Leaders in Liberty 2

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Back in July, the organized play team launched an exciting contest called Leaders in Liberty to name and detail a new character in Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild canon. We read the entries, narrowed it down to our top picks, and invited the community to vote on the best candidate. In mid October we had our winner, Karisa Starsight as presented by Sam Sampson!

When we first launched the contest, we were a little coy about exactly how this character might feature in the campaign. We were, after all, several weeks away from releasing Pathfinder Society Scenario #9-02: A Case of Missing Persons, which provides considerably more context. If you haven't played it yet, I both strongly encourage that you do so, and I will be providing only the slimmest spoilers (you can see more in the spoil-tagged section below). Namely, Major Colson Maldris is not currently available to provide the Liberty's Edge faction the necessary guidance and oversight. While this faction is likely one of the best equipped to operate without a leader, we want to bring in someone who can not only provide leadership in the difficult time, but also guide the faction's vision and steer its reforms in the wake of Maldris's rather spotty legacy.

Pathfinder Society Scenario #9-02 Spoiler:

Major Colson Maldris has gone missing, and it seems he's enlisted some very questionable allies. Without an appointed leader, the Liberty's Edge faction needs someone to keep the operation running smoothly and coordinate the hunt for Maldris.

That's right, we're asking you to help pick a faction leader.

We have two candidates, whose backstories I'll summarize below along with a snapshot of their strengths and style. The first is Leaders in Liberty contest winner Karisa Starsight, who you can read about in more detail in this September blog. The second is Tamrin Credence, a halfling smuggler and freelance freedom fighter. Let's meet them both.

Illustration by Tom Ventre

Karisa Starsight

The slaver Kolm Redarax found the infant Karisa aboard a derelict Bonuwat ship, and he was so taken by her unexplained presence and strikingly blue eyes that he adopted her as his daughter. She worked hard aboard that ship, tending to the slaves her adoptive father shuttled from port to port. Whereas he saw these souls as chattel, she quietly grew to respect and pity them. As she reached adulthood, Karisa struggled between her love and loyalty for her father and the plights of the people he bought and sold.

Several years ago, Andoren privateers known as the Gray Corsairs assaulted their ship, subduing the crew and freeing the slaves. When the Corsairs' captain was on the verge of slaying Redarax, Karisa intervened, swearing her own life, service, and freedom to Andoran in exchange for his life. Not want to condemn the young woman to anything resembling slavery, the captain provided a different offer: she could instead apprentice to an upstanding Eagle Knight, and Redarax would live out his sentence in an Andoren prison. Karisa eagerly accepted.

Her mentor was none other than Major Colson Maldris, and she has excelled as his aide. Over the past year, her duties have more resembled those of a steward, overseeing some of the Liberty's Edge faction's operations while Maldris traveled farther afield. Even so, there's a side of Maldris that she's only now uncovering as she tries to find his current whereabouts and holds together the initiatives he set in motion. All the while she wonders at the irony that no matter his morals, Karisa's father is in chains while she promotes liberty in the Inner Sea region and beyond.

Strengths: Karisa Starsight has a much more intimate familiarity with the faction's operations, which inclines her toward making changes and executing missions "within the system" while also watching for hypocrisies that undermine the faction's goals. She has solid connections within the Eagle Knights without being one herself. She's also the more self-reflective candidate, likely to examine the faction's moral pillars and assess how the faction could do better. Even so, her childhood on the seas leaves her ready to tackle threats head-on when needed.


Illustration by Kenneth Camaro

Tamrin Credence

Trained as a sommelier, butler, and shopping assistant, the halfling now known as Tamrin Credence spent his first 26 years as a Chelish slave, albeit a well-treated one. When a tiller (a member of the halfling liberation group called the Bellflower Network) infiltrated the estate and laid plans to lead a few halfling slaves to freedom, Tamrin made a counter-offer: he would create a distraction so the tiller could escape with twice as many souls. The plan worked, albeit at a cost. By the time the tiller returned to lead him out of Cheliax, the halfling butler had received many scars for his deception.

Tamrin Credence is a self-styled name that the halfling adopted in the decade since, both to distance him emotionally from his subjugated past and to create a new identity that wouldn't lead to his recapture. He's continued to assist the Bellflower Network as a spy and supplier, often leading him into dangerous territory or treacherous relationships. Although he's infiltrated and worked with the Aspis Consortium and Cheliax's port authorities to this end, his most infamous rivalry is that with Zarta Dralneen, whom he regularly undermined while she served Cheliax as that nation's liaison to the Pathfinder Society. Only once she fell from Cheliax's good graces, suffered unforgiveable offenses by her former allies, and sought refuge with the Society did the two agents begin finding common ground. They've now worked together on coordinating several missions, though years of thwarting each other's ambitions leave them prone to verbally sniping at each other over unresolved gripes they're yet to bury.

