That sounds great! Is Tevaga an orc then? Half-orc?
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Any half-orc in my campaign who demonstrates a worth and drive to defend is accepted in Lastwall. We have had three half-orcs come through my game's party, and they've all had a place in the setting. There is however a sense that half-orcs are kind of second class in my version of Lastwall. We have had a dirge bard from Roslar's Coffer that was the town mortician and grave keeper. He mostly kept to himself, but his vast knowledge and strict adherence to customary burial rites made him a great resource to the town. We also had an orphaned half-orc that was delivering a "replica" shard of the Shattered Shield to Vigil after his participation in the PFS The Shattered Shield. While he was passing through Roslar's Coffer en route, his parcel erupted, starting the entire adventure. One of my newest additions to the party is a half-orc who was once a draconic-bred experiment for the Twisted Nail Tribe. During his arcane training, there was a mishap and the half-orc sorcerer was turned small size. Due to this deformity, his liege decided that he was a reject and would sent to be destroyed. As such, the half-orc was sent to the Bastion of Light to capture the Red Reaver in the PFS prequel I ran for my group. In that module, there is an orc named Uirich who was ravaged by the beast while attempting to undermine the beast-masters of the Twisted Nail. The party in the module assisted Uirich and healed him up. After the group defeated the Reaver, Uirich evaluated area before fleeing back to his position at the border. Upon surveying the wreckage, Uirich came across my new PC, a small half-orc child who was mortally wounded. Uirich is now a flame warden ranger in my game, and he slew the PC, only to cast breath of life rebirthing the PC in Sarenrae's Redeeming Light. Since this PC entered at the end of book 2, I had to retcon some stuff in the background, but my party all loved the idea of playing half-orcs, so I wanted to make some stuff work. I think the prejudice may be more highlighted in Vigil than other parts of Lastwall, as they are more Iomdaen than Gorumite, but that plays perfectly into the mistrust of the leaders of Vigil when they enter in book 3. I have really enjoyed having half-orc influence in my campaign.
Fair points! Thank you for your responses!
I'm statting up my creatures into hero lab and I noticed with the Horse Thing it is listed as a variant Warsworn. Is there a specific variant that it has? On HL it is listed as CR16 and in the book it is CR11. Is there a template being applied that I'm missing?
Not in the book, but here is something I've found from the Knights of Ozem: The Tilernos family (motto: Family, Field, and Fury) has always had a family member, often a daughter, in the Knights of Ozem. This family's knights are especially proficient in making charges. Their heraldry is a purple shield covered and surrounded in blades. Something that I did with the player in my group that wanted to have an engrained backstory- Ariel is an Oracle of Time and the daughter of a prominent member of the Mourners of Arazni in Vigil. She grew up similar in age to and a rival of Ceto Malderra. They were friendly enough growing up, but as an Iomedaen, Ceto had no respect for Arazni given her unfortunate fate. Therefore, Ceto always saw Ariel as less worthy and less capable. This was even more troublesome because Ariel has been haunted by a spirit of Ragathiel, and as such would be prone to flashes of aggression during sparring which would often come at Ceto's expense. More often than not the Gorumite trainers would taunt Ceto and this grew the rivalry even further. Meanwhile, Ceto's name and history has given her the opportunity to hold posts otherwise unheard of for a warrior of her age. Two years previous to the start of the AP, a theft of the Shield of Arnisant was reported and an investigation was launched. As we know, the shield was not stolen, because it is right as it should be, placed inside the guarded castle. Unfortunately, another guard who was on duty was also missing. Unbeknownst to the PC, Ceto doctored a log book and signed Ariel in on guard detail with the missing guard to place her at fault. Despite a relatively noble and just person Ceto is, it is Ariel that begins her corruption. Ceto sees Ariel as a harbinger of the end times and thought she was doing the right thing by tarnishing Ariel's good name. Luckily, Ariel's father is a barrister whose position in the city is to maintain relationships between all of the houses of faith in Vigil. As such, instead of being imprisoned or worse, she was sent to Roslar's Coffer to guard the territory line between the town and the Reaver's Territory line. After a group of pathfinders came to the city and disposed of the Red Reaver, she had been sitting idly by, forgotten about. That was, until a shard was delivered from Rahadoum to Roslar's Coffer by one of my other PCs who was tasked to return it to Vigil.
