RedMage125
2019-09-05, 10:58 AM
Wouldn't lust be a succubus?
I dunno, I personally like the idea of outside-the-box thinking that doesn't strictly view Lust as "sex".
Take Darksiders 3, for example. A game in which one plays one of the 4 Horsemen, Fury, and is charged with taking down the 7 deadly sins...
When Fury goes after Lust, she is tempted with what she wants the most...recognition and admiration from her brothers, leadership of the Horsemen...Lust is about what one selfishly desires, which is not necessarily just sex.
Several of the Sins attempt to tempt Fury with their particular idiom. Sloth tries to convince her to relax and back down, offering her some of his slaves. Wrath initially makes her extremely angry during the fight, leading to her being defeated, but when she fights him with a calm, grim determination devoid of anger, he loses. By the time Fury faces down Pride, she has learned and grown enough to utterly reject Pride's offer of the two of them leading all of creation into a new Golden Age, realizing that she is too flawed, herself, to guide such a venture, and will not be deterred from her mission.
Interestingly enough, Lust is completely androgynous, and is only ever referred to in the third person with the non-specific pronoun "they", while Pride and Envy are both "she/her", and Avarice, Sloth, Gluttony and Wrath are all "he/him".
Contrast to more "classic" representation of Lust, like in Dante's Inferno, where it's a succubus-looking demon that one would expect.
Thurbane
2019-09-06, 01:26 AM
Well, this was my entry to VC to in the Swallow Whole round, may work for Gluttony (although it's based on CR rather than ECL):
10. Ok, 1 snarky comment: What no FAVA BEANS???
Clawdius Buforthon
"I ate his liver with some stygian pumpkin and a nice aleeian"
CE male Human (Natural) Were-Poisonous Giant Toad Tainted Raver Animal 2/Sorcerer 18
Medium Humanoid (human, shapechanger)
http://i65.tinypic.com/av0irq.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/5js82JXh.jpg
Clawdius was born in a small coastal village, and would have most likely led an uneventful life, except for two things: he inherited his father's curse of lycanthropy, and his parents were both members of a secretive doomsday cult of Leviathan, the great chaotic serpent who slumbers.
As a youngster, Clawdius was inducted into the cult: as with his father, the members were in awe of his “gift” of lycanthropy. He quickly rose in it’s ranks, often presiding over the disturbing rituals.
It’s unknown whether his unnatural craving for the flesh of sentient beings was a result of his indoctrination, the changes that the subsequent taint wrought on his mind and body, or if the desire was there all along. The rituals of the cult provided ample opportunities for him to satisfy his ghoulish desires…
Ability Scores:
Level
Array
Lycanthrope
Tainted Raver
4HD
Deformity (obese) feat (5th)
8HD
12HD
16HD
20HD
Final Score
Str
13
-
+4 (perpetual rage)
-
+1
-
-
18
Dex
12
(+4 in animal/hybrid form)
-
-
-2
-
-
-
-
10 (14)
Con
14
(+4 in animal/hybrid form)
+4 (perpetual rage)
-
+2
-
-
-
-
20 (24)
Int
10
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
10
Wis
8
+2
-6
-
-
-
-
-
+1
5
Cha
15
-
+6
+1
-
-
+1
+1
-
24
CR
Class
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Skills
Feats
Class Features
3
Animal 1
+0
+2
+2
+0
Craft (cooking) +2, Hide +4, Jump +4
Dodge, Gape of the SerpentB, Iron WillB, Willing DeformityB
Alternate Form, Curse of Lycanthropy, DR 10/silver, Improved Grab, Low-light Vision, Lycanthropic Empathy, Posion, Scent, Swallow Whole
3
Animal 2
+1
+3
+3
+0
Craft (cooking) +2, Hide +5, Jump +5
-
Fast Healing 3, Madness, Perpetual Rage
3
Sorcerer 1
+1
+3
+3
+2
Concentration +3, Craft (cooking) +2, Hide +5, Jump +5
Earth Bloodline
Spells, Summon Familiar (toad)
4
Sorcerer 2
+2
+3
+3
+3
Concentration +6, Craft (cooking) +2, Hide +5, Jump +5
-
-
5
Sorcerer 3
+2
+4
+4
+3
Concentration +8, Craft (cooking) +3, Hide +5, Jump +5
Deformity (obese)B
-
6
Sorcerer 4
+3
+4
+4
+4
