Lords of Hell: New Fiends Rising

[El_Frenchie]

@Steif

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"May I inquire as to why I am sending the imp -you- bought to someone else? It feels a bit... off? Is there a particular reason? I just wish to make sure I heard that correctly before I send it. Worry not, it's ready to go... I'm just... confused."

@Zach

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"I am giving you 6 power for the summoning... Good luck." (-6 PP)

@Moody

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"Here is the amount of power you sought." (-15 PP)

Kataek

Focusing once more on his domain, Lord Kataek utters the words of power that will increase its size again. The spire grows far taller, clouds fill the skies around and the platform seems to shake and rumble beneath the feet of souls and imps alike as the Lord of this domain was making more changes.

Once he is done, he gives his orders to his imps, and they all fly in different directions, hurried by their master. There's one imp that starts a new building right on the platform not far from the spire: The new torture chambers.

Soon afterwards, his imps and himself set their sights onto the next level of the corruption essence, and in bright bursts of red they finally discover... the next level.

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Archdevil:
Size Domain Increase. (-8 pp)
Promote Imp to Alp. (-6 pp)
Researching with the imps.

17 Imps:

1 Imp builds Torture Chamber. (-2 pp)
2 Imps torture souls. (+2 pp)
1 Imp builds level one defenses. (-4 pp)
10 Imps on researching Corruption 2. (Completed!)

3 Imps on standyby. (including the two Thieves)

[Emperor Demonking]

Kaetek

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I would prefer it to go their.

[RationalGoblin]

Levmordus

Clad in his unholy bonded armor, and sitting upon his throne of stone, Levmordus grins when he hears Zach sending a message to all Dukes. He then sends a personal message to one Duke in particular.

Steif

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Hello again, for the final time, my good thief. I have to admit, your stealing of my souls did frighten me for a little while. That is, until I remembered that I am a Duke, and that I deserve that title, unlike you, a pathetic, filching thief. I am a Archdevil! You are a lowly Imp, even if you are a lord of them!

You crossed with the wrong Duke, Steif. I hope that in your final moments, that thought finally seeps into your mind. I will relish knowing that, especially if I am the one to kill you.

Oh, and incidentally, I didn't actually violate the terms of our agreement. I agreed with two comments on the pact. A non-aggression pact, as you can figure out quite easily, is rather easy to enforce upon corpses. And what else did I say? Oh yes, I said "No war will be between us" or something similar. This is true. This is not a war. It is a massacre. Goodbye, Lord Steif.

With his message completed, Lev rises from his throne, opening a short link to all Dukes.

"Hello, my fellow Dukes. Like the Duke who spoke before, I am not one to mince words. Therefore, I have simply three words to say about the Imp Duke who has made so many enemies. 'It's hunting season.'"

With that, he breaks the link, and turns to his imps.

"Nel'zarn, you're in charge of my domain. Guard it well, and strengthen the wards. The rest of you, we go to battle."

Nel'zarn, an old, trusted imp, begins chanting to set up more wards.

Lev starts walking out of his domain. As a side thought, he turns toward his remaining souls, and extends a hand, to shape a new imp. After doing this, he continues to walk out of his domain.


The rest of the imps follow their lord. Levmordus grins, an expression unseen under his armor.

"I will tear that foolish Imp Lord limb from useless limb."

GM/People involved in the attack.

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1 Imp staying behind, and using his action to upgrade the wards, and 10 Imps ready for combat. Also, one Archdevil action to promote a soul to imp.

[Deathslayer7]

After Levmordus's uncanny, yet quite funny meassge. Liriel opens up her own connection to all the dukes.

I take no sides in this battle. Any who attack my domain shall feel my wrath.

with that she terminates connection.

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all imps researching corruption +38

lvl 2 corruption: 55

[El_Frenchie]

@Steif, Erthency

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Sending Imp Thief to Erthency.

