paizo.com Recent Posts in Strange Aeons Backstory Chronologypaizo.com Recent Posts in Strange Aeons Backstory Chronology2017-05-08T18:25:49Z2017-05-08T18:25:49ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: Strange Aeons Backstory ChronologyShaun Hocking (Contributor)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uc37?Strange-Aeons-Backstory-Chronology#122017-06-10T07:40:05Z2017-06-10T07:40:05Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Yakman wrote:</div><blockquote> <div class="messageboard-quotee">Shaun Hocking wrote:</div><blockquote> <div class="messageboard-quotee">Yakman wrote:</div><blockquote></p>
<p>To me, the stuff in Okeno just kinda falls flat. It's a gnoll fight up a tower and... yeah, after the asylum, and the skum, and the dreamlands, and the Mysterium... and the upcoming stuff... it's just... not there. And, imho, all the stuff in Okeno could better be handled without any combat. </p>
<p>Now... a captured Lowls Hollow One might be fun - but you could also take the opportunity to slot in a small WEIRD adventure - the magical chaos following Lowls' escape actually does send the PCs to... i dunno... Hyperborea or Aucturn or Australia. Actually play around with the Call of Cthulhu stuff described in Book 6 maybe? When the adventure concludes the same weird energies that shot them there bring them back to the Mysterium, where they make an escape. </blockquote>I like this idea. I'm a long way from even starting this AP, but I'd already picked up that the Okeno/gnolls segment would be a bit of a letdown and have been looking for a replacement. I'm very much in favour of upping the WEIRD and hadn't even considered using the stuff from the Concluding the Adventure section. Thanks for the inspiration! </blockquote>well... it's not the gnolls aren't WEIRD. i mean... these are bipedal hyena slavers. you can play up the inhumanity and insanity of it. i just don't think it's a compelling combat situation. </blockquote><p>Sure they're weird to us, but to PCs in Pathfinder not so much. I want to take the players to places and do things that would feel wrong in other campaigns, but will be appropriately disconcerting for this AP.Yakman wrote:Shaun Hocking wrote: Yakman wrote:To me, the stuff in Okeno just kinda falls flat. It's a gnoll fight up a tower and... yeah, after the asylum, and the skum, and the dreamlands, and the Mysterium... and the upcoming stuff... it's just... not there. And, imho, all the stuff in Okeno could better be handled without any combat.
Now... a captured Lowls Hollow One might be fun - but you could also take the opportunity to slot in a small WEIRD adventure - the magical chaos following...Shaun Hocking (Contributor)2017-06-10T07:40:05ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: Strange Aeons Backstory ChronologyYakmanhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uc37?Strange-Aeons-Backstory-Chronology#112017-06-09T23:58:09Z2017-06-09T23:58:09Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Shaun Hocking wrote:</div><blockquote> <div class="messageboard-quotee">Yakman wrote:</div><blockquote></p>
<p>To me, the stuff in Okeno just kinda falls flat. It's a gnoll fight up a tower and... yeah, after the asylum, and the skum, and the dreamlands, and the Mysterium... and the upcoming stuff... it's just... not there. And, imho, all the stuff in Okeno could better be handled without any combat. </p>
<p>Now... a captured Lowls Hollow One might be fun - but you could also take the opportunity to slot in a small WEIRD adventure - the magical chaos following Lowls' escape actually does send the PCs to... i dunno... Hyperborea or Aucturn or Australia. Actually play around with the Call of Cthulhu stuff described in Book 6 maybe? When the adventure concludes the same weird energies that shot them there bring them back to the Mysterium, where they make an escape. </blockquote>I like this idea. I'm a long way from even starting this AP, but I'd already picked up that the Okeno/gnolls segment would be a bit of a letdown and have been looking for a replacement. I'm very much in favour of upping the WEIRD and hadn't even considered using the stuff from the Concluding the Adventure section. Thanks for the inspiration! </blockquote><p>well... it's not the gnolls aren't WEIRD. i mean... these are bipedal hyena slavers. you can play up the inhumanity and insanity of it. i just don't think it's a compelling combat situation.Shaun Hocking wrote:Yakman wrote:To me, the stuff in Okeno just kinda falls flat. It's a gnoll fight up a tower and... yeah, after the asylum, and the skum, and the dreamlands, and the Mysterium... and the upcoming stuff... it's just... not there. And, imho, all the stuff in Okeno could better be handled without any combat.
