Ok, my goal is to create a great enemy for my pc's that I can have as thier goal after rise of the runelords, and take them from lvl 18ish to lvl 20. To do that I will make another dungeon crawl to go the last 2 levels, but I'm in need of a solid BBEG.
The backstory of one of the pc's is my inspiration so far. The pc has a master that is a paladin, which I look forward to using as the ultimate BBEG. The plot so far is the paladin has in her possession an intelligent long sword, who's purpose is (conveniently) to corrupt this particular paladin to be an ally and champion of lamashtu. It's capable of changing its alignment from ce to true neut as a disguise, and will have 2 different sets of powers.
The red set makes the sword blade glint red, change alignment of itself to neutral, take the paladin down the "red" path, and have abilities to support that. This will make more sense when I get to my core question for the community.
The black set makes the sword blade glint black, responds to detect evil like a hydrogen bomb in brightness, draws the paladin down the black path, and have abilities to support that.
The sword when out of proximity to the paladin alternates between white, black, and red, and white the sword is fully dormant.
The black path, the paladin becomes a anti paladin & grave knight. I know, not very lamashtu-like. But it should make a solid BBEG.
The red path, I have no idea. So, what would you suggust? It would have at least 2 lvls of paladin or anti paladin, and can take any monster feats, or templates, or whatever. I think I'm aiming for a cr 23ish BBEG. Minions / minor army suggestions are welcome.
The pc's are a paladin, an optimized zen archer, an optimized ninja / Horizon walker (for dimensional feat chain), and some kind of controll based bard.
So what would you do for the red path? Anti paladin / sorc/ dd? Some half-fiend anti paladin?
Maybe I should have tititled this, what to do to a lvl 2 paladin to make it a cr 23 bad guy?
Hmm...
I'm rally not a fan of plotting to make a paladin fall. I'm actually a big fan of the class-- both as a player and as the GM. Paladins are tough enough to play without a GM antagonizing them-- the alignment restriction is the main check on the class' power level.
If my group wants to keep playing after the end of Spires of Xin-Shalast, I'm considering doing something with Leng. I havent' figured out what exactly that would be... but Into The Nightmare Rift (Part 5 of Shattered Star) will be including an extended gazzetteer of Leng, so that might be an excellent inspiration.
I'm really looking forward to that installment when it comes out in three weeks...
I am not sure your OP is clear. Which Paladin has the sword of two paths? If it is the player than I have to agree with Haladir if you are planing the fall of the PC from a good PC to an Evil BBEG I don't want to be the player in your game. Unless you have worked this Fall from Grace out with the PC as part of the way he/she wants the character to go it doesn't seem like it will be a fun game for that player.
If NPC Paladin master is the one with the sword I am not sure I understand what you are looking for. Two different BBEG in one character? If the NPC is an off-screen character why do you need to worry about that. Just stat her up at a higher level as and Anti-Paladin with minions that reflect her fall and corruption. If it is because of the evil sword, stat it out and that helps make it a higher challenge. I agree a Grave Knight doesn't fit Lumashtu, but following the Path Nualia is taking in the first part of the AP does. Turning the NPC into a half-fiend might work for that. If you are set on the Grave Knight look into finding more out about the Runelord of Gluttony Zutha, he has artifacts and such that are necromancer related. He could be awake and manipulating the Anti-Paladin instead of Lamashtu.
Now if the purpose of the two colors is because your NPC is traveling with the PC party that is a different situation. I think this might be why you want the two paths so that the PC's can see that something is going on and when the NPC turns on them they go "OH, thats why the sword was turning red and black." It seems you want some random determination of which BBEG shows up based on how the NPC goes along the adventure, My suggestion is make a decision on how the NPC will fall and stick to it. If you want the sword to have two colors instead of it having two Paths, give it two kinds of powers that can't be used at the same time (when its necromancy it is black, when it is summoning it is red). Just remember the longer the NPC is with the party uising the sword and being corrupted the more likely they are to notice and then try to do something about it before you complete the AP and can use her as the second BBEG.
