Pathfinder RPG Pathfinder Society Factions Page

Faction Overview (As of AR 4708)

• PSO - Pathfinder Society Organisation. These are the generic abilites shared by all of the sub factions.
• Andoran Faction - The Andoran faction within the Pathfinder Society represented the interests of the nation of Andoran and advocated for freedom throughout the Inner Sea.
• Cheliax Faction - The Cheliax faction within the Pathfinder Society represented the interests of House Thrune and strove to expand Cheliax’s diabolic influence over Golarion.
• Grand Lodge Faction - The Grand Lodge faction within the Pathfinder Society represents its ruling Decemvirate and the organization’s larger philosophical and pragmatic goals.
• Lantern Lodge Faction - The Lantern Lodge faction within the Pathfinder Society represented the interests of Venture-Captain Amara Li and the Dragon Empires of Tian Xia.
• Osirion Faction - The Osirion faction within the Pathfinder Society represented the interests of the Ruby Prince in Osirion’s attempts to reclaim past glory through the recovery of ancient artefacts of power.
• Qadira Faction - The Qadira faction within the Pathfinder Society represented Qadiran satrapy of the Keleshite Empire, particularly its trade interests in the Inner Sea region.
• Sczarni Faction - The Sczarni faction within the Pathfinder Society represented Sczarni crimelord Guaril Karela and the rest of the Varisian crime organisation.
• Shadow Lodge Faction - The Shadow Lodge faction within the Pathfinder Society represented dissenters of the Decemvirate.
• Silver Crusade Faction - The Silver Crusade faction within the Pathfinder Society represents Pathfinders who want to apply the Society’s resources toward making the world a better place.
• Taldor Faction - The Taldor faction within the Pathfinder Society represented the interests of Taldor as it struggled to solidify its standing in the Inner Sea region.

Pathfinder Society Factions - PSO (Pathfinder Society Organisation)

The Pathfinder Society Vows

As a member of the society, you vow to uphold the values of the society, to journal your discoveries and to share those discoveries with the society.

What this means is maintaining a journal of your travels and experiences, and with each new discovery prioritising informing the Society and not using this information for personal gain.

The benefits you gain from this is that your wayfinders have been attuned with Absalom and you can make use of other waygates attuned to your wayfinder to travel here. Also upon presentation of your wayfinder you gain access to any pathfinder Lodge. Lastly when using the light of the wayfinder, you can identify other members who have no broken their oath to the society.

The drawbacks, your oaths bind you against certain actions, if you bring the society in disrepute by using its name for your own agenda, as a reason to escape justice, or to bring someone else to justice, and lastly to share the secrets of the society with non-members then you will have broken your oath to the society.

The Magnimar Lodge Vows

As a member of the Magnimar lodge, you vow to serve with honestly, integrity and preservation.

What this means is keeping the workings of the pathfinders in Varisia secret, to keep the Magnimar lodge informed of your actions, what you believe, and to preserve the knowledge of the various societies of the region, including the Varisian, Shoanti, Giantkin and Goblinoids tribes. For example it is not a coincidence that there are seven tribes of the Shoanti, and that each has folklore and history tied to a specific Runelord as their founder and patron. Knowledge of the history of these four group is sought urgently as part of your task, and ruins associated with the Runelords needs to be explored and documented as a high priority, with only your ability to return with the information valued higher.

The benefits you gain from this is that your wayfinders have been attuned with the Magnimar lodge, your have free lodging there and can obtain services of myself, and other society members stationed there as part of your service. As such as long as you keep the pathfinder name out of your activities, this lodge will use its influence to help you, feed your, and train you.

The drawbacks, your oaths bind you again lying to the Venture-Captain of the Magnimar lodge in person, providing access to the lodge to non-members without taking them immediately to the member on duty, and failing to document items, customs and beliefs of the people of the region.

The Representative Vows

The final vows you have been asked to take are these, you promise to faithfully work with and support the other Magnimar Faction Representatives.

What this means is that you will not knowingly work to harm, hinder or undermine the other members of your party, and while able to keep secrets from them (such as any faction specific goals).

The benefits you gain from this is trust. The drawback is that once that trust is broken, it is unlikely to be regained.

Oathbreakers

A pathfinder to breaks one of the above vows, will trigger a magical backlash the immediately breaks their connection with the society, records themselves as an oathbreaker on the society roll, and becomes hunted with intent to capture or kill.

Details of the Society

The Pathfinder Society is a globe-spanning organisation based out of Absalom, the City at the Centre of the World. The membership consists primarily of Pathfinders, adventurers who travel throughout Golarion—usually inconspicuously — and explore, delve, and otherwise experience the lesser-seen parts of the world. They send journals documenting their travels back to their venture-captains, who also assigns them new missions and suggests new places to explore. The most exciting and illuminating of these journals are compiled in the Pathfinder Chronicles, an ongoing series of books that collect the history and mystery of Golarion for its membership and the general public.

This is a group people who document the hidden and lost corners of the world to help society understand their world and history better. Player characters are required to begin the campaign trying out for membership as part of their background.

Ranks in the society:
• Aspirant - These characters are found only in Absalom undergoing training at the Grand Lodge of the Pathfinder Society.
• Trainee - (can be awarded by adventure Aspirant Pathfinders) Graduating pathfinders, either through the trials at the Grand Lodge or in the field, they have the right of entry into a Pathfinder Society compound.
• Field Operative - (+1 Fame)
• Field Lieutenant - (+5 Fame)
• Field Captain - (+10 Fame)
• Pathfinder Agent - (lo-wg-24, Fame +10)
• Scrollmaster - (lo-cg-113, Fame +10)
• Spellmaster - (lo-cg-114, Fame +10)
• Swordmaster - (lo-cg-116, Fame +10)
• Venture-Lieutenant - (+15 Fame)
• Venture-Captain - (+20 Fame)
• Faction Leader - (+25 Fame)
• True Power of the Society - (no fame)

As a member of the pathfinder society you can spent prestige in these ways:

Gaining and Loosing Renown in the Pathfinder Society

Gaining renown
• +1 renown – Submitting a pathfinder report of an Adventure (sometimes one per section).
• +1 renown – Submitted Report makes it into a Pathfinder Chronicle.
• +1 renown – Having submitted a pathfinder report between character levels.
• +1 renown – Gaining a new rank in the society.
• +1 renown – Successfully passing a test of leadership.
• +1 renown – Successfully choosing a worthy leader.

Loosing renown
• -1 renown – Turning down a provided quest.
• -1 renown – Not submitting a pathfinder report between character levels.
• -5 renown – changing factions within the society.
• -5 renown – loosing a rank in the society.

Pathfinder Society Factions - Andoran (Pathfinder Society Faction)

Andoran Faction – Assigned to
• Vow to follow a common rule for all, and to light the fires of freedom.
• Benefit of advantage on any escape check, or check involving rule of laws your familiar with and gain magical tome of laws that always match the location your in.
• Drawbacks of unable to to personally bind another to your will, including a companion or a familiar.

The Andoran faction within the Pathfinder Society represented the interests of the nation of Andoran and advocated for freedom throughout the Inner Sea.

Background - From humble beginnings as loggers and merchants, the Andorens proved themselves survivors on a hard frontier. Even before they won their independence, they were an impressive people. Brave explorers and canny merchants, they were the first to sail the sea beyond the Arch of Aroden. They settled distant colonies, hewing a life from wild lands and an inhospitable coastline fraught with peril. The power of Old Taldor’s navy rested on the shoulders of capable Andoren commanders whose skill at arms, fiery tenacity, and naval puissance was unrivalled in the empire’s glory day.

Andoran shrugged off the auspices of Old Taldor when Qadira invaded the empire. Shortly thereafter they shattered Cheliax’s diabolic chains. Now Andoran holds the reins of its own destiny in the strong hands of its people. They are the first government of the Inner Sea to entrust its power to its own citizens instead of dolloping it upon the crowned brow of a king. Their weapons are innovation, a stubborn dedication to idealism, and a firm belief in the potential of humanity. The Andorens are a hard people, dedicated to freedom for all, and unable to sit by and watch as the world around them submits to savagery and tyranny.

Faction Goal – Common Rule for All - Andoran would see the tyrannic empires who once ruled them brought down. They would see slavery abolished and those who would buy and sell people punished in the extreme. They would bring the torch of freedom to the world’s darkest places and banish mysticism, diabolism, and fear. Common Rule must be spread across each horizon.

Methodology – Light the Fires of Freedom - The Andoran faction attacks its enemies from within. They find dissidents, freedom fighters, and revolutionaries among the populations of their foes and offer them covert aid, equipment, intelligence and the funds they need to topple the tyrants. Missions assigned to Andoran faction members tend toward helping dissident groups within the other factions, though anything that shakes these tyrants’ power is a worthy cause for an Andoren to lend himself to.

