So I am planning on playing a character who tries to reform evil monsters and send them somewhere that they can live out their days serving the forces of good. He's a worshipper of Sarenrae, and I was just wondering if any of you guys know of a place that kind of fits this description in published lore. Like, a safe place that he can send any reformed bugbears or whatever that he manages to convert on his travels.
I figure I should probably start there, and if no such place exists, I'll just kind of invent one and shove it into my character's backstory.
Thanks!
Starfinder Senior Developer
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It’s not quite what you’re looking for—more a place for monstrous coexistence than benevolent monstrosity—but you might appreciate Pol-Duraxalis in Iblydos, which gets some brief description through a hero-god entry in PF #144 backmatter. In a similar theme, consider Kaer Maga in Varisia as an option. And for slightly less rough-and-tumble destinations, Absalom is a remarkably cosmopolitan place where the occasional bugbear won’t cause a fuss.
I'd also consider Oprak a possibility, nation made for Hobgoblins and goblins. Works for Bugbears at least, but not sure about others. They seem to accept at least other creatures besides goblinoid, if I read world guide right.
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It’s not quite what you’re looking for—more a place for monstrous coexistence than benevolent monstrosity—but you might appreciate Pol-Duraxalis in Iblydos, which gets some brief description through a hero-god entry in PF #144 backmatter. In a similar theme, consider Kaer Maga in Varisia as an option. And for slightly less rough-and-tumble destinations, Absalom is a remarkably cosmopolitan place where the occasional bugbear won’t cause a fuss.
Is that polis where Iapholi is from? I adored her.
This is all awesome stuff! Thank you, everyone.
I think that Oprak is a little too evil for my purposes. This is for truly reformed evil creatures who want a shot at living a good life. I guess the closest equivalent is kind of like a working farm for recently-released inmates who need support with going straight. Somewhere that a hobgoblin won't be shunned just because he's a hobgoblin.
I'll definitely look into Pol-Duraxalis, thanks for the pointer, John. Kaer Maga again is a little too rough a place to just ship these guys off to, like "good luck out there!", you know? I suppose I'm looking for somewhere that would actually welcome 'traditionally evil' monsters who want to 'go straight'.
OK, I admit it's a pretty specific request! :) If there isn't anything on Golarion that perfectly matches it, I can just pull a Sarenrae convent out of thin air and stick it in my backstory. It's just always that little bit more satisfying when I can tie it into established lore.
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I think that Oprak is a little too evil for my purposes.How so? The only evil they were ever confirmed to do is run their war economy on slave labor, and that has not continued.
"All they did was support their war effort with slave labor" is not a sentiment expected from you, I have to admit.
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I think that Oprak is a little too evil for my purposes.How so? The only evil they were ever confirmed to do is run their war economy on slave labor, and that has not continued.
Still, it doesn't quite fit the bill of a peaceful sanctuary of reformed monsters pulling together for the forces of good.
I think New Thassilon also fits your bill.
Hmm, now this might well work as a location! The bit about a "place where exiles, subversive artists, and misfits can call home" fits pretty well, so maybe there's an outpost of the temple of Sarenrae out there somewhere that would work. Thanks!
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There’s also Basrakal, the city in the Maelstrom for those who defy their old/“intended” alignment?
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"All they did was support their war effort with slave labor" is not a sentiment expected from you, I have to admit.I think that Oprak is a little too evil for my purposes.How so? The only evil they were ever confirmed to do is run their war economy on slave labor, and that has not continued.
That was a past event, not a current one, is the point. If Oprak is currently too evil for Baronsquee, presumably it's because of something it's actually doing.
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That was a past event, not a current one, is the point. If Oprak is currently too evil for Baronsquee, presumably it's because of something it's actually doing."All they did was support their war effort with slave labor" is not a sentiment expected from you, I have to admit.I think that Oprak is a little too evil for my purposes.How so? The only evil they were ever confirmed to do is run their war economy on slave labor, and that has not continued.
That was six years ago. The people responsible are still in power.
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I think New Thassilon also fits your bill.Hmm, now this might well work as a location! The bit about a "place where exiles, subversive artists, and misfits can call home" fits pretty well, so maybe there's an outpost of the temple of Sarenrae out there somewhere that would work. Thanks!
It also tends to be a center of worship for Nocticula, who's whole thing now is redeeming monsters.
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That was six years ago. The people responsible are still in power.That was a past event, not a current one, is the point. If Oprak is currently too evil for Baronsquee, presumably it's because of something it's actually doing."All they did was support their war effort with slave labor" is not a sentiment expected from you, I have to admit.I think that Oprak is a little too evil for my purposes.How so? The only evil they were ever confirmed to do is run their war economy on slave labor, and that has not continued.
So are the Pactmasters, and Qadira's satrap, they get passes.
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So are the Pactmasters, and Qadira's satrap, they get passes.That was six years ago. The people responsible are still in power.That was a past event, not a current one, is the point. If Oprak is currently too evil for Baronsquee, presumably it's because of something it's actually doing."All they did was support their war effort with slave labor" is not a sentiment expected from you, I have to admit.I think that Oprak is a little too evil for my purposes.How so? The only evil they were ever confirmed to do is run their war economy on slave labor, and that has not continued.
