Echoes of the Dead God Linger

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adventures Ahead!

Aaron Shanks
Marketing and Media Manager