The rampaging abomination known as the Beast of Lepidstadt has been captured! Yet rather than destroy the monster for its countless murders and untold crimes, the city council demands the creature receive a fair trial. Upon traveling to Lepidstadt, the adventurers find themselves caught up in the anger and investigations surrounding the Beast’s judgment. Soon it’s up to them to discover whether the legendary monster is truly a killer or merely the instrument of some greater evil—and either way, whether it’s too dangerous to be allowed to survive.
This volume of Pathfinder Adventure Path continues the Carrion Crown Adventure Path and includes:
“Trial of the Beast,” a Pathfinder RPG adventure for 4th-level characters, by Richard Pett
An investigation into the secret society called the Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye, by Brandon Hodge
Revelations on the faith of Pharasma, goddess of birth, death, and fate, by Sean K Reynolds
Terror upon terror for Laurel Cylphra in the Pathfinder’s Journal, by F. Wesley Schneider
Four exciting and deadly new monsters, by Rob McCreary, Patrick Renie, and Sean K Reynolds
Each monthly full-color softcover 96-page Pathfinder Adventure Path volume contains an in-depth adventure scenario, stats for several new monsters, and 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: 978-1-60125-309-5
Trial of the Beast 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 (561 KB zip/PDF).
DriveThruRPG: This product is available as print-on-demand from DriveThruRPG:
Great adventure with more investigation than combat but sometimes that's what you really want. There is one area I will be swapping out the monster but this is minor and will not take away from the general flavor. The villains that kind of serve as a mid-level boss are genuinely creepy. Great stuff and a fine follow up to the first part of the AP.
This adventure starts slow but ends with one of the greatest cinematic epic battles I have ever ran as a GM. Engaging story line and in depth role-playing. Worth the buy.
I like how there's an "among monsters" theme going on through this AP. Almost seems like the heroes will have helped more evil creatures than anything else by the end of the path.
I like how there's an "among monsters" theme going on through this AP. Almost seems like the heroes will have helped more evil creatures than anything else by the end of the path.
Ah, but...
Spoiler:
The Beast of Lepidstadt is statted up in Classic Horrors Revisited, and he's neutral, not evil. Indeed, the poor fellow "...desperately wants to be accepted," but has a bit of an anger issue.
I like how there's an "among monsters" theme going on through this AP. Almost seems like the heroes will have helped more evil creatures than anything else by the end of the path.
I like how there's an "among monsters" theme going on through this AP. Almost seems like the heroes will have helped more evil creatures than anything else by the end of the path.
How is that a good thing?
Actually... the "you have to help the evil creature" is a theme we've dipped into a LOT, and it's one that we'll be trying to avoid in this AP. The penultimate adventure is a lot more complex than "help the vampires," and the second adventure, which features a flesh golem on trial... and flesh golems aren't usually evil (the one in this adventure is not).
There IS a lot of monsters among humanity in this AP though, that's for sure.
Actually... the "you have to help the evil creature" is a theme we've dipped into a LOT, and it's one that we'll be trying to avoid in this AP. The penultimate adventure is a lot more complex than "help the vampires," and the second adventure, which features a flesh golem on trial... and flesh golems aren't usually evil (the one in this adventure is not).
There IS a lot of monsters among humanity in this AP though, that's for sure.
I do hope this isn't a AP in which paladins and like minded characters 'need not apply' because, at first blush, helping werewolves and vampires goes so against the grain. I will take comfort in James' words but I can't help but get a Underworld (movies) / Van Helsing (the movie) vibe from the initial adventure writeups.
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Vigil wrote:
Funny that the mock-up cover to #4 has the Beast of Lepidstadt on it, instead of on this volume.
Yeah, that's what I thought too. (Maybe the actual cover will feature new artwork with the Beast of Lepidstadt?) Or maybe the "Beast" will be the cover "boy"... new pose, new artwork...
I'm looking forward to running this one (although with my current plans for my Monday night game, I need to give the players a nice, decent, adventure "finish" in my high level Mwangi Expanse game... and then it's on to Council of Thieves, which I'd really like to run... however after CoT... it'll be Carrion Crown for sure).
