Pollution in Golarion


Lost Omens Campaign Setting General Discussion

Sczarni

I searched a bit and couldn't really find the answer that I am looking for.

I am making a adventure slowly, but I couldn't find anything about magical pollutions. I am not even sure that's what I need, so I will sort out a few questions.

What would happen if arcanist kept dumping and polluting the waters? Would the land be stricken by disease? If not then what?
Would it be disease or poison? I can see it as both.

I just can't really figure out how would this translate in the world of Golarion and how to define toxic magical pollution.

Thanks on responses upinfront.


Personally I'd grab the Living Spells from 3.5 as a cool environmental hazard (unless they're monsters). Also commenting to dot so I can come back with more info about them.


Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

There's not really rules for this that I know of, but as a GM, you have plenty of options.

It could function as a disease or poison. If you've ever been to Mexico, you know that drinking unsafe water causes a nasty little delayed-onset disease they call "Montezuma's Revenge." Spell components, item creation run-off, or alchemical waste could each cause severe intestinal distress at the least.

It could function as a curse, either on the inhabitants or the area itself. Persons exposed to residual magic polution might have lowered will or fortitude saves. They might also be prone to sorcery. Too much magic concentrated in one place could weaken dimensional fabrics. This might increase the number of summoners "touched" by eidelon type outsiders. Also, it could maybe create a "wild magic" type environment, or it could ruin the area for magic entirely. See Golarion's Mana Wastes

Sczarni

Would there be any appropriate disease already besides Filth Fever? It seems just too regular for what I had in mind.

Grand Lodge

Malag wrote:
Would there be any appropriate disease already besides Filth Fever? It seems just too regular for what I had in mind.

Make something up. Disease mechanics are laid out, and you have some examples of magical diseases in Ultimate Magic, so build from there to taste.

Maybe that's how some aberrations first came to being, from an incident of magic pollution.


I don't remember seeing anyting about magical pollution in any canonical source, with the major exception of the Mana Wastes.

The only other thing I've seen with regard to pollution is the mundane industrial pollution generated by the Varisian city of Palin's Cove. That pollution is touched upon briefly in the PFS Scenario 4-08 The Cultist's Kiss.

Sczarni

Magical disease, that's it. Thanks LazarX. I don't see those examples of magical diseases tho, they have nothing written in their entry.

Grand Lodge

Malag wrote:
Magical disease, that's it. Thanks LazarX. I don't see those examples of magical diseases tho, they have nothing written in their entry.

I was referring to spellblights. but really the only differences from magical diseases to other fantastic diseases like "Mummy Rot" are the source.


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There are also alchemical oozes, which I think were statted up in one of the Carrion Crown AP volumes. My dim memory is that they are created as a result of alchemical pollution.

Scarab Sages

Pollution is no problem in a land ruled by the iron tentacles of the Otyugh!

But really, the living spell creature idea is a good idea. You could also look at giving some templates to native fauna (and humanoids) as they interact too much with the wizard's toxic waste. A few good ones that come to mind would be abomination, amalgamation, element-infused, mana waste mutant, terror, two headed, and even the simple giant-dire combo.

It does present a good opportunity for story threads, though: Imagine a local Pathfinder discovers a remote village in the River Kingdoms supporting a Mage in his local rulership. They've all got something wrong with them. Some look like they're half-animal, others look like they're burning on the inside, and some still have 2 heads.

Sczarni

Generally I got what I wanted, but I wouldn't mind any more suggestion connected regarding pollutions, so thanks on responses and keep them coming!

Silver Crusade

Malag wrote:
Would there be any appropriate disease already besides Filth Fever? It seems just too regular for what I had in mind.

Slimy Doom comes to mind.

It may sound odd, but the biggest known polluter in Golarion has actually done so with awesome results. Nex has been dumping arcane waste and scrap into a lake for centuries(along with enemies of the state). That lake has turned into lake of oozes with a sort of shared intelligence that may be continuing to evolve. I'm using that as a gateway for ooze-based races in the setting, like the Alluria's Squole.

Sandpoint's junkyard policy and how it draws goblins close to home and Korvosa's otyugh-dependant sewer system could possibly give you some ideas to play with as well.

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