Faces of the Tarnished Souk: Zara, the Girl Who Died Dreaming (PFRPG) by Matt Banach and Justin Sluder is a role playing game supplement published by Rite Publishing for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result. This is a single NPC at three different CRs.
The supplement is available as a 26-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $2.95 but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. One page is the front cover, one the front matter, one the Open Game License and two pages are ads.
Zara, the Girl Who Died Dreaming starts with background on Zara, a little girl with a teddy bear who wanders the Tarnished Souk. Zara is much, much older than she looks and is now an undead scourge of those that thought her prey. She seeks her long-lost brother, Po’Kesteros, already described, though she doesn’t know that’s him. Dreamburning, lore and using Zara in game are covered.
The three different versions follow, arranged in the book from high to low CR.
The CR 6 version is a dreamwalker phalanx young human malefactor 5.
The CR 13 version is a dreamwalker phalanx vampire young human malefactor 11.
The CR 22 version is a dread vampire dreamwalker phalanx young human malefactor 17.
These are followed by feats, including a series that turns the taker into a vampire, dreaming traits, armour and weapon enhancements and new magic items.
Next up is Mr. Bear, Zara’s teddy bear. Who is not a teddy bear. He, too, comes in three variants.
The CR 3 version is a betrayer phalanx young imp.
The CR 6 version is an accelerated betrayer phalanx young imp rogue (cutpurse) 2.
The CR 11 version is an accelerated betrayer phalanx young imp rogue (cutpurse) 6.
Templates are the accelerated creature, which is faster, naturally, the betrayer creature, who constantly betrays allegiances without consequence, the dread vampire, more powerful than a normal vampire, the dreamwalker creature, which is what is left when a dreamer’s mortal body dies, and the phalanx creature, which bonds two or more creatures together.
Faces of the Tarnished Souk: Zara, the Girl Who Died Dreaming (PFRPG) in Review
The PDF is bookmarked with major and minor sections linked. Navigation is good. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of errors. As well as the custom cover illustration, there are a number of pieces of what appear to be black and white stock art. Presentation is good.
The malefactor is for all intents and purposes a walking disaster – for others. Harbingers of bad luck. Given Po’Kesteros’s relationship with luck, it might not be a great idea to be around both of them at the same time. The feat-based vampire is, well, odd. Becoming a vampire by taking a number of feats seems a bit atypical. Levelling up to become a vampire doesn’t quite fit their reputation. Mr. Bear is a true bit of nastiness; a teddy bear that always looks like a teddy bear. But occasionally moves or may be seen with a knife. Zara herself is dangerous and, given that she still maintains an appearance of a small child, could be easily, and fatally, underestimated. Faces of the Tarnished Souk: Zara, the Girl Who Died Dreaming (PFRPG) is an interesting NPC and can be found by clicking here.
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