Concentration +9, Craft (cooking) +5, Hide +5, Jump +5
Multiattack
-
7
Sorcerer 5
+3
+4
+4
+4
Bluff +2, Concentration +10, Craft (cooking) +5, Hide +5, Jump +5
-
-
8
Sorcerer 6
+4
+5
+5
+5
Bluff +4, Concentration +11, Craft (cooking) +5, Hide +5, Jump +5
-
-
9
Sorcerer 7
+4
+5
+5
+5
Bluff +6, Concentration +12, Craft (cooking) +5, Hide +5, Jump +5
Silent Spell
-
10
Sorcerer 8
+5
+5
+5
+6
Bluff +8, Concentration +13, Craft (cooking) +5, Hide +5, Jump +5
Evil's BlessingB
-
11
Sorcerer 9
+5
+6
+6
+6
Bluff +10, Concentration +14, Craft (cooking) +5, Hide +5, Jump +5
-
-
12
Sorcerer 10
+6
+6
+6
+7
Bluff +10, Concentration +14, Craft (cooking) +5, Hide +5, Jump +5, Spellcraft +3
Arcane Preparation
-
13
Sorcerer 11
+6
+6
+6
+7
Bluff +10, Concentration +14, Craft (cooking) +5, Hide +5, Jump +5, Spellcraft +6
-
-
14
Sorcerer 12
+7
+7
+7
+8
Bluff +10, Concentration +14, Craft (cooking) +5, Hide +5, Jump +5, Spellcraft +9
-
-
15
Sorcerer 13
+7
+7
+7
+8
Bluff +10, Concentration +14, Craft (cooking) +5, Hide +5, Jump +5, Spellcraft +12
Chosen of EvilB, Rapid Metamagic
-
16
Sorcerer 14
+8
+7
+7
+9
Bluff +10, Concentration +17, Craft (cooking) +5, Hide +5, Jump +5, Spellcraft +12
-
-
17
Sorcerer 15
+8
+8
+8
+9
Bluff +10, Concentration +20, Craft (cooking) +5, Hide +5, Jump +5, Spellcraft +12
-
-
18
Sorcerer 16
+9
+8
+8
+10
Bluff +12, Concentration +21, Craft (cooking) +5, Hide +5, Jump +5, Spellcraft +12
Quicken Spell
-
19
Sorcerer 17
+9
+8
+8
+10
Bluff +14, Concentration +22, Craft (cooking) +5, Hide +5, Jump +5, Spellcraft +12
-
-
20
Sorcerer 18
+10
+9
+9
+11
Bluff +16, Concentration +23, Craft (cooking) +5, Hide +5, Jump +5, Spellcraft +12
Enemy of GoodB
-
Spells Per Day (Bonus Spells For Ability Score Shown):
Level
0lvl
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
1st
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2nd
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3rd
4
2 (+2)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4th
5
2 (+2)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5th
5
3 (+2)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6th
6
3 (+2)
1 (+2)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
7th
6
4 (+2)
2 (+2)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8th
7
4 (+2)
2 (+2)
1 (+1)
-
-
-
-
-
-
9th
7
5 (+2)
3 (+2)
2 (+1)
-
-
-
-
-
-
10th
8
5 (+2)
3 (+2)
2 (+1)
1 (+1)
-
-
-
-
-
11th
8
5 (+2)
4 (+2)
3 (+1)
2 (+1)
-
-
-
-
-
12th
9
5 (+2)
4 (+2)
3 (+1)
2 (+1)
1 (+1)
-
-
-
-
13th
9
5 (+2)
5 (+2)
4 (+1)
3 (+1)
2 (+1)
-
-
-
-
14th
9
5 (+2)
5 (+2)
4 (+1)
3 (+1)
2 (+1)
1 (+1)
-
-
-
15th
9
5 (+2)
5 (+2)
4 (+1)
4 (+1)
3 (+1)
2 (+1)
-
-
-
16th
9
5 (+2)
5 (+2)
4 (+2)
4 (+1)
3 (+1)
2 (+1)
1 (+1)
-
-
17th
9
5 (+2)
5 (+2)
4 (+2)
4 (+1)
4 (+1)
3 (+1)
2 (+1)
-
-
18th
9
5 (+2)
5 (+2)
4 (+2)
4 (+1)
4 (+1)
3 (+1)
2 (+1)
1
-
19th
9
5 (+2)
5 (+2)
4 (+2)
4 (+1)
4 (+1)
3 (+1)
3 (+1)
2
-
20th
9
5 (+2)
5 (+2)
4 (+2)
4 (+1)
4 (+1)
3 (+1)
3 (+1)
2
1
Spells Known (Bonus Spells From Bloodline Feat Shown):
0
Caltrops (SC)
Detect Magic
Detect Poison
Launch Bolt (SC)
Mage Hand
Preserve Organ (BoVD)
Prestidigitation
Read Magic
Slash Tongue (BoVD)
1st
Expeditious Retreat
Grease
Hoard Gullet (DrM)
Mage Armor
Ray of Enfeeblement
Enlarge Person
2nd
Blade of Pain and Fear (SC)
Invisibility
Jaws of the Moray (St)
Razorfangs (SC)
Slow Consumption (BoVD)
Shatter
3rd
Fang Trap (SK)
Fly
Haste
Manyjaws (SC)
Keen Edge
4th
Doom Scarabs (PHB2)
Parboil (Sa)
Polymorph
Vortex of Teeth (SC)
Stone Shape
5th
Death Throes (SC)
Draconic Might (SC)
Illusory Feast (SC)
Teleport
Transmute Rock to Mud
6th
Greater Dispel Magic
Tenser’s Transformation
Transfix (SC)
Move Earth
7th
Barghests’s Feast (SC)
Bite of the Werebear (SC)
Whirlwind of Teeth (BoVD)
Statue
8th
Mind Blank
Polymorph Any Object
Iron Body
9th
Maw of Chaos (SC)
Summon Monster IX (earth creatures only)
Racial/template traits -
Human: bonus feat; bonus skill point per level
Lycanthrope: +2 natural AC bonus in all forms; 2 claws and a bite in hybrid form (1d4/1d4/1d6); cannot cast spells with verbal components in hybrid form.
