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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 19:14:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
I have the book as well and I'm enjoying Kuje's review. And, because of everyone here being such a HUGE fan of the 'little things', consider this: There are two pages EACH dedicated to Fauna and Flora... 
Not bad, not bad at all. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 20:11:12
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That's my problem. I'm getting way to many plots as I read through these entries. :) I haven't gotten this many ideas since reading old TSR settings. Grin.
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Oooh! More great material. I don't even know where to start with some of the ideas that have come flowing from reading these latest tidbits. There's just so many.
Keep it coming Kuje!
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For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 20:14:24
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Todd, aka, Shemmy/Shemeska/etc, from WOTC/Keep/ENworld also wrote one of those entries or at least half of it. I forgot which one it was already but he mentioned it to me over IM's. Think it was the flora and of course, he did the planar material, as well as the planar material for the future sourcebook and also the Aspis entry, which I haven't gotten to any of yet.
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
I have the book as well and I'm enjoying Kuje's review. And, because of everyone here being such a HUGE fan of the 'little things', consider this: There are two pages EACH dedicated to Fauna and Flora...
Not bad, not bad at all.
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For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3287 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 22:06:09
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
That's my problem. I'm getting way to many plots as I read through these entries. :) I haven't gotten this many ideas since reading old TSR settings. Grin.
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Oooh! More great material. I don't even know where to start with some of the ideas that have come flowing from reading these latest tidbits. There's just so many.
Keep it coming Kuje!
-Well they were TSR employee's at one point or another. Most of them at least. Yeah Golarian is a righteous setting. 
BRIMSTONE  |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 05:20:52
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Just to let folks know - I read over at Paizo that they are having trouble filling all the sellers orders, so if you didn't pre-order the print version of the Beta (from Amazon or elsewhere), you are NOT likely to get one.
They sold out at Gencon in just Nine hours (way beyond expectations for a Beta!), and although they have enough to fill all current orders, people may not be able to get any unless they order from what little stock Paizo has left.
The Beta print was a limited run, because it really isn't the finished version of the rules, and they never expected these kinds of numbers.
So if you want one, you got to go to the source (for the rules). As for me, I'm happy with the pdf and I will wait until the rules are finished before I buy the print.
As for the Campaign Guide, I can't wait to get my hands on one! I have the Gazeteer, but thats just a tease compared to the real deal.
I could stare at that gorgeous campain map for hours... |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 28 Aug 2008 05:21:53 |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3287 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 05:26:00
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-So when are you going to start making your own maps of Golarion Markus?
BRIMSTONE |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 05:35:50
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Wow Markus! is this the kind of hurt one of my ex-girlfriends once referred to as a "good hurt?"    |
Edited by - Purple Dragon Knight on 28 Aug 2008 05:36:08 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 15:59:50
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Not quite sure what you mean, PDK. 
As for the maps, Brimstone (and others) - There is absolutely NOTHING I could possibly do to improve upon them,
I started my various map projects because it irked me that many of the earlier edition locales were left off of the 3e maps, so I started altering and adding to them.
Since Golarion is brand new, there is absolutely no reason for this, and since they are constanly suppling new maps with each product release (that are way nicer then anything I could hope to do), it would be rather pointless for me to do anything with the Paizo material.
My goal is to enhance people's gaming experience, and quite frankly, Paizo just doesn't need my help.
On the other hand, I've taken pity upon the poor 4e gamers who are in desperate need of usable maps.
While Golarion just may become my new "gaming World", FR will always be my 'project world'.
After all... do you guys have any idea how long it took me to create that custom pallette set?  |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 28 Aug 2008 18:59:46 |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 17:17:41
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Osirion is basically fantasy Egypt with the sun cult that existed once in Egypt, the Sphinx (even though it’s buried, except for the head, in Osirion), the river that floods but there’s two rivers in Osirion, etc. I love that there are even Osirionologists. Grin. The current capital, Sothis, is grown around the mottled shell of a titanic beetle, the earthly remains of Ulunat, spawn of Rovagug. I’m not sure what those two things are yet, but maybe there’s more in the book or in other Pathfinder material. But, I really enjoyed these four pages since I’m an Egypt fanatic. :)
Qadira, with two pages of text, is the Arabian type of nation. Flying carpets, which are created in Gurat, camel armies, etc. Katheer, a city of ten million, is the main city and it contains many academies of knowledge, learning, philosophy, mathematics, healing, etc. One of the healing colleges is the Venicaan College of Medicaments and Chiurgery and there they combine herbs with magic to heal soldiers/citizens. They are also working on ways to heal camels and horses. Gurat is also home to the Mouthpiece of Gurat, an ancient cyclops oracle that is guarded by a thousand deafened eunuchs. Omash is on the northern border with Taldor and it contains a dozen schools of war. Sedeq is the slave city where slaves are broken, shorn, and made ready for sale. Two ruins exist in Qadira. One is Al-Bashir, which is an oasis-city that is filled with harpies. The other is Shadun, which is named after the people that created it, but they disappeared after the twin volcanoes, Zhonar and Zhobl, erupted.