I agree with this. After my party fought the zombie elk, they heard a screaming from the forest. Unfortunately, my party ignored the cries and continued heading southeast toward the glowing at the cemetery gates. My oracle of Ragathiel(and Arazni too now) had visions from the cemetery spirit that they must commune. However, after fighting the plant creature in the town square, the party split- one half of the group to do the gardening, and another half to investigate the woods up north. This leads me to the Yaog fight... 2) Building off that, the yaoguai fight is brutal. This thing has a ton of hit points, DR5/-, Fast Healing 5, and SR. My party did a good job, but one player almost went down in one turn. Having Jando assist in the fight after bringing them to his base could be good, and if DM's want Jando to be guidance, but not help, maybe he breaks a limb in the fight so he can't help them in fights, but can still point them in the right direction. We had a party of 5 when they fought the YaoGuai, but they went at him with only 3, while two stayed behind to garden the town square. I rolled for a random encounter for the gardeners and hit with a 1 on a d100, so i had to make it spicy. I rolled up the King of the Ghouls from the encounter table. At this point we ran a "split-screen" encounter that involved an Aasimar Oracle, Shabti Fighter, and a Duskwalker Magus vs the Yaoguai and a Human Paladin and Half-Orc bard vs an advanced giant ghoul and 3 other advance ghouls. Luckily, the OP af paladin was able to carry the town square battle and they survived, but the Yaoguai party wasn't so lucky... The yaoguai was in a standoff with Jando's cat, now named Rando Purr, and almost playing with its meal. Our shabti fighter, who joined our game right at the end of book 1 and bargained her way out of the dead lands with the party. Unfortunately, while the magus and oracle got jando unstuck from the log, the shabti was mauled to death, and graphically eaten in front of the fleeing party. When Jando was nursed back to health, he explained that while he was there the day after the destruction, he rounded up some scavenged items that survived the cataclysm, but they were in his blind, where the yaogaui had now taken as its lair. They gathered with the bard and paladin, now determined to get revenge, and the sick loot I added. The second fight was no joke either, but luckily for our party, the paladin scored a 3x greataxe crit for 75 damage. Our dead shabti has since taken over as jando parr and rando purr, and they've been instrumental to the party. Favored enemy undead is a hell of a drug. 3) Right now, the cemetery ghost fetch quest is vague and doesn't quite connect other than "Well, this is the only thing, so this must be the way forward." I personally recommend changing the spirit's dialogue so it's more like "Hey, I'm the spirit of the town. I'd love to help you, but the Whispering Way is trying to ensure that the last of my spirits can't move on. If you can help them, I can help you" and then have the spirit give benefits as they help more spirits. This also makes the Whispering Way more directly in the path of PC goals, rather than just in the same space and hostile. My party already helped the old folks with their gardening dilemma before they met the spirit so that was a good start. I had the spirit tell them that while there were strange undead anomalies that roamed the destroyed town, there were also worse horrors that the spirit was holding back from the town. They instructed the party that not only helping the spirits would allow this being to move on and let them rest, but the trials would also show the spirit that the party would be capable of overcoming the horrors to come. They shortly after met Chatar, who had been tracking them since the very loud yaoguai incident, and that started the rivalry with the Whispering Way.
