Rise of the Runelords

Rise of the Runelords was the first adventure path released in the Pathfinder Adventure Path line and debuted in August 2007. Written by James Jacobs, Richard Pett, Nicolas Logue, Wolfgang Baur, Stephen S. Greer, and Greg A. Vaughan, the six-part adventure arc has been released in individual Pathfinder Adventure Path volumes, a compiled and updated anniversary edition hardcover, as the inaugural Pathfinder Adventure Card Game base set, and in the form of Pathfinder Legends full-cast audio dramas. It has been supported by a number of supplemental offerings, as well as a Pathfinder Battles miniatures set, several decks of Pathfinder Cards, and a Pathfinder Pawns set.

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From the idyllically peaceful coastal town of Sandpoint to an ancient lost city at the top of the world, Rise of the Runelords takes a party of adventurers from 1st to over 18th level and delves into the mysteries of Varisia's ancient past. Millennia ago, the powerful empire of Thassilon ruled the land, dominated by despotic runelords who maintained their power through harnessing the power of rune magic. Thought gone forever, the workings of Thassilon are not so far beneath the surface and one of the runelords plans a return to power. Only the brave adventurers stand in his way.

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Releases

Pathfinder Adventure Path
	Burnt Offerings	Written by James Jacobs		Released August 2007
	For level 1. Five years after a tragic fire and spate of brutal murders, the people of Sandpoint eagerly anticipate the Swallowtail Festival to commemorate the consecration of the town's new temple. At the height of the ceremony, disaster strikes! In the days that follow, a sinister shadow settles over Sandpoint. Rumors of goblin armies and wrathful monsters in forgotten ruins have set the populace on edge. As Sandpoint's newest heroes, the PCs must deal with treachery, goblins, and the rising threat of a forgotten empire whose cruel and despotic rulers might not be as dead as history records.
	The Skinsaw Murders	Written by Richard Pett		Released September 2007
	For level 4. A sudden string of brutal killings terrorizes the town of Sandpoint, and the killer's mark bears a familiar shape. Investigation leads to the Lost Coast's most notorious haunted mansion, a dilapidated ruin that has become the lair of a monstrous murderer. Yet this killer is but one of many, a member of a group of fanatic cutthroats calling themselves the Skinsaw Men. To defeat the cult, the PCs must travel to the bustling city of Magnimar to unravel the sinister source of these murders before they become the Skinsaw Men's next victims!
	The Hook Mountain Massacre	Written by Nicolas Logue		Released October 2007
	For level 7. The notorious Hook Mountain ogres, known for their violent and savage ways, have slaughtered the soldiers of Fort Rannick. The few surviving rangers need heroes to help them retake this key fortification before the ogres use it as a staging ground for further assaults on the region. Yet why have the ogres chosen now to launch this sudden attack? What sinister force grows in the surrounding wilderness, and what ties to the mysterious sihedron rune do the ogres of Hook Mountain hide? Are the rumors of an army of giants massing for war true?
	Fortress of the Stone Giants	Written by Wolfgang Baur		Released November 2007
	For level 10. Driven to battle by a maniacal warlord, the once-peaceful stone giants of the Storval Plateau threaten to destroy the sleepy town of Sandpoint. Will fast action and quick wits be enough to save the defenseless community? Yet, even if the giants' initial raid can be repelled, only by striking at the heart of their titanic war machine—the black-towered fortress of Jorgenfist—can the menace be quelled. But who knows what mysterious bloodlust spurs the usually peaceful giants to war, or what mysteries lie beneath their ancient fortress?
	Sins of the Saviors	Written by Stephen S. Greer		Released January 2008
	For level 12. The evil beneath the town of Sandpoint refuses to sleep quietly and a killer from the ancient past awakes. Clues found in his lair lead to the den of a legendary dragon and into a vast arcane dungeon ruled by ancient wizards, where the seven deadly sins reign supreme. Can the PCs hone the sins within themselves into weapons against their true foe, Karzoug, the resurrected Runelord of Greed?
	Spires of Xin-Shalast	Written by Greg A. Vaughan		Released January 2008
	For level 14. The Runelord of Greed, Karzoug the Claimer, stirs in the legendary city of Xin-Shalast. There are more forces than an ancient evil wizard at work in this remote corner of Golarion, a place where the boundaries between reality and nightmare are unnaturally thin. Karzoug's minions have awakened as well, among them giants and dragons and devils and worse. Could there be an even deeper evil poised to emerge from the darkness at the dawn of time? Can the Rise of the Runelords be stopped?
Anniversary Edition
	Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition	Written by James Jacobs, Richard Pett, Nicolas Logue, Wolfgang Baur, Stephen S. Greer, and Greg A. Vaughan		Released July 2012
	For level 1–17. This hardcover compilation updates the fan-favorite campaign to the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game rules with revised and new content in more than 400 pages packed with mayhem, excitement, and adventure! Celebrating both the fifth anniversary of the Pathfinder Adventure Path and the tenth anniversary of Paizo Publishing, this new edition expands the original campaign with new options and refined encounters throughout, incorporating 5 years of community feedback.
Pathfinder Adventure Card Game
	Rise of the Runelords Base Set	Designed by Mike Selinker and Lone Shark Games		Released August 2013
	A forgotten evil stirs in the ancient land of Varisia. Dark magic once more thrums amid crumbling ruins, giants gather in titanic armies, cultists murder in the name of foul deities, and maniacal goblins plot a fiery end for the peaceful town of Sandpoint.
