As the title says, I'm thinking sequal. We are on the last book of Rise and I was thinking, the pcs have determined that the runelords 6 (all but Karzoug) are just as bad news, and they don't want them to rise either. They are certain it is going to happen, and by the way the book talks Karzoug's defeat just lets the others loose in a manner. So I'm thinking that I want to set a game like 30 or so years after the swallowtail festival/goblin attack (so nearly 30 years after the AP ends). Conceptually, the pcs who have taken over the fort of the black arrows will have dedicated their "retirement" to combating the runelords minions and routing out the remaining runelords. They will have become a powerful organization dedicated to combating the greatest threat unknown, and the leaders for the most part will be the previous pcs. The players will play, legacy characters or members of the organization eventually. So lets talk about the manner in which each runelord survived doom and how they plan on coming back as well as what that process entails and where it would be (their capitols?).
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I believe it is mentioned in Curse of the Crimson Throne that Sorshen is located beneath Castle Korvosa in the Catacombs beneath the pyramid that the castle is built on. There is a bit of a mention in the wrap up about how to continue on with Curse and that Sorshen's awakening is one of the suggestions there.
Some research through the first few AP's would probably get you the locations of most, if not all, of the Runelords.
Yes and there is a module where you find a Runelord sword... near Kaer Maga I believe :)
Yes and there is a module where you find a Runelord sword... near Kaer Maga I believe :)
Seven of them.
Unfortunately, that module requires invasive surgery — not to integrate it with runelords, but to bring it up to the standard of quality from runelords. I am Gming 7 Swords of Sin right now, and it shows clear signs of being an early, early module from Paizo, built less to showcase Golarion and Kaer Maga and more intended to recycle a delve the staff played at a convention. The reasons are understandable, but that module should be avoided unless you are a completist.
As for the other Runelords, why don't we build a list of their lairs?
Karzoug: Xin Shalast/Leng
Sorshen: Beneath Castle Korvosa
Alaznist: Hollow Mountain
...?
Zutha -
I believe it is mentioned in Curse of the Crimson Throne that Sorshen is located beneath Castle Korvosa in the Catacombs beneath the pyramid that the castle is built on. There is a bit of a mention in the wrap up about how to continue on with Curse and that Sorshen's awakening is one of the suggestions there.
Some research through the first few AP's would probably get you the locations of most, if not all, of the Runelords.
Which book? is it the last one?
Alaznist, Runelord of Wrath
Domain: Bakrakhan
Weapon of Rule: Ranseur of charred adamantine
Belimarius, Runelord of Envy
Domain: Edasseril
Weapon of Rule: Halberd
Karzoug, Runelord of Greed
Domain: Shalast
Weapon of Rule: Burning glaive studded with meteoric gemstones
Krune, Runelord of Sloth
Domain: Haruka
Weapon of Rule: Dragon-tooth longspear
Sorshen, Runelord of Lust
Domain: Eurythnia
Weapon of Rule: Double-headed guisarme
Xanderghul, Runelord of Pride
Domain: Cyrusian
Weapon of Rule: Lucerne hammer
Zutha, Runelord of Gluttony
Domain: Gastash
Weapon of Rule: Scythe
For what it is worth, following are some of my notes on how I was going to set this up. My players did want to pursue the rest of the Runelords, and I was going to have events occur fairly quickly after the fall of Karzoug.
Runelord Status
Karzoug = Dead
Alaznist = She is awakened and trying to recover her power in secret from Hollow Mountain. She’s only been awake for a short period of time and is having a hard time reconciling the fact that most of her kingdom is gone. CR 21
Belimarius = She was awakening in the Ironbound Isles, however, Sorshen killed her. The PCs may discover clues and some surviving minions if they find her lair.
Krune = He is within Kaer Maga, and is being the most cautious. He is studying the new world and it’s powers. CR 23
Sorshen = She is the first to awaken after Karzoug and is in Korvosa. Rather than grow an army, she is actively seeking out other Runelords to kill them, or stop them. She may use the PCs toward this end. CR 22
Xanderghul = He is still in stasis somewhere within the Land of the Linnorm Kings. He will be the most powerful and the last to return to Golarion. CR 24
Zutha = Is trapped inside his tome. His minions are trying to collect the other books, one of which may be in the library at Jorgenfist. His main lair is within the Hold of Belkzen . CR 22
Possible Encounters
Slave of the Gluttonous Tome – The heroes encounter a powerful necromancer who is seeking the third volume.
Agent of Xanderghul – This powerful agent is seeking a way to free his master through several Thassilonian artifacts.
Rumors of War – Alaznist tries to reactivate a Hellflume as part of her attempt to regain power.
Powerful Passing – While exploring a Thassilonian ruin, the PCs run into Sorshen. This could be deadly or turn into a role-playing encounter.
Awesome :)
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Which book? is it the last one?
Crown of Fangs AP #12. I don't have it on me (friend borrowed it to read through after I ran them through the AP) so I can't reference a page or quote it for you but I am confident that in the last page or two there is a wrap up of the campaign including ideas on how to continue the campaign and Sorshen is mentioned in there.
Ok we know where they "are", and what not but how did they survive? Karzoug used the runewell to go into stasis between worlds, Zutha used the glutinous tome (i think thats the name) and had it split into 3 pieces that could recreate him, etc. How did the runelords survive the fall? I mean what is their schtick? I feel that impacts what they need to do to come back. For instance Karzoug needed to harness greedy souls to power the master runewell and open the portal to let him out. Zutha needs to have his book reassembled (and I am willing to bet that he needs mass gluttony involved somehow like ghouls and flesh eaters, and mass feasts and whatnot as part of the ritual that puts it together... I will run it that wat anyway :P)
I believe all of the Runelords used or had access to runewells, so I'll be incorporating them in my game.
Here are some ideas on what the Runelords may have done or what I may use.
Alaznist: She fled to a planar refuge and died long ago. However, the reactivation of the runewells alerts her successors, Alaznist XXIV perhaps.
Belimarius: She went into stasis in a manner similar to Karzoug.
Krune: Upon learning about the doom coming to Golarion, he tried to flee but was betrayed by one of his more powerful planar allies. He has been magically imprisoned for countless ages. If the PCs, figure out where is is imprisoned (probably the Abyss) then they may have a chance to free him. However, I'm playing with the idea that his prison is sitting on display in a demonlord's treasury.
Sorshen: She hid in the crypts under Korvosa.
Xanderghul: He established an empire on another plane, he gained some sort of immortality. He also notices the activation of the runewells. However, I need to construct a reason he does not coming rushing back.
Zutha: As we know, he split his soul into the Gluttonous Tome.
Xanderghul: He established an empire on another plane, he gained some sort of immortality. He also notices the activation of the runewells. However, I need to construct a reason he does not coming rushing back.
Easy, I like the idea that he's immortal by conquering a small planar dwelling nation or race (gith offshoots or some sort) and achieved a divine rank (demi-god or least god) and has focused on conquering more than the world but the planes, the awakening of the runewells becomes a glitch in his plans but more a minor inconvienence and a reason to redouble his efforts to conquer so he's ahead of the game so to speak. At least that's what I might do...