Protectors of Golarion (Wrath of the Righteous AP)

Game Master Sensen

You lost. You career as a crusader is all but over, thanks due to...

A vile worm that walks named Xanthir Vang. Unfortunately, your blades did little against that... thing.

Imprisoned, you were subjected to horrific experiments, apparently this fiend was experimenting in hybridizing his own being with the abilities of a demon called Oliodroo, who propagates by useing mind controlling brain larvae.

Constantly, this "researcher" was forcing you to kill other captured crusaders, constantly, you resisted him, but each day got you closer to being broken.

Then... Salvation of a kind from the least likely source. Clad in pitch black leather and making no sounds, even silencing the screams of the guards by some type of aura, 3 femine figures glided through the door, killing the guards and beginning to rig up strange and pretty gems around the vile laboratory. One of them recognized you, strapped to an operating table and barely breathing.

We can exfiltrate you, for a favor... And a sizeable one at that
One of them speaks in your mind

You accept...

You are freed, and pulled into a... bag of holding. The next days, or nights? Are a blur. Operations to remove the brainbugs, the realization that its demons under whose *care* you are... suspicion at your extremely, more so for demons, pleseant treatment...

Then their leader, a stunning Succubus with golden eyes, has you brought in for an interview. Being... quite pleseant about it, inquiring on who would be paying a ransom for you, and setting up possible deals when she suddenly

A moment please, someone, on Golarion funnily enough, is trying to invoke the Abyssal accord. How curious. She says as she apprently gets teleported away, the first time you see what is probably some type of summoning, from the perspective of whoever got summoned.

Some time passes

We are to adequately equip you for possible combat immidietly after your repatriation One of her aides/daughters/you dont quite know says, as a door slides open into an armory.

You did not have *A Succubus or something nearly like that is helping me into armor* on your list of things that could plausibly ever happen to you, but here you are.

In the army of crusader's there was this knight. Strong, shining, with an aura that both drew and pushed away. An otherworldly beauty coupled with JUSTICE in her every movement, making even the virtuous wary of her and making her mostly alone.

Once might believe she was destined for command, but this knight was very close to blind, only able to function normally in very close quarters. How could she lead an army she couldn't see?

Idaya had been cursed like this since birth, a child of heaven's blood and former crusaders, with an omen of greatness hanging over her head and the handicap of sight hampering it all.

But she had a dog to help her out, nudging her along and growling at boys. Also she had the will to be more than something to pity.

Iomedae accepted her, her church taught her, and she joined the effort as soon as she could. With her dog, Darla, with her all the while. And she did well, somehow. Almost miraculously so.

Until she lost. Cut down, along with her dog, by a vile worm. Her last moments saw her dog glowing... then nothing but black.

She woke, experimented on, attempted to break her, but never succeeding. She would not give in.

Then she was rescued by demons, Succubi. "I will not serve you, and I cannot attack you due to you saving me. Since neither can change, would you mind attacking me, so my duty of gratitude can be removed and we can get on with this?" Idaya knew how stupid that sounded, but honestly they were flustering her more than a little bit.

They did not grant her an attack, but instead started to equip her, and in that pile of armor there was a very pretty helm that looked surprising dog like "Shhhh" a voice told her as it slipped on her head.