Does anyone have a map of Roslar's Coffer that doesn't have the annotations on it? I'm looking for something I can give to my PCs for before the fall, in the Boneyards, and after they get out. And if nobody has a map, how did you guys handle them navigating the town? I had the subscription when this book came out so it came with the interactive map PDFs, which allow you to turn off the map tags. It is truly a shame that the PDFs for the maps are not available for sale on Paizo's website. I obviously do not want to violate any forum rules, so I will not post it without some sort of authorization. That being said, I have a blown up, unmarked map of Roslar's Coffer that I would be happy to share with anyone that is in need of it. I just do not know if it would be illegal, or even just declared as a "dick move" to share or distribute the expanded files that are directly from the book. For the game that I have been GMing I have taken the maps from the PDFs and printed them to 1"x1" grid scaled 11"x17" map tiles. I struggle with finding the time to draw out maps and the image quality of the files is good enough to expand to the correct scale. Once I got the system down, this has been a huge time saver and I have been very satisfied with how its turned out. I have converted all of the files to PDF and they can be printed as a mosaic that have suited my table very well. It is simple cut and paste from the PDFs of the interactive maps, but the problem is that they are not available a la carte from Paizo. I have also taken regional maps, town maps, etc and scaled them up from the first three books as well as a few visual aids from other splat books. TL:DR- If you want an unmarked map from the book, you will need the interactive PDFs for Tyrant's Grasp, but they are not available to purchase on the site.
You get them with each chapters pdfs That doesn't really help people who have bought only the physical books. Seems like Paizo is missing out by not selling a la carte...
So one of my PCs is the daughter of a prominent Mourner of Arazni. I had her growing up in competition with Ceto and when the theft happened the PC was implicated by Ceto and sent off to Roslar's Coffer instead of facing court marshal and/or prosecution. When Arazni showed up in my game at the end of book 2, the PC knew right away who it was. However, I've instilled into the players' heads that if they went to Vigil and told them the Lich Arazni visited them, the crusaders would be dismissive at best. It is built into the AP to clue them into her identity if your players know anything about Golarion lore. I wouldn't worry about them knowing, because no sane person would go to Vigil and start telling others that they are in league with The Harlot Queen of Geb. It was a very cool reveal at this time and allowed me to have Arazni give the players some extra lore and history of this very lengthy timeline. Now I'm saying this as someone who has set up a second campaign where my PC's mother has already been visited by Arazni in visions. I have sent this PC to the Isle of Terror to retrieve one of her bloodstones in a ramped up City of Golden Death. We usually run this on weeks where we are missing integral PCs for the main story. Luckily, we have a table of experienced players who are able to differentiate their PCs in each module as well as the knowledge they each hold. I don't think this will work in all cases, but I'm trying to build up the Arazni redemption angle, so more trust is better for me and my table. I don't think it will be a huge problem for them to know. Just remember that sometimes sharing secrets can be very dangerous.
Hey all, I'm getting ready to prep for book 3 and am looking to flesh out Vigil as much as possible. I have a few players that are going to be chomping at the bit to play out some RP and intrigue after the meat-grinder that is books 1 and 2. I've been trying to collect as many of the important PCs mentioned in all of the books so I can give them a very detailed and "alive" city... Before I explode the whole thing :) This is what I have so far, and will be altering some relationships based on character backstory stuff. I also have some moving parts involving other factions from supplementary modules that I've run along the way. I plan on extending per-catastrophe Vigil quite a bit since this is my group's wheelhouse. Please let me know if I've missed anyone important! Watcher-Lord Ulthun II(LG Human Paladin of Iomedae 14)I have him as now 22 years old-having held his post for 3 years. In cities of Golarion he is listed as 19 and level 6, but in book 4 of this AP he is far more advanced. I have him leveled up in this instance from his continued training that he continues to undergo even at his elevated position. Precentor Martial of Scouting Keyron Saiville(CG Human Ranger 2/ Fighter 4/ Low Templar 3) Gorumite Scoutmaster. Not much to read about him, but I plan on using him to further a story-line with our once half-orc