Pathfinder, the APG, and Olman culture.

[The Black Bard]

So, as my second DMing of Savage Tide approaches Olangru, and the Advanced Players Guide sits on my table, I started thinking.

"Witch and Oracle seem very well suited to the Olman culture, as far as classes go. Let's explore this idea!"

So what do the rest of you think? I'm looking at both the "modern" Isle of Dread Olman culture, and the "ancient" Thanaclan Olman culture, since my PCs are more than likely to go hunting for the "Sleeping Princes" if they hear of the legend.

I'm currently thinking Oracle of Bones for the Zombie Masters, but then again, the Plague Witch can do that as well. Which brought two ideas to mind.

1. The current Zombie Master tradition is a perversion/rebellion from the previous "ancient" traditions, likely deliberately done by survivors of the first Savage Tide but unknown by modern Olmans to be anything other than "the way its done".

2. The current Tradition is decended from the only "Prince" to survive the first Savage Tide, and didn't go into temporal stasis. This could set up an interesting figure hidden somewhere on the Island, an active Prince of Thanaclan. Likely an undead of some sort, given the lifespan needed, but this is also sensible in its own way. Granted, its trying to shove Voodoo into the Mesoamerican melting pot that the Olman already are, but it got me thinking of a sort of Baron Samedi type character.

I'm interesting in what others have to say. I'm not worried about breaking with the "canon" Olman lore, but at the same time, the more canon lore I have, the more of a foundation I have to build and modify.

Any thoughts?

[carborundum]

Sounds great!

full of spoilers:

In my campaign, the deserted Olman village has been caused by a lich who recently woke up - with shades of the Varnhold Vanishing. I used the map from Torrents of Dread (Dungeon 114) for his underground lair, and he's been experimenting with all sorts of freakish beasts and plants. He's zombified the population and has started moving in on the local Bullywugs, taking their eggs for his experiments.

He's also trading with the Lords of Dread, sending slaves in return for lore, and trying to build up a relationship so that he can visit Golismorga and examine the Head there.

Got to head to work now, but I can expound and expand if you like ;-)

[Luna eladrin]

There is something somewhere in the AP about an original zombie master. This might well be your Baron Samedi prince.

I added an original zombie master as well and placed him in the other volcano (next to the one with Zotzilaha). I made him into a mummy lord (I think it was from Tome of horrors).

[Bacchreus]

I remember reading somewhere (think it was torrents of dread) that the head zombie master is a Lich and is located at the Fangs of Zotzilaha. When a new priest wants to be elevated to zombie master he must go on a quest to the fangs for initiation.

I went with this idea in my campaign but inserted the aspect as the focus of the pilgrimage. As i'd played torrents of dread the party was eager to help this initiate to secure the Olmans help against the pirates. Worked out wonderfully with them killing the initiate and one greedy party member stealing some of the aspects treasure. they then destroyed it and drew zotzilahas gaze who then erupted the volcano. the party barely got away with their lives (sacrificing much of the treasure to do so)

[The Black Bard]

Seriously, either I read that before, stored it in my subconcious, and drew from it later, or I just got incredibly lucky in my synchronization.

I ran Torrents of Dread as a side adventure to ST when we were missing a few players a few months back. The players present played as an Olman native, a Farshore ambassador, and a shipwrecked pirate. The Olman was an apprentice Zombie Master, so I had them eventually go and meet the origional Zombie Master, a Lich, living in the southern Fang of Zotzilaha....

I swear, I had no idea that was actually legit from the start. At least, no concious idea, I suppose. Wow. Kinda wierded out now.