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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kinneus" data-source="post: 5052511" data-attributes="member: 48215">Infernal Pact PatronsThe Dark ShepherdOrigin: Nobody is sure what the Dark Shepherd actually is. He seems to operate outside the usual hierarchy of the Nine Hells, as no archdevil claims any association with him. The Shepherd commands a host of lesser devils, however, craven and desperate souls attracted to his unique influence over the mortal world. Though devils usually have difficulty leaving the Nine Hells, the Dark Shepherd can send lesser devils to possess mortal bodies with startling ease. Devils possess mortals for various reasons; some seek to escape the Nine Hells, while others are sent on specific missions from their archdevil masters. The Dark Shepherd orchestrates almost all these possessions, and has collected a vast network of allies and favors from the denizens of the Nine Hells in the process.Communication: Very few mortals actually communicate with the Dark Shepherd. Usually a person has no idea they’ve attracted his attention until they wake up one night, horrified to find their bodies being used as puppets for one of his minions. The Dark Shepherd usually only sends a devil into the body of a weakened soul; somebody enfeebled by desperation, evil or depression. Every now and then, though, the Dark Shepherd sends a devil to infest a good soul, and rarely, the mortal is able to overpower the devil. The devil becomes a prisoner inside the mortal’s body, and the mortal can tap into the devil’s power like an infernal battery, harnessing warlock magic through its hate and rage.Goals: The Dark Shepherd relies on other devils to tempt mortals into evil. When their souls are corroded by evil, the Dark Shepherd swoops in, planting one of his minions. His greater goals are unclear. Perhaps he hopes to turn all the mortal races into his puppets, or perhaps he’s just a devil with a unique skill, plying his infernal trade for profit and prestige in the Nine Hells. Even more unclear is why he occasionally risks creating a rogue infernal warlock by planting a devil in a good soul. Is it punishment for the implanted devil? An error or oversight on his part? Or does he suspect that infernal magic has the ability to corrupt even the purest of souls, transforming them into unwitting pawns?Best Suited For: Good-aligned infernal warlocks, or players who are interested in characters with some very literal “inner turmoil.” Rodric the Sin-EaterOrigin: In the ancient days of the Arkhosian Empire, Rodric was a mighty and honorable paladin of Bahamut. Believing the dragonborn of Arkhosia to be Bahamut’s chosen people, Rodric lead many charges against the foul fortresses of Bael Turath, and slew many of the Turathi’s infernal allies. After countless gore-flecked victories in the name of his god, Rodric began to understand the nature of his devilish adversaries very well… some say, too well. When he slew a devil, Rodric could see their befouled souls drifting back into the Nine Hells. Eventually, he learned to capture and devour those souls, using their hellish strength to fuel his own divine fires. In time, he learned to utilize the souls of his mortal conquests, as well. Mixing self-taught infernal magic with his own Bahamut-given prayers, Rodric the Sin-Eater became an incredibly powerful hero of Arkhosia.Communication: Though regarded by the dragonborn as a hero even to this day, the political climate of ancient Arkhosia did not look kindly on Rodric the Sin-Eater’s use of infernal power. Though no historian can prove that Rodric ever used his powers for any corrupt purpose, he was considered a heretic by the high priests of Bahamut and eventually burned at the stake. His legend persists, however, and many follow the Sin-Eater’s practices. Seen more as a martyred hero than a proper patron, Rodric’s spirit (if it still exists) never makes its will known to warlocks.Goals: Rodric the Sin-Eater was the first mortal to discover the power of soul-magic. The strongest soul-magic comes from immortal souls, such as the souls of devils, and to be an infernal warlock in this style, the initiate must first consume at least one infernal soul. Most do it accidentally, usually adventurers who overcome a devil and discover they can readily consume its power. Others purposefully seek out the path of the soul-devourer, whether to be more effective warriors of the light or to further dark plans for personal power.Best Suited For: Adventurers who multi-classed into warlock, or characters interested in taking the Life-Stealer paragon path (PH1). Mister TwistOrigin: Long ago, a powerful devil made his way into the world. Called Mister Twist, this creature is so hideous he is downright painful to look at. His limbs are twisted at impossible angles, his joints backwards, his skin scarred and wrinkled, and his face split by a maw grinning with countless needle-sharp teeth. Mister Twist usually hides his true form under numerous illusions, revealing his monstrousness only to shock or terrify. While most devils are interested in collecting souls, Mister Twist is interested only in collecting favors. In return for an infusion of infernal power, his warlocks sign their names with blood in his iron-bound book. They owe him one favor, to be named and collected at any time Mister Twist chooses.Communication: Mister Twist takes a keen interest in his warlocks, and visits them frequently. When the warlock’s companions are all asleep around him, he may be graced by a visit from his dark master, coming to remind him of his debt. Perhaps these are dreams or visions, or perhaps Mister Twist is just an innately secretive creature, but he’s always gone before the warlock’s companions awake, leaving his protégé to shiver through the night alone, questioning his sanity.Goals: Mister Twist prefers to appear to desperate mortals who need to sign his pact in order to beat some impossible foe or to rescue a loved one. Most of his warlocks are generally good-hearted people who make a singular rash decision in agreeing to his deal and later come to regret it. No one alive claims to have made good on their debt and survived. Some may have done so, but if they have, they are not discussing it. Mister Twist seems to take pleasure in the power the debt gives him, letting it hang over the head of his initiate like a dark cloud or a downward-pointing sword. Some suspect that he has no greater goal than to simply toy with his warlocks, driving as many as he can mad with anxiety and expectation.Best Suited For: Players who want to hand their DM a nice, juicy plot hook, or those who want to give their character a reason to be unusually jumpy or anxious. LegionOrigin: Long ago, a powerful archdevil ran afoul of Asmodeus. No one can say for sure what his transgression was, but it was severe enough to warrant an execution. Asmodeus tore the archdevil’s soul to pieces, and left those pieces to rot. But they did not rot. Instead, those individual pieces were small enough to slip through the barriers between the Nine Hells and the mortal world. Each piece bonded itself to a mortal soul, empowering that soul with infernal magic. Its identity fractured, this fragmented archdevil now calls itself Legion, seeking to rebuild itself and take revenge on the one that sundered him.Communication: Everyone connected to Legion experiences their bond differently. Some see it as a curse, a greasy stain of evil they’d like to see removed. They may be wracked with phantom pains, haunted by nightmares, or experience flare-ups of uncontrollable rage. Others view themselves as gifted, enjoying their newfound powers. Those invested with a greater portion of Legion’s essence may be able to commune with the entity directly. Though his mind was fractured by Asmodeus’ rage, Legion is sometimes lucid enough to communicate something other than mad gibbering. Those “blessed” with a significant portion of his soul can hear his whispered urges to seek out other bearers of his essence… and murder them in their sweet, dreamless sleep.Goals: Legion seeks to re-assemble himself. In order to do this, a single bearer of a fragment of his essence must seek out the other warlocks wielding his power and defeat them. When all the fragments of his soul are combined in this manner, Legion will be complete again. This naturally leads to conflict between his warlocks, which is something Legion considers to be a positive. The last warlock standing is likely to be one of the most powerful mortals alive, and a valuable ally if Legion is ever going to take his full revenge on Asmodeus.Best Suited For: Players who want a clear, in-character reason for their character’s advancement. When you level up, reach a new tier of play, or hit some other important milestone, your DM can have you fight a fellow Legion-bearing warlock. When you win, you absorb that warlock’s fragment of Legion, and therefore grow stronger. Asiah the UsurperOrigin: The Nine Hells rely on a rigidly-ordered hierarchy. Though many devils vie for personal power, most have the good sense to do so discreetly. Asiah the Usurper is one of the few devils strong enough to challenge Asmodeus openly. Appearing as a painfully beautiful human woman dressed in armor, Asiah came to the mortal world long ago to plan her assault on the Nine Hells. She recruits warlocks for her eventual attack on Asmodeus, instructing them to weaken his bases of power in the natural world, the Feywild, and the Shadowfell.Communication: Asiah does not ask for souls, only for loyalty. Those who stand with her will be given access to potent infernal magic and richly rewarded in the afterlife, should she succeed in overtaking the Nine Hells. Asiah views herself as a goddess, one equal to or greater than Asmodeus, and tends to present herself as such. She reveals her glory to her chosen warlocks in beatific visions of blood, fire and conquest. An icon of Bahamut may temporarily contort itself into her image to issue a command, or strange altars to her power may be found in the wilderness, marking the path to victory.Goals: Asiah’s ultimate goal is to wrest control of the Nine Hells from Asmodeus and the other archdevils and prop herself up as a proper god. She is greatly pleased by warlocks that offer prayers to her, but is willing to accept more agnostic followers, provided they prove useful. For now, she’s focusing on eroding Asmodeus’ powerbase in the natural world, smashing his temples and stealing his followers.Best Suited For: Characters who believe “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” and for players who want to fight lots of devils and Asmodeus-worshippers like duergars.</blockquote>

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