Ok, need some ideas for a quest one of my characters is about to take on.
I need to infiltrate Heaven and deliver a "package". My character in this case is not a "good guy". I need to be the one to do the delivery -- can't be done via proxy.
I'm a 14th level Blood Arcanist with an Abyssal Bloodline. My basic idea is to use Heighten Draconic Ally and then Alter Summoned Monster to summon a Movanic deva or Shield Archon (for a long duration trip).
Since I have absolute control over my summoned creature, I'll possess him with Possession, leaving my body in a temporary demi-plane to possess him and do a ride along until he is in position, then take control and do what needs to be done. I won't need to exert control other than via standard telepathic communication that Possession grants -- I'm not sure if exterting control is absolutely required.
I'll be using Greater Magic Aura to hopefully suppress any magical auras other than the standard ones for a movanic deva to hide my presence (bypassing guards, etc).
Can anyone see any flaws in the plan or suggest any additional methods that would assist with keeping my presence hidden?
Alter self or other illusion magic + non-detection.
Heaven doesn't know you're a bad guy.
First off, both the hound archon and the deva have the equivalent of protection from evil or their protective aura, which functions as such. Typically both of those will stop possession. Now, you said you aren't a good guy, but that doesn't necessarily mean evil. So if you aren't evil then I suppose you're okay on that front. Even if you are, theoretically I suppose you could force them to lower/fail their saves. I am only mentioning this for completeness.
Oh, that I understood. That would prevent intial possession, so I would have to require them to drop it temporarily. However, for disguise purposes, they would have to re-enable it -- which would prevent control through possession. However, given it's a summoned creature, I'm not sure that it is required.
The main problem that I see is that Draconic Ally is a conjuration (creation) spell and alter summoned monster requires conjuration (summoning) specifically, so that won't work. You could, however, use a mount spell instead. That is a summoning spell and does last 2 hours per level. If extended, that could be up to 4, of course, in order to alter it into a hound archon or a deva you would need to Heighten it to at least 4 (hound) or 9 (I don't see Movanic on the list, but I assume it is going to be near an astral deva in power, so likely 8 or 9). Obviously, that won't leave much room for Extend if you Heighten to 9 (unless you have a greater metamagic rod of extend).
Thanks for the detail on the draconic ally -- I'll have to use a heightened mount.
Even in the deva or hound, their good subtype only means they will detect as such and be affected as good by spells (regardless of their actual alignment). With you in control, technically, they will still detect as your alignment in addition (which if it's neutral is fine, if it's evil, you're still detecting as evil, same with chaotic.) So while the good subtype would cover you in the case of a detect good, it won't help you if they use detect chaos or whatever else (which is probably what they use.) The good news is that, in the case of the deva, the protective aura should hedge out most spells of 3rd level or lower, which is most detects. Unless your bloodline is physically apparent, you are almost just as safe having the deva with you and staying within its protective aura anyway. Only if they're using higher level divinations...
Ok, this is what I was looking for -- I had heard of a spell that would "suppress" my aura by 50% so that detect chaos/evil will essentially overlook the aura -- or is that what Greater Magic Aura would do? I just don't remember the specific spell in question.
I should note that my character is CE, and has passed the first/second occult ritual to become a half-demon -- along with the abyssal bloodline (I have claws). I don't have a cleric's aura, but I'm pretty sure I'll stand out if I show up alone. I'm also a tiefling.
Alter self or other illusion magic + non-detection.
Heaven doesn't know you're a bad guy.
Unfortunately, most angels/archons have a constant true seeing in play, so I need to use possession to bypass that. I think misdirection can have my alignment show as good by piggy-backing off of the archon/angel -- and true seeing won't foil that.
Are you infiltrating heaven for nefarious purposes or just worried they might attack you for looking evil?
The Hidden Presence feat is required to avoid detecting as evil, so you’ll need undetectable alignment or something similar, not just magic aura. Why not just hire someone who can cast a Veil and Mindblank on you?
Are you infiltrating heaven for nefarious purposes or just worried they might attack you for looking evil?
I’m delivering a package of unknown content and likely ill intent.