Rahadoum is a nation of atheists. They know that the gods exist, they just don’t want anything to do with them because of past wars that took place between different faiths. Thus, all faiths are exiled from the country and anyone with religious ties entering the country is either fined and exiled, or imprisoned and killed if caught preaching to the masses. Stalk Beetles, which are as big as ponies, keep eating the crops though, causing famine. Azir is a city of art and architecture. Different buildings with weird angles, gargoyles, etc. Botosani is another settlement and the Pure Legion, since the locals have started to worship Iomedae, have plans to hunt down the clergy in that settlement. Manaket has a wizard college, the Occularium, and they are working on ways to remove the sand that is creeping into Rahadoum using dikes and trenches of water. They’ve also asked for help from Alkenstar’s mechanical engineers.
Razmiran is named after Razmir, who has convinced the nation that he is a deity even though he’s still a mortal. Him, and his “clergy”, wear masks and robes to conceal their features and there’s a small paragraph on which mask and robe the clergy wear depending on the Steps they are within the “faith.” I’m not sure what to write about the two pages of text for this nation. However, Aerduin is one of ruins because the leader of that settlement refused to bow down to Razmir and that night the city was overrun with a cloud of fire and smoke. Now the ruins are filled with ash and undead. Exalted Wood is a vast and umtamed forest and some of the beasts include blood boars and emerald owls. In the heart of the forest is First Step, which is the place where Razmir’s faithful reside and are trained in the path of his “faith.” There are also temples of this “faith” in Molthune, Nirmathas, and Ustalav while Druma, Kyonin, and Lastwall have outlawed them.
The four pages about the River Kingdoms reminded me a lot of the Border Kingdoms. The lands shift from year to year because each Kingdom fights with each other and armies are always absorbing new lands or retaking their old lands. There are hardly any permanent kingdoms and cities because every year they are taken over. Also it is a land of exiled nobles, necromancers, princelings that lost their lands, religious zealots, etc. However, Daggermark is one of the few permanent settlements because it contains a large assassin guild and no one wants to mess with them. Plus it also has one of the largest standing armies, which are 1,500 foot and cavalry. The assassin’s guild of Daggermark is headed by Lady Smilos who likes to use magical poisons, curses, and misadventure through monstrous encounters to kill her victims. Her co-ruler is an elven druid and herbalist named Tragshi. She’s a golden-skinned maiden with a strange notion about what constitutes the worship of nature and she always has a dozen snakes slithering beneath her robes. There are eight other settlements written about but I’m only going to comment about Uringen as well. This settlement seems to shift in and out of the mists. Sometimes it can be seen and other times it disappears. The text says it might be entangled in fey magic or trapped by horological arcanism but you could also use this as a gateway to Ravenloft due to the mist reference... Two deities are also given short write ups in this section because they are only mostly worshipped in the River Kingdoms. Hanspur reminds me of Umberlee and he rules the waters of the Sellen River and everyone pays him some type of service or he’ll sink boats, etc. Gyronna is the goddess of rage and madness and some say she is Lamashtu’s daughter (See Pathfinder #5, Sins of the Saviors, for Sean K. Reynolds write up about Lamashtu). Lastly, the six sections of the Six River Freedoms, which is the code that the River Kingdoms try to live by, are detailed at the end of the section.
Sargava used to be a colony of Cheliax but since the civil war that took place in Cheliax, it has been on its own. It also doesn’t help that it’s behind the Eye of Abendego, the hurricane. There’s not much for me to say about these two pages. The nation is slowly crumbling due to attacks by Mwangi and the fees that are being paid to the Free Captains of the Shackle Isles because Baron Grallus paid them to help him secure the nation from Cheliax. I did really enjoy “the goop” which the Mwangi use. It’s a substance made out of pheromones, animal glands, and glue and it draws monsters, like leopards, ahuizotl, jungle basilisks, and others. The Mines of Deeptreasures are interesting because they use xorn to mine the gems. However, the Stasis Fields really caught my interest since it’s a prison where the prisoners are bound in spells. They float and turn with Golarion’s field of rotation and you could, if you don’t wake them, steal their armor/weapons/etc. There is also a small section about one of the sporting events, which is a marathon-like competition over the mountains, through the jungles, etc.