	Rise of the Runelords Character Add-On Deck	Designed by Mike Selinker and Lone Shark Games		Released August 2013
	Add more players and character options to your Pathfinder Adventure Card Game experience with this 110-card expansion deck, in which you'll find four new classes for Pathfinder Adventure Card Game characters—barbarian, druid, monk, and paladin—along with all the additional cards you need to expand your adventures for 5 or 6 players. New monsters, items, and more give you everything you need to face even the deadliest challenges.
	The Skinsaw Murders Adventure Deck	Designed by Mike Selinker and Lone Shark Games		Released October 2013
	Uncover a mystery fraught with ravenous ghouls, age-old hauntings, foul cultists, and worse with this 110-card expansion to the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords Base Set, including new locations, monsters, villains, loot, and more, as well as 5 new scenarios that constitute the complete Skinsaw Murders adventure.
	The Hook Mountain Massacre Adventure Deck	Designed by Mike Selinker and Lone Shark Games		Released December 2013
	Venture into the dark heart of ogre country with this 110-card expansion to the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords Base Set, including new locations, monsters, villains, loot, and more, as well as 5 new scenarios that constitute the complete Hook Mountain Massacre adventure.
	Fortress of the Stone Giants Adventure Deck	Designed by Mike Selinker and Lone Shark Games		Released February 2013
	Fend off a stone giant invasion, raid magical dungeons, and unlock the mystery of an ancient empire with this 110-card expansion to the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords Base Set, including new locations, monsters, villains, loot, and more, as well as 5 new scenarios that constitute the complete Fortress of the Stone Giants adventure.
	Sins of the Saviors Adventure Deck	Designed by Mike Selinker and Lone Shark Games		Released April 2014
	Slay a ferocious dragon, face the magical might of ancient sins, and claim treasures of extraordinary power with this 110-card expansion to the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords Base Set, including new locations, monsters, villains, loot, and more, as well as 5 new scenarios that constitute the complete Sins of the Saviors adventure.
	Spires of Xin-Shalast Adventure Deck	Designed by Mike Selinker and Lone Shark Games		Released June 2014
	Confront cannibal spirits, the champions of a fallen empire, and the Runelord of Greed with this 110-card expansion to the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords Base Set includes new locations, monsters, villains, loot, and more, as well as 5 new scenarios that constitute the complete Spires of Xin-Shalast adventure.
Pathfinder Legends
	Burnt Offerings (Pathfinder Legends)	Written by Mark Wright	Directed by John Ainsworth	Released March 2014
	Sandpoint. An ordinary town on the Lost Coast of Varisia. When Ezren, Merisiel, Valeros and Harsk arrive, seeking rest from their adventures, it seems the town's annual Swallowtail Festival will give them what they need—until goblins attack during a ceremony to consecrate the town's rebuilt church. After defending Sandpoint, the adventurers discover a sinister plot to return an ancient evil to Varisia. Can they discover the sinister connection between the goblin attack and the removal of mortal remains from a crypt in the town's graveyard?
	The Skinsaw Murders (Pathfinder Legends)	Written by Cavan Scott	Directed by John Ainsworth	Released May 2014
	A sudden string of brutal killings terrorizes Sandpoint, and the killer's mark bears a disturbing similarity to the strange rune the goblins had taken as their tribal totem. Investigation leads Ezren, Merisiel, Harsk and Valeros to confront a sinister murderer who has claimed a notorious haunted mansion as his lair.
	The Hook Mountain Massacre (Pathfinder Legends)	Written by Mark Wright	Directed by John Ainsworth	Released March 2014
	Ezren, Merisiel, Harsk and Valeros answer a desperate call for aid from Hook Mountain. A tribe of ogres has slaughtered the garrison of a small keep, including the famous retired war hero stationed there. The few surviving rangers need the heroes to help them retake the key fortification back. And in the surrounding wilderness, a sinister force is growing.
	Fortress of the Stone Giants (Pathfinder Legends)	Written by Cavan Scott	Directed by John Ainsworth	Released September 2014
	A sudden assault on the town of Sandpoint by stone giants and a dragon brings the looming threat home. Ezren, Merisiel, Harsk and Valeros learn that attack was just a scouting party, that the stone giants are massing for war. The only way to disrupt their advance is to strike at the Jorgenfist, the fortress of Warlord Mokmurian, the sinister giant responsible for gathering his people for war.
	Sins of the Saviors (Pathfinder Legends)	Written by Mark Wright	Directed by John Ainsworth	Released November 2014
	Ezren, Merisiel, Harsk and Valeros discover that Karzoug, an ancient wizard from the long-dead empire of Thassilon, has returned to life. From his city fortress of Xin-Shalast high in the mountains, he has been using the giants to harvest souls to reclaim his lost power. The secret to defeating him before he can reclaim his realm and enslave the region lies hidden in a deadly dungeon called Runeforge.
	Spires of Xin-Shalast (Pathfinder Legends)	Written by Cavan Scott	Directed by John Ainsworth	Released January 2015
	Having steeped their weapons in the ancient magic of Thassilon, Ezren, Merisiel, Harsk and Valeros prepare to confront the newly risen Runelord Karzoug at the seat of his power. To do so, they must travel high into the mountains, to the fabled city of Xin-Shalast, where they are confronted by enormous giants and dragons before they can finally confront the mad wizard of greed in his mountaintop palace. Yet can defeating Runelord Karzoug stop the rise of the Runelords? Or are there more terrors yet to come?

