In an exciting development for Pathfinder aficionados, Paizo has revealed their latest undertaking: Revenge of the Runelords, a mythic-themed, high-level Adventure Path set to launch in the final quarter of 2025. Split in three distinct parts, this megacampaign is designed for characters at levels 12 through 18 and promises to rekindle the fires of classic Pathfinder lore. As a spiritual successor, it follows on the heels of Rise of the Runelords, Return of the Runelords, and Seven Dooms for Sandpoint, weaving tales of epic proportion. The campaign focuses on the resurrection of formidable villains and long-lost magic, most tantalizingly marking the return of Xanderghul, the ever-prideful Runelord, who was presumed vanquished. Central to the campaign are motifs of sin magic intertwined with Thassilonian history, offering mythic storytelling without revisiting the full Mythic Adventures mechanics.
Revenge of the Runelords emerges as a grand narrative tapestry, resurrecting adversaries and themes that lie deep within Pathfinder’s storied history. The campaign’s announcement has stoked the imaginations of seasoned players eager to engage with a narrative drenched in high-stakes, mythic-level drama. Paizo’s emphasis on mythic power, devoid of convoluted mechanics, promises to deliver an epic experience through narrative immersion and robust storytelling. Insomuch, the Adventure Path serves as both a climax and a new beginning for players invested in the lore of Golarion’s enigmatic past.
The involvement of Xanderghul, Runelord of Pride, forms the bedrock of this campaign, conferring both nostalgia and anticipation. His enigmatic presence, thought eradicated, resurfaces as the crux of an adventure laden with mystique and danger. Players will traverse familiar and surprising locations, straddling the boundary between the known and the extraordinary, accompanied by the constant threat of ancient forces rekindled. This impending journey offers groups a narrative climax, ensuring that seasoned players find a fitting capstone to their Pathfinder campaigns.
The campaign’s triadic structure guides adventurers through escalating tiers of danger and discovery. From cultish stirrings to near-apocalyptic confrontations, the arc promises dynamic storytelling interlaced with legendary stakes. By abandoning intricate mythic mechanics, Paizo invites players to engage directly with the story, emphasizing roleplaying and strategic challenges that will test even the most battle-hardened parties.
Ultimately, Revenge of the Runelords celebrates Pathfinder’s lineage, linking past campaigns with future narratives as players confront ancient menaces. It is an invitation to explore the world anew, unravel fantastical mysteries, and engage with villains whose stories have captivated players since Pathfinder’s conception. As Paizo ushers in this new saga, players can anticipate a journey filled with complexities and triumphs, emblematic of the game’s enduring legacy.
Structure and Flow of the Megacampaign
Revenge of the Runelords is meticulously structured into a three-volume Adventure Path, each installment releasing consecutively in October, November, and December 2025. Designed to propel characters from levels 12 to 18, the campaign escalates stakes from initial cult-led intrigues to cosmic-level confrontations. This meticulous progression facilitates depth and breadth, allowing players to immerse themselves in a storyline rich with intrigue and escalation, ensuring a steady crescendo of tension and excitement.
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Despite the campaign’s mythic theme, Paizo has opted to eschew the complex Mythic Adventures rules, instead infusing mythic elements within the narrative itself. Players will find themselves intertwined with powers beyond understanding, facing challenges that test their resolve and ingenuity, all without the burden of overly intricate mechanics. This choice ensures accessibility while maintaining narrative richness, allowing the mythic essence to shine through the story’s fabric.
Rooted in deep lore, Revenge of the Runelords is aimed squarely at veteran groups ready to delve into high-level play. By immersing players in Golarion’s storied past and extraplanar expanses, Paizo offers an Adventure Path that is both expansive and intimately tied to previous narratives. The campaign promises to further explore Thassilon’s legacy, engaging players with mythic power struggles that defy the boundaries of what is known.
As the saga unfolds, players will cross paths with legendary figures such as Sorshen and Xanderghul, whose past and present convergences set the stage for conflict and resolution. The campaign revisits familiar themes and locales while introducing new realms and concepts that enrich the ever-expanding history of Golarion. These elements combine to entice players with both nostalgia and novelty, rekindling the magic of the Runelords saga.
