Infernal contract

An infernal contract was a binding agreement between one individual and a devil of the Nine Hells. It typically involved the deviling granting a significant boon or gift to an individual, and that contractee owing a specific debt to the fiend.

Description
Contracts varied in form and appearance, but were often presented with grand theatricality, such as appearing within a cloud of smoke or delivered by an imp. Some of the more common forms contracts could take included: written in blood on a scroll of vellum, inscribed upon stone formed by rapidly-cooling lava, or etched into the flesh of the person in contract with the devil.

While infernal contracts were always written in the Infernal script, they could be endorsed by several means. A devil may only require the bound party to sign upon a parchment while others may dictate an act of depravity be performed. In some instances, contractors required witness by designated infernal contract notaries.

Specifications
Once the devil and the agreeing party each entered into the contract willfully, the devil's boon was bestowed and its beneficiary was indebted to pay a pre-specified price.

If the contractee was unwilling or became otherwise unable to fulfill their end of the bargain, they suffered one or more penalties as outlined by the contract. Customary penalties included the forfeiture of all owned material wealth, the unwilling adoption of one or more fiendish physical characteristics, or transference of one's mortal soul to the offended party.

Ending Contracts
Infernal contracts could be voided so long as both parties agreed. Under these circumstances, the devil and the contractee each continued on with their existences as if the contract never existed to begin with. Devils often requested significant compensation before agreeing to nullify an infernal contract. Compensation for nullification often included endowment of great personal wealth, one or more soul coins, or extremely powerful artifacts.

Contracts that were not fully ratified could be broken by other supernatural means, though the exact specifications of this were unclear. A devil talisman crafted from the blood of an empyrean and powered by the soul of a mortal was one known method.

Notable Infernal Contracts

 * The agreement made by the arcanaloth Fetchtatter to the archdevil Bel.
 * The contract formed between High Overseer Thavius Kreeg and Archduke Zariel to save Elturel from destruction in 1442 DR.
 * The debt accrued by Fai Chen to the rakshasa Mahadi of the Wandering Emporium.
 * The agreement made between Krydle of Baldur's Gate and the erinyes Oreasha to save Shandie Freefoot.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
 * Comics
 * Infernal Tides 4 • Infernal Tides 5
 * Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
 * Avernus Rising (Tipping the Scales • The Breath of Life)
 * Faces of Fortune • Infernal Insurgency • Losing Fai • The Vast Emptiness of Grace • Consequences of Choice • The Harrowing of Hell