Related publications

Player's Guides
	Rise of the Runelords Player's Guide	Written by F. Wesley Schneider		Released August 2007
	This 16-page supplement covers information on the races of Varisia, how various classes fit into Varisa, special equipment introduced in Golarion, and some information on the town of Sandpoint. It provides all the information players need to make characters appropriate to the setting as well as context for the start of the Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path.
	Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition Player's Guide	Written by James L. Sutter		Released July 2012
	Players of the Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition campaign will find everything they need to create character backgrounds tied to personalities and events vital to Pathfinder Adventure Path's initial expedition into the exciting frontier of Varisia, along with new campaign-specific traits to give bold adventurers the edge they'll need to take on the unpredictable dangers of that untamed land. This player's guide features a full gazetteer of Varisia, revealing spoiler-free details of the land, both to chart their backgrounds and future adventures.
Maps
	Rise of the Runelords Map Folio	Cartography by Rob Lazzaretti		Released March 2008
	Campaign in style with this handsome collection of maps designed for use with the Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path. Two huge poster maps detail Varisia, the home nation of the first Pathfinder campaign, and Sandpoint, the player characters' new home. Fifteen additional single-page full-color maps cover key encounter locations or wilderness areas from the campaign, adding visual flair for players and making the Game Master's life a lot easier.
	Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition Interactive Maps	Cartography by Jason Engle, Robert Lazzaretti, and 99 Lives Design		Released August 2013
	This compilation of 44 maps from the Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition offers special PDF-only interactive features: buttons that allow you to hide map tags and/or grids, or engage a player-friendly view, hiding secret doors and even obscuring secret rooms! These are the exact same maps that appear throughout the Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition Adventure Path, presented at the exact same scale.
Pathfinder Cards
	Rise of the Runelords Item Cards	Produced by Paizo Inc.		Released December 2007
	This all-new 54-card deck featuring items tied to the first Pathfinder Adventure Path, Rise of the Runelords. Each card features a beautiful full-color illustration of an item on one side, with a text description and room for notes on the opposite side. A Game Master can hand these out when their PCs get treasure and watch as players learn to love managing their booty. A code on each card helps Game Masters track which card corresponds to which treasure.
	Rise of the Runelords Face Cards	Produced by Paizo Inc.		Released June 2012
	Give life to your NPCs with more than 50 key characters filling this gorgeously illustrated deck designed for use with the smash-hit Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path! Each card includes the character's name, role in the Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path, space to record key details, and artwork by Paizo's finest illustrators. These Face Cards bring the cast of the original Adventure Path to your tabletop and let your players look into the face of the enemy!
Miniatures
	Rise of the Runelords (Pathfinder Battles)	Written by WizKids Games		Released August 2012
	The friends, fiends, and foes of Pathfinder's Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path invade your gaming table with Rise of the Runelords, the brand new Pathfinder Battles prepainted miniatures set from Paizo Publishing and WizKids! This stunning set features 64 all-new sculpts drawn from the gorgeous art in Paizo's Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path Anniversary Edition, a hardcover collection of the very first Pathfinder campaign! Designed to enhance the Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path, but suitable for any fantasy roleplaying campaign, these figures raise the bar on prepainted miniatures, setting a new standard of excellence and featuring a wide variety of monsters, NPCs, and heroes from the most popular Pathfinder campaign of all time!
	Rise of the Runelords Pawn Collection	Produced by Paizo Inc.		Released September 2012
	Key monsters and NPCs from the Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path come alive on your tabletop with the Pathfinder RPG Rise of the Runelords Pawn Collection, featuring more than 100 creature pawns for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game or any tabletop fantasy RPG! Printed on sturdy cardstock, each pawn presents a beautiful full-color image of a monster or NPC from the Rise of the Runelords campaign, including goblins, dragons, giants, ogres, and dozens of unique NPCs also suitable for representing player characters.