The Deluxe Guide to

Fiend Summoningand Faustian Bargains

Alex Riggs, Joshua Zaback

Free Sample

The Deluxe Guide to

Fiend Summoningand Faustian Bargains

Alex Riggs, Joshua Zaback

Free Sample Version

Product Identity: The following terms are hereby defined as product identity, as defined in the Open Gaming License version 1.0a, Section 1(E), and are not Open Content: All trademarks, registered trademarks, proper names (characters, deities, etc) dialogue, plot, storylines, location, characters and trade dress.

Artwork: All art in this book, besides the Necromancers of the Northwest logo, is either part of the public domain, or is used with the express permission of the creator, or is the property of Can Stock Photo, Inc. Necromancers of the Northwest, LLC claims no special rights or privileges to any art presented herein.

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DesignersAlex Riggs, Joshua Zaback

EditorRosa Gibbons

Credits

Necromancers of the Northwest, LLC9111 242nd St SWEdmonds, WA, 98026www.necromancers-online.com

Short StoryAlex Riggs

Table of ContentsThe Summoning...................................................................................................................................................5Introduction...........................................................................................................................................................9Summoning Fiends.............................................................................................................................................11 Step 1: Research.............................................................................................................................................11 Step 2: Calling...............................................................................................................................................13 Step 3: Binding.............................................................................................................................................17Bargaining with Fiends......................................................................................................................................20 Boons............................................................................................................................................................20 Body..................................................................................................................................................21 Death................................................................................................................................................22 Influence..........................................................................................................................................22 Knowledge.........................................................................................................................................22 Lust...................................................................................................................................................23 Magic................................................................................................................................................23 War...................................................................................................................................................25 Universal..........................................................................................................................................25 Payment.......................................................................................................................................................26Lexicon of Fiends................................................................................................................................................30 Bael (#1)........................................................................................................................................................34 Agares (#2)...................................................................................................................................................36 Astaroth (#29)..............................................................................................................................................38 Asmoday (#32).............................................................................................................................................41 Andrealphus (#65).......................................................................................................................................44 OGL............................................................................................................................................................46

The Summoning

Jacobsettledontohiscustomaryspotonthebenchinthelittlegardenjustoffthesideofthesmall,slightlycrookedbackstreettowaitforhislove,Elena.Heknewthatshetookthisrouteeachmorningonherwaytothemarket,whereshesoldflowersinordertosupportherailing,widowmother.Jacobmadeahabitofgettingupearlyandcomingouttowaitforher,towishheragoodday.Hewasabitearlytoday,andsodrewasmall,leather-boundtomefromhissatchelandopenedit.Thebookcontainedthefewspellsthathehadbeenabletomasteroverthecourseofthelastyear,duringhisdiligentstudiesattheAusurland Arcane Academy, as well as the spell that he was currently working on, an enchantment that would cause the target tolikehimmore.

ThoughJacobtriedtostudy,hefoundthathismindkeptwanderingbacktoElena,abouttheirfuturetogether,andabouthowhewasgoingtobecomeapowerfulwizardandwhiskherawaytoanetherealpalaceinthesky,wheretheywouldlivehappilyeverafter,lookingdownonthepetty,narrow-mindedpeasantswhodidn’tunderstandorappreciatehim.Heimaginedherpressingherselfagainsthimasthetwoofthemrodeuponagiantdragonmadeofnothingbutpuremagicandwillpower,andofthelookofsurpriseandloveonherfaceasheshowedherabeautifulstatueofhermadeofpurediamondthathehadmadewithmagic.

SocaughtupwasJacobinhisdaydreamthathealmostdidn’tnoticewhenElenacamedownthepath,andwasstartledtofindthatshewasaccompaniedbytheslightlyhulkingformofTomGreenfeld,afarmer’ssonwholivednotfaroutsideoftown,andwhowasmuchmorepopularwiththelocalboysthanJacobhimselfwas.Jacobhadn’tspokentoTomoften,anddidhisbesttoavoidhim,butTomandhisganghadteasedhimafewtimesabouthismagicalstudies.What was Elena doing with that lout?Hewondered.Was he bothering her? TherewasnowaythatarefinedandpuregirllikehisElenawouldpossiblywanttospendtimewithsomeoneasunsophisticatedandnarrow-mindedasTom.

JacobstoodandsmiledtoElena“Goodmorning,Elena!Isthat—”

JacobwascutoffasTommovedtostandbetweenJacobandhislove,who,forherpart,gentlyheldontothelargefarmer’selbowassheallowedhimtointerject.Thefarmer’sposewasnottrulymenacing,thoughitseemedthatwaytotheshockedJacob“Shedoesn’treallywanttospeaktoyou,Jacob.Youshouldstopwaitingforherhere.”

Jacobfeltasthoughhehadbeenstruck.HelookedtoElena.Therewasfearinhereyes,andperhapsahintofsadness.Shewouldn’tmeethis.Perhaps…perhapsthefarmerwasmakinghersaythesethings?Thatmustbeit.“Whydoesn’tshesaythatforherself,then?”Jacobaskedhisrival.“Orisitreallyyouthatdoesn’twanthertalkingtome,farmerboy?”

Thefarmer’seyeshardened,butbeforehecouldspeak,Elenainterjected“It’sokay,Tom,I’lljustfindanotherpathtotake.Canwejustgo?”Withoutwaitingforareply,sheturnedandhurriedoffbackthewayshecame.Jacobtriedtostartafterher,butTomblockedtheway.

“Outofmyway,youbrute!”

“Shesaidshedidn’twanttospeakwithyou.Getitthroughyourheadalready.Justlethergo.”

Thetwostaredateachotherforatensemoment,andthenTomturnedtofollowafterElena.“Iwouldn’tfollow,ifIwereyou,”thefarmersaidashedeparted.

Jacobfumedashewalkedthroughthecity’sstreetstowardstheAusurlandArcaneAcademy.Thenerveofthatfarmer,forcingElenanottospeaktohim.Itwasclearthatshewantedto.Hemusthaveforcedherselfonher,madeheragreetobecomeinvolvedwithhim.Thatwastheonlythingthatmadesense.Surelyshecouldn’tprefersomelow,commonoxofaboyoverawizardintraining?Thefarmerwasn’tevenallthatgoodlooking—surehehadmoremusclesthanJacob,butJacobhadamorecharmingface.Hemusthavebeenstrong-armingher.Hemusthave!

IfonlyJacobwereabletomasterthatcharmspell.ThenhecouldmakeTomgoaway,andevenifElenadidsomehowhavefeelingsforhim,well,surelythecharmwouldtipthebalance.Asitwas,though,itwasallhecoulddotomakeafewlightsorsounds,ortopolishshoes.Someoftheotherboysmadefunofhimforthat,intheacademy.Theywouldteasehim,andsaythathewasonlyfittobeawizard’sbutler,notawizardhimself.Thatsortofthing.Well,he’dfindawaytoshowthem.He’ddoubledownandworkextrahardonthisspell.OncehehadElena,well,noneoftherestofitwouldmatter,anyway.

Jacobskippedhisfirstlessonandheadedtotheacademy’slibrary,instead,reasoningthatwithalittletimeforpersonalstudy,maybehecouldfindsomeusefulinformationinoneofthebooks,andreallymakeabreakthroughonthespell,insteadoflisteningtoanotherlectureaboutmagicaltheory.Heselectedseveralpromisingbooksfromtheshelf,andbegantoporethroughthem.

Afterdeterminingthatthefirsttwobooksdidn’thaveanyinformationaboutcharmmagicthathedidn’talreadyknow,hewassurprisedtodiscoverthatthethirdbookwasn’taboutcharmsatall.Hecheckedthecoveragain:An Enchanter’s Guide to Charms,byBertramOllander.Hecheckedtheinsideagain:itdidn’thaveatitle,butitclearlywasn’taboutcharms,

4

becauseasheflippedthrough,hefoundchaptersentitledthingslike“thepracticeofsafebinding”and“archfiends,”andthepictureswereofhorriblemonstrosities,terriblerealmsoffireanddeath,andanumberofstrangearcanesigils.

Healmostputthebookaside,but,onawhim,settledonapageatrandom,andbegantoread.

The Nineteenth spirit is Sallos (or Saleos). He is a great and mighty duke, and appeareth in the form of a gallant soldier riding on a crocodile, with a ducal crown on his head, but peaceably. He causeth the love of women to men, and of men to women, and governeth 30 legions of spirits. His seal is this, which he will obey if it is shown to him.

Jacobwasentranced.Mostofwhathewasreadingdidn’tmakemuchsense,butflippingthroughthebook,itseemedthatitdescribedanumberofpowerfuloutsidersthatcouldbesummoned—notwithtraditionalmagic,forthatwouldsurelybetoocomplicatedforJacobinhiscurrentstate—butthroughsomekindofritual.And,what’smore,oncetheyweresummoned,theycouldperformmagiconthesummoner’sbehalf,ifthebookwastobebelieved.Thiswastheanswertohisproblems!Ifhecouldn’tgetthemagicheneededthenormalway,hewoulddoitthisway.Thatwouldshowtheotherstudents,tosaynothingofTom.JacobwonderedidlyifhecouldsicthesummonedcreatureonTomthewaythathehadseentheolderboyspitsummonedmonstersagainstoneanotherinduels,butquicklydismissedthethought.Revengewasn’timportant.HejustneededtofreeElenasothatthetwoofthemcouldbetogether.

Jacobgrabbedthebookandstuckitinhissatchel,hurryingbackhome.Heranstraightthereand,uponarriving,threwhimselfintohisroomandlockedthedoor,thenbeganporingoverthebook,learningeverythinghecouldaboutwhathewouldneedtodotosummonthiscreaturethatwouldbetheanswertoallhisproblems.Hequicklydiscoveredthattherewasmorethanoneofthese“spirits”thatcoulddowhatheneeded,andthatsomeofthemweremorepowerfulthanothers.Resolvingnottoplacehistrustinthismatterinanybutthemostcapableofhands,heeventuallysettledononeofthemostpowerfulofthespirits,bythenameofBelial.

InordertosummonBelial,Jacoblearnedthathewouldneedtoconstructacomplexritual,whichwouldattractthespirit’sattention.Theritualinthisbookcalledfortheritualtobeperformedinthedeadofnight,underashroudofblacksilk.Thatwouldn’tbeaproblem—Jacobwasnotrich,buthehadenoughmoneytobuyashroudofblacksilk,anditwouldbewellworththecostifitmeantthatElenawouldfinallybehis.Theritualalsocalledforanincenseinfusioninvolvingsomepricyadamantinedust,whichwouldbemoredifficult,butstilldoable.Jacob’sprofessorofalchemyhadadamantinedust,andthoughheprobablywouldn’tletJacobjusttakesome,hecouldprobablyeithercomeupwithaplausibleexcusewhyheneededit,orevenjusttakeit,ifhehadtoo:ProfessorTarfellowwasblind,afterall,andwasstartingtogetabitaddledinhisoldage.Heprobablywouldn’tevennoticeitwasmissing.

Therealproblemwasthattheritualcalledforalivehumansacrifice.Jacobwascrestfallen.Hehadbeensoclose,but…thatjustwasn’tgoingtobeanoption.Foramoment—justamoment—heenvisionedhimself,knifeinhand,standingoveraboundTom,buthequicklydismissedtheidea.Eventhefarmerdidn’tdeservethat.And,besides,howwashegoingtomanageit,anyway?

Hewasabouttogiveup,oratleastlookforadifferentspirit,whenhenoticedanotescrawledintothemargins,sayingthatanimalsacrificewouldwork,aslongastheanimalboreacloseconnectiontothepersonhewantedtoaffect.Thatwasbetter!Animalsacrificesweren’texactlycommon,buttheywerestillpracticedbyafewreligionsinAusurland.HewouldneedananimalwithacloseconnectiontoElena,though.Jacobthoughtforamoment.Shedidhaveacat,andshewasquiteclosetoit.Wouldthatwork?Itseemedlikeitwould.Butcouldhereallysacrificehercat?

Heshookhishead,castingasidehisdoubts.Hewasdoingthistosave ElenafromTom,or,ifhesomehowwasn’tforcinghimselfonher,thentosaveherfrommakingabigmistakebygettinginvolvedinTom.Oncehewasdone,shewouldunderstandhowmuchbetterJacobwasforher,andwouldforgivehimforsomethingastriflingasacat.Surely.Itwasonlyrational.Sometimessacrificeshadtobemade,andsometimesthosesacrificesweremoreliteralthanothers.

