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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kinak" data-source="post: 6203318" data-attributes="member: 6694112">This really sounds like a good time to use an in-combat skill challenge, really. In Pathfinder, I'd probably mix in some Knowledge checks as actions and allow the use of spells like consecrate, but this seems like the sort of thing skill challenge were made for.Just spit-balling and definitely influenced by my over-the-top sensibilities, but here's how I'd handle that phase:I'd do up four maps on Gaming Paper (or whatever you normally use): one of the council chamber and three of different hellscapes. The council chamber's walls would just be the edges of the sheet on three sides (door on the fourth). I'd also round up a ridiculous number of demonic minion tokens for each hellscape.When stage 1 starts, mention that the walls of the council chamber are covered in beautifully detailed, but disquieting tapestries.Then, when she reveals herself, give them the old "The tapestries on the walls burst into flames, burning away to reveal..." then lay down and describe each of the maps past the portals. Cover those maps with minions to flavor.On her turn, if she starts in Hell, she can move freely and come out of any portal to engage with the PCs. If she started on the material, she returns through one of the portals to Hell to pick on whoever's causing the most problems.At the same time, the minions are moving in and the areas beyond the portals are being refreshed (hence having a ton on hand). This should give everyone plenty of do and make it clear how hosed they are if they don't get the portals closed.If the PCs are crazy, they can follow her through the portals. That's... really unwise, because there are basically endless minions and vicious environmental effects, but I'd let them trigger stage 3 early on extremely unfavorable terrain. Because following a devil to Hell to fight her there is awesome.Don't worry too much about her HP during this phase. What matters is them closing the portals. Let anything reasonable work: Religion/Arcane checks, holy water, attacks of opposing elements, paying healing surges to block them with your own body, whatever. I'd pace them to fall one per round if the party focuses.Whenever one of the portals is closed, remove the associated map. They don't have to deal with those minions and she can no longer use that portal to enter or leave the prime.When they're down to one portal, I'd have her come back and enter Stage 3 to defend it. That's her way here, her way back home, and her fountain of minions. If they don't close it, she'll probably flee back through it eventually and return to haunt them later. That said, they'll probably close it, kill off her remaining minions, corner her, and take her out like big damn heroes.Glad you liked them!I agree the whip is usually too stereotypical. If you want to use it, I'd tend towards it being a manifestation once she reveals her true form. Like, the wings come out and she flicks one wrist uncoiling a whip of smoky darkness.Absolutely <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Cheers!Kinak</blockquote>

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