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Ok, has anyone had to use Nyxervex, and if not, how did your players get past the Runecurse?
Two of my players have infernal, but only one has linguistics and failed horribly on the check. He then placed the curse (after failing the save - 2 down) back in the bag and handed the bag to the halfling paladin, who made his save.
I was looking at Nyxervex, a bone devil and figured my players wouldn't even stand a chance of *scratching* it.
I'm thinking about switching the devil from a CR 9 Bone Devil to a CR 7 Salikotal Devil (in the bestiary of #26). It makes sense since Salikotals specialize in assassination and murder.
Any input from GMs who have gone through this already?
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Two saves were made because the one who first received it failed his save, unknowingly, and gave it to the paladin, who made his save. Now the paladin is the one who is cursed, and unless he gives it away again, he'll have to make a save the next day.
I like the story behind Nyxervex, but I think I'll switch the devil if they have to fight him.
Even though he's only attacking the one character, I know the other players will attack him back, so it'll end up in a TPK. By lowering the encounter, they have a fighting chance.
I'm thinking about switching the devil from a CR 9 Bone Devil to a CR 7 Salikotal Devil (in the bestiary of #26). It makes sense since Salikotals specialize in assassination and murder.
Any input from GMs who have gone through this already?
I planned to do the same thing. If they have to fight the devil, it will be a Salikotal. If they successfully get rid of the curse, then I'd have it stay as written.
It might actually be possible to take out the Bone devil if the cursed person in a Paladin with a good Charisma and strength stat. It'd be close but I think it could be done using Aid another to raise the paladins AC.
Better to get rid of the curse though.
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Something to consider before you change this around is that the bone devil actually plays a role in part 4 as well. It takes into account that there is a small chance the party may have killed it earlier, but you may want to read the section on him in the 4th book before doing any changes here.
He has much bigger goals in mind than doing the runecurse(in fact he is doing that as part of a humiliating trade to enable himself to be able to return later for more of his plots). He is going to do anything he can to avoid being destroyed, so if he feels he has fulfilled his part of the deal by passing the curse along he is likely to flee, even if he thinks he could take the party. No sense in risking the small chance he would fall, after all.
It could be fun though to get your players blood pumping by having them go a round or two with him, thinking they are going to get their butts handed to him and then have him teleport away after taking a good hit. Then, when they encounter him again two books later, he may have a bit of an idea of their tactics and they his.
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A) they don't know about the curse, they can't figure it out. All they know that might give them a hint is the impending doom and that the parchment radiates necromancy. Considering the other gear on the guy, that's not surprising, though.
B) the paladin has a high charisma but negative strength, he is ranged, Erastil.
C) I read about the bone devil and want to keep him in the fourth part. I don't see how not using him in the second will cause problems later on.
--- Does the curse require three failed saves, period, or three saves for each individual who gets cursed? This would make a big, huge difference, because if its the former, only one save needs to be failed for him to show. If not, then the character has three saves he can fail.
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As for your C) above, I wasn't trying to indicate that it would ruin anything. I just think that there is benefit in letting him be seen earlier. I know that with my group at least one of the complaints my group had with early adventure paths was that you rarely saw the BBEG until you were running into them towards the end of the adventure.
This is one of those things that Paizo seems to have changed a great deal over time and they often take great pains in introducing smaller NPCs well in advance.
I think its always fun when the players are able to see people they recognize coming up at later points this way because it gives them a better glimpse into how things are connected behind the scenes, something they normally don't get on their side of the screen.
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How my players got past the runecurse:
They gave it to Szamir. :)
I had him locked up (they can unlock the cell and fight him later if they want that ranseur for the three doors further on)
His cell had a small barred window. One character started talking to this crazy, howling devil. He was able to get a little information out of him, that was some fun roleplaying, and asked him if the passwords on the paper meant anything.
They gave him the paper, and he then rolled a really low intelligence check (he has a 6 INT!), so just went on and on about "my paper" and proceeded to read it aloud, over and over.
Too bad they probably won't be there to see what happens. :)
The Cleric in my group kept it. He figured out exactly what it was and kept it. He failed one save then the group backtracked out of the Knot after getting the Crux. The rogue stole Thessings cloak and the cleric put the rune curse in his cloak. The next day everyone left and Thessing parted with nasty words for the players as he was extremely hostile towards them. He took his cloak that one of the players had retrieved for him and I had thessing compliment him on his new career as servant. He even tipped them a copper piece.
The Cleric considered giving the curse back to Sian and the opportunity to do that but he like her and let her go minus here equipment.
Creative Director
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The Cleric in my group kept it. He figured out exactly what it was and kept it. He failed one save then the group backtracked out of the Knot after getting the Crux. The rogue stole Thessings cloak and the cleric put the rune curse in his cloak. The next day everyone left and Thessing parted with nasty words for the players as he was extremely hostile towards them. He took his cloak that one of the players had retrieved for him and I had thessing compliment him on his new career as servant. He even tipped them a copper piece.
The Cleric considered giving the curse back to Sian and the opportunity to do that but he like her and let her go minus here equipment.
This is Absolutely Awesome. SOMEONE must have read "Casting the Runes" or saw "Night of the Demon!"
Well done, cleric! :)