Lookingouthiswindow,herealizedthatthewholedayhadalreadygoneby.Thesunwassettingoutside.Settingthebookaside,hedecidedthathewouldheadbytheacademytopickuptheadamantinedust,andthenheadtoElena’shouse.He’dtryspeakingtoherfirst,toseeifhecouldmakesenseofwhathadhappenedthatmorning,andiftherewasawaytosetthingsrightonhisown—afterall,thefirstlessonattheAusurlandArcaneAcademywasnottousemagicwhenyoudidn’tneedto,andthen,ifhecouldn’t,he’dfindsomewaytogethercatandgoperformtheritual.

BythetimehearrivedatElena’shome,thesunhadtrulyset,andtheonlylightcamefromathinsliverofmoonthathunginthesky.Elenalivedinasmall,one-storyhomeontheendoftown,barelymuchmorethanawoodenhut.Jacobhadbeenherebefore,andusedtowatchherwaterherlittlegarden,infrontofthehouse,beforeheenrolledattheacademyandnolongerhadtimeforsuchthings.Theflickeringlightofafireplacewasvisiblethroughtheopenholethatservedasawindow,buthedidn’thearanyvoicescomingfrominside.Heapproachedthedoor,andknocked.

Afteramoment,Elenaopenedthedoor.Sheseemedstartledwhenshesawitwashim,andtookahalf-stepbackbeforecatchingherself“Oh.Jacob.It’syou.”

5

“Yes,Elena.Iapologizeforbotheringyousolate,butIwantedtospeaktoyouaboutthismorning.”

“Oh.Yes…”Elenalookedaway,hereyesfallingtotheplacebetweenthemontheground.

“WhatwereyoudoingwithTomGreenfeld?Hewaslying,wasn’the?He’s…he’sforcingyoutobewithhim,isn’the?”

Elenalookedshocked.“What?No.Tomis…”shelookedawayagain“Tomiskind…andgentle.I…IaskedhimtocomewithmetodaybecauseIwasafraidtotellyouI…Idon’twanttoseeyouinthemorningsanymore.”

Jacobfeltasthoughhisstomachhadbeenfilledwithleadweights.Tearsbegantowellupinhiseyes.“What?Whynot?”

“Ijustdon’tfeelthesameway…thatyoudo.”

Thereitwasagain,afeelingofdespairthatstruckJacobharderthancoldsteel.“Oh.Okay.Well,that’sfine,then.Iguess.”Itwasn’t,butwhatwashegoingtosay?Hewasnumb.Heturnedslightly,andbegantoshuffleoff,notquiteawareofhissurroundings.

Hewasfourorfivestreetsawaywhenherememberedhisplan.Diditmatternow?Yes,saidatinyvoicedeep,deepdowninsideofhim.Yes,itmatteredmorenowthanever.EvenifElenawaschoosingTomoverhim,shewasstillmakingamistake.Afarmerwasn’tgoingtomakeherhappy.Jacobwas.Jacoblovedher,inawaythatclearlyTomdidn’t.Jacobwasstudyingtobeawizard.Awizard!Hewouldgivehereverything.AndTomwasgoingtogiveherapatchofdirtandsomepumpkins!Hejustneededtoshowherwhathecouldoffer.Tobringheraroundtothesideofreason.Andifheneededtocalluponamagicalspiritinordertodothat,thenfine.

Hewanderedaroundthestreetsforafewhours,screwinguphiscourageandwaitinguntilherwassureElenawouldbeasleep.Then,hereturnedtoherhouse,creptinthewindow,andsilentlymadeoffwithhercat,afluffy,whitecreaturethatshehadnamedPrimrose.

Returningtohisownhome,Jacobcreptintohisroom,carefulnottoawakehisfather,whowouldhavereturnedhomefromhisshopbynow.Oncethere,Jacobpushedallthefurnituretooneside,andthentookapieceofchalkandbegantodrawBelial’ssealcarefullyonthefloorofhisroom,checkingthebookeverynowandagaintobesurethathehadallthedetailscorrect.Oncethesigilwastohissatisfaction,heplacedseveralblackcandlesaroundtheedgeofthecircle,andsprinkledtheadamantinedustalongitsedge,aswell.Hecutascrapfromtheblacksilkthathehadprocuredearlierandwrappedthesquirmingcatinit,thenplaceditinthecenterofthecircle,andwrappedtherestoftheshroudoverhimself.Hefrowned,realizingthathelackedapropersacrificialknife,butsearchingthroughthepilesofclutterhehadpushedtoonewallhediscoveredaceremonialdaggerthathehadbeengivenbyhisgrandfatherwhenheenteredtheAusurlandArcaneAcademy,anddeterminedthatitwouldbegoodenough.

Readingfromthebookhehadtakenfromtheacademy’slibrary,Jacobbeganthechantthatwassupposedtolendpowertotheritual,whisperingitquietlytohimselfsoastoavoidwakinganyone.“Za,za,iortosvissam!Za,za,erobusnovak!Iritussemptoselevartyrion!”

Hechantedforsometime,repeatingthephrasesoverandoversixhundredandsixtysixtimes,astheritualinthebookinstructed.Oncehewasdone,hestood,castingasidetheshroud,andannounced,stillinwhispers“IcalluponBelial,thegreatkingandmasterofspirits!”

Theairintheroomseemedtothickenanddarken,andJacobwassurethatitwascolder.Thereseemedtobeabreezethatblewfromnowhereandeverywhereallatonce,andthepagesinthebookbegantoflipoverhurriedly.ButJacobdidn’tneedthemanymore.

“Withthisseal,Iwillbindtheetomywill.Andwiththissacrifice,Iappeasetheeforthisindignity,andbeseechyoutoenterthisrealm!”

Jacobhesitated,holdingtheknifealoftinonehand.Thecatmewedandsquirmedinitssilkenbinding.Jacobclosedhiseyes.Hisarmswungdown.Theroombecamequiet,still.

Jacob’seyesremainedclosed,butthroughhiseyelids,hecouldseealightfromfarabovehim.Openinghiseyes,helookedup,andsawachariotoffire,somehowbothdescendingfromfaraboveandstillwithintheconfinesofhisroof,allatonce.Seatedinthechariotwereapairofbeautifulwingedfigures,eachwithaninhumanlyperfectmaleform,withamightyphysiqueandexceptionalposture.Theharderhestaredatthem,thelessdetailheseemedtosee,however,andbythetimethattheyarrived,landingsoftlyinthecirclebeforehim,hecouldtellonlythattheirskinappearedtobeaburnishedgold,tintedsubtlywiththeangryredofcoolingiron,andthattheireyeswereofaclear,crystallinebluethatdarkeninthecentertodeep,blackabysses.Hehadonlyafewmomentstoadmiretheirotherworldlybeauty,however,beforetheworldaroundhimseemedtofadeaway,andhefelthimselfwhiskedofftosomefar-awayrealm.

6

WonderfilledJacob’seyesandheartashestaredatthisnewplace,fullofpalegoldskies,mightycolumnedtempleswhichtowerabovethegreatandeternallybloominggarden,andfountainsofclearandsweet-smellingwaterwherebeautifulpeoplegatheredhappily.Afteramomentofgawkingatthisbeautifulrealm,Jacobrealizesthatsomeoneisstandinginfrontofhim:agreatandbeautifulangelicfigure,whoseemedfamiliar,asthoughhalf-rememberedfromapreviouslife.Theangelsmiled,anditwarmedJacob’ssoulandmadehimfeelwelcomeandacceptedinwaysthatheneverhadbefore.Afteramoment,theangelspoke,withavoicetoobeautiful,toJacob’sear,tobeanythingshortofdivine.

“Blessedareyou,mortal,foryouhaveseenthefaceoftheone,truegod.Iamyourcreator,yourprotector,andyoursavior.Allthepriestsandreligionsthatyouknowarelies,whileIofferyouthetruth.Whereotherswouldseeyoudie,Iwillpreserveyou.Ialonecangiveyousalvation,Ialonecanshowyouthetruepath,andIaloneamworthyofyouraffection.Wheresomemightbelievesalvationtobeenough,Iofferyoumore,mortal.Iseeyourambitionsandknowthemtobeworthy,andyoutobedeservingofthem.Allyouhavewishedforwillbeyours,mortal,asarewardforyourfaith.YouhaveonlytoabandonthefalsepathsyouhaveservedandfollowthepaththatIsetbeforeyou.Bowbeforeme,mortal,andworshipasisrightandjust!”

Evenastheangelspoke,however,Jacobcouldhearafaintwhisperingsusurration,almostanechowithintheangel’sownvoice.Buthecouldn’tmakeoutquitewhatitwassaying.Partofhimstrainedtolisten,butitjustcouldn’tquitegraspit.Butitdidn’tmatteranyway,asthesheermetaphysicalweightoftheangel’swordswereenoughtopushJacobtohisknees,andhelookedupatthebeautifulangelashekneeledbeforehim.

“Y-youareBelial?”thewould-besummonerstammered.

“Iamhe,andmore.Iamyoursalvation.Iamyourlordandmaster.Giveyourfaithtome,andmealone,andyoushallhaveallthatyoudesire.”

“You…youcanmakeElenaloveme?YoucanshowherhowmuchbetterIamthanTomGreenfeld?”

“Ican,andIshall.Justpledgeyourselftome,bodyandsoul,anditshallbeasyousay.”

Astheconversationcontinued,thewhisperingsensationofdoubtseemedtogrowinthebackofJacob’smind.Somethingwaswrong.Hecouldn’tquiteplaceit.Theuneasegrewwithinhim,makingthebackofhisskulltingle.Suddenly,asthoughhehadopenedadoor,hecouldhearthewhisperclearly.

He lies.

Suddenly,Jacobsawanothervision.Hewasseateduponathronemadeofcheap,tarnishedbrass.Elenakneltathisfeet,herarmswrappedaroundhislegandherheadonhislap,asshestaredblanklyupintohisface.Herownexpressionwasallbutemotionless,andsheseemedpaleandwanbycomparisontohowhehadseenherbefore.InfrontofJacobwerehalfadozenyoungboys,whichherecognizedashispeersfromtheacademy,exceptforone,whoheimmediatelyrecognizedasTom.Sullenandsoot-covered,theseboyswerechainedtogetherattheanklesandwrists,andstaredglumlyattheground.TheJacobinthevisionwhistled,andapairofmassiveirondoorsopened,revealingahorribledemonicbeastwhichrushedintotheroomandbegantonoisilyandmessilydevourtheshackledprisoners.TheimageofJacoblaughed,and,takinghercuefromhim,Elenalaughedhalf-heartedlyaswell,thoughitdidn’tseemlikesheknewwhatshewaslaughingat,ifanything.

SuddenlyJacobwasbackinhisroom.Theangelicfigurestoodbeforehimoncemore,nowinsidethecircleofchalkhehaddrawn.Itlookeddownathim,expectantly.

“Pledgeyourselftome,andyouwillhavewhatyoudesire.”

That last vision didn’t look right,Jacobthoughttohimself.Feeding people to a demon? That’s not something I would do. Certainlyitwasavisionofa future,butmaybeitwasn’tavisionofthe future.Noonewouldforcehimtofeedpeopletodemons.Hejustwouldn’t.Heneverwould.AndElena?Shehadn’tseemedlikeshereallylovedhim.Morelike…controlledbyhim.Well,maybethat’showitwasinthevision,butJacobcoulddoitright.Hewouldn’tcontrolher,justusehispowertoshowherwhysheshouldlovehim.Shewouldcomearound.Hewouldn’tneedtogothatfar.Itwouldallbeokay.

Deepdown,inhisheartofhearts,heknewthatBelialwasnottheangelthatheappearedtobe,andcertainlywasn’tthetruegodthatheclaimed.Butdidanyofthatreallymatter?ItwasJacobwhowouldhavethepower,andhewoulduseitresponsibly.Belialwasjustatool.AndnowthatJacobnewthatBelialwasn’ttobetrusted,therewasnothingtofearfromhim.

“Yes.Ipledgemyselftoyou,body,mind,andsoul.”

7

Introduction Makingliteral“dealswiththedevil”isoneofthemostpotentandevocativestaplesofthefantasygenre.Whetherit’sstrikingabargainandhopingagainsthopethatyou’retheoneluckyfoolwhomanagestocheathiswayoutoflosinghissoul,orwhetherit’susinghard-wonmagicalpowertopluckdemonsstraightfromtheabyssandforcethemtodoyourbidding,there’snoquestionthatthewholepackageofinhumanpowercoupledwiththehead-to-headgameofwitsbetweenthesummonerandthesummonedis,quitefrankly,oneofthemostalluringandtitillatingpromisesthatfantasynovels,movies,andgamesmaketothosewhoindulgeinthem.

