You're a level 15 wizard. Huzzah. Through study and dumb luck you've discovered the True Name of a Planetar (per True Name Discovery). You want to make the most of this, but simultaneously you want to avoid pissing off the entirety of the heavenly host.
You're alignment is neutral and you've got a pragmatic streak. As such you know not to demand the Planetar slaughter innocents or something obviously evil. Also, you'll clearly want to avoid calling him/her a "pet" to their face.
I suppose my question is how does one best utilize your new "Pet" and not piss off all of heaven?
It is in your best interest to call this creature only sparingly, and occasionally reward it in some fashion to mollify its wrath. If you repeatedly fail to offer it a reward appropriate to its type and ethos, the creature may begin plotting ways to destroy the bond between you, whether by creating an accident that will destroy your memory of the name, by plaguing you with nuisances or dangers until you vow never to call on it again, or by actively seeking to destroy you through its own devices or those of an underling. If this creature is of a lawful type and you are violating its ethos, its superiors may even destroy it or you rather than allow you to contaminate their servant further. Worse, they may establish situations where it is necessary for you to summon this outsider, opening gateways to infernal or angelic interference, in order to gain a foothold on the Material Plane.
I recommend you slap your GM in the face for incompetence, and head out to a movie.
I recommend you slap your GM in the face for incompetence, and head out to a movie.
What? Why? It's a perfectly legal thing to take.
I recommend you slap your GM in the face for incompetence, and head out to a movie.What? Why? It's a perfectly legal thing to take.
12 HD cap. A planetar is cheating at 17 HD.
12 HD cap. A planetar is cheating at 17 HD.I recommend you slap your GM in the face for incompetence, and head out to a movie.What? Why? It's a perfectly legal thing to take.
Unless you're 15th level.
Special: You may select this discovery multiple times. Each time you select this discovery, it applies to a different, specific outsider. If you select this discovery at 15th level or higher, the creature may have up to 18 Hit Dice and the call acts as greater planar binding instead of planar binding.
If you select this discovery at 15th level or higher, the creature may have up to 18 Hit Dice and the call acts as greater planar binding instead of planar binding.
No it's legal
To reduce confusion here's the whole write up
Prerequisite: You must be at least an 11th-level Wizard to select this discovery.
Benefit: Your researches into ancient tomes and your inquisitions of bound spirits have led you to one of the best-hidden secrets of the multiverse: the true name of an outsider—the name that defines the very essence of the creature and that gives the speaker control over the being. This outsider can have no more than 12 Hit Dice. Once per day, you can speak the common name by which the outsider is known, and the outsider travels to you as if you had cast planar binding upon it. It must obey you to the best of its ability, without pay or bargaining for its services, for its fear that you might release its true name to the wider world is enough to bring even the most recalcitrant of outsiders to bear.
If the creature is within 100 feet, as a move action, you may punish it by deliberately mispronouncing its name, wracking its very essence and giving it the sickened and staggered conditions for 1 round (even if the creature is normally immune to these conditions). You cannot use true name in an area of silence, but the creature does not have to be able to hear you for it to be harmed by the ability.
It is in your best interest to call this creature only sparingly, and occasionally reward it in some fashion to mollify its wrath. If you repeatedly fail to offer it a reward appropriate to its type and ethos, the creature may begin plotting ways to destroy the bond between you, whether by creating an accident that will destroy your memory of the name, by plaguing you with nuisances or dangers until you vow never to call on it again, or by actively seeking to destroy you through its own devices or those of an underling. If this creature is of a lawful type and you are violating its ethos, its superiors may even destroy it or you rather than allow you to contaminate their servant further. Worse, they may establish situations where it is necessary for you to summon this outsider, opening gateways to infernal or angelic interference, in order to gain a foothold on the Material Plane.
This is a spell-like ability.
Special: You may select this discovery multiple times. Each time you select this discovery, it applies to a different, specific outsider. If you select this discovery at 15th level or higher, the creature may have up to 18 Hit Dice and the call acts as greater planar binding instead of planar binding.
I appreciate any responses, but i'd prefer if they were related to the question that was asked.
12 HD cap. A planetar is cheating at 17 HD.I recommend you slap your GM in the face for incompetence, and head out to a movie.What? Why? It's a perfectly legal thing to take.Unless you're 15th level.