I also suspect the reason for the two possibilities is you want some randomness to the NPC's fall because it is actually a PC being played by you the DM which I don't suggest. DM's are not PC's and shouldn't treat the NPC's they create as PC's in my opinion. Having a random way the NPC becomes the BBEG doesn't absolve you of the choice to have your character turn on the PC's at the end. If that is the plot you want to have that is all good. I think it would be a great way to continue the AP past the last book and pulling from your PC's background is a cool way to do it there is no needed to make it random.
Ok, some clarifications, its an npc that is being corrupted, not the PC. And you are correct, the reason I want there to be more than one path of corruption is I want the actions of the party in relation to the NPC have an impact on what happens. Throughout the Adventure Path, I have planned interactions here and there with the paladin NPC, giving the PC's the option to change the flavor of the big bad, and give them an "aha" moment along the way. The paladin NPC will not be adventuring with the party long term, instead think social encounters in between the AP books..
So really, I was just hunting for something thematic related to the red color that I can build something that has 2 lvls of fallen paladin or 2+ levels of antipaladin. The black path I think I have worked out story wise... I'm just having a hard time thinking of something the PC's wont obliterate at lvl 20 in a round for the red.. and fits a theme of red...
How does the PC interactions with the NPC effect the way the Intelligent Evil Sword applies it's corruption upon the NPC? I could see it as how their actions might prevent or increase the corruption but alter the type of corruption seems odd to me.
Also the fact that the Evil Sword has two ways to corrupt is jarring for me. If it's goal is to corrupt the Paladin why two ways? Is the Intelligent Sword the actual BBEG or is it an implement of some other power (Runelord, God, Ancient Evil Dragon)? Don't get me wrong...I am not trying to trash your idea because I actually like it. I am just tying to figure out how it works, and ways to help make it become a solid part of your RotRL story arc.
Maybe your right, 2 paths of corruption is to much, maybe black path is full corruption, red path is a seriously messed up "good" path, ie, save the world by killing all sentient magic enabled beings.. you know, because they mess everything up.
Ok, I'm not really sure if the sword is the BBEG behind the scenes, or Lamashtu (CE god) is, but it works like this, Lamashtu empowered the sword and instilled its purpose and intelligence, but after its creation, the sword is on its own in its mission to corrupt the NPC paladin.
Maybe the red path is the NPC paladin's resistance to the corruption and ends up somewhere in between, but still opposite enough the PC's to make for a challenging BBEG after runelords.
I dont know yet exactly how the PC interactions will change things, but my first pass at an idea, is that they will be able influence the NPC paladin during social events that would either bolster and hinder the NPC Paladin's resistance to the sword.
The REAL reason for the multiple paths, is to give a choose your own adventure feel to the BBEG, so the PC's have a role in shaping what they end up facing, so its not just another BBEG, but something personal to them, to left them feel the consequence of their actions relating to the NPC Paladin.
Well here is an idea for you, keep track of the "sin" full things that your PC do. It will help you with Book 2 and you can also use it for the Sword. The intelligent sword could "feed" off the dormant emotions that the PC's are carrying with them. Have wrath always advance the swords paths, and then have Gluttony, Sloth, and Greed advance the Sword on the Black Path and Pride, Lust, Envy advance the Red Path. The Red path can represent the Swords original purpose, serve Lamashtu and forge a Half-fiend champion to lead an army of monsters to ravage the world. The Black Path could represent a corruption of necromancy evil, before the Fall of Thassilon the Runelord Zutha had the sword and put some of his Life force in it. With the awakening of the runewells it too is now active trying to awaken it's Runelord master too. Flesh out the swords history and you have an awesome Book 7 and/or 8 for your PC's to continue on facing another runelord or a Champion of the god.
Well here is an idea for you, keep track of the "sin" full things that your PC do. It will help you with Book 2 and you can also use it for the Sword. The intelligent sword could "feed" off the dormant emotions that the PC's are carrying with them. Have wrath always advance the swords paths, and then have Gluttony, Sloth, and Greed advance the Sword on the Black Path and Pride, Lust, Envy advance the Red Path. The Red path can represent the Swords original purpose, serve Lamashtu and forge a Half-fiend champion to lead an army of monsters to ravage the world. The Black Path could represent a corruption of necromancy evil, before the Fall of Thassilon the Runelord Zutha had the sword and put some of his Life force in it. With the awakening of the runewells it too is now active trying to awaken it's Runelord master too. Flesh out the swords history and you have an awesome Book 7 and/or 8 for your PC's to continue on facing another runelord or a Champion of the god.
