Pathfinder Adventure Path #71: Rasputin Must Die! (Reign of Winter 5 of 6) (PFRPG)

Wow, I wish the last volume's info about going to Triaxus was getting this much interest.

See the Distant Worlds product discussion for that.

Alternatively, we knew from the start that we were going to Triaxus. It was mentioned when announced. They've been pretty mum on if it was THE Rasputin though. Or any other details.

See the Distant Worlds product discussion for that.

Alternatively, we knew from the start that we were going to Triaxus. It was mentioned when announced. They've been pretty mum on if it was THE Rasputin though. Or any other details.

Actually, at GenCon (or PaizoCon?) they announced the title of this volume and that it was THE Rasputin. They commented on the twists/challenges that statting out a historical figure introduced. The only thing that wasn't confirmed was whether he was bound for Golarion, an inter-planar meet-up, or if the PCs were going to Earth.

Is it too late historically-speaking for the new mystery to be Spiritualism in some guise? There's also been some mention of Aleister Crowley (Golden Dawn, etc.). Or could it be related to something like Theosophy?

*cue headscratching, as I try to remember what was in vogue around 1918*

Khlysty

Basically, the idea is that vanity is the greatest of all sins. Therefore, one must commit sins in order to break one's own vanity. This led to orgies.

Cheapy wrote:

See the Distant Worlds product discussion for that.

Alternatively, we knew from the start that we were going to Triaxus. It was mentioned when announced. They've been pretty mum on if it was THE Rasputin though. Or any other details.

Actually, at GenCon (or PaizoCon?) they announced the title of this volume and that it was THE Rasputin. They commented on the twists/challenges that statting out a historical figure introduced. The only thing that wasn't confirmed was whether he was bound for Golarion, an inter-planar meet-up, or if the PCs were going to Earth.

Nobody told me that! :-(

Bellona wrote:

Generic Villain wrote:

Who's the spooky looking guy on the mockup cover? I don't recognize the illustration.

Did anyone answer this question?

POssibly placeholder art for Rasputin himself as he appears on the final version.

It's just placeholder art from somewhere else; not sure where, but it has nothing to do with the coming artwork for the cover other than we needed something to put on the temporary cover.

I was really excited when I saw this AP coming. Seeing Triaxus I was a little disappointed. With this book going to Earth I got very sad. But you know what I will make the best of it. I am definitely going to make sure to paint the T.A.R.D.I.C.H. (Time and Relative Dimension in Chicken Hut) blue and I demand that a telepathic translator circuit be installed in the hut. Going to Earth a constant Tongues spell is pretty much required. Another thing I have isif your not even in the same dimension as the Golarion gods can clerics and paladins even get their spells? Anyone else planning on doing this in character when they play? "What is this strange place? Ee-arth I have never heard of this planet. And this country Rooshea it is so strange." One thing for sure I am definitely playing a Samsaran Clone Master Alchemist. Or a Samsaran Wizard .

Rasputin is Dr. Lucky?!

Rasputin is Dr. Lucky?!

Much like Dr. Lucky, Rasputin does love him some poison.

As for "jumping the shark," we'll see. I think we've got a pretty excellent record by now of taking risks with plotlines and elements that might be considered "shark jumping" (such as Distant Worlds, the robots in Inner Sea Bestiary/Dungeons of Golarion, an all-pirate adventure path, an adventure where you all play goblins, a book all about cryptids, a book all about monsters that we as gamers have spent the last few decades mocking, etc.). I'm relatively sure that "Rasputin Must Die!" will end up being SUPER AWESOME.

I found myself reading this in Sterling Archers voice and I couldn't help but laugh out loud. :)

In my over 20 years of gaming, I have never gotten a chance to rescue a princess from a dragon or a dragon from a princess.

The first five volumes of the AP need to end with the PCs assulting a castle, defeating it's BBEG, and then a myconid informs that "Sorry PCs, but our princess is in another castle!"

The Hut is directly out of Russian myth. Granted, it is a bit strange, but it's not like RPGs made it that way. And if you think about it, it doesn't make any less sense than a lot of traditional western-european myths.