Idaya
Female angel-blooded aasimar (angelkin) oracle 1/paladin 7/Marshal 2 (Pathfinder Player Companion: Blood of Angels 21, Pathfinder RPG Advanced Player's Guide 42, Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 7)
LG Medium outsider (native)
Init +0; Senses darkvision 30 ft.; Perception +12 (10 vs. disguises)
Aura courage (10 ft.)
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Defense
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AC 26, touch 16, flat-footed 21 (+9 armor, +1 deflection, +5 Dex, +1 natural)
hp 82 (8 HD; 1d8+7d10+31)
Fort +14, Ref +13, Will +16; +2 circumstance vs. blinded or dazzled, -2 penalty vs. charm spells and spell-like abilities
Defensive Abilities hard to kill; Immune disease, fear; Resist acid 5, cold 5, electricity 5
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft. (20 ft. in armor)
Melee +1 cold iron greatsword +16/+9 (2d6+20/19-20) or
. . dagger +12/+7 (1d4+13/19-20) or
. . longsword +13/+8 (1d8+13/19-20)
Special Attacks channel positive energy 4/day (DC 18, 4d6), marshal's order (rally), menacing presence[MA], mythic power (7/day, surge +1d6), smite evil 3/day (+5 attack and AC, +7 damage)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 8th; concentration +13)
. . At will—halo
. . 1—corruption resistance (vs evil hr/lvl on self)[APG] (DC 17)
Paladin Spell-Like Abilities (CL 7th; concentration +12)
. . At will—detect evil
Oracle Spells Known (CL 1st; concentration +6)
. . 1st (5/day)—cure light wounds, endure elements, tap inner beauty
. . 0 (at will)—create water, enhanced diplomacy, guidance, purify food and drink (DC 15)
. . Mystery Lunar
Paladin Spells Prepared (CL 4th; concentration +9)
. . 2nd—aura of greater courage[APG] (DC 17)
. . 1st—hero's defiance[APG], veil of heaven[ARG] (DC 16), veil of positive energy[APG]
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Statistics
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Str 24, Dex 7, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 20
Base Atk +7; CMB +12; CMD 23
Feats Combat Expertise, Cornugon Smash, Deadly Aim, Furious Focus[APG], Persuasive, Power Attack[M], Weapon Focus
Traits abyssal eavesdropper, child of the crusades, omen
Skills Acrobatics +0 (-4 to jump), Diplomacy +18, Handle Animal +10, Heal +5, Intimidate +19 (+21 circumstance vs. evil creatures), Knowledge (nobility) +5, Knowledge (religion) +6, Linguistics +11, Perception +12 (10 vs. disguises), Profession (soldier) +9, Ride +2, Sense Motive +12, Survival +5
Languages Abyssal, Aklo, Aquan, Auran, Celestial, Common, Daemonic, Draconic, Dwarven, Giant, Gnoll, Goblin, Ignan, Infernal, Necril, Orc, Sylvan, Terran, Undercommon
SQ amazing initiative, commanding entrance, divine bond (angelic spirit [1/day] 1/day), finesse weapon attack attribute, halo[ARG], lay on hands 8/day (3d6), lonely, mercies (diseased, sickened), oracle's curse (clouded vision), revelation (prophetic armor), truespeaker[ARG]
Other Gear +1 nimble mithral full plate, +1 cold iron greatsword, dagger, longsword, amulet of natural armor +1, belt of giant strength +2, headband of alluring charisma +2, pauldrons of unflinching fortitude +1/+2[MA], ring of protection +1
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Special Abilities
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Amazing Initiative (1/round) (Ex) As a free action, use 1 power to gain an extra standard action (can't be used to cast a spell).
Aura of Courage +4 (10 ft.) (Su) Allies in aura gain a morale bonus to saves vs. fear.
Clouded Vision You cannot see beyond 30'
Combat Expertise +/-2 Bonus to AC in exchange for an equal penalty to attack.
Commanding Entrance (20 ft. radius) (Ex) Spend 1 power when entering an area to influence attitudes of those near you.
Cornugon Smash When you damage an opponent with a Power Attack, you may make an immediate Intimidate check as a free action to attempt to demoralize your opponent.
Darkvision (30 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white only).
Deadly Aim -2/+4 Trade a penalty to ranged attacks for a bonus to ranged damage.
Detect Evil (At will) (Sp) You can use detect evil at will (as the spell).
Divine Bond (Angelic, 1/day) +3 (Su) As a standard action, halo sheds light and grants enhanced protection from evil to allies in 20 ft.
Energy Resistance, Acid (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Acid attacks.
Energy Resistance, Cold (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Cold attacks.
Energy Resistance, Electricity (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Electricity attacks.
Finesse Weapon Attack Attribute Finesse weapons use Strength on attack rolls.
Furious Focus If you are wielding a weapon in two hands, ignore the penalty for your first attack of each turn.
Halo +2 to intimidate vs. evil creatures and to saves against becoming blinded or dazzled.
Hard to Kill (Ex) Automatically stabilize when dying, and only die at neg Con x 2.
Immunity to Disease You are immune to diseases.
Immunity to Fear (Ex) You are immune to all fear effects.
Lay on Hands (3d6 hit points, 8/day) (Su) As a standard action (swift on self), touch channels positive energy and applies mercies.
Lonely -2 Perception to see through disguises, on on saves vs. charm effects.
Menacing Presence (Su) Demoralize an opponent as move action, spend 1 pwr. vs. all enemies within 30 ft.
Mercy (Diseased) (Su) When you use your lay on hands ability, it also removes disease, as per the remove disease spell at a caster level of your Paladin level.
Mercy (Sickened) (Su) When you use your lay on hands ability, it also removes the sickened condition.
Paladin Channel Positive Energy 4d6 (4/day, DC 18) (Su) Positive energy heals the living and harms the undead; negative has the reverse effect.
Power Attack [Mythic] Use 1 power to eliminate attack penalties of Power attack for 1 min.
Prophetic Armor (Ex) You may apply your Charisma modifier instead of Dexterity to AC and Reflex saves.
Rally (Su) As a swift action, use 1 power to grant allies in 30 ft a d20 reroll before your next turn.
Smite Evil (3/day) (Su) +5 to hit, +7 to damage, +5 deflection bonus to AC when used.
Surge (1d6) (Su) Use 1 power to increase any d20 roll by the listed amount.
Truespeaker Learn two languages for each rank you put in Linguistics.
Weapon Focus (Heavy Blades) Choose one weapon group. You become better at using that type of weapon.

