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I have been mulling around with a character concept after playing at a con a week ago, a Chelaxian Demonologist and I am not sure what to start him as. At first I was going with a wizard with focus in abjuration since most spells that fit a demonologist but also some of the same spells are on the clerics spell list. So right now I am fairly torn how to build him and if anyone has some suggestions feel free to post your thoughts.
Wouldn't it be a Chelaxian Deviloligist since they deal with devils? 8)
But on a serious note, there is the prestige class from Book of the Damned Vol 1 Princes of Darkness the Diabolist.
Well, given the specifically mentioned possibility of Demonic heritage for Chelish Tieflings, as well as that both Demons and Chelish spellcasters may well have interests in each others' business for different reasons, I don't see any reason why Demonologists would be less common in Cheliax than other nations (perhaps barring Mendev).
What exactly is a demonologist?
Do they merely summon demons and put them to work? Then cleric or wizard would be viable. Maybe even sorcerer.
Have they pledged their entire life to serving some great demon lord in return for eternal bliss in the afterlife? If so, then cleric is probably your best bet, though wizard or sorcerer still fits. Maybe sorcerer might even be best with the demonic bloodline.
Do they travel to the Abyss and hang out with the demons? Then we're down to wizard or sorcerer.
Do they use divinations like Contact Other Plane to get answers from their favorite demon lords? Definitely wizard or sorcerer.
Do they have a pet demon to server them as a familiar? Wizard then (or maybe sorcerer with Arcane bloodline, but that not a very demonic flavor) - make sure to get the Improved Familiar feat and go for Quasit.
Do they transform their bodies to the point that they look and smell like a demon? Then sorceror with demonic bloodline is your winner.
Do they do all of the above? Probably wizard then, because all the summoning, divination, and traveling spells would be a bit much for a sorcerer (not too much though, so sorcerer still works).
Or, for a change of pace, you could go with a Summoner and have your eidolon look like a demon - you'll be pretty much focused on the summoning angle, but it could be an interesting alternative.
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What exactly is a demonologist?
Or, for a change of pace, you could go with a Summoner and have your eidolon look like a demon - you'll be pretty much focused on the summoning angle, but it could be an interesting alternative.
This. +1
That is genius. Isn't that what a demonologist is: A summoner? There are even evolutions that grant the eidolon magic attacks, alignment DR, energy attacks and immunity. That is a left field home run!
My hat, good sir, it tips to you.
I was pretty sure that Chelaxians execute people found to be trafficking with demons.
Is that really unique to Cheliax?
IMO, just about every society on any game world I've ever seen takes a dim (and lethal) view of demonologists. There's no prison, there's no reform, and recidivism is 100%, so execution is the only answer that I know of.
With this character being a Chelixian and very full of himself he'd greatly enjoys controlling demons to perform the tasks for an empire of devils...what a better dig on demons than that?
Are you talking about "tasks for an empire" as in being out in the open, working for the government, using demons as spies or agents or enforcers for the government of Cheliax?
If so, you might find that it's just as suicidal to openly proclaim your demonology in Cheliax as it is everywhere else. Maybe even moreso, since Cheliax law enforcement moves quickly and efficiently, and isn't above using their own devils to handle your demons (and they outnumber you, since they're a whole government and you're just one - soon to be dead - demonologist).
Methinks demonology is a practice best kept to deep, dark, private sanctuaries. Not practiced in the light of day.
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Is that really unique to Cheliax?
IMO, just about every society on any game world I've ever seen takes a dim (and lethal) view of demonologists. There's no prison, there's no reform, and recidivism is 100%, so execution is the only answer that I know of.
I believe this attitude is even more prevalent in Cheliax because of the dichotomy between the lawfulness of the devils (which frankly gave them the tools they needed to rise to where they are) and the chaotic nature of the devils.
Most societies are going to go after demonologists, but I think Cheliax makes a point of it.
I was pretty sure that Chelaxians execute people found to be trafficking with demons.Is that really unique to Cheliax?
IMO, just about every society on any game world I've ever seen takes a dim (and lethal) view of demonologists. There's no prison, there's no reform, and recidivism is 100%, so execution is the only answer that I know of.
Only if they have capital punishment. In fact, I could see a nation reserve capital punishment for the most serious of crimes and not automatically count demonology among those.
Only if they have capital punishment. In fact, I could see a nation reserve capital punishment for the most serious of crimes and not automatically count demonology among those.I was pretty sure that Chelaxians execute people found to be trafficking with demons.Is that really unique to Cheliax?
IMO, just about every society on any game world I've ever seen takes a dim (and lethal) view of demonologists. There's no prison, there's no reform, and recidivism is 100%, so execution is the only answer that I know of.
Yeah, I would expect someone whose name is a homonym for "chaos" to feel that way.
;)
Me, I have to dig very very deep to think of any crime more egregious than demonology. That's a one-way street, and once you take the first step, there's no going back, no changing your mind, and nothing ahead of you but darkness and evil and destruction. Even the Celestials kill demons on sight and show no leniency to those who voluntarily consort with, or worse, control such abominations.
Me, I have to dig very very deep to think of any crime more egregious than demonology.
Diabolism. Orderliness. All the crimes that boil down to the imprisonment of others body, mind and soul, in a prison of order's making. Not imprisonment as a punishment for any deed, or for the protection of others, but simply because they think it should be this way.
Demons might be terrible engines of death and destruction, their methods are crude and their evil detracts them from the real goal, but at least their efforts bring this verse closer to the much-needed liberation. If only their efforts could be purified and guided to the right purpose.
I think there are imentesh working on the problem right now.
Creative Director
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If you want to be working with the government and not a rebel or an upstart in Cheliax, you'll want to check out the diabolist prestige class in Book of the Damned 1: Princes of Darkness. They're all about summoning devils.
If you want to summon demons in Cheliax, you will indeed need to hide out, because they do indeed frown on demon trafficking there. Book of the Damned 2: Lords of Chaos, will have the demoniac prestige class, but that's more a class about letting demons possess you and turning yourself into a demon and worshiping a demon lord than it is about summoning demons.
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The only Cheliax-sanctioned demonology I could see is binding and coercing demons to unwillingly serve the interests of Hell. (Particularly if there is a technique to imprison the demons in items to create 'cheap' magic items.) Even that is likely to be seen as a 'slippery slope' and not worth the bother, since they are particularly skilled at calling up devils for all their outsider needs.