• Leader: Captain Colson Maldris
• Alignment: Neutral Good
• Headquarters: Absalom
• Goals: Freedom from Tyranny

Pathfinders with allegiances to the Andoran faction often perform acts of diplomacy, sabotage, and proselytizing while carrying out their primary objectives for the Decemvirate. Whether providing moral support to the downtrodden, delivering messages to agents deep undercover in distant lands, or acting as a thorn in the side of slavers throughout the region, an Andoran Faction operative improves his reputation by spreading Andoren ideals wherever he goes. A member of this faction should be willing to bend the rules of tyrannical law in order to plant the seed of liberty, even when doing so requires employing questionable techniques.

This faction provides these other options. To take anything here you need to be a member of this faction. If you did not seek them as your sponsor, and become accepted then you might have to undertake a quest to do so.

Special Ranks in the Andoran Faction:
• Aldori Duelist (lo-wg-35, Fame +10)
• Eagle Knight (Fame +10) - You join the Eagles Knights at a rank of Lance Corporal. You have advantage on all social dealings with other eagle knights.
• Firebrand (lo-cg-74, Fame +10)
• Lion Blade (lo-wg-131, Fame +10)
• Pathfinder Agent (lo-wg-24, Fame +10)
• Red Mantis Assassin (lo-wg-72, Fame +10)
• Swordmaster (lo-cg-116, Fame +10)
• Tiller (Fame +10) - Recognition in the Bellflower Network, and you have advantage on checks to free slaves from bondage.
• Captain of the Society (Fame +20) - You become a captain and have advantage in social situation when conversing with those who have less fame.
• Gray Corsair (Fame +20) - You are a member of the Andoran naval military and can serve on any vessel as the cost of passage.
• Knighthood (Fame +20) - You are inducted into the nobility of Andoran gaining a noble title and advantage on social tests with Andoran people.

Associated Regions with the Broken Lands (lo-wg-25), High Seas (lo-wg-61), Shining Kingdoms (lo-wg-121) and the Organisations Aldori Duellist (lo-wg-36), Eagle Knights (lo-wg-123), Firebrands (lo-cg-75), Free Captains (lo-wg-68), Lion Blades (lo-wg-130), Prophecies of Kalistrade (lo-wg-124), Razmir (lo-wg-25), Red Mantis (rb-cr-21)

Gaining and Loosing Renown in the Andoran Faction

Pathfinders with allegiances to the Andoran faction often perform acts of diplomacy, sabotage, and proselytizing while carrying out their primary objectives for the Decemvirate. Whether providing moral support to the downtrodden, delivering messages to agents deep undercover in distant lands, or acting as a thorn in the side of slavers throughout the region, an Andoran Faction operative improves his reputation by spreading Andoren ideals wherever he goes. A member of this faction should be willing to bend the rules of tyrannical law in order to plant the seed of liberty, even when doing so requires employing questionable techniques.

Gaining renown
• +1 renown – Completing an Objective of the Andoran Faction
• +1 renown – Gaining a level while a member of the Andoran Faction

Loosing renown
• -1 renown – Turning down a Andoran Faction quest.
• -1 renown – Failing to achieve an Andoran Objective in an accepted quest.
• half current renown – changing factions within the society.

Letters from the Faction

#1 – Aspirant Pathfinders

Worthy Pathfinder,

Your recent exploits as an adventuring Pathfinder have greatly impressed me, and I wish to make you an offer. Clearly you value the freedom of every sentient creature and will be a great asset to the Eagle Knights and Andoran as we work to spread democracy throughout the Inner Sea. By defying tyranny and promoting freedom and self-government, we can rise to be the most powerful and influential nation in the world. Look for word from me before your next mission; I will inform you of opportunities to be of further assistance to Andoran while conducting Pathfinder business.

In the name of freedom and democracy,
Captain Colson Maldris

Character also receives 2 gp in Varisian currency.

#2 – The City of Strangers

Champion of Light,

This letter will be ill company for you on your long journey to the City of Strangers, but know that your presence there will aid our cause greatly. The man you go to visit, Horis Collgardie, is a friend of Andoran and helps us smuggle goods in and out of Varisia. Should anything ill befall him, it’s important you find his ledger and hide it where only you can find it. Then, when you’re on your way back, bring it with you. No one from outside our faction can be permitted to see it. I also have reason to suspect that Wymund Pratt, one of the most annoying bards I have ever met, resides in Kaer Maga. He too is a Pathfinder, but he’s intolerable and he’s an enemy of Andoran. Because of Pratt, the Society has nearly been thrown out of Andoran twice. If you find him, kill him. He’s evil, he’s a danger to the Society and Andoran, and he stands for everything we oppose. I shall send along another letter of instructions that should reach you just after you arrive. Keep an eye out for my messenger.

In Service to Freedom,
Captain Colson Maldris

#3 – The City of Strangers

Freedom’s Herald,

I hope this letter reaches you in distant Kaer Maga. The messenger I sent on the next ship to Korvosa is a trusted Andoren hero, so I’ve no doubt you received this in good order.

As I said in my last letter, I needed to look into other affairs we have in Kaer Maga. After doing so, there are a few things you need to do for Andoran while you’re in the City of Strangers. First, we need to ask you to ensure that another enemy of the state is dead before you leave the city. His name is Kormiggon Sussworth and he was once a very popular Pathfinder in Almas. He disappeared a year ago after his mistress, the wife of a prominent Almas merchant, was found dead. All evidence points toward him being the culprit—we also have reason to suspect he’s joined a secret organization within the Society that seeks to cause trouble for the Grand Lodge and the Decemvirate. Let’s avoid this trouble — ensure he dies. It’s a brutal tactic, I know, but enemies of freedom do not always deserve justice.

In addition, my messenger should have handed you two letters. The other is intended for a loyal double agent in Kaer Maga named Krazel. He receives assignments from the Paracountess and that fool Taldan Baron, but in reality he passes them to me. Deliver the message discretely.

For Aldoran,
Captain Colson Maldris

Pathfinder Society Factions - Chaliax (Pathfinder Society Faction)

Cheliax Faction – Assigned to (First option to Belath or Parry)
• Vow to deal with Hell of Golarion and to utilise the kiss and the lash.
• Benefit of advantage on any charm checks used for seduction or checks to inflict pain for information and gain Lore – Contracts.
• Drawback of unable to enter into a agreement without it being written in a contract that you have personally read and understood.

The Cheliax faction within the Pathfinder Society represented the interests of House Thrune and strove to expand Cheliax’s diabolic influence over Golarion.

Background of the Cheliax Faction - When Aroden died, some say the soul of Cheliax perished with him. The once mighty empire tore itself apart, and only through the power of three noble Houses, each steeped in deviltry, was order restored. The empire runs on the backs of fiends now, a perfect machine of hellfire and blood, where morality surrenders to the needs of law and order. It’s easy to curse Cheliax as a nation of devil-lovers, but few can argue with the results of their fiend-binding craft. House Thrune, the greatest of its diabolic noble families, has brought the empire under control once more. Cheliax rises like a dark star, as strong as ever, despite the recent losses of Galt and Andoran to rebellious forces.

Asmodeus proves as powerful a divine patron as Aroden ever did, shepherding his people toward glory and dominance of the Inner Sea. His plans reach eons into the future, and the minor setbacks of yesterday are all factored into the cost of doing a devil’s business. The Chelish always plan for a long campaign, and never trifle over today’s skirmishes. In the end all will burn in hellfire. It is only a matter of time and calculated conquest.

The pale-skinned Chelish believe themselves superior to all other peoples. Their compact with great devils gives them power beyond measure, and no other nation of the Inner Sea can compete with their summoners and warlocks when it comes to trafficking with dark forces. These devils require payment for their service, often offered up in the form of tender flesh and boiled blood. Slaves are an important resource of the Chelish as are artifacts of ancient power whose secrets are revealed to them by their timeless patrons. Even as Andoran revels in its newfound freedom, the tendrils of Cheliax’s empire continue to expand. Arcadia lays open before them and Sargava is ready to fall under their hellish sway. The Inner Sea will fall with the rest as soon as Absalom rests firmly in the bloodied hands of House Thrune.

Faction Goal – Hell on Golarion - The Chelish plan to spread the dark influence of Asmodeus across the face of Golarion. They bring order to chaos, quell the troublesome concepts of freedom and self-determination, and leave broken souls eager to accept the bondage of slavery in their wake. The world must come to terms with the order of things. Mortals serve at the knee of greater powers. The devils of the Nine Hells are Golarion’s natural overlords and if the rabble gathered along the coast of the Inner Sea can’t be made to understand this simple fact, then they will be purged in a torrent of fire.

Methodology – The Kiss and the Lash - The Chelish are masters of seduction as well as pain. They bring their enemies to heel with promises of aid, riches, and glory, but keep them in line with cruel lashes and hellfire. The Chelish faction wins others to its dark cause with temptation. Lust, power, riches, vanity, the Chelish offer all, and cater to the sinful nature in every man to bring him low. If a foe cannot be seduced, he must instead be scourged. Many missions of the Chelish faction involve tempting upright people into darkness and vice, and then threatening to expose their sins unless they aid the empire as dutiful agents. The tricks of devils have claimed men’s souls since time immemorial and they serve the Chelish well in their quest for control of Absalom.