Prerequisites: base attack bonus +1.

Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus on all attack rolls you make using weapons from the selected group. The bonus only applies

I like your idea that the character was toyed with by Xanthir Vang. My character could have been some earlier subject and has gained some of his discoveries from these experiments, such as the Wings from level 6.

He broke free (how is yet to be defined), then he decided to learn science because he wants to prove it can be used for good instead of Xanthir's twisted version. By having his own body to learn from, due to its mutations from Xanthir, he learned fast. One day he decided to do some experiments on demons and went to Drezen to do exactly that. Instead of being a captive, he is hiding in the city grabbing whatever subjects he can. Little does he know that the city is about to be liberated.

And what benefit would I draw from this? One smiling Succubus, or perhaps half Succubus, her reading under detect evil is a bit odd, clearly evil but seemingly a native outsider.

You could be quite useful without serving us, prisoner exchanges or ransoms are things we engage in, my dear Lady mother even has a business permit in Axis.
She continues says

Are these... Baphometan-Deskarite idiots actually trying to bind mother? Can you feel that? I think its another Succubus trying to bind her but haha, good luck. Another speaks as she prestigitates off the grime from your old armor

Mother is clearly about to throw an angry Paladin at them. The first one says Makes no sense why we would be arming that one otherwise. She continues

But does she actually have Lady Nocticulas Paladin throwing skills? Mother prefers to fight with her voice or with swordplay, and this Paladin is not Tiny! And I dont think we have spiked plate armor whose armor spikes have the "returning" weapon property Another one, this one having relatively bookish features and wearing glasses, says.

And look The bookish demoness continues as she embraces you and lifts you, not without some difficulties, but still manages that inspite of you already wearing most of your plate armor
While mother could lift her more easily then I can, even with her strength of 22 of the Krueger scale, equivalent to a hill giant, this would not suffice to utilize this Paladin as a thrown weapon. And as this Paladin is an Aasimar, and thus an outsider, she cannot be easily reduced in size via reduce person.