The Shackles remind me of the Pirate Isles. Some of the races, and beasties, that reside in, or around, these isles are feral goblins, a race of savage cannibals called kuru, lizardmen, sharks, sea cats, locathah, and sahuagin. King Kerdak Bonefist, captain of the man-o’-war Filthy Lucre, rules Port Peril. He also has a fleet of ships that are overseen by their own captains. Lady Tessa Fairwind is the ruler of Quent and captain of her sloop-of-war Luck of the Draw. Quent is also home to he sacred prostitutes of Calistria at the House of Stolen Kisses and they are info brokers for gossip, blackmail, and revenge. The Master of the Gales, a druid, rules Drenchport and his xebec Kraken. He also has a squid companion. Avimar Sorrinash, a werewolf, with a werewolf crew, rules Ollo and his brig Blood Moon. Lastly there is a disgraced Chelish admiral Arronax Endymion who captains his imperial frigate Tyrannous. At the end of Drenchport there is a salvage shop run by the gnome Tho Rimplethember and she captains her junk Spit in the Eye. Her, and her crew, which are made up of a mute Mwangi, a hulking barbarian from Linnorm, a Nexian weathertalker, and a locathah hunter salvage loot from the Eye of Abendego.
The Sodden Lands are another two pages of text. This is going to be a short write up because this section didn’t interest me to much. These lands were created with the Eye of Abendego hit and since then they have been flooded with water or wind or both. There are a few places that aren’t flooded and one of them is Hyrantam, at least the upper towers of once sky-reaching towers. They have been connected together to make passage easier to get from one tower to the next. The other is Jula, a coastal sanctuary, if you can stand the constant wind. The rest of the land is mostly ruins of settlements and bastions that were created after the Eye formed.
Still reading. Man, this is a LONG chapter. But I only have five entries left (yes, the demon land is the LAST entry!) for the Inner Sea lands before getting to the lands beyond the Inner Sea. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
Edited by - Kuje on 28 Aug 2008 17:21:10 |
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Ayunken-vanzan
Senior Scribe
Germany
657 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 19:18:25
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| I really like what I have read so far. Pleas go on with your review. |
"What mattered our lives now? When our world had been torn from us? Folk wept, or drank, or stood staring out over the land, wondering what new horror each dawn would bring."
Elender Stormfall of Suzail
"Anyone can kill deities, cause plagues, or destroy organizations. It takes real skill to make them live on."
Varl
FR/D&D-Links • 2ed Downloads |
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Shemmy
Senior Scribe
USA
492 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 23:38:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
Todd, aka, Shemmy/Shemeska/etc, from WOTC/Keep/ENworld also wrote one of those entries or at least half of it.
I wrote the following sections: cosmology, fauna, Aspis Consortium, Eagle Knights of Andoran. I had fun. :) |
Shemeska the Marauder, King of the Crosstrade; voted #1 best Arcanaloth in Sigil two hundred years running by the people who know what's best for them; chant broker; prospective Sigil council member next election; and official travel agent for Chamada Holiday specials LLC.
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31792 Posts |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2008 : 01:03:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
Rahadoum is a nation of atheists. They know that the gods exist, they just don’t want anything to do with them because of past wars that took place between different faiths. Thus, all faiths are exiled from the country and anyone with religious ties entering the country is either fined and exiled, or imprisoned and killed if caught preaching to the masses.
That's too bad. I have to admit, I would have loved to have seen a more "enlightened" nation of non-religious people. Consider me a bit disappointed. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3287 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2008 : 01:37:39
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Nice. The River Kingdoms sound like an area I'm probably going to enjoy.
-I think thats the area Ed got to work on.
BRIMSTONE |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2008 : 06:07:15
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Well, to me, the text about them made a lot of sense because they have experienced many civil wars between faiths in their nation, so they just said, all of you get out or die. :)
Shrug.... I could firmly understand that.
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
Rahadoum is a nation of atheists. They know that the gods exist, they just don’t want anything to do with them because of past wars that took place between different faiths. Thus, all faiths are exiled from the country and anyone with religious ties entering the country is either fined and exiled, or imprisoned and killed if caught preaching to the masses.
That's too bad. I have to admit, I would have loved to have seen a more "enlightened" nation of non-religious people. Consider me a bit disappointed.
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For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2008 : 07:18:39
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Taldor is given two pages and it is now a crumbling nation that once ruled most of the Inner Sea lands, well at least it used to rule Andoran, Isger, Molthune, Cheliax, and Lastwall. Oppara, the capital, has two bardic colleges, which are Kitharodian Academy and Rhapsodic College. The Brotherhood of Silence also resides in the capital and it is one of the largest and most influential thieves guild in the Inner Sea. The Ulfen Guard, which are Linnorm guards, guard the office of the grand prince and they have since ancient times. There is also a gnome settlement, named Wispil, in the Verduran Wood and they harvest timber and lumber there. Druids, fey, and ettercaps also reside in the Wood. Dwarves resides in the World’s Edge Mountains in their settlement of Maheto and orcs and grimlocks reside in the Mountains as well. Frost giants and thunderbirds can be found in the Fog Peaks. Lastly, the homa, a strain of griffon-like creatures are native to Casmaron.