Leader: Paracountess Zarta Dralneen
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Headquarters: Absalom
Goals: Hell on Golarion

Cheliax faction Pathfinders tend to win the paracountess’s favor by delivering messages of intimidation to her political enemies, retrieving arcane or extraplanar relics to aid in further mastery of devil-kind, and promoting the establishment of order, tyranny, and Chelish dominance throughout the Inner Sea region. Their missions for the faction often put them at odds with the freedom fighters of Andoran and the lazy representatives of foppish Taldor. A member of this faction should be willing to do whatever is necessary to follow orders, establish the rule of law, and forward the interests of House Thrune, even when doing so may result in the suffering of those unable to avoid being trampled by the march of progress.

This faction provides these other options. To take anything here you need to be a member of this faction. If you did not seek them as your sponsor, and become accepted then you might have to undertake a quest to do so.

Special Ranks in the Cheliax Faction:
• Firebrand (lo-cg-74, Fame +10)
• Hellknight Armiger (U lo-wg-107 and lo-cg-80, Fame +10)
• Hellknight Signifier (U lo-cg-85, Fame +10)
• Pathfinder Agent (lo-wg-24, Fame +10)
• Spellmaster (lo-cg-114, Fame +10)
• Hellknight (U lo-cg-84, Fame +20)

Associated Regions with the Old Cheliax (lo-wg-97) and the Organisations Bellflower Network (lo-wg), Firebrands (lo-cg-75) and Hellknights (lo-cg-84)

Gaining and Loosing Renown in the Cheliax Faction

Cheliax faction Pathfinders tend to win the paracountess’s favor by delivering messages of intimidation to her political enemies, retrieving arcane or extraplanar relics to aid in further mastery of devil-kind, and promoting the establishment of order, tyranny, and Chelish dominance throughout the Inner Sea region. Their missions for the faction often put them at odds with the freedom fighters of Andoran and the lazy representatives of foppish Taldor. A member of this faction should be willing to do whatever is necessary to follow orders, establish the rule of law, and forward the interests of House Thrune, even when doing so may result in the suffering of those unable to avoid being trampled by the march of progress.

Gaining renown
• +1 renown – Completing an Objective of the Cheliax Faction
• +1 renown – Gaining a level while a member of the Cheliax Faction

Loosing renown
• -1 renown – Turning down a Cheliax Faction quest.
• -1 renown – Failing to achieve an Cheliax Objective in an accepted quest.
• half current renown – changing factions within the society.

Letters from the Faction

#1 – Aspirant Pathfinders

Delectable Plaything,

While I have ambitious agents lined up outside my boudoir hoping to be of service to Cheliax and earn my good favor, your recent actions warrant special attention. The agents of the House of Thrune are ever looking for those willing to promote Chelish dominance and ensure that law is maintained—even on the backs of the weak. Only through strict adherence to the codices of Hell can we exert our power throughout the Inner Sea. Your position as a Pathfinder will serve Her Infernal Majestrix well. If you do as I ask in future letters, you will know great rewards, both from our great empire and of a more personal nature.

Until we meet again,
Paracountess Zarta Dralneen

Characters also receive 5 gp in Chelaxian currency.

#2 – The City of Strangers

Luscious Tart,

It’s too bad you’ll be on a ship for weeks and then forced to spend time in squalor with the freaks of Kaer Maga. I’m throwing such a wonderful series of parties while you’re gone—do return to me whole so I can break you down at the last one.

Since you’re going to be in the City of Strangers, you might as well do a few things for Cheliax and me. The denizens of Kaer Maga hide countless magical power sources beneath their city that they call “ruins.” If only they knew the truth of their city’s origin—ruins! Nay! Power! Since you’ll likely enter the city through the Halflight Path, secretly draw me a detailed map of your path from the Twisted Door up to the city. I’m eager to see how things have changed on the Path since I was last there.

Additionally, one of my spies in Kaer Maga stopped sending regular missives. He’s a young Chelish nobleman named Krazel. He’s from a minor family in Egorian, but his political position in Cheliax is solid—unfortunately, that means killing him for impertinence is out of the question. Find him and give him the enclosed message. If that doesn’t get him back to work, I’ll have to make a special request for his family to have him killed. I’ll send along another set of instructions from my courier in Korvosa—it should arrive soon after you do.

Achingly Yours,
Paracountess Zarta Dralneen

#3 – The City of Strangers

Delectable Dollop,

Such parties you have missed! The evening after you left, there were dozens of loyal Chelaxians throughout my manor house. Wine, food, decadence — they were all had for any who wanted it. We missed you a great deal—my whip, I think, missed you more.

I mentioned in my last letter that I would send along another set of instructions. It seems a woman I’ve been in search of for several years may actually be among the mysterious Pathfinders gallivanting about the City of Strangers. Her name is Kanna Rhamla, she’s a crazy dragon sorceress, and she betrayed me one too many times. For me, for Cheliax—she must never leave Kaer Maga. See to it.

Lastly, my favorite scoundrel, Kormiggon Sussworth, murdered the wife of an Andoren merchant in Almas a year ago. He’s likely now hiding out in Kaer Maga. I care not a whit for the man, but his collection of Pathfinder Chronicles, all in perfect condition, does interest me. Find him and take them for me.

I Suffer in Your Absence,
Paracountess Zarta Dralneen

Pathfinder Society Factions - Grand Lodge (Pathfinder Society Faction)

The Grand Lodge Faction – Assigned to (First option to Kordar)
• Vow to serve the Society with Virtue, Honour and Integrity
• Benefits of being the spokesperson of the Society, able to enter into agreements on its behalf, and are the party leader. You are able to use an action to tell if there are pathfinder items, locations or society members and how many, as long as they are within the range of your light even without it being active.
• Drawback of being the party leader, and responsible for their wellbeing.

The Grand Lodge faction within the Pathfinder Society represents its ruling Decemvirate and the organization’s larger philosophical and pragmatic goals.

Background of the Grand Lodge Faction - Regardless of a Pathfinder’s nation of origin, all members of the Society consider the Grand Lodge in Absalom a second home. It is in this vast complex of sprawling towers, libraries, and reliquaries that so many Pathfinders receive their training, and within the Grand Lodge’s walls, the masked leaders of the Society secretly guide the organisation from their chambers at the peak of Skyreach’s central tower. While many Pathfinders find their loyalty to the Society but one of several alliances to outside political or religious factions, most Pathfinders hold the strongest allegiance to the will of the Ten and the Pathfinder Society itself. Those who do not taint their dedication with distractions from other superiors are the pride of the Grand Lodge, and are rewarded for always putting the orders of the Decemvirate before their own personal wants and desires.

Faction Goal – Loyalty to the Decemvirate - Grand Lodge Pathfinders are often curious adventurers who believe the Pathfinder Society’s tenets and Decemvirate’s orders are their best guides to exploring the world, securing powerful magical items, and finding new adventures.

Leader: Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin
Alignment: Neutral
Headquarters: Grand Lodge, Absalom
Goals: Loyalty to the Decemvirate above all

Pathfinders loyal first and foremost to the Grand Lodge and the Decemvirate find themselves well rewarded for carrying out the will of the Ten no matter where it takes them or what the task. Those Pathfinders who put the wellbeing of the Society above their own and who embody the values of exploration, cooperation, and accountability rise quickly in the ranks of the Grand Lodge. Often, the acquisition of lost knowledge or forgotten treasures directly benefits the discovering Pathfinder; thus, those dedicated to the Decemvirate take their orders as advice on how to maximise their own success.

This faction provides these other options. To take anything here you need to be a member of this faction. If you did not seek them as your sponsor, and become accepted then you might have to undertake a quest to do so.

Special Ranks in the Grand Lodge Faction:
• Aspis Hunter (Fame +10) - You learn the secrets to take down the societies greatest rivals the Aspis Consortium, and have advantage on rolls against them.
• Firebrand (lo-cg-74, Fame +10),
• Knight Reclaimant (lo-cg-91, Fame +10),
• Knight Vigilant (lo-cg-93, Fame +10),
• Lastwall Sentry (lo-wg-47, Fame +10),
• Magic Warrior (lo-wg-96, Fame +10),
• Pathfinder Agent (lo-cg-112 and lo-wg-24, Fame +10)
• Scrollmaster (lo-cg-113, Fame +10)
• Spellmaster (lo-cg-114, Fame +10)
• Swordmaster (lo-cg-116, Fame +10)

Associated Regions with Absalom and Statstone Isle (lo-wg-13), Mwangi Expanse (lo-wg-85) and the Organisations Aspis Consortium (rb-cr-21), Firebrands (lo-cg-75), Green Faith (rb-cr-21), Knights of Lastwall (lo-cg-86) and Magambya (lo-wg-90)

Gaining and Loosing Renown in the Grand Lodge Faction

Pathfinders loyal first and foremost to the Grand Lodge and the Decemvirate find themselves well rewarded for carrying out the will of the Ten no matter where it takes them or what the task. Those Pathfinders who put the wellbeing of the Society above their own and who embody the values of exploration, cooperation, and accountability rise quickly in the ranks of the Grand Lodge. Often, the acquisition of lost knowledge or forgotten treasures directly benefits the discovering Pathfinder; thus, those dedicated to the Decemvirate take their orders as advice on how to maximise their own success.