turned duskwalker Magus. Percentor Martial of Magic Veena Heliu(GC Half-Elf Sorcerer 8) Not a ton about her either, but in my game she will have been present for the court-martial and subsequent exile to Roslar's Coffer for my Aasimar Oracle PC. Veena was my PC's biggest advocate, but Ceto(the PC's childhood rival) testified as a witness against her which forced Veena's hand. I wrote a previous post about the tension between my PC and Ceto to aid with the city's apprehension to immediately aid the PCs regarding the threat in Roslar's Coffer. Precentor Martial of Cavalry - Haven't found anything - I was thinking of making up a character for this post. He or she would be mostly tending to one of the extra-dimensional stables. I would love to have someone for this position just so the PCs can see the awesome capabilities of their cavalry and numbers... Before I blow them up :) Precentor Martial of Infantry - Haven't found anything - I am thinking of putting Ranton Gandry here and making this festival also serve as his elevation to this post. Part of what got my oracle PC implicated and ultimately exiled was the incident with the shield theft, which at the time even Gandry was fooled. Having Ranton dealing with the guilt as it unfolds could make for an interesting angle. Precentor Martial of Garrison and Siege - Haven't found anything - Part of the Defiled Corpse tribe story-line was that they sent some doppelgangers to scout and infiltrate Vigil. I was thinking of having this character be one of the Doppelgangers. This would help me generate red-herring situations and help muddle the PCs investigations. I consider to have him played by a rigid Abadarian, since those types usually make the PCs already see red. I've got a ton more NPCs that I've pulled form the source material, but I just wanted to check with everyone to see if I missed anything on the Precentor Martials. My party will no doubt ask who they are when I tell them about the posts and 5 positions. Please let me know if I missed anything, or if anyone is interested in a list of the other NPCs I've found to help with your game! Thanks All
Good. That addresses the same issues I was having with the NPCs I know it doesn’t help anyone who is already started the game, but one of my PC’s backstories is that they are the progeny of the head maiden of the Mourners of Arazni. I’ve had some of the iomedaens growing weary of the MOA and tension building. She is an aasimar that has trained with Ceto and played out the childhood rivalry aspect. Being a haunted aasimar that is affected by an aspect of Ragathiel has caused our PC to act out in training and stunted her true potential in raising rank in vigil. However, her natural prowess would maintain her in stride with her most fierce rival, Ceto. During the theft of the shards I had a second guard who was not so lucky and wound up dead. Ceto, at this point on the investigation began stringing together a theory that it was in fact the devils blood in our oracle that possessed her to act out. She was put on trial and sent out to Roslar’s coffer where she essentially stood post at the dmz around the reaver’s domain until some pathfinders came along and cleared out the beast. She then began aiding the effort to repopulate roslar’s coffer was shunted to level 1 with her first mortal expiration. Given the drastic measures that our PCs have taken to get back to vigil the towns representatives are willing to give an ear to the party, but are leery because of ceto’s deceptions. Since our party is currently in the 3rd act of book two I have been supplementing with a few one-shots setting the stage in vigil. Each time if used ceto in a positive way, often the quest giver or trainer. I have also not revealed to my haunted time oracle whether or not she is actually guilty of the crime, so it will be a fun payoff for the mystery to be solved. This device is giving me the ability to play up the apprehension of the members of notability to aid the PCs or take them seriously. I feel like every time I play up a scenario where the PCs have to warn a city of impending doom, they always ask, “why aren’t they listening to us!?” I’ve also added some flesh golem attacks from the defiled corpse tribe as they’ve set up in viashau ruin to the north east that ceto has been actually dealing with, so an additional red herring threat will also push the PCs from asking the dreaded question. Hopefully I’ve given them enough of a reason. I love finding answers in splat books to answer my deepest concerns about a fun and sensible plot. Hope that gives a little inspiration! I wanted to make Vigil huge... before I blow it up!
It would be nice to be able to use this set of boards as a reference, which is very difficult right now from all of the “just saying blah blah blah” crap. We get it, you don’t like it.... take this bs to reddit with the rest of them, because we’re trying to run games! Not looking for argument, just get over yourselves a little.
