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Pathfinder Adventure Path #29: Mother of Flies (Council of Thieves 5 of 6) (PFRPG)

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Pathfinder Adventure Path #29: Mother of Flies (Council of Thieves 5 of 6) (PFRPG)
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Chapter 5: "Mother of Flies"
by Greg A. Vaughan

Leaderless and disorganized, the city of Westcrown reels after a terrifying incursion from the infernal realm. Yet while fiends stalked the streets, a more insidious rebellion unfolded below. Now a new power rises to lay claim to all of Westcrown! Only the insight of a crazed witch might aid the PCs in curtailing this dastardly coup. But can they hope to stand against the true masters of a city poised on the brink of ruin?

    This volume of Pathfinder Adventure Path continues the Council of Thieves Adventure Path, and includes:
  • “Mother of Flies,” a Pathfinder RPG adventure for 9th-level characters, by Greg A. Vaughan
  • A soul-staining glimpse into the infernal faith of Asmodeus, the Archfiend, by Sean K Reynolds
  • An investigation of the methods and organization of thieves’ guilds, by Kevin Carter
  • Varian and Radovan uncover a diabolical plot in the Pathfinder’s Journal, by Dave Gross
  • Six new monsters, by Adam Daigle, James Jacobs, Tim Nightengale, and F. Wesley Schneider

A Pathfinder Roleplaying Game adventure for characters of 9th to 11th level. The Council of Thieves Adventure Path is the first to take full advantage of the new Pathfinder Roleplaying Game rules, and works with both the Pathfinder RPG and the standard 3.5 fantasy RPG rules set.

Pathfinder Adventure Path is Paizo Publishing's monthly 96-page, perfect-bound, full-color softcover book printed on high-quality paper. It contains an in-depth Adventure Path scenario, stats for about a half-dozen new monsters, and several support articles meant to give Game Masters additional material to expand their campaign. Pathfinder Adventure Path volumes use the Open Game License and work with both the Pathfinder RPG and the standard 3.5 fantasy RPG rules set.

ISBN–13: 978-1-60125-199-2

Mother of Flies is sanctioned for use in Pathfinder Society Organized Play. The rules for running this Adventure Path and Chronicle sheet are available as a free download.

Other Resources: This product is also available on the following platforms:

Archives of Nethys

Note: This product is part of the Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscription.

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Good Volume but Inconsistent Storytelling

3/5 —

I think there's a very good campaign in Council of Thieves, but the tonal change between a lot of the stories becomes more noticeable as the plot progresses. The first volume leads one to believe that the PCs will be liberating heroes. But a volume like this is a much better representation of what the campaign is like. It's a gritty book that has the PCs dealing with a number of undesirable characters in order to get to the bottom of what's happening with the ultimate villain of the adventure path.

As a whole, the book isn't bad. There's a large set piece battle that could be hit or miss for your party (it was a little bit of a miss when I ran it). I think the concept is cool, it just didn't land as well as it should have for us.

Then there's another long dungeon that is, admittedly, not too bad. The lore is interesting, and it leads to a pretty thrilling boss fight. In fact, weirdly, this boss is just way stronger than the actual boss of the AP for some reason. And the fight is much more fun too.

However, one big problem with CoT is there are so many major plot threads, and they don't link together well, and the players aren't positioned very well to learn about them. Thus, looking back, while a lot of the large, individual dungeon crawls in the AP are good, they don't do much to advance the plot. And it's a shame, because I think the plot is fairly good. It's been kept behind the scenes so much that now, when the AP should be ramping up, the plot threads don't land as strongly as they should because they require information that the players may or may not have accessed.

With that said, this module is fine in itself, and I enjoy how dark it is.

Awesome book, would run again.

5/5 —

I could see a solid argument for this being the best book of Council, if many people make it this far. It is almost all combat with just a little room for roleplaying, but the fights are big, complex, and well-balanced from start to finish. I had a player death, but I think it was accepted by the players that it happened for tactical reasons and not because of any unfair design. The first half is all fantastic, and the finale is a showdown that the players had fun with despite a few kinks.

My only complaint would be the somewhat dry dungeon stretch in the second half of the book. There's a session worth of tight corridors packed with too many identical foes, and the players were sighing while looking for a way past it faster. Still, this book was a highlight of the AP, and was easily worthwhile.

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Mother of Flies=Baalzebul, Lord of Flies eh eh? Hags are always sweet! Can't wait for this one!
Paizo Employee Creative Director
The Painted Oryx wrote:
Mother of Flies=Baalzebul, Lord of Flies eh eh? Hags are always sweet! Can't wait for this one!

Although we named the hag to evoke Baalzebul... that doesn't necessarily mean she's got anything to do with him.

Or maybe it does.

But probably not.

But maybe!
Paizo Employee Director of Game Development

So, who's doing the "Ecology of a Thieves Guild" article? That sounds roguishly sweet!
Paizo Employee Creative Director
Daigle wrote:
So, who's doing the "Ecology of a Thieves Guild" article? That sounds roguishly sweet!

We don't have an author for pretty much anything but the main adventures at this point.

Paizo Employee Director of Game Development
James Jacobs wrote:
Daigle wrote:
So, who's doing the "Ecology of a Thieves Guild" article? That sounds roguishly sweet!
We don't have an author for pretty much anything but the main adventures at this point.

Thanks for the speedy reply. I look forward to this!

I say, give Ba'al-zebub a sex change! I think that would make the name Ba'alath-zebub. (Zebul means habitation, by the way, zebub flies.)

Just finished reading the summary for the first five parts and I like what I have seen so far.

It looks like Vampires may play a major role in this AP??
Scarab Sages
Adventure Path Charter Subscriber

so..only goes to level 12 this time? Interesting...
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber
Mactaka wrote:

so..only goes to level 12 this time? Interesting...

This is #5 of 6. We already know the last one will likely run to 14th level or so, so it should be the same level range as Legacy of Fire, reduced from RotRL, CotCT, and SD's reaching up to 17ish.

Paizo Employee Creative Director
Kvantum wrote:
Mactaka wrote:

so..only goes to level 12 this time? Interesting...

This is #5 of 6. We already know the last one will likely run to 14th level or so, so it should be the same level range as Legacy of Fire, reduced from RotRL, CotCT, and SD's reaching up to 17ish.

Actually, since this is the first PFRPG adventure path, and thus the first time anyone's done a campaign for PFRPG, we're not 100% sure HOW high level it'll go. It SHOULD be somewhere between Legacy of Fire and Curse of the Crimson Throne, though.

Scarab Sages

Sorry if this post is out of place.

I was wondering if there is a player's guide for CoT? Campanions are listed until Dec 09 and no player's guide. Ism't that unusual that the AP is finished then a player's guide comes out?
Scarab Sages

ACK!!!

Just found Vic's thread. Sorry for that.

For those also curious like me see here:

Link for CoT Player's Guide
Paizo Employee Creative Director
Mairkurion {tm} wrote:
I say, give Ba'al-zebub a sex change! I think that would make the name Ba'alath-zebub. (Zebul means habitation, by the way, zebub flies.)

BTW... keen-eyed observers will note that all of the Archdevils of Hell are male. There's a very very specific reason for this… Hell is misogynistic, among its numerous other social problems.

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

I've updated the cover image and product description.
James Jacobs wrote:
Mairkurion {tm} wrote:
I say, give Ba'al-zebub a sex change! I think that would make the name Ba'alath-zebub. (Zebul means habitation, by the way, zebub flies.)
BTW... keen-eyed observers will note that all of the Archdevils of Hell are male. There's a very very specific reason for this… Hell is misogynistic, among its numerous other social problems.

*keeping eyes peeled*

Woo! Loving lord vampire!
Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

This cover's been up for three weeks? How'd I miss that?!
Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
yoda8myhead wrote:
This cover's been up for three weeks? How'd I miss that?!

I'm totally heartbroken to learn that you don't follow my RSS feed.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy
Vic Wertz wrote:
yoda8myhead wrote:
This cover's been up for three weeks? How'd I miss that?!
I'm totally heartbroken to learn that you don't follow my RSS feed.

I have a hard enough time keeping up with email. If I had more feeds going my head might explode.

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
yoda8myhead wrote:
If I had more feeds going my head might explode.

That would make it even easier for Yoda to eat!

Vic Wertz wrote:
yoda8myhead wrote:
This cover's been up for three weeks? How'd I miss that?!
I'm totally heartbroken to learn that you don't follow my RSS feed.

What if the RSS feed malfunctioned? We might miss something. Isn't it just safer to constantly check? All the time? Constantly? Always? Without ceasing?

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
Mairkurion {tm} wrote:
Vic Wertz wrote:
yoda8myhead wrote:
This cover's been up for three weeks? How'd I miss that?!
I'm totally heartbroken to learn that you don't follow my RSS feed.
What if the RSS feed malfunctioned? We might miss something. Isn't it just safer to constantly check? All the time? Constantly? Always? Without ceasing?

Clearly a belt-and-suspenders approach is called for.

Liberty's Edge

Just wondering if there is a more solid date on this yet since it is now January?
Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy
CapeCodRPGer wrote:
Just wondering if there is a more solid date on this yet since it is now January?

Subscribers have received their precharge emails (at least unless they have their order holding for something later in the month) so it could be any day now.

yoda8myhead wrote:
so it could be any day now.

Any day now, I'll stop checking to see if the PDF is available yet.

Liberty's Edge
Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Adventure Subscriber

hopefully this week!
Grand Lodge
Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Mr Baron wrote:
hopefully this week!

More like next week, according to the email i received. looks like a customs hold-up.

-Skeld

Damn you customs!!!!

Give PDF!

Giiiiiive

Really looking forward to thumbing through this and seeing what new and fantastic gigantic maps I have to draw.

So, whenever China does something...homeland security holds up our Pathfinder issues in customs? Hmmmm.
Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

China did something? Don't the billions of people in China do things every day?

Spoiler:
I don't think the holdup has to do with anything, and any similarity to actual events is coincidental.
Liberty's Edge
Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Adventure Subscriber

Dare I hope for this week?
Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy
Mr Baron wrote:
Dare I hope for this week?

Oh, you can always hope. That's how your tormentors break you.

Frog God Games
yoda8myhead wrote:
China did something? Don't the billions of people in China do things every day?

Yeah, like print our Paizo stuff. DANG YOU, CUSTOMS!!!

Dark Archive

So uh is it all still stuck in customs then?
Scarab Sages
Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber
Kevin Mack wrote:
So uh is it all still stuck in customs then?

Not any more. PDFs away!!

Cralius the Dark wrote:


Not any more. PDFs away!!

You got your copy? Argh, where's mine?

Liberty's Edge
Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Adventure Subscriber

No PDF yet...hopefully soon...

Although, they are now showing in stock, so I am now very hopeful for later today!
The Exchange

I'm going nuts waiting for this! Been on edge for two weeks!
Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
Mr Baron wrote:

No PDF yet...hopefully soon...

Although, they are now showing in stock, so I am now very hopeful for later today!

We started processing late yesterday after our inventory arrived; as usual, it takes a few days to get through them all.

Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
w0nkothesane wrote:
I'm going nuts waiting for this! Been on edge for two weeks!

Would it be safe to say that in those two weeks you've been wOnKotheinsane? :-P

The Exchange
Jam412 wrote:
w0nkothesane wrote:
I'm going nuts waiting for this! Been on edge for two weeks!
Would it be safe to say that in those two weeks you've been wOnKotheinsane? :-P

Indeed I was, but it's all good now! I'm reading the pdf right now....

Owner - House of Books and Games LLC

So ... a question.

Pathfinder #28 had an awesome set of rules for demonic possession (which I immediately copied and will be using in my campaign). I found it curious that they were included, since they seemed to have no relation to the content of #28 - I chalked it up to "for future use." Now, #29 has two possession devils. When I saw them, I went "Aha!" ... but they completely ignore the existence of the possession rules from #28.

Was there meant to be a "or you can use the possession rules form Pathfinder #28" note, kind of like there was in #28 for the effects of the Styx?

I was so excited when I saw Sutter's foreword. Excitement mounted as I read. And then it became clear that no beans were going to be spilled, and my soul cried out for vengeance!!! Now we have some big teases on these boards, but Sutter has just advanced into first place.

Argh, no PDF here yet. Might be because I have about 4 other things bundled to ship with it...

The anticipation is killing me!
The Exchange
Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

Sutter's foreword made me very happy inside.

I also love how they snuck in a new sorceror bloodline... in the middle of the adventure!
Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber
Ramius wrote:

Argh, no PDF here yet. Might be because I have about 4 other things bundled to ship with it...

The anticipation is killing me!

I'm right there with you >_<

Owner - House of Books and Games LLC

I have to say, that section justifying paladins of Asmodeus is one of the best things I've read in a long time.

I will SO be using that in my campaign.
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
gbonehead wrote:

So ... a question.

Pathfinder #28 had an awesome set of rules for demonic possession (which I immediately copied and will be using in my campaign). I found it curious that they were included, since they seemed to have no relation to the content of #28 - I chalked it up to "for future use." Now, #29 has two possession devils. When I saw them, I went "Aha!" ... but they completely ignore the existence of the possession rules from #28.

Was there meant to be a "or you can use the possession rules form Pathfinder #28" note, kind of like there was in #28 for the effects of the Styx?

Haven't got it yet, but I suspect this is probably because Greg A. Vaughan didn't have access to them due to deadlines not beinmg helpful...

Paizo Employee Creative Director
gbonehead wrote:

So ... a question.

Pathfinder #28 had an awesome set of rules for demonic possession (which I immediately copied and will be using in my campaign). I found it curious that they were included, since they seemed to have no relation to the content of #28 - I chalked it up to "for future use." Now, #29 has two possession devils. When I saw them, I went "Aha!" ... but they completely ignore the existence of the possession rules from #28.

Was there meant to be a "or you can use the possession rules form Pathfinder #28" note, kind of like there was in #28 for the effects of the Styx?

We'd originally intended for stronger crossover support between adventures and articles in Council of Thieves, but the fact that Council of Thieves was a VERY difficult series to develop due to the fact that the authors had to write the whole thing with limited or no access to the final rules (which were in development at the same time the AP was being written) meant that we had to focus time that would have been spent cross-polinating the two working on making EVERYTHING fit with the new rules.

Kingmaker will have a much stronger set of ties between the adventures and the articles.
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