Pathfinder Society Scenario # 5-02: "The Wardstone Patrol" [RPG]

NO SPOILERS

The Wardstone Patrol is an interesting and thought-provoking scenario.  Set in Mendev, no one will be surprised that there are battles with demons--but the real story involves how those battles change who we are as people.  In other words, this is a deeper scenario than the standard set of combat encounters, and role-playing choices definitely alter how the storyline progresses.  I think in the hands of a good GM, this one can really pop and be a memorable adventure.  I'd recommend it.

SPOILERS!

The Wardstone Patrol centers around an NPC named Ilivan.  Ilivan is a half-elven crusader who has lived a turbulent life.  He grew up in Erages, the town set aside for half-elves in the elven nation of Kyonin, and like all half-elves there, faced discrimination and treatment as a second-class citizen.  He joined the elven military, where the discrimination continued, before drifting into life as a smuggler in the shores of Lake Encarthan.  Finally, he found a purpose in life as part of the Mendevian Crusade and was even knighted for his bravery in battle.  But now, after nearly twenty years of constant fighting, Ilivan has seen so much carnage and depravity that he has become cold and cynical.  The PCs spend the entire scenario in the company of Ilivan, and the story revolves around whether or not they're able to reach him emotionally to put him on a better path forward.  If they can't, another brave knight effectively falls prey to the endless onslaught of the Worldwound.  The scenario contains several paragraphs of text detailing Ilivan's background, how to role-play him, and how to track (through "Empathy Points") whether the PCs are getting through to him.

The scenario starts at the Pathfinder Lodge in Nerosyan (Mendev's capital city) with a briefing from Venture-Captain Jorsal.  He explains that he wants the PCs to take part in a patrol along the border of the Worldwound under the command of Ilivan.  It seems there have been a series of attacks on the wardstones that have weakened the nation's containment of the demonic armies.  I would normally remark that this doesn't really sound like a job for Pathfinders, but the scenario smartly anticipates this objection by having Jorsal explain that in Mendev, the Society is tolerated only because of an agreement with the Queen that all Pathfinders will volunteer some of their time to take part in the defense of the realm.  It makes sense.

The patrol takes the PCs along the River Road, following the bank of the West Sellen River (a natural border).  Soon, Ilivan and the PCs come to an abandoned village, but out in the middle of some fields they see a heap of bodies and a group of commoners struggling with one another.  Ilivan adamantly refuses to intervene, assuming the villagers are cultists and outside the scope of his mission.  If the PCs follow orders, they might bypass this encounter entirely.  What's really happening, however, is that body-possessing demons called vermleks have taken over some of the villagers and are planning to torture and kill the others.  This is the first situation where the PCs might be able to gain an Empathy Point through their interactions with Ilivan.

Whether the PCs intervened or not, their patrol next takes them to Fort Portolmaeus.  The fort has recently come under heavy attack, and a cavalry sortie fell into a trap and several soldiers were taken captive.  This is explained to them by the fort's commander, and short-handed, she requests Ilivan and the PCs mount a rescue expedition.  Ilivan accepts the task in her presence, but once outside dismisses the notion as foolish--the prisoners are as good as dead, in his mind, and going after them is naïve.  I'm not sure how much it intends to, but the scenario raises some really interesting moral and practical issues.  I think we're supposed to see Ilivan as being unduly cold and callous, and the PCs are expected to try to persuade him to come along on the rescue out of compassion for his fellow soldiers.  But one could also reasonably take the perspective that the PCs are outsiders, dropped into a complex situation that the battle-hardened and experienced Ilivan is an expert in, and that following his orders is not only the lawful thing to do, but the most pragmatic thing to do.  In a way, it encapsulates the difference between Lawful Good and Lawful Neutral alignments.  PCs have a tendency to think they automatically know better than everyone else, but what if they're wrong?

Whether the PCs decide to mount a rescue or not, they'll face some additional challenges, including demonic wasp swarms and mind-altering rageweed spores.  If the PCs do go after the captives, there's a battle against an intimidating brimorak demon and his dretch minions.  The scenario certainly "gets" the depravity of demons, as the dretches use coup de graces on the prisoners every round unless and until the PCs stop them!  If the PCs have gained enough Empathy Points with Ilivan that he accompanies them on the rescue, he actually heroically sacrifices himself to stop demonic reinforcements from arriving.  However, on the branching path where the PCs decide not to mount a rescue, Ilivan feels mounting shame (and rage) and decides to slay those who witnessed his inaction by attacking the PCs!  Definitely a twist, and potentially an interesting fight versus a mounted lance-expert if the GM knows how to run one.  The epilogue to the scenario of course depends on which choice the PCs (and Ilivan) made).

I'm not sure I like "Empathy Points" per se, as it seems a bit too "gamey", but the general idea of focusing the adventure on how the PCs are influenced by, and influence in turn, Ilivan was really good.  His background and personality show a more realistic side of soldiering than we usually see in Pathfinder.  If anything, the story concept might have been better in a module or AP chapter, where the PCs get more time with Ilivan.  The other elements of the scenario were strong, so I'd definitely recommend it.  The Worldwound: Hard Choices in a Hard Land!