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Warning : this thread spoils both the first book and the end of the AP. If you are not a GM or do not want to be spoiled the last two books, do NOT read what comes next !
You have been warned.
We're between knowing people now?
Good.
I had an idea, and I am leaving this here, in case it can be of use for someone.
So, yesterday my party cleared Roslar's tomb from book 1, and one of them did something I did not expect : instead of taking the offerings under Roslar's statue, he donnated some money. He told me that this was to compensate for the weapons, healing items and Roslar's equipements they took from the tomb. I was pleasantly surprised by his generosity. Plus, they tend to not mercilessly kill whatever they see, which is good. So I have been searching for a way to reward my players who putted effort into their roleplay. Plus, this would show them that good deeds have as much consequences as bad ones, and encourage them to keep on being generous.
I am also reading Book 4 and 5 in advance, and I came accross the bit where the players learn they have to die to stop Tar-Baphon. I was not really thrilled by this : sure, this would be a heroic death, but I really don't like killing my players if they don't deserve it. The scenario suggests to make an NPC tell them they can link their soul to a specific tree to be resurrected later, but I didn't like it either. It defeats the idea of the characters throwing their lives to save the world, and the heartbreaking drama that would ensue.
And then, I had an idea. Let's go back to Book 1.
We know that Barzakh is conscious of the PCs presence in the Dead Roads, and uses his powers to see the PCs journey through the Boneyard. Pleased by the PCs' generosity (for leaving an offering at Roslar's Coffer to thank Roslar for the equipement, and for their continued misericord on their opponents), Barzakh will give them a coin stamped with his holy symbol. If a PC tries to magicaly identify it, they will see the aura of an artefact and won't be able to determine its powers. If questioned about it, Barzakh will only respond that "this coin will show you the road when you need it the most".
During the adventure, the first time a character dies, they will be transported to the Dead Roads in front of Barzakh, who will ask them to "pay the toll". All they will find on them is Barzakh's coin. If they give it to him, Barzakh sends them back to Golarion, alive, and the real life's version of the coin will disappear.
BUT... If all characters manage to stay alive until the end of the AP and sacrifice themselves, they will all be transported to the Dead Roads in front of Barzakh. He will congratulate and thank them for their sacrifice for the greater good, which was a heartbreaking decision, but a righteous one. If the players want to talk a bit with him, they can. If not, or once the players don't have anything to talk with him anymore, he will ask them to "give back what I lent you". If the PCs give him the coin back, he sends them all back to the living world as their final reward.
I hope to maximize the drama from the final climax this way :) Plus, this keeps Barzakh relevant until the end, him being the one who allows the players to start their adventure, and the one closing it. I also think it's as important to reward your players for good actions as to penalize them for bad ones.
I hope this idea will help some of you ! :)