Iesha, dont think so literally! I meant it more as a figure of speech, not literally throw a Paladin into their private parts like Lady Nocticula did with... whats its name, either Gorg or Migorg? One of those sub-par incest twins who were into diddling children and being weird priests. Because even as Demonlords, they couldnt get laid in any other way? the first one continues in a quite pleseant and melodious singsong voice

Wasnt that actually a contract killing... some of the non abyssal deities paid her for? Callistria, but some other too, I think the Paladin used was Chaldiran, and the specific throwing technique a nod to Desnan star knife throwing, but with plausible deniability for all involved parties? Deniable plausibility even. this one armed in full plate and wearing what seems to be a falcata, interjects. Her detect evil did show the strongest evil aura, overwhelming, but not enough to stun or fascinate you. Her wings are also made of flame, not unlike a Balors.

If none of what we said made any sense, our dear Lady mother, your graceful saviour in the name of Nocticula, Lady in Shadows, has just been planar-binding-called to Golarion, on behalf on Baphomet and Deskari, which she resents, because she explicitly does not work for either, and her cooperation with Baphomet is dependent on the enemy being devils.
It is quite likely that she will summon you to her current position, in a demon held citadel of Drezen, that is currently stormed by.... your fellow crusaders! So if the Baphometans and Deskarites keep f+$~ing around, you will righteously smite them so they find out! Also, here is a swarmbane clasp, not part of your old kit, but you are clearly going to need one. So dont attack us and be calm, you will almost certainly see Golarion again...
The most talkative of them beams at you, her smile is... ravishing, you are pretty sure people killed for that.

I am so excited The literal minded one called Iesha who lifted you earlier says

I think mother will use my lesser gate scroll to transport him! I need to make research notes! She looks at you expectantly and pulls out a notepad

Our dear half sister Iesha-Tesla-Aldori is a bit of an intellectual The very talkative one says

Thats Prof. Dr. Tesla-Aldori for you Serena The one with the notepad answers

You are a genius. First, you managed to understand the Pheromonal control that Xanthir uses to control his own brain bugs. Your alchemical knowledge allowed you to convincingly fake being controlled by him, which then resulted in you being selected to "assist in the defense of Drezen" when an envoy came to Vang about reinforcements.

When in Drezen, you faked your own death due to a crusader Trebuchet hit, and then made yourself scarce.

There is a dangerous Vampire called Terek Nul in Drezen, whose Vampire spawn acts as menial servants, who are both kind of feared but also ignored.

And who is also an alchemist himself.

And all it needs to make you look like them is a bit of makeup, and some alchemically prolonged teeth.

You managed to even exit the citadel, where there were a few too many mind readers for your liking, and scrounge up some supplies, and even at 2 seperate points, pilfer Terek Nul's supplies!

When the crusade arrives, you are filled with hope, but you are also, inside the citadel at this point, which was placed on lockdown, and unlike the actual vampire spawn you cant turn into mist. But from what you get, a Deskarite sorceres by the name of Chorussina, a real piece of work even for a demon worshipper, seeks to team up with a Succubus known as Janeamine to summon a powerful demoness called "Laulieh" or "Laulieh Aldori". You are no stranger to arcane magiks, and from the precautions they are taking with the circle, it is clear that they expected this "Laulieh" to be very unenthusiastic at least.
If you manage to sabotage that binding you could cause the death of 2 out of 4 of the citadels remaining most powerful defenders! Unfortunatly, the summoning is heavily guarded. You count 4 half fiend Minotaurs, several incubi, the demonic sorceress Chorussina, the Succubus, whom you think is particularly capable with mind affecting magic, Janeamine and various additional cultists, who seem to be elites.

Too much for you to handle on your own, but if you were to strike in conjunction with the crusaders, who seem to have just killed the castellan, one Antipaladin named Staunton Vhane?

Wow, that sounds awesome for some infiltration! Good thing my guy has alchemy to help him! I've invested in Stealth (with Skill Focus) for this awesome background.

Some slight change in your story: I don't want to invest skill points into the Disguise skill. Instead, I can always learn the Disguise Self extract. Also, I can buy the Gaseous Form extract to at least become a mist for a few minutes and pretend to be a vampire spawn.

