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I was reading through some chronicles recently, and I cannot fathom how stupid we have become. You joined a powerful organization where we don't even know who (or what) the leaders are and aren't allowed to know. You joined the wrong organization if you are looking for transparency. Our choice is really only one of stay or leave. We do not know the makeup of the ten, and whether they are united. Though ten sentients agreeing on anything would be unusual. We have no way of knowing their agendas or affiliations. We accepted that when we joined. Any disjoint in the direction of the society likely reflect changing allegiances or makeup among the ten (assuming they are the actual leaders and not just figureheads). Our senior pathfinders should be able to root out the leaders who are being duplicitous. However they seem to be protected by powerful and undetectable magics. They seem beyond the skills at the disposal of even the seekers among us. They are clearly very powerful. The pathfinder society have apparently taken on the cause of Mendev, not because it is our problem, but because it is everyone's problem. We stand to have a much higher ranking in the world if we win, and like everyone else, none at all if we lose. Of course this could all be part of some wider plan to build up trust for some collossal con, and with past history I am not ruling that out, but it's a take it or leave it organisation.
Though I am not so sure about the lethal comments. I think the reports may be exaggerated! Have gamed with Crispy for years and years and he has only killed 2 characters permanently - one in PFS and one in Shadowrun. Ahem, they had to sweep me up with a dustpan and get me resurrected. I still loved the scenario. Definitely well deserved. The comments above already say it all.
Coming at this from another angle: if its all heading south, and I decide discretion is the better part of valour, what are the bragging rights for becoming Krune's new right hand elf? A neutral chap like oneself must avoid too much of this hero stuff lest one slips alignment. A balancing dose of the other side seems long overdue.
One should assume that the shadow lodge infiltration goes to the very top of the society. Ask yourself who is close and has made themselves "indispensable"? Who would be the worst possible person to be a shadow lodge infiltrator? You may not have to look as far as you think. On thwarting runelords: No good deed goes unpunished. It seems likely that some will seek to blame the society for any collateral damage that comes out of our involvement. Now would be a good time to find evidence linking this cult with our enemies. I suggest we set our best diviners on it. Despite our best efforts we may not be able to stop the runelord. What is plan B? (if there isn't a plan B then there isn't a plan)
Or merely that the society will be purged of its less good characters. Come the risen rune all those bearing the mark or devices of Lissala may regret their choices. Whatever the outcome expect polarization and a purge.
As it stands now, while in Varisia I have been sent out by the Society to murder, rob and blackmail the competitors of the Magnimar Lodge. Is this what Pathfinders have been reduced to? Ah, I share your concern there. Something is rotten in the state of Varisia. But let us not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
"I am Sir Eadric the Pure! Noble paladin of Iomadae and seeker of justice throughout the land! I come here in search of like-minded individuals who seek to rid this land of depravity and injustice. Who among you shall I call a friend?" Ah, another seeking comfort in uniformity. You have come to the right place. You and Aram should get along famously.
Jarenthal, the last thing I wish is to fragment the Society. I would suggest that the Grand Lodge could be making this effort themselves, yet they do not. Perhaps it is their loyalty to The Ten instead of to the Pathfinder Society as a whole; their opposites, the Shadow Lodge, choose the other extreme. Do I detect your true aspiration here, to control the Grand Lodge itself? The ten seem to have been making a conscious effort to increase diversity in the society. There has been a recent influx of new nationalities such as the lantern lodge and races of divine, profane and elemental blood, not to mention the odd goblin. Perhaps the ten understand that the uniformity you seek leads to stagnation. It is certainly something we of the longer lived races understand. Are you are confusing dislike for some members of the society with what is good for the society as a whole? Diversity is a strength not a weakness. Is there no room for middle ground in our discourse, where we may find a balance between the masked orders of the Ten and the welfare of individual agents? The tail is trying to wag the dog here. Are you claiming superior knowledge to the ten? Hubris. May we not take as inspiration the earliest days of the Society, before there was a Decemvirate, when agents did not rely on others but were self-sufficient? If you can show me how men like Durvin Gest are poor rolemodels to aspire to in these times, I would perhaps understand your position. You answered your own question. Durvin Gest was a man of his time. We need men of _this_ time. While we can take inspiration from him, we should not aspire to be exactly like him. You can look back on the past through rose tinted glasses at the few successes. Was Durvin Gest the only pathfinder of his time? What of the others, were they bad Pathfinders? Or was Durvin Gest the one that just happened to have the right skillset for that time out of the diversity that was the Pathfinder Society of the time?
Several of our brethren have temporarily fallen under the silver tongued message of the so called “true pathfinders”. Don’t be fooled. The paraphrased “glory once more” message they are spreading is not even original, but borrowed from the Taldans. The politically overused “true” moniker a contrivance to deflect attention from their message of elitism. Their apparently high entry requirements are an obvious attempt to prey on the proud or weak willed who are seduced by flattery. Their call to mediocrity and their disparagement of specialists an affront to pathfinder values. Strip away the Taldan weasel words and their message is clear: “don’t change with the times” and “hold yourself above your fellow pathfinders” Is this what “true” Pathfinders aspire to? An insular elitist clique who are afraid of change? Eyes wide open Pathfinders. I understand that there are powerful new enemies of the pathfinder society, and in fear we tend to seek comfort in the “good old days” that never were. Rise above it! Now more than ever is the time for pragmatism and to embrace change. Now is not the time to form a Pathfinder supremacist group and risk splitting the society. Now is the time for unity. Ask yourselves, who benefits most if there is internal strife in the Pathfinder Society? Look again at those spreading the lamplighter message. Another "shadow lodge" style splinter group could be disastrous for the society right now. Vigilance.
To catch up on the absolute latest inside information, aperitifs will be served at the Old Library Tavern situated in the Wise quarter opposite the Blakros museum. |
