Pathfinder Society Scenario #5-05: The Island of the Vibrant Dead

3.10/5 (based on 14 ratings)
Pathfinder Society Scenario #5-05: The Island of the Vibrant Dead

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A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for 3rd- through 6th-level characters.

During routine study on the Maze of the Open Road, a lecture is interrupted by the old Pathfinder ghoul ally, Marcon Tinol. Through discussions with him, the Society learns that he and Drandle Dreng established an island haven in Azlant for ghouls wishing to live apart from humans, referred to as the Island of the Vibrant Dead. Marcon reports that a strange new ghoul named Ghessa has arrived on the island but her story about her death and undeath isn't adding up, leading him to fear that she may be up to something sinister. The PCs must travel to the island, where the residents maintain a ghoulish existence celebrating their undeath, and dig into Ghessa's story, as well as her trips into the vaults of the long-dead Arodenite priesthood.

Written by Joseph Blomquist

Scenario tags: Metaplot (Unfettered Exploration), Faction (Vigilant Seal)

[Scenario Maps spoiler - click to reveal]

The following maps used in this scenario are also available for purchase here on paizo.com:

  • Pathfinder Flip-Mat: Mythos Dungeon
  • Note: This product is part of the Pathfinder Society Scenario Subscription.

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    3.10/5 (based on 14 ratings)

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    Having Played & Run, I'd say...

    4/5

    I find it bizarre that this scenario didn’t get a higher rating, as it is one of the better among season 5, as well as everything within the 3-6 tier. The setting is interesting, and so are the encounters. That said, they really should let the players investigate within the town and maybe on the magic of the tome, instead of running around the island and facing random ambushes, which have nothing to do with the setting and really made this a missed opportunity.


    Great flavor, combats can be difficult

    4/5

    When I played this, my GM combined some of the encounters, and it was...Quite challenging. So when I ran it for a party that was fragile, I was a bit careful and let them take time to heal (and Barnaby was just bored). The final encounter can get pretty dangerous if the dice go poorly. The scenario can run long, too, with a lot of combat: it took me five hours for a party of five at the lower end of high tier.

    ...But the setting and the characters are very worth it! The town of Deadhaven is very creatively put together, with fascinating culture, and some outstanding characters. I hope we get more than the brief glimpse into this place that we had in this scenario.


    4/5

    Played once, GMed once. Great hook, both groups got *very* invested in the investigation, and the dungeon crawl was reasonably challenging. However, it's worth warning that both of my groups also ran long - I had to cut out one of the encounters entirely, just so we could finish before closing time of our LGS! That's really my only problem with the scenario, that running it in the future will probably need me to block out 5 hours rather than 4.


    Great flavor, some challenges to overcome

    3/5

    First off, I did enjoy both playing and running this scenario. It has amazing flavor, but there are some challenges to overcome.

    The pros
    - The flavor is amazing. The whole presentation of the surroundings is highly evocative and feels like it dips strongly into the pirate and carribean themes
    - The NPC's are cool, and their artwork is fantastic
    - In advance you can surmise the general theme of the encounters that you're going to face, but they all still manage to surprise and to pack quite a punch
    - That BBEG is a seriously mean and terrifying piece of work. Both Loved and hated it :D
    - The metaplot storyline implications are interesting and cool

    The cons
    - As a player I still have to come to terms with the whole "not all undead are evil", and I know from playing that I'm not alone in this. I'm definitely not opposed to the concept, so I do not hold this against the scenario: As previously stated, I loved the flavor that was presented. The reason that I add this as a negative, is that the GM does not get any handhold or suggestion to help champions, clerics or even plain followers of a deity to work with this (Pharasma is a Core20 deity that has an edict to destroy undead, even in the Remaster). A sidebar with a few suggestions would have helped
    - The whole investigation and dungeon crawling felt too obvious, and it does not really support very obvious player actions such as wanting to interview the NPC's, or wanting to gather information about them. I undersdtand GM freedom allows a lot, but suggestions would have been welcome
    - The scenario runs long (ran it in 6 hours while skipping one encounter, and without any downtime or 'slow play'). It felt to me like the dungeon crawling part alone could be a scenario.

    All in all
    Despite the challenges, I did enjoy the scenario and I wouldn't mind running it again. Finally, I'm curious where this is leading to.


    A Difficult to review scenario

    3/5

    So on the plus side

    - Good Varied combat encounters finally! There were 3 very good fights in here and one which i had to cut for time and thats okay because it was wholly unnecessary anyway. Big props for finally doing good combat design work!

    - Tone and setting - it feels like a fun romp because its supposed to be. It raises a LOT of setting related questions specifically on the nature of this island, ghouls, undeath in general. Its really really weird. Hopefully we eventually get answers because the mystery of the island was way more interrsting than the actual mystery the adventure was about and doesnr get resolved.