Andit’snotjustinfantasythatthetemptationofFaustianbargains(thatis,adealwithademonordevilforpowerorfavorsinexchangeforone’ssoul)hascroppedup.Indeed,theideaisatleastasoldastheLemegeton (alsoknownastheLesser Key of Solomon),oneofthemostfamousandoldestbooksonthesubjectthatsurvivestothisday,andamajorinfluenceonthisverybook.ThoughtheLemegeton claimstodatebacktothetimeofthebiblicalKingSolomon,itwasmostlikelywrittenin the 17thcentury.Stillthefactremainsthatthiskindofeasypower—accompaniedbythedangerofpayingaterribleprice,andthehopeofgettingoffscot-free—haslongbeenasourceoffascination.

It’sallwellandgoodtofantasizeaboutmakingsuchpacts,butwhenpushcomestoshove,they’remuchmorecomplicatedtopulloffthantheyappear.Obviouslyanykindofrealdemonicbargainisoutofthequestion,assuchthingsarepurelytherealmoffantasy,buteveninroleplayinggamesattemptstoallowplayerstomakedealswithdevilsrarelygowell.Attemptshavebeenmadetocodifysuchthingsthroughouttheyears,butnoneofthesehavereallydonethisconceptjustice,inoureyes.

Oneneedlooknofurtherthanthecorerulesinordertofindamagicspell,planar binding, which seems to do the trick,andinavacuumitdoes,butanyonewho’severcastthatspellmorethantwiceknowsthatGMslearnimmediatelytohateit,and,frankly,itissoeasytoabusethatitquicklydrainsfunfromthegame,andplayingwithkiddy-glovessomewhatdefeatsthepurposeoffaustianbargainsinthefirstplace.Besides,planar bindingmakesiteasiertosummonadifferentoutsidereachtime,andtheagreementsareusuallyone-sided,leavingabittobedesiredinthe“danger”and“deal”aspectsofFaustianbargains.

Ofcourse,wholeclassesin3.5(suchasthewarlockandthebinder)andinPathfinder (suchasthewitch)areflavoredinsuchawayastorepresentthebenefitsofapactwithanotherworldlyentity,whichisthesupposedsourceoftheseclass’spowers.Therearevariousreasonswhyeachofthemfeelslikeitsmechanicsdon’tliveuptoitsflavor,butbeyondthat,theverynotionof“levelingup”togainmorepowerfromaFaustianbargainisalmostentirelycontrarytothepointof“fastpower,”makingclassesofanykindapoormeansofexploringthisconcept.

Butwhoneedsspecialrulesfordemonicpacts,anyway?Whynotjustletplayersencounterademonordevil,andletnaturalbargainingtakeplace.Theywantgold,experience,power,whatever,andthedemon…whatdoeshewantexactly?Souls?That’samuchlessvaluablecommodityifyoudon’texpectyourcharactertogetresurrectedanyway.Favors?Fine,butnowitfeelslikejust-another-quest,notaFaustianbargain.ItcanbeverydifficultforevenexperiencedGMstodeterminewhatthe“right”costforagivendemonicpactis—andwhatsortsofthingstheyshouldandshouldn’tbewillingtogive,forthatmatter.Furthercomplicatingissues,itcanbeallbutimpossibletodeterminejusthowhardabargainerthedemonordevilshouldbe:ifthePCsalwaysgetcheatedinthefineprint,they’llquicklygrowdiscouragedandfrustrated,andpersuasiveplayersalwayshaveawayofmakingitseeminthefiend’sbestinteresttogivethemthingsonthecheap.AsmuchasaGMmaynotwantto,hemayquicklyfindhisoutsidersturningintochumpsandunbalancingthegameintheplayers’favor.

Infact,theideaofdemonicpacts—quickpower,atwhatmaybeagreatcost—runsmoreorlessinthefaceofgamebalanceingeneral.Conventionalwisdomsaysthattheideaismoreorlessdoomedtofail,astheonlywayforittoworkistogiveyoutheopportunitytogainpoweroutsidetheexperiencesystemthatservesasthebackboneofthegame.

Inmanyways,thisbookhasalotincommonwithwould-bedemonsummoners:itisfilledwithambition,and,knowingtherisksfullwell,itstillplungesforward,withtheaimofsomehowbeatingtheoddsandclaimingtheultimateprize—inthiscase,asystemofdemonsummoningandFaustianbargainsthatisbalancedwiththerestofthegame,providesaframeworkofsuggestedvaluestohelpharriedGMskeeptrackofwhat’sfairandwhatisn’t,andprovidesasatisfactorydemon-ordevil-summoningexperienceforplayersinterestedinplayingoutsuchthings.

Thefirstpartofthisbookfocusesonanewsetofrulesdesignedtogovernsummoningeviloutsiders(referredtoasawholeinthisbookas“fiends”),makevariouspactswiththem,andpaythemfortheirservices.Doingsoinvolvesresearchingafiendandlearningthebestwaystosummonit,preparinganelaborateritualofsummoningandbinding(eitherofwhichcangowrong,withdisastrousresults),hagglingandbargainingwiththefiend(whomaywindupbeingtheonemakingdemands),providingthefiendwithoneofnumerousformsofterriblepayment(whichmayormaynotbeanadventureinandofitself),andthenreapingthepotentiallyrichrewards(withdifferentfiendsabletoprovideanumberofdifferenttypesofincentives).Balancedrulesforallofthisislaidout,andsupportisgivenforusingtheserulesinconjunctionwiththefiendsweallknowandlove,fromthelemuretothepitfiend,andincludingeviloutsidersintroducedinlaterbestiaries,includingdaemons,qlippoths,andthelike.

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Thesecond(andmuchlarger)partofthisbookcontainsawholehostofentirelynewanduniquefiends,inspireddirectlybythe72demonsoftheLemegeton.Farmorethansimplestat-blocks,theseseventytwonewcreaturesdoeachhaveanentirelynewhand-craftedstat-blockwithatleastone(usuallyfarmore)uniqueandnever-before-seenspecialabilities,butbeyondthat,theyeachalsohaveanintricateanddetailedbackgroundandpersonality,inspiredby—butgreatlyexpandedfrom—theinformationfoundintheLemegeton,aswellasinformationontheexoticlower-planarlocalesthatthesecreaturesinhabitandrule.Aboveandbeyondeventhat,though,eachofthesefiendswasdesignedtoworkwiththerulesofthefirstsection,andsoeachhasatleastoneuniqueboonthatitcangranttothosewhosummonit,specialandflavorfulabilitiesthatwillkeepplayersexcitedaboutdiscoveringnewfiendsandwhatpowerstheycangrant.

Thegoalofthisbookistocreateacomprehensive,fun,andbalancedsystemforusingdemonicandinfernalbargainsinyourgame,aswellastoprovideanumberofexcitingandflavorfulfiendstodoitwith.Webelievethat,totheextentthatitishumanlypossible,wehavesucceeded.TherearestillplaceswherethedelicatehandofaGMisrequired,but,then,complexinteractionwithNPCs(evendemonsanddevils)willalwaysrelyontheskilloftheGM,tosomeextent.Itisnodoubtpossibletogainanadvantagewiththesystem,buteventhosewhoareexperiencedwithitcanstillavoidbreakingthegamewithouthavingtofeelliketheyarearbitrarilylimitingthemselves,asisthecasewithspellslikeplanar binding.Andthoughitisrare,aparticularlycleverand/ordepravedcharacterwithabitofluckonhissidehasthechancetogetaheadwiththepromiseofinstantgratification,unlikethosewhomaketheirpactsbytakinglevelsinclasses.

Attheendoftheday,we’reconfidentthattheframeworkwepresentherewillgiveGMsabetterstartingpointfromwhichtoarbitratefunandexcitingencounterswithpact-makingoutsiders,and,evenifitdoesn’t,atleastyouhave72newuniquefiendstat-blocksyoucanthrowatyourplayers.Andplayers,ofcourse,canfindexcitingnewwaystointeractwiththegame,whetheritberoleplayingopportunitiestoresearch,summon,andbargainwithfiends,ormechanicalopportunitiesto“beatthesystem”andtrytobetheonewhofinallypullsafastoneonthedevil.

ANoteAboutTerminology

Thisbookrefersfrequentlyto“fiends”and“summoners.”Fiendsisintendedtorefertoanysummonedeviloutsider,whetheroneofthe72inthisbook,oramorestandardmonster.Thoughthedefaultassumptionisthateviloutsiderswillbesummoned,thereisnothingpreventingtheserulesfrombeingusedtosummongood-alignedcreaturesforthesamepurpose.“Summoner,”inthisbook,doesnotrefertotheclassfoundintheAdvanced Player’s Guide,butratheracharacterofanyclasswhousestherulesinthisbooktosummonafiend.

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SummoningFiends Beforeawould-befiendsummonercanbeginmakingpactswithfiends,hemustfirstmastertheartofsummoningthem.Thisisessentiallyathree-stepprocess:first,thesummonermustresearchthefiendinquestion,gatheringenoughknowledgeaboutittobeabletoperformthenecessaryrituals.Second,thesummonermustperformaritualtocallthefiendtohim.Finally,thesummonermustthenuseabindingritualtoforcethefiendtosubmittohiswill,andtopreventitfromwreakinguncheckedhavoc.

Whiletheactsofcallingandbindingafiendaredecidedlymagical,thatmagicisfarmoreaccessiblethanthekindpracticedbyclerics,sorcerers,andwizards,andinfactmuchofthepowerforthesummoningcomesfromthefiend’sownmagicalabilities.Inordertocallandbindthefiend,then,thesummonermusttapintothefiend’sownmagicalpower.Thisisgenerallydoneinacombinationoftwoways:providingasympatheticconnectionbetweenthesummoner and the summoned, and by expending great care andeffortintheformingoftheritual.

Itshouldbenotedthatbothoftheseelementsareveryimportantinorderforthesummoningtobeasuccess.Withoutsometietothefiend(suchasitssealandtruename,objectsitisassociatedwith,etc.),itisdifficulttoaccessthefiendinordertotapintoitspowerandcallitforth(andthencontrolit).Similarly,theeffortinvolvedinpreparingfortheritualservesasasortofsacrifice,anditisthissacrificewhichfuelstheritual,andallowsthesummonertotapintothefiend’spower.Thus,themoreeffortthesummonerputsintohisrituals,andthestrongeraconnectionhecanforgebetweenhimselfandthefiendheissummoning,themorelikely he is to be able to summon it, and the more likely he istobeabletocontrolitintheeventthatitdoesanswerhiscall.

Step1:Research

Thefirstthingawould-befiendsummonermustdoisresearchhissubject.Itgenerallybehoovesthesummonerto learn at least a little bit about the personality, appearance, andpowersofthefiendthatheintendstosummon,sothathe can ensure that he actually wants to interact with the creature, and that it can grant him the boons he is looking for.Beyondthat,though,hemustlearnenoughaboutthefiendtoknowwhatkindofritualisticelementstoincludeinthesummoning.Thefiend’snameanditssigilaregoodplacestostart,andmostsummonerswon’tevenconsidertryingtosummonafiendwithoutfirstgettingatleastthatmuchinformation,butthereareplentyofothertriviaaboutthefiendthatcouldbeusefulforthesummoner.

Mostfiendsareassociatedwithaspecifictimeofday,oraspecificconstellationofstars(orothercelestialbody).Someareassociatedwithmetalsandcolors,othersareassociatedwithanimals.Nearlyallfiendshaveseveraladditionalnamesandtitleswhichcanbeinvokedforgreaterboon.Manyfiendsappearinlegendswhichtelloftheirpreviousdeeds,andtimeswhentheyhavebeensuccessfullyboundorcastout,andthemeansbywhichthiswasdone.Allofthesethingsresonatewiththefiend,andthesummonercan use them as props in his own ritual to gain better access

tothefiend’spower.

Forexample,ifafiendisassociatedwiththecolor red, mistletoe, cats, and brass, the summoner might constructanaltarofbrass,wreathedinmistletoeandcoveredinfineredsilks.Hemightthensacrificeacatuponit,or,dependingonhisandthefiend’stastes,mightinsteadbatheoneandanointitwithoilsandincense.Ifthesummoneruncoveredalegendaboutthefiendbeingdrivenoutinthepast by a brass scepter, then he would hold a special brass scepterasasymbolofpowerthroughouttheritualasanadditionalaid.

