Jareth Elirae's page

Is there any sort of in house/behind the scenes reason why Shalelu appeared in three adventure paths (more than any other NPC, to my knowledge). Love the character and not complaining... just wondering why she got more of a spotlight than anyone else.

After reading much of the material in Tyrant's Grasp and the few issues of Extinction Curse, it is more and more clear that Aroden was more than a little bit of a jerk and bigot. How is it that he attracted/retained good heralds like Arazni and Iomedae? And, assuming she didn't already figure it out, was Iomedae aghast when she discovered some of the things Aroden had done (as his worshippers would have had to shift to her good alignment and she did not conform to his neutral)?

I guess what I was really trying to ask, is does Pharasma's church sponsor a militaristic wing that addresses problems of powerful undead such as Tar-Baphon? It seems like the majority of the organizations opposed to him are sponsored by other deities (Aroden first, then Iomedae) even though it seems like this type of thing would be more of a pressing concern for her followers to lead the charge against.

Is there a reason Pharasma has not taken a larger role in the opposition of Tar-Barphon? He seems an affront ton all she stands for, but the crusade against him seems to have been lead by Aroden, Iomedae, and Arazni. He creates undead by the thousands, shreds souls, and refuses judgment himself... yet she seems almost uninterested in the "greatest necromancer Golarion has ever seen" despite the fact that necromancy is something that she detests.

Does Pharasma become annoyed with the destruction of a soul (such as via being intentionally fed into a sphere of annihilation or as can occur in certain other situations) and does she tend to punish those who do so or is the destruction of individual souls (or a small group of souls) beneath her notice or out of her area of concern?

I've got a DM perspective question for you regarding 1st edition. A sorcerer who maximized one of the various pit spells from the APG (let's say acid pit). Do you think it would maximize both the falling damage and the acid damage or do you think the falling damage should be rolled independently? I actually have a villain with this combo and I'm trying to come up with how it would function (he wasn't intended to maximize this spell.. but backed into a tactical corner he combed it).

Sorry if I missed it, but is Cassandalee an "official" deity in 2e? And if so how prevalent is her faith at the onset of the new edition?

Can any god make a recommendation to Achaekek to kill someone or does he only listen to specific ones or does he act completely autonomously? If the former, why didn't Aroden send him to kill Tar-Barphon initially, it seems like what he was made for?

Would the Red Mantis Assassins take out a contract on the Whispering Tyrant (with a contingent of Death Slayers from Adventurer's Guide) or is he off limits as a ruler... he had a pretty extensive empire he ruled for a long time, does his imprisonment make a difference to them?

I appreciate your response and one of the things I really miss about you guys not doing Dungeon in the last 10 years is how well you embraced the lore of Greyhawk (and the Easter eggs you left) as I grew up with that setting and love the respect with which you treated it. Alas, my current group skew younger and started with Pathfinder so have no connection to the classics. They love Golarion and it's lore, but are reluctant about learning a new edition any advice on what I should tell them?

And, although you worked on them long ago are there any tips you would offer on brining them over? (Who would you use as a Tenser replacement/ is there a Magepoint equivalent?)

Does Golarion have a replacement you would use for Adimarchus, Kyuss, and/ or Demogorgon? There doesn't seem to be such a thing as Prince of Demons in Pathfinder.

If you were to move the first three adventure paths Paizo did (Shackled City, Age of Worms, Savage Tide)from Greyhawk to Golarion where would you place them (or in some cases where would you place the starting points)?

Although Aroden's death is a secret, can you say why the Starstone chunk is able to infuse people with god-like power? Did it somehow absorb some aspect of the gods who died trying to stop Earthfall or was it infused as some type of artifact before that which Aroden somehow recognized and that is why he raised it?

How large is the actual Starstone? Is it fist sized? Boulder sized? Obviously it fits inside a building.

What caused Lissala to shift from Lawful Neutral as presented in Ruins of Azlant to Lawful Evil as presented everywhere else?

