Pathfinder Tales: Starspawn

Announced for August! Cover image and description are final.

I'm so ready for this. ^_^

I guess I should read Skinwalkers.

Cool! She's a great writer and does a lot of great editing work in the field, too.

Ia ia?

Awesome, this looks super fun (and creepy!).

Is it just me....or does that look like a giant Illithid on that cover ?

Is it just me....or does that look like a giant Illithid on that cover ?

Hmm... Color me interested! Is it August yet?

Hmm... Color me interested! Is it August yet?

checks unshoveled driveway

Nope. :(

Skinwalkers was really underwhelming. Just spoon-feeding the reader like we're all morons. I might skip out on my sub for this one.

I'll disagree, I thought Skinwalkers was pretty badass. Definitely one of my favourite Tales.

Skinwalkers was cool. Bloody, Revenant-ish and I can imagine why it could not appeal to many 'Muricans. But this is bloody stick your guts in your face Yurp, and I embrace balls to walls literature when I see it. Moreso if the protagonist's balls are, well, a metaphor.

I wasn't a huge fan of Skinwalkers, not that it was bad per se, but it felt like it should have been a story set in a low magic setting, not in Golarion.

I'm far more interested in this than I was in Skinwalkers though, starspawn are way more interesting of a threat than lycanthrope wanna-be cannibals.

Welp, Jendara's royally screwed!

Even if she lives through this (which is doubtful) I don't think she's going to come out of it entirely sane.

Intrigued simply because my understanding is that an actual Star-spawn (CR 20!) is a threat way above the normal level of what shows up in the novels (outside Salim's and Count Jeggare's adventures).

Yes, this should be the first Pathfinder Tales main character to die or go insane.
Anything else would be illogical.

Golarions Devil's Reef or R'lyeh, just in time for the Strange Aeons AP.

Want.

Also, assuming it is an actual Star-Spawn of Cthulhu waking up, doesn't this have dire implications for all of Golarion? I mean, Karzoug was also a CR 20 threat and he was entirely capable of conquering vast sections of Golarion.

I think it's actually a devilfish myself...

I think it's actually a devilfish myself...

A good thought, but you can see its hands in the foreground of the art. ^_^

I thought that was just some random claw, Kal.

I thought that was just some random claw, Kal.

Not impossible, although the one on the right seems far more indicative of having opposable thumbs.

That said, the art certainly has far more of the devilfish's iconic "spiny-ness" than the existing art for the star-spawn of Cthulhu, which tends toward smooth and slippery-looking surfaces.

Guess we'll see when the book gets released won't we Kal?

Yup! ^_^

Heaven help Golarion if it's actually Cthulhu itself.

Berselius,

I doubt that very serious.

While not impossible, it would have to involve interplanetary travel - Cthulhu is on a planet far from Golarion, according to Wake of the Watcher.

Berselius, I doubt that very serious.

Yeah, I'm guessing Cthulhu is "somewhere else" right now. ^_~

While not impossible, it would have to involve interplanetary travel - Cthulhu is on a planet far from Golarion, according to Wake of the Watcher.

Ah, cool, but even if it is only a Star-Spawn of Cthulhu, it could very well have major implications for the Inner Sea right?

Kalindlara wrote:

While not impossible, it would have to involve interplanetary travel - Cthulhu is on a planet far from Golarion, according to Wake of the Watcher.

Ah, cool, but even if it is only a Star-Spawn of Cthulhu, it could very well have major implications for the Inner Sea right?

If it wakes up and gets free, yes indeed. Who knows what will happen in the story, though.

(That said, unless the cover art is taking some serious liberties with the story, I have doubts about Jendara making it out alive and whole...)

Starspawn are immortal and fly through space (and also have gate as an SLA), so they can technically get anywhere. (This thing could've been sealed by the aboleths long before the throwdown with Rovagug ever happened. Starspawn are that old.)

If it wakes up and gets free, yes indeed. Who knows what will happen in the story, though.