Baba Yaga is obviously a Time Lady, and the hut is her TARDIS.

T.A.R.D.I.C.H not T.A.R.D.I.S.

James Jacobs wrote:

As for "jumping the shark," we'll see. I think we've got a pretty excellent record by now of taking risks with plotlines and elements that might be considered "shark jumping" (such as Distant Worlds, the robots in Inner Sea Bestiary/Dungeons of Golarion, an all-pirate adventure path, an adventure where you all play goblins, a book all about cryptids, a book all about monsters that we as gamers have spent the last few decades mocking, etc.). I'm relatively sure that "Rasputin Must Die!" will end up being SUPER AWESOME.

I found myself reading this in Sterling Archers voice and I couldn't help but laugh out loud. :)

I KNEW I should have mentioned the fact that there was an ocelot in the adventure. I KNEW it.

Useplanb wrote:

James Jacobs wrote:

I'm relatively sure that "Rasputin Must Die!" will end up being SUPER AWESOME.

I found myself reading this in Sterling Archers voice and I couldn't help but laugh out loud. :)

I KNEW I should have mentioned the fact that there was an ocelot in the adventure. I KNEW it.

Yay! Urine everywhere!

The search for the Queen of Witches finally ends when the Dancing Hut travels to Baba Yaga’s homeland of Russia on the planet Earth. The year is 1918, and the First World War rages throughout Europe. The heroes find themselves in the wilds of Siberia, where they must face Russian soldiers armed with 20th-century technology, infiltrate an ancient monastery and rescue Baba Yaga from her estranged son, Grigori Rasputin. Can the heroes kill the “Mad Monk,” who has already cheated death once before, and free Baba Yaga, or will they too fall before the horrors of modern war?

Da hell... Did I seriously just read what I thought I did? Did they seriously just... O.0

Also, "Oh yes, we did."

ERMAGERD YESH!!! This makes me a HAPPY FLUMPH!

What happens when one of the characters decides to do some research about where they are and sees all of the suspicious similarities between many of the nations of their world and this planet named for a combination of minerals and decayed plant matter?

First, words cannot express enough my joy at seeing this adventure become a reality. Haven't been disappointed in Brandon's work yet and I don't expect to be with this one either. Congrats, Mr. Hodge, and I look forward to reading this eagerly.

Another thing I have is if you're not even in the same dimension as the Golarion gods can clerics and paladins even get their spells?

Except most clerics and paladins are never in the same dimension as the Golarion gods (or any gods) unless they're in the Outer Planes. However, if you meant "not in the same dimension as Golarion," well, that's still incorrect. Golarion and Earth are in the same dimension, it's called the Material Plane (or Universe for you Earth-types). Distance and dimension don't really seem to be hurdles for the gods. If dimension was a problem, it would crop up any time clerics travel to the elemental planes or the wrong outer plane.

When I heard we were going to Earth in an AP called "Rain of Winter," I assumed it would be set in Seattle. :-(

That's Shadowrun.

Earth's just a few galactic superclusters thataway, no big deal for gods.

What's stopping a party of adventurers from bringing a Kuthite puzzle box with them to Siberia, and allowing it three years to make its way to British India, granting Kytons a way onto Earth?

Absolutely nothing.

Vic I want full right ups for each paizo employee so me character can meet you all.

The Block Knight I used the correct noun. The gods are always on a different plane of existence (well usually) than divine casters. I was assuming that the story takes you to another dimension because it was stated that the time for the pathfinder universe is synced with ours listed as 2700 years later. 2013 AD = 4713 After the Rise of Aroden. I had heard somewhere that in the infinite universe theory not all the timelines for the universes are lined up and in fact are staggered in their time thus allowing for time travel to be theoretically possible not in actual time travel but in dimensional travel. The best way to get it from is the book "Timeline". That is why I am having issues with divine casters having spells or even any of their abilities.

Vic I want full right ups for each paizo employee so me character can meet you all.

In 1918? Only SKR would've been alive then, but he'd still be supping on the nascent souls of the unborn in his mountain fortr--

I've said too much.