The two pages about Thuvia are kind of interesting. This desert nation was once a part of Osirion but over the decades it was left to itself. Now, the major trade is the sun orchid elixir, which grants the drinker extended life. The only one in this nation who has used it is the alchemist who created it by accident. However, Thuvia sells six vials of the potion every month and each city rotates who gets to sell the vials. Merab is the largest city. All citizens of Aspenthar have to receive martial training. Duwwor is a nature type of city with a circle of desert druids. Lamasara is known for its artists and performers and music can always be heard in this city. Pashow is the smallest and the ruler, Emir Guldis, has twice managed to lose the last two shipments of vials that were sent to his city and his citizens are none to happy about the lost revenue.
For a change, Ustalav is given four pages and this nation reminded me so much of the typical medieval nation. It has a prince and counts/countess, etc. However, it used to be under the control of the lich-king that is now sealed in Gallowspire. Since his imprisonment it has returned to the old rule except a few parts of it have broken away from the crown. Mostly I was interested in Sinaria because of its Karcau Opera and its musical genius’s. That settlement is also ruled over by Countess Sasandra Livegrace and she is the belle of Opera. She rules from Swansong House and in her youth she was supposedly “kidnapped”. I’m not sure what that reference is in relation to, but I’d love to know more! However, she is one of the most beautiful woman in Ustalav, as well as the most eligible bachelorettes and finest virtuosos. Nine of other counts/countess are written up but I only skimmed them. However Count Ristomaur Tiriac is a vampire. Eleven other settlements/areas are also detailed. But this section really made me frown because it contains a lot of mistakes. Names are misspelled, some words are repeated, etc. I’ve seen a few errors throughout the book but this section just has a lot of them. :(
Varisia used to be ruled over by seven Runelords and each Runelord came from a school of magic that Xin helped define. The first Pathfinder adventures take place in this land and this is where Korvosa and Xin-Shalast and other parts of those modules can be found. It’s a land of goblins, dark elves (maybe), dragons, giants, ogres, trolls, wendigos, fey, lamia-kin, and many other beasties. There’s a haunted elven settlement, called Celwynvian, and the elves have tried a few times to resettle it but they have since given up and they won’t say why. There are other ruins dotting this land as well. Oh yeah, it is also given four pages.
Finally, the last four pages of the Inner Sea finishes with the Worldwound. Some of the named demons are Khorramzadeh of Iz, who is a balor but instead of flames around his body, he has lightening. Zuhra Aponavicius, a marilith that rules over Drezen. The demon-witch Vahedifar Ayeshalmoutey, who has a holdfast on the eastern bluffs of Undarin. Iz contains many “embassies” for the princes and lords of the demons that have come out of the Worldwound. The former citizens that didn’t survive the attack on Drezen were taken to the Crown of the World and turned into “white wraiths”, which can freeze a man to his marrow with a touch. Dyinglight is home to the johund, which are demonic giants. Gundrun is a town where normal life can be found, probably one of the only places that still does this. Storasta is a ruin that is filled with assassin vines, tendriculous, hezrou, grindylows, and bright-wracked treants. The Caves of Chaos is another ruin. Shudderwood is home to either corrupted fey or fey that came from the Abyss. These fir-crowned hills and rills, to me, would be great for Unseelie fey. The Worldwound itself is an enormous canyon more then a mile across and it winds for dozens of miles. Chaos spews from it and into the air.
Now to read the six pages about the lands outside of the Inner Sea, then the chapter is over and it moves into religion. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2008 : 18:04:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
Well, to me, the text about them made a lot of sense because they have experienced many civil wars between faiths in their nation, so they just said, all of you get out or die. :)
Shrug.... I could firmly understand that.
It's fine, it's just that I have my own personal prefences with regards to stuff like this. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2008 : 19:57:56
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Nice. The River Kingdoms sound like an area I'm probably going to enjoy.
Golarion has a little something for everyone.
Reminds me of another world I used to game in.... |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Ayunken-vanzan
Senior Scribe
Germany
657 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2008 : 21:17:45
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| Okay, I have ordered my copy today, and Paizo told me just a few hours later that they have shipped the book. From my experience hitherto I will receive the parcel in about 14 days. So, Kuje, read on and review, I have time to pass until I get my copy. |
"What mattered our lives now? When our world had been torn from us? Folk wept, or drank, or stood staring out over the land, wondering what new horror each dawn would bring."
Elender Stormfall of Suzail
"Anyone can kill deities, cause plagues, or destroy organizations. It takes real skill to make them live on."
Varl
FR/D&D-Links • 2ed Downloads |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2008 : 22:10:05
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I should have more posted within a day or two. Have to rebuild a computer, not mine!, before I get back to the book. :)
quote:
Originally posted by Ayunken-vanzan
Okay, I have ordered my copy today, and Paizo told me just a few hours later that they have shipped the book. From my experience hitherto I will receive the parcel in about 14 days. So, Kuje, read on and review, I have time to pass until I get my copy.
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For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2008 : 04:38:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Just to let folks know - I read over at Paizo that they are having trouble filling all the sellers orders, so if you didn't pre-order the print version of the Beta (from Amazon or elsewhere), you are NOT likely to get one.