@GM, Moody

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"As promised, I am sending two imps to his domain, they will join en-route and obey your commands. Have fun."

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No actions remaining.

[Eldan]

Flames at Midnight

"CURSE THEM ALL!"
While other voices were heard as whispers over the wind, this one was was a shout, screaming rage and defiance into the skies of hell.
"SET FIRE TO THIS TOWN! BURN THEM ALL! LET THEM SUFFER! MY SOUL FOR THIS VILLAGE!"

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Simple Task
Wish: DC 3
Corrupt: The soul is gained automatically, but it's a DC 12 for a cultist instead.
Reward: Special Soul
Evil spread: 10

[puppyavenger]

Feeling a vast influx of power as souls cam e streaming in, the being assimilated the imps that came with them, and sent one of his own off to the summons.

Following that, he began researching the secrets of corruption. investing a large amount of power into it.

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15 power spent on increasing research roll
-1 imp action responding to summons
-1 archdevil action, researching corruption 2
+41 power from EDK's souls
+10 imps from EDK
34 power left
3 imp actions left
1 archdevil action left
+32 research into corr 2, total 42 points in corr 2

[RationalGoblin]

Levmordus

Lev stops walking when he hears the newest mortal petiton to the Hells.

He mumbles an ancient phrase, and moves his arms in a profane manner. Seconds later, an exact copy, an avatar of Lev appears before the angry mortal.

"You want to destroy this village? Why stop there? Why not corrupt dozens, even hundreds of people, and allow them to destroy their own villages? Why not set fire to all things? You can do this and more, if you devote yourself to destruction in the name of Levmordus. But in any case, I will aid you, mortal, in destroying this village. They will suffer."

Lev's avatar gleefully conjures fire to come from his gauntleted hands, and begins to destroy the town.

Lev's true form smirks, and continues walking towards the place where he shall battle, with his imps in tow.

GM

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Doing Flames at Midnight summoning, so using up one action.
Roll results for Wish DC is 5, while I'm trying to get a cultist for the Corruption roll. Rolled a 13.

[puppyavenger]

[umm, I sent an imp to do that...]

[RationalGoblin]

[Hmm. I did not see that you did that. Thankfully, I copy-pasted the Summoning portion of the rules, so we can figure out what happens. Summonings: Every phase (turn), the DM will write up requests for help by mortals who attempt to summon devils. Archdevils can decide to answer the summoning either personally or send a servant. When several archdevils try to answer the same summoning, a generic check is conducted, to which the servants or archdevils rank is added. So, I guess we make a generic check? What rank is an Archdevil, anyway?]

[puppyavenger]

[9 so yah...I'm going to back out of this one..]

[Moody the Wise]

After delivering his orders to the assembled Imps, Zargabaath slips off into the shadows and conjures up a quick avatar to lead his servants into battle.

[Space reserved for detailed description of battle to come later. Were you wondering exactly how many pieces Steith's body has been torn into? Stay tuned, and you'll find out!]

Zargabaath paces his throne room, anxiously waiting to hear how the battle went. His fastest Imp - Vaan - enters the room and bows low before delivering his message.

M'Lord, the domain is ... empty. We killed an Imp and the Lord himself, but could find nothing else.

Empty, you say? Interesting ... good work, anyway. You may return to your quarters to rest. Tomorrow we will celebrate with a grand feast.

GM, Maldiem, El_Frenchie

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1 Imp (the last one, who still has an action left) departs for Erthency's domain. There he picks up 28 souls. He delivers 7 to Mal's domain, 5 to Frenchie's domain, and the rest (16) to my domain.

His Imps distracted, reveling in the thrill of the hunt, Zargabaath retires to the deepest dungeons of the palace, there to commit acts unspeakable.

