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Pathfinder Adventure Path #37: Souls for Smuggler's Shiv (Serpent's Skull 1 of 6) (PFRPG)

4.50/5 (based on 15 ratings)
Pathfinder Adventure Path #37: Souls for Smuggler's Shiv (Serpent's Skull 1 of 6) (PFRPG)
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Chapter 1: "Souls for Smuggler’s Shiv"
by James Jacobs

Only the Strong Survive

A deadly storm shipwrecks the passengers and crew of the Jenivere upon infamous Smuggler’s Shiv, an island off the coast of the jungle realm of Sargava. If they’re to have any hope of escaping the notorious pirates’ graveyard, the survivors will need to band together to outwit the isle’s strange beasts and legendary menaces. But can the PCs unite the swift-to-squabble castaways, especially when several seem to have mysterious goals of their own? And does Smuggler’s Shiv hide secrets even deadlier than its desperate denizens?

    This volume of Pathfinder Adventure Path launches the Serpent’s Skull Adventure Path and includes:
  • “Souls for Smuggler’s Shiv,” a Pathfinder RPG adventure for 1st-level characters, by James Jacobs.
  • A detailed look at the personalities marooned on Smuggler’s Shiv, by James Jacobs.
  • Revelations into the history, ways, and world-spanning schemes of the serpentfolk, by Clinton Boomer.
  • An introduction to the wisdom and dangers of the jungle in the Pathfinder’s Journal, by Robin Laws.
  • Five new monsters, by James Jacobs and F. Wesley Schneider.

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: 978-1-60125-254-8

Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild Sanctioned Content
Souls for Smuggler's Shiv is sanctioned for use in Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild.

Download the rules for running this Adventure Path and Chronicle sheets — (495 kb zip/PDF)

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

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Really Strong, Self-Contained Adventure

5/5 —

I think this has a lot of the marks of a great adventure. The hook is great (you're all castaways who washed up on an island). There's interesting NPCs to play with, with cool mechanics. There' a great gimmick for the book-- it's a mixture of wilderness survival, mystery solving, with classic "jungle"-style encounters. The encounters are fun. The survival mechanics are fun but-- crucially-- you can dial them up or down depending on what your group finds interesting. There's a sense of mystery and exploration that pervades the entire book in a very appealing way.

A great thing about the adventure is how modular it is. It's extremely self-contained, and you can vault from this book into just about any adventure. That makes this book easy to recommend.

The modular nature can work against it in one way: I find that it doesn't feel like an important part of the Serpent's Skull adventure path in general. The GM has to do some work to think about how the book links to what comes later.

Serpents Skull

4/5 —

This was a pretty sweet module! I just finished running it and I loved the flavor of it. However, that said there are a few problems, some of the battles have combos that are nigh on impossible to escape unscathed. The darkness plus paralysis in the caves of the mother and the sheer numbers of the cannibals left my players party in shambles. I love how it sets up the rest of the campaign and the NPCs were very fun to play. My players even managed to keep two of them alive. So I'd say with a little tinkering to make some of the encounters less deadly, this is a great start to an AP.

Excellent adventure... Stand alone or as part of the path

5/5 —

This is an excellent adventure where the players felt like they had complete control over their own destiny. It does take a significant amount of work and role play skill from the GM. So if you're a lazy GM or your players don't care about story there are better options for you. But as far as a sandbox style adventure that is capable of standing on its own this was excellent.

spoiler:
as for the puzzle that everyone says was so difficult I simply drew a stick figure picture of the hieroglyphs that are described in the book. Made the puzzle very easy for my players because they could actually see the pictures instead of having me try to describe them to them.

Great Start

5/5 —

This is one of the best AP books of all time.

Pros:
- Great get the party together hook
- Amazing setting
- Sandbox style adventure leaves room to play

Cons
- There was a tricky puzzle that my players had a tough time figuring out

Overall its just doesn't get better than this. My players loved it for its sense of mystery, menace and suspense. I can't wait for this to become PFS legal to get a chance to play it and run it more.

This AP is HARD

5/5 —

Spoiler potential ahead, so be warned.

