Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Druma, Profit and Prophecy

Creatures featured in the bestiary:

Aurosrath (CR 5 NE Undead, Large) - bloated corpse filled with coins, can literally suffocate with wealth

Bibliodaemon (CR 8 NE Outsider, Medium) - Four-armed weasel-faced daemon, personifies death by paperwork

Braismois (CR 22, NE Outsider, Medium, harbinger)

Failed Prophet (template, CR +2, acquired) - Skinless creature covered in golden veins, created through failure in certain rites (more in the book)

Bacallia, alpaca-like animal

Keulia, reptile with smooth scales

Tauhoti, squirrel with long tufts on its ears

Whoever wrote the Overview on page 2: bravo. Those words cannot be ignored in the context of our own world! :)

Whoever wrote the Overview on page 2: bravo. Those words cannot be ignored in the context of our own world! :)

Although there were no doubt some text and transitions added here and there during development, I’m pretty darn certain that introductory quote came from my esteemed coauthor Thurston Hillman.

In general, Thursty wrote anything involving Druma’s modern geopolitics, the Blackjackets, daemons, and the region gazetteers. In general, I wrote anything involving history, culture, philosophy, demographics, and mercantile campaigns. We collaborated heavily in planning, and we split the bestiary pretty evenly.

And as you have questions about the book, we’re happy to chime in.

Just be patient for the next few weeks as we wrap up convention prep and the huge number of scenarios for July and August!

The Inner Sea Trade route map on page 20 is AWESOME!

:)

The Inner Sea Trade route map on page 20 is AWESOME!

:)

Because John Compton is awesome and puts a lot of thought into the things he does! (Also, shout out to Sonja Morris for making it pretty!)

Awesome cover art, and the creatures look really interesting as well. Can't wait for this to arrive at my FLGS! :)

Don't know how I missed this when reading the blog post earlier:

{. . .}

Bibliodaemon (CR 8 NE Outsider, Medium) - Four-armed weasel-faced daemon, personifies death by paperwork {. . .}

Actually Earth should generate a lot of those . . . .

Is there a picture of Braismois?

If so, could a description of him(?) be given? It needn't be in exacting detail. It's just that The Book of the Damned didn't have much to say other than his(?) realm is at the bottom of a glacier or something...

Please & thank you.

--C.

Is there a picture of Braismois?

If so, could a description of him(?) be given? It needn't be in exacting detail. It's just that The Book of the Damned didn't have much to say other than his(?) realm is at the bottom of a glacier or something...

Please & thank you.

--C.

Well they have statblock, so that increases chances of picture a lot :p

Is there a picture of Braismois?

If so, could a description of him(?) be given? It needn't be in exacting detail. It's just that The Book of the Damned didn't have much to say other than his(?) realm is at the bottom of a glacier or something...

Please & thank you.

--C.

A towering figure in black robes like a grim reaper, scrolls and books by the dozen crammed into its pockets. His head is white skin pulled sickly taut, beady eyes placed too far apart for comfort over a gaping mouth full of jagged mismatched teeth. His tongue unfurls a foot, and with a flourish he stabs it with a quill, drawing blood for ink.

^ Thank you.

--C.

So it seems like Kelldor knew about Tar-Baphon returning (he ordered the Mercenary League to double recruitment and train specifically for undead and orcs). It makes sense, as he's noted as being a powerful diviner (I seem to recall that he's a level 15 oracle). The only problem with this is that he started this operation two years before Tyrant's Grasp.

Any theories on how he got this information two whole years in advance?

(Of course there's always the option that I'm just looking too hard into things)

So it seems like Kelldor knew about Tar-Baphon returning (he ordered the Mercenary League to double recruitment and train specifically for undead and orcs). It makes sense, as he's noted as being a powerful diviner (I seem to recall that he's a level 15 oracle). The only problem with this is that he started this operation two years before Tyrant's Grasp.

Any theories on how he got this information two whole years in advance?

(Of course there's always the option that I'm just looking to hard into things)

Ultimate Intrigue introduced long term divination spells, one gives advice on events up to a century in the future.

The seals were being broken.

In general, I wrote anything involving history, culture, philosophy, demographics, and mercantile campaigns.

I was very impressed with Druma's history and culture. I've been pulled in by the campaign setting books before but this one really grabbed me and before I knew it hours had went by before I'd stopped reading.

John Compton wrote:

In general, I wrote anything involving history, culture, philosophy, demographics, and mercantile campaigns.

I was very impressed with Druma's history and culture. I've been pulled in by the campaign setting books before but this one really grabbed me and before I knew it hours had went by before I'd stopped reading.