Gaining renown
• +1 renown – Completing an Objective of the Grand Lodge Faction
• +1 renown – Gaining a level while a member of the Grand Lodge Faction

Loosing renown
• -1 renown – Turning down a Grand Lodge Faction quest.
• -1 renown – Failing to achieve an Grand Lodge Objective in an accepted quest.
• half current renown – changing factions within the society.

Letters from the Faction

#1 – Aspirant Pathfinders

Loyal Pathfinder,

I see hundreds of new agents rise from mediocrity to find their names scribed upon the very pages of the Pathfinder Chronicles, and I expect you to be among them. Your dedication to the ideals of our esteemed organization and your obedience of the word of the Decemvirate are laudable. In the course of your long and illustrious career, I may ask certain favors of you above and beyond those of your fellow agents. Do these tasks and you will earn not only my favor and that of my fellow venture-captains, but even the notice of the Ten themselves. You will be well rewarded for your allegiance to the Pathfinder Society above all else.

By the will of the Ten,
Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin

Characters also gain 5 weeks worth of rations.

Pathfinder Society Factions - Lantern Lodge (Pathfinder Society Faction)

The Lantern Lodge Faction – Assigned to
• Vow to spread the understanding and beliefs of the Tian people.
• Benefit of access to to a few more undisclosed locations via the waygates and gain Lore – Tian.
• Drawback of being unable to share or take others to those locations.

The Lantern Lodge faction within the Pathfinder Society represented the interests of Venture-Captain Amara Li and the Dragon Empires of Tian Xia.

Background of the Lantern Lodge Faction - While the Pathfinder Society makes its home in the Grand Lodge of Absalom, its membership comes from and travels to all corners of the known world. Outside the Inner Sea region, one of the highest concentrations of Pathfinders is on the continent of Tian Xia, and specifically in the metropolitan city of Goka. Most Tian Pathfinders operate independently of their brethren in Absalom, but occasionally agents cross the Crown of the World, make the treacherous naval voyage south around Casmaron, or simply teleport between the two hubs of activity.

Faction Goal – Spread the Wisdom of Tian Xia in the Inner Sea - The Lantern Lodge represents Tian interests in the Inner Sea region, ensuring that Pathfinder Society agents far to the east of the Decemvirate’s direct view are considered in organization-wide affairs. It also seeks to expand the Dragon Empires’ cultural reach and acquire, trade, or return artefacts.

Leader: Amara Li
Alignment: Neutral
Headquarters: Absalom
Goals: Spread the Wisdom of Tian Xia in the Inner Sea

Special Ranks in the Lantern Lodge Faction:
• Honorific of Tian (Fame +5) - You gain the titles of Brother or Sister and you can double your expertise bonus when dealing with people of Tien.
• Student of Perfection (lo-wg-83, Fame +5)
• Pathfinder Agent (lo-wg-24, Fame +10)
• Scrollmaster (lo-cg-113, Fame +10)
• Spellmaster (lo-cg-114, Fame +10)
• Swordmaster (lo-cg-116, Fame +10)
• Diplomat of Tian (Fame +20) - You gain advantage on all social checks made with members of the Tian nations.
• Master of Tian (Fame +20) - You gain advantage of initiative checks.

While Lantern Lodge Pathfinders participate in normal missions throughout the Inner Sea region—seemingly without ties to Tian Xia at all — Venture-Captain Li frequently finds tasks for them to carry out while engaging in other activities. These include diplomatic missions to allies of her cause throughout the Inner Sea region, retrieval of long-lost Tian artifacts she hopes to see return to Goka for study or display, or the elimination of enemies who hamper the Lantern Lodge’s efforts in one way or another. Lantern Lodge Pathfinders are Pathfinders first and foremost, but Amara Li rewards them significantly for dedication to her and her lodge while they carry out the will of the Ten.

This faction provides these other options. To take anything here you need to be a member of this faction. If you did not seek them as your sponsor, and become accepted then you might have to undertake a quest to do so.

Associated Regions with the Golden Road (lo-wg-49) and the Organisations Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye (lo-wg-46), Night Heralds (lo-wg)

Gaining and Loosing Renown in the Lantern Lodge Faction

While Lantern Lodge Pathfinders participate in normal missions throughout the Inner Sea region—seemingly without ties to Tian Xia at all — Venture-Captain Li frequently finds tasks for them to carry out while engaging in other activities. These include diplomatic missions to allies of her cause throughout the Inner Sea region, retrieval of long-lost Tian artifacts she hopes to see return to Goka for study or display, or the elimination of enemies who hamper the Lantern Lodge’s efforts in one way or another. Lantern Lodge Pathfinders are Pathfinders first and foremost, but Amara Li rewards them significantly for dedication to her and her lodge while they carry out the will of the Ten.

Gaining renown
• +1 renown – Completing an Objective of the Lantern Lodge Faction
• +1 renown – Gaining a level while a member of the Lantern Lodge Faction

Loosing renown
• -1 renown – Turning down a Lantern Lodge Faction quest.
• -1 renown – Failing to achieve an Lantern Lodge Objective in an accepted quest.
• half current renown – changing factions within the society.

Letters from the Faction

#1 – Aspirant Pathfinders

Most Esteemed Pathfinder,

Though I know that not all Pathfinders may share my homeland or even plan to travel beyond the Wall of Heaven Mountains to the continent beyond, I recognize a kindred spirit when I see one. While you work within our organization as explorer and chronicler, please consider the concerns of those of us who belong to the Lantern Lodge. Ensure our interests are represented in the Inner Sea, and strengthen the tie between Pathfinders on both sides of the world. For these efforts you will be rewarded as much as I and others within the Lodge can afford. Most of all, you will earn our respect and increase your honor—such rewards can not be measured in any amount of wealth.

For the east and all it holds,
Venture-Captain Amara Li

Characters also receive a silk Kimono with the Lantern Lodge symbols on it.

Pathfinder Society Factions - Osirion (Pathfinder Society Faction)

Osirion Faction – Assigned to Luna (First option to Luna)
• Vow to gain power through knowledge and to hide your power, least your enemy seek to take it from you.
• Benefit of treating a successful knowledge check as a critical success.
• Drawback of treating a failed knowledge check as a critical failure.

The Osirion faction within the Pathfinder Society represented the interests of the Ruby Prince in Osirion’s attempts to reclaim past glory through the recovery of ancient artefacts of power.

Background of the Osirion Faction - Osirion was once the most glorious empire of Golarion. Pharaohs ruled as gods on earth, their monuments towered over even Thassilon’s mightiest, and their armies could churn a kingdom to mud and blot out the sun on wings of death. Now, Osirion ages from millennia of foreign rule under the rulership of the youthful Ruby Prince Khemet III, who hearkens back to the ancient days of Osirion’s glory. One year ago, Khemet opened the vast deserts of Osirion – long closed by the Keleshite overlords who held the nation as a satrapy of Qadira – to foreign exploration. Today the great treasures and arcane formulas of the living gods of ancient Osirion are unearthed for the entire world to see, and the ascendancy of the Land of Pharaohs is at hand. Most Inner Sea nations view Osirion as a relic from a bygone age. In truth, Osirion is a slumbering giant that, when awakened, could wash away all fledgling challengers with the power of its traditions. The Osiriani are wise people who look deep into the past for answers to present troubles. Their sense of history gives them a unique perspective on the ebb and flow of power in the political landscape of the modern Inner Sea. Many folk of Osirion are of old Garundi blood, bronze-skinned, and gifted with the noble bearing of the ancient pharaohs. It would take a special brand of fool to ignore this semblance of power and dismiss the Osirion faction as less of a threat than any of the other factions clamouring for control of Absalom.

Faction Goal – Power through Knowledge - In bygone ages, the pharaohs of Ancient Osirion created wonders beyond reason. They concocted potent arcane plagues to decimate their enemies and erected mighty monuments capable of entrapping the souls of deities. Let the other factions jockey for meagre political fancy or table scraps like favourable economic sanctions. Osirion is interested in rediscovering the powerful artefacts of its heritage and preventing their theft by aggressive powers such as Cheliax. Once these powers are returned to their rightful hands, no one shall dare breach Osirion’s borders again.

Methodology – Hide Your Power, Lest the Enemy Seek to Take It from You - For centuries now, the other powers of the Inner Sea have regarded Osirion as an impotent nation of conquered people. Osirion wouldn’t have it any other way. Since the Ruby Prince ascended the ancestral throne a few decades past, Osirion has been gathering its power and preparing to make a bid for supremacy on the Inner Sea. Most of the Osirion faction’s missions involve quietly undermining the power of their enemies. Osirion agents in Absalom plant the seeds of dissolution with a whisper or a poisonous draught, never with a naked blade, and never with a witness. Just as most of the Great Emerald Sphinx is buried beneath the sands of Osirion’s deserts, so is the nation’s power carefully hidden in secret brotherhoods and spies loyal to the pharaonic throne. When Absalom sits firmly in Osirion’s grasp, then Khemet III shall declare himself Pharaoh in the tradition of his ancestors and Osirion’s Second Golden Age shall follow.

