First Taste of Seeker Play

Monday, April 25, 2016

Spring is in full swing in Seattle, causing the mercury to rise, dousing Redmond with pollen, and sending many of us into allergic conniptions. I hadn't planned it this way, but this is perfect timing to talk about what Paizo's backyard and this month's scenarios have in common: heat and flowers. That is to say we're traveling to Thuvia! This year the shipment of the legendary sun orchid elixir—a tonic capable of restoring one's youth—travels to Pashow for the first time in five years, and the city desperately needs the proceeds of their sale. Of course, the shipment needs to arrive safely to avert financial ruin and civil unrest, and the city needs outside help to ensure nothing befalls this lifeline.

Illustration by Sebastian Rodriguez

I really enjoy incorporating all levels of play into these storylines, and this month level 1-5 PCs experience a major piece of the action in Pathfinder Society Scenario #7-21: The Sun Orchid Scheme by the winner of RPG Superstar Season 9, Nicholas Wasko. Pashow is ready to perform a test run of their operation, and knowing the Society's reputation for troubleshooting tough problems, the city-state's emir and the visiting dignitary Princess Ziralia (pictured here) has contracted a team of Pathfinders to perform a non-lethal raid on one of the convoys. Hopefully the PCs can uncover any weaknesses in the convoy's defenses before the real deal. Then again, when has anything gone according to plan? Nick has written a thrilling adventure with some great twists, and I'm now all the more excited for the module he'll be writing in the future.

Finally adventuring in Thuvia is exciting. Finally releasing true seeker-level content is exciting. Combining the two was almost more than I could handle, so I called in Thurston Hillman as reinforcements. He's crafted a rousing and challenging adventure befitting Tier 12-15 with Pathfinder Society Scenario #7-20: All for Immortality, Part 1: First Taste of Eternity. The convoys carrying the sun orchid elixir have left the Citadel of the Alchemist, and Pashow's enemies are closing in. Fortunately, the PCs are on hand to help where the fighting's hottest, but they're due to uncover—and resolve—an even greater threat in the process. This adventure has one of my favorite depictions of a new villain, but I'm loath to post it here because it would spoil the surprise. I'll just let Thurston's writing and Sebastian Rodriguez's art speak for themselves when you get a chance to play this first of three adventures.

John Compton
Pathfinder Society Lead Developer