Special: You may select this discovery multiple times. Each time you select this discovery, it applies to a different, specific outsider. If you select this discovery at 15th level or higher, the creature may have up to 18 Hit Dice and the call acts as greater planar binding instead of planar binding.
Whoops, my bad! Missed that part.
So, ideas:
- Payment. You've got them in a tough spot, but they're higher CR than you for now. So why not offer some payment for services rendered, even if it's not necessary?
- Let them work on redeeming you. Being pragmatic, you probably don't object terribly to being tempted by the forces of Good. This can tie in with payment- for time called, you spend an equal amount of community service.
- Only get help with good things. If you're after something neutral, figure out how good (or law) can be achieved in the process.
- Time on the mortal plane presumably has value. That's a decent bargaining chip, although it should probably be clear that you're going to stop offering it if you come to regret it. Planetars can probably look out for long-term maximum benefit.
All of the things QuidEst said sound like good ideas, I'd also add to only ask it to do things that are fitting for a creature of its stature, rather than trifling things that you could accomplish easily without it.
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Bargain. You could try to force the Planetar to do some things, but in the long run that's a bad thing. But it knows you could, and that is a bargaining chip. Don't lean on it too heavily of course.
So if you want something done, try to point out any Good aspects of the task. Meanwhile, offer to offset the "inconvenience"; as a high-level wizard you're able to do many things more efficiently than the Planetar. Different spell lists, allies in dubious places, all that. Imply that if you can't come to an agreement, that you'd have to apply force, but that you'd rather solve things amicably.
In the long run, this works better if you're neutral/good, as in, you're neutral, but don't do evil, you just aren't interesting in advancing Good either. As long as the Planetar isn't really scandalized about the tasks you ask of it or the things you offer in return, you can develop a working relation.
And in the real long run, what you're after is perhaps not just the Planetar; after a few levels, you're more powerful than that. But a direct relation to an insider who can get your concerns into the ear of the movers and shakers of the upper planes, that could be very useful.
Another idea: once you know its True Name, if you advance the Planetar's political standing among the heavenly hosts, you're improving the power of your "ally". So don't automatically refuse to do useful favors to it that might advance its standing.
Then again, expect "conversations" with superior heavenly beings that are nonplussed about the hold you have over the Planetar. Be nice.
Good ideas all.
On the flip side I have another question, though not specifically related to the planetar. This could easily be for a neutral or evil creature.
Lets say that diplomacy fails for some reason and you need to push a little harder. Something to the effect of "do what I say or I'll make sure everyone knows your true name."
How would you guarantee that the true name get disseminated around the globe/multiverse should anything happen to you? Some sort of secret timer that goes off should if you don't "hit the button" every so often.
Right now I've got some ideas having to do with multiple simulacra with mind blank and standing orders. There's got to be a better way though.
Maybe a demiplane, created initially high above a densely populated city, protected from scrying and filled with strips of paper with the true name on it. If the timer for that demiplane runs out then everything in the demiplane gets shunted to where the deimplane was initially created. End result is that you have to reset that demiplane every X days or everyone in that city will know the true name of the outsider via true name confetti.
Any other thoughts?
A couple of letters stored in a safe-deposit box at the Bank of Abadar, with instructions for how and when to send them?
That's a much better idea. I'm sure the bank/church is both highly secure and under some form of divine protection.
Actually, now that you mention it something similar with leadership will do it.
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This stuff seems very morally dubious. Maybe acceptable if done on Evil creatures, but definitely not a Planetar. It's definitely evil and grounds for the celestial armies to whoop your ass. No way your alignment won't change!
When you use a calling spell to call an air, chaotic, earth, evil, fire, good, lawful, or water creature it is a spell of that type.
Son of a --
All right, joking aside, it should be the Planetar's choice. It shouldn't be your pet, someone willing to be called where pure evil can be stopped. Try bindings Demon. Devils are too clever with rules.
A couple of letters stored in a safe-deposit box at the Bank of Abadar, with instructions for how and when to send them?That's a much better idea. I'm sure the bank/church is both highly secure and under some form of divine protection.
You could always sell it to a Devil instead. They'd pay handsomely.
