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Devlar (Ascended Devil, Angel) CR 8
XP 4,800
LG Medium outsider (angel, good, extraplanar, lawful)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., see in darkness, true seeing; Perception +16
DEFENSE
AC 23, touch 17, flat-footed 16 (+6 Dex, +1 dodge, +6 natural)
hp 94 (9d10+45)
Fort +11, Ref +12, Will +7
DR 5/evil; Immune acid, cold, petrification; Resist electricity 10, fire 10; SR 19
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., fly 50 ft. (good)
Melee +1 electricity nodochi +16/+11 (1d10+10/18–20 +1d6 electricity)
Ranged +1 electricity composite longbow +14/+9 (1d8+6/×3 plus 1d6 electricity)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 12th)
Constant—true seeing
At will—remove fear (single target, DC 19), greater teleport (self plus 50 lbs. of objects only), minor image (DC 17), holy smite (DC 19)
1/day—summon (level 3, 2 celestial griffons, 50%)
STATISTICS
Str 20, Dex 23, Con 21, Int 14, Wis 18, Cha 21
Base Atk +9; CMB +14; CMD 31
Feats Alertness, Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (nodochi)
Skills Acrobatics +18, Craft +17, Diplomacy +14, Escape Artist +12, Fly +19, Intimidate +17, Knowledge (planes) +8, Knowledge (religion) +8, Perception +16, Sense Motive +10, Stealth +15
Languages Celestial, Common, Draconic, Infernal; telepathy 100 ft.
SPECIAL ABILITIES
(Su) Redemptive Smite
Once per day a devlar may choose an evil target to offer redemption, gaining a +5 to melee attack and damage rolls made against the target. If the devlar defeats the target in fair combat (causing them to fall below 0 hit points or making the target give up), the target must make a will save DC 19 or become lawful good.
ECOLOGY
Environment any (Heaven, formerly Hell)
Organization solitary or trio
Treasure triple (+1 electricity nodochi, +1 electricity composite longbow [+5 Str bonus])
Known by many names—the Risen, the Golden Hooves, and the Undamned—the angels called devlars are former devils that found redemption and now seek to spread it to others. Saviors, not judges, devlars are composed of souls that spent most of their lives good, but for some tragic reason were evil at their times of death. As devils they grew to question the ways of their Hellish masters and turned on them in defiant rebellion. Just as the erinyes had once fallen from grace to become devils, the devlars rose to grace and became angels. Exemplifying that redemption is possible for everyone, even fiends, they travel the mortal realms in search of souls to cleanse.
Devlars resemble red-skinned fiends with golden horns and hooved feet. Their eyes are a soft solid blue that convey deep humility and sad regret. They wear chainmail togas that shimmer like polished hematite. Despite of their appearance, they are rarely mistaken for the evil outsiders they once were.
Most devlar stand just over 6 feet tall and weigh approximately 180 pounds, even with their leather wings that stretch over 10 feet wide.
Heavenly Sacrifice
Sworn against the forces of Hell, devlar revel in destroying unholy icons. Those who offer the devlar a significant evil divine item or figure to destroy, either a piece of religious artwork worth more than 100 gp or even a living cleric of an evil-aligned deity, gain a +2 bonus on Charisma checks made to summon a devlar.
Very cool imagery. I like the physical description and the concept very much. Redemptive Smite seemed a little weird to me. So being defeated by a devlar turns the foulest of the foul to lawful good? I think I would prefer something along the lines of "If a devlar takes a full round to plead with an evil enemy to see the error of his ways before attacking that enemy at all, and the enemy rejects the pleas, then the the devlar gets x bonuses against him." But that's just my humble 2 cp.
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Yeah, don't do that. Good using forceful mind-control to make other things good is not good.
Good points. Here's a revision.
(Su) Redemptive Smite
Once per day a devlar may choose an evil target to offer redemption, gaining a +5 to melee attack and damage rolls made against the target. If the devlar defeats the target in fair combat (causing them to fall below 0 hit points or making the target give up), the target must make a choice; to die and let their soul descend to the lower planes or to live and become lawful good. If they choose to live a life of good deeds and order but later forsake their redemption and become evil, the devlar who redeemed them will return to slay them with a doubled bonus (+10) and offer no choice but death.
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It still seems odd to start off with the Smite before actually offering Redemption. The ability's better, but not all there yet I think. Why can't an enemy surrender and repent before being chopped entirely into bits?
