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Nocticula (Pathfinder)
 The Demon Lord Nocticula as illustrated by Eva Widermann | |
| Game background | |
|---|---|
| Title(s) |
The Undeniable Our Lady in Shadow |
| Home plane |
The Abyss - Midnight Isles Darklight |
| Power level | Demon Lord |
| Alignment | Chaotic Evil |
| Portfolio | Night, Darkness, Lust |
| Domains | Chaos, Evil, Healing, Luck, Plant |
| Alias(es) | Demon Lord of Darkness and Lust |
| Superior | None |
| Design details | |
| First appearance |
Monster Manual II Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss |
| Settings | Dungeons and Dragons |
| Mythological | Succubus |
For other uses of the word Succubus, see Succubus (disambiguation).
Nocticula is known as The Lady in Shadow, The Undeniable and the Demon Lord of Darkness and Lust in the Dungeons and Dragons role playing game. Her realm, Darklight, is cataloged as the 72nd layer of the Abyss. In Darklight, the shadows of good beings glow with a brilliant light, while the shadows of evil beings are patches of uttermost darkness. Her main focus is with the metaphysical qualities of darkness and lust.
Nocticula also appears in a different role as one of the Tanar'ri who call themselves Queen of Succubi. While this title and role are not cannon in Dungeons and Dragons, she is an option as a possible contender to the throne of the Succubi which is held by Malcanthet.
Description
| “ | This frighteningly majestic creature spreads wide her rune-adorned wings. Molten iron weeps from her hooves, and her three tails are studded with barbs. | ” |
Nocticula is described in the apocryphal text Armies of the Abyss as often appearing as a voluptuous wild woman with dried mud between her toes and a feral look in her deep brown eyes. She prefers to travel naked or with minimal clothing, and paints simple circles and lines on her pale skin. Her form occasionally changes without warning, and a dim trail of light like that of the moon follows every movement she makes.
She has also been described as appearing in her true form as a Succubus, wearing her dark hair in a complex style. Her eyes are devoid of pupils, her fingers are tipped with talons, and her feet end in stony hooves. Her bat-like wings are covered with glowing runes and three stinger-tipped tails complete her demonic visage. Like her brother Socothbenoth, however, she often shifts her form to meet the deepest, darkest desires of those observing her.[1]
Nocticula’s favored weapon is Shadowkiss, a +5 unholy hand crossbow that magically creates ammunition as it fires. Once a target is damaged by a bolt fired from Shadowkiss, the hand crossbow gains the bane weapon special ability against that target’s creature type on all further attacks. Shadowkiss may only have one bane effect in place at one time. Bolts fired from Shadowkiss gain the ghost touch ability (an effect not normally available to ranged weapons).
Relationships
Nocticula is a master of seduction, so much so that even the other mighty demon lords are not immune to her persuasive charms. Her greatest triumph was the seduction and murder of Vyriavaxus, the former demon lord of shadows. As a result, most demon lords treat her with extreme caution. Despite their stern forbearance, her unearthly beauty also inspires lust and obsession, which tempers their fears. The only exception to Nocticula's distrustful relationship with the other demon lords is her brother Socothbenoth, with whom she maintains a relatively friendly and, more disturbingly, frequently incestuous relationship. Nocticula dwells in the Abyssal domain known as the Midnight Isles, an island realm shrouded in sensual immorality and eternal darkness.[2]
Cult and Worshipers