Also, with the help of the invisibility extract and my wings, I can actually do a lot of spying (unless the demons are keen on using a lot of See Invisibility). Anything else I can find out to help out the crusaders on their endeavor? My guy is very unhappy seeing the horrors of demon everyday life.

Side note: In the Owlcat WotR video game there's an amazingly written letter from a crusader captive to Queen Galfrey to be found as you storm Drezen. Did you get to read it?

I think I did, although I dont recall exactly.

The demons in the other background are... specifically, for completely machiavellian reasons, nice to some select captives, which makes them an exception.

The Machiavellian reasons include "A suggestion to surrender to me is actually a reasonable course of action, which increases the difficulty in resisting it", "I can convert/seduce anyone in my power to serve me if I really want to, so why harm them? I would just have to pay for their restoration later", the subtext is that they are less evil due to the lure of... pragmatic machiavellianism.

Meanwhile Xanthir Vang is a raving psychopath with not only such thing as morals, he is actively antimoral. And the only reason I dont want to spell out what he does exactly is because its real cruel nightmare fuel.

Disguise self extract is a great idea!

Higher level demons frequently have true sight, but at the current level of the party its more of a detect good thing.

Oh, believe me, Xanthir is Arthur's main enemy. Once we down him, he will have a moment of... let's say, relaxation.

Idaya isn't an idiot, truly. In a way, she understands the term is relative. Compared to a drunk goblin boxer who had been hit in the head a thousand times too much, she potentially could be called smart even, but around this bookish demon she understands she is close to a drooling moron.

It doesn't help that she knows her mind is muffled from, um, too much visual and tactile stimuli.

It is wrong. Truly wrong. To covet such.
Her clergy teachers will be disappointed.

"So.... um, you want to send me to fight demons that are both your enemies and mine, while helping the crusade which will do its best to destroy you and will most certainly burn me at the stake to avoid abysmal contamination just after the immediate need for tactical salvation?" she tried to summarize "Okay" she agrees with a flummoxed nod. Self sacrifice is an easy thing to accept in the holy service.

Oh, dont worry too much about getting burned at the stake. If the inquisition is stupid enough to do that, we will likely exfiltrate you on the eve of your execution, which will probably suffice to have you freely and willingly serve us! The most talkative Succubus beams

Unfortunately, for us that is, the new Mendevian grand inquisitor has that thing called common sense! Rude! Also, Queen Galfrey limited to authority to burn someone at the stake to her and the grand inquisitor himself, so no local inquisitorial wanna be gets to legally burn people! The Baphometan are still really mad about this! Enabling a holier then thou petty tyrant to turn normal people against the forces of good was like, not their favorite ploy but definitly in the top 10! She continues merrily

So you will probably just have a long interview, some zones of truth, a bit of mind reading etc. The basic fact is that you were, whats the term... hors de combat when taken by the Deskarites, and also in no real position to resist when taken by us. Had you actively surrendered, that would have, you are Iomdean right? Broken one of your Paladin vows, and had that happened your aura would not be as shiny.

You indeed believe you have your paladin abilities, but your mental state isnt exactly improved by that talkative Succubus... quickly changing your hair style, and doing, as you can see in the reflection of some large sized mithral plate armor, a really good job at it.

The Crusade has recently declared that it seeks to destroy the Deskarite and Baphometan incursion upon Golarion, and well, your containment room didnt have windows, but you are in the Abyss proper, the midnight isles specifically and the island of Luralune to be precise, and mother serves herself and Lady Nocticula, in that order. Nobody ever escaped from this manor, well, few people would want to, and we dont hold the super dangerous flight/murder risks here anyway.

Oh, do not ever generalize from our behaviour to that of other Succubi, thats gets you killed or worse! She merrily chirps as she, with supernatural quickness and in a way that is... each touch is blissfully pleseant, changes your hair do into what you think a female angel would wear into battle.