They sold out at Gencon in just Nine hours (way beyond expectations for a Beta!), and although they have enough to fill all current orders, people may not be able to get any unless they order from what little stock Paizo has left.
The Beta print was a limited run, because it really isn't the finished version of the rules, and they never expected these kinds of numbers.
So if you want one, you got to go to the source (for the rules). As for me, I'm happy with the pdf and I will wait until the rules are finished before I buy the print.
As for the Campaign Guide, I can't wait to get my hands on one! I have the Gazeteer, but thats just a tease compared to the real deal.
I could stare at that gorgeous campain map for hours...
Erik Mona has said that they may do a second print run of the Beta. They were really not expecting it to sell as well as it did, and they didn't want to be left with any stock, since its just a playtest document, and they didn't want to take a bath on printing them.
He also said that if they do a second print run, some of them may end up in mass market channels, but that's only a maybe at this point. They are a little less worried now about loosing a ton of money on printing ones that no one wants than they were back in the spring.
Still, nothing is definite, since the main purpose was for them to sell this at cost so people could have a set of physical rulebooks without having to spend a bundle at the local printers to print out the PDF for the game table. |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2008 : 04:49:23
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They aren't as heavily detailed in the Campaign setting, but the Shoanti reminded me quite a bit of the Uthgardt as well. They are a social grouping of barbarian tribes that aren't all the same racial type, but rather made up of several racial types that banded together to survive, and as such, some Shoanti might appear more like Kellids, others more like Ulfen, and others like Varisians.
At any rate, in the Pathfinder adventure A History of Ashes there is a supplemental article on the Shoanti that was co written by Eric Boyd.
Also, I have to say that it was really fascinating to see how quickly this setting has found its legs. This spring, little outside of Varisia was detailed, but by the time I was running Pathfinder Society events at Gen Con, there were people that were loyal Andorans, Orisirans, Taldans, Qadirans, and Chelaxians, and they dove on any little details they had seen of these nations to flesh out their characters.
It was really a sight to see. |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2008 : 19:30:56
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This section has a few pages of text about the other six continents of Golarion. Casmaron is the largest land mass of Golarion. It kind of reminded me of Zakhara with the ten thousand gods and 100,000 miracles. I thought the info about the Pit of Gormuz sounded cool. It’s another wound that goes into the heart of the planet and some say they can see a dull glow in the bottom. The pit itself is 20 miles from edge to edge. Out of this pit comes different monstrous beings, like the Tarrasque, which destroyed Ninshabur in the Age of Destiny. Ulunat, the giant beetle that is now in Osirion’s capital. Volnagur, a giant winged beast. Chemmosit, the Monarch Worm feared throughout the Darklands. Kostchtchie, and many malformed giants, reside in Hask-Ultharan, which is an enormous cairn in the heart of Iobaria’s pine forests.
Azlant, a now sunken isle kingdom, is basically Atlantis. I’m thinking that the Arch of Aroden could be basically the Pillars of Heracles. Azlant is one of the first great human realms of prehistory and many humans migrated from it. The aboleth’s brought down a great rock from the sky, thus causing a cataclysm. The Mordant Spire sea elves now guard what remains of the isle kingdom. The Sun Temple Colony is a colony of Taldor humans who have settled in the Azlantian temple and the last message from the colony was 300 years ago and it was about a “weeping gate” and an “inner eye in the minds of us all.”
I was a little disappointed with the lack of info about Arcadia because it’s only given about a half a page. Valenhall, the land where the Linnorm Kings go to die is guarded by einherar and valkyries and it is ministered by a trio of reclusive norns. On Arcadia there is also an Andoran lumber and agricultural colony at Elesomare. Cheliax has a gold mine and a slave operation at Canorus and Anchor’s End.
The Crown of the World is given even less info but it, of course, is an arctic land filled with ice dragons, frost giants, remorhazes, arctic worms, and worse. Frozen in the ice are the ruins of a human civilization that predates the coming of the aboleths and these ruins are older then Thassilon and Azlant.
Tian Xia is a lot like Kara-tur or other Asian lands. The Minkai Empire is about to erupt into civil war after millennium of peace. Nagajor is a land ruled by a dynasty of naga matriarchs. The lands of Lung Wa are now tiny sovereignties after Lung Wa collapsed with Aroden’s death. Xa Hoi is the Dragon Kingdom and the Dragon King Pham Duc Quan rules it. The most notable feature is that half their fighting force is women, which makes them unique and rare in Tian Xia and Golarion.
Sarusan is the last, and smallest, continent. It is a land that phases in and out of time where immense mammals long extinct or unknown in the civilized world still thrive in the vast deserts, jungles, and plains.
