As the title asks, I'm contemplating a creature / template where they focus on making enemies (in this case evil enemies) into soul gems, but instead of devouring them, they guard them, sort of ever keeping them imprisoned. That said, I'm looking for suggestions on fun and unique ways that they may keep and safeguard these gems, making it difficult for others to ever get at them, yet keeping them on their person.
Also considering an evil variation that does the same, except they slowly drain away at the souls instead of outright devouring them. Perhaps small buffs for each soul they have detained.
Some ideas I have thus far.
- Turn the gem into tattoos, making it so they have multiple tattoos.
- Embed into / under their skin.
- Eat yet don't digest. Store the gems inside of their stomach, but not technically eat them.
- On person portal.
- Keep it in a weapon.
Also, any other neat ideas for them to do with souls would be cool to hear too.
Well on their person somewhat lowers our options. You might look at using them with the variant magic items rule from Pathfinder Unchained as an ingredient in the crafting. Maybe add a bonus to construction or the ability to ignore certain spell requirements.
Make them (part of) your familiar.
The main reason I want to keep it on their person is because if a PC is to attempt to take it, it'd require them to hunt down the creature / being and deal with them. Or, at the very least, make it so I don't do a lich phylactery + ripped bag of holding deal.
That said, I now realize that if they were to be able to keep it elsewhere it could make it an adventure, albeit focusing less on the creature.
I think it would be cool if you could merge it into different parts of your body and gain benefits from it based on where they go. Maybe using the power of the gem reveals it, giving you a trade off if you don't want people trying to remove it one way or another.
Also, unless the creature is pure evil (like demons and devils evil) I have trouble seeing how trapping souls isn't evil.
Always remember jewelry as an option. Also try a treasure trove themed prison. Mimics, trapped chests, piles of cursed gold.