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What we glean from this, Chris works way too late.
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What we glean from this, Chris works way too late.
Yes she does.
What are the names and CR's monsters in the bestiary?
Ah, thanks hun. I hope we get some high CR celestials in this adventure path! :D
Are there any prominent good-aligned NPC's affiliated with the "Glorious Reclamation" listed in this book?
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Ah, thanks hun. I hope we get some high CR celestials in this adventure path! :D
Are there any prominent good-aligned NPC's affiliated with the "Glorious Reclamation" listed in this book?
(There's technically a few other characters in the adventure, but they're all one-and-done encounter types. Most are recruits, mercenaries, or other allies of the Reclamation.)
Six prominent Reclamation leaders are listed in the article near the end, including Alexeara Cansellarion, the leader of the crusade. There's also a fairly detailed discussion of the organization itself there - if paladins are your thing, you'll probably quite like the article. ^_^
Ah, thanks hun. I hope we get some high CR celestials in this adventure path! :D
Are there any prominent good-aligned NPC's affiliated with the "Glorious Reclamation" listed in this book?
Yes, stats are given for one paladin member of that order in the first volume, along with references to stats of other members of that order to be given in later volumes.
Also, a very high number of hostile NPCs seem to be of chaotic good alignment.
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Ah, thanks hun. I hope we get some high CR celestials in this adventure path! :D
Are there any prominent good-aligned NPC's affiliated with the "Glorious Reclamation" listed in this book?
Yes, stats are given for one paladin member of that order in the first volume, along with references to stats of other members of that order to be given in later volumes.
Also, a very high number of hostile NPCs seem to be of chaotic good alignment.
Huh? That doesn't make any sense. If they worship Iomedae, they should be Lawful Good.
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Huh? That doesn't make any sense. If they worship Iomedae, they should be Lawful Good.Ah, thanks hun. I hope we get some high CR celestials in this adventure path! :D
Are there any prominent good-aligned NPC's affiliated with the "Glorious Reclamation" listed in this book?
Yes, stats are given for one paladin member of that order in the first volume, along with references to stats of other members of that order to be given in later volumes.
Also, a very high number of hostile NPCs seem to be of chaotic good alignment.
Not all of the hostiles here are true Glorious Reclamation members - some are locals, while others are revolutionaries of other stripes who have thrown in with the more successful Reclamation. Some are simply allies of the Reclamation, with no particular explanation for their presence.
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So while the reclaimation's leaders might be in service to Iomedae, the main bulk of their forces are a mixed rabble of various revolutionaries, mercenaries, minor supporters and some anarchists.
Makes even more sense that we need to stop this rebellion. The lawful goods haven't got as much control over their own troops. Remember what happened at Galt. We don't want that level of chaos happening in cheliax.
Most of the hostile NPCs are local inhabitants of Longacre, not members of the Glorious Reclamation. So far, I have not seen any writeup of any member of the Glorious Reclamation that gives them any alignment other than lawful good.
So are the "squires" who have Iomedean insignias actually CG?
Makes even more sense that we need to stop this rebellion. The lawful goods haven't got as much control over their own troops. Remember what happened at Galt. We don't want that level of chaos happening in cheliax.
Chelaxian lies and diabolist propaganda!
DOWN WITH THRUNE I SAY! :D
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Makes even more sense that we need to stop this rebellion. The lawful goods haven't got as much control over their own troops. Remember what happened at Galt. We don't want that level of chaos happening in cheliax.Chelaxian lies and diabolist propaganda!
DOWN WITH THRUNE I SAY! :D
*smashes Berselius over the head with a sap and quietly drags him away*
Do not believe the false utterances of this person. He has clearly been indoctrinated into the flawed and treasonous beliefs of this rebellions ringleaders. That aside I admit that Cheliex isn't the best nation in terms of freedoms offered and there is much work that needs to be done. But removing the governing body that has protected and sheltered your people for years and replacing it with a group of soldiers or even no governing leaders will only bring you ruin. Work with your leaders to build a better world. Don't be blinded by the fools gold offered by the glorious reformation, for doing so will not profit you and only weaken your nations strength. Will they be able to stop the raids from the shackles? When your homes and lives are threatened by foreign powers and enemies from beyond our borders? Would they sacrifice their souls to ensure your continued stability and safety?
The answer is they will not. They dare not risk the darkness for themselves to save others. But house thrune have born this burden and responsibility for the people of this nation for decades, and while sacrifices have been made and indeed corruption has tainted their governments eyes, they have remained as strong as ever in maintaining the safety and security of your nations present, past and future. As so I ask you, fellow brothers, sisters, children to our great and protective mother Cheliex...will you fight for your nations future? for the future of yourselves, your children, your children's children, for the safety and security offered by our leaders many sacrifices and the burden of responsibility our great leaders have shouldered for you so you need never feel the strain?
Long live Cheilex, long live Thrune. LONG LIVE CHEILEX! LONG LIVE THRUNE!
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Makes even more sense that we need to stop this rebellion. The lawful goods haven't got as much control over their own troops. Remember what happened at Galt. We don't want that level of chaos happening in cheliax.Chelaxian lies and diabolist propaganda!