I'm going to skip the page and a half of domain spells and move right on to the text about the deities. However, the domains that are detailed are artifice, charm, community, creation, darkness, glory, liberation, madness, nobility, repose, rune, and weather. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
Edited by - Kuje on 30 Aug 2008 19:36:46 |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 31 Aug 2008 : 21:19:23
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Here's what I've written about the first twenty deities of the religion chapter. I don't have a lot of comments about the deities because deities always fascinate me and I can't think of one deity that I've ever really disliked but I did add a few comments when I thought of something to comment on.
Chapter three starts with three paragraphs about religion and it gives an intro that the book only stats up the 20 major deities. However, there are more deities and they are usually demigods and the demon lords, arch devils, and the like are listed as demigods. Then there is a page and half of domains, which are Artifice, Charm, Community, Creation, Darkness, Glory, Liberation, Madness, Nobility, Repose, Rune, and Weather.
Abadar is the god of cities, wealth, merchants, and law. He, and his clergy, help communities thrive and grow while obeying laws, if the laws aren’t foolish, contradictory, toothless, or purposeless. His holy book (which, I think is really cool that each entry has one) is the Order of Numbers. His clergy dress is also detailed (as is for every deity). He is also seen as a father figure to the Taldan deities like Shelyn and Zon-Kuthon.
Asmodeus is the god of tyranny, slavery, pride, and contracts. He is the only ruler of Hell that has the power to be a deity and the other rulers of that planar realm have tried to remove him and are still trying to do so. Of course, his major worship is in Cheliax. His book is the Asmodean Disciplines. All the gods find him easy to deal with and easiest to bargain with, even though they try not to unless necessary. He also holds the key to release Rovagug from the Pit of Gormuz.
Calistria is the goddess of trickery, lust, and revenge. Mostly her clergy are elves but half-elves, tieflings, and other races worship her. She has many temples of sacred prostitutes in many lands but the elven temples of her are run more like thieves’ guilds and less focuses on lust. Her book is The Book of Joy.
Cayden Cailean was a mortal that became a deity by the Test of the Starstone. He is the deity of freedom, ale, wine, and bravery. A lot of his shrines are in taverns. His book is the Placard of Wisdom. Most of his followers are adventurers and some texts say that he took the Test after Calistria rebuffed his advances.
Desna is the goddess of dreams, stars, travelers, and luck. She’s mostly worshipped by trailblazers, scouts, adventurers, sailors, caravaneers, and those who travel for business. Usually she takes an elven form with butterfly wings on her back and gowned in billowing dresses. Her text is The Eight Scrolls. She’s also one of Golarion’s oldest deities and she resides in Cynosure. (I found it kind of amusing that Cynosure was used.)
Erastil dates back to the Age of Darkness and he is the god of farming, hunting, trade, and family. His book is called Parables of Erastil. Almost all of his followers never set foot in a city.
Gorum might have been forged in the battle between humans and orcs. He is the god of strength, battle, and weapons. His book is the Gorumskagat. He has little interest in the other deities but if they oppose him, he’ll fight them.
Gozrch is the god of nature, weather, and the sea. His book is Hymms to the Wind and the Waves. His male priests have long beards and the female priests have long hair, both are have dried seaweed, strands of white cloth, and other decorative items woven into them.
Iomedae is another deity that was once a mortal and she was the leader of the Knights of Ozem during the Shining Crusade. She, like Cayden Cailean, passed the Test of the Starstone. She is the goddess of valor, rulership, justice, and honor. Her holy text is The Acts of Iomedae, which are usually just called “The Acts”.
Irori may, or may not, be a mortal that turned into a deity but if he is, he did it without the use of the Test of the Starstone. He is the god of history, knowledge, and self-perfection. His book is Unbinding the Fetters. Most of his clergy are monks but he also has some psionic clergy.
Lamashtu is the goddess of madness, monsters, and nightmares. Most of her clergy are gnolls, medusas, goblins, and other monstrous races but she also has human cults. Her book is the Skull of Mashag, a magical skull that recites her doctrine. Her rival is Pazuzu and some say she is the lover of others, like Socothbenoth.
Nethys is the god of magic and it is said he can even see beyond the Great Beyond. His mind is shattered into two halves – one that wants to protect the world and one that wants to destroy it. His book is The Book of Magic. Wild magic zones are caused when he passes to close to the Prime and dead magic zones are caused when he is angry with the region that they appear in.
Norgorber is another who ascended by using the Test of the Starstone. He is the god of greed, secrets, poison, and murder. He has no major book and instead he has 17 short texts that are disguised as mundane books or are encoded to prevent scrutiny and all of them have code names.
Pharasma rules over Pharasma’s Boneyard and she is the goddess of fate, death, prophecy, and birth. Her book is The Bones Land in a Spiral. Most of her followers are midwives, expectant mothers, morticians, and diviners. Her temples tend to be gothic looking and her clergy despise undead.
Rovagug was born to destroy the world and he is as old as prehistory. He is the god of wrath, disaster, and destruction and in the wilds his followers are mostly driders, orcs, ropers, and troglodytes. He has no holy book but his thoughts press onto his followers, flooding them with a desire to break, destroy, and rend, plus find a way to break his imprisonment so he could bring about the end of the world.
