Having GMed Destiny of the Sands part 1 and played Destiny of the Sands part 2...I have to ask: (Spoiler)

[Exiel]

is 'V.L.' really:

Grandmaster Torch himself? Also, was he a member of the Scarab Seekers whose bodies you find all over Seeker's Folly? Does that mean that Seeker's Folly was where he got his incurable burns?

[Heofthehills]

Yes and Yes and Yes

[RAdeMorris]

Yup. The having run Destiny of the Sands part one twice, I enjoy this little series so far. (I'll be running part two next week.)

I can't wait for DWK5: Die Aspis Die, I mean part three...

[Majuba]

Pretty sure it says so explicitly in Part I - definitely in Part II.

[Shivok]

So did he get his burns in the room to the east or the farthest room to the south?

[RAdeMorris]

Spoilered as this isn't the GM forums.

Spoiler:

He was cursed. I would say where the sages remains were, a quick reread (I'm at work) would be the furthest area to the south.

[Mat Black]

Spoiler:

they don't give the exact details, but they do say that he was cursed by the Sage of Plagues, and there's mention of a fireball in the entryway, and Torch dragging himself into the 15' square empty chamber to the east of the entryway. my guess is that Sage of Plagues' curse involved him not being able to heal magically or naturally and his trademarked appearance is the result of failing a reflex save in the fireball.

however, wouldn't it be interesting if killing the Sage of Plagues ended Torch's curse? it would certainly give him a reason to give that information to the Society...

[Iammars]

Finding out Grandmaster Torch's real name is the Taldan Faction Mission in 2-26 - The Mantis's Prey.

2-26:

It's Ven Lorovox

[Exiel]

James McTeague wrote:

Finding out Grandmaster Torch's real name is the Taldan Faction Mission in 2-26 - The Mantis's Prey.

** spoiler omitted **

Ooo...I didn't realise it was an on-going subplot that the Red Mantis has been after Torch for 3 seasons now! Love these persistent subplots.

Oh and yeah, I re-read through my Part 1 pdf and it does say that Torch was one of the Scarab Seekers. I missed that one paragraph during my prep. Was way more fun to work it out whilst playing through part 2 though. =)

[Matthew Morris]

Huh, that's what I get for not having much of Season 2

[RAdeMorris]

Our group hasn't gone through a lot of Season 2 either, so I guess there's more things to look forward to.

[GM Hills]

More stuff:

It says in part 2 that Torch is actually after the emerald, as well, since he believes that it may be the way to remove his curse, since it was the one that cursed him. Now that the remaining essence is destroyed, it stands to reason that there can be a new Emerald Sage/Sage of Plagues...how messed up would it be if that was Torch. Also, does anyone get the feeling that the Diamond Sage is the Spider...rezzed...again.

[Du Nord]

Has anyone taken the time to compile a scenario list that would make a good storyline about some of the major PFS NPCs, such as...

NPCs:

Torch/V.L., The Spider, any others that I haven't seen yet.

I've been playing/judging since September and this major sub-plot is extremely exciting and I want to experience these major story lines.

[grandpoobah]

Something I messed up in running Part 2 (after playing Part 1):

clues:

There is a subtle clue at the end of Part 1 the GM should give out - that V.L. is probably grandmaster torch. GMT hands you a map to the dungeon of Part 2, and the notes have the same handwriting as the shopping list torch hands you at the beginning of the adventure.

When you run part 2, there are many mentions of V.L. (the monogrammed wayfinder found on the first dead pathfinder, and if anyone thinks to cast speak with dead on one of the dead pathfinders).

But there is no mention of this link in Part 2 - so you need to make sure to either remind the players (when you run part 2) or stress the importance of that link (when you run part 1). Don't assume the other GM did so in part 1.

I also added one clue of my own:

shadows:

The exploded fireball room B9 - I mentioned a non-existent shadowy outline, as if someone was in that room when the fireball went off - and the fireball was so powerful it left his outline there (but no body). I thought that would imply it was something more than a fireball, only one person was affected, and that person likely "survived".

And finally:

betrayal:

Thanien's body at B11 has notes indicating he knew what the real mission was, and may not have told his companions. It was definitely a mission impossible style "disavow all knowledge of your actions" thing. If the PCs speak with dead on any of the fallen, they could also learn more about this (I had Asha very angry in her answers - giving up details of betrayal by their masters). This should let players look for a former pathfinder angry at the Decemvirate's callous treatment of agents, further implicating Grandmaster Torch is V.L.

[Matthew Morris]

Du Nord wrote:

Has anyone taken the time to compile a scenario list that would make a good storyline about some of the major PFS NPCs, such as...

** spoiler omitted **

I've been playing/judging since September and this major sub-plot is extremely exciting and I want to experience these major story lines.

The Devil We Know (especially PT IV) is very useful for the two Aspis agents that stole the other gems. Basically you work with them in Pt I, they betray you in Pt IV and most everyone who's played it want a chance to kill them.

I hope the Diamond sage isn't her.