Researchingobscureloreaboutfiendsisatime-consuminganddifficultprocess.CharacterswithaccesstoalibrarywithoccultinformationcandosobymakingaspecialKnowledge(theplanes)orKnowledge(religion)check.Therearethreekindsofcheckstobemadeinthisway:thefiend’sname,thefiend’ssigil,andotherinformationaboutthefiend.

Researching the Name: A summoner can attempt tomakethischeckwithouttheuseofalibrary(althoughhecandosowiththeaidofalibrary,aswell).TheDCtorecognizeafiend’snameisequalto30minusthefiend’sHitDice.IfthesummonersucceedsonaKnowledgechecktogainthisinformationwithouttheuseofalibrary,thatindicateshewasalreadyfamiliarwiththename,andthisphaseofresearchtakesnotime.Otherwise,eachKnowledgecheckrepresents2hoursofresearch.Foreachsuchattemptthatfails,thesummonergainsa+1bonusonhisnextchecktofindthefiend’sname,asherulesoutbooksthatareuselesstohim,andfollowscryptichintsandcross-referencesinotherbooksthatleadhimtowardshisultimategoal.Thatsaid,it’spossiblethatthelibraryhe’susingjustdoesn’thavethebooksheneeds,inwhichcasehemayneedtofindanothersourceofinformation.

Ofcourse,havinganameandnotknowingtheslightest bit about the entity to whom it applies is largely useless:succeedingonthischeckalsograntsaverybriefandgeneraldescriptionofthefienditself.Eachfiendprovidedinthisbookwillgiveasampleofthesortofinformationasummonermightgainfromthischeck.

Researching the Sigil: Becauseafiend’ssigilbearsits name, some summoners choose to skip straight to this step.Unlikeafiend’sname,asummonercan’tsimplymakeanunaidedKnowledgechecktoseeifheknowsthefiend’ssigiloffhand:thesigilsaretoocomplicatedanddetailedforthistobedonesafely,anditisalmostcertainthatevenifthesummonerwasfamiliarwiththesealandhadavagueidea what it looked like, he would not be able to reproduce itperfectlyenoughforittobeofuseinaritual.TheDCtofindafiend’ssigilisequalto15plusthefiend’sHitDice.Ifthesummoneralreadyknowsthefiend’sname,hegainsa+5bonusonthischeck.

Eachcheckrepresents2hoursofresearch.Foreachsuchattemptthatfails,thesummonergainsa+1bonusonhisnextchecktofindthefiend’ssigil,aswithresearchingitsname.

Researching Other Information: Ifthesummonerwasabletoidentifythefiend’snameusinghisownknowledge(withoutresortingtoalibrary),hemayalready

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Sidebar: The Elaborate Rituals of the Lemegeton

IntheLemegeton,thereal-worldbookwhichinspiredthefiendscontainedinthisbook,theritualsgivenforsummoningandbindingfiendsareincrediblypreciseandcomplex,andserveasagoodexampleofthekindsofeffortasummonermighthavetogothrough,andthesortsofconnectionshemightforgebetweenhimselfandthefiendinquestion,inordertosuccessfullysummonanything.Notethatthisismerelyanexample,andthefollowingarenotactualrulesforthemethodsofsummoningfiendsoutlinedinthisbook.

First,thesummoningmustbeperformedonthe2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 12th, or 14thdayafteranewmoon.Second,itusesanelaborateseal,whichisspecifictothefiendinquestion,andmustbemadeofapreciousmetalsuchasgold,silver,orcopper(themetalinquestiondependsontherankofthefiend).Eachrankoffiendalsohasaspecifictimeofday(generallyoneortwo3-hourwindows)duringwhichtheycanbesummoned,andareunavailabletherestoftheday.Somemustbeinvokedinspecialplaces(suchasalonelysectionofthewoods).Thesummonerhimselfmuststandinaspeciallyconstructedandincrediblyelaboratemagiccircle,inscribedwiththenamesofvariousangelsandotherhigherpowers,andthefiendissummoned into a specially constructed and equally elaborate magical triangle, which must be made during a certain phase ofthemoon(amongotherextensiverequirementsforitscreation).Thesummonerfurtherneedsasword,ascepter,amiter,acap,alongwhiterobeoflinen,andathree-inchgirdleoflion’sskinwithvariousmagicalnameswrittenonit.Specialincenseandoilsmustbeused,andthesummonermustthenreciteseveralpages’worthofincantationverbatim.Andinordertoactuallybindthefiend,onemustusethesecretsealofSolomon,whichmustbemadeonaTuesdayorSaturday,atmidnight,writtenupon“virginparchment”withthebloodof“ablackcockthatnevertrodehen.”This,naturally,mustbesometimewhenthemooniswaxing,andalsowhenitisintheastrologicalsignofVirgo,andonlybysomeonewhohasspentthelastmonthinritualprayer,fasting,andabstinence,andwhois“cleanbothinwardlyandoutwardly.”

Whilemanyoftheserestrictionsmayseemarbitraryand,tobefrank,somewhatsilly,forthepurposesoftherulesusedinthisbook,suchextensiveeffortsonthepartofthesummonermightserveattheveryleastasameansforthesummonertoinvestagreatdealofcareandeffortintotheritual,thusprovidingthenecessarysacrificetopowerit.Inmanycases,oneormoreofthesestepsalsoserveasameanstoforgeaconnectionbetweenthesummonerandthefiend:inscribingthefiend’ssigil,invokingitstruename,andperformingthesummoningduringthetimeofdaywhenitismostapproachableallserveasconnectionsbetweensummonerandfiend.

ThoughtheLemegeton offersasingleritualwhichisdesignedtobeabletosummonanyfiend,thisbooktakestheapproachthatthereisnooneritualtosummonallfiends,or,infact,tosummonanyspecificfiend.Rather,themoreritualisticelementsthesummonercangathertogether,andthemoreeffortthesummonerputsintohissummoning,thegreaterhischancesofactuallybeingabletocallandbindafiend.Ofcourse,theritualisticelementsneedtobeappropriatetothefiendbeingsummoned,butthat’swhereresearchcomesin.

knowsomeinformationaboutthefiend,andcanattempt1d4Knowledgecheckstoseeifhealreadyknowssomethingaboutthefiend.OncehefailsoneoftheseKnowledgechecks,thisindicatesthatthecharacter’sreservoirofinformationaboutthefiendhasdriedup,andhedoesn’trememberanythingmoreofuse,andwillneedtoturntoalibraryorothersourceofoccultknowledgeinordertolearnmore.

TheDCtolearnanyotherinformationaboutafiendis15,thoughthisDCincreasesby+5foreverypieceofinformation(besidesthefiend’snameandsigil)thatthesummoneralreadyknows.Thus,thefirstpieceofinformationisDC15,thesecondisDC20,andsoon.Thesummonermustknowthefiend’snameinordertoresearchotherinformationaboutit.Aswithotherformsofresearch,eachfailedcheckgrantsthesummonera+1bonusonhisnextattempt,althoughthisbonus“resets”oncethesummonersucceeds on a check (for example, if the summoner failed three times to find information about the fiend, he would make his fourth check with a +3 bonus. If that check succeeded, he would gain a single piece of information about the fiend. If he decided to continue his research (pursuing another piece of information about the fiend), he would do so without the +3 bonus).

Therearethreebasickindsof“otherinformation”aboutafiend.Thefirstisinformationaboutthingsassociatedwiththefiend,whichcanbeusedtoaidincallingorsummoningthefiend.Thesecondisadditionalinformationaboutthefiend’spersonalityandpowers.Whilethisinformationisn’tdirectlyusefulincallingorbindingit,manysummonersprizethisinformationbecauseithelpsthem immensely when it comes to making pacts with the fiend,bothadvisingthemonwhatsortsofsacrificesthefiendislikelytowant,andalsowarningthemofanytricksornegativeside-effectsthefiendislikelytotrytoslippastthesummoner.Finally,fiendishmythologyisfullofmisinformationandoutrightfabrication,someofitspreadbythefiendsthemselves,othersbyjealoussummonerswhodon’twantotherstohaveaccesstowhattheyseeastheirpersonalfontofpower.Whateverthecase,someoftheinformationthatwillbeturnedupisjustincorrect,anditwillbeuptothesummonertosortoutthefactfromthefiction.

Eachtimeapieceof“otherinformation”isgained,theGMshouldrolltorandomlydeterminewhatkindofinformationitis.Ifthesummonerspecifiedwhatkindofinformationhewaslookingfor(ritualcomponentsorbackgroundinformation),thereisa70%chancethatthe

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informationisofthattype,anda20%chanceitistheother.Ifhedidn’tspecify,there’sa45%chanceofeither.Regardlessofwhatthesummonerwasspecificallylookingfor,thereisalwaysa10%chancethattheinformationuncoveredisfalse.

Step2:Calling

Oncetheresearchiscomplete,thesummonercanbeginworkingontheritual.Asoutlinedabove,thereisnosingleritualthatwillassuredlycallagivenfiend.Rather,theamountofeffortandpreparationplacedintothesummoningritualdeterminesthelikelihoodofitssuccess.Themoreitemsandconceptsassociatedwiththefiendthatthesummonerincludesintheritual,andthegreatertheeffortthatthesummonerexpendsinsettingupandperformingtheritual,themorelikelyitistosucceed.

Ritual Components: Foreachitemorconceptthatisassociatedtothefiendinquestionthatthesummonerisable to integrate into the calling ritual, she gains a bonus, which is added to the calling check, a special check made to summonthefiend(seebelow).

Justbecauseafiendis,forexample,closelyassociated with the number nine, the color red, and rubies, doesn’tmeanthatalloftheseassociationsareequal.Thefiendmightbeverystronglyassociatedwithrubies(perhapsitwasimprisonedinarubyforathousandyears,orperhapsitiswildlyobsessedwiththestoneandhoardsasmuchofitaspossible),andisonlyassociatedwiththecolorredbecauseredisthecolorofrubies,makingthesecondassociationquestionableatbest.Asummonermaystillgainsomeboonfromincorporatingthecolorredintotheritual,buthewouldgainfarmorefromincorporatingaruby,evenifitwasarelativelysmallandcheapone.

Eachofthefiendsfoundinthisbooklistsanumberofsampleritualcomponents,whichareitemsorconceptswhichareassociatedwiththefiendcloselyenoughtogranta bonus on the calling or binding check to summon or bind thefiend,respectively.Foreachritualcomponent,abonusisprovided,rangingfrom+3(forverystronglyassociateditems)to-3(foritemswhichareverystronglyassociatedinanegativeway,andmakethecheckmoredifficult).Thisbonusservesasaguidelineforwhatthesummonershouldreceiveforintegratingtheritualcomponentintotheritual.

Whenthesummonerisreadytoperformtheritual,add together the bonuses on calling checks associated with eachcomponenttobeusedintheritual.Thisisthecalling component bonusfortheritual.

Effort Bonus: Some associated items are simply easiertouseinaritualthanothers.Thereisnoquestionthatit’seasiertouseachickeneggaspartofaritualthanitistouseaphoenixegg,becauseoneisreadilyavailable,whereastheotherwouldrequireanextensiveadventuretoacquire,oratleastasmallfortuneofgoldontheblackmarket.Similarly,ifafiendisassociatedwithbrutalslaughter,itismucheasiertoplacethecleaverofabutcheronone’salter,ortorituallyslaughterachickenorcalf,thanitistocaptureasentienthumanoidandprovidealivesacrifice.

Because the summoning ritual draws its power fromtheenergycreatedbytheeffortofthesummonerinpreparingandperformingthesummoningritual,themore trials and tribulations that the summoner endures in ordertoperformit,themorelikelyitistosucceed.Beyondthat,thefiendbeingsummonedisoftenmadeawareofthesummoningbeforetheritualiscomplete(theritualinvocationofitsname,aswellasthefocusofthesummoneronit,caneasilydrawtheattentionofsuchentities),anditmayobservethesummonerperformtheritualfromthelowerrealms.Unsurprisingly,fiendsprefersummonerswhogotogreat lengths in their rituals, and are more likely to answer thosesummonsthantheyarethoseoflazysummonerswhocouldn’tbebotheredto“gotheextramile.”