Sarenrae is also an old deity and she pushed back Asmodeus’s darkness. She is the goddess of the sun, redemption, honesty, and healing. Her temples are open-air buildings open to the sky and sometimes they have large brass or gold mirrors that are pointed to reflect the light toward the altar. Her book is The Birth of Light and Truth.
Shelyn is Zon-kuthon’s half-sister and the goddess of beauty, art, love, and music. She carries his Whisper of Souls and she hopes to still recover his mind from the alien influence that has invaded it. Her book is Melodies of Inner Beauty. She reminds me a lot of Lliira, both with the description that is given for her, and how her faithful are.
Torag is a dwarven deity of the forge, protection, and strategy. However, he also has human worshippers and his faithful tend to be architects, craftsmen, and military planners. His book is Hammer and Tongs: The Forging of Metal and Other Good Works.
Urgathoa is the goddess of gluttony, disease, and undeath. Some say she was once a mortal and her thirst for life turned her into the Great Beyond’s first undead creature. Her and Calistria vie for control over their overlapping portfolios. Her book is Serving Your Hunger, which was penned by Dason, her first knight-blackguard.
Zon-kuthon is Shelyn’s half-brother and he found something that shattered his mind in the Great Beyond. He is the god of envy, pain, darkness, and loss. He has been banished to the Plane of Shadow and his book is Umbral Leaves, penned by a mad prophet of his church. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
Edited by - Kuje on 31 Aug 2008 21:20:39 |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2008 : 01:56:05
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Ten lesser deities are explained below and each of them is given about a paragraph.
Achaekek is the god of assassins and he is used by the deities to murder those who have resin in power and who might challenge the deities. He is also the patron of the Red Mantis assassins.
Aroden is dead but he was the patron of Taldor and he was the first to use the Starstone. Now most of his faithful, and temples, are dedicated to Iomedae. He was the god of human culture, innovation, and history.
Besmara is the goddess of piracy, strife, and sea monsters and she sails her ship, the Seawraith, across the seas of the Maelstrom of the Outer Rifts and she raids Olympus, Axis, Heaven, and Hell.
Droskar is a mostly unworshipped deity and he was caught making fake items by Torag. However, he is the deity of toil, slavery, and cheating.
Glaunder is basically Ghaunadaur and he is a demigod of parasites, infection, and stagnation.
Groetus reminds me a lot of Shar. He is the god of the end of the world, empty places, ruins, and oblivion and he plays a small role in Pharasma’s worship because he has a moon in her Graveyard, which some people have managed to explore.
Kurgess is the god of competition, sport, and self-sacrifice.
Milani is the goddess of hope, devotion, and uprisings. She was just a saint when Aroden was alive but since then she has gained a little power. However, Iomadae’s faith blocks her from gaining more.
Sivhana is the goddess of illusions, reflections, and mystery. She reminds me a lot of Leira actually. Legend holds that she wears six veils and they are in the shape of a different race. Human, elf, halfling, gnome, aranea, and naga. A seventh veil allows her to hide her true identity. She is one of Zon-kuthon’s greatest enemies.
Lastly there is Zyphus the god of accidental deaths, graveyard, and tragedy. He hopes to someday engineer the death of Pharasma, his most hated foe.
Archdevils are listed next.
Baalzebul, the Lord of Flies, rules the Seventh Hell. Barbatos rules Avernus, the uppermost Hell and he holds the key to the gateways into Hell. Belial rules the fourth layer, Phlegethon, and she is the archdevil of desire and adultery. Dispater rules Dis, an iron-walled city. Geryon rules the swamps of Stygia. Mammon rules Erebus, the lightless realm beneath Dis and he is Hell’s accountant and treasurer. Mephistophele rules the Hanging Garden of Caina and he is the keeper of Hell’s greatest secrets and contracts. Lastly there is Moloch, who trains Hell’s armies for the battle against Heaven and goodness in the Great Beyond.
Demon Lords are below and all of these are given a paragraph or two. However, the entries after Zura do not have any text about them on these pages.
Abraxas is the Demon Lord of magic and forbidden lore. He knows countless magical formulas, spells, and secrets, particularly though that cause great devastation and pain. He also knows the Final Incantation, which strips away and destroys magic.
Angazhan is the Demon Lord of apes and jungles. His followers are mostly in the Mwangi Expanse and they are ape men.
Baphomet is the Demon Lord of minotaurs, labrinths, and beasts. He is one of Lamashtu’s favored consorts. Minotaurs mostly worship him but he also has some human cultists that have turned away from Erastil.
Cyth-V’sug is the Demon Lord of fungus and parasites. I mentioned Treerazer, his demon, earlier in my review about the elven lands.
Dagon is the Demon Lord of sea and sea monsters.
Deskari is the Demon Lord of locusts and infestation.
