So let's say the River Styx has a port in Avernus, let's call it Port Soul Spit (tm, Midnightplat). Arms from elsewhere in the Hells and Multiverse are brought there for the Blood War effort, the Soul Coin trade flows in and out, Infernal naval elements intersect with Yuggoloth mercenaries and other interplanar argonauts on the Styx. Stuff brought into the port are often loaded onto caravans to transport material elsewhere on Avernus or the Hells. Basic military/trading port in Hell stuff.
One of my game's parties is using Port Soul Spit as the point to which they're going to infiltrate or embed themselves with such a caravan to deliver "tribute" to the Temple of Tiamat. I like the idea of the Infernal side of the Blood War being steeped in military bureaucracy and logistical bureaucracy. So I'm including a sort of Customs House where paperwork is produced authorizing stuff unloaded at Port Soul Spit to travel elsewhere on Avernus, and the players are doing a set of mini-heists to get the materials to produce a convincing forgery of such a travel authorization (on top of boosting the materials, there's going to be skill challenges in forging stamps and seals or applying stolen seals appropriately, as well as making sure the language is accurate and correctly rendered in both Infernal and Draconic, as the travel papers and cargo manifest will go under various forms of scrutiny during the trek from Port Soul Spit to the Temple of Tiamat).
My question, what sort of Devil would be charged as the pencil pusher/document preparer in this situation? Personality-wise they're somewhere between C.S. Lewis's Screwtape and the wheeling dealing PX guy in Apocalypse Now. I might include as an element the PC could consider is actually retrieving the hand of such a fiend to better make the document seem like it was written by an actual Fiendish hand for additional ghoulishness.
In this game, Hell's a bit anarchic and confused for long story, crux of campaign reasons, so bribery is a possibility here too, Once could actually see Abyssal powers using the confusing to place a literal corrupting influence into Hell's bureaucracy, and would welcome thoughts on Devils and bribery but I'm mostly looking for recommendations on who would be best suited as an infernal functionary.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Stat-wise? I'd reskin an Abhorrent Overlord. They have the high Charisma skills you'd want in a Quartermaster/Senior Clerk position. They also have some nice spells that you could flavor as overwhelming someone with forms or what have you.
Because of the association that Port Soul Spit has with the River Styx, my first thought would be to use an amnizu as the proverbial dockmaster and bureaucrat. Official D&D lore states that amnizu oftentimes perform the task of watching over the River Styx, so it would make sense and be fitting that your particular port would have one overseeing all of the logistics.
Now, as a greater devil, an amnizu might be a little overqualified for a “pencil pusher” position, but I figure that there are at least two routes that you could go with this idea.
First, the amnizu might be bureaucratic but not necessarily directly involved with most of the day-to-day activities. Instead, they have a group of subordinates that serve it and handle the more menial tasks under its supervision. Or, perhaps, there are layers upon layers of management and workers involved, which causes some confusion and miscommunication and potential allows things to slip through the otherwise lawful bureaucracy.
Second, the amnizu mucked up some assignment from a higher-ranking devil that ended up causing them to be assigned to this role. Versus a full demotion to a lesser form and status, this amnizu spends its time handling the tedious and endless paperwork involved with this port…which is a far less prestigious position than being the commanding officer over a Styx watchtower.
Or, as a third option, you could combination aspects of both one and two…
Thanks for the suggestions! In a pinch I settled on a "following orders to the letter" type Barbed devil as the custom house clerk ... but I like the idea of the Amnizu as the sort of Harbor Master, like literally the Port Authority. And I wasn't familiar with the Abhorent Overlord, but I think it's gold sniffing ability actually makes sense in some aspect of the Port's security, especially now that there's a lot of tribute to Tiamat flowing in, plus general smuggling.
Also forgot about the Styx Watchtowers (those like actually are a thing, right?). I'm liking the idea of Port Soul spit sort of growing up and around a Watchtower, it's sort of half regmineted Infernal installation, but there's lots of folks showing up in Hell these days because of the disruptions
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
In a pinch I settled on a "following orders to the letter" type Barbed devil as the custom house clerk
The imagery that first came to my mind when I read this was a devil that would break off barbs from its own flesh to create new “pens” for its books and ledgers. Could see it piercing its own flesh to supply blood for ink…or maybe it stabs the client so a contact can be sealed with their blood.