Here are the confirmed structural facts of the megacampaign:
- 3-volume Adventure Path
- Releases across October, November, and December 2025
- Levels 12–18
- Mythic themes without Mythic Adventures rules
- Continues the saga of the Runelords
- Features Sorshen and Xanderghul
- Set in Golarion, spanning known and extraplanar locations
- Directly follows up Seven Dooms for Sandpoint
By anchoring the narrative in legacy while pushing toward new horizons, Revenge of the Runelords exemplifies Paizo’s dedication to crafting epic storytelling within the Pathfinder universe. The structure and flow promise to captivate players, providing a stage where legendary tales unfold and mythical destinies are forged.
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Book One: Lord of the Trinity Star
The inaugural chapter, “Lord of the Trinity Star,” initiates players into an escalating world fraught with mystery and sin. Here, a resurgence in sin magic demands urgent investigation as strange worship patterns tie themselves to the enigmatic “Trinity Star.” Enter Sorshen, the once-feared Runelord of Lust, now reformed and driven by a desire to set things right. She calls upon heroes to uncover the truth obscured by shadows, threading together cult conspiracies and portents of an ancient threat reawakening.
As players delve into cult activities and their dark motivations, they are thrust into a narrative laced with creeping dread. The ambiance is both mysterious and foreboding, where forbidden magic beckons discovery and danger lurks beneath a veneer of intrigue. The book weaves a rich tapestry of mythology and exploration, allowing players to reconnect with the classic lore that defines Pathfinder’s history.
Moreover, “Lord of the Trinity Star” rejuvenates familiar elements from Pathfinder’s past. Sin magic, once wielded with reckless abandon, returns with renewed purpose, its corrupting allure casting an irresistible shadow over the unfolding drama. By examining its resurgence and its ties to sinister forces, players encounter a deeper understanding of the Runelords’ enduring legacy and the woven threads connecting past to present.
As the seeds of Xanderghul’s return are subtly planted, players are teased with the implications of ancient powers stirring once more. The narrative lays the groundwork for grander confrontations, positioning this first book as both an introduction and a harbinger of epic tales unfolding. The stage is set for heroes to discover their part in Pathfinder’s unfolding mythos, inviting them to dive deeper into the arcane and the unknown.
Book Two: Crypt of Runes
In “Crypt of Runes,” the stakes are raised as Xanderghul’s malevolent machinations come to light. Players are drawn into a globe-trotting quest across Golarion and into the surreal Dreamlands, an ethereal expanse confirmed by Paizo as essential to the campaign’s progression. Here, the challenge shifts from investigation to resistance, plunging heroes into a world where forgotten relics and buried histories hold the keys to thwarting the Runelord’s ascendant power.
The tone transforms as resistance becomes paramount, demanding players adapt to an ever-escalating series of threats. As relics are unearthed and histories unveiled, players must navigate the perilous divide between this world and the dreamt realms, unearthing crucial knowledge to disrupt Xanderghul’s dark ambitions. The narrative invites players into Golarion’s depths and beyond, showcasing the vast expanse of possibilities and echoing the eternal struggle against pride and tyranny.
The ever-present threat of Xanderghul’s rise infuses each encounter with urgency. Players must balance thwarting his schemes while unearthing truths about the past, wrapped in layers of deception and power. The narrative tension ebbs and flows, reflecting the ever-shifting balance of power across the campaign’s expanse.
In this volume, Golarion’s breadth and the Dreamlands’ strangeness intertwine, blending local and cosmic narratives that deepen players’ immersion. Whether resisting Xanderghul’s growing influence or exploring dreamscapes of otherworldly magnificence, “Crypt of Runes” pushes players to the limits of courage and ingenuity, setting the stage for the ultimate confrontation.
Book Three: Into the Apocalypse Archive
The climactic installment, “Into the Apocalypse Archive,” remains shrouded in mystery, yet Paizo has indicated that the campaign’s culmination is nothing short of apocalyptic. This final volume promises a confrontation with Xanderghul at its core, involving ancient Thassilonian magic, mythic power, and the fate of entire realms. Undoubtedly, players will find themselves navigating a narrative crescendo where alliances are cemented, and destinies are fulfilled.