Another problem Idaya finds she is finding her voice. She keeps opening her lips to state something but finds herself distracted. "I will not serve you, whether you save my life or not, but will perform my duties ignoring when our goals coincide." she manages sometime later than she intended. Not confrontational just stating what she believes is a hard fact. "I am sorry about being obstinate to your efforts."

She reaches up and runs her gauntleted fingers through her white hair, absently spoiling the angle braids.

Look, she is sorry! Thats the first step to accepting our embrace! Soon! You wouldnt be the first Paladin I convert, although mother prefers them pure, so she can have them make potions of bestow grace, there is a funny trick to make that work on a demoness like us, and oh boy can that be a life saver!

The chatterbox Succubus merrily continues

Could you not spoil our totally secret secrets?
The very martial looking one interjects in a bemused fashion, while apparently also listening in to some type of different telepathic conversation.

Ah, in case you get ported in, opfor is at least 4 half fiend minotaurs, 4-8 cultist elites, on Succubus dressed in white called Janeamine who is a mesmerist, one deskarite half fiend sorceress called Chorussina. I recommend breaking the binding circle in which our mother is open, there are 2 intended sacrifices who could be of assistance, although neither of them is currently armed or armored.

Since its a binding circle to trap a chaotic evil outsider, it should do nothing to a lawful good Paladin, the sorceress is probably the greatest threat, she has insect like wings and looks... well, not attractive to us, but reasonable not ugly for a Deskarite. As she once was human, she, like many in her career, is more evil then many who were born as demons. Turncoat mortals sometimes really tend to overcompensate.

The martial one continues

Our mother believes she can give a 30 second warning before things go hot, which should give you some time to cast protect spells. Mother, if freed, could probably kill them on her own, so could I, but she follows Lady Nocticulas path of the upward blade, and prefers to kill only those who pose some type of threat or challenge to her, which most of them would not.

She finishes

Feel free to ask questions or roll relevant kn. or sense motive or diplomacy checks to get more information out of them.

sense motive: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

Idaya was not prone to ego, so thinking she can 'read' demons who entire existence is meant to tempt and deceive (or at least that what the field manual said about them) was huburous indeed. Still she tried as she asked "How do I break the binding circle?" the knight knew very little about magic. Her first thought was just hitting it with her sword, which made her feel potentially on the over punched goblin side of intelligence again.

Reasonable question actually, Kick over the ritual candles, smash the writings, break the pretty filligrane cold iron salt borders. The heavily armored demoness says

The bookish looking one adds

Moving mother out of the circle also works, she would not regard a bullrush or reposition as an attack, nor would she resist that. There are 2 sacrifices close to the circle, if you can get them to smash the circle it frees up you to to apply violence.

So, I've been thinking. It would make sense that my character has learned stuff about Xanthir. I could represent this with a Lore Background skill, but it could maybe too strong against a high profile antagonist in the campaign. At the same time, after this is dealt with, those skill points would be lost in the wind.

What do you think?

You could have "Lore Deskari", as lore of an individual demonlord is valid. And Xanthir Vang is not the only swarm that walks, just a very notorious one.

If you have reading the Idaya spoilers, which you totally can because I all trust you can keep meta and in character knowledge seperate, there even is an NPC who is also of a scientific persuasion, and who could "tech exchange" so to speak, as the mad scientist half Succubus would be quite interested in your pheromone research.

I think I'll go with that. But does Lore Deskari cover Xanthir?

Also, I haven't read others' spoilers. I like to keep the element of surprise, if any comes. =)

The paladin nods, blanches a little at the idea of repositioning a succubus, and then agrees "Okay, hit it with a sword... I can do that."

A major things that demons use to entice worshippers are "fiendish apotheosis" rituals, which transform mortals into half fiends.
The first ritual generally "just" dedicates the mortals soul to that demonlords domain, and informs the demonlords that the mortal wishes to become a half fiend. Deskari instead (although regularly half fiend apotheosis is also possible, and it is also possible to become a swarm that walks via *science and magiks*) also offers to become a swarm that walks.