Also forgot about the Styx Watchtowers (those like actually are a thing, right?). I'm liking the idea of Port Soul spit sort of growing up and around a Watchtower, it's sort of half regmineted Infernal installation, but there's lots of folks showing up in Hell these days because of the disruptions
Yeah, the Styx Watchtowers were mentioned in previous editions and were even covered more recently in Descent into Avernus. I could absolutely see your Port Soul Spit location being a bit of a harbor town that developed around one of these Watchtowers. Perhaps, this particular spot sees a lot more consistent travel along the River Styx, so more beings have established a long-term presence there.
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So let's say the River Styx has a port in Avernus, let's call it Port Soul Spit (tm, Midnightplat). Arms from elsewhere in the Hells and Multiverse are brought there for the Blood War effort, the Soul Coin trade flows in and out, Infernal naval elements intersect with Yuggoloth mercenaries and other interplanar argonauts on the Styx. Stuff brought into the port are often loaded onto caravans to transport material elsewhere on Avernus or the Hells. Basic military/trading port in Hell stuff.
One of my game's parties is using Port Soul Spit as the point to which they're going to infiltrate or embed themselves with such a caravan to deliver "tribute" to the Temple of Tiamat. I like the idea of the Infernal side of the Blood War being steeped in military bureaucracy and logistical bureaucracy. So I'm including a sort of Customs House where paperwork is produced authorizing stuff unloaded at Port Soul Spit to travel elsewhere on Avernus, and the players are doing a set of mini-heists to get the materials to produce a convincing forgery of such a travel authorization (on top of boosting the materials, there's going to be skill challenges in forging stamps and seals or applying stolen seals appropriately, as well as making sure the language is accurate and correctly rendered in both Infernal and Draconic, as the travel papers and cargo manifest will go under various forms of scrutiny during the trek from Port Soul Spit to the Temple of Tiamat).
My question, what sort of Devil would be charged as the pencil pusher/document preparer in this situation? Personality-wise they're somewhere between C.S. Lewis's Screwtape and the wheeling dealing PX guy in Apocalypse Now. I might include as an element the PC could consider is actually retrieving the hand of such a fiend to better make the document seem like it was written by an actual Fiendish hand for additional ghoulishness.
In this game, Hell's a bit anarchic and confused for long story, crux of campaign reasons, so bribery is a possibility here too, Once could actually see Abyssal powers using the confusing to place a literal corrupting influence into Hell's bureaucracy, and would welcome thoughts on Devils and bribery but I'm mostly looking for recommendations on who would be best suited as an infernal functionary.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Stat-wise? I'd reskin an Abhorrent Overlord. They have the high Charisma skills you'd want in a Quartermaster/Senior Clerk position. They also have some nice spells that you could flavor as overwhelming someone with forms or what have you.
Because of the association that Port Soul Spit has with the River Styx, my first thought would be to use an amnizu as the proverbial dockmaster and bureaucrat. Official D&D lore states that amnizu oftentimes perform the task of watching over the River Styx, so it would make sense and be fitting that your particular port would have one overseeing all of the logistics.
Now, as a greater devil, an amnizu might be a little overqualified for a “pencil pusher” position, but I figure that there are at least two routes that you could go with this idea.
Thanks for the suggestions! In a pinch I settled on a "following orders to the letter" type Barbed devil as the custom house clerk ... but I like the idea of the Amnizu as the sort of Harbor Master, like literally the Port Authority. And I wasn't familiar with the Abhorent Overlord, but I think it's gold sniffing ability actually makes sense in some aspect of the Port's security, especially now that there's a lot of tribute to Tiamat flowing in, plus general smuggling.
Also forgot about the Styx Watchtowers (those like actually are a thing, right?). I'm liking the idea of Port Soul spit sort of growing up and around a Watchtower, it's sort of half regmineted Infernal installation, but there's lots of folks showing up in Hell these days because of the disruptions
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
The imagery that first came to my mind when I read this was a devil that would break off barbs from its own flesh to create new “pens” for its books and ledgers. Could see it piercing its own flesh to supply blood for ink…or maybe it stabs the client so a contact can be sealed with their blood.
Yeah, the Styx Watchtowers were mentioned in previous editions and were even covered more recently in Descent into Avernus. I could absolutely see your Port Soul Spit location being a bit of a harbor town that developed around one of these Watchtowers. Perhaps, this particular spot sees a lot more consistent travel along the River Styx, so more beings have established a long-term presence there.