GM

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Zargabaath's 3 actions will be:
1) Consume 25 souls.
2) Research (rolled 22), adding 59 power
Research goes as following:
10 - Complete Air Application "Watchtower"
34 - Complete Fire Essence Level 2
10 - Complete Fire Application "Magmin"
25 - Complete Arcana Essence Level 1
2 - Raise Air Essence L2 to 3/50
3) Increase stats, using 42 power
Intimidation from 1->5 (cost: 8)
Intelligence from 5->10 (cost: 10)
Intelligence from 10->17 (cost: 28)

[Maldiem]

The One That Lurks At The Edges

The Lurker pondered its the plane, and it was not pleased. The other Archdukes had told it of Essences, powerful magic that granted abilities beyond what the Fiends came to power with. Not to be left behind, it reached back, back into the nether reaches that it had recently escaped, and groped around in the Oblivion. Eventually, it found what it wanted-- secrets long dead, or perhaps stillborn, that were pertinent to these essences. It integrated these secrets into its own knowledge, gaining new insights on how to manipulate this reality.

Then, once again, it expanded to fill its domain, stretched atom-thin, unraveling the underpinnings of Hell itself. The domain grew slower this time, but the Lurker did not have the time to increase it further. It had become clear that it did not have enough servants. It set to work on that, opening small portals to the Umbra, and trading souls for servants from beyond the stars. The new entities, unable to express themselves in their original forms, instead couched themselves in terms that this reality wouldn't reject; in this case, new imps.

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Stats:
Combat: 6
Trickery: 8
Wishes: 4
Corruption: 4
Intelligence: 10
Intimidation: 4
Torture: 1
Resistance: 4

Domain:
Souls: 19 +7 from Zargabaath -12 from new imps: 14
Wards: 4 (from guarding imps)
Defenses: 0
Size: 4
Imps: 24

Power: Income: 19
4 Imps to attack Stief (Moody rolled em' already)
2 imps guard
6 imps torture (11 power gained)
Power net income: 30

Archfiend action 1: Research Arcane essence (complete), spill 8 points over to the Fire essence.
Archfiend action 2: Expand domain by 1 (6 power spent)
Archfiend action 3: Make 12 more imps (24 power spent).

[Moral Wiz]

Zach

Zach smiled as he returned to the Library, his imps alongside, hooting. As it happened, the Archdevil hadn't had to commit himself, when he saw what was happening

Still, we've lost time. Time we can ill afford.

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Action, research arcana 2, 4 point in.

[puppyavenger]

Pulling it'ss servant back, the Being ordered the remaining 4, 3 went to finish the research, empowered moderately, and the remaining one went to play games with the souls

Sending a small bit of power to It's Debtors, It then gathered the rest withing itself. Filling it with power, from it's base at the darkest part of the cavern, New tentacles reached up, and spread along the cavern walls, as new knowledge and abilities filled Its being. More and more tendrils, wrapping around the deepest parts of the domain.

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3 imps and 2 power to research corruption two. completed, 4 points in C. 3
6 points sent to Zach

30 points of power and an Archfiend action in increasing stats to the tune of..
10 to bring int to 10
6 to bring combat to 5
8 to bring Wishes and corruption to 7
6 bring intimidate up to 5

[Feirgon]

Returning from his excursion, Dystor finished ordering his imps to their tasks. A handful to torture souls, a few to study in the library, and the rest set to increase wards and defences.

Dystor than sat upon his throne, staring out into the distance. Seeing as his domain yet touched the horizon, he focused on increasing his domain's influence.

GM Only or OOC Knowledge

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Archfiend Actions:
Aided Zargabaath in his attack
Increased domain size by 1 - 8 pp

Imp Actions:
3 Tortured souls - Torture rolls +7 pp
2 Increased wards - 8 pp
2 Increased defences - 8 pp
5 Researched fire essence - Research rolls 5 pp

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Fire Essence 1: Complete
Fire Essence 2: 20/50

Cult Actions:
2 Attempts to gather followers - Gather followers roll

Nothing remaining.

