Levistus? [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Levistus? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mindolin
04-12-07, 11:09 AM Okay, I had an idea for a character who was once a warrior in an army, until a battle where he nearly died. At that point, Levistus sort of appeared before him, and offered him a chance at life again, as long as he completes a task to be decided later. What he got was the Life Leech spelltouched feat from Unearthed Arcana.

Any ideas for any possible tasks that he could do? I was thinking that he could be ordered by Levistus to take up adventuring so that he could later on become strong enough to send against Asmodeus.
Khael
04-12-07, 11:41 AM Sounds like a soul-eater type (PrC from BOVD, which by thr book fluff is usually offered to mortals on the brink of death... sound familar?).

As for tasks... Freeing his master. Levistus would never send a follower against Asmodeus unless Asmodeus were on the brink of death himself, Levistus was there himself using the follower to take the death throes of the lord of the ninth, while he (levistus)accepted the ninth himself, or to buy a few seconds when Asmodeus isn't watching.

Remember after all, if a follower can challenge Asmodeus himself, what stops him taking out the guy who Asmodeus put in that ice block? Even if Levistus is his master. Not to mention killnig asmodeus would at that ponit put the follower as most likely succesor to the ninth, even if the removal of Levistus' favour would be fatal (remember this:Hell can be thought of as living, if it feels that mortal would be a better lord of the ninth, and he's there, he's lord.)

But basically the most basic quest would be finding an artifact to free Levistus. Though I would wonder how Levistus stopped Asmodeus knowing of this plot.
DMaster42
04-12-07, 03:15 PM He doesn't. That's the best part. Asmodeus knows about it. He knows all in Hell.
Prak, the Mad
04-12-07, 03:28 PM yeah, hell, asmodeus might decide that it's time for Levistus to be released, but he won't go do it himself, he wants Levistus to do it, so he would, at msot, allow a mortal follower of Levistus to obtain an artifact that might free him, then it's up to the mortal, Levistus and Levistus' followers to get Levistus out.
Mindolin
04-13-07, 12:59 AM Yeah, I think the Soul Eater prestige class seems like it would work for my character, but I was going to have him be a generally good person, or, at worst, neutral, which of course does not work with the prereq of being evil. I was thinking more of the Life Leech feat because it is something that he cannot turn off, and thus is both a curse and a "blessing". The way I was thinking of being sent against Asmodeus was with Levistus thinking I would be able to seriously injure Asmodeus, without actually killing him, and thus enough for Levistus to be able to finish the job.

Of course, it might make more sense for me to free Levistus, and then he puts a Gaes on me to attack Asmodeus, possibly serving as a distraction for Levistus to attack on his own. Think of it: either my character kills Asmodeus, leaving him severly weakened to be killed by Levistus, thus allowing him to ascend over the Nine Hells, or Asmodeus kills me, and is weakened enough for Levistus to kill. I think my character might be able to make it to the former outcome. If it happens that way, and Levistus comes to kill me afterwards, I would love to deal a strike to his "handsome features", while informing him that "all bets are off".
Khael
04-13-07, 04:40 AM Rightttt...I don't know your Dm etc. etc. and their style of arch-fiend, but personally, you'll not be capable of seriously hurting Asmodeus. If you're lucky he might just finish you off, as opposed to imprisoning you in some dank pit of hell.

After all if the official material gives epic-level aspects, who are a tiny spark of power, what do you think the actual big-bad i'll be like (True, according to official stuff the answer is 30-32, but I intended the question be hypothetical.)

Now remember that Asmodeus' CR does not count guards etc. He has a whole plane of devils to draw on, you at best have the favour of a archfiend.

Expect Levistus to barely trust you as little as possible, meaning his more likely to wait until you free him, then remove his 'blessing'. In technical trust this has no in-game effect, but its a toss-up you'll survive to fight again, or be slain outright as the devilish power that brought about your 'second' life is removed.
Of course he might just kill you.

And just ask for soul-eater to have the evil prereq. It makes sense in its way: Why do you have to be evil? THe fluff says it not a class taken by character choice, but one offered for survival, so really why do you have to be evil to enter?

The fact your very survival is powered by taking life, there's the evil, but you'll have that either way.

The advantage (story-wise) of the soul-eater class also there, is that you get a far more powerful curse - your very touch brings death, and in time raises the dead as slaves, empowers you etc.
In other words, it brings home much more the fact the death of others is your PCs life, and he has to actively avoid this. Very much in the sytle of an arch-fiend's blessing, which will not be nice or get-round able, but should be powerful.

Life leach in truth sounds like a lesser, but far more helpful effect, than soul-eater can ever be, and far more importantly, gvies no mechanical reason why you have to help Levistus unless you get Geas from the word 'go'.
(Yeah, I'll stop harping on about soul-eater now... but I still say just ask for the evil prereq to be waived after you've explained the concept.)

And finally? Don't be upset if 'Levistus' when you free him don't know you are. It makes so much more sense that Asmodeus sent you, not least the fact Levistus would still be imprisoned.
spectralphoenix
04-13-07, 06:45 AM If Levistus makes a deal for "one task" he can't tell you to go adventuring, then tell you to find stuff to free him, and then take on Asmodeus. I don't think "go adventuring" would be a valid deal either - too vague and open ended.