Leader: Amenpheus, the Sapphire Sage
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Headquarters: Absalom
Goals: Power through Knowledge

The most valuable asset to the Osirion faction is knowledge, and Pathfinders willing and able to procure ancient relics for study, copy secret documents, and decipher long-dead languages find themselves well rewarded for carrying out Amenopheus’s requests. Many of the faction’s goals involve delving into haunted, cursed crypts, and Pathfinders with resistances or dominance over the undead are particularly useful.

This faction provides these other options. To take anything here you need to be a member of this faction. If you did not seek them as your sponsor, and become accepted then you might have to undertake a quest to do so.

Special Ranks in the Osirian Faction:
• Halcyon Speaker (lo-cg-104, Fame +10)
• Living Monolith (lo-wg-60, Fame +10)
• Magaambyan Attendant (lo-cg-101,Fame +10)
• Magic Warrior (lo-wg-95, Fame +10)
• Pathfinder Agent (lo-wg-24, Fame +10)
• Risen Guard (Fame +10) - You have advantage against death affects, but you have been killed and brought back by the Ruby Prince.
• Scrollmaster (lo-cg-113, Fame +10)
• Spellmaster (lo-cg-114, Fame +10)
• Swordmaster (lo-cg-114, Fame +10)
• Student of Perfection (lo-wg-84, Fame +10)
• The Constant (Fame +20) - You have advantage with social interactions with people from Osirion.

Associated Regions with the Eye of Dread (lo-wg-37), Golden Road (lo-wg-49), Impossible Lands (lo-wg-73) and Mwangi Expanse (lo-wg-85) and the Organisations Arclords of Nex (lo-wg-81), Aspis Consortium (rb-cr-21), Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye (lo-wg-46), Green Faith (rb-cr-21), Magambya (lo-wg-90), Night Heralds (lo-wg) and Whispering Way ()

Gaining and Loosing Renown in the Osirion Faction

The most valuable asset to the Osirion faction is knowledge, and Pathfinders willing and able to procure ancient relics for study, copy secret documents, and decipher long-dead languages find themselves well rewarded for carrying out Amenopheus’s requests. Many of the faction’s goals involve delving into haunted, cursed crypts, and Pathfinders with resistances or dominance over the undead are particularly useful.

Gaining renown
• +1 renown – Completing an Objective of the Osirion Faction
• +1 renown – Gaining a level while a member of the Osirion Faction

Loosing renown
• -1 renown – Turning down a Osirion Faction quest.
• -1 renown – Failing to achieve an Osirion Objective in an accepted quest.
• half current renown – changing factions within the society.

Letters from the Faction

#1 – Aspirant Pathfinders

Seeker of Knowledge and Truth,

As representative to the Pathfinder Society of the Ruby Prince of Osirion, it is my distinct honour of asking you to join our time-honoured cause. The work of a Pathfinder is intertwined with the exploration of lost ruins and the uncovering of ancient secrets. While most of these will likely not be Osirian in nature, they nevertheless increase our power. The more we learn from those who came before, and the more of our strength we keep hidden from those who oppose us, the more strongly and swiftly we can strike while their guard is down. Along your travels, I may ask you to procure information or relics for the Ruby Prince. In return, the nation of Osirion will ensure that you never go wanting. I hope you see the benefit of this arrangement to both of us.

In Service to Lore,
Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage

Characters also receive an Ornate Scrollcase with the symbology of Osirion on it.

#2 – The City of Strangers

Loyal Servant of the Ruby Prince,

This letter’s introduction couldn’t be more truthful – you truly are one of the Ruby Prince’s most trusted servants and because of that he asks you to accomplish several very important tasks while you’re away in Kaer Maga.

Attached is a letter from the Ruby Prince to the golem-creating Ardoc family in the City of Strangers. It’s important that only someone with the last name of “Ardoc” receives the letter – it cannot be given to a slave, servant, or employee of the family. An Ardoc must break the seal.

Further, one of the Ruby Prince’s best bodyguards left his service several years ago and is believed to have traveled to Kaer Maga to join the city’s prestigious Duskwardens. His name is Gahiji, and he’s likely the only Garundi working for the Duskwardens. You must use your considerable charm to convince him to return to Sothis – should he do so, the Ruby Prince has agreed to make him one of the Risen Guard, an honor I hope he doesn’t decline.

In Service to Lore,
Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage

#3 – The City of Strangers

Honored Servant of the Ruby Prince,

I hope this message reaches you in Kaer Maga – I missed you at the dock and have had to send this missive chasing after you. If it does, there’s a coded message included with this one. Find a man in Kaer Maga named Krazel – he’ll know what to do with it.

I am most interested in these troll augurs in Kaer Maga. I’ve never seen them, but I hear they cut themselves open, tear out their own entrails, and read the future from them. Fascinating. Go to the Augur Temple and pay for an audience with one of their sages. Once you’re alone and he’s about to read your future, instead explain to him that you work for a powerful arcanist in Sothis who is most interested in augury and would like to trade letters with an augur. Naturally, I will pay the augur with each letter sent.

For our Ancestors,
Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage

Pathfinder Society Factions - Qadira (Pathfinder Society Faction)

Qadira Faction – Assigned to
• Vow to live no life without trade and that all the glitter is power.
• Benefit of able to purchase items at half their price and sell items at half their price without needing to spend time haggling when dealing with merchants of Qadira.
• Drawback of being unable to use this benefit to purchase, share or sell items for non-members of the Qadira faction without being paid one quarter the cost of the item involved.

The Qadira faction within the Pathfinder Society represented Qadiran satrapy of the Keleshite Empire, particularly its trade interests in the Inner Sea region.

Background of the Qadira Faction - The westernmost satrap of the Padishah of Kelesh, Qadira is a kingdom with the power of the sprawling Casmaron empire at its back. Qadira is Kelesh’s doorway to Avistan, and is perhaps the single most valuable piece of real estate on Golarion. Rivers of spice and gold flow through its capital of Katheer, and Xerbystes II, the Satrap of Qadira, boasts correctly that his kingdom holds the wealth of any other three on the Inner Sea.

Qadira has long been a power to be reckoned with. Taldor has felt the bite of their scimitars and nearly lost their entire empire in the struggle. Osirion bowed before them for over three thousand years. The war drums of Katheer have been silent for an age, but they never stopped waging their wars. Gold is their weapon now, spices are their shield, and their incredible trading power is their armour.

Qadirans value wealth above all else and they seek to make their fortunes abroad. The wealth of Absalom, and more importantly the trading opportunities proffered by control of the great city, has long drawn the gaze of the satrap’s most powerful merchant princes. Many Qadirans are ready to leave their deserts behind for the promise of lustrous Absalom gold.

Faction Goal – No Life without Trade - The world is small and gets smaller everyday. The key to power is trade. Qadira couldn’t care less who sits on the Grand Council of Absalom, so long as the Qadiran trade fleet dominates the harbour. Qadira plans to rule the Inner Sea’s trade and then bleed their enemies’ coffers dry. Collecting debts and supplying the demands of other nations’ peoples is how Qadira plans to rule. If their kingdoms slave to send gold east, the satrapy remains contented.

Methodology – All that Glitters is Power - The Qadiran faction seeks trade and economic advantage above all else. They seek to break their enemies’ monopolies and enforce their own. They offer wares and goods no one else can supply and destroy competition with a ruthlessness that put the devil-bowing Chelish to shame. Qadiran missions involve a greater plan, usually embarrassing or defaming an economic rival, or ruining the business of another nation’s trade companies follow.

Leader: Pasha Muhlia al’Jakri
Alignment: Neutral
Headquarters: Absalom
Goals: No Life without Trade

Special Ranks in the Qadira Faction:
• Validated Appraiser (Fame +1) - You can work as an appraiser for the faction (Only members of the faction can take this role), using downtime to validate the prices of items for the society.
• Expert Entrepreneur (Fame +5) - When using downtime to buy or sell items, you have advantage on social rolls.
• Master of Trade (Fame +10) - Once per game week, you can purchase one item at 10% the cost price without needing to make a check.
• Pathfinder Agent (lo-wg-24, Fame +10)
• Scrollmaster (lo-cg-113, Fame +10)
• Student of Perfection (lo-wg-84, Fame +10)
• Swordmaster (lo-cg-116, Fame +10)
• Trade Prince (Fame +10) - You are well aware of the cost of items and services, and when making a check you double your expertise bonus to your proficiency.
• Pasha (Fame +20) - You have gain a military title in Qadira, and earned the title of Pasha. When dealing with Keleshite or natives of Qadira you have advantage on social checks.