Giant Poisonous Toad: +3 natural armor bonus, +4 racial bonus on Hide checks, +6 racial bonus on Jump checks; poison (initial damage unconsciousness, secondary 3d6 Con).
Tainted Raver: -2 penalty to AC from perpetual rage; +2 bonus on Will saves from perpetual rage; no longer gains taint
Taint/depravity traits (mild) -
Bestial: +2 circumstance bonus on Handle Animal, Ride and wild empathy checks; -1 on Cha based ability and skill checks
Skin Seeps: +2 circumstance bonus on Escape Artist checks, and on grapple checks to escape a grapple or pin; -2 on Climb and Sleight of Hand checks; opponents add +2 bonus on disarm checks
CLAWDIUS (HYBRID FORM)
Medium Humanoid (Human, Shapechanger)
Hit Dice: 2d8+7d4+66 (96hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 20 (+4 mage armor, +2 Dex, +5 natural, +1 deflection, -2 perpetual rage), touch 11, flat-footed 18
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+8
Attack: Claw +8 (1d4+4)
Full Attack: 2 claws +8 (1d4+4) and bite +6 (1d6+2)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Curse of lycanthropy, spells
Special Qualities: DR 10/silver, fast healing 3, low-light vision, lycanthropic empathy, scent
Saves: Fort +12 (+14 against poison) Ref +7 Will +16
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 14, Con 24, Int 10, Wis 6, Cha 24
Skills: Bluff +16, Climb +2, Concentration +21, Craft (cooking) +5, Escape Artist +4, Handle Animal +9, Hide +7, Intimidate +6, Jump +9, Listen +0, Ride +4, Spot +0
Feats: Deformity (obese)B, Dodge, Earth Bloodline, Gape of the SerpentB, Iron WillB, Multiattack, Silent Spell, Willing DeformityB
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary (+ Gobbles)
Challenge Rating: 9
Treasure: Combat gear + 145gp
Alignment: Chaotic evil
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: -
Combat Gear: cloak of charisma +2, periapt of wisdom +2, potions of cure moderate wounds (2), ring of protection +1, wand of web (10 charges), scroll of magic circle against good, scroll of nondetection
Spells: Clawdius casts spells as a 7th level sorcerer.
Spells Known (6/8/8/6, save DC 17 + spell level):
0 – caltrops, detect magic, detect poison, preserve organ, prestidigitation, slash tongue;
1st – enlarge person, expeditous retreat, grease, hoard gullet, mage armor, ray of enfeeblement;
2nd – invisibility, jaws of the moray, razorfangs, shatter;
3rd – fly, keen edge, manyjaws.
CR Highlights/Play Tips:
CR 1-5: Clawdius is primarily a melee combatant at this point. In toad form, he can grapple and swallow whole, and thanks to Gape of the Serpent, can swallow creatures of up to medium size (with some difficulty). The toad form also has a powerful poison (unconsciousness/3d6 Con) with its bite. DR and fast healing make him fairly resilient in battle. Perpetual madness boosts his Fort and Will saves, as well as its other benefits. His toad familiar (Gobbles) also adds a few hit points, and grants the Alertness feat when close. His casting is pretty limited at this point: Grease and Ray of Enfeeblement can hamper opponents; Expeditious Retreat and Mage Armor increase manoeuvrability and defence. Enlarge Person, though the Bloodline feat, carries over to toad form, allowing him to swallow creatures of large size. The Dodge feat comes from the base animal (giant poisonous toad): due to the feat reqs, it may only be available for use in toad or hybrid form. Worshipping an elder evil gives a bonus feat every 5 levels, including the thematically fitting Deformity (obese).
