| Tacticslion |
Hello! Running this again and struggling to find all the references to things discussing Nocticula and how she handles people accepting, rejecting, or otherwise to her offered gifts.
Obviously there are strong feelings about RP and specific table expectations. I’ve read those—I’ve found it more difficult to find the exact mentions in-AP.
I am curious:
1) how many times is it mentioned afterwords, and what benefits and drawbacks does it give you?
2) outside of nebulously not “owing Nocticula an ill-defined favor,” what is the benefit for turning her down? What is the downside other than “not having a nifty thing?”
3) what has been the results in your campaign afterwords, and why? (I admit, ten years and a whole other edition later, not to mention the CRPG literally taking up practically every online space discussion, might mean this is a tad late for asking people how it went in their 1e game, but… eh, we’ll see who find this)
| treblignotrub |
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I know it has been awhile since you posted this , but the group i'm GMing has just reached the Midnight Isles. I think a lot will depend on your group. During the interaction with her, I will be describing all communication with the PC's as telepathic in their native racial tongue, while she lounges on her thrown looking disinterested. Most of this interaction will be heard by all, but at one point she will make her offer to each individually. Since we are gaming online I will be setting up a private message to each PC that they will read in real time with the custom offer to each. most of the PC are good alignment and it is not a real offer. there is one PC who is evil who might actually accept and I will be talking to him GM/Player in advance. there is a second PC that through RP in prior book might be susceptible to an offer also. We will see if any one takes it. As a gm i will not confirm who does or does not.
but to answer your questions.
1.) there is mention of Nocticula joining the fight vs Baphomet in Book 5 pg55 if she is called on by the boon pc if they make a successful roll. this looks to be detrimental to that PC. If things are going badly for the PC you could have her show up anyway just as they are about to fall.
Book 6 has some interaction listed on pg 21,23,24 . looks like not directly, but to provide info. and possibly if called to join campaigns ultimate fight vs deskari.
2.) not accepting the offer losses a potential powerful ally(shinny thing) as you mention. As a GM you lose a source of dropping hints to the players and get out of jail free card if you are looking at a TPK.
3.) yet to be seen what the end result will actually be. if one of the possible two pc does accept I will mention it when they meet Iomedae during book 5. She will ask them If they are Nocticula's "Mortal Herald" unintentionally. Only gods have mortal heralds. in my head cannon a god (iomedae) just recognized nocticula as a god. one of many steps Nocticula needs to become the Redeemer Queen of PF2. My intention during the wrap-up once we finish is to state the the PC is raised by her to immortality as her herald.
| treblignotrub |
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
So just to update. last night we had the session were the party meets Nocticula. It went very well. some good RP. Our oracle of Serenrae suggested she is on a redemption path like Arushalae, She laughs and says this is all about power. then she makes the offer. I customized the wording of each offer to the specific PC's and they were give directly to each player. I told the players to let me know by email after the game. we game online with Foundry so I used a Private Journal enter only the player could see. this, i think, enhanced each individual players RP experience. I got two player to bite. One I expected and one I did not. The players reasonings for taking the offer were both in line with the way they play the character and the story background of each. we will see how it goes from here.
| Tacticslion |
A year later and I finally remember to check on this!
Spent about two-to-three months with no bites, so I figured it was dead. Glad I checked as there are now responses. Now, when did people finally get around to it?
Jul 14, 2024, 07:42 pm
Sep 14, 2024, 07:13 am
... DANG it! XD
Anyway,
Before the PCs go, she offers each of them one more boon if they wish. This can be an answer to a single question (subject to your discretion), a single magical item worth no more than 15,000 gp, or even the benefits of Nocticula’s profane ascension. Only the final boon registers as something that could jeopardize a player’s alignment. Choosing no boon is in and of itself perhaps the wisest choice, for Nocticula takes note of people who know better than to overly rely upon a demon for aid. Make a note of any PC who chooses not to accept Nocticula’s aid at this time, since this may come into play in the final adventure of Wrath of the Righteous.
Hm.
i think in book vi they get an iomedae buff if they didnt side with Noc
Why are you helping us now?
Spoiler:She smiles coyly, saying only that she has her reasons for seeing Deskari laid low. If any of the PCs refused her direct aid in “The Midnight Isles” before traveling to the island of Colyphyr, she adds that in her many eons of existence, she has met few mortals who have had the courage, wisdom, and self-control to resist her offers, and that she was quite moved by the PCs’ devotion to their ideals and convictions when they refused her aid before. She says she’s helping the PCs now, no strings attached, to show her respect for their convictions, even hinting that she might be able to learn something from the PCs. The revelation that the PCs’ earlier refusal left a fundamental impression on a demigod grants any PCs who refused her aid a permanent +5 morale bonus on all Will saving throws.
This is literally the only thing I can find that actually references her boons. A +5 morale bonus sounds nice, but is incredibly weak and overlaps with extremely common bonuses available at this time.
Book 6 has some interaction listed on pg 21,23,24 . looks like not directly, but to provide info. and possibly if called to join campaigns ultimate fight vs deskari.
Thank you! I really appreciate this.
Prepping for Book 5 now. Iomedae will offer her boon to the Party Paladin during that meeting.that will give 4 out of the six PC's with boons
1 PC has bond with Arushalae
Hype! I'd love to hear how it went (or goes, if you haven't made it, yet, and are still playing - which I doubt, by this point, but you never know).
(Given how long it's been since you've posted, I recognize this might not come up any time soon, but given I checked in a year later, you never know!)
| treblignotrub |
As I said before 4 of the 6 PC's have a boon.
Several are very experienced players and will take any mechanical advantage they can, but are good at keeping within the PC's story.
The major impact so far has been RP related.
Our Female 1/2orc Skald is Bonded to Arushalae, the risen succubus considers them as sisters. not much game impact. some RP but not much.
Two players accepted Nocticulas offer. Our evil PC and surprise our LG Monk.
I did the offers via email, and each PC/player received a personalized offer. so no one knows who accepted for sure... except the evil guy which the others all assumed, rightly so, accepted.
The LG Monk backstory is he is part of Queens Personal guard, and is in love with her. so when the offer was made the PC/Player jumped on it. This resulted in some great RP between him and the Queen, (they hook up due to Nocticual sending the queen sexy dreams about him).
The paladin of course accepted Iomedae's Herald offer. When we did this scene I specifically had Iomedae mention that only Gods had Heralds.
Iomedae to Paladin: yada yada yada, Paladin will you be my mortal herald ? paladin responds yes.
Iomedae to group yada yada yada. I sense Nocticula on someone. hey you evil guy, are you Nocticulas Mortal herald?
Nocticula in his head tells him to say yes excitedly..
Evil guy tells Iomedae . yes.
You all see where I am taking this I hope. The players missed it.
No one has called on these boons as yet. Just a bunch of good RP so far.