He could say "find the magical McGuffin of archdevil-freeing within ten years and bring it to me" and then recommend you go adventuring to gain skill first, but he still has to name one discrete task. He could decide to name one later and suggest you get ready for it if you want to complete it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mindolin 04-12-07, 11:09 AM	Okay, I had an idea for a character who was once a warrior in an army, until a battle where he nearly died. At that point, Levistus sort of appeared before him, and offered him a chance at life again, as long as he completes a task to be decided later. What he got was the Life Leech spelltouched feat from Unearthed Arcana. Any ideas for any possible tasks that he could do? I was thinking that he could be ordered by Levistus to take up adventuring so that he could later on become strong enough to send against Asmodeus.
Khael 04-12-07, 11:41 AM	Sounds like a soul-eater type (PrC from BOVD, which by thr book fluff is usually offered to mortals on the brink of death... sound familar?). As for tasks... Freeing his master. Levistus would never send a follower against Asmodeus unless Asmodeus were on the brink of death himself, Levistus was there himself using the follower to take the death throes of the lord of the ninth, while he (levistus)accepted the ninth himself, or to buy a few seconds when Asmodeus isn't watching. Remember after all, if a follower can challenge Asmodeus himself, what stops him taking out the guy who Asmodeus put in that ice block? Even if Levistus is his master. Not to mention killnig asmodeus would at that ponit put the follower as most likely succesor to the ninth, even if the removal of Levistus' favour would be fatal (remember this:Hell can be thought of as living, if it feels that mortal would be a better lord of the ninth, and he's there, he's lord.) But basically the most basic quest would be finding an artifact to free Levistus. Though I would wonder how Levistus stopped Asmodeus knowing of this plot.
DMaster42 04-12-07, 03:15 PM	He doesn't. That's the best part. Asmodeus knows about it. He knows all in Hell.
Prak, the Mad 04-12-07, 03:28 PM	yeah, hell, asmodeus might decide that it's time for Levistus to be released, but he won't go do it himself, he wants Levistus to do it, so he would, at msot, allow a mortal follower of Levistus to obtain an artifact that might free him, then it's up to the mortal, Levistus and Levistus' followers to get Levistus out.
Mindolin 04-13-07, 12:59 AM	Yeah, I think the Soul Eater prestige class seems like it would work for my character, but I was going to have him be a generally good person, or, at worst, neutral, which of course does not work with the prereq of being evil. I was thinking more of the Life Leech feat because it is something that he cannot turn off, and thus is both a curse and a "blessing". The way I was thinking of being sent against Asmodeus was with Levistus thinking I would be able to seriously injure Asmodeus, without actually killing him, and thus enough for Levistus to be able to finish the job. Of course, it might make more sense for me to free Levistus, and then he puts a Gaes on me to attack Asmodeus, possibly serving as a distraction for Levistus to attack on his own. Think of it: either my character kills Asmodeus, leaving him severly weakened to be killed by Levistus, thus allowing him to ascend over the Nine Hells, or Asmodeus kills me, and is weakened enough for Levistus to kill. I think my character might be able to make it to the former outcome. If it happens that way, and Levistus comes to kill me afterwards, I would love to deal a strike to his "handsome features", while informing him that "all bets are off".
Khael 04-13-07, 04:40 AM	Rightttt...I don't know your Dm etc. etc. and their style of arch-fiend, but personally, you'll not be capable of seriously hurting Asmodeus. If you're lucky he might just finish you off, as opposed to imprisoning you in some dank pit of hell. After all if the official material gives epic-level aspects, who are a tiny spark of power, what do you think the actual big-bad i'll be like (True, according to official stuff the answer is 30-32, but I intended the question be hypothetical.) Now remember that Asmodeus' CR does not count guards etc. He has a whole plane of devils to draw on, you at best have the favour of a archfiend. Expect Levistus to barely trust you as little as possible, meaning his more likely to wait until you free him, then remove his 'blessing'. In technical trust this has no in-game effect, but its a toss-up you'll survive to fight again, or be slain outright as the devilish power that brought about your 'second' life is removed. Of course he might just kill you. And just ask for soul-eater to have the evil prereq. It makes sense in its way: Why do you have to be evil? THe fluff says it not a class taken by character choice, but one offered for survival, so really why do you have to be evil to enter? The fact your very survival is powered by taking life, there's the evil, but you'll have that either way. The advantage (story-wise) of the soul-eater class also there, is that you get a far more powerful curse - your very touch brings death, and in time raises the dead as slaves, empowers you etc. In other words, it brings home much more the fact the death of others is your PCs life, and he has to actively avoid this. Very much in the sytle of an arch-fiend's blessing, which will not be nice or get-round able, but should be powerful. Life leach in truth sounds like a lesser, but far more helpful effect, than soul-eater can ever be, and far more importantly, gvies no mechanical reason why you have to help Levistus unless you get Geas from the word 'go'. (Yeah, I'll stop harping on about soul-eater now... but I still say just ask for the evil prereq to be waived after you've explained the concept.) And finally? Don't be upset if 'Levistus' when you free him don't know you are. It makes so much more sense that Asmodeus sent you, not least the fact Levistus would still be imprisoned.
spectralphoenix 04-13-07, 06:45 AM	If Levistus makes a deal for "one task" he can't tell you to go adventuring, then tell you to find stuff to free him, and then take on Asmodeus. I don't think "go adventuring" would be a valid deal either - too vague and open ended. He could say "find the magical McGuffin of archdevil-freeing within ten years and bring it to me" and then recommend you go adventuring to gain skill first, but he still has to name one discrete task. He could decide to name one later and suggest you get ready for it if you want to complete it.