That's a great idea, i'll take it, and the mechanic works well, thanks a bunch
Would love to see what you come up with and how it works out for your game.
I'll let you know, next play session is this Wednesday.
Since your curious:
The plot so far:
Note: The pupil is the PC that decided he wanted to play a paladin instead of his Alchimist, this is how he "dropped" into the the mid crawl of the catacombs of wrath the rest of the PC's were doing.
The Master and pupil where out hunting the goblin war chiefs out side of Sandpoint. They get overwhelmed by several swarms of goblins, some how (GM hand waving) end up jailed in the catacombs of wrath. The Master and the pupil are seperated, PC is jailed in the NW room with the 2 sinspawn, the Master is jailed in the study to the east.
What happend before the PC's found the pupil:
So, the witch communes with Lamashtu, and lamashtu gives the witch a ritual to create the corruption sword: take the Masters sword, slay 23 young girls, whilst praying and chanting. Also have Korv (cant remember the spelling, the deformed goblin) rape and torture the Master. Lamashtu then ensures a pregnancy.
PC's then find the pupil, and one of the PC's daughter (eight year old girl, npc) in the cells in the NW most room of the catacombs. The 2 sinspan attack, PC's defeat the sinspan, stop the unconscious bleedout of the eight year old and free the pupil. Pupil finds his gear and his masters gear and clothing in a chest in the room.
PC's then explore east and find the Master locked up on a table in the study. The master is going nuts calling the PC's demons, and saying she wont fall for their trick, and she try's to lunge and bite the PC's, but is restrained on the table. PC's are stumped, and decide see if they can find a way to break her madness in the other rooms.
They then go east and find Korvus (or whatever his name is) in the zombie pit room. They soundly defeat the goblin (1 round, 2nd attack, I swear, they're always killing the solo encounters fast, but nearly die on the sinspawn, lol). They search the room find the Master's sword stabbed down into a black alter, with the mutilated bodies of the 23 young grils cast to the side. They fail to notice Korvus was using the corpses for food, but the PC's are pretty mad at the bad guys now (GM job done!). The corrupted sword is rotating from a white blade, to a red glinting blade, to a black glinting blade. The pupil tries to pull it out, fails a DC 35 will save, and his had falls uselessly to the side. He then detects evil on it, and notes, the black is evil, and doesn't see anything else in the white or the red. The pupil times his grab, grabs it on the white, no will save, pulls the sword from the stone. He starts to walk away, the sword glints red, and he makes a will save DC 20, and wins. Proud PC moment.
The PC's then head back to the Master, and low and behold, she finally believes the PC's are not demons after some interviewing. They free her, She gets dressed, and asks for her sword, the the pupil hands it over...
We broke gaming session there last Wednesday.
I'll keep you updating on story points, but the milestones coming are this: They go to fight the witch, sword turns red, casts enlarge person and rage on the Master. Lamashtu blesses the witch with a divine moment, and gives her a powerful summons. (dont know which yet). This monster then keeps the Master busy, while the PC's kill the witch. While the PC's are fighting the witch, she taunts the Masters saying things like:
"Mother says you will be Mother in her kingdom"
"How is your tummy feeling?"
"Ohhh... are you going to hurt me with your big bad sword?"
"Did you enjoy my servant?"
All of this further enrages the Master during the battle. I'm thinking things like swings that take chunks out of the walls, etc
Sometime later.. off stage, the Master learns she's pregnant.
Now, I'm trying to decide how to play this, but either way, she is going to kill the baby inside of her. IE abortion. This of course is going to be considered a CE act by her goddess, and she will lose her paladin status and have to attone. At this point, the swords temptations and influence swing into high gear.
Along the way, I plan to have her write letters to her pupil, recording the slow approach to the antipaladin lvl's.
Thats all I have planned so far. But I will be taking your idea's and working them into things next weekend. I'll keep you updated on how things play out if your still interested.