What is a Babau in Pathfinder 2e?
What is a Babau in Pathfinder 2e? When a sinful mortal soul is judged and sent on to the Abyss, it can become a deadly fiend—a demon. Demons are living incarnations of sin—be they classic sins like wrath or gluttony, or more “specialized” depravities like an obsession with torture or the act of treason or treachery. Once formed, a demon’s driving goals are twofold—the amassing of personal power, and the corruption of mortal souls to cause them to become tainted by sin. In this way, demons ensure a never-ending supply of new demons to bolster their ever-growing ranks in the Abyss. The babau is an assassin, a murderer, and a sadist—certainly, not unusual traits, yet their penchant for stealth and surprise sets them apart from their kin. Babaus form from mortal souls of lone killers—those who took pleasure in more personal murders, and particularly those with grisly patterns to their killings.
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Table of Contents
Babau Trophies
Babaus revel in their art and often leave behind a grim token or marker as a signature. They may leave a distinctive mutilation upon the bodies of their victims, rather than harvesting keepsakes and trophies for a personal collection. Babaus want their legacy to grow among those they hunt and kill.
The Crimson Token
A series of gruesome murders has struck fear into the heart of a once-peaceful city. Each victim bears the same horrifying mutilation—a deep, bloody gash across their face, left as a signature by the mysterious killer. The city guard is at a loss, and the adventurers are called in to investigate. As they delve deeper into the case, they discover that the murderer is a babau demon, preying on the city’s most sinful inhabitants. To stop the demon, the adventurers must first unravel the twisted pattern behind the killings and confront the babau in a deadly showdown.
The Sinister Sculptor
A renowned sculptor known for his macabre art pieces has recently unveiled his latest masterpiece—a grotesque statue made of what appears to be flesh and bone. The artist’s newfound success has drawn the attention of the adventurers, who begin to suspect that the gruesome materials used in the statue are all too real. Their investigation leads them to the dark truth: the sculptor is in league with a babau demon, who has been providing him with the remains of its victims. The adventurers must expose the sinister partnership and put an end to the demon’s bloody reign of terror.
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The Shadow’s Bargain
A desperate nobleman, fearing for his life due to numerous enemies, makes a dark pact with a babau demon to eliminate his adversaries. In exchange, the demon demands the nobleman’s soul upon his death. As the body count rises, the nobleman begins to regret his decision and seeks the adventurers’ aid in breaking the pact. The adventurers must track down the babau, confront it in its lair, and somehow outsmart the cunning demon to save the nobleman’s soul from eternal damnation.
The Blackened Rose
A secret society of assassins, known as the Blackened Rose, has grown bolder in their activities, leaving a trail of high-profile murders in their wake. The adventurers are tasked with infiltrating the society and putting an end to their deadly deeds. As they delve into the shadowy underworld, they discover that the leader of the Blackened Rose is a babau demon, who has been using the society to spread fear and chaos throughout the city. The adventurers must confront the babau and dismantle the deadly organization before it can claim more innocent lives.
Need more stats?
If you want the full stats of this creature go here: https://2e.aonprd.com/Monsters.aspx?ID=598
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Adventure Ideas
The Unseen Menace
A mysterious force has been terrorizing a remote village, striking from the shadows and leaving mutilated corpses in its wake. The villagers, paralyzed by fear, turn to the adventurers for help in ridding their home of this unseen menace. As the party investigates, they discover that the creature responsible is a babau demon, who has been feeding on the villagers’ fear and sowing discord among them. The adventurers must set a trap for the cunning demon, using their wits and courage to outsmart the deadly killer and restore peace to the village.
The Demon’s Apprentice
A series of brutal murders have been plaguing a small town. The victims all appear to have been tortured before their deaths, and a chilling message is scrawled at each crime scene. As the adventurers investigate the killings, they discover that a young outcast from the town has been learning the dark arts of murder and torture from a babau demon. The demon has been grooming the apprentice to spread fear and chaos throughout the region. The adventurers must find the demon’s apprentice, confront the babau, and put a stop to their twisted mentorship before it’s too late.
Blood in the Library
A prestigious academy known for its vast library and scholarly pursuits has become the site of a grisly murder. A prominent scholar has been found dead, their body mutilated beyond recognition. The adventurers are brought in to investigate and soon uncover a trail of secret, forbidden texts that the scholar had been researching. The trail leads to a babau demon who had been summoned through the dark rituals in the texts. The adventurers must uncover the demon’s purpose, banish it back to the Abyss, and cleanse the library of its corrupting influence.
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About the Author:
Dwight Scull has been playing tabletop role-playing games (starting with Dungeons and Dragons 3.5) back in 2001. He started being a dungeon master around 2005.
He loves to play many different types of TTRPGs, including Pathfinder, GURPS, Shadowrun, Vampire: The Masquerade, Mage: The Ascension (and other White Wolf Games), Nights Black Agents, and others.
Fan of mysteries, light horror, co-op board games, true crime, sci-fi, and fantasy.