Id there a reason Lissala seems to be off-limits as a player option (read that as no options for deific obedience) where other evil gods and even forgotten gods are not? I only ask because she is one of my favorite goddesses (and if it isn't too much of a violation of the one question rule, is she from your homebrew or did she come from some other place?)

Although Aroden was Lawful Neutral (and it seems is skewing towards being kind of a jerk) how come he seems to have a lot of Lawful Good adherents (Iomedae)?

Will Pathfinder 2 in any way be backward compatible with Pathfinder 1?

As we move into Pathfinder 2, is there anything (perhaps class wise, archtype wise, prestige class wise, ect) You wish you had gotten to or would have (for nostalgia or other reasons) like to have added before 1st edition closed?

I know the Pharasman faith is does not look favorably on those who extend their lives through undeath, how do they feel/view those who avoid death for extended periods through other means like the Sun Orchid Elixir, infernal pacts, ect (this comes to mind based on the lore for Armag in the Kingmaker computer game)?

I was wondering how well known certain organizations are outside of their regions. For example, would the average citizen of Sandpoint recognize and respect an Aldori Swordlord, or do they just regard him/her as some mercenary? Does the general populace know of (and fear) Red Mantis assassins or are they oblivious to their existence?

Are there any specific deities who like to push the boundaries of the "non-interference in the mortal world" edict (Iomedae seems to have tried to see the limits, in some manner, during Wrath of the Righteous) and is this something Casandalee and Nocticula would struggle with upon becoming new divinities?

I was wondering why Lamashtu didn't make a bigger push to block Nocticula's ascension (or did she and it was just too late)?

Do you ever take time to reflect on how your creativity, efforts, and extension of Dungeons and Dragons have affected people? For instance, I have a close friend who has been a close friend for 20 years through gaming and the last 10 of those have been games you are directly involved in. Likewise, my relationship with my sister has been solidified by gaming at a table supported by Pathfinder Adventure Paths. It seems like you should know how you efforts bring people together, but I wonder if you actually do. I thank you for it regardless.

What titles are "off limits" to Red Mantis assassins? They wouldn't touch the King (or queen of Korvosa)- even though that's not a kingdom- would Mayor Grobaras of Magnimar enjoy the same exemption? Would Kendra Deverin? The Jade Regeant- while the throne rejects him? I just wonder where they draw the line with titles- I mean would Pilts Swastel of Old Korvosa be exempt? Thanks for your insight.

Did the Azlanti gods who survived Earthfall (and there seems to be quite a few of them) simply loose interest in Golarian after the tragedy or could they/do they still pay attention?

Can you provide some insight as to how goblins became the "signature" creature for paizo? Who's idea was it? How did it catch on?

GM to GM I was wondering if you can give me some guidance on what spells can be affected by permanency. Beyond the core rulebook things have been surprisingly silent on this spell. It seems like the upper limit for spells with the target of caster is 5th, but most spells being 3rd level or lower. Also this is a very select list. So I'm trying to tag for my home game a general guideline, such as Permanency affects any spell with a target of you (or one other creature) as long as that spell is of 3rd level or lower. This is to cover spells beyond the core rulebook (or which there are now many). Are their any other guidelines or variable I should take into account from your perspective? Thanks, as always, for making my game better with every response.

As I play the Kingmaker game it got me thinking at what point in a kingdom's development (such as the adventure path or the computer game) would a "ruler's" name come off of the list as a viable target for the Red Mantis Assassins since they don't take contracts on leaders?

For a long while ( I think since the statue of her was illustrated and included way back in a History of Ashes) have been fascinated by the goddess Lissala. As a "forgotten" god she has had a lot of easter eggs and a few articles about her, and even a hint that someday she might reestablish herself. Unfortunately, the article dedicated to her did not include obediences and boons... any chance of more information on her in Return of the Runelords (as Krune was her high priest)?

Can you clarify the responsibilities in Korvosa of the various law enforcement sects that are active? I'm pretty clear on the role of the Gray Maidens and I suspect the Korvosan guard is essentially the police force. I'm most curious as to the principles responsibilities of the Sable Company Marines and Hellknight order and how/if these organizations view their roles, especially before/after Curse of the Crimson Throne.
Thanks as always for your generosity with your time and insights.