You could always sell it to a Devil instead. They'd pay handsomely.A couple of letters stored in a safe-deposit box at the Bank of Abadar, with instructions for how and when to send them?That's a much better idea. I'm sure the bank/church is both highly secure and under some form of divine protection.
Fair point. Angels are too ready to be martyrs. Let's assume for a moment that it's something other than a planetar.
If they're lawful, bargain. If they're chaotic, try to align things with their interests and then add in some carrot and stick. If they're good, keep out of shady business. If they're evil, keep some additional leverage and keep them in the dark about things you care about. If they're true neutral, just don't mess about with whatever it is they hate (undead, the opposite element, etc.).
Don't call up what you can't put down.
Your best bet is to use it for things it would willingly do. Don’t use it against good or even neutral foes save it for dealing with evil. Always make sure that what you send it up against is significantly more evil than yourself.
Leverage its use so people owe you for helping them. Having someone owe you a favor because you sent your pet Planetar to aid them is always good. Once the favor is owed you can use it as you need. This is a really good way to get good characters on your side.
Good ideas all.
On the flip side I have another question, though not specifically related to the planetar. This could easily be for a neutral or evil creature.
Lets say that diplomacy fails for some reason and you need to push a little harder. Something to the effect of "do what I say or I'll make sure everyone knows your true name."
How would you guarantee that the true name get disseminated around the globe/multiverse should anything happen to you? Some sort of secret timer that goes off should if you don't "hit the button" every so often.
Right now I've got some ideas having to do with multiple simulacra with mind blank and standing orders. There's got to be a better way though.
Maybe a demiplane, created initially high above a densely populated city, protected from scrying and filled with strips of paper with the true name on it. If the timer for that demiplane runs out then everything in the demiplane gets shunted to where the deimplane was initially created. End result is that you have to reset that demiplane every X days or everyone in that city will know the true name of the outsider via true name confetti.
Any other thoughts?
That is pretty much blackmail/borderline enslavement (a whole population of people knowing something like that?), expect to get a smack down from the heavens for thinking you could do such a thing. The planetar has friends, as well as someone to answer to. If they stop answering things they should be doing because of you, expect the person "in charge" to make them more available (and you less problematic for them). Good creatures usually have good relationships, unlike evil creatures who might want to keep this type of thing hush hush lest the information get out that they are vulnerable (and be even more taken advantage of).
Think of it this way, when something "bad" happens do you not commiserate with your friends? And don't your good/close friends offer to help and fix the issue? If you start missing work for mysterious reasons and are on good terms with your boss, wouldn't they pull you aside to find out what is going on? Then offer suggestions, or even bend the rules a little bit to help out if it is potentially serious?
Good ideas all.
On the flip side I have another question, though not specifically related to the planetar. This could easily be for a neutral or evil creature.
Lets say that diplomacy fails for some reason and you need to push a little harder. Something to the effect of "do what I say or I'll make sure everyone knows your true name."
How would you guarantee that the true name get disseminated around the globe/multiverse should anything happen to you? Some sort of secret timer that goes off should if you don't "hit the button" every so often.
Right now I've got some ideas having to do with multiple simulacra with mind blank and standing orders. There's got to be a better way though.
Maybe a demiplane, created initially high above a densely populated city, protected from scrying and filled with strips of paper with the true name on it. If the timer for that demiplane runs out then everything in the demiplane gets shunted to where the deimplane was initially created. End result is that you have to reset that demiplane every X days or everyone in that city will know the true name of the outsider via true name confetti.
Any other thoughts?
That is pretty much blackmail/borderline enslavement (a whole population of people knowing something like that?), expect to get a smack down from the heavens for thinking you could do such a thing. The planetar has friends, as well as someone to answer to. If they stop answering things they should be doing because of you, expect the person "in charge" to make them more available (and you less problematic for them). Good creatures usually have good relationships, unlike evil creatures who might want to keep this type of thing hush hush lest the information get out that they are vulnerable (and be even more taken advantage of).
Think of it this way, when something "bad" happens do you not commiserate with your friends? And don't your good/close friends offer to help and fix the issue? If you start missing work for...
I once tried blackmailing an Astral Deva, his friends beat me up pretty bad... Just... Summon unspeakable demons okay!
The best way to utilize him is to keep him around to be helpful, when you really need his spell arsenal or as last-ditch source for advice. He won't object much, if he is to be your guardian angel I suppose.