On the whole I can get behind the idea of a more forceful approach to pushing the wicked to repent though. I think I'd do it a bit differently however;
Redemptive Smite One per say a Devlar may choose a target for Redemptive Smite. This only works if the target is either evil or under the sway of a mind-affecting effect. He gains a +5 to melee and damage rolls against the target. Each time he strikes the target, he must attempt to break one mind-affecting effect influencing the target, as per Break Enchantment, with a caster level equal to the Devlar's HD. In addition, after damage is dealt, the target may choose to convert to Lawful Good as per the Atonement spell. If the target is no longer evil nor under the sway of mind-affecting effects, the Smite ends. If a target Atones while being reduced to 0 or less HP, the target is immediately stabilized, even if the damage would normally have killed the target.
It's "tough love", because the Devlar's been through hell and isn't as nice as some of the normal angels. But it can also just beat through mental chains that prevent people from returning to grace.
How a Devlar reacts to someone falling again I dunno. That kinda depends on your theory about how infinite Good's mercy is.
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What about this
Redemptive Smite Once per day a Devlar may offer an evil outsider or evil being redemption for his past deeds and a clean slate to begin to build their life of good from. This functions as the atonement spell offering the target the choice to begin their absolution, not forcing them to take it. Should the target refuse the Devlar is treated as having smite on his target as per the paladin ability save that the target is treated as an evil outsider regardless of type for the purposes of the paladin's smite. Once the target is reduced to 0 hp or less or surrenders to the Devlar the Devlar offers up a second chance at redemption for it's target identical to the original for them to take if they please. A Devlar remembers all those that it has cleansed of evil and keeps up on them to see that they are working hard towards their new lives and aiding or rewarding them whenever it can. Should a rare atoned member ever fall back to evil the Devlar will actively seek them out to stop these people before they may cause harm and are treated as already having smite on the target without using this ability and may offer atonement again if it so chooses.
"Join me or die!"
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@UmbralReaver
heh I think of it more as "Damned soul I am here as your last chance for redemption, lay down your arms and surrender yourself and the futility of your wicked ways and allow me to open your eyes and fill you with the wonders and beauty of good."
@cmastah
I don't know I kind of like the idea of atonement as if they just reincarnate and get a do over it feels like they that person is losing the chance to redeem himself and work past the things he did rather then just be wiped clean and given a fresh start. Actually what might be really cool is to offer the target two options, either recieve an atonement and must repent in some way for their previous deeds or be reincarnated as a new child with no memories of their past life and the chance to start again with someone else without the burden of their past transgressions weighing on them.
Some great alternatives are being introduced, and everyone is of their own opinion what is the "goodest" way to redeem. Perhaps there can be different varieties of Devlar that offer different deals depending on what deity they serve and what culture they come from.
But given the fact that they are former devils, there is still the proclivity to want to offer a deal to sway mortal souls. I dunno. It's a touchy subject but I had a lot of fun making it:)
Defeat Means Friendship!
HA! Nice one!
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I really want to like these guys, because I love the visuals they evoke(red skinned, golden-horn/hooved devil-angels? yes plz), but I can't get past the forced redemption bit. I'm with the others on thinking "Good doesn't spread good by forcing others to turn good", and I can't roll with the "swordppoint conversion" version either. Big believer that redemption has to be chosen, it can't be forced.
I think if I use guys similar to this, something like the reincarnation take might happen if their special attack is successful, if it's portrayed as a sort of "Here's your second chance, don't waste it" sort of deal. But I think I'd give them bonuses to Diplomacy and Intimidate vs. evil outsiders plus some sort of mind/soul-affecting attack that wracks the target with genuine guilt and, perhaps most painful of all, hope.
Quantifying that mechanically may be problematic. I really think something like redemption should come down to roleplaying, not mechanics, but there are probably a number of ways to get that sort of flavor built into their special abilities.
edit-Visions of torment and, again, guilt would probably be a fitting ability to use on mortal targets. Perhaps the same attack affects mortal and outsider targets differently?
edit2-Geas-type abilities might be something to look into as well. That approach lends itself to the plot thread of "bound devil that's rendered harmless, now let's see if we can show him/her a better way". Certain tasks/geases might even induce a bit of the "Good Feels Good" trope, if there's anything to redeem in the target of course. Taking a look at the Redeemer archetype could help too on finding a good balance that doesn't cross the line. The archangel Adriel, from Kobold Quarterly #4(IIRC), is worth a look too as far as seeing an example of the hows and whys of the devils that flocked to her side.
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"Join me or die!"
Good quote, and I definitely prefer the atonement-or-smite option to the forced alignment change.
The summoned celestial griffons are a neat touch. I'm a big fan of griffons, and celestial-izing them for an 'angelic' summons option is flavorful (more so than just having it call up Lantern Archons or whatever).
I agree with LazarX (mark your calenders!) that it might be better as a unique named encounter, and not a 'race' of 'risen' fiends. (Sort of like the 'redeemed' non-evil, lawful Succubus that served Wee Ja, in her Dragon magazine write-up.)