Tamrin's experience with the Liberty's Edge faction is modest, having only worked with Major Colson Maldris a few times before the former began more concerted collaboration in the past 18 months. Even so, he's a proud "liberator of humanoid assets" with criminal and business contacts in dozens of cities. What he lacks in faction experience, he makes up for in gutsiness, survivability, cunning, and a willingness to lead from the front as needed.

Strengths: Tamrin Credence is a pragmatic individual who doesn't mind breaking a few unreasonable rules if he can mitigate the harm to innocent bystanders and maximize the benefit for oppressed people. He's witnessed the dark underbelly of several infamous operations firsthand, and he knows that no matter how seductive those groups might seem at times, they're ultimately immoral. These experiences have left him hardened against corruption, and he takes a more decisive stance on correcting the faction's embarrassing past misdeeds. He has strong Bellflower Network connections, though he would broaden his agenda considerably if made the leader of Liberty's Edge.

Voting

Voting begins now! Let us know which of these two candidates should step up to lead the Liberty's Edge faction in Major Colson Maldris's absence. You'll have three weeks to pick your favorite candidate, and the winner will be announced on Wednesday, December 13. Our plan is to feature both of these characters at least once, so even the candidate that doesn't receive the most votes will still play a role in a future scenario. We're also looking forward to pursuing more of the Liberty's Edge storyline later in Season 9, discovering just what Maldris has set in motion!

John Compton
Organized Play Lead Developer

More Paizo Blog.
Tags: Contests Kenneth Camaro Organized Play Pathfinder Society Pathfinder Society Scenarios Tom Ventre
Poll

Leaders in Liberty 2!


This poll closed Dec 6, 2017.

Dates and times displayed above are in the US/Pacific time zone.

101 to 126 of 126 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | next > last >>
Liberty's Edge 4/5

Grrr De'Bonaire wrote:
"You wana toss the bum out toss the bum out I'm all for it, but make it for something HE did. Or didn't do. "

How about ordering an assassination to cover up his philandering?

Liberty's Edge 5/5 5/55/55/5

Auris Deftfoot wrote:


How about ordering an assassination to cover up his philandering?

"See like that!"

"Thats the sort of thing you're supposed to take care of yourself"

Liberty's Edge 3/5

"We Caydenites can't get behind that sort of dark pit you're delving into... dam... I did it again!!"

Silver Crusade 1/5 5/5

"Rather than dancing around, flirting, why don't you just step up and ask if they're interested? I mean, if that's what you're really into? Never know, maybe the two of you will hit it off!"

Liberty's Edge 3/5

"Fun and games later my fine feathered friend! this voting business is serious... no more slips of the tongue! ...dam!"

Silver Crusade 1/5 5/5

*A muscular tiefling woman hands SoC a mug of mint beer that's actually pretty good*

"Here. This will help your tongue from sliding somewhere inappropriate. All Hail the Drunken Hero!"

Liberty's Edge 3/5

SoC gingerly takes the ale, sips it. His eyes growing wide he giddily sits on the muscular tiefling woman's lap and drapes an arm around her wide shoulders. "I appear to be... tongue-tied! oh... your skin is warm...."

Grand Lodge 4/5

*A young tall but not-so-big blond-haired man arrives with an aesthetic clutch besides his left leg. He heard Colson Maldris disappeared and how the Liberty's Edge scuppered to replace him. His mindset makes him receptive enough to these agents who want a more militant action, but thinks they forget something.*

"I may not like this, but there is the need to get along with aristocrats to get the funds and influence needed for the greater good. I'm playing the social game. The battle isn't only fought by steering bloodbaths and kamikaze actions. Some of my brothers paid that with their lives."

*He doesn't openly say it, but he's shows signs to being married with a young woman of the Blakros family. He's named Arghus Blakros.*

Liberty's Edge 5/5 5/55/55/5

Arghus wrote:
"I may not like this, but there is the need to get along with aristocrats to get the funds and influence needed for the greater good.

"Knives are cheap. So is fire. For those of you that need either "

Grand Lodge 4/5

Grrr De'Bonaire wrote:
"Knives are cheap. So is fire. For those of you that need either "

"Ha ha ! Whenever I'm going, I need more than a couple of cantrips. Try reply to a daemon with a butter knife !"

Silver Crusade 1/5 5/5

"I get that a lot. Still, you'll probably want to hop down before it really kicks in, it has a bit of a chaser to it. I call it the 'Blessed Batch of Barzillai'. Made it just for him if I ever get up Kintargo-way."

The tiefling pats the fellow on the shoulder. "I'm glad you like it. Folks thought I was crazy to make a mint beer..." She holds up a clawed hand and shows it off to Grrrr. "Who needs knives? My claws are sharp."

There's a brief pause.

"Oh, hey, let's make it an incentive! Vote and you get ale! I've plenty to go around!"

1/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

We need a fresh start. Colson lost sight of what we need to be a long time ago, and I don’t think his protege is the one to give us anything but more of the same. I think a council is the way to go in the long run, but for now, I think Tamrin Credence has the decisiveness to take us in a bold, more meaningful new direction.

