Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 OrwellianHaggis Aug 08, 2014 1:05:55	I'm writing a short adventure with the aim of giving my group a demon butler. They don't like tracking carry weight and ammunition, and I thought a demon companion might be interesting for them. But I don't want to give it to them without some work, so here's the adventure idea.   A demon has been summoned by an amateur mage, with the aim of retrieving an item the mage considers his by rights. After the mage has his item he tries to dismiss the demon but his arts aren't developed enough, and the demon goes on a spree, stealing and playing pranks on the townsfolk. The mage stays quiet to protect himself.   Adventure ideas: Seek out the creature (townsfolk don't know it's a demon). Chase (creature will escape... knowing my group they won't ask questions about what it is, so it should be able to get away) Seek more information (they'll find out it's a demon and has most likely been summoned) Seek mages in town (Insight will lead them to the guilty mage) Seek out the creature again, chase, and (hopefully) capture The chase will be both rooftop and ground level, the demon using its skills to frustrate the players.   I'm planning on using an altered goblin, giving it a bonus action teleport (range 5 feet) and damage resistance to non magical weapons. Maybe cunning action. Maybe a mimic ability. I will write a full personality for it, going to make it very knowledgeable but a bit of a git, constantly lying to the players and trying to free itself. The demon won't attack the players except in self defence, using cunning action to flee.   Anybody got any suggestions to make?
#2 Voort Aug 08, 2014 16:55:26	1. Give them some specific way to control the demon. Perhaps the mage lost the signed contract he had of the agreement, and whoever finds the contract can give the demon orders (that it follows to the letter, at least).   2. I know my group would just kill a demon like that on sight. Maybe even if they kill it the body just dissapears and then he shows up later to continue harrassing them?   3. Find some way to turn off whatever solution you find for #2 or the party will just use him as a meat shield or disposable trap finder constantly.
#3 pauldanielj2 Aug 08, 2014 19:02:27	If I was running that campaign, I wouldn't be able to resist the idea of the demon eventually betraying the party. Maybe he starts trading their extra stuff to greater demons in return for power, until he's able to break free of whatever hold the PCs have on him. Or maybe he steals some of their best magic gear and gives it away to a demon army in the Abyss.
#4 iserith Aug 08, 2014 19:23:06	I'd make it a really fat imp that has had its tail cut off by its former master, an ill-tempered malebranche that calls itself Horndog. He was also banished from Baator for failing to pay his taxes, so when he dies on the Prime Material, he just reforms the next day. He calls himself Gobble. Use a winged kobold's stat block and give it a will o' wisp's Invisibility action (slightly modified). Both are found in the Hoard of the Dragon Queen online supplement. It doesn't carry things - it eats them and disgorges them on command (up to 105 lbs. total weight).    The trick to making it the servant of the PCs is to figure out its true name and say it three times (once forward, once backwards, once forward again) in a pitch black room while Gobble's looking in a mirror. Acquiring Gobble's true name requires a great deal of research which takes time and during that time he's running amuck. Once acquired it's a matter of figuring out a way to do the rest of the "ritual." Make sure the true name you choose is completely unintelligible so that the players hilariously stumble over the words. (Even more hilarious if everyone's had a few.) Getting it right might even be a matter of an ability check.   During this time, the mage hinders the PCs' efforts through intermediaries and other summoned creatures to try and prevent them from learning the truth about his involvement in releasing Gobble.   Gobble holds a grudge against Horndog and knows some valuable secrets about his former master. This could lead to further adventures.
#5 OrwellianHaggis Aug 09, 2014 1:51:43	Thanks for your suggestions, everyone.   Voort, good point with #2. I suspected my group of doing the same and thought resistance to non magical weapons and a teleport ability might keep the demon alive long enough to escape. As for #3, that had never occurred to me... I think when the time comes to capture it, they'll have to bargain with it about its service. When they find out its true name, as Iserith suggested, then they'll have complete dominion over it.   I don't think I'll make finding its true name all that difficult, as I don't want this game to drag on too long.
#6 iserith Aug 09, 2014 7:45:02	OrwellianHaggis wrote:
#7 OrwellianHaggis Aug 09, 2014 14:46:52	iserith wrote: