A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for levels 1-4.
The Sewer Dragons reach out to the Pathfinder Society, concerned about a missing contact. The Pathfinders discover that this is no mere meet and greet, however, as strange events and a mysterious cult become tangled together in a web of mystery.
Written by: Jessica Catalan
Scenario tags: Metaplot
[Scenario Maps spoiler - click to reveal]
The following maps used in this scenario are also available for purchase here on paizo.com:
I have played this and prepared it to run. Overall I really like this adventure but it has some issues. The structure works well and it is easy to prepare. It has a good mix of combat and investigation with some RP opportunities with the kobolds.
However, there are some issues, particularly at low tier. The first encounter is particularly lethal for level 1 characters and I can easily see one PC dropping a round. This really hghlights the issues when you put level 3 solo monsters into low tier adventures. Having the potential for death from massive damage for level 1 characters does little to help foster new players which is important with a 1-4.
The skill challenge is challenging but the DCs are reasonable. The damage is low but given what happens when you get inside it seems unlikely you will rest before moving to the final confrontation. That is likely to make things even more dangerous.
The skill challenge is bit nasty for level 1 characters, but 1 damage on lower tier isn't that bad. Though it could turn nasty if party has no healing options left at all, on higher levels taking damage per level is just annoying rather than deadly.
Anyhoo, the encounters are plenty dangerous without being over powerful, so that is nice. Its also nice that since society gms are just as likely to be pcs and gms that this scenario doesn't reveal identity of the bad guy(who would be mystery to players as well) to gm so they don't get spoiled if they later play metaplot as players.
The new chronicle is.. Well I like that its simpler, but its too much simpler. There isn't spot for tracking xp and gold which you can't currently track digitally either way.. This is first scenario I've run with maps included in file as images and I love that, made putting the tile map maps to roll20 super easy and got it in good resolution :D
And back to scenario: Its good and flavorful(I did like how kobold scene took account that pc kobolds could be from hookclaw or sewer dragons), but overall plot wise the scenario is bit... Well its like that scene in tv shows where mysterious bad guy shows up, steals something from museum and then guards arrive after them to gawk at the theft, but stretched to over course of entire scenario. Basically, its cool scenario yeah, but not much actually happens metaplot wise that is new besides foreshadowing the bad guy of season. Yet though I really like that metaplot scenarios have been more common this time around :)
"Ooh... what wonderful spectral chonk! I have seen rare few bears to rival such a chonkful beefiness."
Full credit goes to the artist on that one. My art order was literally and only "It's a bear made entirely out of lightning." Sometimes the artist does their best work when the writers just get out of the way.
Designer
