Calnar's page

Also, Undetectable Alignment in a Cleric Spell and can thus be done by an Oracle out of their own resources rather than necessitating help (an invaluable distinction if one is undercover).

This is definitely spell wise the way to go. I think I have decent plans for how to rules wise give the best chance for accomplishing what I want.

Any ideas on putting in sly hooks that after her betrayal will make it appear as, well of course she was always going to betray us, but in the moment will likely be acceptable.

Personally I have gone the route of rewarding things with the advantage system of DnD (roll twice take the higher result). Disadvantage is roll twice take the lower, if you want to penalize something like a monster's saving through. I find that this can be done faster than arbitrary bonuses. Though in combat I usually award great roll play with cool points (1 point = 25 X Level XP).

Whether advantage or bonuses though I would let your players know that role playing in combat may award bonuses for originality and immersion, and give them examples for the benefits of bonuses that can be awarded or advantage given, but don't be limited by it. I would not do it every time, but when a person is very creative, uses the environment well, or artistically (for that player) then they get the bonus. I would not award it if it is a repeat unless it is some how the exact same circumstance.

Ex: Cleric channels energy to heal the party and prays, "Our Lady of light restore us with your grace that we may overcome this darkness."

GM: You feel the warmth of your goddess heading your prayer, reroll any ones on your heal die.

Fighter: I slash toward my enemy with the moon glinting off my blade.

Also if you want them to do it, then you need to do it for the enemies blows too.

Mechanics:

Story:

Mechanics
1. Check she is an Oracle (Charisma caster) and she is going to have several feats dedicated to bluffing well.

2. Yeah I figure on having 5 or so rolls written down for her bluff at any given time.

3. I believe not, and doesn't need to prepare.

4. Not especially but there is an arcanist and an oracle in the party, so they could potentially learn detect evil. Hmm need to look up if those spells are ones she can learn.

Story

1. I wasn't going to beat her up because she will have access to healing magic. This is also how I was going to explain that the sacrifice the party will walk in on will have her tongue freshly mutilated, while the villain will have hers still deformed, but apparently healed. (Real reason, sacrifice was freshly mutilated, while the villain's was done as a child so she could pronounce Cthuluesq text.)

2. I was going to have her cry about the girl being sacrificed on the alter. Possibly even claim it was her sister. I was thinking of this initially being an escape plan, but then villain realizes she can use them to get her will done. Possibly giving them magic items that dedicate their kills to releasing her gods. Dedicating the "final battle field" to her gods so that the death toll their releases them.

3. I was thinking that she will find them later. She might present it as clearing out other dens of evil or vengeance for her imprisonment. She will give apparent aid, but as above this works toward her ends.

4. Long game indeed. She will fight along side them. I plan on her working to dedicate their kills to releasing her gods, so even slaughtering her own cult members will be in line with that goal.

5. Good thought. Maybe in the cult she is known by a title or moniker. "The Mistress" maybe, also on the same line a mask she wore during cult rites might be appropriate.

6. Duping them into releasing her gods.

If you really want to add a twist on this, what if this high priestess villain of yours actually considers the PCs to be her friends? As in, even if she's manipulating them to her own ends, she genuinely and likes them and would let them in on what she's trying to do if she wasn't sure that they'd probably object to her plans?

If you go with this idea, then some discussions she has with PCs on the nature of forgiveness and if people who disagree with each other can still be friends could be some foreshadowing.

Nice I like that, so when she is doing the summoning at the end it would be victorious, but add some tears like Moses after the last plague in the price of Egypt. I think I would have her grow into that idea of friendship though. Adds some nice flavor to her character.

...alternatively, you could have whatever deity the paladin follows tell the character off-screen or via spoiler that they are desperately needed in the fight against EVIL somewhere else, and at the next remotely convenient point (such as a town) they part ways with the party.

No 'Paladin Falls' angst, none of the other baggage mentioned above, a nice, seamless removal of the character to fit the on-going narrative.

The other plus side to this is if the player ever comes back with resolution of whatever issues caused that to happen, they can worked back in without the mental gymnastics of trying to undo a big screw-over job.

Added Bonus you now have an NPC friendly with your PCs who could contact them with quests that the temple needs accomplished and would be willing to pay for or could be a reoccurring ally if you allow NPC tag alongs. Not someone regularly with the party. They might even meet up with the paladin while in some dungeon and find out that he is leading a group from the temple on a similar or unrelated mission. Maybe the big bad is a wizard who has created a simulacrum and they don't know which to fight and both must be stopped before (insert dastardly evil here). The Paladin and his crew go off and end up fighting the simulacrum. PCs get the real deal. It can make the world feel bigger and more complex.

Depends on if you are doing a homebrew or playing in Gorlarion, where most of the Paizo mods are set. The Inner Sea Primer has a decent listing of cultures for the world and therefore attendant languages for each region. It elevates the role of spells like comprehend languages and tongues, but may restrict interactions with much of the party as those with the skill points for linguistics will be the only ones who can interact outside their home region. Consider other ways to draw them in. If you are homebrewing feel free to do your own. I am in a campaign I am putting together for my group.