Adopting the Dolls... (some spoilers)


Council of Thieves


Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

I'm about to run CoT for two groups, one that I know fairly well and another that I've only recently met. Should be interesting, and I'm taking notes as I prepare, looking for things that might trip me up.

When I got to the descriptions of the dolls in Delvehaven, I knew I had a problem. At least 2 of my players are going to try to adopt one or more of the dolls. I'm not sure of what mechanics I should use for this. I'm thinking a combination of good roleplaying and good diplomacy checks will be required.

Any thoughts would be helpful.

Scarab Sages

The dolls have a piece of Bisby's soul in them. They are crazy and have been empowered by the madness.

"They are as interested in murder and torture as they are in defending Delvehaven"

Rely on this if they temporarily adopt one:

"If the PCs manage to open a dialogue with the dolls, it is possible to
recruit them as temporary allies against the vampires, but
the dolls swiftly turn against the PCs once they realize the
PCs intend to leave Delvehaven with any of the treasures
kept therein (including the Morrowfall)."

quotes from page 27 & 28 of What Lies in Dust

***Something I included in my campaign, although no one took interest in it.

I placed a booklet (in the secret meeting room) that Bisby wrote in notes on how to create a soulbound doll.

The Creation and Keeping of Mwangi Fetish Dolls:

The Creation and Keeping of Mwangi Fetish Dolls.

A sentient doll can be animated through careful craft. The ritual requires a fragment of a soul. This doesn't harm the soul itself, but the process is nerve-racking if the soul-giver is still alive. These dolls can be anything the creator wants. A playtoy, a sentry, or a bodyguard. The doll does retain part of the personality of whomever's soul fragment is used, so one must be very careful in this choice. Once made, the doll is fairly weak-minded, almost like a child. This is a very peculiar trait that most crafted beings do not have.

A binding can be done willingly or not, though if not, the subject may be too strong willed to partake. The subject may be living or within one hour of death. The process does not prevent the soul from being taken to Pharasma. It is easier if the body is dead, but may not be preferred.

A doll can be created out of any material, but requires one exquiste item worth at least 2000gp.

It requires the spells lesser geas, levitate, light, mage hand, magic jar, open/close, and prestidigitation. The ritual uses 6000 gp in addition to the soul focus. The creator of these dolls must be skilled in sculpting or dollmaking, as well as able to make constructs in general.

The Mwangi have a traditional ritual that provides a short-cut to creating a doll. They use a partially completed soul object called a Mnati that provides the spells and the construct creation. The creator must still be able to craft a doll, however.

*side note, I have personally been successful in making two such dolls, along with the original that I created on my travels to guard the camp while I slept. They have proved to be quite loyal in their task of protecting Delvehaven.


Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

They'll need to bring some peace to Bisby's soul before they'll be able to convince the dolls to leave the house, but I think it might be possible.


To be honest, I'm kind of glad that they dolls are mentioned as being corrupted and twisted now. Its hard enough trying to figure out what to do with all of the Children of Westcrown, and having even more "pets" in the campaign really isn't something I would have looked forward to.

I did have a lot of fun roleplaying the dolls, especially since the PCs took advantage of them being able to be affected by mental effects. The questions that they asked and how they got answered were a lot of fun.

Scarab Sages

TheeGravedigger wrote:
They'll need to bring some peace to Bisby's soul before they'll be able to convince the dolls to leave the house, but I think it might be possible.

Exactly how to you propose to bring peace to his soul?

By "stealing" what was causing his paranoia?

He is a haunt. How do you destroy a haunt that resets everyday?

I don't think burying his skeleton would do it.

I'd actually rule that destroying the Morrowfall, which can only be done in one way, would be the only thing that could bring his soul to rest.

And the dolls would be an immediate issue.


Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

Bisby, before the he went completely crazy, wanted to restore the Aohl, and protect the pathfinder lodge from looters.

If the party can convince him that they intend to do this, during one of his moments of lucidity, and convince him that they're Pathfinders who will deliver the treasures to the Pathfinder lodge, he should in theory be satisfied and feel no more need to haunt. Add in a Hallow or similar ritual, and he should be able to move on, ending the haunt.

Just as Ailyn wants the ashes rescued from the Massacre House, she will want Bisby's soul to find peace, and may be able to provide the party with some direction and assistance doing that.

Shadow Lodge Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 8

Deidre Tiriel wrote:


***Something I included in my campaign, although no one took interest in it.

I placed a booklet (in the secret meeting room) that Bisby wrote in notes on how to create a soulbound doll.
** spoiler omitted **...

That's really cool, I may have to steal that from you!

Although I'll probably update it, the construction reqs for Soulbound Dolls were changed in Bestiary 2.

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