Asageneralruleofthumb,anyaspectofthesummoning ritual that can simply be stated gains no extra bonusforeffort.Forexample,asummonerwhoseplayersays“Ipurchaseachickenandslaughteritaspartoftheritual”wouldnotgainanyadditionalbonustohiscallingcheckfordoingso(thoughhewouldstillgainthenormalbonusfortheactbeingassociatedwiththefiend—forexample,ifthefiendinquestiongranteda+2callingbonusfortheslaughterofliveanimals,hewouldgaina+2bonusonthecheck,butwouldnotgainanyfurtherbonusduetoeffort).

Ontheotherhand,iftherewereashortageofchickensinthetown,andnonewereavailableforpurchase,thenifthesummonerweretosneakintoafarmer’shouse(makingappropriateStealthchecks,withariskofwakingupthefarmer,orperhapshisviciousguarddogs),andstealthechicken,thenthatwouldincreasethebonusthatsacrificingthechickenwouldprovide,asmoreefforthadbeeninvolved.Thiswouldlikelygrantanadditional+1orpossibly+2bonus.

Takingtheexampleevenfarther,supposethat,insteadofslaughteringachicken,thesummonerdecidedtoslaughteracockatrice.Hewouldlikelyacquirenotablymorevalueoutoftheact,ashewouldnowneedtoadventureinsearchofacockatrice,captureitwithoutkillingit(andwithout,himself,beingkilledorpetrified),andthen

Sidebar: Research? Sounds Boring!

Whiledoingresearchintotheoccultisamajorpartoffiendsummoninginbooksandothermedia,andwhiletherearecertainlypossibilitiesforfunandrewardingadventuresandroleplayingthatrevolvearoundresearch,thefactremainsthatit’snotforeveryone,andmanywillfindasuccessionofKnowledgecheckstobeincrediblytedious.Ifdesired,there’snothingwrongwithaGMsimplydroppingabookintheplayers’lapsthatdetailsthefiend’sname,itssigil,andenoughinformationaboutittobeabletomakeareasonableattemptatsummoningit.Thebookmightevencontainapre-maderitual.Thisallowsgroupswhoaren’tterriblyinterestedintheresearchaspectoffiendsummoningtoskipstraighttotheaction.

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Summoning Fiends Quick Rules

Thereisnoquestionthattherulesforresearching,summoning,binding,anddealingwithfiendsincludedinthisbookcanbeabitoverwhelming,atfirstglance.Betweentheactualrules,thevarioussidebars,anddescriptionsofallthedifferentboonsandpaymentsthatareavailable,thereareover20,000wordsofrulesgoverningthistopic,whichisaboutonequarterthesizeoftheaveragefictionnovel.That’sdefinitelyalottotakeinallatonce,especiallyifyoujustwanttogettothesummoningaction.

Luckily,therulesthemselvesareactuallyquitesimple,andwhileallofthosecomplexrulesareimportantforhandlingmorecomplicatedsituationsastheyarise,thoseofyoueagertogetstraighttotheactioncanlearnallthebasicsrighthere,andrefertotherestoftheruleswhenyourunintoproblems.

Step 1: Research

Part 1 – The Name: Identifyingtheexistenceofanindividualfiend,aswellasitsname,requiresaKnowledge(theplanes)checkwithaDCequalto30minusthefiend’sHitDice.Withaccesstoalibrary,thesummonercantryagain,witheachchecktaking2hoursandgrantinga+1bonusonthenextcheck.

Part 2 – The Sigil: Identifyingthesummoningandbindingsigilofanindividualfiendrequiresalibraryandtwohoursofresearch.TheDCisequalto15plusthefiend’sHitDice.Thesummonergainsa+5bonusifheknowsthefiend’sname,anda+1bonusforeachfailedcheck.

Part 3 – Other Information (Optional): Summonerscanchoosetoresearchmoreaboutthefiendinordertogainusefulinformationtocreateasummoningandbindingritual.Doingsorequiresknowingthefiend’sname,andtheDCisequalto15,plus5perpieceof“otherinformation”alreadyobtainedaboutthatfiend.Determiningtheexacttypeofinformationgainedisasomewhatcomplexmatter,soGMsusingthequickrulesshouldeitherrulethateachpieceof“otherinformation”gainedisaritualcomponentforthefiend,orelsetakeacloserlookatthecorrespondingrulesonpage11.

Step 2: Calling

Oncethefiendhasbeenresearched,thesummonermustthenprepareandperformauniqueritualtocallthatfiendtohim.Thisritualcantakeanyform,anditseffectivenessisbasedprimarilyonhowmanycomponentsareincludedthataresymbolicallysignificanttothespecificfiendtobecalled,andonhowmucheffortthesummonergoesthroughtopreparetheritual.

Eachritualcomponentincludedintheritualcontributestothecalling component bonus forthatritual,andthevarioustasksthatthesummonerperformsinordertopreparetheritualaddtotheeffort bonus.Formoreinformationonexamplesofcomponentandeffortbonuses,seeStep2:Callingonpage13.Ultimately,thisritualrequiresthatthesummonermakeacalling check opposed by the calling DC ofthefiendtobesummoned(aspecificnumberthatvariesfromfiendtofiend).

Calling Check = d20 + (Int, Wis, or Cha modifier) + calling component bonus + effort bonus + other bonuses, vs. the fiend’s Calling DC. Ifthechecksucceeds,thefiendissummoned.Ifitfails,nothinghappens.Iftheresultisanatural1,theremaynegativerepercussions.SeeTheCallingCheckonpage16formoreinformation.

Step 3: Binding

Onceafiendissummoned,itmuststillbemagicallybound,orelseitwilllikelyturnontheonewhosummonedit.Thenatureofthesummoningritualallowsthesummonerenoughtimetoperformabindingritualbeforethefiendcanact.Abinding check isrequiredtodetermineifthesummonerisabletosuccessfullybindthefiend,orifthefiendbreaksfreeofhiscontrol.ThisrequiresthatthefiendmakeaWillsave,withtheDCbeingbasedontheritualthatthesummoneruses.

Binding DC = 10 + (Int, Wis, or Cha modifier) + binding component bonus + effort bonus + other bonuses, vs. the fiend’s Will saving throw.

NotethatthebindingDCusesabinding component bonus insteadofacalling component bonus.Thoughbothritualsinvolvevariouscomponents,eachofthosecomponentscan(andoftendo)providedifferentbonusestothecallingcheckthantheydotothebindingcheck,andsomeevenimposeapenaltyononeortheother,instead,makingthechoiceofcomponentsapotentiallycriticalone.Theeffortbonuscanvarybetweenthecallingandbindingchecks,butrarelydo.

Ifthefiendsucceedsonthesave,itiscompletelyfreetoactasitchooses.Individualfiendswillhavedifferentpreferences,andsomemayevenpretendthattheyweresuccessfullyboundforanextendedperiodoftime,butmostlashoutagainstthesummonerimmediately.

Step 4: Bargaining

Evenonceasummonerhasboundafiend,hemuststillbargainwithitinordertogetwhathewants.Fiendscangrantanumberofdifferentboons, mostofwhicharesupernaturalinnature,butalsoincludemundanethingslikegoldandfavors.Differentfiendshaveaccesstodifferentboons,so,dependingonwhatthesummonerwants,hemayneedtogetintouchwiththerighttypeoffiendinordertogetit.Theboonsaredividedintovariouscategories,andeachcategoryissubdividedintothreelevels.Afiendthathasaccesstoagivenlevelofboonsofacertaincategorycangrantanyboonsofthatcategorythatareonthatlevelorlower.Therearealsoseveralboonsthatareuniversal,andcanbegrantedbyanyfiend.

Eachboonhasaprice,measuredinpact points.Fiendsnevergiveanythingawayforfree,andsoinordertogainaboon,thesummonermustpaythisprice.Paymentisalwaysup-front,buttherearenumerousdifferentwaystopayforpactpoints,rangingfromgoldandfavorstomoreexoticthingslikesouls,sacrifices,orallowingoneselftobepossessedforatime.

Formoreinformationonspecificboonsandhowtopayforthem,seeBoonsonpage20,andPayment,onpage34,respectively.

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slaughterit(again,withoutbeingkilledorpetrified).Dependingonhowdifficultthecockatricewastofind,andon how great a challenge it posed to the summoner, this couldpotentiallygrantanywherefroma+1bonus(ifthecockatricewasencounteredimmediatelyandposedrelativelylittlethreat,orwaspurchasedforarespectablesum),to+10ormore(ifthequesttofindthecockatricewaslongandarduous,involvingnumerousdifficultencountersalongtheway,andthecockatriceitselfwasadifficultchallengeforthesummoner).

Thefollowingtablepresentssomebasicguidelinestohelpassignaneffortbonusbasedontheamountofworkthesummonergoesthroughinordertocreatetheritual.Forthepurposesofthetable,anencounterwithnoriskisanon-combatencounterwheretheonlypenaltyforfailureisfailingtoachievetheobjective.Forexample,aDiplomacychecktoconvincesomeonetohelpwouldbeconsidered“norisk,”unlessafailureindicatedthattheindividualwouldattack,orwouldreportthesummoner’sunusualrequesttoalocalinquisitor,orsomeotherconsequencebeyondsaying“no.”

Greatexpenditureofwealthisalsoawaytogainbonuses,aswell,becauseeventhoughthisdoesn’tinvolvemucheffort,thewealthinquestionservesasarepresentativeoftheeffortspentinacquiringit.Summonerswhospendasignificantamountofwealthonanitemforasummoningshouldreceiveabonusforthat,aswell.Notethatinthiscase,“significant”isbasedontheamountofwealththesummonerhasaccessto.Asageneralguideline,forevery2%ofhistotalwealth(includinganymagicalgeartheymayhave)thatthesummonerspendsontheritual,hegainsa+1bonusonthecallingcheck.Typicallyacharactercan’tgainmorethana+5bonusinthisway(byspending10%ofhistotalwealth),butintheorysomeonewhodecidedtocompletelyimpoverishhimselfandspendeverypennyontheritualshouldprobablyreceiveagreaterbonus,atGMdiscretion.

Notethat,foranythingimplementedintoaritual,but especially cases where the summoner is purchasing the componentratherthanacquiringitanotherway,theaboveexamples assume that the item is going to be expended as

partoftheritual.Ifthesummonerwillbeabletoreusethecomponentoverandoveragain,orkeepitforotherpurposesafterwards,thenitbecomesnoticeablylessvaluableforthepurposesofthesummoning,andshouldprovidealowerbonus(halfthenormalbonus,atthemost).

Other Bonuses: AttheGM’sdiscretion,anddependingonthefiendbeingsummoned,theremaybeothermeansofgainingbonuses.Forexample,aritualcouldbemadetoinvolveextensivechanting,ortherecitationofvariouspassagesaboutthefiendfromreligiousorocculttexts.Inthiscase,thesummonercouldmakeaPerform(oratory)check,orpotentiallyaKnowledge(religion)check,withaDCsetbytheGM.Thechantingmighttakeplaceforaverylongtime—perhapsforthreedaysandthreenights,withoutinterruption—inwhichcasethesummonerwouldneedtomakeoneormoreConstitutioncheckstoavoidbecoming tired, and would likely need to make more than onePerform(oratory)check,possiblytakingpenaltiesifheisfailingthecheckstoavoidbecomingtired,etc.

Aswithotherbonuses,themoredifficultthetaskis,thegreaterthereward.Assuch,simplystatingthatonemakes a quick chant is not likely to grant any bonus at all, whileonerequiringaneasyPerform(oratory)checkmightgranta+1bonus,andhiring(orcapturing)anentirechoirandhavingthemallmakePerform(oratory)checksandkeeptheritualupforseveraldayswouldgrantanotablylargerbonus.

Ifacheckofsomekindisinvolved,thenthesummonershouldsufferapenaltyonhiscallingcheckifhefails,ratherthangainingabonus.Ingeneral,thispenaltyshouldbebetween1/2thebonusthatwouldhavebeengrantedandthefullbonusthatwouldhavebeengranted,andshouldonlybeappliedifthecheckisfailedby5ormore.

TheCallingCheck

Oncetheritualispreparedandperformed,andallthebonusesaretalliedandcalculated,itistimeforthesummonertomakethecallingcheck.Thisisarelativelysimplecheck:rollad20andaddthesummoner’sIntelligence,Wisdom,orCharismamodifier,whicheverishighest.Thenaddthetotalbonusfromallthevariousmethodsdescribedaboveforthetotal.

Calling Check = d20 + (Int, Wis, or Cha modifier) + calling component bonus + effort bonus + other bonuses, vs. the fiend’s Calling DC.

