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I'm working on a random encounter table for my current game and I'm thinking on adding angels to the list along side other outsiders as rare and terrifying encounters to run into on the open road. The problem I'm having right now is thinking up multiple interesting ways for these types of encounters to go. On the one hand I want them to be angels but I also want them to feel equally terrifying and inscrutable for a lowly caravan of PCs to run into similar to if they ran into a Vrock or other demon or daemon. The other thing I'm wondering is what does a good outsider do on the material plane if not on a specific mission from heaven or one of the other outer planes? With the evil outsiders it's usually easier since mayhem and suffering are their bread and butter but what about the good ones, especially if they are roaming around an area that is sparsely populated?
Any advise or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
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Patrolling and thwarting. If there are enough DEMONS wandering around that they're on the random encounter list, I can see angels wandering around looking to smite them. They could be particularly powerful guards, essentially stopping the whole caravan and scanning everyone with magic to make sure they aren't demons in disguise, or magically tainted. They could seize anything suspicious "for the greater good". Or they could pose as random travelers or pilgrims, and give boons to those who help them and prove worthy.
They might also be summoned by some cleric, and working for him. Or even just evangelizing.
"Hey, I came here on a planar quest to vanquish evil, but I got separated from the host on the way back to the gate. Can you guys give me a plane shift home?"
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Patrolling and thwarting. If there are enough DEMONS wandering around that they're on the random encounter list, I can see angels wandering around looking to smite them. They could be particularly powerful guards, essentially stopping the whole caravan and scanning everyone with magic to make sure they aren't demons in disguise, or magically tainted. They could seize anything suspicious "for the greater good". Or they could pose as random travelers or pilgrims, and give boons to those who help them and prove worthy.
They might also be summoned by some cleric, and working for him. Or even just evangelizing.
Right now there aren't nessecarily a lot of demons per se it's more like they are around and rare, sort of considered evil spirits of the land that can bring misery and woe. Think like classic representations where they are like primordial spirits, wandering the material plane and doing whatever they want really until humans roll around they want to mess with.
Now I wonder what angels and other good outsiders do on their free time and are on the material plane? What things would interest them here besides helping people?
I just can't think of angels on the PMP just wandering. They seem so serious. Like they would only come to the world on a real mission. It seems to me that any player worth his salt is going to wonder why there are angels about, and is going to expect some sort of serious answer to his question.
I love the idea of angels on the open road. However, if it were me, I would make some sort of background story for it, and over time I would escalate their numbers, as well as increase whatever danger it is they are fighting, and probably expect my PCs to get involved on one side or the other.
In short, this seems more like a full campaign point, rather than fodder for the wandering monster table.
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I just can't think of angels on the PMP just wandering. They seem so serious. Like they would only come to the world on a real mission. It seems to me that any player worth his salt is going to wonder why there are angels about, and is going to expect some sort of serious answer to his question.
I love the idea of angels on the open road. However, if it were me, I would make some sort of background story for it, and over time I would escalate their numbers, as well as increase whatever danger it is they are fighting, and probably expect my PCs to get involved on one side or the other.
In short, this seems more like a full campaign point, rather than fodder for the wandering monster table.
And that's part of what I think is the great detriment of it all, that it's so easy for us to picture evil outsiders meandering about anywhere and everywhere and yet the good ones are just so hard to see doing anything.
Right now I'm flirting with the idea that they might run into one that is just visiting. Imagine a Monavic Deva who has come to the material plane as part of his route to protect good and has finished his work early so he decides to go visit the grand canyon or another unique and majestic landmark of the area just to soak in its beauty.
Maybe there's one that stops by to help his favorite pet civilization, like he has whenever he has the free time for thousands of years. Now the natives think he's god giving them divine inspiration but in reality his antic protecting them and leading them towards better lives are just his hobby rather then his job, like a big version of an ant farm.
Finally you could have collectors or hunters, angels who look for great beasts of evil to hunt and kill for both honor and glory or just great hunts. I mean Cernnunos is the god of the hunt so their have to be angels out there who do enjoy it and most likely do go on hunts periodically.
The Angels are looking for the McGuffin. Anyone who does not immediately offer their full cooperation is obviously a demon sympathizer.