The second ritual typically involves sacrificing a loved one to the demonlord in question. For Deskari (and Kabriri, but he is less relevant here), one can also devour 3 of ones loved ones (it is sufficient if these had some positive feeling for you, prior to being devoured). For Nocticula, converting 3 loved ones to serving Nocticula, the loved ones need to be significant and capable for that, also works.

The third ritual involves fullfilling a significant task for the demonlord in question, typically beyond the abilities of the mortal when receiving it. Slaying a powerful champion of good, destroying a temple, retrieving or despoiling artifacts etc. Nocticula frequently aims are her Abyssal "near peer competitors" when handing such tasks out, so a Nocticula worshipper may have succeeded in bringing his family of powerful nobles into her worship, and then go and assassinate an Incubus prince of Socothbenoth, becoming a half fiend as a reward, and somewhat credibly cling to the illusion of having done nothing really wrong, while being a highly effective agent of the Abyss.

I see, thanks for the explanation.

BTW, I don't know if you noticed, but I set Arthur's Wisdom at 8. It's not a random stat dump, I figured he lost a bit of his sanity being experimented on.

A bit sad that the triplets, the 3 who saved you from that vivisection table, arent here to say good bye, but maybe you will meet them again![/]

The chatterbox Succubus, still "fixing" your hair says

[b]Probably doing some *Special operations* for their father, I guess technically also my father since Sir Rejnskoeld currently works for Lord Angothane

The heavily armored one answers

Angothane is knowledge planes, Rejnskoeld is kn. history or local, you can still memorize the names and asks people with more lore skills later

So, Arthur has been hiding in Drezen and taking one or another demon once in a while "for science purposes". The current scene in Gameplay is happening at the gates, I think (?), and Arthur has some ideas to disrupt the summoning they're talking about. Maybe he and Idaya are working together?

Idaya is currently in the Abyss, specifically the midnight isles of Luralune, in an incredibly posh manor getting made ready for battle and being a bit flustered. As such, it is not yet plausible for you 2 to cooperate yet.

I am also a big fan on introducing new PCs during action sequences, as it also narratively serves to instantly have a good reason for them to stick around.

The demoness whose "hospitality" Idaya is "enjoying" has spent a fair bit of effort in having her mad scientist daugher come up with a contraption called "Lesser gate", because throwing Paladins at *near peer competitors* is currently en vouge.

A very clever and resource saving way of gating someone in! Probably developed initially on a very low magic world or plane.

Spell level 5. It is freshly developed, and not currently knowable outside of the pioneering genius of Prof. Dr. Iesha Tesla-Aldori, soon to be nascent demonlord of SCIENCE! Haagenti is a prick who only does Alchemy, Pah! select and exclusive Nocticulan circles.

This spell calls in one specific creature, as per the gate spell, but with the following limitations:
--Only the called in creature can come
--The called creature is made aware of the callers name and alignment
--If a scroll is scribed, the specific creature has to be named during the scribing
--The called creature, as with gate proper, is under no obligation to serve the caller, or to even move through the gate.
--The spell partly works on the magical principle of violent-opposition-alignment-attraction in order to reduce the magical energy (spell level) needed to open the gate, and thus the called creature must be opposed to the caller on at least 1 alignment axis, or, in the case of a scroll, be opposed to the scriber of the scroll on at least one alignment axis
--The called creature needs to be physically capable of moving (walking through the portal that appears), which makes it not great for prisoner exfiltration, but it can still be used in such fashion
--The bandwith, so to speak, is also limited, and barring extraordinary circumstances or further research FOR WHICH I NEED FUNDS DAMNIT MOTHER I CANT REWRITE THE LAWS OF REALITY ON THE POCKET MONEY YOU HAND OUT! Dearest daughter, the stipend I pay you monthly is equivalent to a smaller Golarioni nation states gross domestic product, albeit not adjusted for purchasing power parity is limited to 12 hitdice or less.