Background:
The Big Bad Evil Girl(BBEG)is able to cast Major Image. It has been discovered by the party that a female, race unknown, has been seducing and masterminding a series of crimes. The PCs will confront her next week. The PCs (and players) are highly intelligent and are very prone to thinking outside the box.
What I am looking for:
I would like the BBEG to cast Major Image as soon as the PCs are close to her lair. I want the image to represent a creature that the PCs can identify (and one character can definitely do this reliably) that can assume human form AND is a CR WAAAAY above what they can handle. The only creature I have found are some good Dragons, which will just not be believable. This is where I need assistance if anyone can think of a truly awesome evil creature that would fit.
My Goal:
I want them to see this creature and very much consider what they (think) they have gotten into before charging in. I figure at least one of them should be able to ID it, know it can assume human form and think, "Oh crap, this is going to be suicide". The fun part is I know for a certainty, that 2 characters out of the 6 will definitely take a shot at it no matter what they are told. So the truth will come out. I just want them to have a real "Oh, s***t" moment.
You could use the search function on the Archives of Nethys to see all monsters that have the text "major image".
Hell-Gigas looks like fun, but there are a number of them.
If you want something that would still be beatable, just very difficult for a 7th level party: a Master Ei'risai (CR 10).
If you want something OMG, let's run away: Maharaja Rakshasa (CR 20).
Hope that helps.
Erinyes and Succubus (Devil and Demon, respectively)-very effective archers, with other abilities.
I was under the impression the BBEG is just a normal caster. What the OP seems to be looking for is a Bluff for the BBEG to pretend that it was all along. The bluff also needs to be something that could have pretended to be the BBEG all along.
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Custom Wildblooded Fey Sorceress (Kitsune) that went the Lich route. Her cha buffs her hp as undead, makes any disguise almost unbreakable as she can dominate or charm many people the pcs wouldn't want to slay as her protectors.
Plus the disguise can come off in layers. Disguise to appear alive, disguise kitsune human form, and major image/alter self.
I personally love the glabrezu demon for all your, "I look like a human, but I will betray you" needs...
Mythic succubus.
How about a rakshasha emptying the chamberpots? Who has a rakshasha maid? That thought should give them a pause.
Jiggy, the BBEG is a high level human. Like Melkiador said, I think some of you are missing the point, or else I am.
From the OP, I got the impression that the BBEG is an ordinary humanoid caster. However, she wants to frighten the PCs away, so she uses major image to disguise herself as some sort of powerful evil creature. She's actually just a human, but the PCs don't know that. She only needs to pick a creature that can assume human form so that the clever PCs have a believable explanation for how this "powerful evil creature" that they are seeing now fooled people into thinking they were human; the BBEG isn't actually using the creature's disguise abilities. It's basically a double bluff, and the Righter8 is just looking for the type of creature that she should impersonate to scare of the PCs.
Righter8, please correct me if I'm mistaken about any of that.
This is EXACTLY what I am going for!
I apologize I sometimes get too wordy and muddle the message.
The BBEG is human and while could hold her own against the party in a straight up fight, doesn't want to. She would rather they waste resources fighting an illusion so she can finish them off or outright scare them so she can make her escape.
Thanks
I second the Maharaja Rakshasa. Even if they only think it's a Common Rakshasa, they'll likely be second guessing themselves thinking it's got class levels.
You can also make them believe the power factor is high by having the image carry/wear identifiably powerful magic items. These would actually be additions to her disguise to try to simulate such items. Think Staff of the Magi or Staff of Necromancy. Or a Robe of Scintillating Colors. And/or have a number of Ioun Stones orbiting her head. Ask them for perception and several knowledge checks immediately upon sighting the image - the perception check is to check versus the disguise/bluff/etcetera to fully believe and buy into the illusion she's projecting, while the knowledge checks are to allow you to give general information about select items.
Think about making her disguise as effective as possible:
- Does she have maxed ranks in Disguise, or is she using Bluff?
- Alter Self is an inexpensive way to get +10 to the disguise check.
- If she keeps the size the same (not going with a Large or larger creature) she won't get hit with the size penalty (otherwise -10).
- Different race, which seems to be the key portion of the plan, will get her an automatic -2 penalty.
- She can spend time researching and preparing her disguise (circumstance bonuses?).
- She can possibly have one or more allies provide disguise help (aid another bonuses?).
- Not sure if you want her to invest in the Deceitful feat, or any diguise related traits.
- You might also provide a masterwork or magic tool set to give her a bonus on disguise checks.