“I looked into the organization as you requested, my Queen. While my full writings remain in progress, I’ve enclosed a few snippets of Firebrand propaganda to provide insight into the miscreants and their motivations. My detailed report will follow soon.
—Ever your humble servant and eternally loyal to House Thrune, Kaivus of House Roverrint”1
Ugh. Those Chelish. I mean, I know not all Chelish are bad but like a lot of them. I don’t know Kaivus but their groveling to Abrogail is gross. Yes, I know it’s an affectation but it’s sniveling. Part of me is insulted for her at the empty platitudes and she’s running around with Asmodeus goons for advisors. But you know they’re right to be concerned about the Firebrands. A few more reports from Kaivus found in the newest release for the Lost Omens line proves that. Collect all you can while you can because the Firebrands are here!
“To be a Firebrand is to live life on your own terms, beholden to no external law or authority. Firebrands make their own choices and uplift the causes they feel are worthy. Yet being independent doesn’t mean being alone.”2
I don’t normally do two quoted pieces but there’s a lot of wonderful writing to quote here. The first chapter is modestly titled Introduction and, besides the snippets from Senior Correspondent Grovelist Kaivus mentioned above, there are sections giving players old and new a background of the Firebrands. The first section specifically has a number of narrative, in-character pieces that are quotes from numerous individuals across the Inner Sea detailing their run-ins with the organization or those from it. It ends with how to use this book but the sidebar right there is about how to join the revolution both in character and out of character. Later on this book does what I love for new setting material, giving you detail on how to use the Firebrands in various campaigns or geographies of Golarion. But I’ll save that for next time!
The Introduction also breaks down the historic origins of the Firebrands including the presence of the Silver Ravens from the Hell’s Rebels path! The Life as a Firebrand will really aid those looking to roleplay a character, providing those background details on how to become one, their training, slang they used (yay sidebars), and even their fashion (see below). What is either a new feature in the lore, or I wasn’t aware, are the Marks. That’s how Firebrand’s standing of reputation and popularity is measured. One mark is a new, unknown individual. Those with four marks are famous in their region. Thus I guess five marks makes you world famous, however a few four marks are known across various continents especially if they’re part of certain groups. The final section of this chapter calls out the relationships many Firebrands have, specific to certain groups anyway. That includes Foes. Like Cheliax. And Hellknights. Now I need a comic that shows Firebrands playing pranks on neutral Hellknights and taking down the evil ones! Also boo Cheliax.
In Among the Firebrands we get into the factions, known figures, and faiths related to the rebellious, risk-taking group! I already mentioned the Silver Ravens of Kintargo, made famous in Hell’s Rebels. It’s the path I most want to play but have not. Anyway, glad to see various NPC members for it and the other groups. Fire’s Finest has those daredevils and thrillseekers. Passenger is a known member and the nonbinary android’s art is gorgeous (see below)! The Nightwaves are pirates while the Salt Breakers are some mix of pirate corsairs and revolutionists. We get a few more groups of smaller renown, useful for those varied campaigns in numerous locations. I want to visit the Mithral Chef in Absalom’s Docks district! Secret restaurant of Firebrands sounds like a cool campaign!
Passenger is one of the many notable figures as is Shensen (further down) of the Silver Ravens. There are a number of figures here I hadn’t heard of with the Mockingbird being a great idea. It’s two individuals, two thieves who ran into one another, fell in love, and decided to share this disguise and notoriety in all their escapades. Passenger is from Numeria but it’s that art that grabbed my attention first. That hair, the lips, the eyes! Love how the clothes look like they have circuitry built in. I certainly intend to weave them and their robot Scrapheap into visiting our Kingmaker game. I love that their reason for joining the Firebrand was exploration not for plunder’s sake but learning the unknown! We’ve got a sprite that cannot yet fly named Wingless, fighting for revolution. The Sapphire Butterfly is a vigilante from behind the scenes of the Kintargo efforts. They don’t worship Desna that we can tell, but it is possible. Many do as detailed in Faith. Milani, Nivi Rombodazzle, Calistria, and more are detailed as well.