CR 6-10: Sorcerer casting continues to improve. Spells like Polymorph, Haste, Fly and Invisibility improve versatility and combat options. Clawdius can polymorph Gobbles into combat forms, if he's willing to risk losing his familiar. With Multiattack and Silent Spell available, he prefers to be in hybrid form, able to cast most spells and use his bite and claw attacks. Evil's Blessing is a great boost for saves, if he has time for short term buffs. Parboil is useful for preparing his enemies as meals, and debilitating to Int based casters. Jaws of the Moray and Razorfangs augment his bite attack in animal or hybrid form.
CR 11-15: Clawdius now has Arcane Preparation: this is primarily so he can make use of corrupt spells. Absorb Mind, Absorb Strength and Consume Likeness are all obvious choices. He could offset the cost with Potions of Restoration or similar methods (if Wis drops to 0, he may require someone to administer them to him: possibly Gobbles in a polymorphed form). Rapid Metamagic allows him to use Silent spells with no increased casting time, and Chosen of Evil can offer a minor boost to a roll in exchange for Con damage (not recommended most of the time). Powerful self buffs are coming online now: while there is a lot of overlap between Draconic Might and Tenser's Transformation, each has it's uses (the former also boosts his primary casting stat; the latter boosts BAB, and would be used to boost his animal or hybrid form once he is committed to melee and not casting further spells). Teleport and Greater Dispel Magic are obvious in their applications. Transmute Rock to Mud and Move Earth can help shape the battleground to his advantage. Transfix can immobilize large groups of creatures, allowing Clawdius to dine on them at his leisure. Death Throes is the ultimate "From Hell's heart, I stab at thee" spell: a nasty surprise for the party that defeats him.
CR 16-20: Quicken Spell (combined with Arcane Preparation or through Rapid Metamagic) greatly enhance action economy. Enemy of Good can be handy for the forces of good that are likely to be going up against the cult of Leviathan. Bite of the Werebear and Iron Body are yet more powerful self buffs. Mind Blank is almost a must have at these levels, and Polymorph Any Object opens up a world of options. Summon Monster X helps fill out the battlefield, even if it is only earth-based creatures, and Maw of Chaos is one of the most devastating direct damage spells out there.
General Tips/Adaptations:
Clawdius is, primarily, a thematic villain. A large chunk of his spell selection is dedicated to biting and consuming other creatures, and spells to facilitate the same. A DM could easily tweak the spell selection to make Clawdius more of a challenge for the party as an optimized caster. Earth Bloodline could also be swapped out for Water Bloodline to better fit the cult of Leviathan, if desired (Earth Bloodline offers better buffs for a melee oriented caster), or possibly Necromantic Bloodline for a more ghoulish feel.
The Domain Sorcerer ACF for either the Gluttony or Hunger domains is an option (Bite of the King is a perfect fit for Clawdius!), but, in my opinion, the cost in lost spells outweighs the benefits.
Straight Sorcerer is chosen for simplicity, but a more “gish friendly” prestige class, like Abjurant Champion, can easily be slotted in by changing some feat choices.
Clawdius works best if supported by other monsters or cult members (despite his self buffs and template-based resilience, he is relatively squishy). At lower level this would probably include Adepts, and monsters like ixitxachitl or giant toads, depending on the environment. At higher levels, krakens and aspects of Leviathan could appear.
His tactics can be tailored to a party: he can be a blaster, or a melee type. A mix of both would often be viable.
Recommended Gear:
Potions of lesser restoration (or full restoration, if you get them from a Healer) to deal with ability damage from corrupt spells etc.; runestaves to expand spell selection (if Dragon magazine is allowed, knowstones as well); raiment of the four and robe of mysterious conjuration to swap out spells on the fly; scrolls and wands of utility and defensive spells (mirror image, resist energy etc.); ability boosters (Cha mainly); a great guide for other item ideas can be found here: [3.5] Lists of Necessary Magic Items (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?187851)
Sources:
Book of Vile Darkness: absorb mind, absorb strength, consume likeness, deformity (obese), preserve organ, slash tongue, slow consumption, whirlwind of teeth
Complete Arcane: arcane preparation
Complete Mage: rapid metamagic
Dragon Magazine Compendium: earth bloodline
Dragon Magic: hoard gullet
Elder Evils: chosen of evil, enemy of good, evil's blessing, Leviathan, willing deformity
Oriental Adventures: giant toad, poisonous (including Dragon 318 update material)
Heroes of Horror: taint and depravity traits (bestial & skin seeps), tainted raver template
Player's Handbook II: doom scarabs
Sandstorm: parboil
Serpent Kingdoms: fang trap, gape of the serpent
Spell Compendium: barghests's feast, bite of the werebear, blade of pain and fear, death throes, illusory feast, draconic might, caltops, launch bolt, manyjaws, maw of chaos, razorfang, transfix, vortex of teeth
Stormwrack: jaws of the moray
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