I appreciate everyone's feedback. Feel free to revise your own versions of devlar in your games or even in message posts. I would love to see this idea in print somehow-someway-someday :)
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I might use the ideas to for the skeleton of a unique encounter. Only while I don't have the problem with angels falling to become erinyes or other infernal abominations, I think of the opposite being rare enough that they would be uniques, not numbering enough to be a species.
I dunno, I like the idea of a race of redeemed fiends. After all, it was common enough for good to fall and become fiends, I don't see why it woulnd't be similar for evil to see why good is the better choice. I like the idea of it being a class of angels rather than a single encounter. Especially for an evil campaign, having these things dogging the 'fallen' player characters. But maybe that's just me and my hatred of evil talking.
You don't get it. What defines evil as evil is self interest above all other considerations. If they only reason they can think of becoming good is because it's "better for themselves" then by definition they're still evil.
Evil and Good are not symmetrical opposites of each other, despite the cute graphs that might imply otherwise. Good takes commitment, effort, and sacrifice to accomplish. (the last is particularly hard for the selfish.) Evil only requires inaction. It should be a thousand thousand times more hard for a Demon to ascend than an Angel to fall. For the former actually has to build upwards while the latter is simply shrugging away his laid down charge.
On the other hand, that might at least push them into Neutral territory. I imagine that full transcendence from Evil to Good might be rare, but I can definitely see Neutral. If a devil learned to care about something that wasn't himself, that would certainly be a cause for conversion from evil
I might use the ideas to for the skeleton of a unique encounter. Only while I don't have the problem with angels falling to become erinyes or other infernal abominations, I think of the opposite being rare enough that they would be uniques, not numbering enough to be a species.I dunno, I like the idea of a race of redeemed fiends. After all, it was common enough for good to fall and become fiends, I don't see why it woulnd't be similar for evil to see why good is the better choice.You don't get it. What defines evil as evil is self interest above all other considerations. If they only reason they can think of becoming good is because it's "better for themselves" then by definition they're still evil.
Evil and Good are not symmetrical opposites of each other, despite the cute graphs that might imply otherwise. Good takes commitment, effort, and sacrifice to accomplish. (the last is particularly hard for the selfish.) Evil only requires inaction. It should be a thousand thousand times more hard for a Demon to ascend than an Angel to fall. For the former actually has to build upwards while the latter is simply shrugging away his laid down charge.
No, I do get it. I don't appreciate the insulting demeanor. I do understand that good is harder to adhere to than evil, but the two ARE symetrical opposites. Action and inaction, selfishness and altruism. Many people don't like the alignment scheme, but it really does work.
I like the idea of making them a race because of a number of reasons. One, there are MILLIONS, if not BILLIONS of demons and devils. The idea that more than a few of them would get tired of being pushed around by bigger and badder fiends makes sense. Two, let's not forget that Eriynes propogate themselves in the hells now, nothing to say that these good-aligned fiends don't do the same.
It does help when you're not openly insulting and actually try to have a discourse. Just a suggestion.
LazarX, it is every person's right to believe and interpret what is good and what is evil, as well as how these forces work and interact. This is just a creative game. If you want to be a nay-sayer, that is fine, GOOD in fact. Debate stimulates growth. But please do not say nay to the one rule on these messageboards. We all "get it" in our own different way.
This is just a guidline for flavor, not a solid rule set. Just to give this angel's purpose more clarity.
Devlar Creed and Code
1. If a creature chooses to remain evil, then they have not only chosen the future deaths of others, but their own deaths as well. Without the full and cleansing redemption that we offer them, there is little hope that they will not revert back to their wicked ways.
2. To allow evil to act is an evil act in itself. So to allow an evil creature to live is to allow countless evil acts.
3. Offer mercy to those who accept the light. Give death to those who are without mercy and cling to the dark.
4. Good cannot be forced into someone, but a good-aligned, smiting blade can. How much that blade hurts a creature is completely up to them.
5. We are not punishers. We are redeemers. It is better to cleanse evil than to send it to the lower planes. But if it will not be cleansed, then send it packing with warm regards to our former masters.
Keep in mind, angels do not have the lawful subtype. This is an archon, really. Angels may be any good alignment, but their only alignment subtype is good.
Keep in mind, angels do not have the lawful subtype. This is an archon, really. Angels may be any good alignment, but their only alignment subtype is good.
A very good point, Jackissocool!
That Devlar creed makes it sound like they really like Sarenrae.
That Devlar creed makes it sound like they really like Sarenrae.
I take that as a compliment, I think :) I haven't really read up on the Dawnflower deeply yet. But I like what I've seen of her so far.