I was wondering if there are any adventure modules or such that have encounters with creatures/agents of Rovagug for stats for a campaign in which Rovagug would be set free? Even stats on the god itself.
Also, is Rovagug something beyond Aboleths and the Gods of the Dark Tapestry or is it just some mindless/bestial regular god that somehow is more powerful then the gods of Golarion?
He seems like he could be PF's version of Pandorym.
Thanks,
- D -
I don't know if that's what they intended, but when I think Rovagog, I think Azathoth from the Cthulu mythos.
Rovagug's been hinted about by many different things, but there's lots of stuff out there that have to do with him. The biggest, from what I understand, is the Legacy of Fire AP (though I could be wrong).
I hear they even statted up another one of his spawn. One of his spawn, though, you should know if you've ever seen the Beastiary. It's called "the Tarrasque".
Also, from what I remember, Rovagug has been hinted at being a or being connected to the qlippoth from the Abyss by James Jacobs. Can't recall where, though, and my search-fu is weak, and I've got thunder storms, so I'm going to have to call it quits soon.
Realize the Tarrasque is one of Rovagug's spawn, survived to maturity.
Now realize that those spawn are a dime a dozen: He generates multitudes of spawn, and any that survive to maturity are as strong as, if not stronger than, the Tarrasque.
Now consider that the Tarrasque is to Rovagug as a common goblin is to Abadar.
Use these as you baseline assumptions when stating Rovagug out; he is literally a threat that no mortal power can comprehend, let alone touch. It took an alliance of the other deities, good and evil alike, to lock him away in the first place, and even they were unable to kill him. Basically, if he gets out Golarion ends.
@Lazar, Only way the world would end is if the player's screwed up majorly.
@Spiral_Ninja, Lol i think you mean Azathoth? But yeah I can see what you mean after reading up on it.
@Tacticslion, yep I have heard of the creature. I remember it from D&D when I first read it. And the Qlippoth I found in the Bestiary 2 and it doesn't reference Rovagug as far as I can tell. I'll have to go back and reread it again just in case I missed it. If you find the reference from James Jacobs please post it here.
Thanks.
Realize the Tarrasque is one of Rovagug's spawn, survived to maturity.
Now realize that those spawn are a dime a dozen: He generates multitudes of spawn, and any that survive to maturity are as strong as, if not stronger than, the Tarrasque.
Now consider that the Tarrasque is to Rovagug as a common goblin is to Abadar.
Use these as you baseline assumptions when stating Rovagug out; he is literally a threat that no mortal power can comprehend, let alone touch. It took an alliance of the other deities, good and evil alike, to lock him away in the first place, and even they were unable to kill him. Basically, if he gets out Golarion ends.
Good point. Stats for Rovagug would be pointless even if the players could take on a god themselves cause yeah if he's that strong.
Now I have to figure out how or why anyone would want to free the beast and plots and adventures for it. Idk where to begin to design a campaign around this idea, should it span the entire campaign or just the last parts or what. Thoughts and suggestions?
Rovagug's cultists and followers are everywhere, and span all levels of difficulty. They seek to free their master and the eventual oblivious it would entail. Either that or they seek to emulate his destructive power themselves. In either case they are a persistent threat throughout the Inner Seas region, and as a result a campaign involving these cultists is appropriate for any level.
Cool, thanks. I will try to find the Legacy of Fire and read up on them.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
As others have already said, Legacy of Fire has quite a few references to Rovagug. There is even an entire article on him in part 5 of 6 (Issue 23). It also covers information on several of his spawn (but doesn't stat all of them up, just one).
The Bestiary has the stats for the Tarrasque which is another spawn. The Inner Sea Bestiary which is not out yet (but can be found for preorder in the Campaign Setting line) is planned to release stats for one or two more of the spawn.
As for the Qlippoth connection, you're not going to find that in Bestiary 2 because the rulebooks are setting-neutral. I believe this theory mostly stems from discussion on the message boards and may have come from James Jacobs at one point. I'll try to track down the quote later if I can.
Hope that helps.
Yep it helps. Thanks.
Cool, thanks. I will try to find the Legacy of Fire and read up on them.
Now's the time to do it! If you want the Legacy of Fire AP, all the print edition is on sale for $5 each--meaning you can get the entire AP for $30! This sale ends very soon though, so if you're interested in all that wonderful info, jump on it! =)
All I know about Rovagug from James comments is that it started out as Obox-Ob in his campaigns.
Obox-Ob is from 3.5, former ruler of the Obeirith race of demons (renamed Qlippoth in PF), as such I imagine that Rovagug represents an evil from before the rise of the sentient races and most likely older than all the Gods, wether it is infact more powerful than the Gods might not be of much consequence.
If Rovagug broke free it will have an immense effect on the existing world most likely resulting in it's destruction, the Gods might in some way be forbidden or unable to intervene directly even if it is not infact more powerful perse it will likely end the world as it is known.
