Pathfinder Society Scenario # 0-28: "Lyrics of Extinction" [RPG]

NO SPOILERS

Lyrics of Extinction is the final scenario in Season Zero of Pathfinder Society, the season where they wanted to test out an organised play system using D&D 3.5 rules prior to the official launch of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.  I got to play it via play-by-post at high subtier (10-11) with my half-orc Paladin of Sarenrae, Trokkus.  The adventure has a cool backstory and the ominous briefing raises expectations of a potentially deadly mission, but unfortunately the rest of the scenario is a let-down and mostly a pretty forgettable dungeon-crawl that wastes a great premise.  It's okay, but not a particularly good capstone to the inaugural season.

SPOILERS!

About a century ago, there was a small but prosperous city in the Mwagni Expanse named Dokeran.  However, the city's shaman, a man named Tyruwat, fell into the worship of Zon-Kuthon and was ousted by the community.  Vowing vengeance, he called out to Zon-Kuthon and his prayers were rewarded with the divine inspiration to write the lyrics to accompany a music box that together form an artifact called the Song of Extinction.  When played, the Song of Extinction destroyed the entire city of Dokeran!  Tyruwat gained an extended lifespan from his monstrous act, and still dwells in the ruins of Dokeran today, dreaming of conquest.

The PCs come into the picture when they're briefed by a Pathfinder named Tuukna in the city of Kibwe.  It seems that some treasure hunters were found dead after exploring the ruins of Dokeran, and that others who have ventured close to the area have reported hearing an eerie song.  The PCs are assigned to make contact with a witch doctor who will serve as a guide, explore the ruins, and see if they can retrieve the fabled Song of Extinction.  It's a pretty strong backstory and briefing, and made us PCs paranoid about wail of the banshee style sonic death effects!  With silence spells and earplugs at the ready, we set off into the jungle.

Despite a great opportunity, Lyrics of Extinction doesn't make any use of its setting--there's no chance of getting lost, no need to deal with the heat, and very little interaction with the locals.  Before the PCs meet their guide, they have to fight off an ambush from a pack of howlers led by a "wild elf" (one of a group enslaved by Tyruwat).  The map is big and well-drawn.

The witch doctor guide, Nangi, escorts the PCs to Dokeran by canoe.  He's pretty much the only NPC to interact with, so hopefully the GM tries to give him some character.  Interestingly, and casually slipped in by the scenario, Nangi participated in the betrayal of Dokeran a century ago and also gained an extended lifespan from the Song of Extinction! (though he now regrets his action)  For some reason, the scenario provides full stats and tactics for Nangi and his giant crocodile animal companion, though I can't imagine why even mercenary-type PCs would attack him.

Some good writing could have been done to set an atmospheric mood for exploring the tragic remnants of a city destroyed in mere moments, with the risk of the song being heard again always at the forefront of the explorers' minds.  Unfortunately, the ruins of Dokeran get two lines of very bland flavor text and then it's into a crumbling temple (aka, dungeon) for the rest of the scenario. Definitely a lost opportunity.

The pyramid ("The Grand Temple of Dokeran") features encounters with some trapped spirits (ghosts with barbarian levels), giant stag beetles, an old-fashioned spear trap, and a trio of enslaved wild elves.  None of the threats are particularly dangerous or creative.  The battle against Tyruwat (a Level 14 bard at high subtier) is similarly disappointing, as he'll die quickly and there's never any actual risk of hearing the Song of Extinction.  The PCs simply gather up the music box and presumably take it back with them.  In short, there's a lot of build-up for what ends up as a real dud of a scenario.

The Pathfinder who delivered the mission briefing, Tuukna, has never reappeared as far as I know.  The Song of Extinction was written up in Artifacts & Legends.  As a true artifact that can destroy structures in a 10-mile radius, it's not something to mess with!  I really hope the Pathfinder Society keeps it in the Grand Lodge's version of Warehouse 13.