EachfiendhasaCallingDC,whichistheresultthatthesummonerneedstoachieveonhiscallingcheckinorderforthefiendtoappear.Ifthesummonerfails,nothinghappens,andtheritualsimplyfails.Thesummonercantrytheritualagainafter24hours,thoughmostlikelyhewillneedtoreacquireanumberofcomponentsfortheritual,asthesewillstillbeconsumed.

Ifthecallingcheckisanatural1,however,it’spossiblethatsomethinggoeswrongwiththesummoning.Ifthesummoner’svariousbonusescausehimtomeetthefiend’sCallingDC,thenthereisa50%chancethatthefiendcomes, as normal, and the summoning is a success, except thatthefiendgainsa+4bonusonitssavetoresistbeing

Table 1‐1: Effort Bonus GuidelinesNumber of Encounters Value1 ‐ 2 13 ‐ 4 25 ‐ 6 37 ‐ 8 49 ‐ 10 511 ‐ 12 713+ 9Encounter Types1/4 to 1/2 of encounters have no risk ‐2More than 1/2 of encounters have no risk ‐4Average Encounter CRSummoner's level minus 3, or lower ‐3Summoner's level minus 1‐2 ‐1Summoner's level +0Summoner's level plus 1‐2 +1Summoner's level plus 3 or more +2

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bound(seebelow),anda50%chancethattheritualsimplyfails,andnothinghappens.

Calling Mishaps: Iftheresultisanatural1andthetotaldoesn’tmeetthefiend’sCallingDC,acallingmishapoccurs.Rollad%andconsultthetablebelowtodeterminetheexactnatureofthecallingmishap.

Ominous Warnings Occur: Thiscouldinvolvetremors,afeelingofdread,suddencloudsoffog,orevenboomingvoicesthreateningtoconsumethesouloftheimpudentsummoner.Whatevertheexactnatureofthewarning,thesummonermustsucceedonaWillsave(DC10+1/2theHitDiceofthefiendhewastryingtocall+thefiend’sCharismamodifier)orbeshakenfor24hours.

Puny Hostile Fiends Appear: Anumberofeviloutsiders,thetotalCRofwhich(thatis,theCRofthegroupasawhole,ratherthanthesumoftheirindividualCRs,withaminimumgroupCRof2)isequaltothesummoner’sHitDice-4,appear.Theseeviloutsiderscanbeofanysort,includingstandardfiendsanddevilsfromtheBestiary, or specificfiendslistedinthisbook.Outsiderswiththenativesubtypeneverappearinthisway.Generallyspeaking,theeviloutsiders that appear in this way are similar to one another, oratleastnotopposed(youwouldn’tgetanimpandaquasitatthesametime,forexample).Theeviloutsidersarehostiletowardsthesummoner,andattackhimonsight.Hecannotattempttobindeviloutsidersthatappearinthisway.

Weak Hostile Fiends Appear: As the puny hostile fiendsresult,exceptthattheCRofthegroupofeviloutsidersisequaltothesummoner’sHitDice-2.

Hostile Fiends Appear: Asthepunyhostilefiendsresult,exceptthattheCRofthegroupofeviloutsidersisequaltothesummoner’sHitDice.

Strong Hostile Fiends Appear: As the puny hostile fiendsresult,exceptthattheCRofthegroupofeviloutsidersisequaltothesummoner’sHitDice+2.

Very Strong Hostile Fiends Appear: As the puny hostilefiendsresult,exceptthattheCRofthegroupofeviloutsidersisequaltothesummoner’sHitDice+4.

Overwhelming Hostile Fiends Appear: As the puny hostilefiendsresult,exceptthattheCRofthegroupofeviloutsidersisequaltothesummoner’sHitDice+8.

Summoner is Dragged into the Lower Realms: ThesummonermustsucceedonaWillsave(DC10+1/2theHitDiceofthefiendhewasattemptingtocall+thehighestofthefiend’sIntelligence,Wisdom,orCharismamodifiers)orbeaffectedasthoughbythespellplane shift, beingtransportedimmediatelytothefiend’shomeplane.Summoners who are transported in this way are unable to leavetheplaneforatleast1year,evenbymagicalmeans(suchastheplane shift spell). Summoner’s Soul is Claimed: ThesummonermustsucceedonaWillsave(DC10+1/2theHitDiceofthefiendhewasattemptingtocall+thehighestofthefiend’sIntelligence,Wisdom,orCharismamodifiers)orbeaffected

as though by the spell trap the soul, except that the soul goesintothepossessionofthefiendhewasattemptingtosummon,ratherthanbeingtrappedinagem.

GM’s Choice: AnythingthattheGMcanimagine,fromunleashinganincrediblypowerfulfiendonthemortalworld,totransformingthesummonerintoadretchorlemure,orcallingdownavengefularchontopunishthesummonerformeddlingwithfiends,amongotherpossibilities.

Step3:Binding

Justbecauseasummonerisabletocallafienddoesn’tmeanthathisworkisdone.Rather,itisjustbeginning,ashemustnowperformaritualtobindthefiendinordertogaincontrolofit,orelseriskthefiendfleeing,orworse,turningonhiminaruthlessandsadisticfury.

TheBindingRitual

Oncethefiendhasbeencalledforth,thesummonerhasabriefamountoftimetobinditbeforetheopportunityislost.Thesummonermustbeginthebindingritualimmediatelyuponthefiend’sarrival.Luckily,thecallingritualleavesthefiendstunnedanddisorientedfor1round,whichshouldusuallygiveacompetentsummonerenoughtimetobegintheritualwithoutfearofthefiendinterfering.Oncethebindingritualhasstarted,thefiendisunabletotake any action other than normal speech until the binding ritualiscompleted.

Theprocessofbindingafiendgenerallytakes1minute,butasummonercanperformthebindingritualin1roundifheisinarush,althoughdoingsograntsthefienda+4bonusonitsWillsavetoresistthebindingattempt.Alternatively,hecanexpandtheritualtotakeafullhour,and,insodoing,imposea-2penaltytothefiend’sWillsave,instead.Extendingtheritualbeyondanhourgenerallydoesnotpenalizethefiendfurther. Anyhostileactiontowardsthefiendduringthistime,whetheronthepartofthesummoner,orthesummoner’sallies,orevensaboteursspecificallyattemptingtocausethebindingtogoawry,endsthiseffectandcausesthebindingtoautomaticallyfail.

Table 1‐2: Fiend Calling Mishapsd% Effect01 ‐ 30 Ominous warnings occur31 ‐ 40 Puny hostile fiends appear41 ‐ 50 Weak hostile fiends appear51 ‐ 60 Hostile fiends appear61 ‐ 70 Strong hostile fiends appear71 ‐80 Very strong hostile fiends appear81 ‐ 90 Overwhelming hostile fiends appear91 ‐ 97 Summoner is dragged into the lower realms98 ‐ 99 Summoner's soul is claimed100 GM's choice

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Ritual Components: As with the calling ritual, thebindingritualiscomprisedofanumberofritualcomponents—specificitems,actions,orconceptsthatarecloselyassociatedwiththefiendinquestion.Justlikewithcallingrituals,eachoftheseritualcomponentsgrantsamodifierfrom+3(forcomponentswhichareparticularlyeffectiveforbindingthefiend)to-3(forcomponentswhichactuallymakeitmuchhardertobindthefiend).Notethatagivenritualcomponentwilloftenhavedifferentmodifiersforbindingafiendthanforcallingit.Bydefault,itisassumedthatanyritualcomponentthatwasusedtocallthefiendisalsoappliedtotheritualtobindit,withnoextraeffortonthepartofthesummoner.Determinethebonusthateachofthosecomponentsappliestothebindingritual,andaddthemtogether.Thisisthebinding component bonus.

Effort Bonus: Justlikewithcallingthefiend,thesummonergainsabonusfortheamountofeffortheputsintotheritual.Bydefault,theeffortbonusforthebindingcheckisidenticaltotheeffortbonusthesummonerreceivedonthecallingcheck,asthereisalargeamountofoverlapbetweenthetworituals.

Other Bonuses: Bydefault,anyadditionalbonusesappliedtothecallingcheck(suchasthosefromhavingalargegroupofpeoplechanting,orsimilar)alsoapplytothebindingcheck.Additionally,thesummonercanpreparea special magic circle against evil,inthesamefashionasdescribed in the spell lesser planar binding, and incorporate it intotheritual.Ifhedoesso,itgrantsnobonusonthecallingcheck,butdoesgranta+4bonusonthebindingcheck.AttheGM’sdiscretion,non-spellcastersmaybeabletoachieveasimilareffectbysucceedingonaKnowledge(planes)checkwithaDCequalto10+thefiend’sWillsavemodifier.

The Binding Check: Todetermineifthebindingritualissuccessful,thefiendmustmakeaWillsave.TheDCforthisWillsaveisequaltothebindingDCoftheritual.

Binding DC = 10 + (Int, Wis, or Cha modifier) + binding component bonus + effort bonus + other bonuses, vs. the fiend’s Will saving throw.

Ifthefiendsucceedsonthesave,itiscompletelyfreetoactasitchooses.Individualfiendswillhavedifferentpreferences,andsomemayevenpretendthattheyweresuccessfullyboundforanextendedperiodoftime,butmostlashoutagainstthesummonerimmediately.

BoundFiends

IfthefiendfailsitsWillsave,itisbound.Itistrappedinaspecially-preparedmagiccircle(or,insomecases,atriangleorothershape)andisunabletomovefromthatspace.Further,itcannotattackanycreatureoutsidethemagiccircle,evenifitpossessesrangedattacks,anditcannotuseanyofitsspell-likeorsupernaturalabilitiesoutsideofthecircle,either(itcannottargetanycreatureoutsideofthecircle,norcananyofitsabilitieswithanareaextendbeyondtheboundariesofthecircle,norcanit,forexample,usedimension door or teleport toleavethecircle).

Further,afiendboundinthiswaycannottelladirectlietothesummoner.Itcanlietoothers,anditcangivethesummonermisleadinginformation,orpurposefullywithholdinformation,butitcannotstatesomethingthatitknowsisadirectfalsehood.Finally,thefiendisrequiredtobargainwiththesummoner,ifhedesiresit,potentiallyexchanginggoodsorservices(seeBargainingwithFiends,below,formoreinformationonthisprocess).

Notethatsomefiendshavespecialexceptionstothegeneralruleslistedabove,suchastheabilitytouseoneormoreoftheirpowerstoaffectsummonersevenwhiletheyarebound,ortheabilitytooutrightlietoasummonerevenwhentheyaresuccessfullybound.Typically,therearewaysforasummonertocircumventthesedifficulties,andtheyareprovidedintheindividualfiend’sdescription.

Eachdaythatthefiendremainsbound,itcanmakeanewsavingthrow,andsomostsummonerschoosenottokeepthefiendaroundanylongerthannecessary,makingtheirdealquicklyandsendingthefiendbackwhereitcamefrom.

Sidebar: Division of Calling and Binding

Aswritten,therulesforcallingandbindingfiendstreatthecallingritualandthebindingritualas,essentially,onebigritual.Anycomponentusedinoneisusedintheother,andtheeffortputintooneisconsideredtobeequallyputintotheother.AttheGM’sdiscretion,however,thesystemcouldbeadjustedtocreatetwodistinctrituals,whichuseseparateritualcomponents.Forthemostpart,thiswouldnotaccomplishmuchbesidesaddingmoreworkforthesummoner,butsomeGMsmayfeelthatthisapproachismoreappropriateandhasmoreverisimilitude.Additionally,thereareseveralritualcomponentswhich grant a bonus to either calling or binding, but impose a penalty on the other, which could be used without penalty by summonerswhohaddonecarefulresearch.

Inanycase,ifthisvariantmethodisused,it’simportantthatGMsbeparticularlygenerouswitheffortbonuses,asthesummonereffectivelymustgothroughtwiceasmuchworkinordertosuccessfullysummonandbindafiend.Asaresult,considerdoublingalleffortbonusesinsuchcases.

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Sidebar: Summoning and Binding Fiends With Planar Binding

Therulespresentedhereforsummoningandbindingfiendsweremadespecificallywiththeintentionthatmembersofeveryclassshouldbeabletosummonandbindfiends,ratherthanrestrictingthisfunroleplayingopportunityandincrediblyflexibleresourceonlytodedicatedspellcasters.Thatsaid,itonlyseemsappropriatetogivesomeamountofrecognitiontothefactthatsomecharactersalreadyhadtheabilitytosummonandbindoutsiders,throughthespellplanar binding.It’sonlynaturalthatacharacterwithaccesstothatkindofmagicmightwanttouseittotrytosummononeofthefiendsmentionedinthisbook.

