Fun with Succubus's

[Markn]

Hey all,

As a precursor, this is a 4e campaign and thus uses 4e succubus rules.

I am looking for some ideas with a succubus. To give you a basic idea of what has happened (regarding the succubus subplot up till now), there is a dwarf character who has been literally screwing around in his home town. The dwarfs adentures have taken him away from that town for about 7 months. When the dwarf returns, his beloved plans on telling him that she is pregnant however before she has a chance, she gets kidnapped by a succubus who takes her place. Now, what cool things could I do that would make for an interesting story? Since this is a subplot, the succubus is expected to only be around for 3 levels before her time is up and it is expected she is found out and dealt with.

Some ideas I currently have is:

1. At some point the pregnant girlfriend is in danger and needs to be protected by the dwarf. This gets the succubus travelling with the group so that she can plant her 1/day kiss to keep the dwarf charmed.

2. During the final encounter she will seek to get some of the PCs as allies and thus make for an interesting fight.

3. Maybe the PC's find out before the dwarf PC and have to try and convince him but the "Kiss" keeps making him a non believer.

Essentially, I haven't figured out what her goals are yet and even why she is there. I just think this is an interesting use for a succubus and am looking for some cool moments to make my use of the succubs more exciting. So, if you have any roleplaying scenes or combat encounters, lets hear them!

Looking forward to everyones ideas and thanks in advance.

 

[knightofround]

I guess my main question would be, what is the succbus' motivation? Why is it going out of its way to totally replace someone instead of simple seduce-and-slay? (And if they're going to replace someone, why kidnap instead of simply murder?)

If you haven't decided on motivation yet, you could try the "redemption" plot. Perhaps the succubus just wants to try being an ordinary woman with an ordinary life. Perhaps she really loves dwarf. So she locks up the lover in a place where they will be found in a week or two, and tries to convince the dwarf to either run off with her or go adventuring somewhere else.

You could also tie in her motivation with whatever the BBEG is in the plot. Have her enter the party to gain information, and leave peacefully. Then, at a later confrontation with the BBEG, it is revealed that she's a succubus, and regretfully puts herself against the party. Or perhaps she begs the party to kill her to end her suffering. Or something along those lines.

 

[Markn]

Whew...There is some succubus love afterall.

Thanks for inquiring Knightofround.

The Succubus, who will now be named Elsepeth, like most other succubus's is concerned with the corruption of a mortal soul. Actually she plans on corrupting many souls and this is her latest ploy.

The dwarf in question is a spiritual leader for the church of Moradin and she believes that if she corrupts him, then through him she can corrupt all of the attendees of the church.

Elsepeth's main reason for kidnapping the real girl is so that she can continue to get information from her that might help Elsepeth corrupt the dwarf.

I've definately decided that I want this to only be a subplot and what I am struggling with is how to go about subtly corrupting the dwarf? What are some good situations to put him in? What would be the steps to corrupting a soul that I could play out through encounters or story? I particularly like morally difficult situations or situations where there are no easy answers.

The old Batman TV series from a long time ago had a lot of what I am looking for. things like "You can save the girl or you can save the city but you can't save both" sort of thing.

Hope that helps with what I am looking for.

 

[Quartz]

No one in their right mind is going to take a pregnant woman adventuring.

Beyond that, you're seriously screwing with a player; are you sure that's a good idea?

 

[Markn]

Quartz

It's an urban town adventure. The idea being that they need to move her around to keep her safe from a murderer who is specifically targetting her (among other victims). This keeps her near the action, the PCs check up on her on a regular basis and she can plant her kiss regularly. There is a whole range of possibilities of keeping her involved with the PCs in an urban adventure.

As for messing with the player...Our group has been together for a long time. Story is something my players want and like. They like surprises and they like telling stories so even when things go "against" them they go along with the story and strive to enhance it. They also know me to be very fair and also know that I give out great benefits when the story warrants as well. One of the greatest campaigns we ever had regarded the downfall of a paladin. We talked about the idea, the player was cool with it and the campaign was written specifically in mind to have the paladin fall from grace during the campaign. It turned out to be really cool and to this day it wound up being one of the best ones we have ever played.

If I had any concerns of my players not enjoying it I wouldn't do it.

 

[Quickleaf]

I'd avoid the trite "save the girl or save the city". Without knowing much about your campaign (beyond that's it probably in the heroic-tier), I would suggest working the theology angle since he is a cleric of Moradin. Remember the succubus is a devil - they just about define arrogance, deceit, and patient plotting. She might try to play on the dwarf's desire to create a lasting legacy in honor of Moradin, only the legacy she encourages him to pursue is unwittingly spelling doom for the dwarves.

Corruption occurs in phases, for example: (1) Get to know target and seek weakness, (2) Test target's susceptibility with a scenario pitting them philosophically against an ally/leader, (3) Purposefully slip up (in character) and plead for forgiveness, (4) Provide aid to the target at a critical moment, (5) Test target's susceptibility with a more difficult scenario (if successful, continue in this vein), (6) (if unsuccessful) Make demands of target threatening withholding something they desire (in this case love or their child) unless they do what you ask, etc.

Each test includes fostering increasingly deeper opposition and drastic measures. Just come up with a couple campaign appropriate scenarios, and you should be good to go.

 

[Markn]

Quickleaf

That is fantastic structure. I will plan on building some encounters around that. Thanks for the feedback.

PS - You are correct, we are in the heroic tier.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

spam reported

EDIT: The plural fur Succubus is Succubi

 

[Dog Moon]

Spam reported? Hrm...

Another option, assuming you need/want it anymore, would be to have the Succubus pregnant and 'targeted' by someone. Depending on how horror-like you want it to be, make the person be a serial killer or something. For some reason, he's after her [maybe he's the type who nails the suicide king card to the door and then targets the person one day later so everyone KNOWS he's going after her]. So they need to protect her. HOWEVER, they fail. Or so everyone thinks. The Succubus then torments the Dwarf. She haunts him, appeared in a dead, disfigured form. "Why didn't you save me?" or something to that effect. Worst yet, she carries their unborn child. Maybe the dead babe can still be attached due to umbilical cord.

And while they're traveling, the Dwarf SWEARS he sees glimpses his living pregnant girlfriend alive and well yet whenever he turns the corner, she is gone.

Well, maybe it'll drive him more insane than corrupted, but could still be fun.

 

[Engilbrand]

She could always perform a ritual that would link her mind with the wife's. As long as they're connected, she can interact normally. That would give her a reason keep the wife alive. It could even be an experiment to see if that ritual works perfectly. You then have more subplots for the future. Maybe it works too well and the Succubus starts falling in love.