The Block Knight I used the correct noun. The gods are always on a different plane of existence (well usually) than divine casters. I was assuming that the story takes you to another dimension because it was stated that the time for the pathfinder universe is synced with ours listed as 2700 years later. 2013 AD = 4713 After the Rise of Aroden. I had heard somewhere that in the infinite universe theory not all the timelines for the universes are lined up and in fact are staggered in their time thus allowing for time travel to be theoretically possible not in actual time travel but in dimensional travel. The best way to get it from is the book "Timeline". That is why I am having issues with divine casters having spells or even any of their abilities.

The Block Knight's point was that Earth is in the same universe as Golarion is. There've been references that Cthulhu was on Earth. James Jacobs has said multiple times that Earth is in the same universe. The hints before more info was revealed stated that the PCs would be staying in the same universe.

There probably won't be a problem.

Hey, now! There should be zero chance on skipping the other adventures! I just got a chance to write a lead-off adventure for the first time and you want to jump straight past it? Darn you, Hodge! >_<

I don't mean to skip them, I just mean, y'know, a creative "reshuffle." You've got plenty of time in your ever bright and promising young career to get the lead adventure in an AP. How could you deny us Wacky WWI Witchery to kick things off? :)

Neil Spicer wrote:

Hey, now! There should be zero chance on skipping the other adventures! I just got a chance to write a lead-off adventure for the first time and you want to jump straight past it? Darn you, Hodge! >_<

I don't mean to skip them, I just mean, y'know, a creative "reshuffle." You've got plenty of time in your ever bright and promising young career to get the lead adventure in an AP. How could you deny us Wacky WWI Witchery to kick things off? :)

Probably because level 1 characters vs 20th century technology doesn't make for favorable odds.

Probably because level 1 characters vs 20th century technology doesn't make for favorable odds

Given what Rasputin is up to in this adventure, 13th level characters don't have very favorable odds, either. :-)

Cthulhudrew wrote:

Neil Spicer wrote:

Hey, now! There should be zero chance on skipping the other adventures! I just got a chance to write a lead-off adventure for the first time and you want to jump straight past it? Darn you, Hodge! >_<

I don't mean to skip them, I just mean, y'know, a creative "reshuffle." You've got plenty of time in your ever bright and promising young career to get the lead adventure in an AP. How could you deny us Wacky WWI Witchery to kick things off? :)

Probably because level 1 characters vs 20th century technology doesn't make for favorable odds.

I wouldn't want to be anywhere near WWI without God Mode on.

And even then I wouldn't want to be within eyesight of it.

"The barking rod of fire hit me for how much damage?! And there's how many of them?!

"Guys, I think we need a new strategy."

Droning noises overhead are almost lost in the shrieking harpies of incoming artillery rounds.

"Oh yeah, we definitely need a new strategy."

Ensuing explosions gibletize half the party.

"Ya THINK?!"

It's a pulpish version of 1918 Europe, where not only is Rasputin alive but he probably has magical powers. Unlike you know, real life.

You don't know that. ;)

Mechalibur wrote:

Cthulhudrew wrote:

Neil Spicer wrote:

Hey, now! There should be zero chance on skipping the other adventures! I just got a chance to write a lead-off adventure for the first time and you want to jump straight past it? Darn you, Hodge! >_<

I don't mean to skip them, I just mean, y'know, a creative "reshuffle." You've got plenty of time in your ever bright and promising young career to get the lead adventure in an AP. How could you deny us Wacky WWI Witchery to kick things off? :)

Probably because level 1 characters vs 20th century technology doesn't make for favorable odds.

I wouldn't want to be anywhere near WWI without God Mode on.

And even then I wouldn't want to be within eyesight of it.

I don't know. As I understand it the Ghurkhas were rather fearsome.

Useplanb wrote:

James Jacobs wrote:

As for "jumping the shark," we'll see. I think we've got a pretty excellent record by now of taking risks with plotlines and elements that might be considered "shark jumping" (such as Distant Worlds, the robots in Inner Sea Bestiary/Dungeons of Golarion, an all-pirate adventure path, an adventure where you all play goblins, a book all about cryptids, a book all about monsters that we as gamers have spent the last few decades mocking, etc.). I'm relatively sure that "Rasputin Must Die!" will end up being SUPER AWESOME.