My players and I (the GM) loved this book. Having played through Kingmaker and experienced the sandbox style they presented there, I can safely say Souls for Smuggler's Shiv (SfSS) balances that sandbox exploration feel with what I think Kingmaker lacked - a good sense of progression. Certainly you can go around the island and kill off random encounters and animal lairs and explore shipwrecks, but you very quickly pick up on the hooks of a plot and an idea of how to progress it at the pace the players want. And trust me, they should pace themselves, because this AP is hard as hell.

The DCs are a bit too high here and there (Swim and Climb Checks of 20 at level 1? Knowledge DC 25s?? DC 30 Perception and Escape Artist checks???) but that's easily tweak-able. The Cannibal camp really ramps up the difficulty if they're not careful, and Mother Thrunefang was an almost TPK if you run her as it describes tactically. Also, 6 skeletons vs a level 1 party with minimal means of dealing bludgeoning damage is extremely deadly; proceed with caution. Endure Elements is a must have (luckily there's an NPC with the capability to cast it if the PCs can't), and I even threw in the rules about getting lost, which made for some desperate (and fun!) struggles in the island. All this, combined with the dangerous wildlife, gives a very visceral feel to the deadliness of the Shiv, and my players and I loved it.

The mystery as to how they got there and why is also a fun little game we had, and any GM worth his/her salt should take time to read up on each of the NPC castaways and play them according to their personalities. Gelik and Ishirou remain two of the more memorable NPCs they encountered, mostly because both of them gave them the most trouble. Jask was almost immediately helpful when the paladin convinced everyone that he was innocent, Aerys was also convinced to be more helpful especially after they got the berries, and Sasha got her animal companion but unfortunately contracted Red Ache early on and was mostly incapacitated for the adventure (I plan on detailing her further in the coming books).

The "Campmaker" rules were a little too gamey for my tastes, but it worked out after we assigned roles and started getting back into roleplaying. Trying to win over the favor of the NPCs was quite fun as well. Overall, a very fun AP, especially if they're looking for a challenge. I highly recommend it!

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The Exchange
Set wrote:

I like the idea of a 'capstone' adventure that continues on from the events of one of the APs, for 17th+ level characters.

Just when you thought you'd won...

So do I, I'm currently starting early planning for continuing Council of Thieves after it finishes. My group doesn't want to start from ground zero after all the time we've spent in the campaign. Fortunately for me, I've got a while yet before they'll finish.

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

We've updated the product image, description, and title to match the finished product.
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Have the Iconics for this cycle been announced yet? Because from this cover it looks like Valeros, Ezren, Merisiel, and an unnamed fourth. Since this is supposed to be a wilderness exploration series, could it be Lini? Or possibly even Harsk?

Very nice cover! What is the beast? A beach Ankheg? An oversized shrimp?

Looking forward to this adventure path, loving the Indiana Jones feeling I get from it..!
Silver Crusade
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

The new logo is SEXEH.

This looks like Eva's work. Are we finally getting a whole AP with her covers?

Vroom-vroom!

Valeros, Ezren, Merisiel and Lem?
Silver Crusade

Oh hey, new cover! Let's take a loo-

...

Converts to Besmara worship
Paizo Employee Creative Director
Bog wrote:

Very nice cover! What is the beast? A beach Ankheg? An oversized shrimp?

Looking forward to this adventure path, loving the Indiana Jones feeling I get from it..!

The monster on the cover is a giant eurypterid. One of several new monsters in this volume.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

The iconics for this AP are Merisiel, Ezren, Valeros, and Kyra.
Paizo Employee Creative Director
yoda8myhead wrote:
This looks like Eva's work. Are we finally getting a whole AP with her covers?

I believe the cover artist is Kerem Beyit, but I'm not 100% sure. I do know it's not Eva. Although she DID do the cover for Book of the Damned II: Lords of Chaos. (which we haven't yet revealed the for-real cover to)

I must add that the cover art is terrific, the face of the character is fantastic in its realism
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
James Jacobs wrote:
The iconics for this AP are Merisiel, Ezren, Valeros, and Kyra.

Really? Again? That's the exact same we had in cycle 4. I mean, I suppose I can see it as they are the last four that haven't seen print in a Pathfinder RPG-rules AP, but still, it feels too familiar and old hat. What about some weird pairings like Seelah, Merisiel, Harsk, and Seltiyel, or Valeros, Seoni, Lini, and Lem?