A cruel sadist on one hand and a seductive beauty on the other, she is patron to assassins and succubi (both literal and figurative). Assassin's guilds in her service are constantly at odds with other guilds, especially the feared Red Mantis, often leading to protracted shadow wars. She is particularly popular amongst the drow of Golarion, and has been taken on as the patron of House Misraria.[3] She is also worshiped in places of decadence such as Katapesh, Geb, and certain River Kingdoms.[4] Nocticula is also venerated among the Lamyros, a group of Pharasma-cursed creatures that loathe all the gods, and take pleasure in confounding and destroying their mortal servants.[5]
Statistics
Summary
| Name | Nocticula |
| Title | Our Lady in Shadow, Demon Lord of Darkness and Lust |
| Alignment | Chaotic Evil |
| Portfolio | Darkness and Lust |
| Worshipers | Whores, Assassins, Sexual Criminals |
| Cleric Alignments | Chaotic Neutral, Neutral Evil, Chaotic Evil |
| Domains | Chaos, Charm, Darkness, Evil |
| Weapon | Hand Crossbow |
Detailed Statistics
| Name | Nocticula |
| Type | Succubus |
| Sub-Type | Medium Outsider (chaotic, demon, evil, extraplanar) |
| Alignment | Chaotic Evil |
| Challenge Rating | 30 |
| XP | 9,830,400 |
| Init | +13 |
| Senses | Darkvision 60 ft., Detect /good, Detect Law, See in Darkness, True Seeing Perception +58 |
| Aura | Seductive presence (180 ft., DC 43), Unholy aura (DC 33) |
| Defense | AC 48 Touch 41, Flat-footed 35 (+4 deflection +13 Dex, +7 natural, +14 profane) hp 774 (36d10+576) Regeneration 30 (deific or mythic) Fort +32, Ref +37, Will +35 |
| Defensive Abilities | Abyssal resurrection, freedom of movement |
| DR | 20/cold iron, epic, and lawful |
| Immune | Damage and drain, charm and compulsion effects, death effects, electricity, energy drain, fire, petrification, poison |
| Resist | acid 30, cold 30 |
| SR | 41 |
| Speed | 60 ft., fly 90 ft. (good) |
| Melee | 2 claws +48 (1d8+12 plus 1d4 Cha drain) 3 stings +48 (2d6+12/19–20 plus poison) 2 hooves +43 (1d4+6 plus 1d6 fire and burn) 2 wings +43 (1d4+6) |
| Ranged | Shadowkiss +54/+49/+44/+39 (1d4+20/17–20 plus poison) |
| Special Attacks | burn (3d6 fire, DC 44), cruel shot, domination, energy drain, poison, profane ascension, sneak attack +4d6 |
| Abilities | Str 34, Dex 36, Con 42, Int 35, Wis 32, Cha 40 |
| Base Atk | +36 CMB +48 CMD 89 |
| Feats | Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Craft Construct, Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Craft Wondrous Item, Critical Focus, Deadly Aim, Flyby Attack, Greater Feint, Improved Critical (hand crossbow), Improved Critical (sting), Improved Feint, Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Quicken Spell-Like Ability (mass suggestion), Rapid Reload (hand crossbow), Rapid Shot, Staggering Critical |
| Skills | Acrobatics +52, Bluff +62, Diplomacy +54, Disguise +51, Fly +56, Intimidate +51, Knowledge (arcana, local, nobility) +48, Knowledge (planes, religion) +51, Perception +58, Perform (dance) +51, Sense Motive +50, Sleight of Hand +49, Spellcraft +48, Stealth +52, Use Magic Device +54; Racial Modifiers +8 Bluff, +8 Perception |
| Racial Modifiers | +8 Bluff, +8 Perception |
| Languages | Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Draconic, Undercommon telepathy 300 ft., tongues |
| Special Qualities | Change shape (any humanoid; alter self), swift transformation |
| Unique Item | Shadowkiss |
| Environment | Any (Abyss) |
| Organization | Solitary (unique) |
| Treasure | Triple (Shadowkiss, 100,000 gp in various jewelry, other treasure) |
| Constant | Detect good, detect law, freedom of movement, tongues, true seeing, unholy aura (DC 33) |
| At Will | Astral projection, blasphemy (DC 32), chaos hammer (DC 29), deeper darkness, desecrate, greater dispel magic, greater teleport, power word blind, telekinesis (DC 30), shapechange, unhallow |
| 3/day | Finger of death (DC 32), quickened mass suggestion (DC 31), summon demons, symbol of death (DC 33) |
| 1/day | Soul bind (DC 34), time stop, wail of the banshee (DC 34) |
- Cruel Shot (Ex): Nocticula is adept at making ranged attacks to strike cruel shots that deal significant and humiliating damage. She adds her Charisma bonus to all damage dealt by ranged weapons.
