Angels and bribery

[Gwarok]

Ok, so looking up Planar Ally they have pretty specific $$ amounts for how much its going to cost to bribe a summoned creature to help you out. They mention nothing of mitigating circumstances. For instance, I have a 16th level priest of a Lawful Good god. I wish to use Greater Planar Ally to summon a Planetar for a BIG dungeon romp or battle vs. a Great Evil. The cause is just, and i'm in good standing with my diety. Why would i have to pay the Planetar? Specifically states in MM that they help powerful adventurers on missions of good.

Now I know what your thinking. Perhaps the angel wouldnt want the money but insists it go to help the poor or the local temple. Fair enough. But what if I don't have it? Whats he going to do, say "sorry puny mortal, good Luck with Orcus!". Not very planetar like to me if I do say so. Anyways, that is the question.

 

[ThirdWizard]

He'll say, "Puny mortal, the armies of Orcus are making a move on Arcadia and are trying to drive a portion of that plane into the Abyss, and you think I should ignore that and aid you in killing this lowly priest on your prime world without offering anything to aid the the warfront? Begone and ask not for my aid again, else I might call you to fight against the legions that threaten the very balance of the Planes." At least, that's what he'd say in my campaign.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

He'll say, "Puny mortal, the armies of Orcus are making a move on Arcadia and are trying to drive a portion of that plane into the Abyss, and you think I should ignore that and aid you in killing this lowly priest on your prime world without offering anything to aid the the warfront? Begone and ask not for my aid again, else I might call you to fight against the legions that threaten the very balance of the Planes." At least, that's what he'd say in my campaign.

Very nicely said!

PCs tend to be very egocentric, and assume that whatever they are doing is obviously of earth-shaking importance. Reminding them from time to time that they are not the center of the universe is a good thing.

The monetary cost is just a game mechanic to keep people from whipping out a planetar every time the going gets a little rough.

Also, you've already been given the tools to deal with the situation -- your spells, divinely granted. If your deity thought you needed more, you'd have been given more. You're not suggesting that your diety is somehow fallible, are you?

Or maybe the Planetar needs the gold to buy off the opposition, and keep the enemy from summoning a demon or two.

 

[AnthonyJ]

Or, he could simply impose a requirement on the summoner, that they repay the debt. Possibly a quite high price.

Not that I'd use the prices in the PHB anyway.

 

[Gwarok]

Was a reasonable response but didnt address something. Planetars are helpful. MM - "They also help powerful mortals on missions of good, particularly those that involve battles with fiends". Note it said particularly, not exclusively, with fiend involvement.

Second - our adventure will be involving Orcus in a very direct manner.

I just find it odd that persuading a Good creature who opposes evil on all levels amounts to nothing more than hiring a mercenary. And that you dont really use a much different process than getting a demon to do your work.

 

[smetzger]

Was a reasonable response but didnt address something. Planetars are helpful. MM - "They also help powerful mortals on missions of good, particularly those that involve battles with fiends". Note it said particularly, not exclusively, with fiend involvement.

Second - our adventure will be involving Orcus in a very direct manner.

Although it may be "...involving Orcus in a very direct manner" the planetar may not believe you are correct because its obvious that Orcus is leading this other strike on Arcadia.

 

[Nifft]

"Orcus has many fingers, mortal. I shall help you slice off this finger of his, but you must reciprocate by aiding my Holy Quest to do something similar, but not financially rewarding in any way."

-- N

 

[LokiDR]

My SRD reads: "However, if the task is strongly aligned with the creature’s ethos, it may halve or even waive the payment. "

 

[ThirdWizard]

Who knows what the one brought by the spell was doing before they brought him in. And, remember, it doesn't say that they help directly with all battles involving fiends, just that they are likely to aid the PCs involved in such quests, so there's no obligation for powerful celestials to help PCs just because they're going up against fiends.

Now, it might not be unreasonable in some situations to get a Planetar's aid in battle, I admit, but I wouldn't allow this through spell use. That just grabs a random Planetar, and its impossible to say what that particular being was doing at the time. Now, if the PCs are sufficiently powerful and the DM is willing to take into consideration the Planetar in the upcoming encouters, I wouldn't see anything against the PCs seeking out a particular Planetar and try to get him to aid them in their cause. But, they would have to find one who isn't doing anything more important at the time or who has some kind of connection to their current adventure. In that case, he might accompany the PCs as an NPC controlled by the DM on that particular mission in order to further whatever cause the PCs are working toward.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Hm... He might refuse to go without pay for another reason: A party of 16th-level characters and a planetar will be so wasted if they engage Orcus in any remotely direct manner. He'll probably spare the Party for the one round or two he needs to crush that angel, but then they'll fall. Orcus isn't your average Quasit - he's a Demon Prince with the power to rival Gods (at least a certain Drow Goddess...)