Now... a captured Lowls Hollow One might be fun - but you could also take the opportunity to slot in a small WEIRD adventure - the magical chaos following Lowls' escape...Yakman2017-06-09T23:58:09ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: Strange Aeons Backstory ChronologyShaun Hocking (Contributor)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uc37?Strange-Aeons-Backstory-Chronology#102017-06-09T20:07:53Z2017-06-09T20:01:02Z<p>Interestingly, Valley of the Brain Collectors (from the Iron Gods AP), ends at around the same level that the PCs should be when dealing with the gnolls in Okeno. I think it might be fun to do something with the Dominion of the Black aliens instead of the gnolls and it wouldn't require much tweaking, although there could be a danger of mixing too many confusing elements since the DotB are generally enemies of the Mythos.</p>Interestingly, Valley of the Brain Collectors (from the Iron Gods AP), ends at around the same level that the PCs should be when dealing with the gnolls in Okeno. I think it might be fun to do something with the Dominion of the Black aliens instead of the gnolls and it wouldn't require much tweaking, although there could be a danger of mixing too many confusing elements since the DotB are generally enemies of the Mythos.Shaun Hocking (Contributor)2017-06-09T20:01:02ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: Strange Aeons Backstory ChronologyShaun Hocking (Contributor)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uc37?Strange-Aeons-Backstory-Chronology#92017-06-09T06:56:02Z2017-06-09T06:56:02Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Yakman wrote:</div><blockquote></p>
<p>To me, the stuff in Okeno just kinda falls flat. It's a gnoll fight up a tower and... yeah, after the asylum, and the skum, and the dreamlands, and the Mysterium... and the upcoming stuff... it's just... not there. And, imho, all the stuff in Okeno could better be handled without any combat. </p>
<p>Now... a captured Lowls Hollow One might be fun - but you could also take the opportunity to slot in a small WEIRD adventure - the magical chaos following Lowls' escape actually does send the PCs to... i dunno... Hyperborea or Aucturn or Australia. Actually play around with the Call of Cthulhu stuff described in Book 6 maybe? When the adventure concludes the same weird energies that shot them there bring them back to the Mysterium, where they make an escape. </blockquote><p>I like this idea. I'm a long way from even starting this AP, but I'd already picked up that the Okeno/gnolls segment would be a bit of a letdown and have been looking for a replacement. I'm very much in favour of upping the WEIRD and hadn't even considered using the stuff from the Concluding the Adventure section. Thanks for the inspiration!Yakman wrote:To me, the stuff in Okeno just kinda falls flat. It's a gnoll fight up a tower and... yeah, after the asylum, and the skum, and the dreamlands, and the Mysterium... and the upcoming stuff... it's just... not there. And, imho, all the stuff in Okeno could better be handled without any combat.
Now... a captured Lowls Hollow One might be fun - but you could also take the opportunity to slot in a small WEIRD adventure - the magical chaos following Lowls' escape actually does send...Shaun Hocking (Contributor)2017-06-09T06:56:02ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: Strange Aeons Backstory ChronologyBenchak the Nightstalker (Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 8)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uc37?Strange-Aeons-Backstory-Chronology#82017-06-09T22:43:51Z2017-06-09T02:16:32Z<p>Lowls' connection to Xhamen-Dor lets him get around that restriction.</p>
<p><a href="http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ttx0?What-Grows-Within#8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Link</a></p>Lowls' connection to Xhamen-Dor lets him get around that restriction.
LinkBenchak the Nightstalker (Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 8)2017-06-09T02:16:32ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: Strange Aeons Backstory ChronologyMergyhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uc37?Strange-Aeons-Backstory-Chronology#72017-06-08T23:59:24Z2017-06-08T23:59:24Z<p>I was under the impression that teleportation with the Necronomicon was impossible. Wouldn't that lengthen the timeline a bit?</p>I was under the impression that teleportation with the Necronomicon was impossible. Wouldn't that lengthen the timeline a bit?Mergy2017-06-08T23:59:24ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: Strange Aeons Backstory ChronologyYakmanhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uc37?Strange-Aeons-Backstory-Chronology#62017-05-09T13:03:52Z2017-05-09T13:03:52Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Dasrak wrote:</div><blockquote><div class="messageboard-quotee">Yakman wrote:</div><blockquote> I really like the Lowls fight in the Mysterium idea. It would really spice up the 4th book. </blockquote>I'm strongly leaning towards running it that way if circumstances allow. We'll see how my party approaches it. It does mean that a modification to the plot hook is necessary for parts 5 and 6, but a captured Lowls is a great vehicle to deliver that hook, along with some... </blockquote><p>yeah... I dunno if I would do it that way.