Yeah, the Land of the Linnorm Kings might never be the same to say the least. Then again, the Star-Spawn of Cthulhu could end up stumbling across a Tarn Linnorm (or worse) and end in up a epic monster throw-down (which might not end well for it). This should be interesting at the very least.

(That said, unless the cover art is taking some serious liberties with the story, I have doubts about Jendara making it out alive and whole...)

It's ironic how many perils she's had to face since retirement eh? First Winter Wolves and Hill Giants, then Skinwalkers, and now an unspeakable eldritch horror from under the ocean depths. It's like destiny wants to make her regret ever forsaking her life as a pirate.

Starspawn are immortal and fly through space (and also have gate as an SLA), so they can technically get anywhere. (This thing could've been sealed by the aboleths long before the throwdown with Rovagug ever happened. Starspawn are that old.)

Yowza, I wonder how that cult got down there then? Maybe a tribe of Gillmen that accidentally made contact or became trapped long ago?

I'm so ready for this. ^_^

I guess I should read Skinwalkers.

You might want to read Mother of Bears as well. I should probably read both of the too :).

*still think it's a devilfish*

Have a look at the enlarged pictures. Clearly hands with long claws, rather than the pincer's a Devilfish has, and the face looks far more like a Starspawn or Cthulhu than a devilfish.

This is 100% clearly a Star-Spawn of Cthulhu.
From the title of the book over the "The stars are right/wrong" line to the fact that this comes out at the same time as "Strange Aeons" it is apparent that this is no large CR4 magical beast but a huge CR20 abberation.

This is 100% clearly a Star-Spawn of Cthulhu.

From the title of the book over the "The stars are right/wrong" line to the fact that this comes out at the same time as "Strange Aeons" it is apparent that this is no large CR4 magical beast but a huge CR20 abberation.

Could be worse, could be an ADVANCED GIANT Star-Spawn of Cthulhu (which is a CR 22 right there).

"The Stars Are Wrong" sounds like the perfect quip right before you punch out Cthulhu. Sadly, poor Jendara probably won't be punching out any Great Old Ones...

Cheers!
Landon

... has anyone stopped to think that they're not fighting, and that the Starspawn is just catching a falling Jendara?

Yes...because that's the sort of thing we do...

*rolls eyes*

I didn't say it wasn't gonna eat her afterwards.

More Pirate Jenny, yay!

"The Stars Are Wrong" sounds like the perfect quip right before you punch out Cthulhu. Sadly, poor Jendara probably won't be punching out any Great Old Ones...

Cheers!
Landon

Considering Jendara is only around level 6 I'd say there would be a better chance of Asmodeus being redeemed as a LG Deity than her defeating Cthulhu (or any other Great Old One for that matter).

I'm writing my review of this at the moment, should hopefully have it posted either tonight or tomorrow night. All I'll say at the moment is that it was worth the wait, and if you enjoyed Skinwalkers, you'll want to pick this up.

Review posted. Full review can be found here: The Grassy Gnoll | Book Review - Pathfinder Tales: Starspawn by Wendy N. Wagner

I hates you! I have to wait till my subscription ships! XD

Luvs me some Lovecraft.

I hates you! I have to wait till my subscription ships! XD

Heh. Yeah I got pretty lucky with a review copy. Read it a few times over the last few months :) it's well worth the wait though, like I said, if you enjoyed Skinwalkers and wanted more, you'll love this.

Jendara is one bad ass barbarian.

Rysky wrote:

I hates you! I have to wait till my subscription ships! XD

Heh. Yeah I got pretty lucky with a review copy. Read it a few times over the last few months :) it's well worth the wait though, like I said, if you enjoyed Skinwalkers and wanted more, you'll love this.

Jealous :3

And I did, so I can't wait for this one.

So she kills a CR 14 creature?

Must have gained a few levels since "Skinwalker".

So she kills a CR 14 creature?

Must have gained a few levels since "Skinwalker".

With no magical equipment.

She definitely has been leveling.