So I'm running a battle royale one shot for my 6 players. This one shot is pitting 3 devil worshipping tieflings against 3 demonic tieflings. Each of who are backed by various demons and devil lords. The idea I'm running with is that a stable portal to the material plane has been located in the 1st layer of hell avernus. Its in a pretty remote section of the hell scape and will take some time to get to for both parties. The devils job is to get there and eradicate the demons so that they can't secure it for the abyss. The demons goal is to secure the portal and hold it so they may use it to stage future invasions. I know how I'm going to run most of the session with the soul exception of the final confrontation between the two groups. While the players are fighting one another I want a 3rd party bbeg to show up and present a common enemy to make it a crazier experience for the players. What I'm not sure is what creature would make more sense. I was considering either angelic forces or a mercenary band of yugoloths. Any thoughts?
I love the Blood Wars, they're very interesting to me. What I like most about them, and what would be interesting to explore, is the fact that basically the Demons and Devils being at war with one another is a good thing; if either of them should ever "win", the other would utterly destroy the balance of the multiverse. So if there's a third party that wants to upset the Blood Wars they either want this or don't know this.
Yugoloths are interdimensional mercenaries that often work for either or even both sides. So they actually benefit from the Blood Wars. If you want to use this angle, go for it!
Angels can be misguided in their quest for the Greater Good. A particular Angel can be tricked in believing that if the devils vanquish the demons, they can clean the leftovers and the multiverse will "be rid of evil forever". This might be interesting as well; which 4th party might be responsible for tricking the angels? Perhaps some sort of Neutral deity that believes in the absolute Void as an ultimate end goal. Perhaps some kind of nihilist cult that believe that the only way the multiverse can be balanced, is for everything to be destroyed.
If you want to use this last plot point, you could also look into Mechanus and Primus. You could go full I, Robot and have him finally break down and realise that the ultimate form of Law is the absense of all chaos, thus all life. You could even use the Great Modron March as a 3rd party (pretty funny idea, especially for a one shot, look it up for giggles :P )
So I'm running a battle royale one shot for my 6 players. This one shot is pitting 3 devil worshipping tieflings against 3 demonic tieflings. Each of who are backed by various demons and devil lords. The idea I'm running with is that a stable portal to the material plane has been located in the 1st layer of hell avernus. Its in a pretty remote section of the hell scape and will take some time to get to for both parties. The devils job is to get there and eradicate the demons so that they can't secure it for the abyss. The demons goal is to secure the portal and hold it so they may use it to stage future invasions. I know how I'm going to run most of the session with the soul exception of the final confrontation between the two groups. While the players are fighting one another I want a 3rd party bbeg to show up and present a common enemy to make it a crazier experience for the players. What I'm not sure is what creature would make more sense. I was considering either angelic forces or a mercenary band of yugoloths. Any thoughts?
Btw its 3v3 so 6 players total each level 10
One thing you could do would be an incredibly powerful creature. Maybe like an branch beholder race like overseer but buffed.
I love the Blood Wars, they're very interesting to me. What I like most about them, and what would be interesting to explore, is the fact that basically the Demons and Devils being at war with one another is a good thing; if either of them should ever "win", the other would utterly destroy the balance of the multiverse. So if there's a third party that wants to upset the Blood Wars they either want this or don't know this.
Yugoloths are interdimensional mercenaries that often work for either or even both sides. So they actually benefit from the Blood Wars. If you want to use this angle, go for it!
Angels can be misguided in their quest for the Greater Good. A particular Angel can be tricked in believing that if the devils vanquish the demons, they can clean the leftovers and the multiverse will "be rid of evil forever". This might be interesting as well; which 4th party might be responsible for tricking the angels? Perhaps some sort of Neutral deity that believes in the absolute Void as an ultimate end goal. Perhaps some kind of nihilist cult that believe that the only way the multiverse can be balanced, is for everything to be destroyed.
If you want to use this last plot point, you could also look into Mechanus and Primus. You could go full I, Robot and have him finally break down and realise that the ultimate form of Law is the absense of all chaos, thus all life. You could even use the Great Modron March as a 3rd party (pretty funny idea, especially for a one shot, look it up for giggles :P )
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature