock Holmes were the inspiration for the investigator, there are many types of investigators floating around the creative consciousness. When designing archetypes, we wanted to cover as many of those bases as space allowed. In the book you'll find the mastermind (an investigator that manipulates via a group of minions), the sleuth (a gumshoe who uses luck instead of inspiration), the spiritualist (a detective who gains insight from the world beyond), and much, much more.</p>
<p>In short, if you have a hankering for playing the smartest guy in the group, we think you'll dig the investigator. </p>
<p>Stephen Radney-MacFarland<br />
<i>Designer</i></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<!— tags: Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Investigator, Igor Grechanyi —><p><a href="https://paizo.comcommunity/blog/tags">Tags</a>: <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/igorGrechanyi">Igor Grechanyi</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/investigator">Investigator</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderRoleplayingGame">Pathfinder Roleplaying Game</a></p><blockquote>
<br />
<h1 itemprop="headline">Advanced Class Guide Preview: Investigator</h1>
<p class="date">Tuesday, June 10, 2014</p>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<p><span itemprop="description">Funny story. While brainstorming the <a href="https://paizo.com/products/btpy95d1"><i>Advanced Class Guide</i></a>, and determining which classes were to appear in it, the investigator almost didn't make the cut.</span></p>
<div class="blurb360"><a href="https://paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1129-Spiritualist.jpg"><img src="https//paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1129-Spiritualist_360.jpeg" border="0"></a><br />Illustration by Igor Grechanyi</div>
<p>The class was my favorite from the start. I love detective stories and have been a fan of Doyle's work since first reading <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i> all those years ago. I've also been delighted by the numerous reinterpretations of Sherlock Holmes popping up over the decades. For a long time now, I've wanted to cast the shadow of that brilliant investigator and chemist in the light of Pathfinder by fusing the rogue and the alchemist. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but there were fears that the task might be nearly impossible or the class would not find traction with the players.</p>
<p>To our relief, those fears were unjustified.</p>
<p>From the start, a sizable group of players grokked the class. Pathfinder is a combat game, to be sure, but it's also a game of exploration, where players uncover the secrets of their GM's campaign. While some classes are pretty good at exploring story and secrets, their true potential often doesn't ramp up until higher levels. The investigator, through the inspiration mechanic, gives players a leg up from the start.</p>
<p>While the concept of the investigator was well received, that didn't mean the playtest and further development were a walk in the park. The early iteration of the investigator relied on a later-level progression of the rogue's sneak attack to ramp up its combat effectiveness (he can't uncover secrets all the time). Playtests showed us that wasn't good enough. The investigator's ability to increase his combat potential needed something new to highlight his unique take on adventuring. We went back to the drawing board and created studied combat and studied strike. These new mechanics allows the investigator to study his opponent and gain bonuses in combat, until he has studied his foe enough to unleash a damaging, maybe even debilitating, strike. This mechanic kept the investigator true to his theme in and out of combat. The early versions of those abilities were unleashed during the second round of playtesting, and through the great feedback we were able to refine these mechanics into their final form. </p>
<blockquote>
<p><b>Studied Combat (Ex)</b>: With a keen eye and calculating mind, an investigator can assess the mettle of his opponent to take advantage of gaps in talent and training. At 4th level, an investigator can use a move action to study a single enemy that he can see. Upon doing so, he adds 1/2 his investigator level as an insight bonus on melee attack rolls and as a bonus on damage rolls against the creature. This effect lasts for a number of rounds equal to his Intelligence modifier (minimum 1) or until he deals damage with a studied strike, whichever comes first. The bonus on damage rolls is precision damage, and is not multiplied on a critical hit.</p>
<p>An investigator can only have one target of studied combat at a time, and once a creature has become the target of an investigator's studied combat, he cannot become the target of the same investigator's studied combat again for 24 hours unless the investigator expends one use of inspiration when taking the move action to use this ability.</p>
<p><b>Studied Strike (Ex)</b>: At 4th level, an investigator can choose to make a studied strike against the target of his studied combat as a free action, upon successfully hitting his studied target with a melee attack, to deal additional damage. The damage is 1d6 at 4th level, and increases by 1d6 for every 2 levels thereafter (to a maximum of 9d6 at 20th level). The damage of studied strike is precision damage and is not multiplied on a critical hit; creatures that are immune to sneak attacks are also immune to studied strike. If the investigator's attack used a weapon that deals nonlethal damage (like a sap, whip, or an unarmed strike), he may choose to have the additional damage from studied strike be nonlethal damage instead of lethal damage. If the investigator chose to make an attack with a lethal weapon instead deal nonlethal damage (with the usual –4 penalty), the studied strike damage may also deal nonlethal damage.</p>
<p>The investigator must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. An investigator cannot use studied strike against a creature with concealment.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Furthermore, investigator talents allow this class to increase the effectiveness of these two abilities, some of which allow you add debilitating conditions to the studied strike.</p>
<p>Lastly, while the various incarnations of Sherlock Holmes were the inspiration for the investigator, there are many types of investigators floating around the creative consciousness. When designing archetypes, we wanted to cover as many of those bases as space allowed. In the book you'll find the mastermind (an investigator that manipulates via a group of minions), the sleuth (a gumshoe who uses luck instead of inspiration), the spiritualist (a detective who gains insight from the world beyond), and much, much more.</p>
<p>In short, if you have a hankering for playing the smartest guy in the group, we think you'll dig the investigator. </p>
<p>Stephen Radney-MacFarland<br />
<i>Designer</i></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<!— tags: Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Investigator, Igor Grechanyi —><p><a href="https://paizo.comcommunity/blog/tags">Tags</a>: <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/igorGrechanyi">Igor Grechanyi</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/investigator">Investigator</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderRoleplayingGame">Pathfinder Roleplaying Game</a></p>2014-06-10T21:35:00ZAdvanced Class Guide Preview: Swashbucklerhttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lg5w?Advanced-Class-Guide-Preview-Swashbuckler2014-06-03T21:17:00Z<blockquote>
<br />
<h1 itemprop="headline">Advanced Class Guide Preview: Swashbuckler</h1>
<p class="date">Tuesday, June 2, 2014</p>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<div class="blurb360"><a href="https://paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1129-FlyingBlade.jpg"><img src="https//paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1129-FlyingBlade_360.jpeg" border="0"></a><br />Illustration by Igor Grechanyi</div>
<p><span itemprop="description">As a kid, I spent a good chunk of my weekend hours watching just about anything that had swashbuckler goodness. Pirates, musketeers, and masked avengers were among the first sparks that ignited my fledgling imagination. When we set out to design the swashbuckler class our chief goal was to create a class that was fun in that Errol Flynn sort of way, while creating enough room for the many fine swashbuckler variants that have appeared in the many decades after <i>Captain Blood</i>.</span></p>
<p>Even before playtesting began, we designed two versions of the class. Like all of the classes appearing in the <a href="https://paizo.com/products/btpy95d1"><i>Advanced Class Guide</i></a>, the swashbuckler is a hybrid class—a class with mechanics and sometimes theme rooted in two existing classes—specifically a hybrid of fighter and gunslinger. One of the pre-playtest version was heavy on fighter, the second was heavy on gunslinger, but we soon discovered that the latter variant was a lot more fun, as we reskinned grit to panache, and were able to create deeds that were both useful and iconic...including the very fun derring-do feat that grants an extra d6 boost with the possibility of exploding dice (if you roll a 6 on that roll you gain another d6 boost) when using Acrobatics, Climb, Escape Artist, Fly, Ride, or Swim checks. </p>
<p>During the playtest, feedback granted us a wealth of information that allowed us to fine-tune the class. We wanted the class to be true to its roots, but to have enough room for players to create their own take on this daring warrior classic. To this end, we made it relatively easy to gain Dexterity modifier damage and benefit classes nifty precise strike precision damage deed with a variety of weapons through the class itself, by way of multiclassing, and through feats (try the Snake Style feat from <a href="https://paizo.com/products/btpy8mcz"><i>Ultimate Combat</i></a> with the precise strike deed to get your swashbuckler/kung fu fusion on). </p>
<p>The playtest also gave us feedback on which abilities were good, but not quite good enough for a true swashbuckler. For example, in the original iteration of derring-do, you had to spend panache and use the deed before you made the skill check. The finally ability allows you to use it after making the check, but before the results are revealed, making it more evocative and useful. </p>