<p>To me, the stuff in Okeno just kinda falls flat. It's a gnoll fight up a tower and... yeah, after the asylum, and the skum, and the dreamlands, and the Mysterium... and the upcoming stuff... it's just... not there. And, imho, all the stuff in Okeno could better be handled without any combat. </p>
<p>Now... a captured Lowls Hollow One might be fun - but you could also take the opportunity to slot in a small WEIRD adventure - the magical chaos following Lowls' escape actually does send the PCs to... i dunno... Hyperborea or Aucturn or Australia. Actually play around with the Call of Cthulhu stuff described in Book 6 maybe? When the adventure concludes the same weird energies that shot them there bring them back to the Mysterium, where they make an escape.</p>Dasrak wrote:Yakman wrote: I really like the Lowls fight in the Mysterium idea. It would really spice up the 4th book.
I'm strongly leaning towards running it that way if circumstances allow. We'll see how my party approaches it. It does mean that a modification to the plot hook is necessary for parts 5 and 6, but a captured Lowls is a great vehicle to deliver that hook, along with some... yeah... I dunno if I would do it that way. To me, the stuff in Okeno just kinda falls flat. It's a...Yakman2017-05-09T13:03:52ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: Strange Aeons Backstory ChronologyDasrakhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uc37?Strange-Aeons-Backstory-Chronology#52023-09-15T07:41:55Z2017-05-08T23:28:12Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">grandobsidian wrote:</div><blockquote> Tracking Lowls exact journey is unnecessary tedium that the AP encourages you to gloss over</blockquote><p>As I said, if you just want to run the AP as written then the answer to "where is Lowls" is "one or two steps ahead of the PC's". If that's how you want to run it that's perfectly fine. I personally wasn't satisfied with that, and wanted to figure out exact timing based on the information provided. The backstory information, though scattered and vague in some places, is actually pretty comprehensive when collected together and that made it a fun exercise. Tearing things apart at their most technical level is a sign of affection for me. I wouldn't have spent my time doing this if I didn't like the Strange Aeons AP.
<div class="messageboard-quotee">grandobsidian wrote:</div><blockquote>Understanding and certainty actually play counter to the themes of eldritch horror.</blockquote><p>It's not like you're going to show the PC's this info, it's primarily for the GM's purpose. If the party is scrying on Lowls on a daily basis to acquire additional information then they're going to get a <i>nasty</i> surprise on day 37 when he gains the Necronomicon's protection. Alternately, getting caught up in the unexpected bit of chaos at the Mysterium certainly works as a source of uncertainty.
<p>Even setting aside scrying, the PC's might simply ask NPC's when these events happened. These are basic questions that the NPC's involved should be able to answer fairly accurately. It's a completely natural question for the PC's to ask how long ago the Mysterium was closed off, and there's nothing wrong with wanting a consistent timeline that actually lines up.</p>
<div class="messageboard-quotee">Yakman wrote:</div><blockquote> I really like the Lowls fight in the Mysterium idea. It would really spice up the 4th book. </blockquote><p>I'm strongly leaning towards running it that way if circumstances allow. We'll see how my party approaches it. It does mean that a modification to the plot hook is necessary for parts 5 and 6, but a captured Lowls is a great vehicle to deliver that hook, along with some misinformation on the side (I would run Lowls himself as a non-combatant who only flees or cowers to encourage his capture. Plus this sidesteps the issue of statting him). If interest is waning then this also gives me a clean stopping point.grandobsidian wrote:Tracking Lowls exact journey is unnecessary tedium that the AP encourages you to gloss over
As I said, if you just want to run the AP as written then the answer to "where is Lowls" is "one or two steps ahead of the PC's". If that's how you want to run it that's perfectly fine. I personally wasn't satisfied with that, and wanted to figure out exact timing based on the information provided. The backstory information, though scattered and vague in some places, is actually...Dasrak2017-05-08T23:28:12ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: Strange Aeons Backstory ChronologyYakmanhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uc37?Strange-Aeons-Backstory-Chronology#42017-05-08T21:11:43Z2017-05-08T21:11:43Z<p>I really like the Lowls fight in the Mysterium idea. It would really spice up the 4th book.</p>I really like the Lowls fight in the Mysterium idea. It would really spice up the 4th book.Yakman2017-05-08T21:11:43ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: Strange Aeons Backstory Chronologygrandobsidianhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uc37?Strange-Aeons-Backstory-Chronology#32017-05-08T19:53:30Z2017-05-08T19:53:30Z<p>Not to punch holes in your work but there is a very simple solution here, nothing is set in stone. Things are intentionally vague so you can work them to your needs because some parties will ardently hound Lowls, opting to invest more money and effort to speeding up their travels while other will take a slow approach to better arm themselves for coming battles. Tracking Lowls exact journey is unnecessary tedium that the AP encourages you to gloss over, much like it encourages you NOT to track the charges on the Star Stelae. Understanding and certainty actually play counter to the themes of eldritch horror. In fact, while it might seem unreasonable for events to always line up, these coincidences and lapses in logic play to the very notion that events are being orchestrated by a greater being who has taken interest in Lowls and the PCs and is manipulating events in subtle ways to ensure they work out just as a play must be perfectly staged and executed.