DOWN WITH THRUNE I SAY! :D
*smashes Berselius over the head with a sap and quietly drags him away*
Do not believe the false utterances of this person. He has clearly been indoctrinated into the flawed and treasonous beliefs of this rebellions ringleaders. That aside I admit that Cheliex isn't the best nation in terms of freedoms offered and there is much work that needs to be done. But removing the governing body that has protected and sheltered your people for years and replacing it with a group of soldiers or even no governing leaders will only bring you ruin. Work with your leaders to build a better world. Don't be blinded by the fools gold offered by the glorious reformation, for doing so will not profit you and only weaken your nations strength. Will they be able to stop the raids from the shackles? When your homes and lives are threatened by foreign powers and enemies from beyond our borders? Would they sacrifice their souls to ensure your continued stability and safety?
The answer is they will not. They dare not risk the darkness for themselves to save others. But house thrune have born this burden and responsibility for the people of this nation for decades, and while sacrifices have been made and indeed corruption has tainted their governments eyes, they have remained as strong as ever in maintaining the safety and security of your nations present, past and future. As so I ask you, fellow brothers, sisters, children to our great and protective mother Cheliex...will you fight for your nations future? for the future of yourselves, your children, your children's children, for the safety and security offered by our leaders many sacrifices and the burden of...
It's CHELIAX, not Cheliex. Her Imperial Majestrix's Department of Linguistic Correctness will be with you shortly. Prepare for summary exsanguination and disembowelment.
They came through it with 2 deaths, not too bad for the end fight of a book really.
Nothing fuels taking revenge like a good murder.
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I want to congratulate Mr. Schneider on an amazing adventure and probably one of the best I've read in a long time.
Wesley Schneider comes up with enough reasons to get an evil party to work together, but I'm really satisfied by his use of the NPC village folk, reusing them in multiple scenarios, giving them enough personality and making it so that being a mega-douche to them isn't as easy as you think it will be. While you do feel a little sorry reading about what happens to these unfortunate people, you are outright encouraged and rewarded for doing so. Still, the adventure gives you a lot of leeway in conflict resolution, a ton more than normal APs do.
In a normal AP, the players are expected to kick in the door and murder everyone because they're Evil, but in Hellfire Compact, you can play around a lot. You could murder every person you lay eyes on, but that would not just upset your boss and turn the town against you faster, but it would probably draw the ire of other players who were hoping to take advantage of the town for fun and profit rather than blind murder.
The adventure goes out of it's way so you can choose to have multiple solutions. You can kill people easy or, as agents of the Baron, throw them in the stocks/jail for some public humiliation and make them regret crossing you. You can shake them down and force them to pay you to let them off with a warning or just beat them senseless to teach them a lesson but leave them breathing. It doesn't make assumptions on how you play and gives you a lot of freedom. Langacre could be a pristine gem of your tyrannical rule with it's spirit crushed or a flaming wreckage by the time you get done with it, your choice.
The most important thing about this adventure though is that it doesn't try and make you feel guilty with heavy handed maudlin tactics. While a DM is free to play up the tragedy you cause in people's lives, that is not assumed in the book. The violent falling out between Rhona and Cimri, the struggle of Dr. Gerya to keep her doors open, the possibility of a horrific situation for Tileavia after a failed Ressurection and the tragedy of Lencia The Angel Knight all tugged at my heart strings, but never came off as shallow preaching in the vein of Spec Ops: The Line 'DO YOU FEEL LIKE A HERO YET' with a morality play being crammed down my throat. You can appreciate the tragedy without a lampshade. I think I'm more attached to these NPCs than any in an AP before and the quality of your interaction with them is much higher than I've come to expect from AP storytelling. Schneider managed to avoid every pitfall I had imagined in this adventure and made something to be thoroughly enjoyed and worthy of reflection.
Cimri is an interesting character, and I find her likable despite her ruthlessness and flaws. I was worried with her role of showing players how to be Evil that she would steal the spotlight, but with the exception of a conversation with the sheriff, she spends most of the time as a contact and helper rather than a glory hound. She's good in that she can be played up as a trusted, if brutal, ally, or dispensed with at the soonest convenience.
The adventure also reminds me of Burnt Offerings, with events set into motion by a 'villain' in the background with a sympathetic story. Lencia is probably the best written end boss in a first issue AP since Nualia.
Still, there's so much opportunity and freedom to play with, you can go through the game feeling totally justified for your dick-ass behavior.
I'm looking forward to reading the rest. I was concerned that Hell's Vengeance would be hemmed in by the shortcomings of Hell's Rebels, but if this is the quality that Mr. Schneider and Mr. McCreary have in store for the rest of the AP, I'll count it as one of the best written adventures Paizo has put out.
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Strong, well considered commentary. :D
Wow! Thanks a ton LoT! Glad you enjoyed it and I seriously appreciate the kind words.
I really tried to explore "small evils" in this—real hurts that have the potential to lead people to resentment and hard heartedness; like Cimri's background.
I also wanted to give the PCs insight into the NPCs' vulnerabilities—because that's how you become a bully. Once the PCs know how to hurt people, its up to them how to do it. If they were playing good guys, they might help or they might walk away. As evil characters, how they exploit their knowledge is entirely up to their depraved imagination.
So again, thanks for the feedback! And, as always, thoughtful reviews are always greatly appreciated—and help us know down the line what we should do more of!
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I wonder how possible it would be to re-model this AP to be a sequel to Way of the Wicked; set in Talingarde after the Asmodean's victory. The PCs would be a group of agents working for Talingarde's new rulers, assigned to put down an uprising of Mitran followers.
Hope to play this AP as a player. But I am already sad: there are no chronicles for use in Pathfinder Society Organized Play for this AP! Maybe it can still be sanctioned, despite being about evil villain protagonists? Some kind of Infamy\Disrepute mechanics?
Well you can't be evil in PFS, so there.