Dragon 365: Codex of Betrayal, Beleth the Witch's Viscount

[Mathew_Freeman]

Interesting article indeed!

And looking at the statistics for the monsters, I think going to the Epic Tier really can change the world - high level characters have a good chance of taking out some seriously powerful Devils!

I like that. I wonder how this will be reflected in the up-coming adventure path or the Hx to Ex adventure books.

I'm also liking the sound of that - it seems that for those that want to run very high level stuff, you will literally be shaking the foundations of the world, defeating figures of legend and so on - fantastic!

Not that it was somehow impossible to do this before, but still...

 

[AtomicPope]

WotC is doing a pretty good job with Dragon and Dungeon. So far, I've enjoyed every one of their "creature features." Now I'm going to have to put some Assassin Imp's in my campaign somewhere.

And maybe a murder lord (I hope the person on watch has a good passive perception).

 

[Asmor]

Great job, Ari! A brilliant start to a new series. I particularly liked the bit about Beleth manipulating the summoning rituals at an early stage in mortal-devil relations-- gives a good back story for why, say, you need to dig really deep to find a ritual to summon Asmodeus or whichever devil you might want to summon.

Btw, the assassin imp, says level 7, but xp 600. I assume they just screwed up the xp?

Good catch, the exp for both Assassin Imps should be half as much. I didn't check their stats too closely, but based on their HP they appear to be normal monsters, not elites. So the level 7 should be 300 exp and the level 13 should be 800.

 

[Shroomy]

Another thing I really enjoyed about this adventure is the artwork by Ben Wootten. I thought it was fantastic, especially the first painting.

 

[Wolfwood2]

Beleth strikes me as much more interesting when used as an unreliable ally than as an enemy. (At least at first.) Devils are supposed to be seductive and tempting, and he's the sort that would much rather have the PCs owing him favors and feeding him information than bothering with trying to trap their souls. Just allow an imp to accompany them on an adventure or two. Best behavior, he swears!

He's also excellent at the type of corruption PCs are most vulnerable to, the idea that "little people don't matter". You see (he assures the PCs) he's not interested in the souls of the great and mighty. He just wants to grab the souls of pathetic loser hedge witches who think they're going to be masters of devils. And those guys, don't they deserve what they get?

I see him as instantly pegging the PCs as potential movers and shakers and doing everything he can to get his hooks into them early on.

 

[Mouseferatu]

I really liked your article Mouse, and this made me laugh ^^ (in the good way).
I think I just figured out who the warlock in my campaign serves.

Heh. I hadn't even realized the funny there when I wrote it.

Btw, the assassin imp, says level 7, but xp 600. I assume they just screwed up the xp?

Good catch. I'd originally written them up as elites; looks like the XP values got missed during the conversion to normal critters.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Can you start using Mouseferatu as your credit for published works? It'd make my life a touch easier.

Actually, I have occasionally been tempted to credit myself as Ari "Mouseferatu" Marmell, but I'm not sure my employers would go for it.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Another thing I really enjoyed about this adventure is the artwork by Ben Wootten. I thought it was fantastic, especially the first painting.

Definitely. I was really happy with the way the art turned out. (In fact, I'd love a larger version of the picture of Beleth himself--maybe for my computer wallpaper--so I can see more of the details of his diabolical reflection in the lake. )

 

[Mouseferatu]

Beleth strikes me as much more interesting when used as an unreliable ally than as an enemy.

...

I see him as instantly pegging the PCs as potential movers and shakers and doing everything he can to get his hooks into them early on.

Absolutely.

 

[hamishspence]

I like.

As long as fix is included when whole thing is compiled I will not complain.

That said, I'd like to see a firmer tie-in between PoL Asmodeus story and the Pact Primeval: maybe have the god "executed" by Asmodeus for conspiring with demons or interfering in their punishment of mortals, "His Evilness" brought to trial and saying "I have done what I promised I would" Then suggesting the ruined domain be used as place of mortal punishment, sign Pact Primeval, be hurled down into the domain, carving out Serpents Coil in his fall.