Inthecaseofsuchanevent,werecommendusingthefollowingguidelines,thoughofcourseGMsshouldhandlethesituationinwhateverwaytheyfeelismostappropriate.

• InsteadofmakingaWillsavetoresisttheplanar binding spell,thefiendbeingsummonedrolls1d20+thefiend’sCallingDC–10.Iftheresultisequaltoorgreaterthanthespell’ssavingthrowDC,thefiendresiststhesummoning.Otherwise,thefiendbecomestrapped,asnormal.

• As described in the spell lesser planar binding,acreaturesummonedinthiswaycanbetrappedinsideaspecially-prepared magic circle against evil.Thepotentialmeansforthecreaturetobreakfreeofthistrapremainidenticaltothosedescribedinthespell’sentry.

• YoumaymakeanopposedCharismacheckwiththecreatureinorderforittograntyouboons,asthoughithadbeensummonedaccordingtotherulesoflesser planar binding.IfyoufailtheCharismacheckbylessthan5,youmustpaythenormalcost,inpactpoints,fortheboonyourequest.Ifyoufailby5ormore,youmustpay1additionalpactpointbeyondwhatwouldnormallyberequired,plus1additionalpactpointforeachadditional5pointsyoufailedby.IfyousucceedontheCharismacheck,however,youpay1lesspactpointthanyouwouldnormallyhaveto,andforevery10pointsbywhichyourresultbeatsthesummonedcreature’sresult,youpay1lesspactpoint,beyondthat.AllotheraspectsoftheopposedCharismacheck(includingthesummonedcreaturebreakingfreeifyourollanatural1)remainthesame.

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BargainingwithFiends Themainreasonwhyasummonerwouldgothroughallthehassle,difficulty,andpotentiallylethaldangerofcallingandbindingafiendissothathecanmakeadealwithit.Talesandlegendsofthegreatpowerthatfiendshavetofulfillanyandeverydesireamortalcouldpossiblypossessareinnumerable,andmorethanafewsummonersviewfiendsasthefasttracktoriches,power,women,orwhateveritisthattheywant.

Asmostofthosetalesandlegendsreveal,however,thereisalwaysaprice,andfewwhowoulddealwithfiendsfindthemselvescomingoutaheadonthebargain,eveniftheyareabletosuccessfullycallforthandbindtheirtarget.

Inthesamewaythatthecallingandbindingritualsdrawtheirpowerprimarilyfromtheamountofeffortthesummonerputintothem,thevariousboonsafiendcangrantarepoweredbyasacrificeonthepartofthesummoner:inordertogetwhateveritisthathewants,thesummonermustfirstgiveupsomethingelse.Thisisn’tsimplyamatteroffiendsbeingstingyorcruel(althoughtheyarebothofthosethings,and,iftheythinktheycangetawaywithit,theywillalwayspressurethesummonertopaymoreofacostthanhereallyneedsto),butratherasimplefactthatthefiendisn’tcapableofperformingmostservicesforthesummonerunlesshefirstmakessomekindofsacrifice.

Thereareexceptionstothis,ofcourse.Ifthesummonerislookingforafiendtoserveasabodyguardorotherservant,orifhewantsthefiendtouseoneofitsspell-likeabilitiesforhisboon,thenthefiendistechnicallycapableofdoingsowithoutasacrificeonthepartofthesummoner, but, because they are stingy, they are loathe to do so,andwilloftenclaimthattheyareincapableofthisaswell,justtoavoidhavingtogiveawaysomethingfornothing.

Thetruthofthematteristhatanyofthefiend’sspecialboons(thatis,theabilitiesithastogranttosummoners,butwhicharenotpartofitsstatisticsentry;seeBoons,below)arenotabilitiesthatitisactuallyabletouse,exceptonthebehalfofasummonerwhohaspaidatleasttheminimumcost.Forexample,afiendwithaboonthatallowsit to use teleport without error to send a mortal summoner somewhere cannot simply use teleport without error itself(unlessthat’soneofitsnormalspell-likeabilities),norcanituseittoteleportitsfoesintothemiddleofavolcano.Similarly,onewhohastheabilitytocreatelarge-scaleearthquakescan’tjustusetheabilitywheneveritlikes:itonlyhasaccesstothoseabilitiesonbehalfofamortalsummoner,andthen,onlywhenthepricehasbeenproperlypaid.

Theexactnatureofthepricevaries,andisrarely,ifever,setinstone.Rather,eachboonhasavalue,listedinpactpoints.Inorderforafiendtoperformanyserviceonbehalfofasummoner,thesummonermustprovideanequalorgreatervalue’sworthofpayment.Thispaymentcouldtakemanyforms,fromrawgold,togivinguphisownsoul,toperforminglivehumansacrificesforthefiend,toallowingthefiendtopossesshimforatime,andsoon.Informationonthemostcommonformsofpayment,aswellasontheirvalueinpactpoints,isgivenbelow,underPayment.

Oncethefiendandthesummonerhaveagreedtoterms,andthearrangementisfinalized,thefiendisboundtoitsword:aslongasthesummonerdeliversonhispayment,thenthefiendwilldelivertheboonsasdiscussed.Ofcourse,manyfiendsprefertosticktotheletteroftheagreement,ratherthanthespirit,andoftentakegreatdelightingrantingthesummoner’srequestsexactlyasdiscussed,butwithunintendedandterribleconsequences.Suchthingsare always subtle, and are rarely things that happen directly tothesummonerhimself,butusuallyinvolvesomeoneorsomethingelse:asummonermightwishtobecomestrongerinordertowinoveragirlhelikes,onlytodiscoverthatsheisalreadybetrothedtoanother(andquiteunimpressedbyhisthreatstophysicallyharmherfiancé),orelsehemightsuccessfullywinherover,butthestressofkeepinguphispaymentstoretainhisstrengthdriveshimtostrikehislove,andhisgreatstrengthmakestheblowlethal.

Fiendsalmostuniversallydemandtheirpaymentinadvance(especiallybecausethesacrificemustbeperformedinorderfortheboontobegranted).Inextremelyrarecases,however,powerfulfiendsmayagreeforwhateverreasontoallowthesummonertopayatalaterdate.Thesummonerhassomesmallamountofleewaytorenegeonhissideofthebargaininthesecases,thoughitisdifficult.Ifthesummonertries to go back on the agreement, he must succeed on a Willsave(DC10+1/2thefiend’sHitDice+thehighestofthefiend’sIntelligence,Wisdom,orCharismamodifiers)orbecompelledtocarryouthisendofthebargain,evenifhewouldnormallybeimmunetomind-affectingorcompulsioneffects.Further,evenifthesummonersucceedsandisabletorefusetopayhisendofthebargain,heimmediatelylosesanyongoingboonfromtheagreement(forexample,ifhemadeapacttomakeawomanfallinlovewithhim,shewouldimmediatelyfalloutoflovewithhim,althoughifhe only bargained to learn the best way to go about wooing her,nothingwouldhappen).Perhapsworstofall,hegainstheundyinghatredofthefiend,assuchcreaturesareveryrarelycheated,anddonotcareforitintheslightest.Fiendscheated in this way are certain to send assassins or other minionstomakeanexampleofthesummoner,typicallybydragginghimbacktothelowerrealmsforeonsoftorture.Evenifthesummonerhimselfissomehowabletoevadethefiend’sretributions,insomecasesfiendishdebtistransferredtothesummoner’snextofkin,andthefiendmayshowuptoextractpaymentfromthesummoner’sdescendants.

Boons Enteringintoapactwithafiendhasthepotentialtobeverylucrativefortheonemakingthepact,assumingthathe’sabletopaythefiend’sprice.Thefollowingsectionliststhevariousboonsthatfiendscangrantaspartofapact.Thelistisbynomeansexhaustive,andmanyofthefiendslistedlaterinthisbookwillhaveother,uniqueboonsthattheycanprovide.These,however,areamongthemostcommon,andwhatthesummonershouldexpectthe“average”fiendtobeabletoprovide.

ThefullversionofThe Deluxe Guide to Fiend Summoning and Faustian Bargainshasover60differentboonsforsummonerstochoosefrom,plusatleastoneuniqueboonforeachoftheseventy-twofiendsincludedinthebook.Thefollowingboonsaredesignedtoprovide

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asampleofthesortsofboonsthatcanbefoundinthefullproduct.

RulesforBoons

Unlessotherwisenotedunderanindividualboon’sdescription, all the boons included here are subject to thefollowingrules.Bydefault,allboonsaresupernaturalabilities.Aboonthatgrantsapermanenteffect(suchasa bonus to a skill or ability score, or the aquatic subtype, forexample)canbesuppressedbydispel magic, or similar spells,butremainsuppressedforonly1d4rounds.Iftheabilitycanbeactivatedatwill(suchastheabilitytoturninvisibleatwill),thendispellingtheeffectmerelymeansthatthesummonermustactivatetheboonagaintoresumeit.Aboon’scasterlevelisequaltothecasterlevelusedforthespell-likeabilitiesofthefiendthatgrantedtheboon,or,ifthefienddoesn’tpossessanyspell-likeabilities,itisequaltothefiend’sHitDice.Boonswhichmimicspelleffectsdonotstackwiththespelltheymimicunlesstheboon’sentryspecificallystatestothecontrary.

Ifaboonaffectsacreature,place,orobjectotherthanthesummoner,then,unlesstheboon’sindividualdescriptionspecifiestothecontrary,thetargetneednotbeinthesamelocationastheplacethefiendissummoned.Bydefault,boonsworkregardlessofrange,anditispossibletosummonafiendtoaffectcreaturesontheothersideoftheplanet,orevenonotherplanetsorplanesofexistence,aslongasalltheotherrequirementsoftheboon(includingprovidingenoughinformationabouttheidentityofthetarget)aremet.

Eachboonhasanassociatedpactpointcost,notedinparenthesesnexttothenameoftheboon.Inorderforasummonertogainaboon,hemustprovidepaymentequal

tothatboon’spactpointcost(seePayment,below,formoredetailsonthis).

Someboonsarepermanent,butothersarenot.Boons with an asterisk listed next to their point cost last only aspecificamountoftime(oneweek,unlessotherwisenotedintheboon’sdescription),afterwhichtimethesummonermusteitherprovidepaymentagain,orelselosetheboon.Inthecaseoftheseboons,thesummonerneednotsummonthefiendagaininordertomakethepayment:instead,hesimplymustperformashortritualtogainthefiend’sattention(thisrequires1minute,buttherearenochecksinvolvedorspecialcomponentsrequired),andthenmakethepayment,asnecessary.Ifthesummonerwantstorenegotiatethemeansofpayment,orattempttogainmoreboons,oranythingelsethatrequirescommunicatingwiththefiend,however,hewillneedtosummonhim.

BoonCategories

Thereareagreatnumberofboonsthatvariousfiendscangranttothosewhoareboldenoughtosummonthem.Someofthoseboonsarespecifictoindividualfiends,andcannotbegrantedbyanyotherfiend.Othersaremoregeneral,andcanbegrantedbyavarietyoffiends,andahandfulcanbegrantedbymoreorlessanyfiendfoundinthisbook.

Thoseboonsthatarespecifictoasinglefiendaredescribedalongsidethatfiend’sdescription.Theothersaredividedintocategories,whichhelptomakeitmoreclearwhichfiendscangrantwhichabilities.Thesecategoriesofboonsarethematicallysimilar:forexample,bodyboonsarethosethathavetodowithaugmentingoralteringthesummoner’sphysicalform,whilelustboonsarethosethathavetodowithsatiatingmoresensualdesires.Universal

Sidebar: The Unquantifiable Abyss

Atitsheart,bargainingwithfiendsboilsdowntoaninterpersonaldialogueandrelationshipbetweenthefiendandthesummoner.Sometimesthatrelationshipwillbeoneofprofessionalmore-or-lessequals,othertimesitwillbemaster/slave(andeitherpartycouldwinduponeithersideofthatequation),andstillothertimesonepartywillbesubtlydeceivingtheother.However,theexactnatureofthisrelationshipandthisdialoguewilldependheavilyonthefiendandthesummonerinquestion.

