Freeing Levistus

[Renrik]

Levistus, Lord of Stygia, is locked in a giant iceberg in the middle of his own capitol as punishment for killing Asmodeus's consort.

So, hypothetical question:

How do you free him?

I know that he gets out once a year to attend the meeting at Asmodeus's palace for Asmodeus locks him up again, and there was also some kind of plot detailed in "Frostburn", but given all available information, lets figure out a workable plot to free the devil lord Levistus

[Forrestfire]

I had thought of this a while back and I have developed 2 major methods:

Artificer Method

step 1: play an artificer
step 2: create a staff of summon elemental monolith, a bunch of lightning bolt wands, and a bunch of wands of summon monster 4
step 3: spam summon elemental monolith and summon monster 4 to summon fire elementals and fire elemental monoliths to melt the ice, all the while zapping 120ft deep holes into the glacier with the lighting bolt wands step 4: Plane shift to somewhere Asmodious can't find you

Cleric Method

step 1: play a cleric
step 2: get divine metamagic: shape spell
step 3: get Immunity to ability damage
step 4: fill all 9th level slots with apocolipse from the sky
step 5: hit the glacier with as many Divine metamagic, shaped fire Apocolipse from the sky as you can to blow 200 mile holes in the ice

[Bauglir]

I approve of the apocalypse from the sky suggestion, but I suggest Sonic instead. From what I understand, Levistus' devils are chipping away at the ice rather than melting it, and I assume it'd just refreeze anyway. Better to shatter it and shovel it out.

[martyboy74]

I suggest not doing it in the first place, becuase doing so is bound to bring Asmodeus' wrath upon you, which is not something that you want to happen.

[Forrestfire]

@Bauglir: good idea.

[Callos_DeTerran]

Magical fire isn't such a great idea. Don't work. Otherwise don't you think the various devils with fire spell-like ideas would have been spamming that in a desperate bid to gain Levistus's favor. Not entirely sure about other energies.

[SilverClawShift]

Levistus, Lord of Stygia, is locked in a giant iceberg in the middle of his own capitol as punishment for killing Asmodeus's consort.

So, hypothetical question:

How do you free him?

Patiently wait for 74 more centuries until Asmodeus frees him for the express purpose of slitting his throat and watching him bleed all over the carpet.

Or overthrow Asmodeus. Good luck with that, let me know how that goes, afterwards we can go try to headbutt the lady of pain. Maybe stab AO a few times.

[Callos_DeTerran]

Or overthrow Asmodeus. Good luck with that, let me know how that goes, afterwards we can go try to headbutt the lady of pain. Maybe stab AO a few times.

Now now, lets not send them on easier tasks once overthrowing Asmodeus and headbutting the Lady of Pain.

...Maybe try something like kicking an Elder Evil in the gnads.

[slexlollar89]

I always was fascinated by this idea, and one day it struck me to actually fascinate Asmodeus via bardic awesomeness, then through a series of cunning suggestions and charms, have him do it. Then you can say it was all his idea and you get favor from a devil who is similar to a bard (in many ways, not all).

This however, requires you to be a signifigantly high level which you should be anyway if you ae discussing this topic.

Another way is to just be a great wyrm gold dragon.

[The_Snark]

The biggest challenge to doing that to an Elder Evil would be knowing where to kick.

Well, that and keeping your sanity.

As for freeing Levistus...

1. Come up with a really, really awesome plot to spread the influence of the Nine Hells using Levistus as a pawn/fall guy. Possible example: Levistus is freed and gains access to a powerful ritual that will vastly increase his cult in the mortal world, channeling many souls to Baator and Levistus in particular. Powerful creatures of good, like gods, obviously get annoyed by this, and show up to foil Levistus, who shows up to defend his interests. Backstab both as they fight, and snatch whatever souls were harvested already.
2. Present this plan to Asmodeus, who arranges Levistus's "escape" and for the components and knowledge of the ritual to be laid before him.

[BardicDuelist]

Now now, lets not send them on easier tasks once overthrowing Asmodeus and headbutting the Lady of Pain.

...Maybe try something like kicking an Elder Evil in the gnads.

I don't think they have gnads....