[Moral Wiz]

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Taking the soul. Mainly because I'm guessing it'll be a corruption bonus, and thus, Zach can gather more cultists with it ;p

I've been working on an IC post, but thus far have lost it. Three separate times. This is just reserving space for the masterpiece to come.

[The_Snark]

Anenlel

Inside the summoning circle, there is a sound, and the floor twists and rends, releasing a flurry of objects that spiral upwards: steel cogs, flowing shadows, and other things moving too fast to make out before the entire flurry resolves itself into Anenlel: white robes and hair over ebon skin, , neutral expression.

The summoner has a beard just starting to go gray, and he watched the archdevil warily as she examined the diagrams. She nodded to herself. They were precisely done, no errors. She had had no intention of turning on her summoner if he made a mistake, but the fact that he hadn't spoke well of him.

"Your proposal is acceptable. I will assist you." Her voice is as flat and matter-of-fact as her face.

He licked his lips, spoke the words that would allow her some freedom from the circle. She glided towards his library, accompanied by clicking noises like metal on wood.

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"A false conclusion," she said dismissively, replacing the tome carefully on the desk. "Galethe assumes that time on other planes corresponds to time on this plane in a linear manner. This is rarely the case; more usually, the difference in time is cyclic. The manner in which the two planes are bridged can affect how much time a traveler loses or gains, as well." She folded her hands, awaiting his next question. Not all were as simple as this question was, but when she hadn't known the answers, Anenlel had assisted the mortal in finding them, and proved an invaluable aid.

But instead of asking her yet another question or handing her another parchment, he said, "Why do you keep doing this, devil? I am not a fool. I've read tales of what happened to those who dealt incautiously with devils. You haven't produced a written contract or demanded a set time limit, even. So tell me. What are you gaining from this?"

"The same thing you are. Knowledge. I am only partly present here; spending time here is an investment that is certainly paid back by our findings. You gain knowledge for whatever purposes you wish; I gain knowledge, some of which I am finding useful."

"But if you require reassurance, here is our pact. I swear and agree to be bound never to seek to harm you, nor to arrange for you to be harmed or impeded; I swear and agree to be bound to assist you in seeking the answers to your questions. You are bound by the same terms. Only by harming me or ceasing your search for secrets can you break our pact."

"Barring that, I will remain."

He slowly nodded, the implications of this settling in on him. He was no longer young, but he was not old; with this repository of knowledge at his disposal... perhaps he really could unlock the deep secrets of the universe.

They returned to work.

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And on the plane of Hell, the bellows continue to work inside Anenlel's iron complex as the archdevil labors, fusing magic and steel again and again, refining the process again... and again... and again...

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6 power spent on the Intelligence check to fulfill the summoner's request; 6 power spent on the corruption check, meaning I don't even have to roll for it.

3 power spent on the earlier research roll, with the remainder of the research going to researching Gremlins. The imp will research Metal essence as well, with my remaining power (7) spent on it; that completes essence 2.

[Eldan]

Fourth Phase

The face of this area of hell has changed significantly... where there was once a featureless plain of dust and rock now the citadels of archfiends rise into the sky, which has taken on a blood-red colour, black clouds drifting over it, as if a storm was brewing. From those clouds, a rain of souls emerge, spreading out to reach their new destinations.

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Souls arriving: 127
Liriel: Domain Size 2+1=3
Shardon: Domain Size 4+1=5
Kataek: Domain Size 4+1=5
Dystor: Domain Size 4+1=5
Zach: Domain Size 3+0=3
Anenlel: Domain Size 4+0=4
Levmordus: Domain Size 2+0=2
Erthency: Domain Size 3+0=3
Lurker: Domain Size 3+0=3
Zargabaath: Domain Size 2+0=2

Total Domain Size: 35
127/35=3.6

If domain size 2: 7 souls
If domain size 3: 10 souls
If domain size 4: 14 souls
If domain size 5: 18 souls

[puppyavenger]

Feeling the new power flood through it, the being sent orders to its tendrils. three of them, headed by the former merchantman, went to torment the souls that were unfortunate enough to be in the torture tunnels.