Hmmm, I didn’t think about being an outsider. I wonder if there is a way for my summoned creature to summon me up there, bypassing the need to infiltrate.
If you can make the summon last long enough you could get in a bag of holding with the package, and have the summon take you to your destination.
If you can make the summon last long enough you could get in a bag of holding with the package, and have the summon take you to your destination.
Ya know, I was just thinking about this. I wonder what the probability is that there would be TSA like security there.
To answer some other questions, I'm not in any particular time crunch, but this is related to my apotheosis, so I want to get it done relatively quickly.
I suppose you could polymorph any object and turn the package itself into an archon or deva and have it just deliver itself by traveling to the desired location. When the duration ends, it turns back into the package. Of course, you probably shouldn't mention what it is or what it's (likely evil) purpose is to it, since it will be a good creature at that point. Likely you will just need to trick it, even give it a fake message or package and convince it that that's the actual package.
Unfortunately, it would likely only have about a 20 minute duration (40 if extended) so you'd probably need more time. Plus the aforementioned true seeing of some higher-order angels might allow them to realize the new archon visiting is really a package. Of course, there's also the fact that that would kind of take the fun and excitement out of the challenge.
This has to be the most inventive and hilarious idea that I've heard yet. Brilliant! -- Now, I think I have to be there to do the delivery, but it is still awesome.
Here's an interesting idea. If I'm considered to be an outsider from the perspective of the outer planes (me being a native outsider), could not the various planar ally/planar binding spells be used to call me to the infiltrator's location? Provided the spell's restrictions are followed, naturally.
If you are willing to sell your soul, take the Damnation feat Mask of Virtue and 2 other Damnation feats. If you are LE you now detect as LG, if you are CE you now detect as CG. The angels are not going to kill a CG character travelling the Heavens.
Here's an interesting idea. If I'm considered to be an outsider from the perspective of the outer planes (me being a native outsider), could not the various planar ally/planar binding spells be used to call me to the infiltrator's location? Provided the spell's restrictions are followed, naturally.
Being on another plane makes you extra-planar, but does not make you an an outsider. Conflating the two is a common mistake.
If you are willing to sell your soul, take the Damnation feat Mask of Virtue and 2 other Damnation feats. If you are LE you now detect as LG, if you are CE you now detect as CG. The angels are not going to kill a CG character travelling the Heavens.
I saw those as an option, but three feats is a pretty steep cost. My soul is already damned. Maybe I can make a magic item that does the same thing. hhmm.. I'm liking this idea more and more.
Think Mask of the Anonymous Mein, cursed (naturally), only able to be worn by CE's, adds 3 of 4 Damnation feats.
I'm trying to recall a old magic item that traps the soul's wearer upon death for later resurrection, etc. Anyone recall the name?
Pale Orange Rhomboid -- Ioun Stones for the win.
Ok, the Ioun Stone isn't perfect -- still looking for that old magic item.
Looks like a Ring of Hidden Psyche might be a contender.
Here's an interesting idea. If I'm considered to be an outsider from the perspective of the outer planes (me being a native outsider), could not the various planar ally/planar binding spells be used to call me to the infiltrator's location? Provided the spell's restrictions are followed, naturally.Being on another plane makes you extra-planar, but does not make you an an outsider. Conflating the two is a common mistake.The question is not whether OP's PC is an outsider, we have that covered by the character being a Half-Fiend.
The question is if something makes Native Outsiders not valid targets for Planar Binding.
Or Planar Ally, but then you need someone who is a cleric of your demon lord patron and make sure the patron is on board with the scheme.
Oh, ok. I missed that he's a half-fiend. In that case he's fine:
There is one group of outsiders that it is more difficult to bind: the native outsider. A native outsider cannot be called and bound from the Material Plane. In order to call any outsider, it must be on a different plane from the binder. Native outsiders (or other outsiders currently manifesting on the Material Plane) can only be called and bound by spellcasters on a different plane.
I'm not a half-fiend *yet*. I'm only on the 2nd Apotheosis, not fully completed. Right now, I'm a standard tiefling.
Fantastic find on Ultimate Magic. Apparently as a native outsider, I can use planar binding/ally to get pulled into Heaven.