Wehavegonetoextensivelengthstoincludeasmuchmechanical“crunch”contentandnumbersinthisprocessaswecanwithoutlettingthenumberstakeoveranddestroyingroleplayingopportunities,butthefactofthematteristhatmechanicsonlyletusgosofar.Therewillbethingsthataren’tentirelycoveredbythenumbers.Therewillbetimeswhenitwillbebettertobendtherules.Theremaybetimeswhenwhatasummonerwantsisreallyclosetoanexistingboon,butnotquite.Therewillbeothertimeswherethenumberofpactpointsgainedbyaparticularpaymentiswildlyinappropriateduetoextenuatingcircumstances.

Ultimately,itwillbeuptotheGMtokeepthingstogetherandhandledifficultcases,aswellasmakingsurethatthefiendactsinitsowninterestsandstillsuitably“fiendishly.”Attheendoftheday,thisisn’tallthatdifferentfromwhenthebarbarianwantstointimidatetheinnkeeperintogivinghimfreeroomandboard,whentheroguetriestoseducethequeen,orwhenthewizarddecidestocreateanewspellfromscratch,it’sjustthatthescopecansometimesbeabithigher.

Remember,foralltherulesandpointsandchecksandnumbers,attheendoftheday,thethingthatthesummoneristryingtodoisgetafavor.He’sdoingitbycontactingapowerfulotherworldlyentity,andhe’sdoingsoatincrediblyhighstakes,butattheendoftheday,there’saperson(albeitanevil,inhumanone)ontheothersideofthetable,andhewillneedtoberoleplayedjustlikeanyotherNPCinthegame.

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boonsarethelastcategoryofboonlisted,andallfiendslistedinthisbookhaveaccesstoalluniversalboons.

Eachcategoryofboonshasthreetiers,andeachtierhasoneormoreboonsassociatedwithit.Eachfienddetailedinthisbookhasinformationonwhichcategoriesandtiersthefiendhasaccessto.Forexample,afiendwithbody2andlust 1 could grant any boon in the body category at either tier 2 or tier 1, and could also grant any boon in the lust category attier1,butcouldnotgrantbodyboonsattier3,orlustboonsattier2.Hecouldalsograntanyspecificboonslistedinhisentry,aswellasalluniversalboons.

Thecategoriesofboonsarelistedinalphabeticalorder,exceptforuniversalboons,whicharelistedlast.Followingabriefdescriptionofthethemethatbindsthatcategoryofboonstogether,eachboon’sentryisdividedbytier,beginningwithtier1andgoinguptotier3,andtheindividualboonsineachtierarelistedinalphabeticalorder.

Body Boons

Thefollowingboonscanbeprovidedbyfiendswhoareparticularlyassociatedwithpoweroverone’sownbody.Thesefiendshavetheabilitytocauseandcurediseases,togrant supernatural shapechanging powers, and to make the summonerparticularlyresilient.

Body1:

Inflict Malaise (2 points)*: Thefiendinflictsaphysicalmalaiseupononeofthesummoner’senemies.Thetarget in question must be indicated by the summoner at the timetheboonisgranted,andcannotlaterbechanged.Thesummonerchoosesforoneofthefollowingeffectstobefallthetarget:

• Thetarget’sfaceeruptsinhivesandboils,inflictinga-4penaltyonallCharisma-basedchecks.AttheGM’sdiscretion,somechecks(suchasaPerform[sing])mightnotreceivethepenaltyorgranta+4bonus,

instead(suchasinthecaseofanIntimidatechecktoconvincesomeonethatthehivesareinfectious,ratherthanthatthetargetisphysicallyimposing).

• Thetargetdevelopsanirritatingrash,whichonlybecomesworsethemoretheyscratchit.Thetargetsuffersa-1penaltytoACandsavingthrowsduetodistraction.

• Thetargetdevelopsapersistent,hackingcough,andsuffersregularfitsofhackingandcoughing.Thetarget’sConstitutionscoreistreatedashalfitsnormalvalueforthepurposesofhowlonghecanhold his breath and how long he can run without stopping.Additionally,hesuffersa-4penaltyonanyFortitudesavesorConstitutionchecksmadetocontinue holding his breath, continue running, or makeaforcedmarch,aswellassimilareffects.

Themalaisecanbehealedbyremove curse, remove disease,ormorepowerfulmagic.Iftheboonislost(forexample,becausethesummonerdoesnotrenewitspayment)thentheinflictedmalaisevanishesimmediately.

Natural Attack (1 point)*: Thefiendgrantsthesummoner a natural attack, such as a claw attack or a bite attack.Thisattackisalwaysasecondaryattack,anddealsdamageappropriateforacreatureofthesummoner’ssize.Byspending6pactpoints,thisbooncanbegrantedpermanently,insteadoftemporarily.

Body2:

Body2boonscanbefoundinthefullversionofThe Deluxe Guide to Fiend Summoning and Faustian Bargains.

Body3:

Body3boonscanbefoundinthefullversionofThe Deluxe Guide to Fiend Summoning and Faustian Bargains.

Sidebar: Dealing with Fiends

Asstatedabove,fiendswillattempttogetasgreatasacrificeastheycanoutofthesummoner,regardlessofwhatisreallyrequiredtofulfilltheirendofthebargain.Assuch,someGMsmaycallforaDiplomacyorIntimidaterollinordertohagglewiththefiend,orelsemaycallforaSenseMotivecheckinordertodeterminethatthefiendisattemptingtocheatthesummoner,andisaskingforfarmorethanherequires.Or,instead,theGMmightcallforamorein-depthroleplayofthesituation,activelyhagglinganddiscussingtermswiththesummoner’splayer.Alternatively,ifneithertheGMnorthesummoner’splayerisparticularlyinterestedinexploringtheprocessofstrikingadealwithafiend,thisaspectcanbeignoredaltogether,andthefiendcansimplydemandafairpricefromthesummoner,usingtherulesoutlinedbelow.NotethatwhilemanyplayersunderstandandareperfectlyhappywiththeconceptthattheGMisabletodoevilthingstotheircharactersviaanevilNPCwithoutnecessarilybeinganevilpersonhim-orherself,someplayersmayfeelthatitiswrongfortheGMtocheatortrickplayers,evenifheisdoingsoasanNPCfiend,andinsuchcasesitisprobablybesttoeitherhavethefienddealfairly,orsticktoBluffandSenseMotiverolls.

IfyoudodecidetomakeuseofDiplomacychecks(orsimilar)tohagglewiththefiend,itmayprovetemptingtoletaparticularlysuccessfulsummonergetaslight“discount,”allowinghimtogetwhathe’saskingfor,whilepayingslightlylessthanwouldnormallyberequired.There’snothingwrongwiththis,andit’snomorelikelytocauselongtermproblemsforyourgamethanallowingthesummonertobuymagicitemsatslightlylessthantheirlistedprice,butbecarefulwhendoingthis,becauseallowingtoogreatadiscountcanpotentiallybeunbalancing,asmanyoftheboonsthatfiendsarecapableofprovidingcanbequitepotent,andallowingplayersaccesstothemwithoutpayingtheappropriatecostwillmakethemoverpowered.

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DeathBoons

Thefollowingboonscanbegrantedbyfiendswhoareparticularlyassociatedwithdeath,dying,andthedead.Thesefiendshavethepowertostrikedownthesummoner’sfoes,commandspiritsofthedead,andinsomecasesevenreturnthedeadtolife.

Death1:

Corpsefriend (1 point)*: Thefiendmarksthesummonerwithaspecialbrandorseal,whichisinvisibletolivingeyes,butglowslikeabeacontotheundead,anddenotesthesummonerasafriend.Mindlessundeadcreatures will not attack the summoner unless he attacks themfirst,orunlesstheyaredirectlyorderedtobyacreaturecontrollingthem(suchordersmustspecifythesummonerexplicitly,notjust“intruders”oreven“thatgroupofintruders”),andintelligentundeadcreatureshaveaninitial attitude towards the summoner that is one step higher thanitwouldnormallybe(friendlyifitwouldnormallybeindifferent,unfriendlyifitwouldnormallybehostile,etc.).Evenundeadcreaturesthatdoattackthesummonertendtopreferentiallyattackothermembersofthesummoner’sparty,ratherthanattackinghim.

Ifthisboonislost(forexample,ifthesummonerfailstorenewit),theinvisiblesealchanges,andtheeffectsoftheboonarereversed(mindlessundeadattackthesummoneronsight,unlessspecificallyorderednotto,intelligentundeadhaveinitialattitudesonesteplowerthannormal,undeadcreaturespreferentiallyattackthesummoneroverothertargets).Thiseffectispermanent,thoughthesummonercanspend5pactpointstohavethesealremovedentirely.

Lasting Death (1 point)*: Thefiendensuresthatthesoulofasinglecreatureisunabletoreturntoitsbody,preventingthetargetfromreturningtolife.Thecreatureinquestionmustbespecifiedbythesummoneratthetimetheboonisgained,andcannotlaterbechanged.Anyattempttorestorethecreaturetolifefailsunlessthecastersucceedsonacasterlevelcheck(DC10+thefiend’sHitDice).Thisbooncantargetcreaturesthatarecurrentlyalive,inwhichcasethefiendpreventsthetargetfrombeingbroughtbacktolifeintheeventthatthetargetisslain.Further,ifthefiendisslain,oraseparatebargainisstruckwiththefiendtoreleasethesoul(thistypicallycostsatleast1pactpointpertwoHitDicethetargetpossessed),thisboonislost.Thisboonlastsfor1yearbeforeitmustberenewed.

Death2:

Death2boonscanbefoundinthefullversionofThe Deluxe Guide to Fiend Summoning and Faustian Bargains.

Death3:

Death3boonscanbefoundinthefullversionofThe Deluxe Guide to Fiend Summoning and Faustian Bargains.

InfluenceBoons

Thefollowingboonscanbeprovidedbyfiendswhoareparticularlyassociatedwithinfluencingothers.Thesefiendshavetheabilitytograntpowerandprestige,andtohelpthesummonermakefriendsandallieswhereoncehehadnone.

Influence1:

Alter Alignment (3 points): Thefiendshiftstheethicalandmoralviewsofasinglecreature,accordingtothesummoner’sspecifications.Thesummonermustspecifytheindividualtobeaffectedatthetimetheboonisgained,anditcannotbechangedlater.ThetargetmustimmediatelysucceedonaWillsave(DC10+1/2thefiend’sHitDice+thehigherofthefiend’sIntelligenceorCharismamodifier),orhavehisalignmentshift1stepclosertoanalignmentspecifiedbythesummoner(for example, if this ability was used on a lawful good paladin, and the summoner specified chaotic, if the paladin failed his save he would become neutral good. Alternatively, if the summoner specified evil, then the paladin would become lawful neutral).Ifthetargetfailshisinitialsavingthrow,hemaymakeanewoneafter24hours,andthenagainafteroneweek,onemonth,andoneyear.Ifhesucceedsonanyofthesesavingthrows,hisalignmentreturnstonormal.Otherwise,theeffectispermanent,unlessthetarget’salignmentisadjustedinanotherway(suchasthrough an atonement spell, or a helm of opposite alignment, etc.).Multipleinstancesofthisboonstack,allowingthesummonertoslowlypushatargettoaspecificalignment.

Make a Friend (2 points): Thefiendcausesasingleindividualtoviewthesummonerasapotentialfriendandally.Thesummonermustspecifytheindividualinquestion,andthatindividualmustnothaveanattitudetowardsthesummonerofunfriendlyorhostile(ifshedoes,seetheinfluence2boonfriendfromfoe,below).Theeffectfunctionssimilarly to charm person,withthecasterlevelequaltothefiend’sHitDice,andtheDCbasedonthefiend’sCharismaorIntelligencescore,whicheverishigher.Ifthetargetfailsherinitialsavingthrow,shemaymakeanewoneafter24hours,andthenagainafteroneweek,onemonth,andoneyear.Ifshesucceedsonanyofthesesavingthrows,theeffectendsimmediately.Otherwise,itlastsindefinitely.

Influence2:

Influence2boonscanbefoundinthefullversionofThe Deluxe Guide to Fiend Summoning and Faustian Bargains.

Influence3:

Influence3boonscanbefoundinthefullversionofThe Deluxe Guide to Fiend Summoning and Faustian Bargains.

KnowledgeBoons

Thefollowingboonscanbeprovidedbyfiendswhoareparticularlyassociatedwithknowledge.Notethatwhenitcomestoimpartinginformation,evenfiendswhohavebeenproperlyboundintoservicetendtocolortheirinformation

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tofurthersuittheirownnefariousends.Acharacteraski