At the very least I estimate Rovagug will be a Qlippoth lord more powerful than any other demon lord that is not a true god, CR 36 to 40 range (James estimated Nocticula at 35), but likely much more powerful.
Well, I think Rovagug would be in the "much more powerful" category if we're going by the "Jacobs Standard". Nocticula and the other top-tier Demon Lords (such as Abraxas) and Qlippoth Lords (such as Dagon) are indeed expected to be around CR 35 to 40. However, Rovagug has transcended to actual godhood much like Lamashtu and as such is beyond CR 40 and stats (if/when Pathfinder does Mythic rules).
It did take the might of multiple gods to imprison Rovagug so if he's beyond these gods he's certainly beyond even the most powerful Demon Lords.
So is he more powerful then the Gods in the Dark Tapestry? Cause I read those are more powerful then the gods of Pathfinder.
That is another way of putting it.
As to the question of Great Old Ones, I'm with Kthulhu on this. He'd be on par with Yoggy and the rest of the club.
Thanks for the info everyone. Him being on their level makes sense. Just imagine then if all the Dark Ones decided to come their way. Fun times. I did read Orcs worshiped him. Since Rovagug is a Chaotic Evil god would it then seem strange the Orcs that control that country (Hold something I forget it's name) would rally under a banner of a powerful Orc to invade other lands? Doesn't have to be orcs but using them as an example.
- D -
|
Lesse...according to Mr. Jacobs, there's no intention of gods getting stats for a long, long while from now, if ever. As for how dangerous or strong he is...wellllll....Rovagug is implied to have crawled into the Great Beyond from whatever crazy half-world the Old Ones also came from, or someplace similar, so I'm guessing he might be at their level of strength. Considering he's killed gods, and it took an entire pantheon just to subdue him (they failed to destroy him), I'm guessing he's way up there in terms of the "power level" thing.
Thing about Rovagug worshippers is that they're kind of...well, unhinged. They want to destroy everything, not conquer things. Orcs MIGHT follow a rovagug worshipper if he was powerful enough, but they wouldn't follow him for long, especially considering that rovagug worshippers are not exempt from the whole "end of reality" thing (although some like to believe they are). I dunno. I don't see that happening. And if it does, it wouldn't last. Even Belkzen didn't manage to hold it together for that long...
Thanks for the info everyone. Him being on their level makes sense. Just imagine then if all the Dark Ones decided to come their way. Fun times. I did read Orcs worshiped him. Since Rovagug is a Chaotic Evil god would it then seem strange the Orcs that control that country (Hold something I forget it's name) would rally under a banner of a powerful Orc to invade other lands? Doesn't have to be orcs but using them as an example.
- D -
Luckily for most planets, the Great Old Ones will never focus a concerted effort against a single world as it's not worth their attention (unless you want it to be).
As for the Orcs rallying in the Hold of Belkzen there is definitely precedent for that, just not under the banner of Rovagug (see the history of Tar-Baphon, Ustalav, and Lastwall for more details).
Another race just as inclined, possibly more so, to rally under a Rovagug army are the Gnolls. Especially down on the southern continent of Garund. Again, see Legacy of Fire for more details.
Don't forget intelligent undead, especially those that take particular pleasure in the physical act of consuming flesh. They would make ideal followers of Rovagug, and there's even a ghoul empire in the Darklands; the ghouls of Nemret Noktoria generally venerate the demon lord Kabriri, but having loyalty to the Rough Beast as well fits incredibly well with their nature.
Creative Director
|
| 7 people marked this as a favorite. |
Just as Lamashtu is a demon lord become a deity, and Asmodeus an archdevil become a deity, and Sarenrae an empyreal lord become a deity, Rovagug is in all likelihood a qlippoth lord becoming a deity. And he did so long before Lamashtu, Asmodeus, and Sarenrae were even around in the first place, I suspect. He's VERY old.
In Golarion, we basically have 3 categories of divinities (entities capable of casting spells).
"Quasi-deity": This category includes things like nascent demon lords, infernal dukes, and daemon harbingers. They grant spells to followers, but have stats that can be presented in the current rules system—they're CR 21–25. I put the word "Quasi-deity" in quotes above because we haven't really settled on a word for this category yet.
Demigod: This category includes things like demon lords, empyreal lords, arch devils, the horsemen, the eldest, elemental lords, and the Great Old Ones like Cthulhu. They can't be statted up yet, but they could be if and when we do an expansion to the power of the game. In such a category, I'd say these creatures would be equivalent to CR 26–35 or thereabouts.
