A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for levels 1–4 (subtiers 1–2 and 3–4).
Goblin patriarch, merchant, and Pathfinder Society ally Yigrig Moneymaker needs help! The cunning goblin merchant has big plans to build a bridge that will connect two promising trade partners, but something is stirring up the local wildlife and convincing the lions and other predators of the Katapeshi plains that goblins are more tasty than can possibly be true. The PCs must find out who's responsible for the trials Yigrig's family faces before the lions of Katapesh devour the entire goblin clan and end the chance for trade between two desert cities.
Written by: Adam Meyers
Scenario tags: Repeatable
[Scenario Maps spoiler - click to reveal]
The following maps used in this scenario are also available for purchase here on paizo.com:
This was the first ever scenario I played, and it was... kind of boring? Maybe it's because I joined society in early 2024, so it was already worn out as the repeatable go-to and thus just routine for everyone else at the table, but... I had trouble getting invested. I liked the NPCs, and the final boss fight was tough enough that I got to feel smart when I played well, but overall there was this heavy "who cares" aura hanging over everything.
I don't think it was anyone's fault in particular. I haven't read or run Lions myself, and the GM/other players were perfectly friendly. I wish I had been around to experience this when it was fresh.
The biggest charm of this scenario is its relative shortness (when played with experienced players). Replay value is good. Goblins are one-dimensional but fun, combat is somewhat challenging on low tier but survivable.
For GMs:
The biggest drawback for me came when I first ran the scenario, as then it became apparent that the players might play relatively well and still end up with 3 treasure bundles in total and not complete their secondary objective. Simply because they didn't know entertaining goblins was vital or forgot to search a particular area. So these are definitely parts the GM needs to emphasize.
Also, the special rules for the lions stealing goblins from the camp are highly unbelievable.
It's a fine repeatable scenario, but it's definitely not as well-thought or coordinated as a non-repeatable scenario. I played it once and then GMed it once, and don't feel compelled to do either again.
If I GM it outside of Society, I'd definitely embellish the story and link the parts together with an overall arc.
Yay! More Repeatable Scenarios. I am very very glad there are a number of repeatable scenarios, please keep it up. It makes it much easier to get new players up to speed with more experienced players, and makes creating more characters per player easier.
I’m running this in a few days and I request clarifications ASAP on a discrepancy in the scenario concerning
spoiler:
the DC of the Survival check to Track the lions to their layer.
Scenario spoiler:
page 10 wrote:
Track the Felines: A PC can attempt a DC 20 Survival check to Track the felines to their lair. If the felines have attacked and killed at least one goblin, the PCs gain a +2 circumstance bonus to this check and can do so untrained, as the fresh blood dragged across the desert is easy to follow.
Scenario spoiler:
page 12 wrote:
First, a PC who succeeds at a DC 15 Survival check to Track can follow the leopards or lions to their lair. The PC gains a +1 circumstance bonus to this check if the felines have killed a goblin and escaped with its body, or a +2 circumstance bonus if a member of the party succeeded at a Nature check to Recall Knowledge regarding where the felines might be hiding.
Why has the above question never been answered when this is a very popular repeatable scenario for beginning players? Please, someone, anyone at all, answer this.
Why has the above question never been answered when this is a very popular repeatable scenario for beginning players? Please, someone, anyone at all, answer this.
I'm guessing the lower DC is for subtier 1-2 characters and the higher DC is for subtier 3-4 characters