Associated Regions with the Golden Road (lo-wg-49) and Impossible Lands (lo-wg-73) and the Organisations Arclords of Nex (lo-wg-81), Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye (lo-wg-46), Night Heralds (lo-wg) and Whispering Way ()

There are countless ways to earn a fortune, and the Qadira faction rewards Pathfinders for any number of them. Common methods of moving up within the organisation include negotiating trade agreements, spying on competitors, using travel as an opportunity to scout out new markets or resources, or even smuggling goods in or out of unfriendly ports as part of faction members’ everyday adventuring for the Pathfinder Society. Not all of Qadira’s dealings are legal or necessarily honourable, however, and more than one agent with a strong moral compass has found himself at odds with the faction when asked to support the trading of slaves or subvert local or regional authorities.

This faction provides these other options. To take anything here you need to be a member of this faction. If you did not seek them as your sponsor, and become accepted then you might have to undertake a quest to do so.

Gaining and Loosing Renown in the Qadira Faction

There are countless ways to earn a fortune, and the Qadira faction rewards Pathfinders for any number of them. Common methods of moving up within the organisation include negotiating trade agreements, spying on competitors, using travel as an opportunity to scout out new markets or resources, or even smuggling goods in or out of unfriendly ports as part of faction members’ everyday adventuring for the Pathfinder Society. Not all of Qadira’s dealings are legal or necessarily honourable, however, and more than one agent with a strong moral compass has found himself at odds with the faction when asked to support the trading of slaves or subvert local or regional authorities.

Gaining renown
• +1 renown – Completing an Objective of the Qadira Faction
• +1 renown – Gaining a level while a member of the Qadira Faction

Loosing renown
• -1 renown – Turning down a Qadira Faction quest.
• -1 renown – Failing to achieve an Qadira Objective in an accepted quest.
• -1 renown – using half-price purchase for gear to then sell or give to another character. (per item bought).
• half current renown – changing factions within the society.

Letters from the Faction

#1 – Aspirant Pathfinders

Most Honored Pathfinder,

As an agent of the Decemvirate, your travels will take you throughout the world, and you will have access to wonders and treasures beyond your imagination. The potential for profit along the way is even more unbelievable. As you go about your duties, I—on behalf of the satrap of Qadira and the Padishah Empire of Kelesh — may ask some favors of you to increase our and your mercantile dominance within the Inner Sea. Do these tasks, and I will see that you earn a sizable bounty for your efforts. Together we can fill our coffers with enough wealth to ensure our dominance in all things.

For profit,
Trade Prince Aaqir al’Hakam

Characters also gain half-price on goods they wish to purchase for themselves and not for the rest of their party.

#2 – The City of Strangers

Faithful Servant of the Satrap,

Once more the Society sends you away from us — but once more the Society sends you somewhere where we can expand our business opportunities. This man Collgardie is known to use – his business in Kaer Maga is strong, but we also know he deals in much more than simply cloth. Take an inventory of his business while you’re there – you’ll likely need to invent a pretense under which you’re doing so. I’m curious what beyond cloth you’ll find.

The stories that I’ve heard of the place called Downmarket is Kaer maga lead me to conclude that the city needs a stronger Qadiran influence. Use gold and your sparkling personality to make three new contacts in the Downmarket for me. Bring me their names and terms, and I’ll start corresponding with them immediately on your return.

I’m looking into several other matters and will send along another message after you’re underway. It should arrive after you do.

Sincerly,
Pasha Muhlia Al-Jakri

#2 – The City of Strangers

Servant of the Satrap,

It is my sincerest hope that this letter reaches you in Kaer Maga – otherwise I shall be disappointed with the expensive messenger I sent to deliver it. I’ve learned a great deal about Kaer maga in just the last few days. It seems that these rumours your Decemvirate keep quashing are actually true – there’s a rogue wing of the Society, tired of the Pathfinders controlling such power and doing nothing with it, and its the Shadow Lodge. I only known they are responsible because my contact in Oppara assures me that Taldor is selling weapons to them in order to arm their new lodges. Find me proof of this – it could prove very embarrassing for the elderly empire.

Additionally, you may encounter a Pathfinder named Guarin while you’re in Kaer Maga. While I would never suggest assassination as a method of acquiring something, I need you to get a map he’s purported to possess. It’s supposed to contain the locations of dozens of hidden treasure vaults throughout Varisia, all placed there by Chelliax. The problem is, these vaults contain valuables that belong to the Satrap. Find Guarin’s map and either copy it or take it outright – I care not. Just bring it to me.

Sincerly,
Pasha Muhlia Al-Jakri

Pathfinder Society Factions - Sczarni (Pathfinder Society Faction)

Sczarni Faction – Assigned to Duzhar (First option Duzhar or Quest)
• Vow to live for personal gain.
• Benefit of being treated as a member of the Sczarni family where ever you encounter them, and being honourary members of all major thieves guilds.
• Drawback of being unable to vouch or intercede for other pathfinders with those guilds without gaining something personally.

The Sczarni faction within the Pathfinder Society represented Sczarni crimelord Guaril Karela and the rest of the Varisian crime organization.

Background of the Sczarni Faction - A loose affiliation of Varisian swindlers, thieves, and smugglers, the Sczarni don’t have much in common with the average Pathfinder. But to many, there’s little distinction between someone who robs the grave of an ancestor and someone who cons one out of her night’s dinner. Thus, when Sczarni and Pathfinders come to town, both are often lumped into the same category by suspicious natives and watchful legal authorities —troublesome people to watch out for. Though not officially allied, many Pathfinders work with local Sczarni throughout the region to aid one another in surviving, hopefully gaining a leg up in their own endeavours in the process.

Faction Goal – Personal Gain - Sczarni-affiliated Pathfinders seek wealth and information for their own gain when taking missions from the Society.

Leader: Guari Karela

Alignment: Neutral

Headquarters: Absalom

Goals: Personal Gain

Associated Regions with the Eye of Dread (lo-wg-37), Saga Lands (lo-wg-109) and the Organisations Esotoric Order of the Palatine Eye (lo-wg-46), Firebrands (lo-cg-75), Magaambya (lo-wg-90), Sczarni (lo-wg) and Whispering Way ()

• Special Ranks in the Sczarni Faction:
• Caravan Traveller (Fame +5) - You gain Lore for a city visited by the Scarzi. If you are upgrading the lore this way it costs and extra 10 points for each level of expertise it already has.
• Firebrand (lo-cg-74, Fame +10)
• Lastwall Sentry (lo-wg-47, Fame +10)
• Pathfinder Agent (lo-wg-24, Fame +10)
• Runescarred (lo-wg-119, Fame +10)
• Scrollmaster (lo-cg-113, Fame +10)

Pathfinders working in tandem with the Sczarni often earn reputations within the insular organisation by delivering or retrieving messages from other operatives in the field, transporting stolen goods while on otherwise standard Pathfinder business, and sometimes stealing from or conning innocents along the way. Few Sczarni admit they belong to the loose affiliation, and even fewer Pathfinders boast of their association with the ill-reputed crooks. While Pathfinder agents who can operate without catching the notice of their friends and allies are a great asset to the Sczarni, conversely, some Sczarni prefer to be seen in the company of acclaimed and well respected adventurers such as ostentatious Pathfinders, hoping the latter group’s more positive reputation will rub off on their own oft-maligned brethren. But sometimes more virtuous Pathfinders are simply sent on Sczarni missions to allow the criminals to keep good company while doing something less than honourable behind the Pathfinders’ backs.

This faction provides these other options. To take anything here you need to be a member of this faction. If you did not seek them as your sponsor, and become accepted then you might have to undertake a quest to do so.

Gaining and Loosing Renown in the Sczarni Faction

Pathfinders working in tandem with the Sczarni often earn reputations within the insular organisation by delivering or retrieving messages from other operatives in the field, transporting stolen goods while on otherwise standard Pathfinder business, and sometimes stealing from or conning innocents along the way. Few Sczarni admit they belong to the loose affiliation, and even fewer Pathfinders boast of their association with the ill-reputed crooks. While Pathfinder agents who can operate without catching the notice of their friends and allies are a great asset to the Sczarni, conversely, some Sczarni prefer to be seen in the company of acclaimed and well respected adventurers such as ostentatious Pathfinders, hoping the latter group’s more positive reputation will rub off on their own oft-maligned brethren. But sometimes more virtuous Pathfinders are simply sent on Sczarni missions to allow the criminals to keep good company while doing something less than honourable behind the Pathfinders’ backs.

Gaining renown
• +1 renown – Completing an Objective of the Sczarni Faction
• +1 renown – Gaining a level while a member of the Sczarni Faction

Loosing renown
• -1 renown – Turning down a Sczarni Faction quest.
• -1 renown – Failing to achieve an Sczarni Objective in an accepted quest.
• half current renown – changing factions within the society.

Letters from the Faction

#1 – Aspirant Pathfinders

Trusted Friend,

While I may not have official ties to the Pathfinder Society, I have many friends in the organisation, and I hope you will be among them. The oft-maligned affiliation of Varisian entrepreneurs to which I belong can be of great assistance to an agent like yourself, who is working to earn a living while travelling the world. If, from time to time, I ask you to do some favours for me, I will ensure that the resources of our world-spanning brotherhood are at your disposal. As long as you’re fine with bending the rules here and there to ensure our mutual benefit, I believe we have a bright future together. Our lines of work overlap more than you may anticipate — expect word from me soon, and let me know how we Sczarni can assist you and the Society.

