Pathfinder Region Deepdive: The Darklands

Welcome to the much-anticipated guide to the Darklands.
▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
0:00 - Intro & Preamble
3:57 - Major Entrances
23:29 - Nar-Voth
42:08 - Sekamina
1:25:36 - Orv
And don't forget to Like & Subscribe!
CREDITS
The large high-res map I use is not a Paizo official map, but the work of the incomparable Rob McCaleb ( www.artstation.com/robmccaleb ) used here with their gracious permission.
Content for this video came from "Into the Darklands" and additional sources from across Paizo's various publications.
If you enjoyed this video, please support Paizo publishing by purchasing this product or others.
#paizo #pathfinder #golarion #innersea #roleplaying #rpg #history #lore #d&d #darklands

[@harjutapa]

finally, a Deep Dive that actually lives up to the name! 🤣🤣

[@TheMythKeeper]

Hehe

[@charlespickering2726]

FYI the new Tian Xia book in its area that covers nations of that continent has a section that covers a good overview of the darklands of that area of the world.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Yep! I know and I'll cover that when I get to Tian-Xia!

[@TOUGHEYES]

Based developments, all around.

[@justingraves1291]

I had to reopen my Tian Xia book to confirm, now I'm wanting a Darklands map to add to my Cartography of Golarion Wall

[@RyanVonAegir]

Ahh the Darklands. I've seen it referenced a lot but know so little about it. Thanks for making this! From what I do know, I really like that the Orcs and Dwarfs came from it. Makes it like a weird rivarly.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Orcs, dwarves and a whole lot more as it turns out.

[@RyanVonAegir]

@TheMythKeeper I like thr characterization of Ghouls in the Darklands from how it's described. An attempt at something fake in order to find sustainable food sounds like a neat area to visit in a campaign in the Darklands.

[@TheMythKeeper]

@@RyanVonAegir Khemret Noktoria is definitely a place I’d check out in a Darklands campaign

[@fumarc4501]

I’ve been waiting for this, and what a well worth wait it was! Since you’ve already covered the dwarves, orcs, and a number of other examples of Darklands history, that makes sense. I’d still be interested in any non-dwarf and non-orc history in the darklands.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Awesome and I hope you enjoy it!

[@Briar7862]

There has to be more to these layers elsewhere- even beyond the darklands of Tian Xia. Casmaron, Arcadia, the Crown of the world and more seem conspicuously absent. Not the Mythkeeper’s fault obviously, but I’d like Pathfinder to one day address these gaps. Also, Don’t forget Rusthenge has a small entrance to the first layer of the darklands.

[@obamabiden]

casmaron has always been interesting to me, it's the most accessible of all the other continents (not counting northern garund, which as of 2e is basically as fleshed out as avistan almost) but has about as much written lore as Arcadia

[@RisingStarPF2E]

Love it Mythkeeper; keep up the amazing work of being the one-stop epic shop of Golarion Lore!

[@TheMythKeeper]

Thank you so much for the kind words!

[@ColinGrym]

In the lightless depths of the Darklands, your content is my sunshine. As usual, a banger of a video. I'm still in love with the Vaults of Orv. I adore the idea of spending an entire adventuring career learning how to traverse hostile underground realms. Gaining passage through fear, force, or (rarely) cooperation. Only to one day travel down a new path known to almost no one, and emerging in Golarion's Arrakis or Jurassic Park. I can damn near hear the theme music.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Golarion's Arrakis is too cool actually. Definitely need to make use of undead dark elves riding giant worms at some point.

[@rune5916]

A comment to bless this video so that the Mighty Algorithm might see fit to recommend it to more potential viewers. (Sorry it took me almost two weeks to make time to see this amazing video.)

[@TheMythKeeper]

The Mighty Algorithm is pleased with your sacrifice.

[@taylorbullard2118]

May the algorithm provide, and abide.

[@jamesbrucker178]

I’m running Sky Kings Tomb. This deep drive helped me understand the Darklands and flesh out details for my group.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Awesome! I’m looking forward to running that myself

[@philurbaniak1811]

Looking forward to the High Helm video 👍👍!

[@TheMythKeeper]

Not so long now!

[@dewainearfalas]

Yeeey! I was waiting for this one, Darklands making my day brighter :D

[@TheMythKeeper]

Awesome! And welcome to the club :-)

[@winstonsmith3703]

Finally the reason i love golarian! Especially because it covers in part my favorite thing. The urdefhan.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Love me some urdefahn too!

[@Breakingfasst88]

Screenshots of BG3 just makes me wish Pathfinder had a similar game :( WOTR is the closest and I do enjoy it, though. Awesome work nonetheless!

[@TheMythKeeper]

Yeah its just WotR and Kingmaker for now on the Pathfinder side ;-)

[@istrukalya]

Darklands my beloved

[@justinmuze1185]

Just became a member just so I can see this video! I absolutely love the Darklands. Also, I joined because I love your lore video's.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Awesome! Thank you and welcome aboard!!

[@treythesmall6723]

Is there any potential for you to release the scripts for these videos for members? It would make note taking a whole lot easier.

[@TheMythKeeper]

I'm not sure I have the scripts of some of my earlier videos, but yes. This is totally something I can do for members. I'm traveling this week, but as soon as I'm back home I'll figure out something along these lines.

[@edc5378]

Scripts will be very helpful for us GMs 🔮

[@themonolougist]

​@@TheMythKeeper​@TheMythKeeper Oh my this would be awesome, I'm just wanted to ask the same. What a way to confirm my idea to become a member

[@jamestitus472]

I was literally about to ask this. I am writing my own world setting, and scripts for these would be awesome to use as references.

[@jamestitus472]

​@@themonolougistditto. I don't have much spare cash but I'd consider it for these if that becomes a confirmed perk.

[@philhudson3619]

Been waiting for this.

[@bluedice11]

Thank you ! Been waiting so long for this video!

[@TheMythKeeper]

Hope you like it!

[@SKALLRAG]

Keep it up man, I like how you actually have a lot of lore that goes farther than just the wikis as well as pictures of what you're talking about. There's so many books out there and they all cost money so I know how hard it is to get some of this info.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Thanks. Consolidating this info is a labor of love though. Been really fun to put these videos together.

[@jasonstandlea1784]

I've been waiting for this one. A fascinating deep dive (pun semi intended)!

[@alexandredesrochers1957]

great work as always. Thanks

[@Merohill]

Love the video; 2e is doing the cave elves/dark elves dirty!

[@joshuachapman247]

Now that was a deep dive, thank you for the upload. Appreciated.

[@TheMythKeeper]

My pleasure!

[@robfrank3423]

I look forward to your future five Kings mountains video. ROCK AND STONE

[@TheMythKeeper]

That will be a fun one!

[@robfrank3423]

@TheMythKeeper may you beard grow long and your mug of beer never be empty brother of the mountain

[@russvickery71]

What an excellent surprise to come home too! You’re the best MK. Keep doing awesome work.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Thank you! Will do!

[@onogal775]

Absolutely amazing video, probably your best one yet!

[@TheMythKeeper]

Thank you! 🙏

[@yomama211]

while i dont play pathfinder im a big fan of these vids. Its really interesting to see how the world building diverges from other ttrpg fantasy worlds

[@frederickgleicher1385]

Wow ! this is a lot of information. I am on sitting no. 2, and I still haven't gotten through it all. Some very notable entrances to the Darklands seem to be the mega-dungeons. A video on those would be fun ;-)

[@TheMythKeeper]

Mega dungeons is on my list of videos to produce some day 😅

[@Pozerian]

Been looking forward to this one!

[@Plekszy1]

Awesomeness

[@RicardoPM777]

Loved this video

[@MrTotalAhole]

Years, I've been waiting years for this. Thanks MK!

[@TheMythKeeper]

You bet!

[@davdav1370]

I'm simple man, I see new video from MythKeeper, i click like first, then watch video

[@TheMythKeeper]

Thank you sir!

[@gupdoo3]

This literally came out just as I was considering making a character from the Darklands so thank you

[@TheMythKeeper]

Love some kismet

[@H.P.Loveshack]

I thought the bit about House Azrinae was interesting. I'm starting the Abomination Vaults campaign with our group, and there's a character named Volluk Azrinae. He was a dark elf and an occultist, but he's altered himself through magic. Fitting for someone whose family pledged loyalty to Abraxas.