Isn't changing from 3.5 to 4.0 what damaged Dungeons & Dragons and ultimately lead to the rise and success of Pathfinder? How do you anticipate (as a company) avoiding the same downfall with a new edition that doesn't much seem to resemble the previous one?

You have previously said you were not a fan of the way elves were portrayed in Second Darkness, which I am about to run as a campaign. As there is no forthcoming hardcover (like there was for Rise of the Runelords and Curse of the Crimson Throne) can you give me some idea of what changes you would have made if this had become a hardcover product (which would have been awesome if you headed it up, by the way!)

I'm DMing a Rise of the Runelords group and have a player who is a Varasian Juggler (Flying Blade swashbuckler). I've been pondering which skill would best simulate juggling. I'm strongly leaning towards sleight of hand (after pondering acrobatics or perform, although juggling seems more dex based than cha based). The juggling kit in Ultimate Equipment actually gives a +2 bonus to Perform (act). I was just wondering what your decision would be in my place?

I had been holding out hope for a while now that a hardcover conversion of Second Darkness and Legacy of Fire adventure paths would eventually come to be (as the only remaining adventure paths in 3.5), but now with that seeming highly unlikely with Pathfinder 2.0 on the horizon, I'd like to ask when converted by me to Pathfinder should the characters use the fast experience track- similar to what happened with experience progression in Rise of the Runelords and Crimson Throne when they were brought up to date?

On that note was the Test of the Starstone something imported from your homebrew or did someone else at Paizo contribute that aspect to Golarion?

Aside from Tar-Baphon who has the emaciated skeletal look of the classic D&D lich I've noticed a trend of many Paizo liches (including or maybe starting with Arazni) retaining a more "alive" look more akin to a vampire, is this true of lichdom in Golarion?

P.S. The Adventurer's Guide was AMAZING so thank you for all the work you put in to that project!

As Creative Director, at any given time what is the average amount of projects that you are directly involved in (if there is such a thing as an average)?

In the time since Wrath of the Righteous has your stance towards mythic rules softened (I know you were pretty jaded by some of the fan feedback... although my group quite liked them and were sad to see them not really reappear in another adventure path... although there was one opening in a certain adventure path you developed after)? It seems mythic characters would be necessary to stand against the Runelords/ and or redeem Nocticula.

For both the oracle and the shaman who take the Heavens as their mystery the 20th level power includes "if you are killed you come back as a star child that matures over 7 days". What exactly is a "star child" it does not appear in any Beastiary and it seems to be specifically chosen wording without much explanation?

Don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but Dragon magazine has addressed, at least twice (including 3.0 I think while Paizo was in charge) paladins of every alignment. It would take a little tweaking, but essentially their 3.0 version of the CG paladin (or archetype) was called a Garath (not certain it that was the name from the first or second time) The changes would be as follows: Aura of Good is replaced by Aura of Chaos, Detect Evil becomes Detect Law, Smite Evil becomes Smite Law, Divine Health becomes Slippery Mind (as the rogue talent). Uses of mercy are swapped out for a static Break enchantment chained to lay on hands. All other "evil" descriptors are swapped out for their "law" equivalent.
Their spell list was:
1st level: Bless, Bless Water, Bless Weapon, Disguise Self, Cure Light Wounds, Detect Poison, Divine Favor, Endure Elements, Lesser Restoration, Magic Stone, Magic Weapon, Mending, Protection from Evil/Law, Read Magic, Shield of Faith
2nd Level: Align Weapon, Alter Self, Cat's Grace, Cure Moderate Wounds, Eagle's Splendor, Fox's Cunning, Invisibility, Make Whole, Misdirection, Resist Energy, Shield Other, Undetectable Alignment
3rd Level: Cure Moderate Wounds, Dispel Magic, Flame Arrow, Greater Magic Weapon, Magic Vestment, Magic Circle against Law/Evil, Nondetection, Obscure Object
4th Level: Cure Serious Wounds, Detect Scrying, Dispel Law/Evil, Freedom of Movement, Greater Invisibility, Holy Sword, Neutralize Poison, Restoration and Stone Shape