I found myself reading this in Sterling Archers voice and I couldn't help but laugh out loud. :)

I KNEW I should have mentioned the fact that there was an ocelot in the adventure. I KNEW it.

...and THAT's how you get ANTS!

Vic I want full right ups for each paizo employee so me character can meet you all.

I don't think any of us were around in 1918.

brad2411 wrote:

Vic I want full right ups for each paizo employee so me character can meet you all.

I don't think any of us were around in 1918.

...

>.>

<.<

...

brad2411 wrote:

Vic I want full right ups for each paizo employee so me character can meet you all.

I don't think any of us were around in 1918.

Ah, but what of your great granduncle, Boris Beyerisnokov, and his incredible story of heroism and escape from the horrors inflicted on him by a savage group of anachronistic murderous hobos as he guarded an isolated Siberian monastery in the waning months of the Great War? That IS part of your family lore, isn't it, Mr. "Beyers?"

brad2411 wrote:

Vic I want full right ups for each paizo employee so me character can meet you all.

I don't think any of us were around in 1918.

Mother told me not to talk about that one time in Vladivostok.

For the last time, I am not Russian!

Well IIRC you might already be able to say "hi!" to Nelson Mandela, although the chances of him remembering the encounter are rather slim ;)

Your dossier says differently, Jessica Pricylov!!!

wat?

Here I was thinking this AP would delve in to Eastern European fantasy tropes in the same way other APs have covered other cultures then I see this! I'm a little taken aback that you guys are going this route, but what the heck I'll go along for the ride!

Honestly, I'd rather have seen a more "strait" fantasy here since Slavic fantasy is a goldmine that I think could fill an AP on it's own. Still, I suppose there's plenty of that in several of the other parts. There's just also planet hopping and travel to WWI era earth as well. Weird.

I was assuming that the story takes you to another dimension because it was stated that the time for the pathfinder universe is synced with ours listed as 2700 years later. 2013 AD = 4713 After the Rise of Aroden.

Raef's got a point there - is the Dancing Hut in fact also a time machine/"T.A.R.D.I.C.H."? I don't remember that from its write-up in Artifacts and Legends ...

And does anyone have any ideas about the new oracle mystery? It's supposed to be something like twentieth-century mysticism, possibly with a bit of the occult.

Is it too late historically-speaking for the new mystery to be Spiritualism in some guise? There's also been some mention of Aleister Crowley (Golden Dawn, etc.). Or could it be related to something like Theosophy?

You do know what I research and collect when I'm not writing Pathfinder adventures, don't you? =-)

Ahh! Some things do indeed become more clear. :)

wat?

Here I was thinking this AP would delve in to Eastern European fantasy tropes in the same way other APs have covered other cultures then I see this!

While this AP is certainly already chock full of those themes, the era in which this particular adventure is set doesn't preclude the use of those same Eastern European tropes. I've got your back. ;-)

I'd be worried that PCs in 1918 would sidetrack into an attempt to kill Hitler.

I'd be worried that PCs in 1918 would sidetrack into an attempt to kill Hitler.

Given that they would have to track down a nameless corporal through the mounds of them in the German Army ... I wouldn't be too worried about it.

Edit: What in character reason can they possibly have to do this, anyway? Going after Stalin and company is a far, far more troublesome worry to take into consideration...

I think we already had this conversation the other thread.

(Of course, I wrote that before I could reveal I was the author)

I think we already had this conversation the other thread.

(Of course, I wrote that before I could reveal I was the author)

;) So, by any chance are there any spiffy high damage anti-material rifles of German make floating around in Chapter 5?

Wait. I was supposed to put GUNS in this adventure???

Roooooobbbbbbbbb!

I'm just wondering if there's some way we can have our adventurers kidnap/rescue Anastasia so Baba Yaga could install her as the next ruler of Irrisen.

Note: I have not been allowed to peek at the adventure notes for this path. This is pure speculation on my part.

(Also, I'd love if this were a way to import Faberge eggs into Golarion.)