Though specifics remain elusive, the anticipation of this explosive conclusion fills the Pathfinder community with excitement. It is suggested that players will harness the powers unearthed throughout their journey, leveraging them in an epic confrontation that will test their mettle and resolve. As the Runelord of Pride reaches the zenith of his dark designs, players stand poised to thwart his domination and reshape the landscape of Golarion forever.
The book promises to synthesize a decade of tangled lore, culminating in confrontation and resolution that honor the narrative threads woven through Pathfinder’s history. Here, players will confront their greatest challenges yet, encapsulating mythic power, ancient magic, and unyielding determination in an epic conclusion befitting the saga’s scale.
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As Paizo constructs this grand finale, players stand on the precipice of realizing their journey’s magnitude. “Into the Apocalypse Archive” is poised to deliver a payoff worthy of its storied predecessors, drawing players into a narrative tapestry where the stakes are mythic, and every decision carries both danger and possibility.
Connections to Past Pathfinder Campaigns
Revenge of the Runelords weaves together elements from Pathfinder’s storied past, drawing inspiration from prior campaigns while charting new narrative territories. As a capstone adventure, it celebrates the rich lore and complex characters that have defined Pathfinder from its inception. By interlinking past and present, the campaign honors its legacy while building new dimensions.
Rise of the Runelords, an iconic campaign, first introduced players to the world of Thassilonian magic and the resurrection of its most infamous villain, Karzoug. Revenge of the Runelords continues this narrative arc, connecting disparate storylines and focusing on the mythic undertones that define Golarion’s ancient past. Fans familiar with the original can anticipate callbacks and lore continuity, deepening their engagement with the world.
Return of the Runelords carried forward the narrative of Alaznist, inviting players to explore her temporal chaos and the echoes of her tumultuous schemes. This chaotic energy reverberates within Revenge of the Runelords, setting the stage for players to engage with timelines altered and destinies unfurled. By revisiting themes of pride and ambition, the campaign draws from the past to fuel its present crescendo.
Here are the confirmed or previously established connections within the campaign:
- Rise of the Runelords: Karzoug’s resurrection and fall
- Return of the Runelords: Alaznist’s timeline disruptions
- Seven Dooms for Sandpoint: Sorshen’s transformation
- Thassilon: fallen empire of sin magic
- Sin magic schools: Pride, Lust, Wrath, etc.
- Sihedron Rune: symbol of ancient Thassilon
- Runeforge: source of forbidden magical knowledge
- Dreamlands: confirmed extraplanar location in Book Two
These connections enrich the narrative tapestry, offering fans a cohesive and immersive experience. Revenge of the Runelords channels Pathfinder’s legacy, drawing players ever deeper into a world where ancient magic and mythic power collide in epic storytelling.
Final Thoughts on the Megacampaign
Revenge of the Runelords stands as a monumental milestone within the Pathfinder universe, embodying Paizo’s dedication to delivering narrative depth and mythic-level stories that challenge even the most intrepid adventurers. As a true capstone for veteran players and longstanding fans, it combines the complexities of past campaigns with a fresh narrative approach, promising a tale filled with suspense, strategy, and satisfaction.
The campaign’s mythic themes and high-stakes storytelling are grounded in a world rich with history, offering players familiar landscapes while pushing them toward unparalleled heights. By balancing continuity with creative escalation, Paizo invites players to experience a story that is at once deeply connected and remarkably vast—a testament to Pathfinder’s evolving legacy.
As players prepare to face Xanderghul, one of Golarion’s most powerful adversaries, they are encouraged to revisit earlier Runelord material to fully appreciate the journey ahead. The return of familiar faces and the revival of grand themes promise to expand the narrative landscape, revealing hidden layers and untold stories that enrich the campaign’s depth and resonance.
By positioning Revenge of the Runelords as both a continuation and a conclusion, Paizo underscores their commitment to crafting experiences that inspire and engage. It is an opportunity for players to embrace both the known and unknown, as storytelling and strategy merge, guiding them through pathways of power, pride, and possibility.
Ultimately, this megacampaign symbolizes Pathfinder’s enduring appeal, illustrating that with every step into the unknown, players build upon the legacies of those who came before. As Paizo opens the doors to this eagerly anticipated Adventure Path, players are invited to relive, rediscover, and redefine the magic that makes Pathfinder an indelible part of their journey through the worlds of wonder.
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