Wrath of the Righteous Part 14- The Ungrateful Savior

Talongaard spun the flail above his head deftly, conjuring the wreath of flame- a legacy of his father. He was two steps away when the elven woman lost her step and tumbled to the ground. She nimbly fell and rolled so as to release her baby in a rolling bundle that caused it no harm and sent it spinning half hidden under a shrub. It was a desperate gambit he knew, one quite likely to fail under the scrutiny of an orc’s keen sense of smell, but she had a fading hope that it may succeed. The half-demon could see the doubt clearly in her mind, she hoped fervently that while the orc was doing it’s worst to her that it would completely forget about her child. She prayed briefly to the gods of her kind that it would not cry despite the horrific fate that was about to befall her and, thus, be saved. Talongaard knew what the orc intended and a last great stride landed him beside the despicable creature.
Unsurprised the orc turned it’s massive great axe on him in a wide destructive arc and Talongaard ducked beneath it with inhuman deftness despite his heavy armor. He did not have the massive strength of his sister and could not hope to block such ferocious blows, but he kept his flaming flail spinning and sent it in a retort towards the orc’s face. The beast drew his axe back defensively but far too slowly. The spiked ball exploded in a shower of fire and gore when it connected with his face and the orc dropped dead to the ground beside his intended victim.
Talongaard in his haste did not realize a second orc had pursued him until the axe cracked off of the back of his armor, deflecting from one of the sharp spikes. The force of the unexpected blow almost knocked him to his knees. His gray armor could not be breached by crude orcish iron he knew, but still he growled in personal shame at his carelessness. His father would have subjected him to several lashes for such a lapse. Just the thought of the punishments he endured in the past for such oversights lit a rage in him. He spun in a spiral to face his new enemy smashing the spikes prevalent along the forearm of his armor into the creatures wrist, impaling it and driving it wide. The orc howled in surprised alarm until a split second later when Talongaard had drawn his flail around in a lethal punishing strike to the foul creature’s head. In an instant the vile thoughts drained from the demon’s mind like an emptied bath tub.
He turned his black eyes to the elven woman he had saved and sensed that her fear had not yet subsided. She stared at him in horror taking in his iron clad, spiked, gray visage entirely as his father had intended. He sighed and lowered the bloody flail, willing the flames about it to flicker and fade to nothingness. Without even offering a hand, he knew she would not take, to help her up from the dirt, he turned his back on her and her child and walked back towards the diminishing sounds of battle and his sister.
Kyra was wiping the blood from her great sword with the remains of an orcish cloak when he returned to her. All the remaining orcs lay dead in a circle around her, including two corpse flanking her, one headless, the other nearly cut in half across the middle. When she cast her beaming eyes across his sad face she gasped in panic, “The woman and her child did we…”
He waved his spiked gauntlet at her dismissing the question. “They are saved. To what purpose I am unsure.”
She looked at him incredulously. “To what purpose? You can’t be serious.”
Talongaard stared at her with a seriousness that left little doubt and caused her to shudder briefly beneath his dead stare. “I saved her and the infant and she looked upon me with the same contempt that she had form them. I was no better than an orc in her eyes.” He kicked an orc corpse distastefully. “So for what I say? I had better treatment at the hands of my father’s fiends for a job well done.”
Kyra sheathed her sword in the great holster across her back trying to let the judgment fade from her own gaze. “Some times good deeds are their own reward.”
He snorted derisively. “What reward would that be? Contempt from creatures I try to help? Do you have any idea where she is now?”
Kyra shrugged, she had been startled when he had not brought the elves back with him. “Amongst the trees where our kind is most comfortable with her baby, still alive and no doubt grateful for the lives you have given her.”
He closed his dark eyes and his brow creased as he reached out with his mind once again. Without opening his eyes he pointed back to the trees from where he had come. “Three hundred yards that way, in full sprint, her intent is to gather archers of her people to slay me. How very appreciated I should feel for my efforts.”
Kyra was silent for a few moments before speaking. “Talon, she has been through a difficult time… look at her friends. Look at what happened here, what almost happened to her baby.”
His eyes flickered open as he let the thoughts go. “I did see what happened here and know cleared that either of you what was going to happen. I stopped it and now I am to be killed by the very person I thought to help.”
“I am certain that it will not come to that.” Kyra stated unconvincingly as she watched the trees closely. She knew well the prowess of elven archers, her mother’s people.
Her brother snarled viscerally, “I should have left her to her fate!”
“And the baby?”
Talongaard froze for a moment, for that was the crux of his dilemma, but then his pragmatism returned and his voice fell back to a whisper. “People die all the time. He would have been no different. I have seen even child souls in the Abyss. He would have been no different.”
Kyra suppressed her gasp, walked up behind him and with great caution found a place on his shoulder to place her hand between the infinite spikes of his armor. “Talon you are not like that.”
All the while she uttered a silent prayer to Iomedae that her brother was not like that.

