I was surprised when, after gaming, one of my players asked if he could acquire Lavinia as a cohort. My interest was piqued primarily because the player usually doesn't like extra paperwork to deal with, but I soon realized that because her level throughout the path is conducive to this kind of situation, I haven't been able to think of a really good reason why he shouldn't be able to do so, mechanically speaking.
However, I am concerned, because Lavinia spends almost all of Sea Wyvern's Wake on the Blue Nixie, Here There Be Monsters over in Farshore, is probably busy with the election during Tides of Dread (haven't read through it as significantly, yet), and is kidnapped during Serpents of Scuttlecove. She's even absent during most of Into The Maw. So, is this just one instance where I should recommend that the PC avoid trying to employ his employer, or is this the kind of thing that, with a little imagination, might just be crazy enough to work?
I don't see any problem with making Lavinia a cohort. I'd wait until after Here There Be Monsters just because of how much work it would be to rewrite the situation in Farshore, but after that point she doesn't have any particular plot relevance at all. Granted, there is the kidnapping thing, but you can probably kidnap almost anybody or even nobody and the PC party will want to hunt down Vanthus anyway.
Perhaps when Vanthus escapes Farshore, he realizes that Lavinia is too well guarded, but if he can seize several other hostages he may be able to force an exchange. He uses Divided Ire because he believes he will have many allies and the home ground advantage, but the chaos in the prison puts him in a precarious position.
It seems to me that someone like Lavinia would not want to be the cohort of one of her employees, no matter how awesome they may be.
After all, aren't cohorts supposed to be people who need a leader? Didn't she hire and direct the PCs, chart an expedition to Farshore, then lead Farshore as Mayor? Why would she take orders from anybody, especially her subordinate?
Though in my own game, I plan for her to play a role in the last adventure. Every player is going to get a second character to play who has an interest in destroying Demogorgon. She will be updated to equivalent level to the PCs and fully decked out with equipment fitting someone with her resources. Though in this situation she won't be led by the PCs so much as joining their team for one last adventure to end all adventures.
Just my two copper pieces.
Robin is an incredible warrior and a leader of an entire team of superheroes even though he doesn't have any superpowers. Even so, he's still Batman's sidekick, because Batman is just that good.
By the time the PCs hit Scuttlecove, they're no longer mere mortals. They move across the world in an instant, split solid adamantine walls in seconds, fall from orbit without serious injury, and bring the dead back to life. They're superhuman enough to have Batman himself as their sidekick if they wanted to.
I don't think the Lavinia-as-backup-PC plan is a bad one. In fact, I'm thinking of using a variation of that myself. But Lavinia-as-cohort is a perfectly good plan, too.
That would be really cool. Perhaps even more useful, a romantic interest would really fuel the we hate Vanthus fire. Also the politics of Sasserine would be altered significantly. The Vanderboren estate would certainly rise in power and promenence. I think it is cool that your player is that involved in the game. Kudos to your mad DM skills.
At 20th level what is the number of followers you get? What is the population of Farshore? I think a significant portion the Farshore population would be followers so why wouldn't Lavinia go too? Or one could have their own Olman tribe by then. Or a tribe of phanatons, that should make the Maw an interesting trip O:)
Perhaps even more useful, a romantic interest would really fuel the we hate Vanthus fire.
Thanks, all. Funny you mention "romantic interest", as the PC in question is an individual of the pirate persuasion, though long story short, doesn't advertise it in the customary sort of way. He chose to seduce Lavinia--a couple of attempts, finally resulting in a nat 20 on a Charisma check (a sure sign of seduction)--in the guise of consoling her...
So, while Lavinia may take it as romance, I see a broken heart for the deary down the line. (He already been intimate with Rowyn, and has his true sights set on Harliss!) But between him and Vanthus, it should be scalawag versus even worse scalawag.
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At 20th level what is the number of followers you get? What is the population of Farshore? I think a significant portion the Farshore population would be followers so why wouldn't Lavinia go too? Or one could have their own Olman tribe by then. Or a tribe of phanatons, that should make the Maw an interesting trip O:)
Leadership feat is more complicated than just your level. It involves Charisma bonuses, and other modifiers based on roleplay and character history. Level does put a cap on it though, if you have really high mods.