The Exchange

Hmm. Can't help but notice there is no mention of a pathfinder's journal (or any other sort of fiction) in the updated product description. I assume this has to do with the release of the new Pathfinder Fiction (or Pathfinder Tales, I can't figure which of them is the official name) product line? how will this change of format affect the other segments of the installments? a longer adventure? more room for art, handouts, maps etc
Paizo Employee Creative Director
Kvantum wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
The iconics for this AP are Merisiel, Ezren, Valeros, and Kyra.
Really? Again? That's the exact same we had in cycle 4. I mean, I suppose I can see it as they are the last four that haven't seen print in a Pathfinder RPG-rules AP, but still, it feels too familiar and old hat. What about some weird pairings like Seelah, Merisiel, Harsk, and Seltiyel, or Valeros, Seoni, Lini, and Lem?

Since we tend to not like running an iconic twice in a row, chances are good that the current way that the iconic parties break down is more or less where things have stabilized at. We might mix things up in the future, but we might not.

Paizo Employee Creative Director
Lord Snow wrote:
Hmm. Can't help but notice there is no mention of a pathfinder's journal (or any other sort of fiction) in the updated product description. I assume this has to do with the release of the new Pathfinder Fiction (or Pathfinder Tales, I can't figure which of them is the official name) product line? how will this change of format affect the other segments of the installments? a longer adventure? more room for art, handouts, maps etc

There's still a Pathfinder's Journal in there, despite it not being mentioned int he product description. Pathfinder Journals have been a pretty solid part of the AP since the start, and since they help to not only explore more parts of the world, they're not going anywhere anytime soon.

On a similar note... adding 6 pages of adventure might sound appealing... but it's not really a good idea. The adventures are the length they are (about half each book) for a LOT of reasons. One of those is we've pretty much dialed things in to how long an adventure can physically be and still be able to develop and edit it on time.

Pathfinder APs come out once a month... but it takes MORE than a month to develop and edit a volume. The only way we can keep on schedule is to have the various parts of each volume separated out so that we can have multiple people working on it at once. Sort of like how 1 person can't carry a car, but you get enough people helping to lift and you can carry that car wherever you want.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2009, RPG Superstar Judgernaut
James Jacobs wrote:
...Sort of like how 1 person can't carry a car, but you get enough people helping to lift and you can carry that car wherever you want.

So...is that the next joke you guys are going to pull on Wes so he can't leave the office? :-D

Silver Crusade
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

I'm going to buy this AP, but not read it in the vain hope that someday someone else will allow me the pleasure of PLAYING in an AP instead of running one.
Sczarni
James Jacobs wrote:
Kvantum wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
The iconics for this AP are Merisiel, Ezren, Valeros, and Kyra.
Really? Again? That's the exact same we had in cycle 4. I mean, I suppose I can see it as they are the last four that haven't seen print in a Pathfinder RPG-rules AP, but still, it feels too familiar and old hat. What about some weird pairings like Seelah, Merisiel, Harsk, and Seltiyel, or Valeros, Seoni, Lini, and Lem?
Since we tend to not like running an iconic twice in a row, chances are good that the current way that the iconic parties break down is more or less where things have stabilized at. We might mix things up in the future, but we might not.

Does that mean the APG Iconics won't be getting to share the spotlight? Otherwise translated as, 'You mean, Half-orcs get shafted again?' :^/

Paizo Employee Creative Director
Roagh wrote:

Does that mean the APG Iconics won't be getting to share the spotlight? Otherwise translated as, 'You mean, Half-orcs get shafted again?' :^/

We only have a half page to stat up the iconics. If we DO start using the APG iconics in that way, we'll have to stat them up without fully providing the rules for their abilities, since reprinting all the relevant info will (especially at the higher level) take up more than half a page—it's already REALLY tricky getting a high level core spellcaster into a half page without sacrificing the layout.

If at some point we decided that we're okay with assuming that readers of an Adventure Path have all bought the APG, then that might change. But for now, we assume only the main rulebook and the bestiary are core—and thus those are the only two books we can skimp on providing rules for.
Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

I love this new cover style. Much better that the Kingmaker style - I was a bit disappointed with that one.