Part 14- The Ungrateful Savior

Talongaard spun the flail above his head deftly, conjuring the wreath of flame- a legacy of his father. He was two steps away when the elven woman lost her step and tumbled to the ground. She nimbly fell and rolled so as to release her baby in a rolling bundle that caused it no harm and sent it spinning half hidden under a shrub. It was a desperate gambit he knew, one quite likely to fail under the scrutiny of an orc’s keen sense of smell, but she had a fading hope that it may succeed. The half-demon could see the doubt clearly in her mind, she hoped fervently that while the orc was doing it’s worst to her that it would completely forget about her child. She prayed briefly to the gods of her kind that it would not cry despite the horrific fate that was about to befall her and, thus, be saved. Talongaard knew what the orc intended and a last great stride landed him beside the despicable creature.
Unsurprised the orc turned it’s massive great axe on him in a wide destructive arc and Talongaard ducked beneath it with inhuman deftness despite his heavy armor. He did not have the massive strength of his sister and could not hope to block such ferocious blows, but he kept his flaming flail spinning and sent it in a retort towards the orc’s face. The beast drew his axe back defensively but far too slowly. The spiked ball exploded in a shower of fire and gore when it connected with his face and the orc dropped dead to the ground beside his intended victim.
Talongaard in his haste did not realize a second orc had pursued him until the axe cracked off of the back of his armor, deflecting from one of the sharp spikes. The force of the unexpected blow almost knocked him to his knees. His gray armor could not be breached by crude orcish iron he knew, but still he growled in personal shame at his carelessness. His father would have subjected him to several lashes for such a lapse. Just the thought of the punishments he endured in the past for such oversights lit a rage in him. He spun in a spiral to face his new enemy smashing the spikes prevalent along the forearm of his armor into the creatures wrist, impaling it and driving it wide. The orc howled in surprised alarm until a split second later when Talongaard had drawn his flail around in a lethal punishing strike to the foul creature’s head. In an instant the vile thoughts drained from the demon’s mind like an emptied bath tub.
He turned his black eyes to the elven woman he had saved and sensed that her fear had not yet subsided. She stared at him in horror taking in his iron clad, spiked, gray visage entirely as his father had intended. He sighed and lowered the bloody flail, willing the flames about it to flicker and fade to nothingness. Without even offering a hand, he knew she would not take, to help her up from the dirt, he turned his back on her and her child and walked back towards the diminishing sounds of battle and his sister.
Kyra was wiping the blood from her great sword with the remains of an orcish cloak when he returned to her. All the remaining orcs lay dead in a circle around her, including two corpse flanking her, one headless, the other nearly cut in half across the middle. When she cast her beaming eyes across his sad face she gasped in panic, “The woman and her child did we…”
He waved his spiked gauntlet at her dismissing the question. “They are saved. To what purpose I am unsure.”
She looked at him incredulously. “To what purpose? You can’t be serious.”
Talongaard stared at her with a seriousness that left little doubt and caused her to shudder briefly beneath his dead stare. “I saved her and the infant and she looked upon me with the same contempt that she had form them. I was no better than an orc in her eyes.” He kicked an orc corpse distastefully. “So for what I say? I had better treatment at the hands of my father’s fiends for a job well done.”
Kyra sheathed her sword in the great holster across her back trying to let the judgment fade from her own gaze. “Some times good deeds are their own reward.”
He snorted derisively. “What reward would that be? Contempt from creatures I try to help? Do you have any idea where she is now?”
Kyra shrugged, she had been startled when he had not brought the elves back with him. “Amongst the trees where our kind is most comfortable with her baby, still alive and no doubt grateful for the lives you have given her.”
He closed his dark eyes and his brow creased as he reached out with his mind once again. Without opening his eyes he pointed back to the trees from where he had come. “Three hundred yards that way, in full sprint, her intent is to gather archers of her people to slay me. How very appreciated I should feel for my efforts.”
Kyra was silent for a few moments before speaking. “Talon, she has been through a difficult time… look at her friends. Look at what happened here, what almost happened to her baby.”
His eyes flickered open as he let the thoughts go. “I did see what happened here and know cleared that either of you what was going to happen. I stopped it and now I am to be killed by the very person I thought to help.”
“I am certain that it will not come to that.” Kyra stated unconvincingly as she watched the trees closely. She knew well the prowess of elven archers, her mother’s people.
Her brother snarled viscerally, “I should have left her to her fate!”
“And the baby?”
Talongaard froze for a moment, for that was the crux of his dilemma, but then his pragmatism returned and his voice fell back to a whisper. “People die all the time. He would have been no different. I have seen even child souls in the Abyss. He would have been no different.”
Kyra suppressed her gasp, walked up behind him and with great caution found a place on his shoulder to place her hand between the infinite spikes of his armor. “Talon you are not like that.”
All the while she uttered a silent prayer to Iomedae that her brother was not like that.