I'm glad to hear that it's been such a gripping read! As you have the time and energy, we'd love for you and others to write reviews of this book.

As a reminder, it's a good idea to copy the text of your review before hitting Submit. The website's eaten a few heartfelt reviews before, and a precautionary Control+C can save some grief in the event internet goblins try to cause trouble.

^I have already been doing that for all of my posts of more than 2 lines (and usually even those of 2 lines or less). Not so easy as Control-C if you're on a phone, but then again, retyping the whole thing is a LOT harder on a phone . . . .

Will any information on the nation's discontents be forthcoming?

So it seems like Kelldor knew about Tar-Baphon returning (he ordered the Mercenary League to double recruitment and train specifically for undead and orcs). It makes sense, as he's noted as being a powerful diviner (I seem to recall that he's a level 15 oracle). The only problem with this is that he started this operation two years before Tyrant's Grasp.

Any theories on how he got this information two whole years in advance?

(Of course there's always the option that I'm just looking too hard into things)

This is intentionally left a bit vague, and from a totally meta-perspective, was done with my personal forewarning of changes coming post Tyrant's Grasp. Sometimes, not explaining how a thing is known makes it more compelling for GMs to use. It also adds to the mystery of the High Prophet without making him seem entirely all powerful—preparation is different than just having some ace "I win card"

I admit, an earlier thought I had for Tar-Baphon's arrival, would have been (and still could be) having Kelldor call in a lot of debts and use his nation's immense wealth and influence to summon in a literal army of inevitables to fight at the border. Maybe because I really like the idea of an army of inevitables battling a horde of undead?

SOLDIER-1st wrote:

So it seems like Kelldor knew about Tar-Baphon returning (he ordered the Mercenary League to double recruitment and train specifically for undead and orcs). It makes sense, as he's noted as being a powerful diviner (I seem to recall that he's a level 15 oracle). The only problem with this is that he started this operation two years before Tyrant's Grasp.

Any theories on how he got this information two whole years in advance?

(Of course there's always the option that I'm just looking too hard into things)

This is intentionally left a bit vague, and from a totally meta-perspective, was done with my personal forewarning of changes coming post Tyrant's Grasp. Sometimes, not explaining how a thing is known makes it more compelling for GMs to use. It also adds to the mystery of the High Prophet without making him seem entirely all powerful—preparation is different than just having some ace "I win card"

I admit, an earlier thought I had for Tar-Baphon's arrival, would have been (and still could be) having Kelldor call in a lot of debts and use his nation's immense wealth and influence to summon in a literal army of inevitables to fight at the border. Maybe because I really like the idea of an army of inevitables battling a horde of undead?

That does sound delightful. Thanks for the insight!

SOLDIER-1st wrote:

So it seems like Kelldor knew about Tar-Baphon returning (he ordered the Mercenary League to double recruitment and train specifically for undead and orcs). It makes sense, as he's noted as being a powerful diviner (I seem to recall that he's a level 15 oracle). The only problem with this is that he started this operation two years before Tyrant's Grasp.

Any theories on how he got this information two whole years in advance?

(Of course there's always the option that I'm just looking too hard into things)

This is intentionally left a bit vague, and from a totally meta-perspective, was done with my personal forewarning of changes coming post Tyrant's Grasp. Sometimes, not explaining how a thing is known makes it more compelling for GMs to use. It also adds to the mystery of the High Prophet without making him seem entirely all powerful—preparation is different than just having some ace "I win card"

I admit, an earlier thought I had for Tar-Baphon's arrival, would have been (and still could be) having Kelldor call in a lot of debts and use his nation's immense wealth and influence to summon in a literal army of inevitables to fight at the border. Maybe because I really like the idea of an army of inevitables battling a horde of undead?

Quite a visual! money well spent too! :)

Always down with weird bits of lore like this. Want to read it. I have to applaud any book which discusses the Prophet of Kalistrade.

That prestige class is bonkers. The character has to be rich, but explicitly not enjoy the wealth, unless looking at big numbers is your jam. In return they get... the worst PrC in the game, a semi-sorcerer an Adept would look down on. I can't think of a way to make one mechanically playable. Roleplay-playable is easy, we don't have to look far to see examples of blinding monetary greed.

Edit: One of the authors, Mr. Hillman, is very aware of this:

https://twitter.com/OnCallGm/status/929008581365714947

Mona supports the attempt.

Ha ha. Good luck with that, the class is hopeless. :)

So, I am a bit confused. This is part of the Lost Omens subscription. I was under the impression it was Pathfinder 1.0, not 2.0. Is it simply timing or did this book become 2.0?

