Deception, Betrayal, Redemption

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

PaizoCon is just a few days away, and that means some great adventures are already in GMs' hands. Sure, Gen Con is important for releasing piles of new scenarios and kicking off a new season, but PaizoCon's where we love debuting adventures that really appeal to the engaged fans who attend that convention. The organized play team's been saving three scenarios for just this opportunity, and that's not to mention the delightful pair of adventures published for Starfinder Society this month. With our expanding cast of developers, you'll get to hear from each of the Pathfinder Society developers about their respective projects.

This year at PaizoCon we're debuting Pathfinder Society Special #8-99C: The Solstice Scar, the penultimate version of the evolving storyline that began one year ago. We've brought on Kalervo Oikarinen to write the last two parts of the adventure, including both this fifth chapter as well as the final piece that debuts early in 2019. If you're new to the whole Solstice Scar phenomenon, I encourage you to check out the blog that details this experimental format and its schedule.

As a low-spoiler overview, the Pathfinder Society has been helping a Kellid following recover a potent relic—a morally upstanding favor made all the more urgent because that relic keeps a powerful supernatural evil at bay every winter solstice. Thanks to the relic's recent theft, the Society and Kellid following have been working overtime not just to recover it, but also to track down the tools necessary to end the slumbering evil forever. In Version C, the PCs are fending off an invasion, seeking out a long-lost Shining Crusade paladin in the frozen Tusk Mountains, and finally vanquishing a powerful curse in the Northern Fangwood in Lastwall.

The adventure is exclusive to a handful of conventions until Gen Con 2018, after which anyone can play it at events with three or more tables.

Next up, Linda's got some news about our higher-level scenario this month. As she warns, there are some spoilers about an earlier Season 9 scenario in the second paragraph.

I'm excited to see what everyone thinks of this month's Tier 7-11 offering, Pathfinder Society Scenario #9-20: Fury of the Final Blade. Author Lyz Liddell has edited quite a few Pathfinder Society scenarios, and it's awesome to have her writing for us too. Lyz's writing is immersive, creative, and beautiful, and this scenario was truly a joy to work on. If you haven't yet played Pathfinder Society Scenario #9-02: A Case of Missing Persons, I recommend checking that out first, because there are spoilers ahead. So without further ado, here's a preview of what's coming up next in the Liberty's Edge story—with a little more context for people who were baffled by the product page.

Illustration by Marko Horvatin

Liberty's Edge faction leader Colson Maldris is no stranger to crossing lines of propriety in what he believes to be the service of the greater good, and he's learned that his agents are willing to bury his indiscretions. This time, he's taken more drastic action than ever before. After a wealthy man was cleared of treason charges under dubious circumstances and several troubling measures for punishing debtors received serious debate on the floor of Andoran's senate, Maldris became convinced that Andoran's elite had become an untouchable class destined to destroy democracy and bring de-facto slavery to the nation. The only way forward in his mind was bring those treacherous "nobles" before a jury of people who he believed could give them a more just trial for their crimes than Andoran's courts—the citizens of Galt. In exchange for several concessions from the Galtans, such as a promise that Galt would not to use their infamous soul-trapping guillotines to carry out a sentence, Maldris arranged for the people he believed to be most guilty of corruption to be kidnapped and transported to Galt. Yet with the captives in their hands, Galtan authorities were quick to discard the promises they made to Maldris, forcing Maldris to take action against them. If the PCs don't act quickly and carefully, Maldris's rash actions could spark an international incident and possibly end in a gruesome fate for both the captives and Maldris himself. For a peek at what may happen to Maldris, check out this portrait by Marko Horvatin.

But hey, when we're thinking of NPCs with controversial reputations, we can't ignore Grandmaster Torch. Michael gives us some insights into the lower level May adventure.

Pathfinder Society Scenario #9-21: In the Grandmaster's Name takes place in Druma, where the PCs have been sent to intercept an agent of the enigmatic Grandmaster Torch. Similar to a certain low level adventure from Season 5, this adventure is an opportunity for players to insert themselves into one of Torch's cryptic plots. In addition to continuing one of the longest and most polarizing storylines of the Pathfinder Society campaign, author Jenny Jarzabski brings some very unique challenges and story elements to this scenario, weaving her background as a sommelier into an adventure that climbs into the luxurious estates of Kalistocratic high society.

In addition to the excellent opportunities to undermine Torch and several other longstanding villains in the Pathfinder Society campaign, In the Grandmaster's Name has also been a fun opportunity to present elements of Druman society, from hardworking, handsome half-orc bartenders to confident and capable tieflings. These illustrations by Sebastian Gomez really highlight the possibilities as well as the colorful characters you'll certainly meet during this adventure.

Illustrations by Sebastian Gomez

That's it for now. Be sure to check out the Starfinder Society blog today, too, and check in regularly for news updates from PaizoCon this weekend. See many of you at the show!

John Compton, Michael Sayre, and Linda Zayas-Palmer
Pathfinder Society Developers