Pathfinder Society

The Pathfinder Society is a globe-spanning organization based out of Absalom, the world's largest city. The membership consists primarily of Pathfinders, adventurers who travel throughout Golarion, usually inconspicuously, and explore, delve, and otherwise experience the lesser-seen parts of the world. They send journals back to their venture-captain, who also assigns them new missions and suggests new places to explore. The most exciting and illuminating of these journals are compiled in the Pathfinder Chronicles, an ongoing series of books which collect the history and mystery of Golarion for their membership.

Contents

1 History
2 Leadership
3 Training
3.1 Field Commissions
4 Members
4.1 Notable Members
5 Sites
6 Pathfinder Society Expeditions
7 References

History

The Pathfinder Society was founded in Absalom in 4307 AR by a group of adventurers as a means to share stories and resources. [1] The first meeting place was a bar in Absalom called the Wounded Wisp; the meeting locations changed frequently over the next decade. The incredible stories shared among members at these early meetings became popular forms of entertainment among the public as well.[2]

In 4317 AR, a sage (whose name has been lost to history) offered to publish the best of the Society's stories in book form. The first edition of the Pathfinder Chroniclesbecame wildly successful and began the Society's tradition of publishing the best of its members' exploits. In the nearly four centuries since, members of the Pathfinder Society have aspired to undertake adventures worthy of publication in the Chronicles.

In 4320 AR, the Society's Grand Lodge was founded in Absalom, utilizing a manor house donated to the Society as a home base.[3]

Leadership

The day to day running of the Pathfinder Society is managed by the venture-captains. These are usually older or accomplished Pathfinders, or long-time allies of the organization, who have settled down, and claimed a Pathfinder lodge for themselves. They direct Pathfinders in the field towards new and interesting locales, and receive the regular reports that will eventually become part of the Chronicles.

They receive their instruction from the Decemvirate, a secret body of ten masked individuals who pass messages along to the captains in subtle and silent ways. Little is known about the Decemvirate, not even their ultimate goals for the collection of the endless data the Society receives.
Training

The Pathfinder Society is willing to accept members of all backgrounds, creeds and morals. Any applicant who does well enough overall on the initial tests is allowed to take the oath and become an initiate. Training is overseen by three deans, the Master of Swords, the Master of Spells and the Master of Scrolls. The final test, Confirmation, is taken after 3 years as an initiate (although ambitious or gifted initiates may persuade the deans to allow them to take the test earlier). The test is effectively the initiate's first mission; those who pass become Pathfinders and those who fail are discharged from the Society (but often remain on good terms with it afterwards).[4]

Field Commissions

Those rare few non-members who manage to significantly change the course of history may be offered full Pathfinder status by the Decemvirate as a “field commission”.

More commonly, anyone who makes a discovery and elects to report it to the Society may sometimes be offered the chance to join as an initiate, and to have the initial discovery count towards his final Confirmation. Depending on the individual, he may then be asked to report to the Grand Lodge for further training, or invited to attempt the remaining task(s) required for Confirmation.[5]

Members

A Pathfinder's Wayfinder

Members of the Society are loosely affiliated adventurers, who are not required to interact. However, they are forbidden direct conflict against each other, but this does not stop the more unscrupulous from leading rival parties into dangerous situations and dead ends. Most are issued a wayfinder[6], which is a type of magical compass, and taught to recognize the signs indicating a lodge. Other than that, they are largely free to be and do what they please. This allows for a very varied membership, with a Chelaxian devil-binder and a Garundi rogue easily finding themselves sharing a night in the same lodge in the far north of Avistan.

See also: Category:Pathfinders

Pathfinder Society Expeditions

See full article: Pathfinder Society Expeditions


The Pathfinder Society collects knowledge and artefacts from all over Golarion. The nature of their expeditions is based on the personalities of the Pathfinders involved, and the conditions in which they have to work. As such, no two expeditions are the same.[8]