6 began to work on the various defenses of the Sea, as the tunnels were made smaller and easier to defend, and the wards were repainted and more were inscribed.

finally, seeing how more and domains were growing, It decided to do the same, and once again, water rushed and filled new catacombs, This time, it overflew the new tunnels, and spewed out onto the surface, forming a small but very deep basin, filled with confusing rock formation, and one or two tunnels leading to the caverns.

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starting power 48
2 imps, 1 greedy imp torture 8 power
total 56 power
increase domain to 4, 8 power
6 imps increase defenses and wards by 3 each, 24 power
total cost 32 power
24 power remaining
6 imps I didn't bother putting in the status thread sent to Zach

Zach

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imps sent

[RationalGoblin]

Levmordus

Watching the new souls flowing into his realm, Levmordus grins. I think it is time for a bit of... redecoration in my realm.

Infused by both his dark will, and his bonded armor, Levmordus strides from his usual position on his throne, and walks out in the parts out his domain that are not buildings, caves, or pits.

He simply stares at the relatively untouched ground, and intones a single, nightmarish word, a phrase that most mortal minds could not comprehend. As soon as he says the word, his eyes glow sinisterly. The glow soon spreads to his entire body.

As his body glows, Lev says the word a second time, and gasps (but in pain, not surpise), as the glow pulls away from his body, and dissipates. When the glow fades, Lev starts bleeding from all his long-forgotten wounds. The blood spills from the slits in his body, and as when he first created his domain, Lev's body dissolves the ground, creating pits and caves and ec cetera.

Lev laughs at this, and raises his hand towards the land that was spared from the Archdevil's blood. That land suddenly erupts, as massive stone towers are created, disturbing the ground.

Satisfied by this, but exhausted, Lev returns to his throne. Of course, he does not settle himself before ordering (politely) his imps to study his books, and tell whatever they learn to him.

He then sends a quick order to his first cultist, telling the mortal to spread the cult of Levmordus.

Finally, he opens a link with a Duke.

GM

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Using all three Archdevil actions to use power (9, I think) to increase domain size to 5.

6 imps researching Metal. Roll result of 18. Check on Dice Rolls thread if you want to make sure.
5 imps researching Corruption. Roll result of 20.
Cultist trying to Spread the cult. Roll result of 3

Zach

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My good Duke, your assistance with the former Lord Steif was much appreciated. I thank you. But enough about the past. Let us look to the future. Specifically, the future of our research. What would you say to a trading of technological applications? To be exact, one or two Metal Applications for one or two of your Arcane applications?

Furthermore, I enjoy working with you, Lord Zach. What would you say to a sweetening of the trade? I have my own personal cult upon the mortal plane. It is small now, but I have confidence that it will grow to be a powerful resource. I am thinking of giving you half of the soul profits that come from the cult. What do you say?

[Deathslayer7]

stats:

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souls: 8
servants left: 0
arch-devil actions 0 (unless summon contested)
PP: 0

Liriel watches the souls come in, and after a moment, she grabs the sword laying beside her. Holding it up high, she says a few words, then makes a nice clean horizontal sweep in front of her.

Green fire spreads out in an arcing flame. Where the edges of her domain once was, it spreads out another good hundereds of feet. Where there was already bare ground, holes, trenches, barb-wired, and the occasional artillery can be seen. Smiling, she went to go do her second task for today.

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+1 to domain size, - 6 PP

Gripping her sword as she went, she called for the souls to line up. Once they formed a single line, with Liriel standing a little distance away, she again swept a nice fine arc through the air. Green fire erupted from the sword, what looked like a massive fireball at the beginning quickly spread out to 16 strands of fire, each latching onto a soul.

She calmly put the sword down and continued on to her last task for the day, leaving the souls to be consumed by the fire. In fact though, new imps would emerge from them.