The Pathfinder Campaign Setting subscription was turned into the Lost Omens subscription.

It's timing. The book was supposed to release last month but was delayed. So it's 1e.

That said, the flavor is useable in 2e. (Druma still exists, etc.) The mechanics aren't.

I wish there had been more rules type stuff, but all in all this was a pretty enjoyable book. Definitely helped me to flesh out what direction to go with my Silk-sworn Occultist :P

I wish there had been more rules type stuff, but all in all this was a pretty enjoyable book. Definitely helped me to flesh out what direction to go with my Silk-sworn Occultist :P

That Archetype just screams 'Druma!' doesn't it?

Just got the book yesterday, and am loving it. My memory is so spotty, I didn't even remember that the Drumish (Drumites? Drumans?) were ethnically Kellids, so the history was an eye-opener. I particularly like how much it involved nonhuman races, like the dwarves and orcs, because so many of the humanocentric nations seem to have a humancentric history, as if they grew up on a world without other races at all. Their interactions with an important dwarven event (the Quest for Sky) really helps to bake them into the setting organically, in a way that doesn't feel as true for a nation whose history is less 'Golarion-centric' and could have happened in any generic fantasy world (new nation flirts with representative diplomacy, stodgy old crumbling empire in decay reminisces about past glories when the 'sun never set on...', etc.).

nighttree wrote:

I wish there had been more rules type stuff, but all in all this was a pretty enjoyable book. Definitely helped me to flesh out what direction to go with my Silk-sworn Occultist :P

That Archetype just screams 'Druma!' doesn't it?

Just got the book yesterday, and am loving it. My memory is so spotty, I didn't even remember that the Drumish (Drumites? Drumans?) were ethnically Kellids, so the history was an eye-opener. I particularly like how much it involved nonhuman races, like the dwarves and orcs, because so many of the humanocentric nations seem to have a humancentric history, as if they grew up on a world without other races at all. Their interactions with an important dwarven event (the Quest for Sky) really helps to bake them into the setting organically, in a way that doesn't feel as true for a nation whose history is less 'Golarion-centric' and could have happened in any generic fantasy world (new nation flirts with representative diplomacy, stodgy old crumbling empire in decay reminisces about past glories when the 'sun never set on...', etc.).

I'm glad to hear you've been enjoying Druma and its history.

As I encourage with pretty much every product, leaving a review is a wonderful way that you can provide the authors feedback, convey what kinds of products you'd like to see in the future, and help others find books they'd enjoy, too.

I just wanted to chime in here and say that, apart from the Qadira book from a while back, this is the the single best Campaign Setting book I've read for Pathfinder. It has interesting mechanical crunch in delightfully inventive monsters, it has an exciting and interesting look into an underloved country with fascinating storytelling potential, and it's just g@~%$*n fun to read!

I wish we'd gotten more setting material books like this in 1st edition. If the whole line had been nothing but great deep-dives like this I'd have been immensely satisfied. It really makes Golarion feel [/i]alive[/i].

I just wanted to chime in here and say that, apart from the Qadira book from a while back, this is the the single best Campaign Setting book I've read for Pathfinder. It has interesting mechanical crunch in delightfully inventive monsters, it has an exciting and interesting look into an underloved country with fascinating storytelling potential, and it's just g+@!#!n fun to read!

I wish we'd gotten more setting material books like this in 1st edition. If the whole line had been nothing but great deep-dives like this I'd have been immensely satisfied. It really makes Golarion feel [/i]alive[/i].

Seconded.

Great to have some more info on the dietary restrictions, why the upper echelons are invested in this, and the cool daemon content.

Bonus points for having Pathfinder's scariest curse!

Woo for finally reviewing my favorite campaign setting book :'D

Woo for finally reviewing my favorite campaign setting book :'D

Thanks for the review!

Honestly didn't think I'd be into the region, but this book convinced me otherwise. Nice also to see a Kellid region out of this!

Honestly didn't think I'd be into the region, but this book convinced me otherwise. Nice also to see a Kellid region out of this!

Glad to hear you enjoyed it! Any favorite discoveries or sections?

DeciusNero wrote:

Honestly didn't think I'd be into the region, but this book convinced me otherwise. Nice also to see a Kellid region out of this!

Glad to hear you enjoyed it! Any favorite discoveries or sections?

The Kellid-Dwarf relations, the Kellids that tried to (can't recall the name in this hour) start a independent nation in the south of Druman and inside Isger was rather interesting - and a good plot point for an adventure. Overall, I liked that there was a solid foundation of relationships with neighboring nations.

Aside what CorvusMask wrote, the little sects regarding the prophecies were interesting.