InPathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, players are constantly faced with difficult moral choices, complex alignments, and the lingering influence of supernatural powers. One particularly intriguing feature tied to these choices is theProfane Gift, a dark boon granted by Nocticula the demon lord of lust and shadow. This mysterious gift is more than a simple buff or stat boost. It’s a representation of the shifting boundaries between corruption and power, and it plays a significant role in character development, especially for those who tread the demonic path. Whether you’re aiming for a mythic transformation or seeking to understand your place in the conflict of mortals and demons, the Profane Gift can shape your journey in unexpected ways.
What Is the Profane Gift?
The Profane Gift inWrath of the Righteousis a special interaction primarily tied to Nocticula, one of the most powerful and enigmatic figures in the game. As a former demon lord on the verge of change, her relationship with the protagonist is filled with both temptation and uncertainty. The Profane Gift is offered during key moments in the story, often when the player is leaning heavily into a demonic or chaotic alignment, or when pursuing theDemon Mythic Path.
Key Features of the Profane Gift
- Granted by Nocticula herself
- Only available through specific choices and dialogue branches
- Often tied to romance, mythic alignment, or campaign decisions
- Represents a deepening bond between mortal and demonic powers
While the gift may seem attractive at first, it comes with consequences that can alter your character’s narrative arc and future decisions.
How to Receive the Profane Gift
Obtaining the Profane Gift is not as simple as completing a quest or defeating an enemy. It requires the player to make certain choices during interactions with Nocticula, often in the context of deeper story events involving her domain and her influence.
Steps to Acquire the Gift
- Progress through the main campaign until you reachChapter 5
- Ensure you have chosen theDemon Mythic Pathor are aligned with chaotic/demonic ideals
- During your audience with Nocticula, select dialogue options that indicate submission, admiration, or alignment with her philosophy
- Engage in the romance path if available this strengthens the bond and increases your chances of receiving the gift
- Accept the Profane Gift when offered during one of the pivotal conversations in her palace
Failing to follow these steps, or choosing more rigid or lawful paths, may result in Nocticula withholding the gift. It’s important to understand that this feature is deeply tied to roleplaying and narrative decisions, not combat or mechanical prowess alone.
Benefits of the Profane Gift
The gift comes with tangible bonuses, making it useful beyond its narrative implications. It’s often framed as a mark of favor from Nocticula, enhancing the recipient’s power in significant ways.
Typical Mechanical Benefits
- Bonus to Ability Scores: Some variations of the gift offer an enhancement to Charisma, Strength, or Dexterity
- Spell-Like Abilities: Certain demonic abilities or resistances may be unlocked
- Unique Buffs: Custom effects that may increase critical strike chance, energy resistance, or mythic abilities
These mechanical boosts can vary based on the choices made and the mythic rank of the character at the time. Players focusing on charisma-based classes like Sorcerers or Bards may find the Profane Gift particularly advantageous.
Roleplaying and Story Implications
While the mechanical benefits are substantial, the true value of the Profane Gift lies in the story. Accepting it means entering a dangerous partnership with a powerful demonic figure, which can influence everything from party reactions to your final ending.
Consequences of Accepting the Gift
- Alters your relationship with Nocticula romantic or manipulative
- May affect interactions with other demon lords and celestial beings
- Unlocks special dialogue choices and scenes unique to your bond
- Can contribute to certain endings or mythic transformations
Characters seeking to walk the path of corruption or power without concern for morality will likely embrace this gift. However, those seeking redemption or neutrality may hesitate and rightly so.
Rejecting the Profane Gift
You do have the option to refuse Nocticula’s offer. Doing so will close off certain narrative paths but may open others, particularly for players trying to maintain a Good alignment or aiming to challenge demonic powers from within.
Reasons to Refuse
- Preserve your moral or alignment goals
- Avoid being tied to a demonic power
- Maintain favor with Good-aligned companions like Seelah or Arueshalae
- Unlock redemption or independent endings without Nocticula’s influence
Rejecting the gift may also anger or disappoint Nocticula, which could have implications for her future involvement in the story. However, some paths allow players to defy her and still earn her respect if done with power and conviction.
Profane Gift and Mythic Paths
The Demon Mythic Path is the most directly connected to Nocticula and the Profane Gift. However, players walking other mythic paths like Trickster or Azata may still encounter her and be offered versions of her favor, though the outcomes vary significantly.
Interaction by Mythic Path
- Demon: Most likely to receive and benefit from the full version of the Profane Gift
- Trickster: May experience a more chaotic interaction, sometimes comical or subversive
- Azata: Often in direct opposition to Nocticula’s ideals, may have a chance to reject or reform
- Lich or Swarm-That-Walks: Can view Nocticula as a rival rather than an ally
The depth of interaction depends heavily on your choices leading up to the encounter, and on your willingness to embrace or resist the influence of shadow and lust.
Power with a Price
The Profane Gift inPathfinder: Wrath of the Righteousis more than just a mechanical enhancement it is a symbol of allegiance, temptation, and transformation. Whether you embrace it for the power it brings or reject it to preserve your soul, the choice marks a turning point in your journey through the Worldwound. Nocticula’s influence lingers over every decision, and accepting her gift can lead to greater strength or deeper corruption. Ultimately, the Profane Gift invites players to ask themselves what price they are willing to pay for power and whether that price is worth it.