[@TheMythKeeper]

I like it

[@israelmorales4249]

impresive again, thx for the info. I realy hope Paizo don't erase the dark elves frm their lore

[@SonicSanctuary]

I hope so too

[@TheMythKeeper]

It'll be a soft retcon I'm sure

[@marcussimoes2909]

Nobel about the Darklands: the called of darkness

[@SarynRanvier]

found this channel tha ks to Podfinder recommendation:) Cool, more PF !

[@TheMythKeeper]

Welcome aboard!

[@dragonlord498]

Very nice one of my main characters is a drow/dark elf who originates from a drow empire who rejected demon worship (apart from one who is a renegade demon lord and their patron deity of war and demon hunting) and the msin allies include deep gnomes and some of the major clans of subterranean dragons and half Dragons and their servants such as kobolds. some subterranean aquatic races like aquatic elves all who helped create the empire with their main enemies being demon worshiping drow kingdoms, mind flayer and similar very evil groups though they are more on diplomatic terms with the draugar who see it more beneficial to ally with them given their shared enemies as well as the empire controls most major paths to the surface which they use both for trade and diplomatic leverage. This empire is also one of the top powers in the world both above and below the surface and also how i imagine the for example forgotten realms drow could be like if they didn't follow lolth or similar deity who encouraged eternal infighting

[@TheMythKeeper]

As you may see in a future video, a player in a campaign of mine is running a very similar character as well.

[@dragonlord498]

@@TheMythKeeper two of my characters are also the founders of that empire as well as another is their grandson so its one of the main areas i've made lore for in the setting of my group

[@Thoendithas]

YES I have been waiting for this video my group wants to do there too

[@TheMythKeeper]

Hope it helps!

[@trajanfidelis1532]

The underworld is as interesting as the surface world. Thanks for the video!

[@TheMythKeeper]

Sure is :-)

[@travisbaggett2813]

I love all MythKeeper videos!

[@TheDonnyl]

Will you remake some of your older videos when/if Pathfinder remaster comes out?

[@TheMythKeeper]

Yeah I expect the darklands more so than the rest of Pathfinder will experience some major revisions as more content comes out for PF Remaster, but I thought I'd capture current state since so many people were asking for this one.

[@torry3861]

Woooooo, more Orv!!! Also, what vault had a bunch of Giant Mu spour that act as moons?

[@TheMythKeeper]

I believe that's the Hanging Forest in the Land of the Black Blood iirc. I don't believe I call this out in the video.

[@torry3861]

@@TheMythKeeper ah , that explains. Btw what is your favorite location in the world below?

[@TheMythKeeper]

@@torry3861I’m a big fan of everywhere the Urdefhans show up. They were a big part of my Serpents Skull game and definitely feel like something different from the evil underground elves and dwarves that dominate so much of the Darklands. Also would love to see the orc territory grow in Remaster, since this is where they came from, but they seem sorely overlooked

[@herkles5416]

Duergar btw have been renamed to hryngar, I do believe that otherwise they are the same but it is a new name.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Yeah I know. I recorded this before I realized the name change and then it was too late to edit. I actually think somewhere in the video I correctly label them as Hryngar at some point.

[@hithropyro9051]

To be honest, I hope they don't just do a flat retcon. They have a great opportunity here with what they have set up to have some genuinely interesting. Lore. Especially in respects to how a Divinity and a change in that Divinity affects their worshipers. And I really hope they don't jeopardize that with just a flat retcon.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Based on what I've seen, there is no flat recon. Just a name change from Drow to Ayindalar or Cavern Elf, and a plan to defocus on them slightly as a brand differentiator from D&D. All the events of Second Darkness are still canon to PF2E.

[@Ether165]

Hello, Mythkeeper, and thank you for uploading this deep dive into the similarly deep dark lands. But it seems like there is an issue with the portion labled "Orv" because it starts at the end of the video in the description.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Thanks for the call out. I’ll fix that.

[@chrizzlybear5565]

Um, actually, you missed the most important entrance to the Darklands: The cave below the Otari Fishery that is definitely not just an excuse to put a Xulgath encounter in the Beginner Box!

[@TheMythKeeper]

Haha! This is true! Although I'd argue we'd consider this a "lesser entrance" perhaps not large enough to allow a full army to march through.

[@JamesAdams-nd1td]

Wow, 1st Edition Dark Elves really were just the Forgotten Realms Drow with a paint job, weren’t they? Personally, I think the most compelling element of the Dark Elves is House Misraria. My best guess as to what happened is that the House fractured with some members choosing to swear allegiance to one of the other 12 Demon Lords, some looking for a new patron, but others choosing to follow Nocticula’s example and try to build a new life for themselves. There’s so much potential for conflict and drama in this new development, and I hope Paizo will give this House the attention it deserves. Also, “Grimlocks?” I wonder how many Transformers jokes the guy who came up with that name has had to put up with?

[@TheMythKeeper]

Yeah 1E just had a direct port of the Drow, but there are kernels here of interesting ideas, and I think with a fresh coat of paint the Ayindalar could actually be an interesting faction ;-)

[@dmeep]

Paizo have said in regards to the drow that they are not removing them but wont write about them going forward so they remain where they are but all future products will take place at different parts of the darklands and feature other non ogl creatures.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Yeah that seems right

[@RicardoPM777]

👏👏👏👏

[@sjoerddz]

holy hell, 1hr40. Joy is me!

[@TheMythKeeper]

Haha! That is a cool lesser known faction for sure.

[@VoteJesusNow]

Id like to see you do the Oracle Class

[@athaler2402]

Thanks for the great video! So many fun little corners I was yet unaware of, definitely need to run a Darklands campaign someday Something else occurred to me during watching this: the serpentfolk obviously had to have been contemporaries of both the algollthu and the xiomorns, so what where their relations with those species?

[@TheMythKeeper]

Great question! This one requires a long answer, and the exact chronological details in the way, way, way back past of Pathfinder are a little fuzzy so just be aware I'm extrapolating a little (and answering from memory) so take this with a pinch of a salt. First, as I understand, the war between the alghollthu and the xiomorns took place towards the end of the Age of Creation, before the Age of Serpents. This means the Serpentfolk were likely around, but they weren't yet the great power they would come to be. In fact, I would guess that the thing that allowed the Serpentfolk's rapid conquest of the Darklands and subsequent rise the surface was that the Xiomorns, the previous rulers of the Darklands, decided to flee Golarion rather than continue to wage a costly war against the Alghollthu. I suspect the war with the Xiomorns was costly to the Alghollthu as well, which is why they didn't oppose the Serpentfolk immediately as their civilization began to thrive in the wake of the Xiomorn disappearance. I think the Alghollthu decided to shift their approach, from direct confrontation - even direct slavery, to more subtle manipulation, so they could hide in the shadows. As the Serpentfolk continued to grow in power the Alghollthu eventually did move against them (and once again they would win) but they did so entirely through the Empire of Azlant. Even going back to these early days, the Emperor of Azlant had been manipulated and was being controlled by the Veiled Masters. In this way the war between the Serpentfolk and the forces of the Ghol-gan Cyclops, the Mualijae Elves and the Azlanti could be seen as a proxy war between the Serpentfolk and the Alghollthu. If things had played out slightly differently, the Xiomorns and the Serpentfolk could have been allies against the Alghollthu (if say, the Xiomorns had recognized their potential sooner or if the Serpentfolk civilization had come into power slightly more quickly). Combined the Alghollthu might have been defeated and the Earthfall Cataclysm averted. Who knows what the Azlanti Empire would have looked like without their manipulations. As it stands though the Serpentfolk are unfriendly with Alghollthu, and don't have much of a relationship with the Xiomorns at all. It does look like the Serpentfolk 'respected' the Xiomorns in a certain way though, perhaps as the original architects of the Darklands, as those Vault Keepers remaining on Golarion were left in peace by the Serpentfolk, even during their great conquests in the Age of Serpents. Plenty of room to play with your own interpretation of events here though...