Who's the chick?
Sczarni
James Jacobs wrote:
Roagh wrote:

Does that mean the APG Iconics won't be getting to share the spotlight? Otherwise translated as, 'You mean, Half-orcs get shafted again?' :^/

We only have a half page to stat up the iconics. If we DO start using the APG iconics in that way, we'll have to stat them up without fully providing the rules for their abilities, since reprinting all the relevant info will (especially at the higher level) take up more than half a page—it's already REALLY tricky getting a high level core spellcaster into a half page without sacrificing the layout.

If at some point we decided that we're okay with assuming that readers of an Adventure Path have all bought the APG, then that might change. But for now, we assume only the main rulebook and the bestiary are core—and thus those are the only two books we can skimp on providing rules for.

I guess that makes sense. Still stinks though, I really like the Iconic Inquisitor.

Sovereign Court

I have to ask: what's the color of the spine for the Serpent Skull books?

*crosses fingers and hopes it's not black*
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber
Callous Jack wrote:

I have to ask: what's the color of the spine for the Serpent Skull books?

*crosses fingers and hopes it's not black*

*attempts aid another*

James Jacobs wrote:
take up more than half a page

Please don't ever do that.

Quote:
If at some point we decided that we're okay with assuming that readers of an Adventure Path have all bought the APG,

Which hopefully never happens. (Though, it may be acceptable if the entirety of the APG's class information is on your website.)

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
James Jacobs wrote:
Lord Snow wrote:
Hmm. Can't help but notice there is no mention of a pathfinder's journal (or any other sort of fiction) in the updated product description. I assume this has to do with the release of the new Pathfinder Fiction (or Pathfinder Tales, I can't figure which of them is the official name) product line? how will this change of format affect the other segments of the installments? a longer adventure? more room for art, handouts, maps etc
There's still a Pathfinder's Journal in there, despite it not being mentioned int he product description. Pathfinder Journals have been a pretty solid part of the AP since the start, and since they help to not only explore more parts of the world, they're not going anywhere anytime soon.

It *is* mentioned in there! "An introduction to the wisdom and dangers of the jungle in the Pathfinder’s Journal, by Robin Laws." Been there since we made all the other changes yesterday!

Paizo Employee Creative Director
Zaister wrote:

I love this new cover style. Much better that the Kingmaker style - I was a bit disappointed with that one.

Who's the chick?

We're adding a "Who's on the cover?" sidebar to every foreword from here on. The foreword in this volume says who she is... but for the curious and impatient, she's a high-ranking pirate captain from the Shackles.

Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
James Jacobs wrote:
she's a high-ranking pirate captain from the Shackles.

I love her already!

Sovereign Court
Jam412 wrote:
Callous Jack wrote:

I have to ask: what's the color of the spine for the Serpent Skull books?

*crosses fingers and hopes it's not black*

*attempts aid another*

Stop touching me!

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber
Callous Jack wrote:
Jam412 wrote:
Callous Jack wrote:

I have to ask: what's the color of the spine for the Serpent Skull books?

*crosses fingers and hopes it's not black*

*attempts aid another*
Stop touching me!

Y'know this isn't pleasant for me either, but if you want.. oh wow, your arms feel really strong.. I mean.. erm.. Never mind.

Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Late to the party. I was going to ask who the pirate chick was. Now I know and knowing is half the battle. But another very good cover. I like this artist style a lot.
James Jacobs wrote:
The foreword in this volume says who she is... but for the curious and impatient, she's a high-ranking pirate captain from the Shackles.

*insert obligatory booty joke here*

>:D
Geistlinger wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
The foreword in this volume says who she is... but for the curious and impatient, she's a high-ranking pirate captain from the Shackles.

*insert obligatory booty joke here*

>:D

But... we can't see her booty. I'm betting it's a nice one, though.

James Jacobs wrote:
We're adding a "Who's on the cover?" sidebar to every foreword from here on. The foreword in this volume says who she is... but for the curious and impatient, she's a high-ranking pirate captain from the Shackles.

love that idea!

James Jacobs wrote:
We're adding a "Who's on the cover?" sidebar to every foreword from here on.

Cool! Since the character is what takes so much prominence on the covers, that is a great idea.