Kostchtchie is the Demon Lord of giants and cold. He was a mortal that begged Baba Yaga for immortality and he plans his vengeance against Irisen and Baba Yaga since she made him what he most hated.
Nocticula is the Demon Lord of darkness and lust. Her guild, the Nocticulan Slayer’s Guild, is competition with the Red Mantis and at times the two guilds go to war with each other.
Orcus is the Demon Lord of necromancy and undead. Though he is one of the most worshipped Demon Lords throughout the worlds of the Prime, his faith of Golarion is small due to Zura and Urgathoa.
Pazuzu is the Demon Lord of winged creatures and the sky.
Shax is the Demon Lord of lies and murder. He likes to eat the eyes of his living victims.
Socothbenoth is the Demon Lord of perversion and taboos. He is the brother and lover of Nocticula.
Zura is the Demon Lord of cannibalism and vampires. It’s said she is the first vampire and she was an Azlanti Queen.
The next 13 Demon Lords are listed with no info about them.
Aldinach is the Demon Lord of sand and scorpions
Andirifkhu is the Demon Lord of knives and traps.
Areshkagal is the Demon Lord of portals and riddles.
Flauros is the Demon Lord of fire and salamanders.
Gogunta is the Demon Lord of boggards and swamps.
Haagenti is the Demon Lord of alchemy and change.
Jezelda is the Demon Lord of moon and werewolves.
Jubilex is the Demon Lord of poison and ooze.
Kabriri is the Demon Lord of graves and ghouls.
Mazmess is the Demon Lord of vermin and bindings.
Mestama is the Demon Lord of hags and deception.
Sifkesh is the Demon Lord of heresy and suicide.
Urxehl is the Demon Lord of storms and trolls.
Xoveron is the Demon Lord of gargoyles and ruins.
Zevgavizeb is the Demon Lord of caverns and troglodytes.
The six Empyreal Lords are listed next and they are given about a paragraph each.
Andoletta is the Lord of consolation, respect, and security.
Ragathiel is the Lord of chivalry, duty, and vengeance.
Arshea is the Lord of freedom, physical beauty, and sexuality.
Korada is the Lord of foresight, forgiveness, and peace. He resides in the Dream Lotus of Nirvana.
Valani is the Lord of change, growth, and primality.
Sinashakti is the Lord of journeys, joy, and messengers. He sprints through the planes, learning about people and he knows stories in a million languages, which he shares with all those he meets.
Lastly, before I get to the Four Philosophies, are the four horsemen of Abaddon. Their worshippers venerate out of them mostly out of fear but they do have clerics within the monstrous races.
Apollyon is the Horsemen of pestilence.
Charon is the Horsemen of death and his realm is the River Sytx. He also, of course, is the ferryman for lost souls of the Outer Rifts.
Szuriel is the Horsemen of war.
Trelmarixian is the Horsemen of famine.
There’s about 12 pages left in this chapter and I’ll get to them over the next coming days. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Ayunken-vanzan
Senior Scribe
Germany
657 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2008 : 10:18:45
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| Nice, I think it is the first time that the four apocalyptic riders are provided in D&D in such manner. |
"What mattered our lives now? When our world had been torn from us? Folk wept, or drank, or stood staring out over the land, wondering what new horror each dawn would bring."
Elender Stormfall of Suzail
"Anyone can kill deities, cause plagues, or destroy organizations. It takes real skill to make them live on."
Varl
FR/D&D-Links • 2ed Downloads |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31792 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2008 : 14:48:21
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| Well, the book's finally been recently here in Australia. Unfortunately, the $79 price tag means I'll have to put off purchasing it until next week, as I've already spent my budget on RPG books this week. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2008 : 16:51:07
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Indeed. They have appeared in some Dragon articles a time or two but I've never really seen them used in a setting itself. :)
quote:
Originally posted by Ayunken-vanzan
Nice, I think it is the first time that the four apocalyptic riders are provided in D&D in such manner.
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For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2008 : 16:52:08
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Well, for shame! HAH.
But yeah, it is a bit pricey but, to me, it is worth the 50 American and if some people buy it online, like on Amazon, it's only 38 American instead. Think Paizo also gives a discount.
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Well, the book's finally been recently here in Australia. Unfortunately, the $79 price tag means I'll have to put off purchasing it until next week, as I've already spent my budget on RPG books this week.
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For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36814 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2008 : 18:40:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
Well, for shame! HAH.
But yeah, it is a bit pricey but, to me, it is worth the 50 American and if some people buy it online, like on Amazon, it's only 38 American instead. Think Paizo also gives a discount.
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Well, the book's finally been recently here in Australia. Unfortunately, the $79 price tag means I'll have to put off purchasing it until next week, as I've already spent my budget on RPG books this week.
The guy I mentioned on eBay (bottom of page 6 of this thread) still has 10 copies for $28 a piece. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 01 Sep 2008 18:41:19 |
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Golarion
