Devils... kinda lacking in the tempter department?

[Calico_Jack73]

For my campaign I was looking through the Monster Manual at the different devils. One of my players is a tiefling and as I am planning on finishing off my campaign (eventually) with a conversion of A Paladin in Hell I really wanted the fiendish parent to be a devil. Anyway, at first I was thinking that I'd use an Eryines but low and behold, no polymorph self ability. Then I started looking further and found that none of the devils have that ability. I always thought that the Eryines was supposed to fill the same role for the devils that a Succubus fills for the demons. Anyone think this is kind of weird? No devil has the ability to make itself look like anything other than what it is.

 

[Wippit Guud]

"Unlike other devils, erinyes appear attractive to humans, resembling very comely women or men."

Why waste a polymorph?

 

[Gregor]

And they are usually mistaken for the celestial beings they once resembled. Thus, why could an Erinyes not simply pretend to be an angel to seduce someone?

Cheers,

 

[BiggusGeekus]

"Unlike other devils, erinyes appear attractive to humans, resembling very comely women or men."

Why waste a polymorph?

No MM at my current undisclosed location, but I thought they had wings? Wouldn't that kind of tip their hand? Also, what if they're trying to seduce someone with a feather allergy?

 

[Wippit Guud]

Also note, at least 4 devils have strong illusion spell-likes (major or persistant image, depending), so that could have been used instead of polymorph.

And even on the low end, imps have suggestion, could just make his mother forget he was an imp... "Your father was a comely man... come to think of it, it's been so long I have trouble remembering his face..."

 

[Wippit Guud]

No MM at my current undisclosed location, but I thought they had wings? Wouldn't that kind of tip their hand? Also, what if they're trying to seduce someone with a feather allergy?

I just have SRD... says they're 6 feet tall, 150 lbs... makes no mention of wings.

 

[Rel]

"Unlike other de4vils, erinyes appear attractive to humans, resembling very comely women except for their huge, feathery wings and sinister eyes." (3.0 MM, P 52)

Noting their special Charm ability, once you fail the Will save, you don't care if they've got wings, a tentacle beard or two cloven hooves. Regardless, I suggest that their first seduction be a Wizard who can make them a Hat of Disguise.

 

[Wippit Guud]

"Unlike other de4vils, erinyes appear attractive to humans, resembling very comely women except for their huge, feathery wings and sinister eyes." (3.0 MM, P 52)

That in 3.5? They might've ditched the wings (don't go off the pic, that's just artist perogative)

 

[Calico_Jack73]

My idea was to have the Eryines use the polymorph ability to become different NPCs to have the PCs go on different missions for her. Enchantments grant saving throws which are suseptible to failure due to a decent saving throw. There is an elf in the party which makes matters worse. The only option seems to be to either give the Eryines a Ring of Polymorph Self or to use the possession rules in the BOVD.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

"Unlike other devils, erinyes appear attractive to humans, resembling very comely women or men."

Why waste a polymorph?

Doesn't hold water. Succubi are even more charismatic but they have Polymorph Self.