You folks at Paizo continue to WOW me with your talents and abilities.
Thank goodness Richard Pett is writing a volume in this adventure path! Well, I guess it is a no brainer really ... The Skinsaw Murders is probably the best gothic horror style adventure I have seen, I’m sure that mantle will probably be passed during this AP!
I do hope this isn't a AP in which paladins and like minded characters 'need not apply' because, at first blush, helping werewolves and vampires goes so against the grain.
Naah, if an iconic can take it, so can you(r player's paladin).
Quick question about this from a potential DM of CC...
** spoiler omitted **
Spoiler:
Trial of the Beast takes place a bit far from Carrion Hill, but the PCs go right past it between Pathfinder #45 and Pathfinder #46. In fact, "Wake of the Watcher" includes a sidebar with some ideas about adding Carrion Hill to the AP, but some modification will be needed, as the PCs will be a bit too high in level by that point to play Carrion Hill as written.
The plot to this AP sounds amazing. I hope there's a court scene were social PCs have a chance to be shine.
There's a TON in this about how to run it if your PCs want to be total hams on the stand, or if they just want to do the behind the scenes crime scene investigation. Or both!
Hmmm. I may have to see if I can persuade a local lawyer of my acquaintance to appear in a cameo role (via Skype) as an NPC Barrister for my CC online Campaign.
"My Lords, with respect, what my **barely honourable** friend MEANS with that scandalous submission..."
Hey. I might just know one who's into Pathfinder (generally) and Carrion Crown (specifically). :P
Myself being a theoretician of law, I am very curious if said trial will be an Anglo-Saxon trial (jury and al) or a continental trial (inquisition-style).
Question: in the Inner Sea World Guide p260 there is a mention of the 'Eldritch Order of the Palatine Eye'; can we assume this is the same as the 'Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye' mentioned in Pathfinder 43 and here in the blurb for Pathfinder 44?
Is it an alternative name or a typo?
I shall do the Pathfinder wiki article on the org so want to get this right please.
Question: in the Inner Sea World Guide p260 there is a mention of the 'Eldritch Order of the Palatine Eye'; can we assume this is the same as the 'Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye' mentioned in Pathfinder 43 and here in the blurb for Pathfinder 44?
Is it an alternative name or a typo?
I shall do the Pathfinder wiki article on the org so want to get this right please.
Thanks
J
The name wasn't finalized when we were working on The Inner Sea World Guide, and the "eldritch" version unfortunately slipped past. The correct name is the Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye, and is referred to such throughout the Carrion Crown AP.
When approximately will this book start shipping to subscribers?
I haven't gotten my "shipping in a week or two" email yet, so I'm really doubting it'll be this week. Hope I'm wrong.
Life is getting in the way of my gaming so I was just looking for something to read at least. I was not really expecting anything until around the 15 or a little later.
Myself being a theoretician of law, I am very curious if said trial will be an Anglo-Saxon trial (jury and al) or a continental trial (inquisition-style).
Given the Anglo-Saxonity of most of the writers and players, and despite the Eastern European feel of Ustalav (to me), I suspect it will be a jury trial so as not to confuse us poor dumb Americans.
The PCs as guardians of a flesh golem? That sounds like a BAD idea. But I love it. :)
Could be a flesh golem, though it also might be Carrion as the arms are quite different and appear to be from some other creatures, then again for all I know it's a altered flesh golem of somekind.
I assume it might have intelligence of somekind otherwise it would seem rarther silly to put someone in court who's only response is
"Roaaaaaaar! Grrrrrrr! Mwhaaaaaaaa!"
Then again I've heard of clerics who've actually tried to put zombies in trail for their crimes.
Myself being a theoretician of law, I am very curious if said trial will be an Anglo-Saxon trial (jury and al) or a continental trial (inquisition-style).
Given the Anglo-Saxonity of most of the writers and players, and despite the Eastern European feel of Ustalav (to me), I suspect it will be a jury trial so as not to confuse us poor dumb Americans.
Given that the adventure was written by an Englishman, and developed by someone who lived in Central/Eastern Europe for a few years, you might be surprised! :)