Great write ups Almarane! I would second the need for special types of weapons. I decided each statue of the Red Shrikes would have a weapon favored for their character(I rolled percentile to see rarity of the metal.) I gave out silver, cold iron and even an adamantine star knife. It helped with the DR in book one and allowed each character to shine at different times. The adamantine star knife even led to a TPK when they smashed the locked door with the necrophidius. Don’t be shy with healing either! I usually roll a d20 for a partial wand of clw and hide it somewhere in each waystation. Probably generous, but my party has wiped three times now. Luckily it mostly just cost them a lot of teeth. We are about to head to deathbower and it has been a blast thus far! Excited to return to Golarion and tie the heroes back into RC! Good gaming!
Do you mean the Ruins of Lastwall minis? The TG pawn set isn't out yet... Anyway, here's a link to the collection for Ruins of Lastwall. https://www.pathfinderminis.com/gallery31.htm
Also worth looking at Cities of Golarion. There is a nine page write-up on Vigil that may give some more insight on what you're looking for. I'm planning on giving any order of knights that my PCs encounter during the adventure to have different goals and ambitions based on their own faiths(difference between Gorum or Iomedae knights, etc.)or experiences. It seems as though the Knights of Ozem are mostly united in their ongoing quest to prevent TB's escape, but who knows that type of power struggles exist in their own ranks?
I think you're on the right track as it pertains to using a military-type structure. I know it isn't specifically all Lastwall crusaders, but the write up on Iomedae on page 77 of Inner Sea Gods goes into depth about the church structure, Sword Knights, and their rank and file. I plan on adapting those ranks to suit their heirarchy. Could be a useful resource. Hope it helps!
IIRC, there was a reference to one of the shards given to Gildais being another fake, and that that shard being in the possession of one of the Six Wise Crows (too lazy to try and find where I read that), so why is that never mentioned in Book 3? This is mentions in PFS S10-10, The Shattered Shield. I am planning on bridging some gaps with the shield's story by integrating this module in my campaign. I plan on using My guess as to why there is no mention of the fake shard is that it is ultimately irrelevant to the overall plot, considering there are other shards of the shield that can be used by the Whispering Tyrant.
They're all named in the background on page 3. Kilibrandt is their leader. She brought in three friends named Barrush, Jasaxi, and Velien (they're all humans, and become the spectres on page 17). Gildais added Dondun Daradun and Usundra to the group, although no one much liked Usundra. No honor among thieves, and all that. They sure are! Thank you for the quick response... I will be sure to start at the BEGINNING of the book next time. Either way, thank you! Our group cannot wait to start TG!
Are Kilibrandt and Dondun Daradun the only two identified of The Six Wise Crows? I've only had the third book for a day or two now and I was hoping to give The Crows a little more depth so they can take part in my party's run through of The Shattered Shield PFS scenario. My plan is to have one of my Tyrant's Grasp PCs get sent on a quest to Rahadoum by their arcane master on behalf of the Pathfinder Society. In actuality, they will be unknowingly operating as agents of The Whispering Way(and eliminating the dark lord's adversaries in the process with Zaashakar) as they will recover the shard and deliver it straight to Roslar's Coffer in time for the 1 year anniversary festival of another group of heroes' triumph over the Red Reaver. Sorry, got a little carried away there, but is there any more to the Six Wise Crows, or is that mine to play with?
Is there any city info on Roslar's Coffer? I know of the info that is in the inner sea region book, but I was hoping to portray the city on the living end before I kicked off the AP. My plan is to run Reaver's Roar for my party as a one-shot prequel to set the scene. I know that RC is fairly barren due to the Red Reaver's occupation, but I can only piece together the town's occupants from the encounters with their ghosts in book one, as well as a couple of people from Reaver's Roar. Suffice to say that since we'll never see Roslar's Coffer whole in the AP I won't be worried about a stat block coming out... How do other GMs plan on running it? |