A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for levels 5-8.
In the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, Pathfinders and Ulfen rulers grow concerned about the lack of information coming across the border from Irrisen. A team of Pathfinders is sent to scout a hidden pass into Irrisen and see what they can find out, but they find more than they could have possibly anticipated. With Russian soldiers displaced across worlds and cunning winter witches grasping for power, will the PCs get to raise a frosty mug with new friends, or find themselves in the icy grasp of powerful enemies?
Written by: Mikhail Rekun
Scenario tags: Horizon Hunters
[Scenario Maps spoiler - click to reveal]
The following maps used in this scenario are also available for purchase here on paizo.com:
A Frosty Mug is a tier 5-8 scenario set in the frigid land of Irrisen that is brimming with flavor, character, and heart. There are not enough nice things that I can say about the way this scenario approaches its themes, narrative, and characters, but I will certainly try.
From a technical perspective, A Frosty Mug has plenty of opportunities for diplomats, warriors, and skill monkeys to each excel in their respective roles. Most encounters present more than one way to resolve the dramatic tension of the scene, and really emphasizes the party’s ability to roleplay and seek nonviolent (or mostly nonviolent) resolutions to conflict. Of course, for groups that are looking for a fight (despite the call of the scenario being a peaceful mission), there is plenty to challenge and intrigue tactically-minded players.
Where A Frosty Mug really shines, however, is its cast of colorful characters. Each NPC the PCs interact with, no matter how minor, feels unique and memorable. Many of the more important characters possess just enough nuance to make them interesting, without being bogged down in unnecessary detail or exposition. As a consequence, there is plenty of room for the PCs to roleplay, and the quieter scenes in the scenario could easily make the scenario play out for much longer than its allotted 4-5 hour time slot.
Overall, A Frosty Mug is overflowing with color and character that gives the players the rare opportunity to leave a new land better than how they found it. I look forward to seeing more adventures set in Irrisen, if only so we can check back in on the characters and how they are fairing.
Mechanically, the scenario seemed fine. But I was confused throughout the scenario because I was unfamiliar with all the backstory and I could not tell who was on what side and whether we were interacting with the same groups of people or not.
The village is fun roleplaying, and we had a hoot (crit succeeding more than our fair share helped the fun along, too). The first combat was fine, but we ended up talking our way out of the others, which felt too easy. I was convinced we were about to get attacked at the end because I couldn't believe that was all it took to not get double-teamed by both sides.
I'm yet to run this one but I sure as hell enjoyed playing it :) I't a fantastic setting with really flavorful, memorable NPCs and some nice combat, lovely story. Well done :)
I will probably add some more details once I've run it.
After a lot of very dissapointing scenarios (espceially with problematic mechanics) this season this is finally a scenario with a good story and the mechanics to back it up.
The callback to Reign of Winter was fitting and the interaction with the town was very well made.
A team of Pathfinders is sent to scout a hidden pass into Irrisen and see what they can find out, but they find more than they could have possibly anticipated.
You're assuming what's mentioned in the blurb is what they're sent for and all that they find.
I was told in the outline to include some kind of big scary primal monster there. Of course it had to be a bear, and of course it had to be named Mishka. How could I call myself a Russian otherwise?
I have a question for the skill checks listed in the middle of P14, the first in the list. One of them is a skill check for an activity that does not belong with that skill. Which need to be corrected, the skill used or the activity performed?
And I'd say that if a price is lower on the Chronicle sheet than in the CRB, then it's a discounted item.
I can't pick boon for character I gave gm chronicle to, so uh I'm not sure exactly what this one's boon does though I can guess the basics? But yeah like what is exact text for this one?(does it allow for it to be given to another character?)
I can't pick boon for character I gave gm chronicle to, so uh I'm not sure exactly what this one's boon does though I can guess the basics? But yeah like what is exact text for this one?(does it allow for it to be given to another character?)
Yes. Spoilers for this scenario's boon:
Spoiler:
This boon lets you pick a character to either have Baba Yaga as their witch patron and gain access to all options therein, or just gain access to the lesson of the frozen queen and the glacial heart hex.
Quote:
A workaround on the tech problem is to report yourself as a player to activate the boon, then update the reporting to remove yourself. Good luck
So I've noticed the last few scenarios I've purchased -- including this one -- appear to no longer allow the extraction of images. I can see why this might have been done, but for transparency's sake, I'd like to know whether this was a deliberate change.
I was able to extract from #2-10, going to check my copy of this. I do use the full version of Acrobat however.
I see; thanks for checking. Perhaps it is a software issue on my side, as I'm using an older version of Nitro Reader (though older scenarios still work normally).
Hi, this comment is full of spoilers, read it at your discretion. We played the scenario with a couple of druids, and through it, we were getting hints that nature was pleased when the soldiers were defeated on the different challenges. Then on the final fight, the witch is not aggressive and seems to be telling the truth. So as druids we did hear nature and sided with her. Luckily, the rest of the party wanted to negotiate, and we did succeed on that. Otherwise, we would have got 1 point of Infamy for listening to nature. As a summary this scenario can mislead druids to take the path that grants you infamy.
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Is the boon granted for playing this scenario still available after the Remaster? And if it is available, does the boon need to be re-written to mesh with the Remaster Witch?
Organized Play Associate