With Chapter 3 we get Firebrand Options. Backgrounds, feats both general and for various archetypes, equipment including magic items, spells, and then there’s services too. Here’s the character mechanics for PCs and useful things for NPCs too. I really like the Free Spirit background for mentioning the leaf in the wind, journey-taking nature of some. There’s two rare backgrounds too: Beast Blessed and Dauntless. Beast Blessed is about a creature you freed maybe like a unicorn or a griffin. Seems useful for an Impossible Lands campaign. In the feats I am thrilled to say Dazzling Display is now in Pathfinder2E. I loved this feat in first edition, having a bard with it while we played in a Ravenloft game. Fighters, rangers, rogues, and swashbucklers can take it at level 10. A reminder Barbarian’s have Terrifying Howl at level 10 already. That there’s a number of eats intended as options for various archetypes that already exist from acrobat to assassin to celebrity to pirate to vigilante is great. I’m glad it’s less about new archetypes to choose from and instead more options for existing archetypes that could be good Firebrands.
In the equipment we get some useful spy-like items like the poison ring or the quick-change outfit. The armored cloak has been added after the armored coat was added in Knights of Lastwall. It’s got a max Dex of +3 but it is flexible, so the check penalty of -1 won’t apply to athletics or acrobatics. I think it’s fair to say we all deserve a Stone of Encouragement that will telepathically whisper to us encouraging words like “You can do it!” or “Look at you go!” The once a day benefit to skill checks is great but encouraging affirmations are good for all of us. I also want to see a cape of grand entrances at play as it flows and rustles magically, granting a bonus to performance checks of +2 but also allowing you to enthrall once per day with a sweeping gesture. I did mention services earlier too and those meant for activities Firebrands can expect or others might find from them like running propaganda, safe houses when facing heat, or smuggling. A nice table is presented for the cost of these various services too.
Chapter 4 details the various Firebrand Efforts inclusive of use in different campaigns and activities across the world. We’ll save that for next time as we review the lore contained within and future implications. It’s important to think of the future after all as Firebrands seek justice or simply to experience more! Whether you risk the daredevil’s challenge or want to play up the rebels fighting injustice, I encourage you to invest in Firebrands!
We should also cheer for those out in our community doing the same. I’m so glad for those dedicated to celebrating the community, fighting for change, and supporting those in need. WatchTableTop is bringing gaming news to us. Gaming news by gamers including Michaelle Nguyen Bradley and Xander Jeanneret! Be sure to check out their Kickstarter! Due to the unfortunate and outright terrible policies and other political measures being actioned in Florida, a charity bundle TTRPGS for Trans Rights in Florida has been organized to raise funds for Zebra Youth and Transinclusive Group. It was started by Rue Dickey who helped organize the TTRPGS for Trans Rights in Texas bundle last year. It’s already gained over $100K and growing. There’s great games in the bundle including Wanderhome, which I got to play and loved back in 2021. Check out the bundle and consider buying in at only $5 for all 505 items!
https://twitter.com/IlanaNight13/status/1635338979255148547
Investing In:
I wasn’t quite sure what to name my article series when I first started but the idea of showcasing or discussing things that make me excited, that I find new and interesting, or maybe I’m otherwise passionate about seemed to fit with the idea of Investing In something like the Pathfinder 2E mechanic. To use some magic items you have to give that little bit of yourself, which helps make these things even better. I like the metaphor of the community growing and being strengthened in the same way!
I also want to hear what you’re Investing In! Leave me a comment below about what games, modules, systems, products, people, live streams, etc you enjoy! You can also hit me up on social media as silentinfinity. I want to hear what excites you and what you’re passionate about. There’s so much wonderful content, people, groups (I could go on) in this community of ours that the more we invest in and share, the better it becomes!
Sources
Banner – Pathfinder Lost Omens Firebrands cover, Paizo
- Beacons Across the Inner Sea excerpt, Pathfinder Lost Omens Firebrands, Paizo
- Life As A Firebrand excerpt, Pathfinder Lost Omens Firebrands, Paizo
- Chapter 2: Among the Firebrands banner image, Pathfinder Lost Omens Firebrands, Paizo
- Passenger, Notable Figures of Chapter 2, Pathfinder Lost Omens Firebrands, Paizo
- Shensen, Notable Figures of Chapter 2, Pathfinder Lost Omens Firebrands, Paizo
