I'm in a pickle. My party met an NPC who asked them to go and find an orb that had been commissioned by a celestial. It was made to be able to imprison one of the lords of hell (potentially even asmodeus) and end the great war. They were meant to toss it through a portal that would take it to a pocket dimension and then the portal would destroy itself, thus sealing the orb off for all time.
ANYWAY They went through the dungeon, found the orb, took out the portal and then went.... this things cool, lets keep it. Now the wizard is studying it to figure out how it works.
SO! Any ideas how it works? I'm thinking something not usable until they're up around level 15+ (they're 9 at the moment). I've been contemplating only usable by a celestial, or needs the devils blood, or requires concentration to keep them trapped in it. Any idea is a good idea!
NB: I don't want ideas to take it off them, lets try to stay on point!
I'm in a pickle. My party met an NPC who asked them to go and find an orb that had been commissioned by a celestial. It was made to be able to imprison one of the lords of hell (potentially even asmodeus) and end the great war. They were meant to toss it through a portal that would take it to a pocket dimension and then the portal would destroy itself, thus sealing the orb off for all time.
ANYWAY They went through the dungeon, found the orb, took out the portal and then went.... this things cool, lets keep it. Now the wizard is studying it to figure out how it works.
SO! Any ideas how it works? I'm thinking something not usable until they're up around level 15+ (they're 9 at the moment). I've been contemplating only usable by a celestial, or needs the devils blood, or requires concentration to keep them trapped in it. Any idea is a good idea!
NB: I don't want ideas to take it off them, lets try to stay on point!
Maybe it can only be used by the celestial that made it, or the celestial has to choose to let them use it?
After some delving, I found this: Every fiend has a true name, with immense power. A fiend that knows its own true name can grow in power, though the name changes after it rises up, having to be discovered again. If someone else discovers a fiend's true name, it has power over that fiend. Perhaps this celestial has figured out the archdevil's true name, and is planning to use it to force it into the orb. However, if the celestial had the fiend's true name, why would it bother sealing it away? It has total control! So maybe not the devil's current true name, but if you know a fiend's old true name, you can still summon it. Perhaps the celestial intends to summon the demon into the orb, trapping it even if it does not have said devil completely subjugated.
So, this orb is usable by anyone, but the orb is just a prison strong enough to keep anything inside. The real trick is getting something inside it.
Maybe this is an improved version meant to target a specific Devil? I like the idea of a ritual using the Devil’s true name and then the blood of a willing celestial to summon and seal away a powerful devil. Essentially giving the PCs access to the above spell around level 15, which is a bit earlier than usual.
I had an "Orb" like this in a game long ago. The character studying it found himself trapped inside a short while later. I allowed the character to use it but, sometimes it did amazing things for him and sometimes not so great things, to him. We all had fun!
I'm in a pickle. My party met an NPC who asked them to go and find an orb that had been commissioned by a celestial. It was made to be able to imprison one of the lords of hell (potentially even asmodeus) and end the great war. They were meant to toss it through a portal that would take it to a pocket dimension and then the portal would destroy itself, thus sealing the orb off for all time.
ANYWAY
They went through the dungeon, found the orb, took out the portal and then went.... this things cool, lets keep it. Now the wizard is studying it to figure out how it works.
SO!
Any ideas how it works? I'm thinking something not usable until they're up around level 15+ (they're 9 at the moment). I've been contemplating only usable by a celestial, or needs the devils blood, or requires concentration to keep them trapped in it. Any idea is a good idea!
NB: I don't want ideas to take it off them, lets try to stay on point!
Maybe it can only be used by the celestial that made it, or the celestial has to choose to let them use it?
There is no dawn after eternal night.
Homebrew: Magic items, Subclasses
After some delving, I found this: Every fiend has a true name, with immense power. A fiend that knows its own true name can grow in power, though the name changes after it rises up, having to be discovered again. If someone else discovers a fiend's true name, it has power over that fiend. Perhaps this celestial has figured out the archdevil's true name, and is planning to use it to force it into the orb. However, if the celestial had the fiend's true name, why would it bother sealing it away? It has total control! So maybe not the devil's current true name, but if you know a fiend's old true name, you can still summon it. Perhaps the celestial intends to summon the demon into the orb, trapping it even if it does not have said devil completely subjugated.
So, this orb is usable by anyone, but the orb is just a prison strong enough to keep anything inside. The real trick is getting something inside it.
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Wooby, Truename has potential! Thanks for the suggestion.
Mechanically you could use the Imprisonment Spell as a starting point. https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells/imprisonment
Maybe this is an improved version meant to target a specific Devil? I like the idea of a ritual using the Devil’s true name and then the blood of a willing celestial to summon and seal away a powerful devil. Essentially giving the PCs access to the above spell around level 15, which is a bit earlier than usual.
I had an "Orb" like this in a game long ago. The character studying it found himself trapped inside a short while later. I allowed the character to use it but, sometimes it did amazing things for him and sometimes not so great things, to him. We all had fun!
Already exists. See the legendary magic item: Iron Flask
The chart that comes when you click on it expressly mentions Demons.