[@athaler2402]

@@TheMythKeeper Thanks for the very detailed answer! This was very insightful and I'd say these conjectures probably make a lot of sense given the circumstances

[@MikeLemmons]

Thanks for the video! Though, I would have preferred if you used the new name for the deep dwarves, instead of the old one. Would make the new name easier to remember.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Yeah I'm so sorry, I wrote this before all the new names were finalized and so its unfortunately a mix of the old and the new

[@MikeLemmons]

@@TheMythKeeper No worries! I try to leave a detailed comment on something or other whenever I can. Since I know it helps.

[@CooperativeWaffles]

This is NOT on the FULL playlist yet. If the full playlist isn't being sorted from Nearest to Oldest, perhaps a new playlist can: · be sorted from newest to eldest and · include everything from the channel · and any collabs stored at other channels.

[@TheMythKeeper]

I totally added this to the Playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3_cY3hsd9SNjas The playlist is sorted by type: General History, AP Guides, Ancestry Guides, Religion Series: Gods, Region Deepdives, Creature Features, Religion Series: Demigods. For all videos with a simple date sort - isn't that accessible through the main channel? www.youtube.com/@TheMythKeeper/videos

[@TheMythKeeper]

Never mind! It took a lot of clicking (I wish there was a way to multi-select in KZbin) but here is a Playlist of all videos by date sort - kzbin.info/aero/PLAhGmA08aio0woxBjDPTknUbsRDQRgqWH

[@ayyyyylmao]

fun fact, I often set my player to 1.1 speed to listen to audiobooks for school and I always only notice that I left it on when I hear your intro song being slightly off ahahahahha

[@TheMythKeeper]

Haha!

[@sh5821]

I've not finished the video yet so you may answer it later, but what do the dark elves think of elves (such as in the Mwangi expanse) who didn't desert Golarion during earthfall? As you've described it, their issues seems to be with the elves who left and later returned.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Not overtly specified in the lore, but I think you can draw your own conclusions here.

[@boris_bulletdodger9109]

Positive comment

[@TheMythKeeper]

Positive reply

[@Pathsfound]

Where did you get the thumbnail art? That's incredible

[@TheMythKeeper]

I found it on pinterest! I actually don't know who the original author was, but I think its Underdark not Darklands, and possible Menzoborranzen (sp?)

[@trogdoar149]

They should turn the Drow into Pathfinders version of the Dwemer, the race disappeared, and nobody knows why. Having them in first edition and then just leaving them out of second edition is super lazy. Actually make the disappearances a plot point, make it a part of the story.

[@kjpokornowski7677]

where did you get the artwork for the red pyramid for bloodcleft?

[@TheMythKeeper]

I'm not sure unfortunately. I think I googled 'red pyramid' 😅 but its not PF canon.

[@chillax319]

So the mongrels are a thing in Darklands? Looks like either in Wrath of Righteous devs changed the story of local mongrels a bit to tie them to Mendevian crusaders or.....mongrels adopted that story as an explanation for their look and they have no relation with crusaders of old despite their believes.

[@TheMythKeeper]

I absolutely think its the latter case. They believe they descend from the crusaders, but they've actually been living in the Darklands for way longer than that.

[@chillax319]

@@TheMythKeeper That makes their whole belief of being "tainted by the Abyss" even more tragic as well as their need to basically try to redempt their "sin" of being born what they were born. Also do mongrels in general have short lifespans as described in-game?

[@TheMythKeeper]

@@chillax319 Yes part of the lore seems to indicate they rarely live beyond 40 years of age, but from what I recall, this isn't like goblins who mature faster and therefore have shorter lifespans than humans - this is a case where their various mutations affect their health - so they're effectively all just dying young. A mongrelfolk born with some less invasive mutations or who somehow acquires greater health (maybe by becoming a monk and achieving some kind of better body-mind status for example) would probably have a normal human lifespan.

[@yaelz6043]

Was that intro about the darklands or the basements DMs tend to reside in?

[@TheMythKeeper]

Haha!

[@skyfatherproductions4929]

Haha i have returned my new guess for next video will be Sovyrian on that elven planet Castrovel. Bet different but time to move away from Golarian

[@TheMythKeeper]

Who knows! 😅

[@herkles5416]

From what I remember when I was browsing the Paizo forums. The drow and all the stuff they dead, ie second darkness AP, still are there and happened. But due to the whole OGL fiasco they aren't going to be mentioned. It sounds like its going to be a soft retcon, they won't mention it going further but that it did happen. The role of the drow will be instead taken up by the Serpant folk, which is neat IMO.