To reciprocated favours,
Guaril Karela

Characters can receive the physical sign on bonus from any of the other factions.

Pathfinder Society Factions - Shadow Lodge (Pathfinder Society Faction)

The Shadow Lodge Faction – Assigned to Willy (First option Willy)
• Vow to hold your leaders accountable.
• Benefit of being able to tell if a pathfinder oathbreaker is within the light radius of your wayfinder as an action, even with the light being inactive. You have authority to bring non-members into the society grounds, and act as second only to the party leader.
• Drawback of being responsible for the security of your team, your lodge and each of the waygates you have access to. You are also tasked with hunting down oathbreakers.

The Shadow Lodge faction within the Pathfinder Society represented dissenters of the Decemvirate.

Background of the Shadow Lodge Faction - For decades, a growing segment of the Pathfinder Society’s membership became disillusioned with the Decemvirate. Whether they held personal grudges against the masked leaders of the Society for slights they felt were never remedied or watched too many of their friends suffer for the good of a Society that seemed to thank them very little, these rebels’ numbers surged in the early 4700s AR, swelling the Shadow Lodge’s membership.

Faction Goal – Hold your Leaders Accountable - Members of the Shadow Lodge hold the Decemvirate accountable for its treatment of field agents and the consequences of its missions.

Leader: Grandmaster Torch
Alignment: Neutral
Headquarters: The Puddles, Absalom
Goals: Hold Your Leaders Accountable
They are the not so secret police of the Pathfinder Society, their role is to keep the leaders in check, and stop the abuse of junior operatives of the society.

Associated Regions with the Eye of Dread (lo-wg-37), High Seas (lo-wg-61), Impossible Lands (lo-wg-73) and Organisations Arclords of Nex (lo-wg-81), Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye (lo-wg-46), Firebrands (lo-cg-75), Free Captains (lo-wg-68), Magambya (lo-wg-90), Red Mantis (rb-cr-21) and Whispering Way ()

Special Ranks in the Shadow Lodge Faction:
• Pathfinder Enforcer (Fame +5) - You gain access to a list of pathfinders who have broken from the rules of the society and need to be dealt with or they will continue to negatively impact on the perception of the society where they are based.
• Firebrand (lo-cg-74, Fame +10)
• Lastwall Sentry (lo-wg-47, Fame +10)
• Pathfinder Agent (lo-wg-24, Fame +10)
• Red Mantis Assassin (lo-wg-71, Fame +10)
• Scrollmaster (lo-cg-113, Fame +10)
• Spellmaster (lo-cg-114, Fame +10)
• Student of Perfection (lo-wg-84, Fame +10)
• Swordmaster (lo-cg-116, Fame +10)

Shadow Lodge missions often involve gathering evidence of slights against the average Pathfinder from high-ranking members like venture-captains and the Ten; assisting former agents in recovering from injuries, curses, or maladies suffered while serving as the Decemvirate’s pawns; or eliminating openly oppositional Pathfinders who claim allegiance to the Shadow Lodge and damage the organisation’s reputation. Shadow Lodge operatives who can operate without damaging the tenuous peace with the Decemvirate are quite valued.

This faction provides these other options. To take anything here you need to be a member of this faction. If you did not seek them as your sponsor, and become accepted then you might have to undertake a quest to do so.

Gaining and Loosing Renown in the Shadow Lodge Faction

Shadow Lodge missions often involve gathering evidence of slights against the average Pathfinder from high-ranking members like venture-captains and the Ten; assisting former agents in recovering from injuries, curses, or maladies suffered while serving as the Decemvirate’s pawns; or eliminating openly oppositional Pathfinders who claim allegiance to the Shadow Lodge and damage the organisation’s reputation. Shadow Lodge operatives who can operate without damaging the tenuous peace with the Decemvirate are quite valued.

Gaining renown
• +1 renown – Completing an Objective of the Shadow Lodge Faction
• +1 renown – Gaining a level while a member of the Shadow Lodge Faction

Loosing renown
• -1 renown – Turning down a Shadow Lodge Faction quest.
• -1 renown – Failing to achieve an Shadow Lodge Objective in an accepted quest.
• half current renown – changing factions within the society.

Letters from the Faction

#1 – Aspirant Pathfinders

Servant of the Society,

You doubtless know by now what being a Pathfinder entails, and have seen the danger into which the Decemvirate and their venture-captain lackeys are so willing to send you. I was once a Pathfinder like you, and ever since I was left for dead by my so-called allies after being cursed, I’ve worked to ensure that ordinary Pathfinders are given the rights and respect they deserve. Help us to rub out rogue Shadow Lodge agents who seek only their own gain and power. Make the Shadow Lodge a safe haven for all who have suffered because of the masked few who steer the Society. Work with me and the Shadow Lodge for Pathfinders the world over, and we will ensure that you reap the benefits of your deeds. You will hear from me soon.

In the shadow of the masked ones,
Grandmaster Torch

Character also gain a Book of Law for Korvosa to help keep them safe.

Pathfinder Society Factions - Silver Crusade (Pathfinder Society Faction)

Silver Crusade Faction – Assigned to
• Vow to use the society for good
• Benefit of being able to deal with the Hell Knights as an equal, gain access and support of all Shrines, Churches, Temples and Cathedral.
• Drawback of being unable to turn down a request for aid from the Hell Knight or religious organisation as long as the request furthers good by its deeds and outcome.

The Silver Crusade faction within the Pathfinder Society represents Pathfinders who want to apply the Society’s resources toward making the world a better place.

Background of the Silver Crusade Faction - When the existence of so many factions within the Pathfinder Society began to become apparent, many were dismayed, especially those who took umbrage at the Society’s resources being used for ethically questionable purposes or personal gain. Unable to eliminate such elements as the Shadow Lodge from the ranks of the organisation, an influential group of Pathfinder clerics, paladins, and servants of good-aligned deities banded together to form their own faction — the Silver Crusade—as an answer to these undesirable offshoots of the Society.

Faction Goal – Use the Society for Good - While a crusade in name only, the Silver Crusade models itself after the staunchly good silver dragon, making a valiant effort to use the Society’s influence, reach, and resources to do good throughout the Inner Sea region and beyond. Crusaders strive to push the Society toward destroying the forces of evil and defending the weak, in part by identifying and removing elements of greed and abusive power from the Society itself.

Leader: Ollysta Zadrian
Alignment: Neutral
Headquarters: Temple of the Shining Star, Absalom
Goals: Use the Society for Good

Associated Regions with Absalom and Statstone Isle (lo-wg-13), Eye of Dead (lo-wg-37) and the Organisations Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye (lo-wg-46), Firebrands (lo-cg-75), Knights of Lastwall (lo-cg-86), Magaambya (lo-wg-90), Whispering Way ()

Special Ranks in the Silver Crusade Faction:
• Firebrand (lo-cg-74, Fame +10)
• Knight Reclaimant (lo-cg-91, Fame +10)
• Knight Vigilant (lo-cg-93, Fame +10)
• Lastwall Sentry (lo-wg-47, Fame +10)
• Pathfinder Agent (lo-wg-24, Fame +10)
• Spellmaster (lo-cg-114, Fame +10)
• Swordmaster (lo-cg-116, Fame +10)
• Silver Crusader (Fame +20) - You are known as a silver crusader gaining advantage on social checks against clerics and champions.

Just as there are countless interpretations of what doing good entails, there are an equal number of variations in how the Shining Crusade asks its agents to spread its message throughout Golarion with each mission. Whether delivering much-needed medicine to victims of a rampant plague, ridding an oppressed village of a tyrannical local villain, or aiding an established organisation of like-minded humanitarians like the Cult of the Dawnflower, the Knights of Ozem, or the Mendev Crusaders, agents who take every opportunity during the course of their normal Pathfinder duties to leave the indelible mark of good upon the world are valued, and they tend to move up swiftly among the inner ranks of the Shining Crusade.

This faction provides these other options. To take anything here you need to be a member of this faction. If you did not seek them as your sponsor, and become accepted then you might have to undertake a quest to do so.

Gaining and Loosing Renown in the Silver Crusade Faction

Just as there are countless interpretations of what doing good entails, there are an equal number of variations in how the Shining Crusade asks its agents to spread its message throughout Golarion with each mission. Whether delivering much-needed medicine to victims of a rampant plague, ridding an oppressed village of a tyrannical local villain, or aiding an established organisation of like-minded humanitarians like the Cult of the Dawnflower, the Knights of Ozem, or the Mendev Crusaders, agents who take every opportunity during the course of their normal Pathfinder duties to leave the indelible mark of good upon the world are valued, and they tend to move up swiftly among the inner ranks of the Shining Crusade.

Gaining renown
• +1 renown – Completing an Objective of the Silver Crusade Faction
• +1 renown – Gaining a level while a member of the Silver Crusade Faction

Loosing renown
• -1 renown – Turning down a Silver Crusade Faction quest.
• -1 renown – Failing to achieve an Silver Crusade Objective in an accepted quest.
• half current renown – changing factions within the society.

