Conductor

Velstracs arise from the souls of the most extreme masochistic or sadistic mortals who are judged by Pharasma and then sent on to the Netherworld. The fiends come in many horrific forms, which usually manifest in twisted display of their vile predilections in life, ranging from the low-ranking augurs to the maestros of suffering and mutilation called eremites. The process of transformation warps the velstrac's soul step by step, with other velstracs conveying their new members through untold chambers of pain among the dark reaches of the Netherworld. The velstracs are led by the pinnacles of their kind, a group of nine powerful fiends known as velstrac demagogues.

Once their transformation is complete, velstracs emerge as twisted artists who wield pain and despair like an instrument. They crave sensation, the more vile and horrifying, the better. They claim that this outlook is the one true path to perfection of the mind, body, and spirit, but in truth their administrations only deal out suffering and mutilation. Their corrupt attempts at perfection aren't limited to their victims, who they torture for as long as they possibly can until their bodies or minds fail, but also applied to themselves, testing their own resolve in a crucible of pain.

Velstracs feature in this adventure in a couple of ways. When Nizca and Deg failed to veil the sun in shadows using the shadow beacon, portions of the Netherworld overlaid En-Gokal. The velstracs, led by the velstrac conductor Jubilant, passed traveled from their shadowy realm into the mortal world of the Universe. When they arrived, they were amused by the predations of the vampires and their tenacity to hold the ruined prison, but they were especially delighted by Nizca, with whom they felt a kinship in shadow due to Nizca being an ancient strigoi—a perfect blend of shadow and vampire. Jubilant and their fellow velstracs obviously favored the plan to bring eternal darkness to Golarion, and thus they support Nizca in completing their horrifying mission, but who can say how long that support will last once the plan is complete?

In addition to the most prevalent influence of velstracs in the Ebon Tower, they also play another role for the primary antagonist, Nizca. As mentioned in the campaign, one of Nizca's motivations for escaping En-Gokal is to reunite with their lover from the time before Earthfall. A cruel yet handsome man, Lograsi was a worshipper of Aroggus, a powerful velstrac demagogue with the portfolios of possibility, revenge, and sanctuary. This connection was part of Nizca's reason to trust in Jubilant and their group of velstracs, knowing that her distant lover was of the faith.

Velstrac Conductor Conductors are velstracs who believe screams of anguish to be the ultimate form of musical expression. These sadistic musicians compose "joyous symphonies" from the agonized howling of their tortured, captive choirs.

Instruments Conductors go to great lengths to acquire the finest instruments for their choirs, judging an individual singer's worth by their tone, emotion, endurance, and responsiveness. Vocalists who don't measure up to a conductor's standards are either played to death or passed on to other "less discerning" velstracs. Cherished instruments can expect to live a long, tortuous existence in a conductor's choir, receiving the best medical attention after each performance—at least until their voice gives out.

Tortured Friendships Velstrac conductors are fairly amiable among their kind and often work with other velstracs. They particularly get along well with ostiarius velstracs and velstrac evangelists, who they tend to boss around. Though they find sacristans piteous, they're intrigued by their Shadow Scream ability.