- Domination (Su): As a standard action, Nocticula can crush a foe’s will. The target must be visible to Nocticula and within 120 feet. It must succeed at a DC 43 Will save or fall instantly under Nocticula’s influence as dominate monster (CL 30th). If she uses domination against a humanoid creature, she may instead choose to use the ability as a swift action, and it functions as dominate person. As long as the target is under this effect, it gains a +4 profane bonus on all saving throws against targets other than Nocticula.
- Energy Drain (Su): Nocticula’s energy drain functions identically to that of a succubus, except that she drains 2 levels when she uses this ability against mythic creatures, or 1d6+4 levels against non-mythic creatures.
- Poison (Ex): Sting or hand crossbow—injury; save Fort DC 44; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d4 Wisdom drain plus paralysis for 1 round. Anyone who fails two consecutive saves against this poison is permanently blinded. The save DC is Constitution-based.
- Profane Ascension (Su): As a swift action while in an act of passion with a willing mortal, Nocticula may grant a profane ascension. The target’s name appears in glowing Abyssal runes on Nocticula’s wings, and a crimson mark manifests somewhere on the target’s body. The target immediately gains a +6 profane bonus to any one ability score of its choice, a +4 profane bonus to any other ability score of its choice, and the see in darkness ability. A single creature may have only one profane ascension in effect at any one time. As long as the effect persists, Nocticula can communicate telepathically with the target across any distance and may use any of her spell-like abilities through the target, manifesting them as if the target were using them. A profane ascension may be removed by a miracle or wish. Nocticula can remove it as a free action, dealing 4d6 points of Charisma drain and imparting 1d10+10 permanent negative levels to the victim.
- Seductive Presence (Su): Unlike most demon lords, Nocticula does not possess a frightful presence ability. Rather, she has a seductive presence that she can activate as a free action whenever she speaks or uses a spell-like ability. Anyone within 180 feet who fails a DC 43 Fortitude save loses any immunity to mind-affecting effects, charm effects, and compulsion effects, and becomes fascinated by Nocticula for 5d4 rounds. A creature affected by a mind-affecting effect while within this aura remains affected even after leaving Nocticula’s seductive presence. Creatures that succeed at this saving throw are immune to this ability for 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma-based.
- Swift Transformation (Ex): Nocticula can use her change shape ability as a free action.
Publication History
Nocticula was one of many demon lords that was mentioned only by name in a list in the original Monster Manual II (1983).[6]
Nocticula received further details for the third edition of Dungeons and Dragons in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss (2006).[7]
Other Publishers
Nocticula appeared in Paizo Publishing's book Book of the Damned, Vol. 2: Lords of Chaos (2010), on page 21.[8]
References
- ↑ Erik Mona et al. (2008). Campaign Setting, p. 174-175. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-112-1
- ↑ James Jacobs. (2009). Demon Lords of Golarion. Descent into Midnight, p. 61. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-131-2
- ↑ F. Wesley Schneider. (2008). Zirnakaynin. Endless Night, p. 51. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-129-9
- ↑ James Jacobs. (2009). Demon Lords of Golarion. Descent into Midnight, p. 61. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-131-2
- ↑ Greg A. Vaughan. (2008). Bestiary. Spires of Xin-Shalast, p. 83. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-041-4
- ↑ Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual II (TSR, 1983)
- ↑ Jacobs, James, Erik Mona, and Ed Stark. Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss (Wizards of the Coast, 2006)
- ↑ Jacobs, James. Book of the Damned, Vol. 2: Lords of Chaos (Paizo, 2010)
Additional Reading
- Baur, Wolfgang, and Lester W. Smith. Planes of Chaos. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1994.
- Mona, Erik. Armies of the Abyss. Green Ronin Publishing, 2002.
- Jacobs, James and Greg A. Vaughan. Pathfinder Adventure Path #76: The Midnight Isles. Paizo Publishing, LLC, 2013.