Secret Societies of Vathak: The People of Ash by Landon Winkler is a role playing game supplement published by Fat Goblin Games 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 supplement for the Shadows over Vathak setting.
The supplement is available as a 12-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $3.41 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 Contents and one the Open Game License.
The Introduction explains that all hauntling communities across Vathak have a copy of the book The Litany of Ashes, and those hauntlings who believe their souls were freed by fire call themselves the People of Ash and what they do based on The Litany of Ashes.
Structure looks at how the People of Ash is organised, and the three largest gatherings of the People, with details on these. It also looks at the leadership of the People; the group is organised by local cells with usually one charismatic leader for each but no overriding structure for the group as a whole. Details, though no stats beyond class, alignment and levels, are given on three important leaders. Three other important members are also detailed in the same way. The purpose of the group, which tends to be different for each cell, is next; though all of the People swear by an Old One, few are truly dedicated to its cause. How new members are initiated is also covered.
Methods has five new feats available to members of the People; these are lost if they lose faith.
Adventure Hooks has three new adventure hooks on top of those from previous sections.
Secret Societies of Vathak: The People of Ash in Review
The PDF is bookmarked but only the major sections and subsections are linked. The Contents is to a similar level of depth and is hyperlinked. Navigation is okay. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of errors. There are several colour illustrations. Presentation is decent.
Though this supplement is intended for use with Shadows over Vathak, it should be easy enough to use it with another setting, even one that isn’t quite as dark as Shadows over Vathak, simply by changing a few names, making it more generally useful, as long as a hauntlings sourcebook is owned; not knowing what those are will make things more difficult. Other than that, the supplement covers a secret society in a decent level of detail with a variety of hooks to use it in a campaign, and it’s also a society that could easily be one joined by player hauntlings. Secret Societies of Vathak: The People of Ash can be found by clicking here.
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