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-32 PP
+16 servants

[puppyavenger]

Looking into the application of It's newly discovered essence, the being began Pondering them, drawing 3 of It's tendrils intelligence into itself.

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researched Warping pits and Spawning
2 points into corruption 3

[Moral Wiz]

To all Archdevils

As a note to all you dukes of hell, I have recently gained a Mortal soul, a special soul. A most interesting little thing, which I corrupted myself. She would make a devil most skilled in corruption

I am willing to hear any offers for her.

Lev

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A most generous offer, Lord Lemvordius. As to what I'd think though... well, honestly, I'd think "What's the catch"

As to the idea of trade... most generous Lord, but I already have another offering metalworking applications. That deal is not yet concluded, but still... And she is offering a bigger deal, potentially, with imps as well as applications changing hands. She wishes more applications though, so it more or less stands equal. More or less.

Sorry Lord, but trade is ever open. I can count on you, where as this new party... not so much. That makes goodwill from her even more imperitive. However, I'll be willing to make a trade for them in power, on terms good for you, for the sake of our alliance. Or if this trade falls through, I'll be happy with a trade such as you suggest.

[puppyavenger]

Zach

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5 power, or a normal souls and 2 power, agreed?

[Moral Wiz]

Eth

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Offer noted, Lord Ethenarcy. I'd prefer a better offer though. For a soul and 2, I could make an imp myself. Loose a soul to gain a soul... I'd essentially be recieving but 2 power. And 5 is too low for a special soul.

Another imp though... that, I'd take.

OOC

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By the way, you sent an imp last turn, and 6 this turn, correct? 7 and a soul in all, right?

Also to all

By the way, I'll let you know when I have accepted an offer.

[puppyavenger]

Zach

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what are the exact abilities of this soul? and yes, I've sent you 7 imps and a soul, fro services previously rendered and protection for the next 5 phases.

[Moral Wiz]

Eth

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Why, it knows how to tempt mortals. And does it well. She was a noble in life, and a courtier. She knows how to manipulate people.

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That's IC. OOC, I'm not telling. It'll ruin the whole "Slimey Merchant" thing Zach's got going right now

[puppyavenger]

Zach

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very well, one imp for the soul.

[Eldan]

A Fair Chance

"Dark Lords... I call to you as the Prince of the Fair Folk. Decades ago, mankind has invaded this continent. They continue to advance, slaying my people, burning our forests, razing our fortesses and with all our magic and soldiers, we can not stop them, for they posess weapons of iron, against which we are powerless.
And now, they are laying siege to Albion, our last fortess. Give us the poewr to defeat them, and every phase of hell we will pay you a tithe, sending our best and brightest to serve in your realm as long as our kingdom stands."

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Special Task

To fulfill this task, two conditions must be met: the summoned devil must provide 20 power and a DC 17 combat check. In exchange, the Fair Folk will provide him with one Fey Warrior or Fey Sorceress every phase from then on. (Devil's Choice)
The fey warrior has the following stats:
Rank 2, Combat 2, Trickery 2, Wishes 1, Corrupuption 1, Intelligence 1, Intimidation 2, Torture 1, Resistance 2.
Weakness: every creature from the metal essence or a creature with a special ability from the metal essence deals double damage to the Fey warrior.
The Fey Sorceress has the following stats:
Rank 2, Combat 1, Trickery 2, Wishes 2, Corruption 2, Intelligence 1, Intimidation 1, Torture 2, Resistance 1
Weakness: every creature from the metal essence or a creature with a special ability from the metal essence deals double damage to the Fey Sorceress.
The Fey are slaves to the Devil and will never plot or participate in a rebellion.
Every phase, the GM will roll 1d6. If a 6 is rolled, mankind has attacked the Fair Folk again. The devil may then either choose to help (a DC 15 combat check) or end the pact.
Corruption 12 gives the princes soul. Double that check gives the prince as a cultist.