Pathfinder Module: "Dawn of the Scarlet Sun" [RPG]

NO SPOILERS

Dawn of the Scarlet Sun is a 16-page adventure released for Free RPG Day in 2012.  Designed for six Level Five PCs, the adventure is really just eight pages, with one page for credits and six pages for pre-generated characters (the Iconics).  The scenario is intended for use with the Pathfinder Battles: Champions of Evils Encounter Pack, a set of miniatures that includes all the enemies in the adventure.  The adventure is also pitched as a suitable optional side-quest in the Shattered Star Adventure Path.  The full-colour artwork is fantastic--Paizo doesn't skimp in designing even its free products.

Dawn of the Scarlet Sun has a reputation as including at least one nasty encounter that could be labelled as "a worthy challenge" or "a TPK-generator" depending on your point of view.  I ran it via play-by-post and I can confirm its difficulty.  It does have a strong story, some compelling antagonists, and plenty of action.  I'd recommend it for groups that have gotten cocky or for players who don't mind more risk than they're used to.

SPOILERS

The scenario takes place in Magnimar.  A compelling background story explains that a succubus named Avalexi has come to the city, discovered an abandoned shrine to Sarenrae, and has decided to re-consecrate it as a shrine to Shax, the demon lord of murder.  To that end, Avalexi has mentally dominated a priest of Sarenrae named Zadendi, allied with a half-fiend gargoyle nicknamed the Scarlet Son, and undertaken a grisly murder spree.  It's a pretty exciting and compelling backstory.

The PCs come on to the scene after several murder victims have been found in Magnimar's Underbridge District.  The victims, all worshippers of Sarenrae, have had their hearts removed.  The City Watch, represented by a guard named Kasadei, recruits the PCs to help plan an ambush for the killer.  Before doing so, the PCs can do some information gathering to talk to witnesses and a learn a little bit about what they might be facing.  That's pretty much the only role-playing with NPCs they'll get in the scenario.

The way the ambush is set-up is elegantly concise.  Whatever the PCs choose--disguising someone as a worshipper of Sarenrae to act as bait, stealthily trailing a real worshipper, intently patrolling Underbridge, etc.--they're asked to make relevant skill checks.  Each success raises the % chance that the killers fall for the ambush, but if enough nights pass without being caught, the killers complete their work and the scenario ends abruptly.  It's not a likely result, but I like how the scenario doesn't guarantee success or sugar-coat failure.

Assuming the PCs are on hand when the killers strike, they learn why the murderers have been so difficult to catch and why there are so few witnesses.  The Scarlet Son flies low over the rooftops and drops Zadendi nearby.  She casts silence and then sneaks up on her victim from behind, killing them before they even realise she's there.  It's an exciting encounter, as both foes are real threats, but with the tables turned there's a good chance they'll flee--and the PCs can then chase them back to their hideout.

The shrine has two main encounters, plus battles against the escaped killers if they're present.  The first encounter is against a trio of wights.  Wights are one of those monsters that are far more dangerous than their CR might indicate, and can definitely weaken the party before the big ending encounter.  Speaking of which, I really like how it's set up.  The succubus (likely having warning of the approach of intruders) locks herself in a cell and disguises herself as priest of Sarenrae who is about to be sacrificed.  It's a solid plan, and my group at least fell for it hook, line, and sinker.  The disguise allows Avalexi time to study one of the PCs to use her death attack (to paralyze) before teleporting nearby, summoning a demon, and then returning to fight fully prepared.  The difficulty of this encounter shouldn't be underestimated.  When I ran it, it lasted fifteen rounds!  One PC was killed, others were knocked out, and it came within a hair's breadth of a TPK.  It was one of the most epic, cinematic battles I can remember running though.

In sum, Dawn of the Scarlet Sun has memorable antagonists, a solid plot, and an exhilarating climax.  However, despite its connection to "Free RPG Day", it's not the sort of adventure to run for a casual pick-up group of new players to try out the game.  I imagine the six Iconics would get slaughtered pretty quickly.  It's a scenario to either adjust and play with higher level PCs or as a legitimate exercise in "hard mode" for more experienced Pathfinder players.