Letters from the Faction

#1 – Aspirant Pathfinders

Bastion of Good,

With so many sects of Pathfinders working around the world, it is hard to understand how so few use the resources at their disposal to uplift the downtrodden, heal the sick, and spread the teachings of all who preach goodness and light to the darkest and most depraved corners of Golarion. We at the Silver Crusade work to do just that, however, and your help will be vital in seeing our mission through. For your vigilance, selflessness, and commitment, we promise to reward you as best we can before your ultimate reward in the next life. Until then, use your travels, contacts, and resources to do good always, and our silent war against evil will know true victory.

For love, peace, and goodness,
Ollysta Zadrian

Characters also receive a Silver Holy Symbol of a deity of their choice.

Pathfinder Society Factions - Taldor (Pathfinder Society Faction)

Taldor Faction – Assigned to
• Vow to get humanity back in the game and the belief of the wolf and tiger
• Benefit of having advantage on deception check and gain the Lore – Rivalries.
• Drawback of being unable to further non-human agenda or beliefs.

The Taldor faction within the Pathfinder Society represented the interests of Taldor as it struggled to solidify its standing in the Inner Sea region.

Background of the Taldor Faction - Old Taldor once ruled the entire northern coast of the Inner Sea, from gold gilded Oppara to the wild frontier of Varisia. Now it’s reduced to a quarter of its former glory. As Old Taldor’s gaze turned ever inward, its vassals and conquered colonies slowly slipped away without a fight. Andoran and Cheliax broke off hundreds of years ago, and few in Taldor had either the desire or the motivation to go to war to stop it. Why bother dealing with petty trifles in the countryside when your own political destruction is taking place in the limelight of Taldan high society?

It’s easy to forget Taldor’s former glory and dismiss the entire country as a band of narcissistic fools who spend more time preening their wigs than they do defending their borders or quelling the unrest roiling within their great cities. Little do most know that while the majority of Taldor’s upper crust are more concerned with this season’s fashions than the wellbeing of their collapsing empire, a few of the world’s most dangerous operatives are honed in the constant battleground of Oppara’s feuds. Old enmities between ancient houses have engulfed the Gilded City in shadowy violence and assassinations for hundreds of years, and more than a fair share of skilled adventurers have come up surviving the feuds, either as hired muscle or scions of noble houses mixed up in these simmering cauldrons of bloodshed.

Taldans are decadent bon vivants, favouring rich foods, ornate attire, and jewelled accoutrements for even the most minor of casual affairs. To a Taldan, appearance is an expression of power, and a keen sense of fashion represents a keen mind. Their appreciation for the arts extends beyond fashion and painting, dabbling in sorcery, duelling, and the murky strategies of politics and war. A Taldan mind, when raised to ire, is a dangerous thing, and the rest of the Inner Sea is about to receive a painful reminder of this timeless fact.

Faction Goal – Get Back in the Game - Petty differences and ancient feuds have slowly ground Taldor down from a great polished stone to a whittled nub. The key to restoring the empire’s sense of purpose lies in finding an enemy to galvanise Taldor’s splintered factions, an endeavour worthy of rediscovering the nation’s august past glory. Seizing the political reins of Absalom is the perfect medicine for the wasting disease deep in Taldor’s bones.

Methodology – Wolf and Tiger - Taldor’s strategy for seizing control of Absalom lies in turning its enemies against one another. Misdirection and psychological warfare are the orders of the day. Taldan missions involve sparking old enmities between Qadira and Osirion, driving Cheliax and Andoran to rekindle their old war. “Sick the wolf on the tiger and the hunter’s work is done” is an old Taldan saying, and the mantra by which Taldor’s agents create havoc around the Inner Sea.

Leader: Baron Jacquo Dalsine
Alignment: Neutral
Headquarters: Absalom
Goals: Get Back in the Game

Associated Regions with the Broken Lands (lo-wg-25), High Seas (lo-wg-61), Shining Kingdoms (lo-wg-121) and the Organisations Aldori Duellist (lo-wg-36), Eagle Knights (lo-wg-123), Firebrands (lo-cg-75), Free Captains (lo-wg-68), Lion Blades (lo-wg-130), Prophecies of Kalistrade (lo-wg-124), Razmir (lo-wg-25), and Red Mantis (rb-cr-21)

Special Ranks in the Taldor Faction:
• Aldori Duelist (lo-wg-35, Fame +10)
• Firebrand (lo-cg-74, Fame +10)
• Lion Blade (lo-wg-131, Fame +10)
• Pathfinder Agent (lo-wg-24, Fame +10)
• Red Mantis Assassin (lo-wg-72, Fame +10)
• Swordmaster (lo-cg-116, Fame +10)
• Noble Title (Fame +10) - You gain a noble title of Taldor, its legitimate but holds nothing more. You have advantage over society checks with those who have less fame than yourself.
• Ulfen Guard (Fame +10) - You become a member of the Ulfen Guard, gaining the title “huscarl” if ulfen or “leidang” if not and have advantage on social checks in Taldor or with taldor citizens.

While her predecessor often sent Pathfinders on missions to recover opulent art to decorate his many palaces and manors, Lady Gloriana knows that Taldor must reclaim its position as the bastion of humanity through constant vigilance. Pathfinders in her employ should be skilled at the arts of deception, misdirection, and stealth, while also knowing how to navigate Absalom’s complex aristocratic landscape. Those with the ability to speak honeyed words to a rival noble while simultaneously pilfering damning documents from his satchel will go far.

This faction provides these other options. To take anything here you need to be a member of this faction. If you did not seek them as your sponsor, and become accepted then you might have to undertake a quest to do so.

Gaining and Loosing Renown in the Taldor Faction

While her predecessor often sent Pathfinders on missions to recover opulent art to decorate his many palaces and manors, Lady Gloriana knows that Taldor must reclaim its position as the bastion of humanity through constant vigilance. Pathfinders in her employ should be skilled at the arts of deception, misdirection, and stealth, while also knowing how to navigate Absalom’s complex aristocratic landscape. Those with the ability to speak honeyed words to a rival noble while simultaneously pilfering damning documents from his satchel will go far.

Gaining renown
• +1 renown – Completing an Objective of the Taldor Faction
• +1 renown – Gaining a level while a member of the Taldor Faction

Loosing renown
• -1 renown – Turning down a Taldor Faction quest.
• -1 renown – Failing to achieve an Taldor Objective in an accepted quest.
• half current renown – changing factions within the society.

Letters from the Faction

#1 – Aspirant Pathfinders

Noble Pathfinder,

You know of Taldor’s glory and the influence we have had on the history of the world. You are also likely aware of the losses we’ve suffered in the scope of our Empire. No longer can we be satisfied with past — and long abandoned — laurels while we allow even more of our destined greatness to slip away. Through your efforts, Taldor can once again reach its former glory and reclaim the Empire that civilized the Inner Sea after the Age of Darkness! Your assistance will be greatly rewarded, both monetarily and socially. I can get you into the greatest soirees from Absalom to Yanmass and even have the ear of the Grand Prince on important matters of state. Together we can ensure Taldor is not merely a name read in history books but a force to be reckoned with in the ages to come.

To reclaimed destiny,
Lady Gloriana Morilla

Characters receive a set of blank Journals with the Taldor symbol on them.

#2 – The City of Strangers

Glorious and Loyal Scion of the Emperor,

Have I got a mission for you! When I first heard that you were being sent to distant Kaer Maga by the Society, I must admit I didn’t believe it. After recovering from my initial shock, I spent hours thinking of how best to use you there, and then the answer came to me — I need you to take a beating. Not just any beating, though! I need the man called Dakar, the leader of that cleverly secretive Commerce League, to be so offended by your presence that he orders his men to stomp some sense into you. As they beat you, you must say, “I do this for Taldor!” Hopefully he gets the message, even if you don’t.

Moreover, I’ve long had a spy in that city named Krazel. That temptress Zarta Dralneen thinks the young boy is loyal to her, but he’s in fact my paid informant. His background linking him to a prominent family in Egorian is entirely a fabrication — I want you to deliver the attached letter telling him that he’s doing an excellent job keeping Zarta’s attention there. Trouble is, I only know his name — you’ll need to find him.

I have further instructions to send along, but they’ll leave on a ship after you do. Look for them.

With Sincerest Gratitude,
Baron Jacquo Dalsine

#3 – The City of Strangers

Humbled Servant of Stavian III,

I do hope you enjoyed my last set of missions for you. I know I did.

Speaking of Dakar, I want you to pass him another coded message while you’re there. If you meet with him again—and I have no doubt you’re eager to do so — say the following in front of your companions and Dakar’s bodyguards: “I’ve been told that Qadira is a den of serpents.” Dakar should reply, “You are incorrect. The serpents live in Absalom.” If he says anything else to you, my advice is to run.

I have one final request and I admit that it’s likely going to be a difficult one: I want a live goblin. I know they infest the hills, cliffs, and dungeons around Kaer Maga and I want one for my collection. Whatever it takes, capture one and bring him back to me in Absalom in good condition.

With Sincerest Gratitude,
Baron Jacquo Dalsine