Sovereign Court
James Jacobs wrote:
Zaister wrote:

I love this new cover style. Much better that the Kingmaker style - I was a bit disappointed with that one.

Who's the chick?

We're adding a "Who's on the cover?" sidebar to every foreword from here on. The foreword in this volume says who she is... but for the curious and impatient, she's a high-ranking pirate captain from the Shackles.

Arrr, matey!

James Jacobs wrote:
yoda8myhead wrote:
This looks like Eva's work. Are we finally getting a whole AP with her covers?
I believe the cover artist is Kerem Beyit, but I'm not 100% sure. I do know it's not Eva. Although she DID do the cover for Book of the Damned II: Lords of Chaos. (which we haven't yet revealed the for-real cover to)

You can see a lot more of Kerem's work here (if you're into 4E you'll also have seen a lot of his work).

Vic Wertz wrote:
It *is* mentioned in there! "An introduction to the wisdom and dangers of the jungle in the Pathfinder’s Journal, by Robin Laws." Been there since we made all the other changes yesterday!

I know there are a lot of fiction announcements going around, but I'd love to find out what the concept/title of this Pathfinder's Journal novella will be. Is there any chance future APs can list the title of the story instead of the name of the section on back cover text? It currently gives the illusion that the Pathfinder's Journal is an ongoing story, and any installment is part of the same overarching story, even if it's part of a different novella. Obviously not a huge priority with everything else on your plates, but something to consider, maybe?

Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
GentleGiant wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
yoda8myhead wrote:
This looks like Eva's work. Are we finally getting a whole AP with her covers?
I believe the cover artist is Kerem Beyit, but I'm not 100% sure. I do know it's not Eva. Although she DID do the cover for Book of the Damned II: Lords of Chaos. (which we haven't yet revealed the for-real cover to)
You can see a lot more of Kerem's work here (if you're into 4E you'll also have seen a lot of his work).

Thanks for the link, I really like his/her art.

Dark_Mistress wrote:
GentleGiant wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
yoda8myhead wrote:
This looks like Eva's work. Are we finally getting a whole AP with her covers?
I believe the cover artist is Kerem Beyit, but I'm not 100% sure. I do know it's not Eva. Although she DID do the cover for Book of the Damned II: Lords of Chaos. (which we haven't yet revealed the for-real cover to)
You can see a lot more of Kerem's work here (if you're into 4E you'll also have seen a lot of his work).
Thanks for the link, I really like his/her art.

I agree. I think its terrific up there with Lucio Parillo and Wayne Reynolds for the top of the charts IMO

Love that Troll Hunter piece
Dark_Mistress wrote:
Thanks for the link, I really like his/her art.

That would be his art then. :-)

Kerem is from Ankara, Turkey. He also has an official webpage, found here

Yeah, I like Kerem's stuff. Good to see him doing stuff for Paizo!
Sovereign Court
Callous Jack wrote:

I have to ask: what's the color of the spine for the Serpent Skull books?

*crosses fingers and hopes it's not black*

Bueller?

Paizo Employee Creative Director
Callous Jack wrote:
Callous Jack wrote:

I have to ask: what's the color of the spine for the Serpent Skull books?

*crosses fingers and hopes it's not black*

Bueller?

It's not.

Sovereign Court
James Jacobs wrote:
Callous Jack wrote:
Callous Jack wrote:

I have to ask: what's the color of the spine for the Serpent Skull books?

*crosses fingers and hopes it's not black*

Bueller?
It's not.

*ahem*

Squee!

Thanks James. :-)

Did anyone else besides me watch Mysterious Cities of Gold, a (Spanish) cartoon during the mid-'80s? The brief description of the AP reminds me a little of that! Anyway, that cartoon had a cool story, and this AP sounds intriguing as hell, too! :D

OT @ Julian:
Hey, Julian: I see you've got some monsters coming out soon. Did you make any earlier contributions?
Dark Archive

Is that serpent or alligator skin on the background? Anyway, I really like the look and colors of this AP, and the cover illustration is great! :)
Mairkurion {tm} wrote:
** spoiler omitted **

Mairkurion

Spoiler:
34 has my first contribution to Pathfinder, and 35 my second.
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