1.When you play an adventure do you have a favorite set of dice you use? 2.Do you have a large die collection and pick based on color or some other element that you relate to the character?
3.Do you start a new character with a new set of dice?
4. Do you ever "punish" or "ban" dice for poor rolls?
It seems no one has asked about your die habits, but a lot of gamers talk about theirs.

3. Does Desna hold any particular interest in redeeming/saving changlings (specifically night hag descended changlings from their fate? It seems she may have a strong interest here.
4. At least in the adventure paths it seems like Irori tends to be overlooked. Does he have a strong presence on Golarion? It seems like his temples are few and far between and his adherents even moreso. Iomedae has a much stronger presence as do most of the other "ascended". Is he simply beyond such concerns as worshippers after finding perfection?

Assuming the events of Wrath of the Righteous are presumed to have occurred will a new herald of Iomedae be stated up or will the "replacement" essentially be assumed to be the same?

3. Does Desna hold any particular interest in redeeming/saving changlings (specifically night hag descended changlings from their fate? It seems she may have a strong interest here.
4. At least in the adventure paths it seems like Irori tends to be overlooked. Does he have a strong presence on Golarion? It seems like his temples are few and far between and his adherents even moreso. Iomedae has a much stronger presence as do most of the other "ascended". Is he simply beyond such concerns as worshippers after finding perfection?

1.Does Iomedae know how Aroden died or did she inherit his domains via a mysterious "call"?
2.How ardent are the Red Mantis assassins in tracking down a renegade? For example if someone learned their ways and then became a rogue "black mantis" is doesn't seem like it would matter much to Achaekek, but it seems like it would matter a great deal to the Red Mantis Assassins themselves.

Are there any planes of existence where time moves significantly faster? For example, is there a place a high level eccentric elven mage (with access to gate) could hunker down an train an elf child to maturity while only 1-3 years passed on Golarion? (It seems like the First World might be a likely candidate and if I recall correctly the artifact Kakishon from Legacy of Fire would also serve this purpose)