Pantheon Rising Player's Guide

A Tale of Smoke, Gears, and the Spark of Ascension

Welcome to Alkenstar! You’re about to step into a story where smoke‑choked streets and clockwork wonders hide more than just outlaw gangs and corrupt lawbringers. The alleys, rooftops, and rivers of Alkenstar hum with industry — and something stranger no engineer will admit to.

In the Pantheon Rising Adventure Path, you’ll create a 1st‑level character branded as an outlaw — rightly or wrongly — and cast your lot with a crew of renegades determined to turn the tables on the powers that ruined you. You’ll need to defeat clockwork creatures, collect fantastic firearms, and navigate industrial dungeons, magical wilds, and myriad social spheres. And every so often, along the way, you might glimpse a technology or fragment of knowledge that feels *older* and *vaster* than anything in the City of Smog’s workshops.

Whether your future holds a tidy fortune, a bullet‑scarred grave, or the keys to something far greater than a gunslinger’s reputation will be up to you.

To play in this campaign, all you need is the Pathfinder Core Rulebook and a character sheet. With the permission of your Game Master (GM), you can also use other Pathfinder Second Edition books and accessories to further customize your character. While not required to enjoy Pantheon Rising, Guns & Gears is an especially useful supplement to have on hand, as it contains a number of character options and rules elements specifically designed for characters in Alkenstar, the industrial metropolis at the start of this Adventure Path.

This Player’s Guide is organized into the following sections:

• Alkenstar, City of Smog: An overview of the industrial metropolis in which your story begins.
• Your Character: Important background details and inspiring lore to consider before creating your character.
• Character Suggestions: Additional guidance, practical advice, and specific tips for creating a character tailored specifically for Pantheon Rising, including a Suggested Character Options Table.
• New Backgrounds: New backgrounds introduced for this AP.