Well, I did this. What happened (in a post apocalyptic future) was that after the mindflayers used Psionic energy expended by exploding elder brains to go back into the past, the remaining energy shattered most things in the universe (including the giant ice burg) and Levistus killed Asmoedous while he was weakened (and whithout is Ruby Rod).

There are probably better ways, but it made an interesting plot hook (when the players found out the future....).

[Callos_DeTerran]

I don't think they have gnads....

Or perhaps they do and are merely too non-eucilidean and blasphemous to behold. The GNADS OF MADNESS!

Well, I did this. What happened (in a post apocalyptic future) was that after the mindflayers used Psionic energy expended by exploding elder brains to go back into the past, the remaining energy shattered most things in the universe (including the giant ice burg) and Levistus killed Asmoedous while he was weakened (and whithout is Ruby Rod).

There are probably better ways, but it made an interesting plot hook (when the players found out the future....).

*twitch*....I still give you credit on a creative plot twist...even if it makes me want to gnaw on human flesh.

[SilverClawShift]

*twitch*....I still give you credit on a creative plot twist...even if it makes me want to gnaw on human flesh.

Actually, as much as I share your respect for the Big A, and he is just about the most cunning and powerful thing around...

A massive wave of psionic energy from the distant future would be one of those things that not even Asmodeus saw coming. The only way to beat the master of manipulation is going to be to find some way to get outside of his diabolical plans. Attacking from the far flung future? Probably the only thing I can picture that would leave Asmodeus asking "What in hell just happened?"

*Edit*

Of course, after you manage to get outside of his manipulation, you're still left facing a monstrously powerful (understatement) devil who is actually just an aspect of something much much worse.
Is it DiceFreaks who gives the idea that Asmodeus is actually just one of nine potential aspects running around simultaneously of the same evil force (which might darn well be a lawful evil overdeity)?

[Callos_DeTerran]

Of course, after you manage to get outside of his manipulation, you're still left facing a monstrously powerful (understatement) devil who is actually just an aspect of something much much worse.
Is it DiceFreaks who gives the idea that Asmodeus is actually just one of nine potential aspects running around simultaneously of the same evil force (which might darn well be a lawful evil overdeity)?

Hrm...It's DiceFreaks that supports that he's one of nine different aspects of the same evil force. But it's also suggested he's still that force normally. (Last I remember from official WoTC stuff, Big A might be the Serpent who taught Vecna magic. And that he's part of a group that's called the Ancient's who include Big A and the Lady of Pain among members)

But yes, sadly attacking from the distant future is probably the only way to catch Asmodeus by surprise..but then about who besides a Time Dragon or deity wouldn't be surprised at being attacked from the future?



Then again...I'm not entirely convinced Asmodeus wouldn't be prepared for the psychic force from the mind flayers. Think about it...mind flayers come back, force with them, Asmodeus is already around and either sees it's effects/feels/hears about them, takes steps to either protect himself from the eventual coming of it again or to stop them in the first place which alters the future...which alters the past so he'd never know to defend himself meaning the flayers WOULD do it so he'd need to do it again which would *goes into time loop* NOOOoooooooo!

[Doresain]

convince the demon princes to attack the nine hells full force?

[SilverClawShift]

convince the demon princes to attack the nine hells full force?

LOL.

I mean, yeah, that's a good starting point. But you'd have a better chance at teaching a hoard of cats to ignore mice.

[The_Snark]

It should really be the other way around. Trying to teach cats to ignore mice is like trying to unify demons.

Of course, the Queen of Chaos managed it for a while. Clearly not long enough, though.

[SilverClawShift]

Which is the problem. I'm sure you could convince the demon lords that it'd be a good idea to join together and attack Hell just for the... well, just for the hell of it.

The question is, would they break ranks and attack each other in 30 seconds, or in 35?

[Xefas]

What I would do is ask a DM to run a campaign in which a MacGuffin exists that could free Levistus, and that towards the end of the campaign, the MacGuffin is used to free him.

Even conceiving of doing it any other way will have Asmodeus writing your name in his Death Note while you're still a fetus.