    Downsides

    - The mystery itself...isnt a mystery. You get told who the suspect is and then every single piece of evidence supports that theory. If a GM really tries and reaches for it you can loop in a red herring but its tough sledding.

    - Pacing its ALL mystery and then ALL combat which just isnt good pacing. Something more varied (and there were opportunities for it in this story) would have helped

    - The setting and tone are VERY light hearted regarding topics which are typicslly quite heavy. If a player brings a champion or a cleric of pharasma or Iomedae or just...is from Last wall, there is a lot of cognitive dissonance the scenario does NOTHING to smooth.

    So good combats, good humor and memorable npcs but it can run long and the mystery itself is simply a dissatisfying conclusion


    1 to 5 of 14 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | next > last >>
    Paizo Employee Organized Play Coordinator

    2 people marked this as a favorite.

    Announced for October! Cover and product image are not final and are subject to change.


    3 people marked this as a favorite.

    The rescued one from Flooded King's Court? Cool. Always wondered what happened to him.


    1 person marked this as a favorite.

    This setting sounds absolutely killer. I love how wild Year 5 is shaping up!

    Contributor

    1 person marked this as a favorite.

    GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND

    Verdant Wheel

    AHHHHHHH I've been *waiting* to see if he popped up again!

    Envoy's Alliance

    1 person marked this as a favorite.

    "Azlanti islands? Old "friends"? Stories not adding up. Hazard pay might be needed here, because I think it'll be a *ghouling* experience."

    Paizo Employee Organized Play Coordinator

    1 person marked this as a favorite.

    Map list updated.

    Paizo Employee Organized Play Coordinator

    1 person marked this as a favorite.

    The map for this scenario has been changed, please note the new map.

    Verdant Wheel

    2 people marked this as a favorite.
    Alex Speidel wrote:
    The map for this scenario has been changed, please note the new map.

    Map question.

    Potential spoiler for Flooded King's Court:
    Isn't this map the same one used in Flooded King's Court, where we first meet Marcon Tinol?
    The Exchange

    Pathfinder Maps Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
    hiimwil wrote:
    Alex Speidel wrote:
    The map for this scenario has been changed, please note the new map.
    Map question. ** spoiler omitted **

    That was my first thought as well, but

    Spoiler:
    there are two sides to the map, or maybe the Maze shifted Marcon's house over to the island?
    Contributor

    1 person marked this as a favorite.

    New cover, who dis?

    Dark Archive

    Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

    I think that's the accountant

    Contributor

    CorvusMask wrote:
    I think that's the accountant

    LOL

    Yeah, I knew it was Marcon. I was just making a cell phone joke

    Vigilant Seal

    1 person marked this as a favorite.
    Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

    You know one addition that would make my life super awesome and easy? A combatant count or "Dramatis Personae" list so I know what mini's or pawns I need to pull.


    Pathfinder LO Special Edition, Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, PF Special Edition Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Superscriber

    Ron Lundeen did something like that for Abomination Vaults. It's on Pathfinder Infinite, "Abomination Vaults GM's Guide".

    Doing it routinely in the PFS Scenarios would probably significantly increase the word/page count.

    Grand Archive

    Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

    Have any subscribers got their copy?

    Dark Archive

    3 people marked this as a favorite.
    Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

    I'm currently trying to figure out what I think about the scenario since I'm currently kinda wary of specific kind of trope that has been popular in PFS ever since I was brought attention of it

    Verdant Wheel

    Project: J-ko wrote:
    hiimwil wrote:
    Alex Speidel wrote:
    The map for this scenario has been changed, please note the new map.
    Map question. ** spoiler omitted **
    That was my first thought as well, but ** spoiler omitted **

    It's funny, I actually thought myself a dunderhead for not realizing that yes, of COURSE the map has another side, so surely that's what they're using. Which is especially great for people who DID play the previous module, no need to go out and buy another flip-mat and you can just play them back-to-back!

    Alas, no. It is literally the same map side.


    Pathfinder LO Special Edition, Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, PF Special Edition Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Superscriber
    Calcryx666 wrote:
    Have any subscribers got their copy?

    Well, I haven't.


    Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
    Calcryx666 wrote:
    Have any subscribers got their copy?

    I had to email customer service.


    1 person marked this as a favorite.
    Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
    H2Osw wrote:
    Calcryx666 wrote:
    Have any subscribers got their copy?
    I had to email customer service.

    I just sent an email to customer service yesterday and no response so far, how long did it take for them to fix it for you?

    Wayfinders

    The map change in this scenario is definitely an issue. You really can tell that they wrote the scenario based on another map, then at the last minute decided to change over to the map from this scenario's predecessor, but rushed it and didn't get all of the language right.

    Dark Archive

    Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

    So...none of the descriptions of rooms match the actual map in any useful way. I don't suppose anyone ever updated them? I'm thoroughly confused as to what they are supposed to be.


    Pathfinder LO Special Edition, Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, PF Special Edition Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Superscriber

    What which they are supposed to be? The rooms?

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