[@TheMythKeeper]

That's the right approach. The old stuff is stall canon, use them if you want, but they won't be part of the lore very much going forward.

[@Erick7Greenday]

So, Neothelids are a thing, I get why [copyrighted mini-cthulhu] aren't in the game, but is there any more information on aberrations such as those? c:

[@TheMythKeeper]

You looking for Mindflayer-like aberrations?

[@Erick7Greenday]

@@TheMythKeeper Yeah! Lords of Madness is my favorite book from 3.5e, and I do know WotC is pretty harsh on copyright on the Illithid, and others, but maybe Golarion has something of the sort? You know, aside from the Neothelid (which was very closely related to mindflayers in D&D)

[@ItMeChis]

Is that Lady Maria's Astral Clocktower @ 34:07 lmao.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Good eyes!

[@pwillet]

Did i miss it. or was the ungoro tedar missed as a entrance?

[@TheMythKeeper]

You’ll have to watch my Shackles video for more details on Ungoro Tedar I guess! 😂

[@user-rk1gg2zp9h]

So... This will be part of Garund or Avistan region deep dive?

[@TheMythKeeper]

This will be part of a new collection eventually called "Rest of World" or something, where I can put Casmaron and Tian-Xia content too.

[@user-rk1gg2zp9h]

@@TheMythKeeper BTW, Absalom deep dive will be part of Avistan or Garund?

[@dakotacognion5219]

If you could do a video on 1st edition core rule book's appendix 3 inspiration reading that would be great.

[@TheMythKeeper]

Interesting suggestion. I'll take a look at what I can do with that.

[@dakotacognion5219]

@@TheMythKeeper thanks

[@seangrant8871]

Weren't the Duergar and Drow officially fully removed?

[@TheMythKeeper]

No, they just got a name change to avoid conflicts now that Pathfinder is moving from OGL to ORC license. Duergar are now the Hryngar and Drow are now the Ayindalar or Cave Elves. Drow will be de-emphasized as a faction though going forward because of the close D&D IP connections.

[@user-xo7hb6ts7j]

My most favorite Munavri only got an indirect mention 😭

[@TheMythKeeper]

Sorry there’s so much content in Pathfinder and everything is someone’s favorite 😭

[@user-xo7hb6ts7j]

I know, I know.... it is kind of unfortunate that there is so little information on them. as far as I know there is only one full length article made by Paizo in the "Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Darklands Revisited", which is not much, really. I wish the publisher would give them more attention..

[@themanonthewall7029]

I thought viper wall in verisia was a way into the darklands?

[@TheMythKeeper]

Same thing as Mobhad Leigh. It’s on the list.

[@VoteJesusNow]

Feels like you cut it off at the end unintentionally

[@TheMythKeeper]

Surprise ending! Cut!

[@MrTotalAhole]

Myths outros are designed to catch people off guard.

[@TheMythKeeper]

@@MrTotalAhole When I'm out of things to say, I'm out of things to say!

[@lordofdarkness3774]

Getting rid of the Drow is just another good reason why I will not move to 2ed. 😒

[@TheMythKeeper]

It looks like its just a name change in the end. They are just called the Ayindalar, but they're still around. Its not really a 2E things, its more of a moving away from the OGL thing.

[@Mario-qf2hg]

Wait wait wait, a human Grand Duke (Heskillar) married a Dwarven woman?! What is adventure is this from? I get the political reasons for marriage but...she'll outlive him and they can't have kids? (I'm pretty sure about that last part anyway...)

[@TheMythKeeper]

This is not from an AP but from the Taldor: First Empire sourcebook. This was actually a love marriage, not a political one - actually it was very contentious. His family are really mad at him because as you've noted, dwarves and humans aren't compatible like elves and humans are, so Grand Duke Heskillar won't have any biological heirs. Not sure what happens with this down the line, but its a cool bit of lore. I also reference this when I cover the Grand Dukes in my Taldor deep dive video.