But if you're speaking of one of those hypothetical "What if we were playing D&D, only we weren't playing D&D" things where there is no DM or plot or setting or anything...then, I'd research an Epic Spell "Free Levistus Without Anyone Being Able to Stop Me" using the Summon Seed to summon him, and the Compel Seed to compel everyone in the multiverse not to stop you. Since there is no DM, it shouldn't be too hard to craft your own Ring of Spellcraft +Alot.

[Doresain]

demons are like children with ADD...promise them candy, and they will do whatever you want

[Nerd-o-rama]

Hellfire. Lots of it. Convince Mephistopheles that he and Levistus together would have a chance of overthrowing Asmodeus, or something.

[Mewtarthio]

demons are like children with ADD...promise them candy, and they will do whatever you want

Actually, they'll just kill you and take the candy for themselves.

[Xuincherguixe]

Actually, they'll just kill you and take the candy for themselves.

That's why you hide the candy.

[Eldritch_Ent]

Well, the first thing you should keep in mind is that Devil's thrive on planning. They often have high intelligences, and use them to think of *every contingency they can*. A lot of times, a Regular old Pit Lord is the leader of a small cult or political coup. Pit fiends are lesser devils. They are commanded by the nine princes of hell, who make plans so all-encompassing that the Pit Fiend's Plans all go according to THEIR plans. And Asmodues is even more so- His plans involve the nine princes plans all going according to his plans! GAH! In short, he only keeps and maintains his position by being such a masterful strategist that he has the entire nine hells on his strings.

As the "Impossible Man" once said- "You can't out-grim the grim reaper.", you can't beat Asmodeus by thinking Lawfully... Or Evilly. I'm sure each of the 9 princes has thought of freeing levistus themselves and has at least a thosuand possible situations in which they'd make a move. And Asmodeus has already countered each one of those in advance, plus 9000 more. Your best bet is a Chaotic Good approach. If someone has prepared to free levistus, or stands to gain from doing so, Asmodeus knows about it.

Asmodeus might plan on other demons or political enemies attacking, but the best way to catch Asmodeus by surprise is to do this as a spur of the moment decosion with little to gain from it. Chaotic Good. The less planning or gain you stand to take from it, the less chance Asmodeus already has a plan against you.

Of course, a Chaotic Good person probably wouldn't free Levistus anyway, given Levistus is probably also as LE as they come and would slit his savior's throat the instant it became convenient... But still.


Either way, I wouldn't try it without Epic Spellcasting at least. (I'd take an epic spell that summoned an arbitrarily high number of solars instantly as a free action at least, and use it to protect yourself while freeing levistus- possibly through a special version of "Vengeful Gaze of God" made for the situation.)

[Gralamin]

I've always seen a problem with attempting to kill Asmodeus, and that frankly is that HE BLEEDS PIT FIENDS and each pit fiend can cast wish. I'm sure you can see what this could lead to.

[Goff]

Free Levistus eh?

MacGuyver, some string, a toothbrush and two paperclips should do it. Add a pack of matches to make it easy.

[Mewtarthio]

That's why you hide the candy.

And what do children do when you hide candy? The cry, scream, and generally annoy you until either you tell them where the candy is or you give up or they get bored. The same with demons, only they cry tears of flames and torment, you do all the screaming, they consider torture to be a form or annoyance, and boredom to them is what happens when everything's dead.

[Khanderas]

Now now, lets not send them on easier tasks once overthrowing Asmodeus and headbutting the Lady of Pain.

...Maybe try something like kicking an Elder Evil in the gnads.

Finding the gnads of elder gods is a feat in itself.

[Freelance Henchman]

Finding the gnads of elder gods is a feat in itself.

It also presumes you were pretty insane BEFORE started inspecting an Elder Gods "body" in detail.

[Goff]

Finding the gnads of elder gods is a feat in itself.

Find Elder God's Gnads [Epic]
Your adeptness at finding the gnads of elder gods allows you make precision strikes at some of the most powerful creative forces in reality.

Prerequisite
Dirty Fighting, Find Gnads, Sneak Attack +10d6

Benefit
In the first round of combat against an elder god, all of your attacks (should you survive long enough to make any) catch the god flat footed.