Deity: This category includes the core 20 deities, lesser known deities like Milani and Zyphus and Besmara, elder gods like Yog-Sothoth. They likely won't EVER have stats. It's to this category that Rovagug belongs. In this category, there's likely other power levels, but until we actually want and need to quantify deity level creatures with stats, I'm not comfortable nailing down those power levels... but Rovagug would be in the highest tier, along with Pharasma and Desna and a very few other deities who vastly predate humanity and mortal life.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Could I suggest the term "Ascendant" for the Quasi-Deity category? Kind of like in the Malazan series of books.
James, that's some really great information there, thanks :D
I have a question for you while we're talking about the 'power levels' of the various gods. I've read a few things that suggest the gods from the Dark Tapestry (aka Elder Gods) are so powerful that they could easily destroy Golarion's pantheon if they even tried. Is this accurate? If so, how does their power compare to that of Rovagug?
Rovagug as a qlippoth lord becoming a deity sounds intriguing...i hope we´ll get to know more about the other Qlippoth lords and their planes in the abyss soon.
Rovagug as a qlippoth lord becoming a deity sounds intriguing...i hope we´ll get to know more about the other Qlippoth lords and their planes in the abyss soon.
Yea, it certainly makes the Qlippoth a lot more interesting AND frightening.
This makes me wonder what deity level versions of the other major outsider types would be like. I have suspected that Daikitsu is related to the agathons even if her alignment is one step off from them....
|
Creative Director
|
James, that's some really great information there, thanks :D
I have a question for you while we're talking about the 'power levels' of the various gods. I've read a few things that suggest the gods from the Dark Tapestry (aka Elder Gods) are so powerful that they could easily destroy Golarion's pantheon if they even tried. Is this accurate? If so, how does their power compare to that of Rovagug?
Depending on the Elder God, they would compare quite favorably. Nyarlathotep and Yog-Sothoth, in particular, are probably as powerful as Rovagug. Azathoth too, although he's mindless and as such is incapable of taking conscious action —that's Nyarlathotep's job.
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
@James - that sounds awesome, my party absolutely loves to hate the Qlippoth. Any more material on them is eagerly anticipated.
On a different note, either my reference to Yeats was too obtuse, or I am the only Irishman here in the forum. Or perhaps the only one tipsy enough at the time to find humor in the comparison :P
|
Depending on the Elder God, they would compare quite favorably. Nyarlathotep and Yog-Sothoth, in particular, are probably as powerful as Rovagug. Azathoth too, although he's mindless and as such is incapable of taking conscious action —that's Nyarlathotep's job.
Conscious being a key words...it could mindlessly lash out and take out a few pantheons.
Oh, and you forgot Shub-Niggurath.
Also, after reading James' comments I realize I've been using "Great Old One" in my posts when I meant to say "Outer God". I hate when I do that.
@James - that sounds awesome, my party absolutely loves to hate the Qlippoth. Any more material on them is eagerly anticipated.
On a different note, either my reference to Yeats was too obtuse, or I am the only Irishman here in the forum. Or perhaps the only one tipsy enough at the time to find humor in the comparison :P
I got it. Then again, I read a lot of the classics in college.
@James - that sounds awesome, my party absolutely loves to hate the Qlippoth. Any more material on them is eagerly anticipated.
On a different note, either my reference to Yeats was too obtuse, or I am the only Irishman here in the forum. Or perhaps the only one tipsy enough at the time to find humor in the comparison :P
Wait, what? *Looks up thread* Weird. I posted right under you and managed to miss that, then again, I was half-asleep when I posted that earlier. Anyway, +1 to you. I was born in Canada but half my family is Irish (I've even gone over there a few times to visit my relatives) so there's at least 1.5 of us (I'm the half).
|
Creative Director
|
Depending on the Elder God, they would compare quite favorably. Nyarlathotep and Yog-Sothoth, in particular, are probably as powerful as Rovagug. Azathoth too, although he's mindless and as such is incapable of taking conscious action —that's Nyarlathotep's job.Conscious being a key words...it could mindlessly lash out and take out a few pantheons.
Oh, and you forgot Shub-Niggurath.
I actually did not. I don't see Shub-Niggurath as being as powerful as Yog-Sothoth or Azathoth or Nyarlathotep. She's more powerful than a great old one, though, that's for sure.
I actually did not. I don't see Shub-Niggurath as being as powerful as Yog-Sothoth or Azathoth or Nyarlathotep. She's more powerful than a great old one, though, that's for sure.Depending on the Elder God, they would compare quite favorably. Nyarlathotep and Yog-Sothoth, in particular, are probably as powerful as Rovagug. Azathoth too, although he's mindless and as such is incapable of taking conscious action —that's Nyarlathotep's job.Conscious being a key words...it could mindlessly lash out and take out a few pantheons.
Oh, and you forgot Shub-Niggurath.
I immagine it is best to say those names while gargling water. ... or maybe yogurt.
Greg
Thanks James for helping make sense of the gods and such. I look forward to the new adventure paths. Thanks everyone for the info. Big help.
- D -