<br />
Really, I just assume that Lowls simply has access to anything the PCs do and thus moves at the same relative pace including extended breaks to resupply or study new mysteries.
<br />
But there's nothing stopping one for altering events to their own desire. The only thing that should impede you orchestrating an encounter with Lowls in the Mysterium is the possibility one of your PCs kills him even if that requires a string of natural 20s, Murphy's law is always in play.</p>Not to punch holes in your work but there is a very simple solution here, nothing is set in stone. Things are intentionally vague so you can work them to your needs because some parties will ardently hound Lowls, opting to invest more money and effort to speeding up their travels while other will take a slow approach to better arm themselves for coming battles. Tracking Lowls exact journey is unnecessary tedium that the AP encourages you to gloss over, much like it encourages you NOT to track...grandobsidian2017-05-08T19:53:30ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: Strange Aeons Backstory Chronologydarrenanhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uc37?Strange-Aeons-Backstory-Chronology#22017-05-10T16:27:22Z2017-05-08T19:19:16Z<p>Thank you for doing this. This will be an invaluable reference to GMs.</p>Thank you for doing this. This will be an invaluable reference to GMs.darrenan2017-05-08T19:19:16ZForums: Strange Aeons: Strange Aeons Backstory ChronologyDasrakhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uc37?Strange-Aeons-Backstory-Chronology#12023-10-10T05:48:00Z2017-05-08T18:25:49Z<p>Recently I've taken an interest in the timeline of events in Strange Aeons, specifically with regards to Count Haserton Lowls and his journey. This was partly out of curiosity and partly out of my own predisposition to test and break boundaries. The backstory elements describing Lowls' journey are spread throughout the six volumes, often with important details stated or alluded in the middle of other events, so collecting all the information in one place proved challenging. Specific time spans are rarely given, and in many places the information is extremely vague and requires an educated guess. I've done my best to reconcile the available information and produce a generally plausible timeline of events. All times are relative to the beginning of the adventure when the PC's wake up in Briarstone.</p>
<p>I had fun making this timeline, and hope it's helpful for anyone else who is trying to figure out exact time spans. Also, in case anyone says it, I’m aware that if you’re playing the AP as written then the answer to the question "where is Lowls?" at any given point in time is "one to two steps ahead of the PC's". This answer is unsatisfying to me, which is why I put in the time to figure it out more methodically. With that said, I'd definitely appreciate if anyone could point out additional information I may have missed that can refine these times further. </p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>
<p>Overall I quite like this timeline, as it represents a rather graceful middle-ground in terms of making it possible to catch up to Lowls. If you play the AP as written and spend the full 100 days on the Sellen Starling then such an interception is impossible; in order to catch up to Lowls the party must choose to abandon the Sellen Starling, a conscious act of breaking the campaign's boundaries. That's a nice balance that feels right to me. If my PC's play the campaign as written then the backstory flows more-or-less without issue, but if they want to break the sequence then there's ample opportunity to do so.</p>
<p>When it comes to scrying on Lowls, it's important to note that he possess the Necronomicon from days 37-99 of the adventure, rendering him highly resistant to scrying attempts for the duration. Lowls is vulnerable to scrying before and after that point (though after that point he’s no longer in Golarion). This does mean there is ample opportunity for the party to perform scrying attempts on Lowls during the research period of Dreams of the Yellow King. It is plausible that the party will reach 9th level before the 36th day of the adventure, raising the possibility of a scry-and-die attempt (although to be honest, confronting Lowls in the Mysterium while its magical defenses malfunction sounds <i>awesome</i>).</p>Recently I've taken an interest in the timeline of events in Strange Aeons, specifically with regards to Count Haserton Lowls and his journey. This was partly out of curiosity and partly out of my own predisposition to test and break boundaries. The backstory elements describing Lowls' journey are spread throughout the six volumes, often with important details stated or alluded in the middle of other events, so collecting all the information in one place proved challenging. Specific time...Dasrak2017-05-08T18:25:49Z