Liberty's Edge 5/5 5/55/55/5

Bellflowers or bust!

Liberty's Edge 3/5

AGREED!

Liberty's Edge 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 *****

2 people marked this as a favorite.

A broad, burly half-orc in the corner looks up from the book he's been engrossed in, then tucks the volume (Annals of Absalom's Accounts Guild, vol 47) into his belt.

"Over the last few years, the Major's actions do seem to have taken a more... extreme turn. And when that view is coming from the man who charged straight into a behir's maw to repay its insult, that should tell you something." The Eagle Knight-Captain chuckles. "Personally, I'd prefer if we replaced him with a partnership or council, as our great Andoran did with its leadership. Each member would provides balances and checks on each other, for we've seen how much damage a single leader can do if they turn from their stated ideals." His eyes narrow as they focus on a torch in a nearby sconce, refusing to reference the former Shadow Lodge leader directly. "We've also seen its value from the partnerships of Tahonikepsu with Amenopheus, and sirs al'Hakam and Karela."

"If we must have only a single leader, though, my vote stands for Tamrin Credence. Miss Starsight has plenty of potential, and will be a great asset to Tamrin, but it's my view that we need a person of action at the helm. For now, at least."

Liberty's Edge 3/5

A man in the corner who has been drinking rather heavily takes a break, hiccups, then speaks, "Heyyyy... big guy with hats'n'goggles... no wayyyyy... man. No way. No ifs or buttszssz.... I don't want a b-bloody council or commmmittee or a bunch of ffffancy-pants takin' a vote every time a decision shhhhould be made. R'member... we work for the Grand Lodgggge first 'n foremost. We've been ddddetached to Absalom to nnnnew masters on behalf of Andoran. Whatever coaching we may need on certain misssssssionsssss should be d-done by our faction leader... someone that n-needs to have his finger on the pulse of Absalom 'n the Society... and th-that leader issss TAMRIN!!!! MMMMY MAN!!!"

Liberty's Edge 4/5 5/55/5 ***

As many have said Karisa seems better suited to lead the faction. She is already dialed in to the current state of affairs, has the logistical experience as Moldris’ assistant to continue advancing existing efforts, and the separation from Andoran politics to remain independent. Besides, she’s taller :-)
Tamarin is a valued agent that we can ill afford to take out of the field at a time when intelligence gathering and espionage is at its most needed. He would make an excellent field contact for Pathfinders operating in Cheliax or throuought the Inner Sea.

Silver Crusade 1/5 5/5

"Dear, the Drunken Hero would be quite miffed if I got you into trouble from too much to drink. You've had more than a few at this point, so you're cut off, enjoy the warm buzz. If you need coffee or tea, we can get you some, or water to help ease the hangover."

The tiefling that the other Caydenite had been getting beer from stands up and looks to the rest.

"Be Good to each other, including the candidates, and remember the inherent Goodness when you vote. Beer? No, not you, kid, you're cut off." she says to the fellow who just rambled into the discussion.

Liberty's Edge 3/5

"Hhhheyyyyy!.... don't you knnnnow it's rrrrrrude to take away a given'beer..??... heeeeeeyyyyyyyyy! you don't even belong to the Liberty Edge'szssz fffffffaction!!!!"

Silver Crusade 1/5 5/5

"I'm not taking any away, I'm just not supplying any more. If you're so confident, why don't you go take the test of the Starstone?" the tiefling offers in a gentle chiding tone.

Liberty's Edge 4/5 ****

"Did someone say they were taking the Test of the Starstone? I haven't had such good entertainment since that cavalier tried to jump it, the horse's legs dangling in the air just as they hit apex. Pity no one cast Feather Fall on them at that point.

Oh, and Vote Credence!"

Liberty's Edge 3/5

Was our new Liberty's Edge leader announced?

Silver Crusade 4/5 **** Venture-Captain, South Carolina—Greenville

Yes--it's Tamrin Credence, though a type of co-leadership was hinted at. Here's the post: Mid-Season Faction Updates.

Son of Cayden wrote:
Was our new Liberty's Edge leader announced?

1/5

Go starsight

Liberty's Edge 1/5 *

I hate the fact that this ended before the end of season 9 (two months before the first time I played), so some people (like myself) cannot check the last box on our faction goals sheet. I hereby vote for Starsight even though she already lost, and hope I can convince a venture-captain that this is good enough to fulfill that goal.

Scarab Sages Organized Play Developer

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Sir Zulzin Gamlûr wrote:
I hate the fact that this ended before the end of season 9 (two months before the first time I played), so some people (like myself) cannot check the last box on our faction goals sheet. I hereby vote for Starsight even though she already lost, and hope I can convince a venture-captain that this is good enough to fulfill that goal.

I may be misunderstanding you, but if you started playing two months after the end of Season 9, the Season 10 faction journal cards should have been available (which do not include a requirement to have participated in this event).

As an aside to anyone who might be wondering whatever happened to Karisa Starsight, keep an eye out for PFS #10–21!

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