Passes for what? You're the one who brought them up just now.
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So are the Pactmasters, and Qadira's satrap, they get passes.That was six years ago. The people responsible are still in power.That was a past event, not a current one, is the point. If Oprak is currently too evil for Baronsquee, presumably it's because of something it's actually doing."All they did was support their war effort with slave labor" is not a sentiment expected from you, I have to admit.I think that Oprak is a little too evil for my purposes.How so? The only evil they were ever confirmed to do is run their war economy on slave labor, and that has not continued.Passes for what? You're the one who brought them up just now.
Running societies which are acceptable or which may be made acceptable through reform without a change in power. But if you want to restrict things to societies that have been mentioned in this thread, New Thassilon is ruled by a slaver and an ex-slaver.
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It also tends to be a center of worship for Nocticula, who's whole thing now is redeeming monsters.I think New Thassilon also fits your bill.Hmm, now this might well work as a location! The bit about a "place where exiles, subversive artists, and misfits can call home" fits pretty well, so maybe there's an outpost of the temple of Sarenrae out there somewhere that would work. Thanks!
Kind of, but also kind of not: Nocticula's "whole thing" is more about being true to your art, protecting artists who are marginalized and kicking the ass of any a&+#&$+ who abuses trust and hospitality. The redemption aspect of her is more that she's an example to follow, an inspiration, rather than it being a part of her dogma that her priests put into practice, which is more Sarenrae's shtick.
You're right that this kind of character would probably find Nocticula, her faithful and her center of worship in New Thassilon as helpful allies, but I felt the specific nuances of Nocticula's relationship with her "Redeemer Queen" title should be elaborated on, as it's officially kind of a misnomer...
A joint temple/religious community dedicated to Sarenrae and Nocticula sounds like a pretty cool place to visit, honestly. It could either be played entirely feelsgood, with Sarenrae's worshipers helping Nocticula's become their best, redeemed selves, or it could be an adventure location with one of the sides having friction with the other, or containing a bad actor. While Sarenrae and Nocticula might know/be open to finding out about a road to redemption that is best for everyone that doesn't mean their mortal worshipers would know or necessarily care about such knowledge over their own goals.
Actually I might write that down; that sounds like a cool adventure location.
OK, so I freely admit that the point of this is mainly so that my character can shuffle any monsters he redeems off-stage so the rest of the party and I can get on with the core activity of adventuring, and not have to worry about my ever-growing kobold kindergarten. But now this discussion is getting INTERESTING! The DM in me wants to spin this out into a complex political intrigue!
But I suppose the player in me should really accept that my DM for this game is a first-time DM, and I should probably go easy on him and not completely derail his running a published adventure.
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That was six years ago. The people responsible are still in power.That was a past event, not a current one, is the point. If Oprak is currently too evil for Baronsquee, presumably it's because of something it's actually doing."All they did was support their war effort with slave labor" is not a sentiment expected from you, I have to admit.I think that Oprak is a little too evil for my purposes.How so? The only evil they were ever confirmed to do is run their war economy on slave labor, and that has not continued.
Lost Omens World Guide and Lost Omens Legends are vague on how evil Oprak society currently is. That could be because it can vary based on how the Ironfang Invasion adventure path, which covers the founding of Oprak, played out for a particular group. My players are almost finished with Ironfang Invasion, and they will insist on an ending so placatory that Oprak will probably become a province in Nirmathas rather than a separate nation.
Furthermore, the Fangwood Forest in Nirmathas is probably becoming an independent province, too. The god Gendowyn, Lady of Fangwood, was rescued from imprisonment and rules over the Fangwood again. Monsters who migrated to Oprak in hope of a home and found the place too evil could find welcome in the Fangwood, especially since the northern portion needs defenders against the undead of the Gravelands.
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Starfinder Senior Developer
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It’s not quite what you’re looking for—more a place for monstrous coexistence than benevolent monstrosity—but you might appreciate Pol-Duraxalis in Iblydos, which gets some brief description through a hero-god entry in PF #144 backmatter. In a similar theme, consider Kaer Maga in Varisia as an option. And for slightly less rough-and-tumble destinations, Absalom is a remarkably cosmopolitan place where the occasional bugbear won’t cause a fuss.Is that polis where Iapholi is from? I adored her.
That's the one!
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That's the one!It’s not quite what you’re looking for—more a place for monstrous coexistence than benevolent monstrosity—but you might appreciate Pol-Duraxalis in Iblydos, which gets some brief description through a hero-god entry in PF #144 backmatter. In a similar theme, consider Kaer Maga in Varisia as an option. And for slightly less rough-and-tumble destinations, Absalom is a remarkably cosmopolitan place where the occasional bugbear won’t cause a fuss.Is that polis where Iapholi is from? I adored her.
You know I’m there day one for an Iblydos book :)