<p>With the fine-tuning of class abilities complete, we moved on to archetypes, which allowed us create fun and interesting variants on the theme. In the book you’ll find (among others) the flying blade (hint: the blade are flying, not the swashbuckler, unless the wizard decides to do her a solid), the mysterious avenger (so you can make your own flavor of Zorro), and the picaroon (for those of you who like a little bang-bang alongside your flashing blade). Add this to the various combat and panache feats along with magic items tailor made for the swashbuckler, and you will find a lot of options to make exactly the swashbuckler that you always wanted to play.</p>
<p>Needless to say, if you like your heroes with light armor, a sharp rapier, an even shaper wit, and more than a few tricks up your sleeve, we think you’re going to enjoy the swashbuckler at least as much as we enjoyed designing her.</p>
<p>Stephen Radney-MacFarland<br />
<i>Designer</i></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<!— tags: Igor Grechanyi, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game —>
<p><a href="https://paizo.comcommunity/blog/tags">Tags</a>: <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/igorGrechanyi">Igor Grechanyi</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderRoleplayingGame">Pathfinder Roleplaying Game</a></p><blockquote>
<br />
<h1 itemprop="headline">Advanced Class Guide Preview: Swashbuckler</h1>
<p class="date">Tuesday, June 2, 2014</p>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<div class="blurb360"><a href="https://paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1129-FlyingBlade.jpg"><img src="https//paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderRPG/PZO1129-FlyingBlade_360.jpeg" border="0"></a><br />Illustration by Igor Grechanyi</div>
<p><span itemprop="description">As a kid, I spent a good chunk of my weekend hours watching just about anything that had swashbuckler goodness. Pirates, musketeers, and masked avengers were among the first sparks that ignited my fledgling imagination. When we set out to design the swashbuckler class our chief goal was to create a class that was fun in that Errol Flynn sort of way, while creating enough room for the many fine swashbuckler variants that have appeared in the many decades after <i>Captain Blood</i>.</span></p>
<p>Even before playtesting began, we designed two versions of the class. Like all of the classes appearing in the <a href="https://paizo.com/products/btpy95d1"><i>Advanced Class Guide</i></a>, the swashbuckler is a hybrid class—a class with mechanics and sometimes theme rooted in two existing classes—specifically a hybrid of fighter and gunslinger. One of the pre-playtest version was heavy on fighter, the second was heavy on gunslinger, but we soon discovered that the latter variant was a lot more fun, as we reskinned grit to panache, and were able to create deeds that were both useful and iconic...including the very fun derring-do feat that grants an extra d6 boost with the possibility of exploding dice (if you roll a 6 on that roll you gain another d6 boost) when using Acrobatics, Climb, Escape Artist, Fly, Ride, or Swim checks. </p>
<p>During the playtest, feedback granted us a wealth of information that allowed us to fine-tune the class. We wanted the class to be true to its roots, but to have enough room for players to create their own take on this daring warrior classic. To this end, we made it relatively easy to gain Dexterity modifier damage and benefit classes nifty precise strike precision damage deed with a variety of weapons through the class itself, by way of multiclassing, and through feats (try the Snake Style feat from <a href="https://paizo.com/products/btpy8mcz"><i>Ultimate Combat</i></a> with the precise strike deed to get your swashbuckler/kung fu fusion on). </p>
<p>The playtest also gave us feedback on which abilities were good, but not quite good enough for a true swashbuckler. For example, in the original iteration of derring-do, you had to spend panache and use the deed before you made the skill check. The finally ability allows you to use it after making the check, but before the results are revealed, making it more evocative and useful. </p>
<p>With the fine-tuning of class abilities complete, we moved on to archetypes, which allowed us create fun and interesting variants on the theme. In the book you’ll find (among others) the flying blade (hint: the blade are flying, not the swashbuckler, unless the wizard decides to do her a solid), the mysterious avenger (so you can make your own flavor of Zorro), and the picaroon (for those of you who like a little bang-bang alongside your flashing blade). Add this to the various combat and panache feats along with magic items tailor made for the swashbuckler, and you will find a lot of options to make exactly the swashbuckler that you always wanted to play.</p>
<p>Needless to say, if you like your heroes with light armor, a sharp rapier, an even shaper wit, and more than a few tricks up your sleeve, we think you’re going to enjoy the swashbuckler at least as much as we enjoyed designing her.</p>
<p>Stephen Radney-MacFarland<br />
<i>Designer</i></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<!— tags: Igor Grechanyi, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game —>
<p><a href="https://paizo.comcommunity/blog/tags">Tags</a>: <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/igorGrechanyi">Igor Grechanyi</a>, <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/tags/pathfinderRoleplayingGame">Pathfinder Roleplaying Game</a></p>2014-06-03T21:17:00Z